Gil Langlois (ex-Rushmore, SushiSamba Rio) is about to open his own place–Chalkboard (4343 N. Lincoln Ave.), a Lincoln Square spot scheduled to open Nov. 15. The space once was Tournesol, which readers may recall had a prominent chalkboard, but that’s gone in favor of Chalkboard’s two larger boards. “I love the idea of a chalkboard,” Langlois says. “It means the chef really has to work at keeping his food fresh and based on what’s available. In a neighborhood like this with lots of local customers, they’ll know if what’s on the chalkboard is old or not.” Langlois won’t have a long commute; he bought the entire building and will live upstairs with his wife and son. “I can walk downstairs to work, and the baby monitor works down there.” Look for Langlois’ signature playful takes on comfort food when Chalkboard opens.
Interested in Sunday’s LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon but not into all that running? You can try one of the “Eating Marathons” on today’s At Play cover or take a shot at one of the Marathon Menus at a couple of local restaurants. The Cafe at the Ritz-Carlton (160 E. Pearson St., 312-573-5160) will feature a pasta menu at lunch and dinner Saturday that includes penne with sauteed mushrooms, orecchiette carbonara. Eleven City Diner (1112 S. Wabash Ave., 312-212-1112) will feature a Chicago Marathon Menu all day Friday through Sunday, with such dishes as grilled tilapia with citrus salsa .
This is awfully silly, but you get a free pizza out of it, so what the hey: Go to www.unos.com, answer some questions to determine your pizza personality (or “pizzanality” as they call it) and get a coupon good for a free Uno’s pizza. The coupon’s good at Pizzeria Uno, Pizzeria Due or any of the Uno’s Chicago Grill locations around the country. And you might win free pizza for a year.
The Fishguy Market (4423 N. Elston Ave.) is dipping into the restaurant waters, offering a fixed-price dinner at 7 p.m. Thursday nights, starting tonight. Cost is $100, tax and tip included; it’s BYOB. But there’s a limit of 10 guests, and non-refundable prepayment is required. If that sounds good, start dialing. 773-283-7400.
Tin Fish (17W512 22d St., Oakbrook Terrace; 630-279-0808; 18201 S. Harlem Ave., Tinley Park; 708-532-0200) will host a Fall Wine Week from Sunday through Oct. 26. Each day a wine selection will be offered for $2/glass (with food purchase, limit three), and a daily special entree served with a complimentary glass of wine.
Monemvassia Vineyards will be the focus of a dinner at 5 p.m. Monday at Greek Islands (200 S. Halsted St.). Cost of the five-course, six-wine dinner will be $39. 312-782-9855.
The fourth Wednesday of every month is Wine Cellar Raid day at Cafe Matou (1846 N. Milwaukee Ave.), when wine director James Rahn grabs about 25 wines from his cellar and offers them for $17 each that night. The fourth Wednesday of October is a few days away. 773-384-8911.
Foley Estates Vineyard and Lincourt Vineyard will be featured in a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Michael (64 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka). The five-course, four-wine dinner costs $70. 847-441-3100.
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pvettel@tribune.com
