Weekend Planner: National French Fry Day, Eat #OfftheMenu at Le Colonial, Umami Falafel, and Windy City Smokeout

National French Fry Day at Burger Boss

July 13 is National French Fry Day, meaning it's time to stock up on all things fried and starchy. You can easily do so at Burger Boss, where they'll be celebrating the spuddy holiday by doling out free french fries with the purchase of any 1/3 or 1/2 pound burger, chicken sandwich, veggie boss, portobello, or Firecracker Dog. By the way, the latter is the new monthly special featuring an all-beef hot dog, New England-style brioche bun, American cheese sauce, fried onion straws, fresh tomatoes, and chili-jalapeno sauce. 

Go #OffTheMenu at Le Colonial

Each month, Le Colonial offers a new #OffTheMenu special, an under-the-radar creation worth inquiring about. For July, that dish is com thit nuong, a medley of thinly sliced barbecue pork, white rice, and sunny-side up egg with lime-garlic sauce. The dish is available throughout July for $16, so be sure and eat outside the box. 

(#OffTheMenu special at Le Colonial)

A Taste of Umami Burger in Chicago

Before L.A.-based Umami Burger opens its first Chicago location in Wicker Park sometime in the future, Chicagoans can get a taste of Umami via Falafill. The mod falafel shop has partnered with Umami founder Adam Fleischman for a new July special, the Umami Falafel Wrap. The Umami-inspired Mediterranean creation features classic falafel heaped with sauteed wild mushrooms, Parmesan fricos, french fries, and umami ketchup. For every sandwich ordered this month, Falafill will donate $1 to the Alzheimer's Association. So eat up for a good cause. 

Windy City Smokeout 2014

It's that time of year again. At the height of summer, Bub City is bringing back its annual Windy City Smokeout, bringing together a who's-who of barbecue experts from across the city and country July 11 through July 13. In addition to barbecue dishes cooked by the likes of The Salt Lick (Driftwood, Texas), Pappy's Smokehouse (St. Louis), and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (New York), the Smokeout will feature an impressive lineup of country music stars and quenching beers. Visit here for more info and tickets. 

- Matt Kirouac