Kelvin Cheung, the young chef who put Ginger Asian Bistro (15700 S. Harlem Ave., Orland Park) on the map, is no longer with the restaurant. In his place is Peter Han, who will, according to owner Kai Chow, be “adding more wok orientation” to the menu while retaining most of the fusion cooking that made Ginger Asian Bistro a hit in the first place. “We have a lot of family oriented customers,” says Chow about the addition of more familiar menu items. Chow closed the restaurant last week, to install new back-of-the-house equipment and to allow Han get up to speed. But Chow says the restaurant will reopen Tuesday. 708-633-1818.
And what of the departed chef? Kelvin Cheung says left because he and owner Kai Chow “had different views on what we wanted the restaurant to be.” Now, Cheung is weighing a couple of offers in the city. “I miss cooking on a line,” he says. “I may go back to cooking for awhile, and then decide.”
What’s hot in Chicago? According to Conde Nast Traveler’s 2007 Hot List, the “hot hotel” is The James Chicago Hotel (616 N. Rush St.), the “hot night” can be found at Pops for Champagne (601 N. State St.) and the “hot tables” belong to David Burke’s Primehouse (which is in the James) and DeLaCosta (465 E. Illinois St.).
It took a week longer than anticipated, thanks to a computer glitch, but Sheffield’s (3258 N. Sheffield Ave.) should have its new BBQ menu up and running (as in serving) on Monday. 773-281-4989.
In celebration of its 14th anniversary (including its early days in Elmhurst), Zealous (419 W. Superior St.) will offer a five-course tasting menu, composed of favorite dishes, for $85; accompanying glass pours of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label (NV) will be $14 (normally $24). The menu is available through May 31. 312-475-9112.
Shaw’s Crab House (1900 E. Higgins Rd.; Schaumburg) will offer tastings of 25 white wines — all new inclusions on its wine list — from 5-7 p.m. Friday. Hors d’oeuvres and live music are included in the $25 price. Reservations preferred. Call Jason Gross at 847-517-2722.
Giovanni Puiatti will present some of his Puiatti wines at a five-course dinner held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Quince (1625 Hinman Ave.; Evanston). Cost is $65. 847-570-8400.
Robert Pecota will feature six of his Napa Valley wines at a five-course dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Niche (14 S. Third St.; Geneva). Cost is $90; 630-262-1000.
An environmentally friendly seafood feast, combined with talks on sustainable seafood, will be presented at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Oceanique (505 Main St.; Evanston). The event is part of the Shedd Aquarium’s “Right Bite” Dinner Series; upcoming dinners will take place at Shaw’s Crab House July 9, Parkers’ Ocean Grill Sept. 10 and West Town Tavern Nov. 4. Each dinner is priced at $75, $65 if you register for three events. Reservations required through the Shedd: 312-692-3213.
An “Italy — From Head to Toe” wine dinner will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Dinotto Ristorante (215 W. North Ave.), focusing on sparkling wines from Nino Franco Vineyards and Sicilian wines from Cusumano Winery. Primo Franco and Diego Cusumano will be guest speakers. Cost for the five-course dinner with wines is $75; advance tickets are $65. 312-202-0302.
The dining options in Bolingbrook have spiked dramatically with the opening of the new Promenade Bolingbrook mall (Boughton Road at Janes Avenue, Bolingbrook). The shopping center is home to a Bar Louie, BD’s Mongolian Barbecue, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Go Roma and Johnny Rocket’s, and Ted’s Montana Grill will open there Monday. Oh, yeah, there’s shopping, too.
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pvettel@tribune.com
