20 Wines for $20 - Autumn Harvest Wine Tasting

Osteria Via Stato will host an Autumn wine tasting from 5:30p-7p on October 14th with special guest Alpana Singh (Master Sommelier and host of "Check, Please!").  Sample 20 wines that pair well with seasonal fare and meet with wine experts and importers.  Autumn-inspired passed 'small bites' by Executive Chef David DiGregorio will also be provided.
Cost: $20

For reservations, call Allison Gallese at 312-642-8550.

Osteria Via Stato
620 N State Street
Chicago, IL 60610

New Buffalo Harvest and Wine Fest

The New Buffalo Harvest and Wine Fest takes place on Saturday, October 10, 2009, from noon to 10:00 p.m.

With the Lake in full view from Lion’s Park (and the beach just across the street),  sample a bounty of local cuisine, locally grown produce, and, most importantly, locally cultivated wines.

There will be a variety of wines from several local vintners – the Round Barn Winery, Free Run Cellars, Lemon Creek, Domaine Berrien, St. Julian Winery and Tabor Hill - all in an outdoor settting.

Music, wine & beer tasting, farmers and pumpkin patch, free kids activities, hay rides, pumpkin painting, prizes, food, and craft vendors and beautiful views of the lake for a suggested donation of $5.

New Buffalo is located about one hour from Chicago in Southwest Michigan.

Finally A Pig Roast for Oenophiles

September was rampant with pig roasts that ran the gamut from the straightforward pig in a smoker accompanied by PBR at Smoke Daddy (the one that I happened to attend) to the more upscale Head-to-Tail event at Bluprint, which combined five-course dinner and craft beer pairings.  There were countless other pig roasts throughout the month, many of which were posted on this blog, but each event on my radar had one thing in common - BEER!


Beer and pig is great pairing, but I know plenty of people who would love a pork roast, minus the beer factor.  This weekend, Lush Wine and Spirits on Halsted will answer a lot of prayers with their pig roast and Rhone wine pairing.  The cost is $50 and in addition to wine and pork, there will be a spread of Mediterranean sides. This is their last pig roast of the season.  I am sorry I am only now catching on.  Call (312-738-1900) or email (erin@lushwineandspirits.com) to RSVP.


Pig Roast
October 10, 2009
6-9p


Lush Wine and Spirits
1257 S Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60607
 

Three Floyds Brewery Tour

There will be a bus trip to Three Floyd's Brewery (www.threefloyds.com) in Munster, IN departing from Paddy Long's at 11:45a on Saturday, October 10th. The bus returns at approximately 4:30p. Call Paddy Long's to sign up (773.290.6988)
Cost: $20 (includes beer on the bus, roundtrip bus ride and brewery tour)


Paddy Longs
1028 W Diversey
Chicago, IL 60614

Shaw's Oyster Festival Brewmaster Dinner

Shaw's Crab House Chicago and Goose Island are teaming up to produce a beer dinner on October 22nd. Just in time for Royster with the Oyster week (October 15th-23rd)!  The event details from their website are below:

Time: 6:30pm

Date: October 22, 2009

Location: Shaw's Crab House
Cost: $64.99, all-inclusive

Event description:
Come Join us for an evening of great food and beer pairings as the restaurant hosts a special beer dinner at the Oyster Hall of Fame in Chicago. The six-course menu, prepared by Chef Arnulfo Tellez, features the season's freshest ingredients, which Shaw's Sommelier Steve Tindle pairs with Goose Island Beers. The event begins at 6:30 pm with an Oyster Reception, followed by dinner at 7:15 and discussion led by special guest, Greg Hall, Goose Island Brewmaster. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call Shaw's at 312.527.2722 to make your reservations.

Menu
Island Creek Oysters on the Half Shell - Duxbury Creek, MA
Baked Oysters with Shrimp and Parmesan
Goose Island Sofie, Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale

Braised Prince Edward Island Mussels
Diavola Sauce
Goose Island Matilda, Belgian Style Pale Ale

Sauteed Florida Red Grouper
Pumpkin Seed Crust, Delicata Squash Puree and a White Bean & Bacon Sauce
Goose Island Juliet, Belgian Style Sour Ale

Spice Rubbed Grilled Skirt Steak
Sweet Mole Sauce
Goose Island Pere Jacques, Belgian Style Abbey Ale

Flourless Chocolate Cake
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Shaw's Crab House
http://www.shawscrabhouse.com
21 E. Hubbard St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 527-2722

Goose Island Pairing at Kitsch'n

There will be a complimentary pairing buffet on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 from 4:30p to 6:30p at Kitsch'n River North.  You will be able to try samples of Goose Island's latest release - Sophie - along with discounted drafts of Goose Island IPA, 312 and Harvest Ale.  Complimentary menu includes Mama's Meatloaf, chipotle ribs, black bean and corn relish with tortilla chips, strawberry and mixed green salad, waffle fries with cheese and bacon and scallions chili.

Kitsch'n River North
http://www.kitschn.com/
600 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 644-1500

OctoBeerFest 4-7, 2009 at David Burke Primehouse

Execute Chef Rick Gresh of David Burke's Primehouse has arranged 4 nights of beer pairing dinners, dubbed OctoBEERfest, from Sunday, October 4th through Wednesday, October 7th. These dinners feature a four course dinner comprised of local seasonal foods paired with the a few of the usual suspects of Midwest brewery fame - Two Brothers, Goose Island and New Holland. Perhaps the most interesting dinner will be on Sunday when Gresh's own homebrew recipes will be featured. The price for one dinner is $55, two dinners $95 and the schedule of beer dinners is $175. Pretty reasonable, given the amazing looking menus, which can be found in their entirety on Rick Gresh's blog.

Space is limited. Call David Burke's Primehouse at 312-660-6000 for more info.