Over Easy Cafe (4943 N. Damen Ave.) is back in business, after a dining room fire closed the breakfast-lunch-brunch place for nearly five months. “Opening twice in one year–I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone,” jokes the I-can-smile-now owner, Jon Cignarale. “We’re thrilled to death.” 773-506-2605.
The much-traveled Dudley Nieto, last seen opening Zapatista (though he exited that place months ago), has resurfaced at Xel-Ha (710 N. Wells St.) in the old Mestizo space. Named for a water park just south of Cancun, Xel-Ha features Yucatan cooking, and if you want to experience Dudley’s take on that, hurry on over. Dudley never stays in one place very long. 312-274-9500.
Chicago Chefs for Choice is hosting fundraising dinners (supporting the group’s efforts to repeal Chicago’s foie-gras ban) at 6 p.m. Saturday, and 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4, at Cyrano’s Bistrot, Wine Bar & Cabaret (546 N. Wells St.). Saturday’s dinner will feature such guest chefs as Graham Elliott Bowles of Avenues, Ramiro Velasquez of Carlos’ and Judy Contino of Bittersweet. The Feb. 4 evening will feature Kevin Hickey of Seasons, John Caputo of Bin 36, John Manion of Mas and Dimitri Fayard of Vanille Patisserie. Cost for either event is $139. 312-467-0546.
Breakfast-to-dinner ideas:
When you’ve got time for a big breakfast, shoot on over to the nearest IHOP, which is offering All You Can Eat pancakes (for as little as $4.99) through Feb. 18.
Or, put some spice into the midday with the lunchtime tasting menus at Vermilion (10 W. Hubbard St.), offering two-, three- and four-item tastings of Maneet Chauhan’s signature Indian-Latin fusion food, priced from $12-$22. 312-527-4060.
Or, wait until dinner and hit Davis Street Fishmarket (501 Davis St., Evanston) for its 21st annual Lobsterfest, running through Feb. 18, in which live, whole Maine lobsters are selling for $19.99 per pound (and there are plenty of other lobster specials besides). 847-869-3474.
———-
pvettel@tribune.com
