Pink pandemonium: Fight breast cancer with your taste buds
Here's a look at what's happening on the Chicago-area dining scene this week.
Special events
Pink martini: Café Matou, 1846 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, features pink martinis to raise money for the fight against cancer during the month of October. The Martini Francais features Grey Goose vodka, Chambord and a splash of pineapple juice for $9. A portion of all sales will be donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation. For more information, call (773) 384-8911 or visit www.cafematou.com
Light the Way: Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation and Carson Pirie Scott mark National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with their 2007 Benefit Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware Place, Chicago. The theme is "Light the Way to Find a Cure," because of LSCRF's efforts to illuminate Chicago buildings in pink lights. Guest speaker is cancer survivor Fran Drescher. Tickets are $250 per person. (312) 926-7133.
Mussel marathon: Chicago Originals.com sponsors the third annual Mussel Festival now through Sunday at participating restaurants. Check www.ChicagoOriginals.com to find out which Chicago-area restaurants are participating, or call (773) 620-3986.
Hop to it: Emmett's Ale House -- at 5200 Main St., Downers Grove; 128 Min St., West Dundee; and 123 Washington St., Oswego --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.
Special menus
Eight-course wonder: Vie Restaurant, 4471 Lawn Ave., Western Springs, hosts an eight-course dinner paired with wines at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Guest chef is Steve Corry of Five Fifty-Five in Portland, Maine. The cost is $150 plus tax. Seating is limited. (708)246-2082.
Mimosa brunch: Citizen Bar, 364 W. Erie Street, Chicago, has unveiled a new brunch promotion that includes mimosas. A flat $15 price includes any entree off the brunch menu, including Amaretto French toast, Italian sausage and Italian grits, granola and ricotta, and herbed chicken salad. (312) 640-1156 for reservations.
Lunar anniversary: Carnivale, 702 West Fulton Market, Chicago, invites guests to a Right Bite Dinner celebrating sustainable aquaculture. Guest speakers include Brian Mencke, owner of Cascade Aqua Farms; Carol Devine, vice president of Australis Aquaculture; and Michelle Jost, conservation programs manager of the John G. Shedd Aquarium. The $70-per-person dinner is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. For reservations, call (630) 860-7324.
Wine events
Wines in the Wild: At the seventh annual fundraiser at Brookfield Zoo, taste more than 60 wines from Germany, Spain, Australia and the United States. Tasting and live and silent auctions take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday. $100 per person includes admission to the zoo, parking and a commemorative wineglass. For reservations, call (708) 688-8670.
Restaurant news
An excellent pair: Ristorante We, 172 West Adams Street, Chicago, recently announced the arrival of Bradford Phillips as the new executive chef, and wine director Mark DiDomenico received an award of excellence from Wine Spectator magazine. Phillips' most recent post was at Saltaus in Chicago's West Loop. DiDomenico, a veteran of Bin 36, is keen on educating his guests about unusual wines. Call (312) 332-1200.