Thursday, November 17

The French Market hosts a Beaujolais Nouveau celebration with free wine and food samples and French jazz. Beret and stripey shirt optional.

I hate to break the news, but this event is sold out. Christopher Kimball at Unity Temple in Oak Park, on tour for the new Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook: 2,000 Recipes from 20 Years of America’s Most Trusted Cooking Magazine. But stay tuned for future excellent events presented by Writers at Wright, a partnership among The Book Table, Friends of the Oark Park Public Library, Midwest Media, and the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation, all “dedicated to bringing the finest authors to speak at Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece, Unity Temple.”

Way across town, Lidia Bastianich will be at Mariano’s in Vernon Hills signing her new book Lidia’s Italy in America.

Friday, November 18

Grab a bag of “popcorn” air and see a screening of the documentary El Bulli: Cooking in Progress at the Block Cinema at Northwestern University in Evanston.

The Food Film Fest kicks off their three-day weekend with yet another sold out event, this one a feast of films and food at Kendall College. There are still tickets available for Saturday’s Great Chicago Shuck ‘n Suck and Sunday’s closing Awards Ceremony Lunch, which will feature turtle burgers on and off screen.

Saturday, November 19

The Pie Must Go On—An American Pie Story will be told by blue ribbon award winning pie queen (and my dear friend) Catherine Lambrecht, students at Lexington College for the Culinary Historians of Chicago. There will be pie—apple pecan crumble and coconut cream—so I will be there with fork and coffee mug in hands.

Eli’s Cheesecake holds their annual Thanksgiving Dock Sale. If you bring a non-perishable food donation for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, you get a free slice of cheesecake. Donate $10 or more and get a whole free cheesecake!

Sunday, November 20

I’ll also be at the Red Door Animal Shelter’s annual Bazaar featuring The Famous Cookie Sale—with hundreds of cookies—and pet photos with Santa!

Monday, November 21

Patricia Wells will be in town two days for three events, on tour with her new book Simply Truffles: Recipes and Stories that Capture the Essence of the Black Diamond. Madame Wells will be at Corner Cooks in Winnetka for a demo, signing, then luncheoning. That evening, she’ll be at Now We’re Cookin’ in Evanston for another demo and signing, plus tasting.

Tuesday, November 22

The marathon-running Wells then takes it downtown, to the University Club of Chicago, for hors d’oeuvres “inspired by the book” followed by a Q&A and signing.