Chicago French Market Vendors have specials for Mother's Day

Three vendors at Chicago French Market have got you covered with gift ideas for Mother's Day.  Check them out!

Les Fleurs

In honor of Mother’s Day, Les Fleurs will be creating original floral arrangements, gorgeous bouquets, beautiful gift items and an array of plants, to say “I Love You”. Specials include: Mini Cymbidium orchid bouquets for $25.00, Spray Rose bouquets in assorted colors for $18.00 and tulips in assorted colors for only $10.00. Delivery is available throughout the Chicago area and suburbs. Call 312-463-1111 to place your order.

Oh Olive!

Oh, Olive! is offering a Grand Opening Special of $2 off your total purchase throughout the month of May. Choose from a wide range of the freshest and finest olive oils, vinegars, imported specialty green, white, black, rooibos (herbal infusions) and oolong (full-bodied, fragrant, and fruity) from Tiesta Tea. Natural Rossi Pasta products and Galena Garlic Company spices, rubs, and salts are the perfect complement to its oils, vinegars, and teas. Once you try the best you will never go back!

Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread and Wine

Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread and Wine will be featuring its “Great Ladies of Cheese” medley box for Mother’s Day. Inspired by the illustrious forerunners of America’s artisan cheese movement, many of which were women, each cheese featured in this collection highlights a contemporary female cheese maker.

Soyoung Scanlon’s story weaves together a former career in biochemistry, a cheese making venture, and a love of classical music; all of her cheeses, as well as her Andante Dairy, are musical in name. Marieke Penterman studied making Boerenkaas (farmstead Gouda) on a traditional Dutch farmstead dairy and brought cultures and tools from her native Holland to her own farmstead operation in the Midwest. Pat Morford collected bits of cheese making equipment here and there for years on her dairy before actualizing her dream and starting Rivers Edge Chevre. Additionally, a spread from another American artisan cheese-lover, Nancy Wekselbaum, will be featured among the collection of artisan cheese selections.

The talent, dedication, and skill of these women bring you these tasty offerings: Picolo from Andante Dairy, Petaluma, CA; Cow’s Milk 4 oz. Marieke Gouda from Holland’s Family Cheese, Thorp, WI; Raw Cow’s Milk 6 oz. Up in Smoke from Rivers Edge Chevre, Logsden, OR; Goat’s Milk 4 oz. Gracious Gourmet Spread from The Gracious Gourmet, Bridgewater, CT.

Celebrate Mother’s Day at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

For 364 days a year, moms everywhere balance jobs, kids, households and more. This Mother’s Day, give Mom a break and show her how cherished she is with a sumptuous prix-fixe brunch at  Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. For $34.95 per person*, families can enjoy three courses of classic brunch dishes and Fleming’s favorites In addition, an eye-opening brunch cocktail, Blood Orange Fizz, will be available, as well as Fleming’s traditional à la carte menu. As thanks for their hard work, mothers will receive receive a complimentary $25 Dining Card** to enjoy on a future occasion.

“Growing up, my dad and grandparents put extra care into making Mother’s Day dinner at our family restaurant,” said Russell Skall, Fleming’s Excutive Chef, who created the menu. “I wanted to continue that tradition and create a memorable menu for families to enjoy. Our entrées, including Filet Mignon Benedict and New Orleans-Style French Toast, are Fleming’s elegant twist on a classic Sunday Brunch.”

Guests will start brunch with Fleming’s signature Wedge Salad or a Fresh Fruit Medley, followed by one of five delicious entrée choices.

The tender Filet Mignon Benedict is cooked to order, topped with poached eggs and buttery béarnaise sauce with fresh lemon, shallots and tarragon. Fleming’s New Orleans-Style French Toast is made from thick slices of rich brioche bread soaked in Grand Marnier-flavored cinnamon batter, and topped with a generous dollop of housemade chantilly cream and fresh berries. A Sunday favorite at Fleming’s, Prime Rib, is slow roasted and served with a trio of sauces. Shrimp or Filet Frittata and a Steakhouse Filet Mignon Cobb Salad round out the main course offerings. All entrees are served with a choice of Potatoes O’Brien or Sauteed Green Beans.

To bring the meal to a sweet conclusion, guests can enjoy their choice of White Chocolate Bread Pudding with bourbon crème anglaise, Crème Brûlée made with creamy Tahitian vanilla bean custard and served with fresh seasonal berries,  or Walnut Turtle Pie featuring housemade caramel, walnuts and chocolate in a chocolate pie crust.

A prix-fixe children’s brunch is available for $16.95* for each child under 12 years old, and includes a fresh fruit salad followed by four kid-pleasing entrées, and a sundae or sorbet for dessert, plus a beverage.

Blood Orange Fizz, a brunch cocktail bright with citrus flavors, is offered at a special price of $6.95. Maeve Pesquera, Fleming’s Director of Wine, created the brunch cocktail with Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Stoli Vodka, fresh lemon juice and a splash of club soda served on the rocks.

Brunch hours on Sunday, May 13, are 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Mother's Day brunch is available at both Chicago-area Fleming's locations, 25 E. Ohio St., Chicago, 312/329-9463 and Lincolnshire, 960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, 847/793-0333. To make reservations, please visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com

*plus tax and gratuity

** $25 Dining Card valid May 14 – June 15, 2012

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH MENU, $34.95

Choice of Appetizer
THE WEDGE
iceberg lettuce, grape tomatoes, red onions and crumbled blue cheese

FRESH FRUIT MEDLEY
berries, melon, pineapple, sour cream and honey sauce

Choice of Entrée
FILET MIGNON BENEDICT
sliced filet mignon and egg on an English muffin with herb béarnaise sauce and tomato concassé

NEW ORLEANS-STYLE FRENCH TOAST
Grand Marnier battered brioche, maple syrup and country sausage

FLEMING'S FRITTATA choice of Shrimp or Filet Mignon
egg, mushroom, asparagus, onion, red pepper and gruyère cheese

STEAKHOUSE FILET MIGNON COBB
fresh greens with blue cheese, egg, bacon, avocado, tomato and red onion balsamic vinaigrette

PRIME RIB OF BEEF
slow roasted, served with a trio of sauces

Entrées served with:
POTATOES O'BRIEN peppers and onions
SAUTÉED GREEN BEANS mushrooms

Choice of Dessert
WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING
bourbon crème anglaise

CRÈME BRÛLÉE
creamy Tahitian vanilla bean custard served with fresh seasonal berries

WALNUT TURTLE PIE
housemade caramel, walnuts and chocolate in a chocolate pie crust

 CHILDREN'S BRUNCH MENU, $16.95 (ages 12 and under)

Starter
FRESH FRUIT SALAD
berries, melon, pineapple, sour cream and honey sauce

Choice of Entrée
CLASSIC FRENCH TOAST
served with sausage link or bacon

CHEDDAR CHEESE OMELET
made with two eggs, served with sausage link or bacon

STEAK AND FRIES
filet mignon and baked potato fries

CHICKEN STRIPS AND FRIES
crispy baked chicken breast strips with honey-mustard dipping sauce and baked potato fries

Choice of Beverage
2% MILK, SOFT DRINK or JUICE

Choice of Dessert
ICE CREAM SUNDAE
FRESH FRUIT SORBET

Mother’s Day at Tiffany & Co. with WFamily Event Series and a beauty weekend at L’occitane

Westfield Old Orchard is doing Mother’s Day right with a family-friendly celebration at Tiffany & Co. From 11:30 am – 3 pm Saturday, May 5 in front of Tiffany & Co., participating families can come and enjoy a crafting session creating handmade cards and gifts provided by the Westfield retailer.  Along with cards, children will take home a hand painted clay pot with seeds included as a gift to mom on her special day.  Completed greeting cards will be photographed and for the week leading up to Mother’s Day, cards will be displayed on Westfield’s LED billboard to commemorate the little ones’ efforts in showing love for mom.  Volunteers from Wilmette District 39 schools will be on hand to help with craft time and work to raise funds for their school district. No registration is required for this event, so bring the entire family to celebrate mom at Westfield Old Orchard.

The WFamily event series is a complimentary monthly program for preschool children that focuses on encouraging learning and literacy though fun, family activities.  Go here learn more about the WFamily program.   

L’occitane will be doing its own special Mother’s Day celebration.  Bring mom May 3-6 to enjoy a day beauty at their skincare event. There, she can receive a mini facial and makeup touchups with L’occitane’s new makeup line infused with Peony essential oils.  Complimentary gifts will be given to all who receive facials.  Call 847-329-9780 to set up an appointment.

Volare offers special Mother’s Day brunch service

After a highly successful grand re-opening this April, classic Italian eatery Volare (201 E. Grand Ave., 312-410-9900) is open Sunday, May 13 for a special Mother’s Day brunch service.   The four course spread will offer an array of new menu items conceived by Executive Chef Massimiliano Campagnini, and allow guests to choose from a menu of appetizers, soups and salads, entrees and desserts for the cost of $28.95. Tax and gratuity is not included. The brunch menu will be available 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Reservations are required.  

For the first course, diners will choose their favorite option from a selection of appetizers including Ostriche Rockefeller, Fresh Oyster baked to perfection with Baby Spinach in a cream Pernot sauce, Fried Calamari Fritti, Calamari served with Cocktail and tomato sauce, Mozzarella in Carrozza, Fried egg battered layered Italian bread with Eggplant, prosciutto and mozzarella served in a salsa di Pomodoro sauce or the Pizza Magherita. 

Next a soup or salad course will be offered where guest will choose from a menu of Minestrone Soup, Crawfish Bisque, Insalata di Rape Rosse, Spinach, roasted Beets, Apples, Gorgonzola Dolce, oven baked Parmesan Egg and roasted onion vinaigrette or Radicchio di Treviso, More e Salmone Affumicato, Treviso Radicchio, Blackberries, Blood Orange segment and smoked Salmon, served with a Cilantro/ Lime vinaigrette.

The third course offers  an entrée menu featuring  Pappardelle alla salsa di Pomodoro e Ricotta, Handcrafted Egg noodle sauteed with Tomato sauce and fresh Ricotta, Agnolotti ai Funghi, Half Moon shaped Pasta stuffed with Mushrooms and Mascarpone cheese, served with chive and Black Truffle butter sauce Crespelle ai Sapori di Mare, Homemade crepes stuffed with Crab and Lobster meat, served with a Crustaceans béchamel sauce, Fregolata,  Fregola pasta in a Jambalaya style, sauteed with Olive oil, Shallots, Shrimp, Mussels, Clams, Crawfish, Chicken, Sausage and a hint of creaole seasoning in a Brandy-cream sauce,  or Agnello al Forno Sliced slow cooked baby Lamb leg marinated in Garlic and Rosemary, served in an herbs demi-glaze sauce with Swiss chard and Potatoes Parisienne.

Finally the dessert menu features options including Crostatina di Fragole , Shortbread, Pastry cream, fresh Strawberries,  Pizzetta  alla Nutella, Baked mini pizza topped with Nutella chocolate and Mascarpone cheese,  Fruit & Cookies or Vanilla, Chocolate, or Lemon ice Ice cream.  In addition, a complimentary glass of champagne will be offered to adult diners.

Celebrate Mother’s Day all over Chicagoland!

Celebrate mom this year by taking your pick of amazing Chicago Mother’s Day specials and events from brunch and dinner as well as some good old fashioned family time fun.  See what is available to help you lavish mom and make her feel special this Mother’s Day.

                                                                 

Mother’s Day Brunch at Elate: The new brunch hotspot!

Elate (111 W. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60654; 312-202-9900) will be serving up its notable brunch service this Mother’s Day.  Bring mom and watch her delight in Elate’s delicious brunch menu 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Sunday, May 13.  In addition to its classic menu items, Elate will be adding a buffet option for an additional $12.  The buffet spread will include seasonal fruits, cheese and desserts.  Elate’s a la carte brunch menu includes classics like its famous Breakfast Pizza, with ham, potatoes, truffle oil and a sunny side up egg for $13.00,  Banana Custard French Toast  for $12.00  and the Elate Burger, cooked to perfection with creamed leeks, apple wood smoked bacon and house-made bread and butter pickles for $14.00. Elate also features an extensive Juice Bar during brunch with familiar favorites like fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juice and lemonade for $4.00,   and delicious juice blends like the Asian Rabbit, a mix of carrot juice and ginger for $7.00 and the Sunrise, a combination of pineapple, strawberry and lime juice for $9.00.

Want to celebrate mom with a champagne toast? For an additional $20.00, Elate also will provide bottomless mimosas with the purchase of any brunch entrée.

Dine at Fleming’s for Mother’s Day and receive a $25 Dining Card as a free gift to mom

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar (25 E. Ohio St., Chicago, IL 60611; 312-329-9463 and 960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, IL 60069; 847-793-0333) will be celebrating Mother’s Day with special brunch and dinner hours and specials, Sunday, May 13.  Brunch hours begin from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and feature three courses for $34.95 excluding tax and gratuity. Moms will have their choice of appetizers, entrees and desserts from a comprehensive menu including Fleming’s favorites like The Wedge, with iceberg lettuce, grape tomatoes, red onions and crumbled blue cheese, Filet Mignon Benedict with sliced filet mignon and egg on an English muffin with herd béarnaise sauce and tomato concassé, New Orleans-style French Toast and White Chocolate Bread Pudding with bourbon crème anglaise.  A children’s brunch menu will also be available for $16.95, excluding tax and gratuity, for children 12 and under.  Fleming’s also will be offering its  Blood Orange Fizz Cocktail, a mix of Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Stoli Vodka, fresh lemon juice and a splash of club soda for $6.95.

As a special gift to mom, spend Mother’s Day with Fleming’s and receive a $25 Dining Card; perfect for treating mom to your next dining experience at Fleming’s.

To make reservations, call your preferred Fleming’s location or make reservations online at www.flemingssteakhouse.com.

Bring mom to Francesca’s Restaurants for Mother’s Day

“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” – Abraham Lincoln

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13^th … Treat the amazing women in your life to a special Mother’s Day celebration at Francesca’s.  Reservations are available online or by calling your local Francesca’s locations.  Extended hours at all locations.  For more information visit www.miafrancesca.com.

Francesca’s at the Promenade (641 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60440; 630-739-6300) will have number of items, such as Vanilla bean French toast; Crispy chicken confit and bacon hash, as well as Frittata with sautéed asparagus, sausage, fresh mozzarella, spinach and house potatoes.

Francesca’s on Chestnut (200 E. Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611; 312-482-8800) will feature Smoked salmon omelet with chopped tomatoes, rapini and roasted potatoes; Eggs Benedict with prosciutto and Hollandaise sauce; Fried eggs with spicy avocado pesto and oven dried tomatoes.

Additionally, the following locations will feature special brunch items. Call each location for more information. Francesca’s al Lago (111 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, WI 53703; 608-255-6000); Francesca’s Famiglia (100 East Station Street, Barrington, IL 60010; 847-277-1027); Francesca’s Fortunato (40 Kansas Street, Frankfort, IL 60423; 815-464-1890); Francesca’s on Taylor (1400 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607; 312-829-2828)

Special Mother’s Day brunch service at Maxwell’s at the Club

Maxwell’s at the Club (200 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago, IL 60610; 312-527-5800) will have a special Mother’s Day brunch service 10 am – 3 pm, Sunday, May 13. 

Brunch options will feature prime rib, roast turkey breast and leg of lamb carving stations, an omelet and waffle bar, assorted pastries and seasonal fresh fruit.  Additionally a variety of appetizers, salads and entrée choices will be available. 

Come enjoy brunch and celebrate the special lady in your life at Maxwell’s for $45.  Children’s brunch also is available for $15 for children 10 and under.   For reservations, call (312) 527-5800, extension 301, or schedule at Maxwell’s website, using the Book a Table feature.

Prairie Grass Café serves up a delicious brunch feast for Mother’s Day

Celebrate Mother’s Day suburban style with Prairie Grass Cafe (601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, IL 60062; 847-205-4433).

Prairie Grass Café’s will be offering a delightful Mother’s Day brunch buffet for $45, excluding tax, gratuity and beverages, 9:30 am – 2 pm Sunday, May 13.   Every guest starts their meal with the signature “PGC Benedict” a poached egg with spinach and roasted tomato hollandaise. They are then able to take advantage of Prairie Grass’ amazing brunch buffet, which includes a made to order omelet station, hot waffles, its signature grass-fed beef Shepard’s Pie, Braised Lamb with yogurt sauce, raw onion and cilantro relish, Parmesan crusted Tilapia over creamed spinach, to name a few.  A variety of salads and fresh baked goods from Chopped veggie salad with crumbled Amish Blue Cheese, and red wine vinaigrette, Caesar salad with homemade dressing, croutons and shaved parmesan  to crusty multi grain artisan breads, mini chocolate croissants and Danishes, among other choices. To end the meal, diners also will have the opportunity to indulge in the dessert buffet, which includes Mom’s Homemade Crème Brulee Minis, Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble, Double Chocolate Cupcakes, a crepe station and a variety of seasonal fresh fruit.  Children’s brunch options also are available for $15 for children 10 and under.

Prairie Grass’ regular dinner menu will be available 5 pm -9 pm.  To see its dinner menu and to check out Mother’s Day dinner specials visit.  www.prairiegrasscafe.com.

Westfield’s WFamily series returns this May with a Mother’s Day celebration at Tiffany & Co.

Westfield Old Orchard (Skokie Blvd & Old Orchard Center, 847-673-6800) is doing Mother’s Day right with a family-friendly celebration at Tiffany & Co.  From 11:30 am – 3 pm Saturday, May 5 in front of Tiffany & Co., participating families can come and enjoy a crafting session creating handmade cards and gifts provided by the Westfield retailer.  Along with cards, children will take home a hand painted clay pot with seeds included as a gift to mom on her special day.  Completed greeting cards will be photographed and for the week leading up to Mother’s Day, cards will be displayed on Westfield’s LED billboard to commemorate the little ones’ efforts in showing love for mom.  Volunteers from Wilmette District 39 schools will be on hand to help with craft time and work to raise funds for their school district. No registration is required, so bring the entire family to celebrate mom at Westfield Old Orchard.

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