Eat this, drink that: Pozolada 2012, Baconfest 2013, and ask Peter Sagal anything at The Dinner Party

Eat this, drink that: Pozolada 2012, Baconfest 2013, and ask Peter Sagal anything at The Dinner Party

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Off-the-menu raw burger; mulled cider with rum; Red Door Burger — with Butterkäse cheese, bacon-onion jam, tarragon pickles — and hand-cut fries at Red Door kitchen and bar (WBEZ/Louisa Chu)

Monday, November 26

Fear No ART presents The Dinner Party at the Mayne Stage, with Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! host Peter Sagal among the trio of creative guests. Nellcôte chef Jared Van Camp will serve his chestnut agnolotti with braised duck, butternut squash, crispy Brussels sprout leaves, and Gouda cheese; Speck ham-wrapped sturgeon with mustard knefla, fennel sauerkraut, and quince gastrique; and there will be wine and Vosges chocolate. Ask Sagal about his vade mecum, The Book of Vice: Very Naughty Things (and How to Do Them), which includes the chapter “Eating, or Sodom’s Restaurant” based on dinner at Alinea, that he actually did love — and Sandwich Monday, including recently, the Candwich. Admission $25 advance, $30 door.

Tuesday, November 27

Bacon Nation! Baconfest Chicago kicks off the first of four 2012-13 Satellite Dinners with BFC veteran chef Dan Smith at his restaurant Hearty. Featuring Nueske’s bacon and Candid Wines, the menu includes an amuse of the House Bacon Trio (bacon powder-crusted bacon, cherrywood-smoked bacon, and morel-crusted bacon; a starter of a Scotch quail egg (bacon sausage-crusted quail egg with bacon vodka-pickled cornichons, and a candied bacon-stuffed smoked Gouda cheese stick); bacon fat challah (with pork belly and tomatillo marmalade, roasted pork bone marrow, and Petite Tangerine Lace salad); a pasta course of bacon ravioli (bacon pasta filled with bacon sausage and Dunbarton Blue cheese, with ham hock velouté, caramelized onion purée, and crispy Brussels sprout leaves); a main course of smoked and grilled double-thick pork chop (with bacon molasses, oyster/leek/lardons bread pudding, and lemon/shallot green beans); and finally a dessert of a Mason jar bacon banana pudding (chocolate ganache, bacon fat vanilla wafers, bacon sugar caramelized bananas, vanilla pudding, chocolate meringue, bacon cashew brittle garnish) — wafer-thin bacon-crusted Lipitor mint not included. Admission $65.

Wednesday, November 28

Temple of the Dog & Meow Lounge presents Woof, Wag, Wine & Cheese benefitting ALIVE Rescue‘s new adoption center, The Little Barn, for dogs, cats, and fluffy bunny rabbits. Bring your pup to this dog-friendly event at TOTDAML and meet the people behind ALIVE. Volunteer, foster, and/or donate to this sustainable animal sanctuary in Roscoe Village. Admission FREE.

Thursday, November 29

The Bears and Chase team up for the Chicago Bears & Chase Food Drive at 100 bank branches in the city, benefitting the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Drop off food donations at branches through the end of the month. The most needed items are beans, canned fruit, canned vegetables, cereal, chili, jelly, macaroni and cheese, pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, rice, shelf-stable milk, soup, stew, and tuna. Or simply donate funds now. Admission FREE, please donate food or funds.

Friday, November 30

The artist Tony Fitzpatrick’s Firecat Projects presents “Hello from New York” by artist, art writer, and founding editor of Artnet Magazine, Walter Robinson, in his first solo exhibition in Chicago. Three Floyds beer and wine from Red & White will be served. Plus meet Firecat co-founder Stan Klein and his puggle muse Ella. I also recommend the Red Door burger and fries next door by our friend chef Troy Graves. Admission FREE to Firecat, food/drink additional at Red Door.

Saturday, December 1

Pros Arts Studio presents Pozolada 2012 & Holiday Tianguis at the Co-Prosperity Sphere. Each ticket includes a handmade one-of-a-kind bowl, a warm pozole meal, and drinks. Locally sourced red, green, white, and vegetarian pozole will be served from volunteer chefs, including Pilsen Art District neighbor DeColores Mexican restaurant. Admission $30 adults, $12 youths up to 12.

Sunday, December 2

In what appears to be Pupapalooza 2012 (with better grooming), the Holiday Bazaar & Bake Sale at Chicago Party Animals benefits 10 different animal welfare organizations. There will be baked goods for animals and humans — plus holiday punch! Vendors include A Dog’s Day Rescue, ALIVE Rescue, Blackdog All Breed Dog Rescue, Bow Wow Revolution, Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue, Dog House Humane Group, Tree House Humane Society, Pets Are Like Family, Lost Dogs Illinois, and The Puppy Mill Project. Admission $5 per person, FREE for dogs, includes goody bag, bake sale additional.