Weekday Planner: Jam at Night, Sommelier for a Day, WhistlePig Dinner, Burlesque and Variety Show at The California Clipper
"Sommelier for a Day" at III Forks Prime Steakhouse
Have you ever wanted to play the role of sommelier? Well now you can! Sort of. It's all thanks to an upcoming wine tasting at III Forks Prime Steakhouse, wherein guests get to sip their way through six Rhone varietals on the evening of November 4. The specially dubbed "Sommelier for a Day" tasting event takes place from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with sommelier Chris McFall leading attendees through a tasting of Rhone wines, each accompanied by hors d'oeuvres. By the end of the event, you're sure to be a pro. The cost to attend is $20 per person. Save your spot by calling the restaurant.
Jam at Night
Ryan Poli is back. The acclaimed chef left Chicago after decamping Tavernita (RIP) for a trek around the globe, working in kitchens as far-flung as Denmark and Australia. Upon his return to Chicago, he's gotten right back into the swing of things with a new dinner series hosted at Jam. Since the Logan Square restaurant only operates during the day, the series is aptly dubbed "Jam at Night," acting as a a veritable pop-up dining experience from Poli himself. After a red-hot initial run earlier in October, the chef is re-introducing Jam at Night with an ongoing weekly series that runs from Wednesday, November 4, through Saturday, December 5. Save for November 23 due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the series will feature dinners every Wednesday night through Saturday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. Inspired by his memories and his travels, the eight-course tasting menus change daily, with Poli and his kitchen crew doubling as servers. It's a hyper-personal dining experience not to miss, especially coming from such an esteemed talent. Space is limited to 20 guests per dinner and tickets range from $75 to $90 per person. A full bar is available, cash only, or guests can BYO for a $25 corkage fee. Purchase tickets here.
WhistlePig Dinner at Elixir Andersonville
If whiskey is more your craving, you're in luck as well. Elixir's newly opened Andersonville location os hosting a special WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey dinner on November 4 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. It entails a four-course lineup of dishes and drink pairings, with mixologist Vlad Novikov curating a selection of three rare single cask finished whiskeys: French Sauternes, Madeira, and Port. The event will also feature WhistlePig's newest portfolio addition, their Old World, which is a combination of all three. The event kicks off with a welcome Boulevardier cocktail made with WhistlePig Rye 10 yr, along with a plate of charcuterie. The second course is a tasting flight of cask-finished whiskeys, plus a tasting flight of cheeses and accoutrements. Next up is the WhistlePig Old World cocktail, served alongside a deconstructed European sandwich. For dessert, it's a choice of single-cask Sauternes, Madeira, or Port, plus chocolate mousse with peanut butter and raspberry. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here.
Burlesque and Variety Show at The California Clipper
Things are getting saucy over at the California Clipper. The seasoned cocktail bar has instated a monthly burlesque and variety show series, hosted on the first Tuesday of every month starting at 9:30 p.m. Performances on the stage run the gamut from racy to funny, and everything in between, all of which pairs nicely with the Clipper's impressive library of cocktails. The lineup of performers this go-round includes a dance troupe called Fringe Factor, a classic burlesque act from Tila von Twirl, a bit of can-can and burlesque fusion from Olive Oztentatious, a circus-style act from Mr. Spring, and more. Doors open at 8:00 p.m. and the cover charge is $10.
- Matt Kirouac