Weekday Planner: Pintxos and Porrons at Salero, Between Bites, Rum Dinner, and Bastille Day
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Pintxos and Porron Wednesdays at Salero
If you’re looking for a deep dive into Spanish cuisine and wines, look no further than Salero on Wednesdays. The acclaimed West Loop restaurant just started a weekly promo called Pintxos and Porron Wednesdays, wherein executive chef and partner Ashlee Aubin features an array of nine pintxos priced between $1 and $5 (or choose all nine for $25), while a rotating selection of ciders and Txakolinas will be poured from a traditional porron. For some added excitement, Salero will invite local chefs, sommelier, and mixologists to chip in and put their spin on menu offerings on select evenings. Examples include Tommy J. Lansaw from Wood on July 13 and Ajay Popli from Arami on August 3.
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Between Bites
One of the best recurring foodie events in Chicago is back in action for its 10th installment on July 11. Between Bites is a food-centric storytelling series that features five to six chefs, food writers, and restaurateurs waxing poetic and sharing stories that adhere to a specific theme. For this round, the event takes place at Spiaggia with the theme, Home/Away. Readers include Jimmy Bannos of Heaven on Seven, Marissa Conrad from the Chicago Tribune, Cat De Orio from Check, Please!, Brendan Sodikoff from Hogsalt, and Molly Each, co-founder of the series. The cost to attend is $40 per person, which includes ample appetizers, cocktails, and wine, with proceeds going to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
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Rum Dinner at The Signature Room
If you’re a fan of rum, The Signature Room has the perfect dinner for you. On July 14, the sky-high restaurant is partnering with Bacardi to host a paired rum dinner from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The four-course meal features food from chef Cardel Reid adjoined by rum cocktails perfect for summer sipping. It all starts with an opening reception of passed drinks and hors d’oeuvres like corn fritters and mahi mahi ceviche, followed by a seated, Caribbean-themed dinner with items like head-on prawns, jackfruit salad, and others. Each course is paired with a different rum cocktail. The cost to attend is $85 per person and tickets can be reserved by calling the restaurant.
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Bastille Day at Chez Moi
With American Independence Day under our belt, it’s time to look forward to the next one. France celebrates its own Independence Day on July 14, Bastille Day, and Chez Moi is getting in on the festivities by partnering with Veuve Clicquot for a boozy affair. Starting at 1:00 p.m., guests can enjoy a Champagne bar with signature sparkling cocktails, along with raffle prizes and giveaways throughout the day. The restaurant will also be offering 50% off wine bottles, a la carte specials, and live French music on the patio.
- Matt Kirouac