Three Courses for $20 at Glen Prairie

Throughout the month of December, Glen Prairie (1250 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn; 630-613-1250) offers a three course prix fixe meal available after 5 p.m. for just $20 per person. Crafted by executive chef Daniel Ovanin, these seasonal specials feature locally-sourced ingredients.

For the appetizer, try the Baby Wedge, applewood smoked bacon, fresh tomatoes, red onion and crumbled bleu cheese dressing. Entrée selections include a choice of either Simply Grilled Atlantic Salmon, shoestring potatoes, whole grain mustard, fennel and blood orange salad; or Maple Leaf Farms Duck Leg Confit, white bean cassoulet, smoked sausage and maple gastrique. Indulge in a choice of Daily Sorbet for dessert.

To make a reservation, call (630) 613-1250 or visit http://www.glenprairie.com/.

Beat the Cold with Dine's Winter Warmers

Temperatures are dropping, which means Winter Warmers are back at the West Loop's neighborhood eatery Dine (733 W. Madison St., Chicago; 312-602-2100). Offered all winter long, these sweet treats, made with Intelligentsia Coffee, will warm you up while the weather outside is frightful.

Sip Irish Coffee, Jameson Irish Whiskey, sugar cubes, flavored whipped cream and green crème de menthe ($7); Keoke Coffee, Christian Brothers Brandy, Kahlua and dark crème de cacao ($7.25); Mint Lily, Peppermint Schnapps and Baileys Irish Cream ($7); Black Forest, Chambord, white crème de cacao, vodka and steam half n half with chocolate syrup ($7); Flavored Cappuccinos, Dine’s cappuccinos flavored with either raspberry (Chambord) or almond (Amaretto), topped with flavored heavy crème ($7.25); or Gaelic Coffee, Dewars Whisky with coffee, topped with flavored heavy crème ($6.50).

Try one of these coffee creations at your next Happy Hour. For more information or to make a reservation, call (312) 602-2100 or visit http://www.dinerestaurant.com/.

Photo: ImageBank

Birch River Grill's December Dining Deals

Dining out in December gets delicious with Birch River Grill's (75 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights; 847-427-4242) new Winter Menu Items and December Prix Fixe Menu.

New Winter Selections
Appetizers include Deep Fried Cornmeal Dusted Pickle Chips, with buttermilk ranch dipping sauce ($5), and Poached Pear and Brie, cranberry vinaigrette, toasted walnuts, brie cheese, mixed greens and poached pear ($10). New sandwiches include Blackened and Grilled Mahi Mahi, cilantro lime mayo, shredded leaf lettuce, tomato and avocado ($10); or the Grilled Skirt Steak Sandwich, grilled red onion, horseradish sauce, beefsteak tomato and shredded lettuce ($12). The new entrees feature Smoked Turkey Pot Pie, peas, corn, thyme cream and smoked turkey breast chunks ($12); Linguine and Meatballs, marina la rustica, linguine pasta and Nonna Valenti’s meatballs ($12); Porcini Sachettis, crispy shiitake mushrooms, brown butter cream, chives and shaved grana padano ($13); and Seared Parmesan Crusted Wahoo, garlic butter glazed green beans and macaroni and cheese ($18).

Sweet selections include White Chocolate Cranberry Orange Cheesecake, cranberry orange coulis, orange zest and white chocolate shavings ($6), or Spiced Thai Chai Custard, with whipped cream, spiced candied pecans and cinnamon dust ($6).

These menu items are available now through March 2010.

December Prix Fixe Menu
Throughout the entire month of December, Birch River Grill offers a three-course prix fixe deal for just $20 per person, featuring seasonal, contemporary American fare, served in the restaurant’s rustic setting. Begin with a choice of appetizer, either 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. Entrée selections include Grilled Ribeye Filet, cheddar cheese grits, Kentucky whiskey sauce and Broccolini; Herb Rubbed Salmon, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, sautéed green beans and lemon caper vinaigrette; or Tricolor Cheese Tortellini, Alfredo sauce and shredded Parmesan. For dessert, satisfy the sweet tooth with Berry Sorbet, served with fresh berries.

Don't miss these dining deals that won't break the bank! For more information or to make a reservation, call (847) 427-4242 or visit http://www.birchrivergrill.com/.

Chicago French Market opens in West Loop

It isn't everyday that you get to experience history being made. I can't help but think that the opening of Chicagos French Market (131 N. Clinton St.) in our fair city's growing West Loop neighborhood was an historic event. A who's who of Chicago and Paris was in attendance, including the Parisian owners, the Bensidoun family, the vice mayor of Naby le Sec (France) Jean-Paul LeFevre, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Aldermen Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) and Walter Burnett Jr. (27th Ward), all kinds of politicos, and Robert Wislow, Chairman and CEO and Camille Julmy, vice chairman of U.S. Equities (the developer) and a plethora of other executives from the company. Every Chicago television station was represented and hordes of media as well as Chicago V.I.P. dignitaries were there. A personal note of thanks for the Bensidoun family for extending an invitation to both Lee and I.

Here's why you'll want to run, not walk, there ASAP! One-stop shopping! Whether you're picking up dinner, lunch, breakfast, a snack, food for the office or home, or holiday gifts, you'll be able to find the freshest locally grown, artisan-made produce, meats, fish and seafood, breads, chocolates, and patisseries under one roof, 12-months a year, six days a week (closed on Sundays). Much of the produce is organically certified.

The Chicago French Market is our first year round market, boasting 15,000 sq. ft. of European-inspired shops. It's an exciting destination for locals and anyone traveling to Chicago for business or pleasure.

We are so excited about this for many reasons. Our office at Kurman Communications is two blocks from the French Market. We plan to shop there often. We suggest that you do, too. The re-development of the West Loop has been happening for years but this block seemed to miss out, until now. Clearly, it's a destination with which to be reckoned.

It will serve as the anchor for the MetraMarket, conveniently located just north of the Ogilvie Transportation Center, the new hub of Chicago's West Loop. Lucky us and Chicago commuters, Espression by Lavazza Italian cafe finds its newest home here. Kurman handled the introduction of Espression with their first location in the Drake Hotel. This key location is a welcome addition, with their fabulous coffee creations, grab-and-go, and gelato.

World travelers will recognize the French Market as its owners, the Bensidoun family of Paris, operate 95 open-air and indoor markets throughout the U.S. and France, including 13 seasonal markets in the Chicago area and one of the largest certified organic markets in Europe.

We've always been a big fan of markets: Green City Market, Seattle's Pikes Place, New York's Grand Central Market and San Francisco's Ferry Building have been among our favorites for years. We know that Chicago's French Market will play a starring role on our destination list and look forward to showing off our neighborhood to everyone that's willing to let us brag. Thanks Chicago's French Market. We look forward to being one of your soon to be many glowing fans.