KCI clients choose their best dishes for this Fall

The leaves are changing and fall is coming. Before we get to the Thanksgiving and holiday feasts, restaurants are gearing up for warm beverages, hearty dishes and the best comfort foods. Here's a roundup of what our clients have in store for you when it gets chilly outside.



Barista Lucas Black
Ready Coffee
1562 N Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60622
www.readycoffee.com
Phone: (773) 360-7041

Nutella latte with cinnamon $3 dinkels donuts pecan maple $2
“The sweet Nutella latte with hazelnut undertones will sooth and satisfy your taste buds on a cool day while the cinnamon provides an extra layer of spice to your palette. The pecan and maple donut is a delicious complement to a chocolatey coffee that will keep you warm from your fingers to your toes,” says Lucas Black, Barista.

“Cold and flu fighter” raw juice $8 (Emergen-c, celery, green apple, orange, lemon, ginger) with a Shot of wheatgrass $2.50. “Boost your energy and immune system with a combination of our Cold and Flue Fighter raw juice- filled with fruits and veggies to to keep you healthy, as well as a shot of wheatgrass on the side adding extra nutrients and vitamins to prepare your body for the upcoming winter! Cheers!,” says Lucas Black, Barista.

                          

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Dobra Bielinski
Delightful Pastries
5927 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago IL 60630
www.delightfulpastries.com
Phone: (773) 545-7215

Apple cinnamon bread
“What says fall like apples and cinnamon and in a bread format? You can toast it, make French toast out of it or add caramel sauce and a scoop of ice-cream.”






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Chef Nadia Tilkian
Waterleaf Restaurant
425 Fawell Blvd
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
www.waterleafrestaurant.com
Phone: (630) 942-6881

Crispy Pork Shank, Braised Red Cabbage and Grain Mustard Sauce
“Perfect for fall, the pork shank is hearty comfort food”









Oyster Mushroom Crusted Halibut, Savoy Cabbage, Potato Puree, Mustard Sauce
“The halibut is only available until November and it is such an elegant dish to enjoy with the changing of the season”
                       






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Chef Mark Grosz (Owner)
Oceanique
505 Main Street
Evanston, IL  60202
www.oceanique.com
Phone: (847) 864-3435

Duck Confit
“Our duck confit dish, with its spices of cloves and thyme, is comforting and screams fall”

Dining Deals: Birch River Grill, Glen Prairie and Karma

Looking for dining deals? Celebrate the weekend and choose an appetizer, entrée and dessert to indulge in from one of these three restaurants.

Birch River Grill
75 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights, Ill.
(847) 427-4242
www.birchrivergrill.com

This weekend, May 29 through May 31, Birch River Grill is offering a three-course meal in addition to the regular menu after 5 p.m. Create your own prix-fixe meal for only $20.

Begin your meal with your choice of an appetizer from the BRG Salad, baby greens, shredded Michigan carrots, beefsteak tomato wedges and seedless cucumber slices; Granny Apple Onion Soup, paprika parmesan croutons, Wisconsin Swiss and provolone cheese; or the Soup of the Day.

For your entrée, choose from Creole Mustard & Honey Glazed Salmon, lentil vegetable ragout and herb broth; Seared Flattened Chicken Breast; garlic and herb marinated chicken breast, arugula slaw and roasted chicken jus; or the Cajun Chicken Pasta, diced blackened chicken breast, andouille sausage and Diablo tomato pepper sauce.

Wrap up your meal with Sorbet, served with fresh berries.

Don’t forget, Birch River Grill has a great space for private dining events. Perfect for graduations, birthdays and showers!

Birch River Grill serves rustic American gourmet comfort food. Weekend hours for the restaurant are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. The lounge stays open one hour later. All major credit cards are accepted. Complimentary parking is available. For reservations or more information, please contact Birch River Grill at (847) 427-4242.


Glen Prairie
1250 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn, Ill.
(630)-613-1250
http://www.glenpairie.com/

This is your last chance to enjoy Glen Prairie’s May specials which include a $20 three-course meal featuring a choice of an appetizer, entrée and dessert in addition to their regular menu after 5 p.m. This special is only available this weekend, May 29 through May 31.

For an appetizer, choose from a Farmers Garden Salad, baby greens, grilled sweet corn, green onions, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers with champagne-cider vinaigrette dressing; Caramelized Bermuda Onion Soup, with herbed croutons and Laack Brothers Swiss & Gruyere cheese; or Organic Tomato Gazpacho Soup, with cucumber, crème Fraiche and croutons.

For the entrée, choose either Grilled Duroc Pork Tenderloin, with caramelized fig and port sauce, Minnesota wild rice and baby vegetables; House Made Spaghetti, with summer squash, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and Peppato cheese; or Spiced Grilled Missouri Catfish, with sweet peas, roasted fingerling potatoes with a rémoulade sauce.

Top it all off with your choice of the Daily Sorbets, served with fresh berries.

Glen Prairie serves contemporary American cuisine, with a strong emphasis on local Midwest flavors and products. Glen Prairie is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday. The lounge remains open one hour later than the restaurant each day. For more details, contact the restaurant at (630) 613-1250 or http://www.glenprairie.com/.


Karma
510 E. Route 83, Mundelein, Ill.;
(847)-970-6900
http://www.karmachicago.com/

Join Karma this weekend, May 29 through May 31 and enjoy a $20 prix-fixe three-course meal for dinner.

For the appetizer pick from either the Miso Soup, tofu, sautéed shitake mushrooms, scallions and roasted nori; or the Karma House Salad, crisp lettuce, napa cabbage, cucumber, daikon and carrot ginger dressing.

For your main course choose from Thai Chili Beef, stir fried spiced beef tenderloin with Chinese noodles and baby bok choy, in mirin-miso beef broth (may be substituted for shrimp or chicken; Seared Breast of Peking Duck, duck confit moo shu crepe with raspberry and Thai sauce; or the Asian BBQ Salmon, forbidden rice, sweet potato crisps, wok tossed spinach, napa cabbage and shitake mushroom.

Finish up your meal with Sorbet or Ice Cream for dessert.

Karma is an elegant and sophisticated restaurant with a zen-laced atmosphere that serves Pan-Asian cuisine. Weekend dinner hours for Karma are 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. The lounge stays open one extra hour each night. Karma is located adjacent to the Crowne Plaza Chicago North Shore at 510 East Route 83, Mundelein, Ill. 60060. For reservations, call Karma at (847) 970-6900.

Dining Deals: Birch River Grill, Karma and Glen Prairie

Looking for dining deals? Check out these suburban hotspots and discover which one fits your style best.

Birch River Grill
75 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights, Ill.
(847) 427-4242
http://www.birchrivergrill.com/

On May 15 through May 17 Birch River Grill offers a $20 prix fixe three-course meal in addition to their regular menu after 5 p.m.

Begin your meal with your choice of an appetizer such as the BRG Salad, baby greens, shredded Michigan carrots, beefsteak tomato wedges, seedless cucumber slices with your choice of dressing; Granny Apple Onion Soup, with paprika parmesan croutons, Wisconsin Swiss and provolone cheese; or the Soup of the Day.

Next, choose an entrée that intrigues your taste buds. Try the BBQ Glazed Bacon Wrapped Boneless Pork Chop, served with potato pancakes with roasted poblano pepper and corn hash; Basil Pesto Crusted North Atlantic Salmon, with teardrop tomato caper relish, lentil ragout and basil pesto drizzle; or the Grilled and Blackened Sirloin; served with roasted Michigan Yukon gold potatoes, steamed Broccolini and Kentucky bourbon reduction.

Finish off with a choice of the Daily Sorbets, served with fresh berries.




Glen Prairie
1250 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn, Ill.
(630)-613-1250
http://www.glenpairie.com/

Glen Prairie also offers a three-course meal featuring a choice of an appetizer, entrée and dessert in addition to their regular menu after 5 p.m.

From the appetizers choose from a Farmers Garden Salad, baby greens, grilled sweet corn, green onions, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers with champagne-cider vinaigrette dressing; Caramelized Bermuda Onion Soup, with herbed croutons and Laack Brothers Swiss & Gruyere cheese; or Organic Tomato Gazpacho Soup, with cucumber, crème Fraiche and croutons.

For the entrée choose either Grilled Duroc Pork Tenderloin, with caramelized fig and port sauce, Minnesota wild rice and baby vegetables; House Made Spaghetti, with summer squash, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and Peppato cheese; and Spiced Grilled Missouri Catfish, with sweet peas, roasted fingerling potatoes with a rémoulade sauce.

Top it all off with your choice of the Daily Sorbets, served with fresh berries.




Karma
510 E. Route 83, Mundelein, Ill.;
(847)-970-6900
http://www.karmachicago.com/

For only $20 indulge in a prix fixe three-course meal from Karma May 15 through May 17.

Start off your meal with Miso Soup, tofu, sautéed shiitake mushroom, scallions and roasted nori; or have the House Salad, crisp lettuce, napa cabbage, cucumber with daikon and carrot ginger dressing.

From there, choose from a list of entrées including Orange Peel Tempura Chicken, with sesame jasmine rice, ginger chili cucumber salad, and yuzu orange glaze; Asian BBQ Salmon, forbidden rice, sweet potato crisps, wok tossed spinach, napa cabbage and shiitake mushroom; and Yellow Mango Vegetable Curry, spring vegetables tossed with coconut yellow curry, jasmine rice and kimchi.

Conclude your meal with Ice Cream or Sorbet with fresh berries.

Try out these delicious suburban restaurants and enjoy!

Local, Organic Dining Deals at Glen Prairie

This weekend only, join Glen Prairie (1250 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn; 630-613-1250) for Executive Chef Daniel Ovanin's weekend specials, offered in addition to the regular menu. Available Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29, these three dishes feature the freshest locally farmed and organic ingredients.

Specials include: Venison Tenderloin Carpaccio (from Iowa's Freedom Farm), brown butter-root vegetable puree, organic baby carrots, tomato and grape Port sauce, fried capers and smoked sea salt ($12); Poached Great Lakes Striped Bass, garden vegetable consomme, citrus and shaved fennel salad, and fresh herbs ($22); and Spiced Grilled Missouri Catfish, roasted potatoes and sweet peas, grilled tomatoes and remoulade ($18).

Wine pairings are also available. For reservations, called (630) 613-1250 or visit http://www.glenprairie.com/. Don't miss these weekend dining deals!

Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn: The New Emerald City

Tell Dorothy that the next time she gets swept up for OZ, she should first check in at The Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn - Lombard, a brand new, gorgeously renovated "green" hotel. Located in the heart of Chicago's lovely Western Suburbs, The Crowne Plaza Hotel Glen Ellyn-Lombard is a chic and modern hotel, offering guests the latest in room technology, comfort and hospitality. The Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn has also made many efforts to be a "green" hotel, with environmentally conscious construction and insulated low-E glass windows, hybrid guest transportation, high efficiency plumbing fixtures, and sun shade and sun screens.

On Tuesday October 28 the Crowne Plaza Hotel Glen Ellyn - Lombard hosted a fantastic event celebrating the grand opening of the hotel and restaurant, Glen Prairie. Hundreds of guests arrived just as the sun was setting to witness the celebratorial cutting of the green ribbon by Vicky Hase, Glen Ellyn Village President; David Friedman, president of F & F Realty; and Bill Mueller, Village President of the Village of Lombard.

Guests dined on appetizers prepared by Glen Prairie Executive Chef Ovanin, Dine Executive Chef Chris Turano, Karma Chef Robert Packer, and Birch River Grill Chef John Ayaleanos, and sipped specially prepared cocktails, including the Glen Prairie Cooler and a Green Martini.

A tour around the hotel began with a map, inspired by the film, The Wizard of Oz. Guests wandered throughout the 119 room hotel, stopping in to see the fantastic technology and space available in Meeting rooms, and viewing the ceder-planked arched ceiling enclosing the once-outside, now-indoors pool (you can still smell the cedar). Guests arrived at the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Glen Prairie restaurant, a gorgeous spot serving up comfort food with upscale twists (think: Bison Ribeye, Meatloaf with Crimini Mushroom Gravy, and Chervil Crusted Wisconsin Northern Pike served with Mac 'n' Cheese) with a focus on local family farm food sources. Many of the items on the menu actually list the name of the farm from which it came - perhaps to know where to send that thank-you once you finish your amazing meal.



The evening ended with a jaw-dropping entrance; guests passed a wall of flat screen TVs playing The Wizard of Oz and entered the "Emerald City". Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn-Lombard's ballroom had been decorated with green crystal centerpieces, glowing green bar tables, an ice scupture carved to look like the Emerald City, and a curving, white table dotted with bite-sized versions of Glen Prairie's dishes. A mist rolled across the floor as music played and scenes from the Wizard of Oz were projected on huge orbs. It was a sight to see and a hotel to celebrate!

Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn Grand Opening Photos

(all photos by Cindy Kurman - to download or view separately, please visit Kurman Communications MyCapture page)