It’s about that time of January when you bend on those healthy eating resolutions and dive face-first into, oh, lasagna and beer? We can help.
1. Make Sunday a pasta party
Roots Handmade Pizza may be known for its Quad-Cities-style malt-crust pies, but the restaurant taps old Italian Sunday dinner traditions with its new lasagna special. End the weekend on a high note (and in a food coma) with a heaping slab of cheesy lasagna goodness, made with a blend of four whipped cheeses, a layer of Parmesan bechamel and a sauce of your choosing. But once they run out, they’re out — so don’t dawdle. $15. Sundays at 1924 W. Chicago Ave., 773-645-4949 and 2200 W. Lawrence Ave., 773-433-5959, www.rootspizza.com.
2. Try a new Chicago-made spirit
Boleo, the rooftop bar in the new Kimpton Gray Hotel, is launching its own fernet, and you’re invited to celebrate. Created by Rhine Hall Distillery exclusively for Boleo, Fernet Lola is a nod to both the Argentine and Peruvian flavors the bar celebrates. Head bartender Jess Lambert and director of bars for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Mike Ryan will host three different pop-ups in one night throughout the 4,000-square-foot space, while the private dining room will be transformed into a tasting room. Samples, live music and food and drinks specials are available all night. Free to attend. 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Jan. 28, at 122 W. Monroe St., 312-750-9007.
3. Get to know On Tour Brewing
West Town’s On Tour Brewing is hosting its Tour Opener Weekend, two days of beer-heavy fun for craft fans curious to know more about the newcomer. The event lineup includes $5 crowlers (32-ounce aluminum cans), raffles for merchandise and free tours of the facilities with head brewer Mark Poffenberger. Free to attend. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at 1725 W. Hubbard St., www.ontourbrewing.com/tour-opener-weekend.
4. Take a cooking class at Mama’s Boy
Up your hosting game with some new chef-y skills. Chef Massimo Gaffo of Mama’s Boy, a new Rosebud restaurant in River North, hosts a weekly, small-format cooking class every Saturday. This week’s is focused on easy-to-prep salads and appetizers. Gaffo walks you through crowd-pleasers (meatballs, sausage and peppers and his signature salad); enjoy wine as you follow (and snack) along. $100. Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at 445 N. Dearborn St., 312-391-1446, www.rosebudrestaurants.com.
5. Drink your way through 13 stouts
Ukrainian Village’s Tuman’s Tap & Grill is going all out for stout this Friday. For its third year hosting an all-stout takeover, the bar is dedicating 13 of its 28 taps to these big boys, featuring beers like Goose Island’s 2016 Bourbon County Stout series, along with New Holland Brewing’s Dragon Milk Reserves and Alesmith Brewing Company’s Speedway Stouts. Brews will run $7 to $12, with flights available. Noon to 3 a.m. (or until beer runs out) Friday, Jan. 27, at 2159 W. Chicago Ave., 773-782-1400, www.tumanstapandgrill.com.
jbhernandez@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @joeybear85
.galleries:after {
content: ”;
display: block;
background-color: #144A7C;
margin: 16px auto 0;
height: 5px;
width: 100px;
}
.galleries:before {
content: “Food & Dining Photos and Video”;
display: block;
font: 700 23px/25px Georgia,serif;
text-align: center;
color: #1e1e1e;
var playlist = ‘chi_dining’,
layout = ‘autoblurb5plus1’,
iu = ‘%2F4011%2Ftrb.chicagotribune%2Fent%2Fdining’;
