Dine (733 W. Madison St.) has opened as a not-quite-retro concept west of the Loop. Billed as a “1940’s style” eatery, complete with martini bar, Dine features chef Trevor Hoyte’s creative-American turns on classic dishes, but items like salmon with black rice and fennel relish and pork tenderloin with garlic polenta sound pretty modern. There’s more “retro” on Kate Milashus’ dessert menu, which offers red velvet cake and lemon meringue pie. 312-602-2100.
Culinary stars such as Graham Elliot Bowles, Homaro Cantu, Todd Stein and Paul Virant are among those participating in the “StarChef’s.com Rising Star Revue,” a gala to be held 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Fairmont Chicago (200 N. Columbus Drive). A dozen chefs will prepare nibbles, with matching wines, to be sampled in a walk-around tasting. Tickets are $85 advance, $95 door; VIP tickets (includes champagne and caviar reception) are $125. 212-966-7575, or at www.starchefs.com/tickets.
Bubble Bath VI, an annual benefit for the Lincoln Park Zoo Auxiliary Board, will take place from 6-10 p.m. Wednesday at Bin 36 (339 N. Dearborn St.), which is co-sponsoring the event with Chicago magazine. Guests will sample more than 50 champagnes and sparkling wines, complemented by nibbles from chef John Caputo’s kitchen. There also will be silent and live auctions, and a raffle. Tickets are $50. 312-755-9463.
Speaking of bubbly, this month’s wine dinner at Bistro Banlieue (44 Yorktown Convenience Center, Lombard), at 6:30 p.m. Monday, will match a multicourse meal to four champagnes and one sparkling wine. Cost is $85. 630-629-6560.
Feeling a bit chilly? Dine at Tsuki (1441 W. Fullerton Ave.) any time Tuesday through Dec. 24 and receive a complimentary carafe of hot sake. Limit one per table. 773-883-8722.
Cheeseburger in Paradise will open another location (1472 Market St., Des Plaines); there will be an opening benefit for the Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital on Saturday, and the Jimmy Buffett-themed restaurant will open to the public on Tuesday. 847-299-3657.
Cafe 36 (22 Calendar Ct., La Grange) has reopened with new owners Terry and Carol Gilmer and chef Jacki DiCola (formerly with Bistro Banlieu). Fans of the old restaurant will notice that many of the menu favorites have been retained–as has much of the front- and back-room staffs. 708-354-5722.mk (868 N. Franklin St.) will be featuring “Treasures from the Cellar” throughout the month, offering by-the-glass pours of nine rare wines. They’re expensive–$10 to $50 per glass–but it’s a cheaper investment than a bottle. 312-482-9179.
In the same vein, Victor Hotel (311 N. Sangamon St.) will feature a daily, high-end “champagne du jour”–bubblies such as Veuve Clicquot and Moet White Star–for $10 per glass through Dec. 23. 312-733-6900.
Order the enormous, 40-ounce “Big Shoulders” porterhouse steak at Carmichael’s Chicago Steak House (1052 W. Monroe St.) and the restaurant will donate $10 to support Catholic schools in inner-city Chicago. And no, you don’t have to finish the steak. 312-433-0025.
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pvettel@tribune.com
