Friday Foodie Forecast: Spring spirits, wines and dinners

Friday Foodie Forecast: Spring spirits, wines and dinners
Friday Foodie Forecast: Spring spirits, wines and dinners

Friday Foodie Forecast: Spring spirits, wines and dinners

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Spring on the plate!

It’s springtime in Chicago, and amid celebrating the return of baseball and anticipation of Hawks and Bulls post-season play, the season also bestows upon us food and drink only Mother Nature could produce this time of year. Chef Paul Virant features ramps - the early spring onion – in everything from pesto to pastry at a one-night only dinner at Vie. Spring wines and cocktail creations are the perfect companions to the seasonally-inspired menus at Macello’s and City Provisions’ April Supper Club.  So before it gets too hot – or dare I say cold - get out and revel in the fruits of the season.

April Supper Club with City Provisions

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind cocktail party experience as City Provisions announces their April Supper Club with Death’s Door Spirits at the Notebaert Nature Museum this Monday, April 11 at 6 p.m. With the goal of educating and entertaining guests with the origin of food sources, diners at this month’s event will be treated to multi-course seasonal, sustainable finger foods each paired with cocktail creations from Death’s Door Spirits from Washington Island, Wisconsin.  Menu details have yet to be announced but are sure to focus on seasonal fare celebrating the fruits of the season. Tickets are $100 per person, $25 of which will benefit The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and includes all food and drink (as well as tax and gratuity). Reservations are required and can be made by calling City Provisions at 773-293-2489, or email supperclub@cityprovisions.com. The Notebaert Nature Museum is located at 2430 Cannon Drive.

A Ramp-ed Up Dinner at Vie

Ramps are the first sign of Spring, and Paul Virant celebrates their arrival with a six-course meal featuring the spring onion/wild leek this Wednesday, April 13, at Vie. A 6:30 p.m. reception features ramp gougere, arancini with ramp pesto, and a whitefish escabeche with ramp vinaigrette. The five-course dinner following at 7 p.m. includes; a rabbit paté; ramp picalilly; fried rabbit belly bacon; wild salmon wrapped in prosciutto with braised ramp kraut; pork confit ravioli in ramp broth; and wood-grilled beef served alongside crispy pickled tongue, poached marrow, sautéed ramps and ramp dumplings. Ramps are also highlighted in the dessert, which includes cheese served with ramp marmalade, apricot and almond mincemeat and whole wheat crackers. Reservations can be made by calling 708-246-2083. Dinner is $80 per person, additional $20 for matching wines. For more information, visit www.vierestaurant.com.  Vie is located at 4471 Lawn Avenue, Western Springs.

Spring Wine Dinner at Macello’s

ChicaGourmets! invites you to leave your preconceived notions of Italian cuisine behind and step into the world of Italy at Macello’s Spring Wine Dinner this Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m.  The Puglia-themed menu by Chef-Owner Giovanni DeNigris encourages foodies to indulge in a wine-paired, five-course meal authentic to the region.  The menu features antipasti options of burrata and Barese sausage paired with Leone de Castris Salice Salento; a primi course of cavatelli al forno served with Botromagno Primitivo, Insalata Pugliese (cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, costini, lemon & oil); secondi options of filet, chicken or sea bass paired with Leone de Dastris “Donna Lisa”; and figs panettone accompanied by Botromagno Vino Passito - as well as espresso, cappuccino and amaro del capo - for dessert. Reservations are recommended by April 11 and can be made online along with ticket purchase - $81 for ChicaGourmet members - $91 for non-members – http://chicagourmets.org/cart.html. Macello is located at 1235 W. Lake Street. 

-Dimitra Apostolopoulos