Weekend Planner: Brunch at MAD Social, Pinot Days at Uncommon Ground, French Tasting Menu at Enolo Wine Cafe

Brunch at MAD Social

Another week, another new restaurant has rolled out brunch. In line with its exciting dinnertime food menu, the West Loop’s new MAD Social colors well outside the lines during its weekend brunch program, available Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Drawing comfort food inspiration from across the globe, the menu is the handiwork of chef Mariela Bolaños. Her weekend creations include a killer monte cristo made with mortadella, smoked bacon, Chihuahua cheese, and brioche, all deep-fried and served with hashbrowns and mixed greens. There’s also a short rib Benedict with braised Korean-style short ribs, toasted pretzel buns, Brussels sprouts kimchi, and togarashi aioli; chicken and waffles with milanese-style chicken breast and a churro waffle; and the MAD shakshouka, featuring oven-baked eggs in sun-dried tomato sauce with roasted pistachios, spinach, peppers, mushrooms, and fresh herbs. To drink, try the Whiskey for Breakfast made with Buffalo Trace bourbon, maple syrup, liquid smoke, and egg white; or the Night Vision with gin, bilberry basil syrup, fresh pressed carrot juice, Amaro Lucano, lavender bitters, cucumber, and basil. 

 

MAD Social
Brunch at MAD Social

Pinot Days at Uncommon Ground

Pinot Noir takes the spotlight at Uncommon Ground in Edgewater for a special dinner event on April 16. An apt way to cap off the weekend in style, the wine-paired dinner features four esteemed Pinot producers on hand to speak about their wineries and discuss their wines. Chef Alex LaBounty curates a four-course dinner menu to match with the wines, of which their will be eight to sip throughout the evening. Starting at 6:00 p.m., the dinner features a reception course with three appetizers: asparagus bisque, smoked salmon with homegrown chive, goat cheese, and Belgian endive, and spicy Catalpa Grove pork sausage and mozzarella arancini. These are followed by smoked black peppercorn and thyme crusted pork tenderloin, crispy skin duck breast, spring lamb kabouli, and organic Tcho dark chocolate and Oregon hazelnut truffle. The cost to attend the dinner is $80.

French Tasting Menu at Enolo Wine Cafe

Travel to France this weekend via an affordable tasting menu at Enolo Wine Cafe. The River North restaurant just debuted a new three-course degustation option for $35 per person (additional $15 for wine pairings, which is still a crazy bargain). Classic French-inspired dishes are the focal point, featuring options like salad Nicoise, pork belly cassoulet, and fromage with brillat savarin, pickled pears, honey nuts, and fennel-raisin bread. 

- Matt Kirouac

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