Celebrate St. Patrick's Weekend March 14-17 at Big Chef Burgers in Schaumburg

On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is honorary Irish, and Big Chef Burgers (1602 E. Algonquin Rd., Schaumburg, IL; 847-221-8539) joins the celebration beginning Friday, March 14 through Monday, March 17 with several deliciously green specials that add a mischievous Leprechaun’s touch to the regular menu of outstanding burgers, pizza and shakes. These St. Patrick’s treats are not for "wee folk," so bring your biggest appetite and come hungry and thirsty.

Start your celebration with the special St. Patrick’s Martini O’ the Day (photo right, $10), made with Smirnoff Green Apple Vodka, DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker and Triple Sec.

The special St. Patrick’s sandwich treat is the hefty Corned Beef Sandwich with Swiss cheese, homemade potato chips, lettuce, tomato and onion (photo left, $10).
It’s a day to indulge and, if anything can do it, Big Chef Burgers’ St. Patrick’s "adult" shake (photo right, $8) will knock some good ole Irish spirit right into you. It’s made with vanilla ice cream and milk, a wee bit of green coloring and 1 oz. Jameson Whiskey.

About Big Chef BurgersBig Chef Burgers, located at 1602 E. Algonquin Road in Schaumburg, Illinois, is a casual and relaxed full-service restaurant serving gourmet burgers and artisan Neapolitan pizza and homemade gelato shakes and malts, plus tasty salads and luscious desserts. The full bar features a creative selection of specialty cocktails, "adult" milkshakes, wines and craft beers.

Big Chef Burgers is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Private dining is available for small to medium-sized groups and outside catering also is available. All major cards are accepted and there is ample free parking. For more information, please call Big Chef Burgers at (847) 221-8539 or visit the website at www.bigchefburgers.com.

St. Patrick's Weekend and Day Specials to Party at Bites Asian Tapas in Lake View

Bites Asian Tapas (3313 N. Clark St.; telephone 773-270-5972), is the perfect place to celebrate St. Patrick’s weekend, March 14-17, this year. This new restaurant, which opened this past November in Lakeview, specializes in delicious Asian fusion small plates and creative cocktails. They also have a number of specialty and craft beers. The club-like atmosphere is warm and inviting and the large natural wood tabled seating areas are perfect for group dining. Let the St. Patrick’s party begin. Start the evening with one of Bites’ creative cocktails–their already green Wassup Wasabi or Ms Gardenia martinis ($7)--or partake in one of the specialty drinks created for St. Patrick’s Day, such as the Shamrock Shaker with Shochu, Kahlua, Amaretto, Milk and Grean Tea Powder ($7), a Lucky Buddha Beer, on special for $3 (normally $5), or a Lucky You’re Not Irish Bomb, shot of Scotch Whiskey with Lucky Buddha Beer ($5).

Bites has created three special tapas for St. Patrick’s revelers to enjoy. The Spinach Cheese Stick with cream cheese, cilantro, green chilies, and water chestnut wrapped in spring roll dough ($5); Avocado Tempura Bun ($3/each or two for $5) with pickled vegetables, cucumber, avocado tempura, scallion, honey wasabi & teriyaki sauce; or Green Gyoza ($5), edamame, carrot, green pea, potatoes, caramelized whiskey and wasabi cream. For dessert, you’ll enjoy Asian Churros ($5) served with green tea ice cream.

 Food and beverage photo credit: Cindy Kurman.
About Bites Asian Tapas

Bites Asian Tapas, 3313 N. Clark St., (telephone 773-270-5972), in Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood opened in the fall of 2013. Co-owners chef Marita Tantivirasut and entrepreneur Asana Nakornchai combined their food knowledge and love of Asian cuisine, bringing to Chicago a "small-plates wonderland" in a cozy and fun setting. Bites Asian Tapas fuses the cuisines of their favorite regions including their homeland, Thailand, with foods of Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam and beyond. The result is a delicious assortment of tapas unique to Bites. The drink menu is equally intriguing, making Bites a perfect stop to enjoy with friends, family and colleagues. Bites is open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant will open in April for brunch, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Bites Asian Tapas is available for parties and off-site catering. For more information or to make reservations, please contact Bites Asian Tapas at (773) 270-5972 or send an email to info@bitestapas.com. Visit the website at www.bitestapas.com.

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Delightful Treat Ready for Spring - Delightful Pastries Sugar Cookie Recipe

Spring is just around the corner (we hope)! The folks at Delightful Pastries are gearing up

with new selections of sugar cookies that will be a welcomed greeting to the season. Chef Dobra Bielinki is sharing her delicious sugar cookie recipe. You can find a variety of cookies perfect for Easter or just as a sweet treat to welcome the long awaited Spring season. Prices range from $2-$4 each depending on size. Cookies are now available at all three Delightful Pastries locations, Old Town at 1710 N. Wells St., Jefferson Park at 5927 W. Lawrence and Chicago French Market at 131 N. Clinton.

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Delightful Pastries Sugar Cookie Recipe for the At Home Cook

by Chef Dobra Bielinki

12 oz. butter, room temp
14 oz. granulated sugar
4 eggs
1lb 5 oz. all purpose, unbleached unbromated flour
2 tsp baking powder
1T vanilla extract
Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla.  Stir in dry ingredients and mix just till combined.
Chill dough overnight.
Roll out to desired thickness and use your favorite cookie cutter. (I would recommend from ¼ to 1/3 inch)
Bake at 375F 6-12 minutes depending on size and thickness of cookie, you want a nice golden color all over the cookie.
Let the cookie cool, decorate and eat.

Frankenfood Casting in Chicago March 13

Do you think that you've got what it takes? SPIKE TV’s new food competition show

"FRANKENFOOD" is casting in Chicago. Think American Idol meets Iron Chef. You can compete to win $10,000 AND have your crazy dish put on a local restaurant’s menu.

The casting competition takes place on Thursday, March 13 in the Chicago area - location and time to be determined. They want you to attend. This event is going to be a lot of fun. .

Here's what you'll have to do. Create a dish made up of All-American ingredients that would not normally be paired but somehow once stitched together, makes sense... AND tastes great (or at least tastes great to you).

Examples: Mac & Cheese filled doughnut, Blueberry pancake wrapped sausage (with maple syrup filling on a stick), Grilled cheese Chocolate-chip cookie.

Here's a link to great "Frankenfood” examples:  http://www.pinterest.com/armjam/food-for-frankenfood/

If have any questions, please feel free to call me at 212.784.7770 x 437 or email at ffood@sharpentertainment.com.

You do not have to be a professional chef to enter.