Restaurateurs John Tarantino (Tarantino’s) and Steve Weiss (Dish) have collaborated in the creation of Demi Mezzo, 1329 W. Chicago Ave. (the site of Tarantino’s old Jim & Johnny’s), which opens to the public Friday. The European bistro’s menu will be half-French, half-Italian (demi means half in French; mezzo means half in Italian). Call 312-243-2929.
– Opening in late April will be Eden, a “natural bistro” inside Whole Foods Market at North and Sheffield Avenues. Eden replaces the old Quixotic Cafe; chef is Steven McClain, whose resume includes a stint as private chef to the late Jerry Garcia. (Can’t wait to try those brownies.)
– Il Pescatore, 3400 River Rd., Franklin Park, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special menu available throughout March. The four-course dinner features either veal chop or lobster tail as the main course, and includes a complimentary glass of wine. Cost is $19.95; call 847-678-0895.
– The cigar dinner craze continues unimpeded. Observe:
– Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, 2024 N. Halsted St., will present a Spanish cigar dinner at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. A cigar and cordials reception precedes a tapas and red wines dinner, which concludes with cigars, ports and sherries. Cost is $50. Reservations required; call 312-935-5000.
– Cafe du Midi, 2118 N. Damen Ave., will host a cigar dinner the first Monday of every month, beginning Monday. The four-course dinner will be matched to wines from Gascony, followed by a cigar sampling with armagnac. Cost is $55. Seatings are at 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.; call 312-235-MIDI.
– Cafe Harlow, in the Hollywood Casino-Aurora, 49 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora, will present a cigar and cognac dinner on Wednesday. Featured is a five-course menu; throughout dinner service, patrons will sample premium cigars and tastings of cognacs and small-batch bourbons. Cost is $75; call 708-801-7207.
– La Cantina and The Village restaurants, 71 W. Monroe St., are holding a garlic festival in March. Both restaurants will feature special garlic-laden dishes (in addition to their regular menus) each day. Call 312-332-7005.
– Christina Benz of Murphy-Goode Winery will match her wines to a five-course degustation by chef Don Yamauchi at 6 p.m. Thursday at The Bistro in Highwood, 440 Green Bay Rd., Highwood. Cost is $65 inclusive; call 847-433-5600.
– Geja’s Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., launches a two-month Tuscan wine festival this weekend, featuring more than two dozen specially priced Tuscan wines by the glass or bottle. Call 312-281-9101.
– Bill Kim, formerly sous chef at Charlie Trotter’s, has taken the same position at Trio in Evanston.
– Francesca on Taylor, 1400 W. Taylor St., opens for lunch beginning Monday. Call 312-829-2828.
– When Edelweiss, 7650 W. Irving Park Rd., Norridge, ran its Obstlerfest promotion (Obstler is an apple-pear liqueur) a few weeks ago, many patrons glanced at the marquee and hurried on in, thinking the restaurant was offering a lobsterfest. So now the restaurant is featuring a lobster-tail dinner, for $14.95, Tuesdays through Fridays throughout March. Call 708-452-6040.
– Congrats to the Chicago Hilton and Towers, the only local operation to receive a 1996 Ivy Award from Restaurants and Institutions magazine.
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Questions, comments, hot tips, gripes–e-mail them to Phil Vettel via pvettel @ aol.com, or post a note on the Tribune’s “talk to the Writers” message board on America Online.
