What to Eat This Week: Italian Food Aplenty, Cebiche for a Good Cause, and Opulent Steak Tacos

New Italian Eats at Volare

Published From www.ChicagoBestSteak.com .com

Streeterville's quintessential Italian haunt, Volare, just bolstered its menu with a new assortment of dishes. All the essentials are still in place, from bruschetta and fried calamari (duh) to margherita pizza and ricotta ravioli. The folk's from Volare also own Benny's Chop House. Located accross from Trump Tower they feature Prime Aged Steak. Things take a decidedly heartier turn with items such as salsiccia e peperoni, Italian pork sausage with roasted peppers; beet salad with tomatoes, prosciutto, Burrata, and balsamic; stuffed artichokes with pecorino, garlic, and bread crumbs; and baked rolled eggplant stuffed with ricotta and fresh basil, served in a verdant pomodoro sauce.


Volare
(Eat this at Volare)


Evening with Jeffrey Michaud at Nico Osteria

In honor of Jeffrey Michaud's new book, Eating Italy, the esteemed James Beard "Best Mid-Atlantic Chef" heads right to the hottest Italian restaurant in Chicago to celebrate: Nico Osteria. The two culinary juggernauts join forces for one tour de force of Italian cuisine, starting with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by a four-course meal (with wine pairings) inspired by Michaud's masterful book. The $85 ticket price includes a signed copy of one of Michaud's books. For reservations, call 312-994-7101.


Sample Pisco and Cebiche at Tanta

For one night only, your rampant cebiche and cocktail habits will actually lend a hand to a good cause, which makes throwing back pisco and seafood that much more altruistic. Tanta hosts One Hope United Night on January 21. Between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., the Peruvian restaurant offers small cebiche (like ceviche, but Peruvian and with the welcome addition of a "b") and Pisco Sour combos for just $20, with 20% of those proceeds going towards One Hope United. The organization serves to protect children and strengthen families in Chicago, so basically you'd almost be a bad person if you didn't get drunk off pisco.


Cebiche at Tanta
(Cebiche at Tanta. Photo: Anjali M. Pinto)


Steak Tacos Like You've Never Experienced

When was the last time you had a steak taco with foie gras and truffled mushrooms? If you answered anything other than "never," you're lying. And you need to rectify that void by visiting Takito Kitchen pronto. The modern Mexican eatery is beefing up its menu with a killer new steak taco, a $20 stunner made with grilled Wagyu steak, foie gras, truffled mushrooms, Parmesan, arugula, and smoked cayenne inside a black garlic tortilla. This thing is a meaty beast, and it begs to be eaten.


Rebel Release Party at Encore

Beer + hot jams. What else could you ask for? Music and booze converge at Encore Liquid Lounge on January 23 between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., when artist Aly Jados offers a live acoustical performance and a rep from Samuel Adams doles out free samples of their new beer, Rebel IPA. Sample the suds while listening to Jados, an alum of The Voice and American Idol, and an artist on local record label, Cassette Company Records.


- Matt Kirouac

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