Where to Celebrate the Kentucky Derby in Chicago...

Elate!

The Kentucky Derby is just around the corner and if you can't make it to Kentucky, consider planting yourself at Elate's bar to enjoy Chicago's best Mint Julep and watch the race. In honor of the Derby, Elate is offering Mint Julep's at a special price $8 (normally $12). The special runs along with the horses, Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5. While your enjoying your Mint Julep, stay for Elate's fabulous brunch.

Elate is located at 111 West Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60654. For reservations, call: 312.202.9900. Valet and street parking are available.

 

 

Here's Elate's Mint Julep recipe or you can try the original one featured below.

Elate's Mint Julep

Crushed Ice

2.5 oz Buffalo Trace

1 tablespoon sugar

6 mint leaves

Muddle mint leaves and sugar, add bourbon. Let it sit for about a minute to let mint fuse with bourbon. Add crushed ice and stir till glass is frosted. Add more crushed ice. Serve with mint sprig garnish.

*More about Mint Juleps

Editor's note: Reprint from the official Kentucky Derby website.

The Mint Julep has been the traditional beverage of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century. Early Times Kentucky Whisky has been privileged and honored to be a part of that tradition. The Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail has been "The Official Mint Julep of the Kentucky Derby" for more than 18 years.

Each year, almost 120,000 Early Times Mint Juleps are served over the two-day period of Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs Racetrack. That’s a feat that requires more than 10,000 bottles of Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail, 1,000 pounds of freshly harvested mint and 60,000 pounds of ice.

The Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail is a staple at the track the rest of the year as well. You can also find the Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail at your local retailer. The commemorative bottles have become collectors’ items for many, capturing the mood and spirit of the famous Churchill Downs track and Kentucky Derby race. If the Early Times Ready-to-Serve Cocktail is not available from your local retailer, you can make your own with this time-honored recipe:

The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Early Times Kentucky Whisky
• Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

The best times are enjoyed responsibly.
Early Times Distillery Co., Kentucky Whisky. 40 percent Alc. By Volume. Louisville, KY 2006.

Enjoy live jazz and dinner every Thursday at Elate in Chicago's River North

Jazz Thursdays with Graham Czach and the Time MachinesThe live contemporary jazz from Graham Czach (grahamczach.com) and the Time Machines on Thursday evenings has also been a strong attraction and a crowd pleaser.

The music has been so well received that Elate now calls Thursday evenings, simply, Jazz Thursdays. It’s the place to be to hear top notch jazz that fills the room with a hip, contemporary fusion of sounds. Czach, the very popular and highly respected singer-songwriter who has built a strong following in Chicago, is also a musician’s musician as an instrumentalist. He is a versatile, creative composer, arranger and jazz bassist who teams up with long time musical partner, drummer Makaya McCraven (makayamccraven.com), plus a host of guest musicians to create an energetic groove that bridges the gap between jazz, R&B, hip hop and electronica. The group’s music fits in perfectly with Elate’s eclectic, sustainable vibe.



Friday and Saturday night DJ adds smooth groove
Late nights on Friday and Saturday, Elate becomes a lively place to meet for specialty cocktails, great wine and craft beer and the latest in hip hop, house and electronica spun by live DJs. The music goes from 9:30 to 1 a.m.; Elate’s late night menu is available until 11 p.m.

ELATE, 111 West Huron, Chicago, Illinois 60654, 312-202-9900, ElateChicago.com Elate’s menus offer organic wine, spirits and fare and the restaurant composts, recycles, and purchases as much local product as possible. The interior features reclaimed wood tables and flooring, high efficiency lighting, eco-friendly paint and 80% recycled drywall. Elate encourages the use of hybrid vehicles by offering those cars complimentary valet parking.

Complimentary Green City Market Gazapacho at Elate on Earth Day (April 22)

Earth Day is always very meaningful at Elate and this year, on Sunday, April 22, Chef Michael Noll will feature complimentary tastings of his special Green City Market Gazpacho. Full portions of the GCM Gazpacho may be purchased for $9. Also special for the day is the Elate Ginger Fixx TREEtini with Veev Acai spirit and Ginger Beer for $8 (the normal price is $12). For every cocktail sold, a tree is planted through  Live It Green. The first 40 guests ordering a TREEtini will receive a complimentary Acai Berry Bracelet. Other complimentary gifts will be available while supplies last.

If you want to try the Ginger TREEtini at home, the recipe includes 1 1/2 oz. VeeV Acai spirit, 2 oz. Ginger Beer, Splash of Lime Juice, Touch of Simple Syrup, and garnish with bitters. Mix the ingredients over ice and serve on the rocks or up as you prefer.

Parking is complimentary for earth friendly guests who drive hybrid vehicles.

ELATE, 111 West Huron, Chicago, Illinois 60654, 312-202-9900, ElateChicago.com Elate’s menus offer organic wine, spirits and fare and the restaurant composts, recycles, and purchases as much local product as possible. The interior features reclaimed wood tables and flooring, high efficiency lighting, eco-friendly paint and 80% recycled drywall.

Elate announces new spring menu.

Elate Executive Chef Michael Noll continues to delight diners with an evolving contemporary American menu that features mostly organic and locally produced ingredients. The new spring dinner menu puts a bit more emphasis on the small plates, which have been very popular. New small plate creations include Grilled Octopus (photo left) with shishito peppers, toasted peanut, radish and sourdough, Rushing Water Trout with fettucini, fava beans, corn pudding and roasted red pepper ($15), and a new soup, Chilled Spring Pea Puree with goat cheese Arincini, elephant garlic, crème fraîche and mint ($14).

A delicious new entrée is the Amish Chicken (photo left), with tasso roulade, San Simon fondue, corn bread, pickled okra ($24).

Don't forget, every Wednesday is $1 Oyster Day at Elate, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. All fresh oysters on the menu are available for the special low, low price of $1.

April 16 is National Eggs Benedict Day - Celebrate at Elate.

Eggs Benedict is one of those delectable treats that should be enjoyed in all its sinful glory.

Don’t forget National Eggs Benedict Day is Monday, April 16. Elate's new Weekday Brunch menu will be spruced up on this day with Chef Michael Noll’s unique Country Fried Pork Belly Benedict ($13). Need we say more. Don't forget that Elate's bottomless Mimosa is always available at brunch for $20 with the purchase of an entree...a great way to celebrate. Elate, 111 W. Huron at Clark, 312.202.9900.

Steampunk Thursdays to begin at Elate, March 22

Live music and the sights and sounds of Steampunk make
Elate the place to be on Thursdays

Elate restaurant (111 W. Huron, 312-202-9900) in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, is taking its eco-friendly philosophy to new heights, on Thursdays, by re-inventing itself as the Steampunk center of Chicago. Beginning Thursday, March 22 and on every Thursday thereafter, Elate will be the scene of Steampunk Thursdays.

Imagine a world planted in the Victorian era, where steam has become the foremost source of energy and Victorian design and fashion ideas rule. Now imagine that one hundred years later (i.e., today), Victorian sensibility still rules and modern technology has blended with modern rock, techno and jazz music. That’s what Steampunk Thursdays are all about.

Beginning Thursday, March 22, from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., Elate will welcome local singer/songwriter and rock icon Graham Czach, along with his band the Time Machines. The band will perform sets at 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. The high energy music, great for dancing or simply listening and enjoying, is the band’s innovative sound where vintage jazz meets modern techno and hip hop.

The Steampunk philosophy is about sight as well as sound, so put on your best Steampunk fashions and strut down the aisles of this cool restaurant and bar. If you’re in the know about Steampunk, you’ll love it at Elate on Thursdays.

Elate’s acclaimed dinner menu, featuring the culinary artistry of Executive Chef Michael Noll, is available until 10 p.m. and guests can order from the bar menu from 10 p.m. until 11 p.m. Enjoy Elate’s special Steampunk cocktails and carefully elected wines throughout the evening.

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Elate’s menus offer organic wine, spirits and fare and the restaurant composts, recycles, and purchases as much local product as possible. The interior features reclaimed wood tables and flooring, high efficiency lighting, eco-friendly paint and 80% recycled drywall. Elate encourages the use of hybrid vehicles by offering those cars complimentary valet parking.