Weekday Planner: Girls' Night Out, Mariano's Meet and Eat, Whole Veal Dinner, Secret Garden Sake Supper

Girls' Night Out

Girls' night out is a lot better when four courses of wine-paired Italian cuisine is involved. Gather your gal pals and get thee to 312 Chicago on June 12 for the perfect downtown diversion. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., Ponzi Vineyards' President Maria Ponzi will host the wine-themed degustation, celebrating females in the wine industry. Guests will also have ample opportunity to mingle with Ponzi and learn about her work in the wine field, her experiences growing up on a vineyard, and her position as a strong female in a male-dominated industry. Reps from Tenzing Wine & Spirits and Wilson Daniels will also be on hand for the event, part of a national tour of Girls' Night Out wine dinners orchestrated by Ponzi and her sister Luisa. For food, expect scallops, meat-filled tortellini, crab-stuffed branzino, and chocolate cake. The cost to attend is $85 per person and reservations can be made by calling 312-696-2420. 

Booze and Food at Mariano's

A tasty way to kickstart your week can be had at Mariano's West Loop location, where the store's Agora Cafe will play host to folks from Belvedere and Bottlefork. Claire Smith, head of spirit creation and mixology for Belvedere, will be showcasing the new Mango Passion flavor, while Bottlefork's chef Kevin Hickey will provide the cookery. The cost to attend is $25 per person and guests can register at Marianos.com/WestLoop. 

(Mott Street)

Secret Garden Sake Supper

Well doesn't this sound poetic and lovely. In honor of the warmer weather (my God, finally), Mott Street is hosting a Secret Garden Sake Supper on June 10, featuring a six-course spread of family-style supping adjoined by Floating World sake pairings on the patio. The al fresco menu consists of oysters on the half shell, pan-seared scallops, cauliflower vichysoisse, duck hearts with strawberries, roasted miso cod, and chocolate banana with szechuan peppercorns and salt. Seatings are available at 7:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost $65 per person and can be purchased here. 

Whole Veal Dinner

You've gone whole hog, but have you gone whole veal? The Radler is working to check that off your bucket list with its whole veal dinner taking place June 11. Along with Table, Donkey and Stick, Bang Bang Pie Shop, and 18th Street Brewery, the restaurant will cook up a three-course family-style feast, featuring a multitude of veal preparations by chefs from The Radler and TDS. The restaurants brewed a special beer with 18th Street Brewery just for the occasion as well. The cost to attend is $50 per person, plus $20 for beverage pairings. Reservations can be made by calling 773-276-0270. 

- Matt Kirouac