Dining events: Get your smelt fix

Smelt at Shaw's

Just a few weeks remain for smelt-seekers to get their fix of these fresh-caught Great Lakes fish. A dish of cracker meal-crusted smelt served atop toast triangles with parsley, lemon and tartar sauce ($7.99) is available in Shaw's Oyster Bar and dining room. In the Oyster Bar only, fried smelt comes on a bed of hand-cut fries with slaw and tartar sauce ($12.99). Shaw's Crab House, 1900 Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722, shawscrabhouse.com

Graduation dinner

Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and dinner prepared by students graduating from Elgin Community College's Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program during the college's annual Gourmet Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, May 6. The $100-a-plate dinner also raises money for the school's 2012 culinary team, which will compete and study in Austria. Reserve your spot now. Spartan Terrace Restaurant, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, (847) 622-0300, elgin.edu/spartanterrace

1 year old and growing

Seasons 52 in Schaumburg kicks off a monthlong celebration of its first anniversary with freebies for diners. The restaurant will raffle off a private Chef's Table experience for 10 guests (enter as of May 1), and on May 10 — the actual anniversary — all guests dining in the restaurant will receive a complimentary Mini Indulgence dessert. Response to Seasons 52 has been so positive the Florida-based restaurant group plans to open an Oak Brook location in the fall. Seasons 52, 1770 Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-5252, seasons52.com