Pour for Arts4Kids Foundation benefit at Bites Asian Tapas in Lake View February 26

An evening of great food and wine is on tap at “Pour” in support of  the Arts4Kids Foundation, 6 p.m., Wednesday February 26 at Bites Asian Tapas, 3313 North Clark, (773) 270-5972.

 “Pour” is a popular fundraiser that brings together wine tastings and social awareness. The event features wine and food pairings, as well as special tasting experiences, all in support of a non-profit organization.

Pour events have raised funds for several local and national charities.  Arts4Kids aims to introduce children to a variety of arts, hence fostering intellectual and emotional growth as well as enabling to spear through the cultural bearers. Its founder Leonard Mogul has help sponsor cultural trips for underprivileged kids across Chicago.

“It's important that these children are exposed to a different atmosphere and understand there is so much more to life than the small piece of the world they see,” said Mogul in a recent interview.

Bites Asian Tapas serves dishes from countries all over Asia, from Japan to Thailand to China and

Vietnam.  The tapas are perfect for sharing. The restaurant’s crafted cocktails are Asian-infused and carefully created to complement the dishes. Bites, which opened this past fall in Lake View, is co-owned by chef Marita Tantivirasut and entrepreneur Asana Nakornchai.

Attendees of Pour will receive a glass of wine from the Love Cork Screw brand and one unique menu item from Bites.  Also one attendee will win a prize drawing for a trip for two to Las Vegas.

Tickets to Pour are $25 in advance for tickets and for more information visit Eventbrite.com.

For information about Bites Asian Tapas, visit BitesTapas.com. Like Bites Asian Tapas on Facebook and follow it on Twitter @BitesTapas.

Celebrate with your Valentine at Bites Asian Tapas

           

A pleasurable, romantic evening is awaiting those who enjoy their Valentine’s Day (February 14 and 15) at Bites Asian Tapas this Friday and Saturday (3313 N. Clark St., Chicago; (773) 270-5972; bitestapas.com). Bites is a casual, stylish and comfortable Asian bistro in Lakeview featuring a wide range of homemade small plate favorites from Thailand, Japan, China, Vietnam, and Korea. The experience at Bites is unique and enticing. A newcomer to Chicago’s dining scene, Bites Asian Tapas is receiving rave reviews: 4.5 out of five stars from Yelp, and UrbanDaddy calls it a "small plates wonderland."  

Nothing says "I love you" better than sharing the delicious Bites Valentine’s Day menu, showcasing the colorful cuisine of Asia. The Valentine’s Day celebration begins with a glass of champagne. Then select two of the small plate choices: Drunk Chicks(whiskey sauce or spicy hot sauce and sour cream); Buns (choice of Pork Belly, Roasted Duck, Avocado Tempura, Crispy shrimp cake, Shiitake& Tofu, Chicken Katsu);Green Gyoza prepared with Edamame, Mixed Vegetable, Honey Wasabi Mayo & Caramelized Whiskey Soy Sauce; Crying Amigo Tacos, with Grilled Rib-Eye, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Avocado, Cilantro with Lime Sauce; or Korean Sliders, Pork Shoulder Marinated in Korean Sauce, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Sesame Seed.  

The next course features a choice of big plate: Oriental Paella, prepared with Crab Fried Rice, Egg, Tomatoes, Scallion; Tonkotsu Ramen, Pork or Tofu in Rich and Creamy Broth, Egg Noodles, Ginger, Seaweed, Poached Egg, Garlic Oil, Sesame; Pretty in Pink, Rice Noodles in Bites Signature Sauce, Tofu, Omelette, Scallion, Crush Peanut, Sesame Seed; or Grilled Saba with Fresh Mackerel, Coleslaw with Rice & Teriyaki Sauce. The finale is a choice dessert: Mochi Shooter or Cookie Dough Chopstick.  

Bites Asian Tapas is owned by Asana Nakornchai and Marita Tantivirasut, formerly of Tank Sushi. The restaurant is open on Valentine’s Day from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Regular hours are Mon.-Thurs., 5-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 5-11 p.m.; Sun., 5-10 p.m. For more information or to make reservations, please contact Bites Asian Tapas at (773) 270-5972 or send an email toinfo@bitestapas.com. Visit the website atwww.bitestapas.com.

    

# # #

Birthday Feast at Little Goat Diner – Amazing

It’s my birthday and it’s a tradition to enjoy lunch with my friends from work. I wanted to go to someplace new and have wanted to try Stephanie Izard’s Little Goat Diner for some time. It’s been open for almost a year and none of us had tried it! We’ve been enjoying its satellite operation, Little Goat Bread, at the Chicago French Market, but our visit to Little Goat Diner was long overdue.

Little Goat Diner

Anyone living in or visiting Chicago would be remiss if not dining at Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard’s Little Goat Diner (820 W. Randolph St., Chicago, 312-888-3455). They don’t take reservations so we opted for a late lunch at 1 p.m. When we arrived, we were offered immediate seating at a communal table but chose to wait for a booth, about 10 minutes, no biggie.

The meal was so worth the wait and then some. It was fabulous. I knew that we were over-ordering but couldn’t help it. Everything on the menu sounded delicious and the prices were reasonable.

We started with the Hot Crab Dip, a throwback to the ‘60s, with creamy cheesy (cheddar and cream cheese) lump crab and Ritz crackers. What a kick! For our second course, we split an amazing Pork Belly Butternut Salad (fried pork belly, shredded butternut and Kohlrabi squash, spiced pecans, crisp wonton and sherry vinaigrette). Loved it.

Fish Tostadas

We could have stopped here, but oh no. We each ordered entrees. My Fish Tostadas (crisp whitefish, shallot aioli, chickpeas onion salad, Harissa vinaigrette) were beyond wonderful and now set my standard benchmark. I dare anyone to make ones as good as these. They were that good. Lightly battered fish, housemade tostadas, pure yumminess.

Los Drowned

Lee had the waiter’s recommended Los Drowned (braised beef, avocado, butter case cheese, pickled peppers and onions, spicy mayo, hoagie). I sampled the juicy beef which cut like butter; great flavor. 

Tuna Melt

The tuna melt was unlike any I had ever seen. The menu description, Albacore tuna, Nicoise salad, cheese sauce, sourdough bread, didn’t do it justice. If you like tuna melts, this is the granddaddy of them all. The side of smoky fries was different. I’m not a big fan of the hickory flavor but the fries were yummy nonetheless and my companions loved them.

Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman Barrie

Now we’re all really full, but in a good way. As Lee says almost every day, “my diet starts tomorrow.” Of course, tomorrow we’ll indulge in leftovers from Little Goat Diner. Lee’s diet might start the day after tomorrow, but I’m not holding my breath.

Pork Belly Butternut Salad

Smoked Fries

Cindy Kurman Barrie, Lee Barrie & Petra Quiceno

Little Goat Diner

Little Goat Bakery

Little Goat Bakery

Girl in the Kitchen, Stephanie Izard

Photos by Cindy Kurman

For more information and to check out the complete menu, visit Little Goat Diner.