Weekly Planner: Nana's Anniversary, Luau Dinner, NAHA at Eataly and More
Nana’s 8th Anniversary Party
One of the city’s quintessential and most endearing family-run restaurants, Nana is celebrating its 8th anniversary August 24 with a special evening filled with food and entertainment. The Solis family are celebrating their Latin-influenced Bridgeport restaurant from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on August 24, featuring live salsa music and a multi-course buffet. It starts with a welcome cocktail reception from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with the buffet running until 8:00 p.m. and a dessert buffet from 8:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Music plays throughout the event, and dancing is encouraged. For $40, attendees, get one welcome cocktail, a dinner buffet with Cuban-style mojo-seasoned roast pig and dessert, with offerings like pistachio rum cake, chocolate ganache cake and guava cheesecake. Tickets are required in advance, and can be purchased on Nana’s website. A cash bar will be available during the event as well.
Luau Dinner at Tokio Pub
In other festive dining news, Tokio Pub prepares to cap off summer with its annual luau dinner, taking place August 28. One of the most fun and flavorful events of the season, the Hawaiian-inspired soiree consists of four courses of food, tropical cocktails and island-inspired beers. Check-in for the event begins at 6:30 p.m., with first courses going out at 7:00 p.m. The menu features tuna poka tacos, huli huli chicken skewers, kalua pig and pineapple upside-down cake with coconut sorbet and cilantro. The cost is $45 per person, which includes one specialty cocktail, like a Mai Tai, Blue Hawaiian or Pińa Colada, and a la carte beers from Kona Brewing Company are Big Wave Golden Ale and Longboard Lager. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Tokio Pub.
NAHA Does Pizza at Eataly
As part of Eataly’s ongoing guest chef “quattro mani” series, the Italian food hall has tapped uber-talented chef Carrie Nahabedian of NAHA to lend her inspiration and expertise on August 29. From 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., Nahabedian will be on-site serving her own pizza for Eataly. True to form, she’s showcasing her Armenian roots by topping pizzas with spiced lamb, Armenian string cheese, Greek feta, wood-roasted Tropea onions, kalamata olives, thyme and Istanbul spice market salt. $10 from every pizza sale will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, as an added bonus.
Barrio Launches Lunch
In case you needed extra incentive to check out the buzzy new Barrio, here’s one: the River North Mexican hot spot has added lunch to its roster. Along with several items off the dinner menu, Barrio enhances the daytime menu with two Mexican-inspired sandwiches, like a blackened mahi mahi with avocado, togarashi cole slaw, lettuce, tomato, pickle and shishito pepper tartare sauce. There’s also more traditional torta sandwiches, like chicken pibil, chimichurri steak and tamarind pulled pork, plus a Barrio Burger topped with queso Americano, hatch chile-onion hash and avocado aïoli.