Come tomorrow, wordies, coffee junkies and vegetarians/vegans will have a new place to hang their hat in North Center. In the spot previously held by Stubb’s Coffee, de.li.cious (no relation to the Web site) opens its doors tomorrow in the hands of husband and wife team Kevin Porter (also a professional BMX rider) and Chelsea Waldrop.
de.li.cious will offer the standard array of coffee and espresso drinks, using Intelligentsia coffee, but also (attention coffee nerds) sports a Chemex system to offer brew-by-order cups of single origin coffees. Of course, that cup of joe will cost more than drip, but the payoff should be that it’s, well, de.li.cious. Monthly coffee tastings similar to wine tastings are also in the works.
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FRIDAY
Regardless of whether we’re in a recession or depression, Carnivale offers their own economic jumpstart with a “Bounceback Weekend.” All diners this weekend will get a $10 gift certificate during March. And though that only covers a bowl of guac or maybe a margarita, it’s sure to lighten your recession depression blues. 5–11pm. 702 W Fulton St (312-850-3017). Bus: 8 Halsted, 65 Grand.
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In celebration of Cupid’s day, restaurants always bring out the big guns…or arrows. So whether you’re in love, out of love, don’t believe in love or practice the love that dare not speak its name, eat your heart out at one of these Valentine’s Day dinners (reservations are required or suggested for all):
Agami Sushi
Soak in the romantic air of Agami Sushi over a six-course dinner package. If you’re just going for the setting, the regular menu is also available. $60. 5–11:30pm.
Angelina Ristorante
The special menu by Chef Ramos will include red lobster ravioli ($20), oysters with champagne mignonette ($12) and seared beef ribeye with jumbo shrimp and citrus pesto ($28). 5–11pm.
Between Boutique Café & Lounge
Between Boutique Café & Lounge deals out a five-course, global-fused, prix-fixe menu that will include creamy Jerusalem Artichoke soup and braise lamb shank and will also include a bottle of wine and a box of CoCo Rouge chocolates. If you make a reservation, you can name one of the cocktail after your date and will appear on your menu as such. $75. 6pm and 9pm seatings.
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It’s showdown time. Maybe you hail from Pittsburgh. Maybe you follow the Cardinals like a zealot. Maybe you’re only showing up for the commercial bingo (can I get a YE-AH). But one thing is certain … you should check out these deals:
Brasserie Jo
Along with watching the game on a large screen, you’ll get a three-course French-influenced Superbowl menu with items like the French style hot dog. $14.95
Celtic Crown Public House
Super Bowl specials include $4 32 oz Miller Lite, $2.75 Smirnoff bloody marys, .25 cent wings and $3.99 cheeseburger and fries. A raffle will be held for a 32-in flat-screen TV.
Cityscape Bar
Along with $4 domestic bottles and $4 house wines all day, guest can have at a complimentary half-time appetizer buffet with wings, poppers and hot dogs.
Dine
On Super Bowl, get the “Super Buckets” in domestic ($20) or imported ($25) along with $4 draft beers for every touchdown. The all-you-can-eat Super Nacho Bar ($7.95) will take care of any hunger pangs.
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Recently find that first grey hair? Hit up Kohan today for a complimentary serving of Ddeok Guk, a Korean rice cake soup, as part of their Lunar New Year celebration. It is said that each bowl will add one year to your life. Jaded as we are, it’s worth a shot! 5–11pm. 730 W Maxwell St (312-421-6254).
They say you’ll always remember your first time. Green Grocer is certainly throwing memorable first anniversary celebration with free samples from Nice Cream, L. Mawby sparkling wine, Crop to Cup coffee, and tons more. 5–7:30pm. 1402 W Grand Ave (312-624-9508).
Look for more food & drink specials and events in our daily “Five things to do today” posts.
TUESDAY
Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique dishes out special Inauguration cupcakes topped with an edible Obama logo as the perfect accessory for your celebrations. Obama and cupcakes on the same day-I guess you can have your cake and eat it too. $46/dozen regular cupcakes. $21/dozen mini cupcakes. 8am–7pm. 115 N Wabash Ave (312-845-9669).
George Thorogood’s One Bourbon, One Scotch and One Beer would be an appropriate theme for TRU’s bourbon dinner event-except instead of a scotch and a beer it would just be more bourbon … so maybe not. Regardless, TRU’s five-course dinner features famed bourbon distilleries Buffalo Trace and Old Rip Van Winkle. Course items include bourbon cured salmon, tobacco smoked lobster and cocoa-spiced venison. $135. 6:30pm. 676 N St Clair St (312-202-0615 x230).
What are your favorite moments of 2008? It might be a toss-up between Obama’s Nov 4 speech and Sarah Silverman’s I’m Fucking Matt Damon. Ah memories. The Tasting Room at Randolph Wine Cellars walks down memory lane with a “best of 2008″ wine tasting featuring the favorites from each month’s tasting in 2008. Sample over 30 wines and reminisce on your highlights of yesteryear. $30. 6–8pm. 1415 W Randolph St (312-942-1212).
There’s a bagillion celebrations for the Inauguration today, but we love David Burke’s Primehouse’s Celebrate Change $20.09 No Bull lunch prix fixe menu. The three-course meal items include pretzel crusted crab cakes, 40-day dry aged burger and tempura shrimp salad-and of course several different steaks. Thru Jan 23. $20.09. 11am–3pm. 616 N Rush St (312-660-6000).
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MONDAY
It’s National Pizza Week! Frasca celebrates Monday through Friday with two specialty pizzas for $14. Will you do the Caponata (eggplant, goat cheese, artichokes) with the Quattro Formaggi (mozzarella, gorgonzola, ricotta, provolone) or the Pepperoni with the Margherita? Why choose—with a whole week you can try them all. 4:30–10pm. 3358 North Paulina St (773-248-5222).
Chef Homaro Cantu’s culinary ideas occasionally seem as though they would fit better in a George Lucas film (and by film I mean the first Star Wars and by George Lucas we mean 1970s Lucas, not 2000s Lucas), but that’s kinda the point. At the Chemistry of Cooking discussion, get a glimpse at how chef Cantu and his business partner Dr. Linda Kawano use science and technology to create stellar cuisine. 6–7:30pm. Chicago Cultural Center. 77 E Randolph (312-744-6630).
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TUESDAY
Bin wine café offers a new deal on an old favorite. Every Tuesday night, the “Top Ten” burger can be had for $5. Of course, with add-ons such as fried egg, pico de gallo and horseradish butter, you can easily double the price. The wallet to waist ratio is still worth it. 5–10pm. 1559 N Milwaukee Ave (773-486-2233).
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MONDAY
Todd Hess, co-owner of H2Vino, leads the Fox & Obel Shopping for the Holidays class with an introduction to Egly-Ouriet Champagnes. This estate is highly respected for their rich and full-bodied Champagnes. Chances are you’ll be drinking it long after the holidays are over. $25. 6–7pm. 401 E. Illinois (312-410-7301).
TUESDAY
Santa has both nice and naughty sides. Smoke Daddy Rhythm and Bar-B-Que hosts a Good /Bad Santa holiday party. For those deemed pure, Good Santa will be passing out candy canes and other treats. For those sinners, Bad Santa replaces coal with condoms, beer and shots. We hope you’ve been filthy naughty this year. Drink specials and live music top off the night. 11:30am–11:00pm. 1804 W Division St (773-772-6656).
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MONDAY
The Viagra triangle is about to get chained, but not in the Crisco and whips way. After an almost 2 year hiatus, the locally-beloved chain Trader Vic’s returns to Chicago, bringing with it mai tais and tiki décor galore. 1030 N State St (www.tradervicschicago.com).
Angels & Kings might want to consider changing their name to Devils & Divas, and we mean that in a good way. The Belmont Burlesque hits the bar in what is described as a “pre-holiday feast of the flesh.” As the event is sponsored by Drambuie, a miscellany of Drambuie cocktails will be complimentary. 8pm. 710 N Clark (myopenbar.com/belmontburlesque).
Carnivale’s Tour of Spain moves into the Cataluña and Valencia regions of Spain, highlighting the seafood, pasta, oranges and paella of the region. Menu items include rabbit and chorizo paella and flan with Valencia oranges clove sorbet. And if that’s not incentive enough, diners will receive a complimentary $15 gift certificate through Christmas Eve. 5–10pm. 702 W Fulton Market (312-850-5005).
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