There’s a new Italian restaurant on Taylor Street, but the principals of Osteria del Vecchio, 1321 W. Taylor St., are anything but arrivistes.
Owner Pat Iannino and his cousin, Peggy Jo Bulgarelli, both grew up in the Taylor Street area. Last month’s opening of Osteria del Vecchio (formerly Mategrano’s) represented something of a homecoming, because Iannino’s first restaurant, Osteria Romana, is in Lombard. The menu emphasizes seafood selections and plenty of traditional and out-of-the-ordinary pastas. Call 312-666-7333.
– Enjoy complimentary wine and tapas from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Tuttaposto, 646 N. Franklin St. The free feed launches the restaurant’s weekly Free Wine Wednesdays program, in which lunch and dinner guests receive complimentary tastes of Mediterranean wines (two ounces each of three wines). Call 312-943-6262.
– Blackhawk Lodge, 41 E. Superior St., now offers a “Bluegrass brunch” from noon-3 p.m. Sundays. Highlights include live bluegrass music and a menu that features omelets with country ham and cheddar, country biscuits and gravy and apple pancakes. Regular lunch menu is available as well. Call 312-280-4080.
– Culinary teams from Kendall College, the Cooking & Hospitality Institute of Chicago and Kraft Foodservice (plus two local restaurants yet to be determined by presstime) will participate in a pig roast competition as part of the Carmeltown Block Party, which takes place from 6 p.m.-midnight Saturday at Carmel High School, on Ill. Hwy. 176, a mile east of Ill. Hwy. 45. The competition takes place in the afternoon; in the evening, a $20 admission fee lets you taste the results, and enjoy other food, beverages, games and live music. Proceeds to benefit Carmel High School; call 708-566-3000.
