Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Celebrate Fat TuesdayTonight at Luella's Southern Kitchen with Delicious Southern Cuisine and Live Jazz and Blues

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Chicken and Waffles 330 pixels w border.jpgThere is no better place in Chicago to celebrate Fat Tuesday than Luella's Southern Kitchen in Lincoln Square (4609 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-961-8196).Luella's is one of Chicago's hottest new restaurants, featuring the exquisite Southern Regional dishes of Chef/Owner Darnell Reed. It's a casual place with great spirit and energy. The restaurant is BYOB.
"I love New Orleans and so Fat Tuesday will be a celebration at Luella's," said Reed, who is a Chicago native but has spent much time in the Crescent City. "We're going to have a fun time, with tasty food and live music. We're serving up some of the most beloved, authentic dishes from Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia and the Carolinas, and we're BYOB so guests can bring their favorite beverages to celebrate with us."
Lee with Guitar wbKeeping the evening lively will be popular jazz guitar wiz Lee Alec Barrie, who will be on hand from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. with his "virtual band project" to get down with his soulful mix of contemporary jazz, instrumental R&B and Chicago blues.
In addition to the Fat Tuesday party favors, Luella's Southern Kitchen will be serving up some tasty specials including Seafood Gumbo ($8), Blue Corn Dusted Crab Cake with Creole Crawfish ($12), and an Oyster Po Boy with Cayenne Remoulade ($10).
Guests also can order from the wonderful regular menu, great for sharing, with favorites including Chicken Gumbo ($7), Bourbon Chicken and Waffles ($12), Kale Ambrosia 330 pixels w border.jpgShrimp and Grits ($15), Low Country Shrimp and Crab Boil ($21), Forever Braised Short Rib Mac and Cheese ($11), and Crispy Catfish Tacos ($10). Guests who prefer lighter fare will be thrilled with salads such as the Kale Ambrosia ($11) and the Quinoa Salad ($11). Don't forget the luscious desserts, including Beignets ($5) and Mississippi Mud Pie ($6).
"I hope Chicagoans who have that energetic New Orleans spirit will join us; it will be a wonderful time for all," said Reed.
For more information about Luella's Southern Kitchen, please visit the website at www.luellassouthernkitchen.com.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

How will you be celebrating Valentine's Day?

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Delicious Valentine's Eve Celebration at Maxwell's at the Club

Maxwell's At The Club @ the East Bank Club
500 N. Kingsbury, Chicago, IL 60654       
(312) 527-5800 ext. 301
www.maxwellsattheclub.com


lobster_tails-300Maxwell's At The Club is a River North dining gem. Located in the renowned East Bank Club, this upscale contemporary American restaurant is always open to the public.

With its exceptional food and service, Maxwell's is a gracious way to enjoy a delicious Valentine's Eve dinner, which will be served on Friday, February 13 only (Maxwell's is closed on Saturdays). To celebrate this romantic evening,
Maxwell's is preparing luxurious, candle-lit tables with white tablecloths and beautiful adornments. An extra special prix fixe menu will accompany the regular dinner menu. The price for the special prix fixe is $45 per person.

The dinner will include choice of appetizer, salad or soup, entrée and dessert. Entrée choices include lobster tail, fresh seafood, New York strip steak and filet mignon. Maxwell's also has an excellent wine list, enabling you to find the perfect pairings to enjoy with your food.
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Valentine's Day Celebration at the new Luella's Southern Kitchen in Lincoln Square

Luella's Southern Kitchen4609 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 961-8196
www.luellassouthernkitchen.com


Shrimp and Grits 330 pixels w border.jpgOriginally, Luella's chef/owner Darnell Reed had planned to serve his special Valentine's menu on Friday and Saturday. However, he's getting an early Valentine's gift, the birth of his and fiancé Jocelyn Naoe's baby daughter Jazani Luella Naoe Reed due for early delivery on Wednesday.
 Luella's Southern Kitchen is a warm and heartfelt neighborhood BYOB restaurant to enjoy a delicious, satisfying meal with your loved one on Valentine's Day. Nothing fills the heart better than a great Southern meal and Chef Reed helps you celebrate with his exciting

Valentine's menu, served on Saturday, February 14. The price is $90 per couple. Luella's excellent regular menu, filled with flavorful regional Southern favorites, also will be available on the 14th.
Luella's special Valentine's menu begins with a bowl of hearty Seafood Gumbo, topped with Fried Oysters. The meal continues with a fresh Spinach and Clementine Salad with Spiced Candied Pecans, Goat Cheese and Honey/Ancho Chili Vinaigrette.  
Guests will have a choice of entrée, either the Blue Corn Dusted Crab Cake with Crawfish Remoulade Roasted Potatoes and Glazed Brussels Sprouts or the hearty Braised Short Ribs with Carolina Gold Rice Grits and Roasted Carrots. The sweet finale is a luscious Chocolate and Pineapple Upside-down Cake with Brown Sugar Ice Cream.

For Valentine's dinner reservations, please call the restaurant at (773) 961-8196.

Monday, February 2, 2015

It’s not too late to make your Chicago Restaurant Week reservations

Chicago's 8th Annual Restaurant Week, produced by Choose Chicago, began on Friday. It isn’t too late to get a great reservation at eatitupchicago.com.

New to the Chicago Restaurant Week lineup this year are Acanto, Bottlefork, Fig & Olive, Gibson's Bar and Steakhouse, LuxBar, Mariano's, Moto, Parrot Cage Restaurant, Porkchop (Hyde Park), RM Champagne Salon, The Duck Inn, to highlight a few. This year marks the first time foodies can experience CRW at O'Hare InternAirport. If you're traveling, be sure to stop by Wicker Park Sushi (Terminal 2), Stefani's Tuscany Café (Terminal 1) or Goose Island Brewery (Terminal 3). Five Mariano's locations, including Bucktown, Lakeshore East, Ravenswood, South Loop and West Loop will offer a variety of ‘Lunch for 2' options at these participating locations.

The 14-day promotion continues through Thursday, February 12 and is packed with delicious prix fixe menus starting at $22 for lunch and $33 and/or $44 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). Dynamic offerings from more than 250 restaurants throughout the Chicago area, including 33 new participating restaurants are now available online at eatitupchicago.com.

Have you tried Maxwell’s at the Club (500 N. Kingsbury, 312-527-5800)? This hidden gem is located inside the East Bank Club and offers live music nightly in its bar on Tuesdays through Fridays. Here’s your chance to experience it and enjoy their Chicago Restaurant Week deal. 

Maxwell’s $22 lunch special features:


Starters
(choose one)

Shrimp Cocktail
tender shrimp, two house-made sauces
Brussels Sprouts Salad
toasted walnuts, shaved Parmesan, lemon, olive oil
Roasted Beets, Beets and Beets
fresh red, gold and striped beeds with red onion and balsamic glaze
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
butternut squash, onion, carrots, red bell pepper, corn, zucchini, kale; vegetarian

Entrées
(choose one)

Kale, Farro and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

dried cranberries, toasted walnuts; walnut-oil vinaigrette;
choice of roasted chicken breast or roasted salmon
Salmon
plank-roasted; brown rice; lemon-butter sauce on the side
Taco Sampler
one tender pulled pork and one griddled seafood and shrimp; lime-cilantro slaw, queso fresco, house-made salsa; corn tortillas 

Desserts
(choose one)
Seasonal Fresh Berries
marscapone-sabayon sauce with orange zest, orange liqueur, brandy
Tres Leches Cake
sponge cake laced with three types of milk: evaporated, condensed and cream
Sorbet, Gelato or Ice Cream
Chocolate Mousse Cup

Maxwell's $33 prix fixe dinner offers:
Starters
(choose one)

Shrimp Cocktail
tender shrimp, two house-made sauces
Bacon-Wrapped Roasted Dates
stuffed with goat cheese and almonds
Whipped Feta Cheese
Kalamata olives and lavosh
Baby Red Romaine
tarragon-buttermilk dressing

Entrées
(choose one)

Salmon
plank-roasted; brown rice; lemon-butter sauce on the side
Baby Back Ribs
American Family Farm ribs; fresh-cut fries
Roasted Amish Chicken
chicken breast, garlic-rosemary seasoned; roasted potatoes and vegetables
Broiled Lake Superior Whitefish
a favorite, served boneless; house-made tartar sauce on the side

Dessert
(choose one)

Coconut Snowball
a house specialty; vanilla ice cream rolled in toasted coconut, served with homemade hot fudge
Chocolate Soufflé Cake
crème anglaise, raspberry sauce
Seasonal Fresh Berries
marscarpone-sabayon sauce with orange zest, orange liqueur, brandy
Tres Leches Cake
sponge cake laced with three types of milk: evaporated, condensed and cream
Sorbet, Gelato or Ice Cream

For a complete list of participating restaurants and to find listings via neighborhood, visit www.eatitupchicago.com. Be sure to make reservations early, and check back often as restaurants and menus will be added daily.

Stay up to date with menus and new restaurant additions to the Chicago Restaurant Week lineup: follow @ChooseChicago on Twitter and Instagram, LIKE us on Facebook, and get social using  #CRW.

Chicago Restaurant Week is sponsored by 101.9FM The Mix, Goose Island Beer Co., Michigan Avenue Magazine, NBC 5 Chicago, Opentable, Serious Eats, Terlato Wines International

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