18 Passover 2013 ideas in Chicago

Zelda’s's Passover chiffon cake.

 

  1. Bebe’s Eatery at the Chicago French Market offers its unique twist on traditional kosher for Passover items in the West Loop including a la carte appetizers, soups, entrees and sides for carryout. Orders can be picked up or delivered through March 22.

  2. Kosher for Passover goodies including chiffon cakes and chocolate-covered marshmallows are 20 percent off through March 20 at Zelda’s Sweet Shoppe in Skokie. Zelda’s also offers fun thematic treats such as chocolate-marshmallow frogs and locusts.

  3. Real Urban Barbecue in Highland Park and Vernon Hills offers a variety of Passover carryout items from March 25 through April 2. The a la carte options include matzo balls, matzo-meal potato pancakes, chicken soup, whole smoked turkey, or turkey breast, 14-hour smoked brisket, chicken matzo Milanese, pan-seared salmon, flourless chocolate cake and French macaroons.

  4. Chicago q on the Near North Side offers smoked Kobe brisket for the Passover table, $29.75 per pound through Tuesday, April 2.

  5.  

    1. The Fat Shallot leads up to the holiday with a pop-up Passover-themed dinner at Jamin Logan Square on Thursday, March 21. Tickets to the six-course dinner are $75. Beverages from a cash bar are extra, or BYOB for a $6 corkage fee.

    2. Chef Rick Tramonto cooks up an educational pre-Passover dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the InterContinental Chicago on the Magnificent Mile. The four-course menu, $80, will feature discussion about the traditional seder meal and elevated cuisine for Passover celebrations, along with a performance by Marty Goetz, who sets scriptures to acoustic music. For reservations, required, e-mailSederChicago2013@gmail.com or call (847) 922-4673.

    3. Maxwell’s at the Club inside the East Bank Club in River North hosts Passover dinner on Monday, March 25, with kosher wine, haggadahs on each table and a buffet featuring gefilte fish with beet horseradish, spinach and strawberry salad with almonds, roasted beets with kale salad and carving stations of braised beef brisket and roast turkey breast, as well as lemon-olive roasted chicken breast with potatoes, noodle kugel, braised pot roast with oyster mushrooms and zucchini potato pancakes plus charoset, macaroons, matzo baklava, orange-almond flan, flourless chocolate cake, seasonal fresh fruit and more, $45.

    4. Riva Crab House on Navy Pier serves a three-course Passover dinner Monday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 26, including chopped liver, gefilte fish with pickled vegetables, matzo ball soup and an entree choice of braised brisket with roasted Yukon potatoes, French-cut chicken breast with root vegetables and fresh herbs; or horseradish crusted whitefish with roasted carrots and sweet potatoes; plus assorted macaroons and sponge cake with sliced strawberries, $40.

    5. Tavern on Rush on the Gold Coast is serving Passover dinner on Monday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 26, $39.95, including house-made chopped liver platter, matzo ball soup, and a choice of slow braised brisket of beef with caramelized pearl onion and baby carrots or matzo crusted walleye with caramelized pearl onions, baby carrots and lemon-butter sauce plus latkes, sour cream, apple sauce and baked sweet potato as well as a dessert choice of flourless chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream or sponge cake with Grand Marnier-marinated strawberries.

    6. Tuscany in Wheeling offers a traditional Passover meal on Monday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 26, for $32, starting with chopped liver, gefilte fish with horseradish and golden chicken broth with matzo ball, plus a choice of oven-roasted brisket of beef, roasted half chicken or broiled lake superior whitefish served with fresh green beans in garlic and olive oil and sweet potatoes, and a tray of old-fashioned honey cake, sponge cake and macaroons.

    7. Bistronomic on the Gold Coast serves Chef Martial Noguier’s seasonal Passover menu from March 25 through April 2. The three-course dinner, $40, can be bundled with three to five hours of parking for an additional charge. Dishes include a variety of salad choices, house-made chicken liver mousse; Amish chicken broth soup with spring vegetables, matzo balls and fresh dill; entrees such as seared Scottish salmon with cucumber quinoa tabbouleh, pistou and lemon confit vinaigrette; glazed prime short ribs with gingered braised carrots, candied lemon and red wine reduction; roasted Amish chicken with confit of peppers, eggplant puree and oven-dried tomato; crispy skin Lake Superior whitefish with roasted ratatouille, tomato concasse and Nicoise vinaigrette; and desserts.

    8. Joe’s Stone Crab in River North serves Passover dinner on Monday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 26. The traditional three-course menu includes house-made gefilte fish with red beet horseradish, bibb lettuce and chive salad with chopped liver and Suzy Friedman’s vegetarian chopped liver, and matzo ball soup. Main course options are herb-roasted chicken, braised brisket of beef or wild Alaskan halibut en papillote, each served with potato pancakes and ginger glazed carrots, plus chocolate macaroon pie, $45.95.

    9. Mon Ami Gabi in Lincoln Park will serve a Passover menu on Monday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 26, featuring artisan matzo, matzo ball soup, house-made gefilte fish with beet horseradish, Suzy Friedman’s vegetarian chopped liver, chopped liver with eggs and onions, slow braised beef brisket, potato pancakes with applesauce, and flourless chocolate cake with fruit compote, $36.95.

    10. Osteria Via Stato in River North serves a Passover menu on Monday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 26, $39.95. Chopped liver, Suzy Friedman’s vegetarian chopped liver, house-marinated olives, house-made Gefilte fish with fresh beet horseradish and matzo ball soup feature, along with a choice of slow-braised beef short rib, all-natural roasted chicken or fennel-crusted flounder served with crispy polenta cake and ginger-glazed carrots, plus house-made vanilla gelato with fruit compote and house-made chocolate bar.

    11. Saranello’s in Wheeling and Di Pescara in Northbrook offer Passover dinners on Monday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 26, with house-made gefilte fish and chopped liver, braised brisket of beef, crispy potato pancakes, carrots tsimmes and chocolate souffle, $39.95. Each table will have a seder plate, too.

    12. L. Woods in Lincolnwood features a three-course Passover dinner menu on Monday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 26, with selections such as house-made chopped liver, roasted herb chicken, braised brisket, matzo crusted whitefish, and house-made sponge cake, $39.95. The menu is also available for carryout.

    13. Wildfire in Glenview and Lincolnshire offers a “Passover Club” menu served family style on Monday, March 25, and Tuesday, March 26, with traditional holiday dishes such as gefilte fish, matzo-ball soup, chopped liver and braised brisket of beef, $39.95.

    14. Mity Nice on the Magnificent Mile is serving a family-style Passover dinner from Monday, March 25, through Tuesday, April 2, with special items like house-made matzo, chopped liver, gefilte fish with horseradish, sweet-and-sour brisket, herb-roasted chicken, garlic-crusted whitefish, carrots tzimmes, potato pancakes, flourless chocolate cake and toasted macaroons, $36.95.

     

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