Weekday Planner: Crab Boil, Burger Birthday, and Wine and Beer Dinners
Anti-St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans at RPM Italian
While revelers drink their way into a green beer-induced hangover, RPM Italian is raising a glass of vino to Artista Winery. The winery lays the framework for an elegant dinner on March 17, featuring a five-course progression of food from Doug Psaltis expertly matched with different Artista wines by wine director Ryan Arnold. A reception starts at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m., which opens with Burrata and smoked salmon. Next is bruschetta, followed by mushroom and smoked ricotta agnolotti, and a burly plate of aged porterhouse with fennel and bing cherry marmalade. The final course is whipped Roquefort and mascarpone with Piedmontese hazelnuts. Each course comes with a different glass of wine from the Artisa portfolio. The cost is $125 per person, and reservations can be made by calling 312-955-1413 or emailing RPMItalianParties@LEYE.com.
M Burger Turns Four
In human years, the fourth birthday means pre-school. In burger years, the fourth birthday means free burgers for all! Or to get more specific, free burger with any purchase at any M Burger location all day long in honor of their fourth birthday on March 19. The offer is valid for one per person, in-store only, and it's a pretty great deal considering all burgers are up for grabs, including M Burgers and any secret menu burger.
(Isn't this cute?!)
Dungeness Crab Boil
Crab is king on March 20 at Fish Bar. With Dungeness crabs at their seasonal apex, Lakeview's preeminent seafood nook is cooking up copious amounts of crustaceans. Diners will be equipped with mallets and crab-crackers for shell-smashing, accented with lobster bisque, boiled potatoes, and Red Hook ESB to drink.The cost is $40 per person and tickets can be purchased here. As an added bonus, 100% of proceeds from all the crab-cracking festivities goes to the Shedd Aquarium as part of DMK's Friends of Fish program.
Sumerian Beer Dinner at The Gage
Here's an obscure regional focus for beer-lovers. On March 19, The Gage teams up with Great Lakes Brewing Company and the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago to showcase Mesopotamia (and the heart of humanity) for a Sumerian beer dinner. The evening entails three courses of beer-friendly fare by executive chef Peter Coenen, adjoined by insightful dialogue from reps from Great Lakes and the Institute on brewing practices in ancient Sumeria. The whole idea originated when Great Lakes co-owner Pat Conway tasked historians, scientists, and archaeologists with help in brewing a legit version of the first-ever recorded beer recipe from Sumeria, aka the birthplace of civilization. The cost for the dinner, which basically doubles as a delicious history lesson, is $70 per person and tickets can be purchased here.
- Matt Kirouac