Big bites
Here's a look at what's happening at suburban and Chicago restaurants for the coming week.
Special dinners
Operatic palate: Venuti's Ristorante, 2251 W. Lake St., Addison, hosts an Opera Dinner featuring opera singers in a 90-minute performance of arias, show tunes and more accompanying a full-course Italian meal at 6 p.m. Monday. The cost is $50 plus tax. Seating is limited. (630) 530-2140.
To Tequila!: Adobo Grill, 1610 N. Wells St., Chicago, showcases Tequila Trago at a "La Cocina de Independencia" four-course tequila dinner at 7 p.m. Thursday. The cost is $43, plus tax and gratuity. (773) 252-9990.
Lunar anniversary: Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton Market, Chicago, celebrates its second anniversary with a "Fiesta De Luna Llena (Full Moon Party)" on Thursday and Sept. 28. Magicians, body painters, stilt-walkers, Latin music and more set the mood for the party, which also includes a slew of dinner specials. Reservations recommended. (312) 850-5005.
"Angels" anniversary: Kit Kat celebrates the 31st anniversary of the 1970s hit TV show "Charlie's Angels" with its Kit Kat drag divas in feathered-hair mode and special TV-show-theme menu items like the "Angel Martini" and the "Speakerphone" shrimp dish. It's from 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. today. Reservations recommended. (773) 525-1111.
Wine events
Cellar raid: Café Matou, 1846 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, presents it 4th Wednesday Wine Cellar Raid, which features select wines for $17 a bottle throughout Wednesday evening. Call (773) 384-8911 for more information.
Port portal: Carlucci, 1801 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, hosts a Cockburn's Port Tasting lead by winemaker Miguel Corte Real from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Eight ports will be sampled alongside appetizers. The cost is $30 per person. (630) 512-0990.
Illinois wines: The Grape Vine, 206 E. State Road, Island Lake, partners with Cork Screw Pointe of McHenry for a wine dinner featuring a five-course Midwest cuisine dinner paired with wines from Illinois vintners at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The cost is $59, plus tax and 18 percent gratuity. (847) 526-8700.
Wine from Walla Walla: Niche Restaurant, 14 S. Third St., Geneva, hosts a five-course wine dinner with Amber Lane of the Washington-based Walla Walla Valley vintner Bergevin Lane. It's at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The cost is $90 per person. (630) 262-1000.
Food and wine masters: NoMI and the Park Hyatt Chicago, 800 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, kicks off the 2008 Masters of Food & Wine South America tour of the U.S. today with a cooking demonstration at 11:30 a.m. ($45), luncheon at 11:30 a.m. ($75), wine tasting at 3:30 p.m. ($60), reception at 7 p.m. ($40 reception only) and a multicourse dinner collaboration between executive chef Christophe David and Argentine chefs Fernando Trocca, Maximo Lopez May and Juliana Lopez May from 5 to 10 p.m. ($230 reception and dinner package; $195 dinner only).
There is also a grand tasting of Argentine wines from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday for the all-inclusive price of $15 per person. Reservations are required. (312) 239-4044.
Special events
Smoking salmon: Burhop's Seafood at Plaza Del Lago, 1515 N. Sheridan Road, Wilmette, continues its free September Saturday cooking demonstrations with a session on smoking your own salmon from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. (847) 256-6400.
Pumpkin ale: Delilah's, 2771 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, hosts a comprehensive tasting of pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. There is no admission fee. (773) 472-2771.
Mussel marathon: Chicago Originals.com sponsors the third annual Mussel Festival now through Sept. 30 at participating restaurants. Check the Web site www.ChicagoOriginals.com to find out which Chicago-area restaurants are participating or call (773) 620-3986.
Hop to it: Emmett's Ale House locations at 5200 Main St., Downers Grove; 128 Min St., West Dundee; and 123 Washington St., Oswego, each celebrate the end of the hop-growing season with a Hop Fest through the end of September. Call (630) 434-8500 (Downers Grove), (847) 428-4500 (West Dundee) or (630) 383-2020 (Oswego) for more information on specials.
Apples aplenty: Prairie Grass Café chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris preside over an apple tasting (both cooked and raw) booth at the Green City Market, Lincoln Park, Chicago, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. (847) 424-2486.
Peru fundraiser: Swissôtel, 323 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, teams up with the Consulate General of Peru and Swissôtel Lima for a Peruvian Cuisine & Music Festival from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Sept. 28. Tickets cost $49 per person and a portion of the proceeds go to benefit earthquake victims of Peru. Visit www.swissotel chicago.com/peru for a full schedule or call (312) 268-8111.