Ina Pinkney, who was a partner in the legendary Ina’s Kitchen in Lincoln Park (later to move to Streeterville and become Elaine & Ina’s, then finally Elaine’s, before shutting its doors), is getting back in the restaurant business. Pinkney has purchased the two-story building and parking lot at 1235 W. Randolph St. (the old Randolph Market Cafe) and will open Ina’s, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily (no dinner Sundays), before the end of the month. Pinkney promises simple, moderately priced fare and a full bar with an emphasis on half-bottles of wine.
Green Dolphin Street, 2200 N. Ashland Ave., switches to an all-degustation menu format beginning Tuesday. Diners will select items off the menu to create three-, four- or five-course menus, for $45, $55 and $65 respectively. Also available will be an extravagant, 8-to-11-course chef’s menu for $80. 773-395-0066.
A culinary tour de France will take place each week through April at Thyme, 464 N. Halsted St. Each week, chef-owner John Bubala will focus on a specific French region with a tasting menu priced between $35 and $45, with regional wines available. Bubala begins with Alsace, featured from Monday through Jan. 14, and ends with Anjou, from April 16-21. 312-226-4300.
One consolation of bitter weather is that bouillabaisse and cassoulet return to the menu at Le Titi de Paris, 1015 W. Dundee Rd., Arlington Heights. The hearty cassoulet (white beans, sausage, goose, lamb, duck confit) will be a designated menu item, priced at $27.50, on Jan. 9-12 and 16-19; bouillabaisse, a tomato-based fish soup, will be priced at $29.50 and offered Jan. 23-26, 30 and 31. Both dishes will be offered on selected February and March dates as well, and either can be ordered on any night with 24-hour notice. 847-506-0222.
Cyrano’s Bistrot & Wine Bar, 546 N. Wells St., reopens Friday after a four-day holiday. 312-467-0546.
Cafe 36, 22 Calendar Ct., LaGrange, reopens Monday after a six-day vacation. 708-354-5722.
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E-mail: pvettel@tribune.com
