Just because it’s game day, doesn’t mean you should eat crap. Chuck the Velveeta and head out. Whether you’re grabbing a party tray or heading out to watch the game, Chicago is covered with all-you-can-eat buffets, cheap deals and gourmet takes on wings and burgers —mostly cheese product-free.

Our picks: All-you-can-eat-and-drink deals at Division Ale House, Rockwood Place and L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge in the ‘burbs, or the $10 and $15 all-you-can-eat buffets at The Grand Central and LaSalle Power Co., respectively. The $7 pizzas at La Madia and buy-one-get-one free deal at Mod Pizza are safe bets for take-out. Chens and Koi’s $1 chicken wings (8 pieces) and $1 Sapporo drafts are also worth considering. For the classier folk among us, Vie’s Sunday supper featuring wood-grilled pork sausage for $25 sounds like a steal.

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Your where-to-go, what-to-eat daily.

FRIDAY 5

Morton’s The Steakhouse presents a five-course prix fixe with Johnnie Walker scotch pairings. Courses include beef wellington, grilled lamb chops and Blue Label scotch served with a cheese plate. Reception at 6:30pm, dinner at 7pm. $125. Reservations required: 847-205-5111.

Willow Spring’s Courtright’s creates a three-course dinner all about the pear, available all night. Enjoy phyllo-wrapped and baked pear, prosciutto and pork with roasted pears and pear “belle Hélène” for dessert. $35. Reservations required: 708-839-8000

Playboy Cybergirls (Jenna Jordan, Kat Kohls, and Patrycja Mikula) hosts a cover-free, Arctic-themed party at Le Passage. There’s a free champagne reception from 10am–11am and the ladies arrive at midnight.

Diners at Carnivale today through Sunday get a $15 gift certificate to be used in March.

Cityscape hosts yet another free Dewar’s Scotch Tasting from 5:30pm–7pm.

SATURDAY 6

Learn how to prepare nigiri sushi from Naoki Nakashima at Shaw’s in Schaumburg. Event includes soy sauce tasting, oshi and nigiri demonstration and a lunch of sushi, salad and raspberry pie. Event starts at 11:30am and costs $45. Reservations required.

The Shire is offering $2 beer and $3 well-drinks to everyone donating $10 to StreetWise. The Future Laureates and Estou will perform at this event raising funds to help StreetWise vendors long-term housing. 9pm–midnight.

In more fundraiser news, The Boundary is donating 15% of its proceeds between 10am–2am to the Friends of Pritzker School for their technology fund.

Head to Erin Gallagher Jewelry for a bake sale benefiting Doctors Without Borders. From 10am–2pm, area residents will be selling treats including vegan, gluten-free and doggy options. 100% of baked proceeds and 15% of jewelry proceeds will be donated.

WAVE Executive Chef Kristine Subido teaches how to make a meal that will be sure to wow your date next week on Valentine’s Day of chilled shrimp salad, zucchini saltimbocca, steamed mussels and berry trifle. $60 covers lunch, wine and a cocktail. Class starts at 2:30pm. Reservations required.

Train for the eating-marathon of Super Bowl Sunday by attending the Third Annual “Super Chili Bowl” at Mahoney’s Pub & Grille. Butch McGuire’s will also contribute to the all-you-can-eat chili and eating contest. All this, for $5 toward the “Bears Offensive Coordinator Search Fund” which will be delivered to Halas Hall. Noon–6pm.

Swiss-native Hans Aeschbacher, formerly of Smith & Wollensky, will introduce raclette at Chicago French Market from 2pm–4pm. The traditional Swiss and French cheese is traditionally heated in a fire and spread over potatoes, pickled onions and cured meats.

There’s a Bob Marley’s Birthday Bash at Mr. Brown’s Lounge. No cover, DJ, and $8 rum punch.

Your where-to-go, what-to-eat daily.

WEDNEDAY 3

The highlight of the night is a free wine tasting (with appetizers!) at Boka. Beginning at 6:30pm, guests taste four different wines and identify them. You could win a $100 gift certificate.

For just $39, get six-courses and wine pairings at La Madia. This monthly Chef’s Table event, which starts at 7pm, offers guests an up-close view of Chef Jonathan Fox as he makes your dinner which includes: Brussels sprouts with Meyer lemon; wild salmon with farro; and pizza with melted leeks, goat cheese and pancetta. Reservations required: 312-329-0400.

Enjoy the decadent earthiness at Vie’s six-course, all-truffle dinner. Courses include lobster, elk and foie gras. For dessert, enjoy a honey a truffle butter cake with black walnut-truffle nougatine. $210, wine pairings an extra $50. Reservations required: 708-246-2082.

Vegas’s Beacher’s Madhouse makes a stop at Martini Park tonight at 9pm. Acts include sword swallowers, contortionists, wrestling midgets and “mini” celebrity impersonators. No cover.

Can’t wait for Restaurant Week? Lakeview’s Browntrout offers a 3-course prix fixe tonight for $35 with optional $15 wine pairings. Menu includes cured sea trout with orange dill marscapone, grilled shrimp with saffron risotto, braised escarole and fennel sausage, and fallen chocolate soufflé.

THURSDAY 4

LaSalle Power Co. hosts a benefit for Doctors Without Borders. $20 buys you an open bar and hors d’oeuvres by Centered Chef, SRO Catering and Big Delicious Planet. Plenty of TV personalities will be around serving drinks including The Bachelor’s Natalie Getz while NBC’s Natalie Martinez will emcee. DJs and live performances by the RichKiddz and Platinum Cure Dance Troupe provide entertainment.

Your where-to-go, what-to-eat daily.

FRIDAY 29

River North’s Cafe Wha Who? hosts a two-day rocking event to support the Red Cross in Haiti on Friday and Saturday. Rock the Quake shows will start at 9:30pm on both days. $10 cover and tips from the upstairs bar will be donated to the Red Cross. The bands performing are: Benjamin Ezra Deckard, Pink Monkey, I Lost Control, StankStar, Shark Matter and Torch Singer.

Ron’s Cajun Connection hosts a crawfish boil all weekend with oysters on the half shell for an appetizer and berry bread pudding for dessert.

SATURDAY 30

Learn how to make beef, turkey and veggie burgers from Chef Mike Burkauskas of Luxbar. The event starts at noon and includes samples and beer. $25. Reservations required: 312-642-3400.

Attend the first of a monthly cooking series at Chicago 312. Focused on homemade pastas, Luca Corazzina leads Sucola 312 students through the basics of traditional Italian cuisine. Includes recipe cards, a bottle of olive oil and a light lunch. Noon – 2pm, $45. Reservations required: 312-696-2420.

The Hunt Club reveals their “Hot-tinis” (hot drinks served in martini glasses) with a party. They’re just $5 before 11pm. The Hot Hot Hot party will also include appetizers and prizes going to the “hottest” customers. 9pm – 5am. No cover before 10pm, $5 after.

SUNDAY 31

Sepia supports Slow Food Chicago with a sustainable dinner. Marsha Guerrero, Director of Special Projects for Alice Water’s Chez Panisse Foundation and the suddenly controversial Edible Schoolyard will attend. Evening includes cocktail reception and a four-course meal with wine pairings. 6pm, $55. Reservations required: 312-441-1920 or sepiachicago.com.

Quince in Evanston welcomes their newest neighbor Vinic Wine Company with a three-course meal. You’re invited, of course. Enjoy liquid cauliflower ravioli, duck breast and dessert with two glasses of wine to accompany each course. 6:30pm, $75. Reservations: quincerestaurant.net.

Evanston is just full of foodie events when Count Sebastiano Capponi of Villa Calcinai Wines co-hosts a dinner at Va Pensiero. The four-course meal with wine pairings is $74, 6pm. Reservations required: chicagourmets.org.

Reds from Tuscany will be on display on Sunday and Monday (February 1) at Piccolo Sogno. Each night, a different Italian winemaker will be features and attend the meal. 6:30pm, Sunday is $90, Monday is $80. Reservations required: 312-421-0077 or ciro@piccolosognorestaurant.com.

Durty Nellie’s supports Impact for Jesus with an all-day party. Donations and 10% of food sales will go to helping rebuild an orphanage in Port-au-Prince. Local bands The BBC, Timbre and Page 3 will perform. 2pm – 8pm, $10 donation suggested.

The lovely ladies of the Kit Kat Lounge host a Lady Gaga-themed Grammy viewing party. $5 drinks! 5:30pm – 2am, no cover.

Your where-to-go, what-to-eat daily.

Head to Province to support Doctors Without Borders’ efforts in Haiti. From 5:30pm–8pm, cocktails and appetizers will be offered for a $40 donation. Reservations: 312-669-9900.

The Tasting Room hosts another charity event, this one for Vital Bridges, which supports Chicago residents with HIV or AIDS. Enjoy cocktails, beer and wine from 6pm–8pm, with plenty of hors d’oeuvres to pad the stomach. Arrive early: the open bar turns into a cash bar at 8pm. Event ends at 9pm. $25 online (www.vitalbridges.org), or $30 at the door.

Celebrate Rock Bottom Brewery’s Drunken Angel Abbey Dubbel’s bronze medal win at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival tonight. It’s free for members of their mug club, which is free to join—just ask when you’re there. 6pm.

In another boozy event, it’s Pint Night at Sheffield’s. For $4, grab a pint of California-brewed Lagunitas beer. There are six varieties on tap to choose from. 7pm.

Chicago just can’t get enough hops tonight. Dunlays on the Square offers a four-course dinner with beer pairings from Peak Organic Brewery. 7pm, $50. Reservations required: 773-227-2400.

Learn how to make it the tastiest Super Bowl yet at Stretch Run’s cooking class. For just $5, get tips on how to snazz up nachos, pizzas, ribs, chicken, burgers and more. 6pm–8pm. Reservations required: 312-644-4477.

Growing Home’s Wood Street Urban Farm in Englewood began an educational series on food in December. The first one of the year, they will screen Food Inc. Although informative, be warned: you should eat before you go. Free. R.S.V.P. at senecak@gmail.com.

For an eat outing that won’t make you go broke, Uncommon Ground’s Wrigleyville locale is presenting a three-course meal with three cocktails featuring Templeton Rye for just $20. Four words: blood orange old fashioned. 6pm – 8pm. Reservations: 773-929-3680.

Carrie Nahabedian of NAHA creates a very season (think citrus, game and root veggies) six-course menu are pairs it with teas from Rare Tea Cellar to warm you up. Spirits and cocktails will also be served. Dinner starts at 6pm, $125. Reservations required: 312-321-6242.

Coffee shop Julius Meinl’s Lincoln shop hosts another neighborhood prix-fixe dinner celebrating traditional Austrian fare. A Night in Vienna will feature music celebrating Mozart for $40. Reservations required: 773-868-1876 ext. 5.

Learn about sustainable seafood eating at this Shedd hosted sushi-rolling lesson plus aquarium tour. Desserts, coffee and cocktails are also included. 6:30pm – 9pm, $50. Reservations required: 312-692-3206 or adults@sheddaquarium.org.

Work by local artists Paul Jones, Sontra Stala, Joe Krasean and Ben Wilson will be on display at Blackbird as part of their Salon Series Dinners. Night includes a five-course meal with wine pairings for $115. Champagne reception at 6:30pm, dinner at 7pm. Reservations required: 312-715-0708.

Escape to the south of Spain with a wine tasting at Webster’s Wine Bar as you sample around 20 reds, and a few sherries. 7:30pm, $35. Reservations required: signup@websterwinebar.com or 773.868.0608.

Randolph Wine Cellars hosts a Port Tasting 6:30pm – 8pm. Learn the basics behind the making and appreciating of fortified wine for free.

Browntrout has a special Wednesday three-course dinner. For $35 tonight, get mussels, pan-seared quail and butterscotch brulee with sweet potato brittle.

Your where-to-go, what-to-eat daily.

FRIDAY 22

Girls looking to snatch up a doctor won’t know where to look today when Timothy O’Toole’s offers a free pitcher of Miller High Life to any man (or woman) walking in with a tie between 11am and 3pm.

Evanston’s Va Pensiero hosts a winter comfort food cooking class with Chef Jeff Muldrow. Learn how to make Italian classics like braised veal osso bucco, bread pudding, Chianti-infused risotto, and polenta. Lesson begins at 6:30pm and costs $65 per person. Reservations: 847-475-7779.

Chef Brunacci of Trump Tower’s Sixteen celebrates his native country with an Australia Day dinner. Australian chef and TV host Simon Bryant collaborates on the six-course dinner. The themed dinner comes complete with Australian wine pairings. $105 per person with wine pairings. The menu will be available through Thursday, January 28 at $105 per person, $145 with wine pairings.

SATURDAY 23

Have a Bleeding Heart at Medici’s bake sale benefiting the victims of Haiti. From 2:30pm until 6pm, Luscious Layers Bakery, Jimmy Jamm Sweet Potato Pies, Sugar Beez Custom Cookies, Katherine Anne Confections, Angel Food Bakery, the aforementioned Bleeding Heart Bakery and Medici’s sister bakery next door will lend their support at the Hyde Park restaurant.

Party like it’s Animal House at the John Belushi birthday celebration hosted by Faith and Whiskey. Otis Day from the film will perform and $100 goes to the man and woman with the best togas. $5 Jack Daniels drinks get the night going.

After last week’s Jersey Shore fake-out, J-woww is giving you a second chance to party like it is Seaside Heights at RiNo.

SUNDAY 24

Heritage Prairie Farm wants you to head to the farm for their Homegrown Family Winterfest. Enjoy all you can eat chili, burgers and brats, macaroni and cheese, baked beans and more. For entertainment there’s a chef demo by Jeremy Lycan of Geneva’s Niche, bonfire and ice skating. Event costs $15 per person and runs from noon until 4pm.

As part of a weeklong celebration of Australia headed by its Trump International’s Sixteen Chef Frank Brunacci, the 16th floor will be hosting an Australian market. From 1pm until 5pm, sample Aussie food and more than 30 wines while browsing booths of aboriginal art and jewelry. Singer-songwriters Anthony Snape and Claire Wyndham will perform. Event costs $35 in advance, $40 at the door with proceeds going to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Wanna win access to Miller Lite’s Super Bowl pre-party at Solider Field, where you’ll get to meet Bears players as well as tour the Bears’s locker room? Head to Timothy O’Toole’s between 3pm and 5pm and drink some Miller Lite. They’ll be drawing 20 winners.

Thursday Jan 21
Chicagoans will be gathering at English (444 N LaSalle, 312-222-6200) tonight from 6–9pm tonight for the Helping in the Wake of the Quake fundraiser: A $20 donation includes one sponsored cocktail and passed appetizers. An after-party follows at Sushi Samba, beginning at 9pm. There, all proceeds from the specialty sushi roll (Sinoloan Blue Prawn Tempura with avocado and cucumber wrapped in soy paper with ajio amarillo mayo—thanks, Grub Street) and event cocktail will go toward the Heartland Alliance. For more info, check out the website or facebook page.

Now–Sunday, January 24
If you can’t make it out tonight, you can make donations to the Heartland Alliance at the 50+ restaurants participating in Helping in the Wake of the Quake. Some restaurants—including Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, and Atwood Café—are matching donations; DMK Burger Bar is donating 25% of burger sales to the Red Cross or Share our Strength.

Mark your calendar
Monday, January 25, 100% of profits from Francesca’s restaurants (or $10,000, whichever is larger) will go toward the American Red Cross.

Tuesday, January 26, all proceeds from dinner at Tapas Valencia will go toward the Red Cross.

Thursday, January 28, Province is hosting a fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders, with Death’s Door cocktails, wine from Signature Wines and passed appetizers featuring Seafood Merchants. 5:30–8pm, $40 donation.

Chicago Originals Restaurant Week starts today and runs through January 31. A predominantly French group will be offering prix-fixe meals for $29.10. For those keeping score, that’s $2.90 less than the bigger Chicago Restaurant Week in late February. Participating restaurants include Cafe Bernard, Cyrano’s Bistrot, Dinotto, Le Titi De Paris, Restaurant Michael and Oceanique.

Head to Rockit Bar and Grill for $6 small plates and half priced wine available at their River North location all day and in Wrigleyville from 1pm to 5pm.

Evanston’s Koi is celebrating six years with $6 Chinese entrees. Plus, from today until January 24, they will also give each table a $20 gift certificate. Do note, these deals only apply if you’re dining in.

Beginning today and running through January 24, Carnivale will be offering Colombia-inspired dishes, part of its “Tour of the Americas” five-month long event.

California Zinfandels will be the focus of this month’s wine tasting at D.O.C. Wine Bar in Lincoln Park. From 7pm to 9pm, Sommelier Greg Sorrell will lead a tasting of eight wines. $35. For reservations: 773-883-5101.

Your where-to-go, what-to-eat daily.

FRIDAY 15

New West Loop lounge and tapas restaurant Meze hosts a party to ring in 2010. John Curley and DJ Castro spin while you enjoy $15 sangria pitchers and $3 internationally themed tapas.

Sure, it’s been open for a while but Cuna is finally throwing a Grand Opening Party. The cocktail reception runs from 8pm to 10pm while DJ Jesse De La Pena performs at 10pm. Enjoy $3 select draft beers and $4 well cocktails all night.

SATURDAY 16

Quartino’s Chef John Coletta hosts a pasta luncheon to celebrate the his book 250 True Italian Pasta Dishes, co-authored with Nancy Ross Ryan. The event begins at noon and will include a wine reception, delicious pasta and a book signing for $39. From 10am to noon, Ryan will be interviewing Coletta on the secrets and history behind pasta. $5 ($3 for students). Make reservations for both events: rsvpchc@yahoo.com, www.culinaryhistorians.org or 708-788-0338.

The Empty Bottle brings back its farmer’s market. Hangovers rejoice. This one starts at noon.

Become Chicago’s next great Pizzaiola at La Madia’s pizza cooking class. Chef Jonathan Fox starts from making the dough and will demonstrate two types of pizzas – a margherita and a seasonal. Wine pairings will also be discussed. Participants will go home with recipes and a take-home pizza making kit. $30. 11am to 1pm. Reservations required: 312-329-0400.

SUNDAY 17

“Quince Preserves Tradition” is the name of the event; updated takes on traditional high-end dining is what you’ll get. The three-course menu includes wine pairings with each course. $79 ($69 for members of ChicaGourmets). Wine and hor d’oeuvres reception at 5pm, dinner at 5:30pm. Reservations required: www.ChicaGourmets.org or 708-383-7543.

The Lobby Lounge in the ShowPlace Icon Theatre hosts a Golden Globes viewing party. Special Golden Globe martinis are on special for $8. The awards show begins at 7pm.

Join Dogfish Head at the Publican for a four-course meal entitled “Ancient Ales Beer Dinner.” Expect old-world beer pairings and an archeologist explaining the history of beer. It’s available from 5pm to 10pm for $45 per person for food and an additional $15 to $20 for the beer. Reservations encouraged: 312-733-9555.

Mercat a la Planxa’s Jose Garces will premiere as Food TV’s newest Iron Chef America and is throwing a party at his restaurant tonight to celebrate. The evening begins at 6pm while the episode begins at 8pm. The restaurant will be serving some of the dishes he prepares in the episode. $75. Reservations: 312-765-0524.