La Grange poised to treat diners to 10 days of culinary delights
by Jane Michaels jmichaels@pioneerlocal.com January 19, 2012 4:06PM
Jessica Bavone (left) holds a tray of ribs cooked in a tamarind chutney with Vikram Singh, owner of Kama Indian Bistro during a preview of the first Restaurant Week. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
Updated: February 27, 2012 8:03AM
From Brussels sprouts with bacon jam to Tandoori baby back ribs, La Grange diners can sample and experiment with new menu selections to their hearts’ content during the town’s upcoming Restaurant Week Feb. 17-26.
About a dozen eateries previewed their specialties Jan. 17 to herald the new dining promotion put together by the restaurant committee of the La Grange Business Association.
Ten days of specials from 15 participating La Grange establishments are timed to piggyback on the buzz of Chicago’s Restaurant Week, started in 2008, but keep suburban diners closer to home, organizers said.
The preview offered a feast for the senses with aromas of fire roasted pizza from Bella Bacinos, zesty Indian spices on fare from Kama Indian Bistro, and fragrant fish tacos with guacamole prepared by El Picante.
Other samplers hardly could wait to taste twin tenderloin tails of beef in a balsamic, peppercorn, mushroom sauce and fried green tomatoes with wasabi ranch sauce from Palmer Place, or a mini barbecue sandwich and hush puppies from Q Barbecue.
Like Chicago participants, some La Grange restaurants intend to offer a set prix-fixe menu of three or four courses. Francesca’s Bellezza, which sampled its bruschetta alla Romana, will feature four courses for $29.
Marconi’s, which served a taste of cheese tortellini in a creamy tomato vodka sauce, will offer three courses for $25. Prasino, which showcases seasonal and organic menu choices, also will feature a three course meal for $25.
Thipi Thai and El Picante, owned by Tarnthip Kunupakarn, will offer diners a $5 discount on checks of $30 or more.
Other restaurants plan to offer special menu items just for the week.
“Since we’ve been open two years, we’re trying to introduce our customers to some new fusion items with a traditional Indian touch,” said Agnes Singh, who operates Kama Bistro with her husband Vikram, and his brother, Jeet.
“We’ll have Indian-style tacos with lamb cooked in spices with a special sauce with ghost peppers, the hottest in the world,” Agnes Singh said. “There also will be Tandoori shrimp wrapped in apple-smoked bacon and marinated in traditional Indian spices.”
In addition to different menu items every day, Steve Palmer said he intends to feature six variety beers from a single brewery to augment Palmer Place’s wide selection of craft and specialty beers.
“We plan on making it a special week with different specials every day and the opportunity to win gift certificates in-house,” Palmer said. “It’s really exciting to have this week. Chicago started it downtown, but we’re a dining destination, too.:
Two other restaurants with an array of craft brews plan to offer beer pairings with food.
“We’re still coming up with options, because we just opened a month ago,” said Demetri Kopley, owner of Wild Monk. “We’ll possibly do a beer pairing with some of our dishes.”
Wild Monk chef Jordan Isaac said he would suggest an India Pale Ale to complement the duck rillette, which he dished out to tasters, or a lighter pale ale to accompany the crab cakes with a Spanish romesco sauce.
While Isaac didn’t offer a suggestion for the carmelized Brussels sprouts with bacon jam, Kopley said the unusual dish has been a huge hit with parents.
“They come in and say their kids never ate Brussels sprouts before, but they’re eating them here,” Kopley said.
In its “Taste the Nation” menu, Nicksons Eatery will offer a craft microbrew pairing with appetizers, including duck meatball sliders, Feb. 22. The restaurant, which features regional American fare, plans to serve Maine haddock fish and chips, Texan brisket chili and a Wyoming bison burger with onions carmelized in stout.
Like the Wild Monk, Q Barbecue’s owner, Michael LaPidus, also is playing his cards close to the vest, when it comes to his menu selections.
“We’re going to roll out some special menu items for the week that will be announced on Facebook and Twitter,” LaPidus said.
Linda Bacin, who owns said Bella Bacinos with her husband, Dan, is finalizing details of pizza-making classes for kids on the Saturdays of February, as well as wine tastings.
Owner Serafin Jimenez said Santiago’s plans to host a tequila dinner, tequila tastings and possibly salsa dance lessons at lunch during Restaurant Week.
“If we can’t do the salsa lessons, then we’ll do a cooking lesson,” Jimenez said. “People call to ask when we’re serving the pork quesadillas, or we might feature lessons on the lamb shank in tomato sauce with a hint of chipotle.”
Throughout February, diners can pick up a dining passport and get it stamped by spending at least $20 at participating restaurants. Those with four stamps are eligible for a drawing to win a trip to a culinary destination in the United States. Diners with two stamps can win a gift certificate to a La Grange restaurant.
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