Two Brothers Brewing Company Beer Dinner at Francesca's Forno

June 7, 8:00 p.m. – Francesca’s Forno (1576 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622, 773-770-0184)

Two Brothers Brewing Co. celebrates 15 years with Francesca’s Forno.  Come celebrate its anniversary by enjoying a four- course beer dinner with featured guest, Chad Lynd of Two Brothers.  Tickets are $40 per person excluding tax and gratuity and reservations are required.

The first course will feature Fried Green tomato, with tomato and onion, arugula, roasted corn vinaigrette, paired with Prairie Path.  Next will be Salmon Pastrami, with charred red pepper & green onions and banana peppers paired with Domaine DuPage.  The third course will feature Lamb meatballs, with spicy pomodoro, arugula lemon and grana padana paired with White Rye. Finally the dessert course will be Black cherry filled zeppole, dark chocolate and espresso paired with Red Eye.

Celebrate National Doughnut Day June 1!

Who doesn't love doughnuts?  They can be added to the list of all-American favorites, next to baseball, barbeque and apple pie.  So on June 1, in honor of National Doughnut Day, celebrate big with a dozen doughnuts from Scott Harris' new artisan doughnut shop, Glazed and Infused!

Glazed and Infused offers up handcrafted doughnuts in 13 flavors; featuring delicious creations like Red velvet, Vanilla cake chocolate frosted, Luscious lemon, Old fashioned, Apple fritter, Vanilla bean glazed, Chocolate glazed, Raspberry glazed, Seasonal jelly filled, Maple bacon long john, PB & J, and Crème brûlée.  Each batch is made fresh on the hour and serves as the perfect option for your National Doughnut Day celebration. 

Take a batch to the office to share or grab a couple on the go; and don't forget the coffee!

Glazed and Infused in the Fulton River District is located at 813 W. Fulton Market, 312-226-5556, with hours from 6:30 a.m. to 2 pm Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m Saturday and Sunday.

The Wicker Park is location at Francesca's Forno at 1553 N Damen Avenue, 773-770-0184, with hours from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday-Friday; 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

It’s Burger Time! Celebrate National Hamburger Day May 28!

You don’t need a special occasion to enjoy a hamburger, but when National Hamburger Day rolls around on Monday, May 28, it’s time to skip those everyday burgers and go for the real gourmet deal.

ELATE

111 W. Huron, Chicago
312) 202-9900; www.elatechicago.com

Elate has become one of Chicago’s casual dining treasures. The restaurant is one of the most attractive gathering places in the city and its LEED certified design, comprised of mainly of sustainable, re-purposed materials, is very inviting, stylish and comfortable. But what keeps guests coming back to Elate is its consistently delicious and creative food from Executive Chef Michael Noll. His specialty is contemporary American fare made from primarily locally sourced, organic and sustainable ingredients.

 His Elate Burger doesn’t disappoint—it’s one of the most delicious and generously sized burgers in Chicago. The Elate Burger ($14) is topped with creamed leeks, Applewood bacon and served with a generous portion of hand-cut fries.

 If your food preferences run along vegetarian lines, you’re in good hands at Elate with the very popular Vegetarian Black Bean Burger ($11). It’s topped with whipped avocado/piquillo peppers and served with seasoned fries and house made pickles.

 FRANCESCA’S FORNO

1576 North Milwaukee, Chicago
(773) 770-0184; www.miafrancesca.com

Right on the six corners of Wicker Park, Francesca’s Forno offers traditional Italian cuisine with a twist.  Surrounded by the artistic and edgy boutiques, bars and cafes, Francesca’s Forno has been deemed a great place to dine by the locals.  From its weekend brunch to daily lunch and dinner menu items, there is always a tasty and affordable option for every patron.

One of the lunch and dinner favorites just happens to be an American classic with an Italian twist. The Forno Burger ($11) is a grilled prime burger served made to order and is topped with gorgonzola cheese, oven dried tomatoes and served on a pretzel roll with a side of smashed potatoes.  Add pepper corn bacon or a fried egg for an additional $2 each. 

MAXWELL’S AT THE CLUB

East Bank Club
500 North Kingsbury, Chicago
(312) 527-5800; www.eastbankclub.com/dining/maxwells-at-the-club

 The folks who live in River North and Fulton River District have happily discovered that the main restaurant at East Bank Club, Maxwell’s at the Club, is open to the public. They’ve also discovered that this superb, comfortable restaurant serves some of the best food in the neighborhood, prepared with culinary finesse and customizable to please one’s particular tastes and desires. As you would expect at such a major health club, many of the dishes are nutritious and heart-healthy as well as delicious.

One of the most popular delights at Maxwell’s is Max’s Minis ($10). This trio of sliders includes a mini prime steakburger, a mini Santé Fe chicken burger and a mini Yellowfin Tuna Steak burger, all topped with crispy onion strings. If you would like to customize your minis, simply ask your server for any combination of the three. If you’re in the mood for steak sliders, you’ll enjoy the very popular Mini Tenderloin Sliders ($14), a trio of seared mini filet mignon sliders finished with lemon and basil.

If you’re in the mood for a full-service burger, try Maxwell’s Prime Steakburger ($11), made from ten ounces of prime beef, topped with lettuce tomato, onion and pickle and served with your choice of sweet potato fries, fresh-cut fries or seasonal fresh fruit.

FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE AND WINE BAR

25 E. Ohio, Chicago
(312) 329-9463; www.flemingssteakhouse.com

960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, IL
(847) 793-0333; www.flemingssteakhouse.com

One would expect a great steakhouse to serve a great burger, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar doesn’t disappoint. The bar at Fleming’s is always hopping in the after-work and evening hours and one of the attractions is the Prime Burger ($14; available only in the bar area) with Wisconsin cheddar cheese, peppered bacon and their signature onion rings. If you want to enjoy Fleming’s quality at a great price, stop by Fleming’s bar area before 7 p.m. when the Prime Burger is part of their “5 For $6 'Til 7" bar menu. You get a choice of 5 premium cocktails, 5 distinctive wines by the glass and 5 generous appetizers or the Prime Burger, each for only $6 (liquor prices and hours offered may vary depending on state liquor laws). Also, keep in mind that Fleming’s has an amazing wine program, which includes 100 wines by the glass. So this may be your perfect opportunity to try out some new wines while you savor a first-rate burger.

Brunch at Francesca's Restaurants

Francesca’s Fiore (7407 W. Madison Street, Forest Park, IL 60130, 708-771-3063) has been added to the list of Francesca’s restaurants that are serving brunch.  Delicious brunch menu items include Pollo e Uova, Crispy chicken confit and bacon hash with two eggs any style ($10.99) or Capicolla Spinaci Benedict, Spicy capicolla ham, parmesan, spinach, toasted English muffin with hollandaise and house potatoes ($10.99).  Sweet options include French Toast and Jam, Vanilla bean battered Texas hollybread, topped with red wine grape compote, mascarpone and toasted almonds ($8.99) and Sweet Pancakes ($9.00).

Mia Francesca (3311 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60657; 773-281-3310), the flagship restaurant of the Francesca’s restaurant group, features a brunch menu including Italian breakfast favorites like Baked Uovo Florentina, soft baked egg, fontina cheese and creamed spinach on ciabatta toast and white truffle oil ($10.00) or Torta di Salviata, a fresh sage omelette with parmigiano regiano served with house potatoes ($10.00). Sweet options include Sweet Pancakes ($9.00), Blueberry ricotta pancakes with blueberry-lemon compote ($9.00) or French Toast and Jam. ($9.00). Mia Francesca also offers brunch cocktails like the Good Morning Sunrise with apricot nectar, the Sea Breeze Mimosa with cranberry and pink grapefruit or the Zing Zang Bloody Mary, each for $5.00.

Francesca’s Bryn Mawr (1039 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60660; 773-506-9261) now has a brunch menu that features many of the same Italian classics, like the $5.00 Mimosa, with a few items unique to Francesca’s Bryn Mawr, including Savory Pancakes with polenta and bacon on sweet corn pancakes with maple butter, each for $9.00.

Francesca’s Forno (1576 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; 773-770-0184) is offering a brunch options for city dwellers. Brunch cocktails include the Forno Bloody Mary with vodka and the Salty Dog, made with vodka, fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and served in a glass with a salted rim, each for $6.00. The food options include Frutta e Granola, Milk & Honey Café granola with vanilla yogurt and fresh berries ($7.00), Bourbon-Soaked French Toast, challah with bourbon vanilla bean batter, maple crème fraiche and candied walnuts ($9.00) and a classic Breakfast Monte Cristo, made with an English muffin, fontina, crispy pancetta and a fried egg with spicy tomato jam and hash browns ($10.00).

The Windy City blows into Francesca’s Forno

May 17, 8:00 p.m. – Francesca’s Forno (1576 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622, 773-770-0184)

Chicago’s own Windy City Distribution showcases its selection of beers alongside a fun and whimsical original menu created by Francesca’s Corporate Chef, Kevin Ives at Francesca’s Forno.  Enjoy the Lagunitas IPA, an easy-drinking brew, the trendy Original Sin Cider and the robust Left Hand Milk Stout. Tickets are $45 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and seating is limited.

The beer dinner begins with Sauteed asparagus with black pepper bacon, sunny side up egg, pecorino and extra virgin olive oil, cracked black pepper. Original Sin Cider makes the perfect companion. This is followed by Homemade pappardelle with wild ramps, ricotta and Parmesano Reggianno, paired with IPA, India Pale Ale. The third course features Wild Stripped bass with mashed sunchoke puree and lemon butter sauce. It is a perfect pair for Smutty Nose Porter. The meal finishes with Milk Stout milk shake whipped cream, chocolate strawberries and marinated cherries, and is paired with Left Hand Milk Stout, full bodied sweet stout.

Bacon Makes Everything Better… Baconfest & Francesca’s Forno!

Chicago’s hottest ticket in town is Baconfest on April 14th.  If you weren’t lucky enough to snag a ticket (they’ve been sold out for weeks), get in on the fun at Francesca’s Forno.  In conjunction with the event, they’ll be featuring their Baconfest creation in-house for restaurant guests on Saturday, April 14th… Yes, the same creation to which only Baconfest ticket holders are privy.  Get your bacon-fix at Francesca’s Forno!

"Let them drink Bourbon" at Francesca's Forno

March 22, 8-10 p.m. – Francesca’s Forno (1576 Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; 773-770-0184)

Francesca’s Forno presents “Let them drink Bourbon,” a dinner celebrating small batch bourbon. Special guest Fred Noe, great grandson of Jim Beam, will be on-site to speak about each of the bourbons and the tradition of small batch bourbon. Tickets to this event are $45 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations are required.

The evening begins with Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon Jerky paired with Moonshine. This is followed by Pancetta Wrapped Striped Bass with spearmint and orange gremolata paired with Basil Hayden bourbon. The next course is Hazelnut Crusted Pork Cutlet with brown butter and sage paired with bourbon from Knob Creek. Following this is Espresso and Lardo Roasted Rack of Pork with bacon braised collard greens. This is paired with Bookers bourbon. The final course is Chocolate and Bourbon Pecan Pie with bacon and burnt caramel gelato paired with bourbon from Bakers.

What are you doing for brunch this weekend?

Head on over to Mia Francesa’s  (3311 North Clark,  Chicago, 773-281-3310) to enjoy their fabulous new brunch Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Don’t miss trying our favorites, Pollo e Uovo (Crispy chicken and bacon hash with two eggs any style) $10.99; Melanzane Parmigiano (Eggplant parmesan benedict with hollandaise)  $9.99 and the to die for Pancakes al Ricotta (Mocha ricotta pancakes, cinnamon whipped cream, drizzled with honey) $8.99. They have a lovely a la carte  brunch menu and special selections from the popular Mia Francesca dinner menu. Bon appetit!

Mimosas at Mia Francesca

Wicker Park’s hot spot Francesca’s Forno (1576 N Milwaukee Ave., 773-770-0184) popular for its small plates traditional Italian with a contemporary twist, is now open for lunch 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and brunch , 10 am – 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. They also boast a terrific late night menu available 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Our hot picks on the Forno brunch menu include the Bourbon-Soaked French Toast (Challah with bourbon vanilla bean batter, maple crème fraiche and candied pecans) $9, Savory Pancakes (Polenta, bacon, sweet corn pancakes with maple butter) $9, and the Breakfast Monte Cristo (English muffin, Fontina, crispy pancetta, fried egg with spicy tomato jam and hash browns) $10. Of course, you can build your own omelet, $12 and enjoy a fabulous Forno Bloody Mary (Vodka, spicy tomato juice, shot of beer) $6.

 Happy Brunching!