thursday2

Taste of Chicago continues through 7/5, with food from 56 vendors plus live music (check out the Reader's recommendations) and fireworks 7/3 at 9 PM. 11 AM-9 PM (closes 7/3 after the fireworks and 7/5 at 6 PM), Grant Park, Columbus and Jackson, 312-744-3315.

friday3

Just Grapes focuses on American wines for a free Independence Day Tasting. 4-7 PM, 560 W. Washington, 312-627-9463.

saturday4

At Purgatory Pizza’s hot-dog eating contest, the competitor who eats the most wienies in five minutes wins a trophy and prizes. Spectators can pig out too, on hot dogs for a buck apiece. 1 PM, 3415 N. Clark, 773-975-6677, $5 entry fee.

tuesday7

Fulton's on the River hosts its second summer all-you-can-eat clam bake (the third and final one is Tue 8/4), featuring baked stoneneck clams with brown butter breadcrumbs; razor clams and mussels steamed with beer, fresh herbs, lemongrass, and ginger; corn on the cob; and jalapeño-cheddar cornbread, among other menu items. Two Hoegaarden beers are included in the price, and there are specials on beer, wine, and cocktails. 5-8 PM, 315 N. LaSalle, 312-822-0100, $22.

wednesday8

From the folks behind this past winter’s popular Soup and Bread events (bartender and Reader contributor Martha Bayne and the Hideout) comes Veggie Bingo, with prizes ranging from locally produced honey and hot sauce to a box of fruits and vegetables from Irv and Shelly’s Fresh Picks. Free hot dogs and tofu pups will be served for bingo players, and proceeds benefit NeighborSpace, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving community open space in the city. The caller for the first event will be country singer Lawrence Peters. Through 9/9: Wednesdays, 6-8 PM, Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 773-227-4433 or 866-468-3401, $1 per card, six for $5.

Historian Ellie Carlson will shop for local ingredients at Green City Market and use them to prepare dishes Abe Lincoln might have eaten in his log cabin for the free program Land of Lincoln Readers: Cooking on the Illinois Frontier, copresented by the Chicago Public Library. 9:30 AM, Green City Market, south end of Lincoln Park, 773-880-1266.

The Chicago Botanic Garden offers beer and wine tastings with industry pros, plus cheese and crackers, at its Grapes & Hops summer festival. Also 7/22, 8/12, and 8/26. 6-8 PM, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe, 847-835-5440, $10 (designated drivers free), parking $20.

A couple of addenda to this week's food and drink events listings:

tuesday30

No Exit Cafe hosts a screening of Fresh, a film about sustainable food and "the farmers, thinkers, and business people across American who are reinventing our food system." A discussion of alternatives to industrial food will precede and follow the screening. The Heartland Cafe will provide food and drink for purchase. Reservations recommended. Discussion begins at 6 PM, film at 7:15, 6970 N. Glenwood, freshmoviechicago@gmail.com, $5 suggested donation.

wednesday1

The first Beers of Summer Festival at the Bottom Lounge features more than 70 summery beers distributed by Glunz Beer, including Sam Smith's Organic Cherry Fruit Beer, Belfast Bay Lobster Ale, Dogfish Head Festina Peche, and Great Lakes Independence Ale. 7:30-11 PM, 1375 W. Lake, 312-666-6775, $20 (includes unlimited tastings).

Take a close look at the menus in the picture. The one on the left is the take-out menu for the East Village Italian joint Bella's Pizza & Restaurant, located on Ashland Avenue. The one on the right is from Jose's Restaurant, not far away on Winchester, just north of Chicago Avenue.

You'll notice that Bella's has a spinach, chicken, and alfredo sauce calzone called the "Pretty Boy Floyd" that sells for $6.75. So does Jose's.

Bella's has create-your-own and vegetarian calzones for $6.75 too. So does Jose's.

The only difference in each restaurant's calzone offerings is that Bella's has a $6.75 sausage, mushroom, and cheese number called the "Godfather." Jose's also has one, but it's called the "Gofather."

In fact, aside from a few minor details and typos, Jose's take-out menu--which advertises "Fine Mexican Cuisine and Authentic Italian Pizza and more"--is virtually identical to the Bella's menu, down to each and every item, its pricing, and even a $2 coupon for a 6-pack of soda. See for yourself in the attached photos.

To confuse matters even more, there's a different Italian menu posted on GrubHub, in addition to Jose's regular Mexican menu. The thing is, apart from some newly introduced thin-crust pizzas, Jose's is currently only serving Mexican food. What gives?

Bella's owner Mike Cosmano says he became aware of the situation when a regular customer called to ask if the restaurant had changed its name. He has a theory about what's been happening, but I'd like to talk to Jose Hernandez, owner of Jose's, before passing it on.

Hernandez hasn't returned my calls, but a fellow named Gabriel there told me: "We're promoting the pizzas. We're trying to get that going and then we're gonna get into the Italian dishes eventually." But at the moment, Gabriel said, the pizza guy is on vacation. "We'll have them again in a week. Everybody's calling for the pizza."

thursday25

Sonat Birnecker Hart and Robert Bimecker, founders of the new Koval Distillery in Ravenswood, lead a tasting of all ten of their spirits, including vodka, grain spirits, and several liqueurs. The event coincides with the first week of Eat Local/Drink Local Night at In Fine Spirits: on Thursdays this summer cocktails there will be special menu items made with farmers’ market ingredients, Koval spirits, and Metropolitan beer. 7:30-9:30 PM, 5420 N. Clark, 773-506-9463, $15.

friday26

There’ll be fewer booths this year (56 in total) at Taste of Chicago, but new vendors include Blue Bayou, Garrett’s Popcorn, and Manny’s, and perennial favorites Sweet Baby Ray’s, Eli’s Cheesecake, and Lou Malnati’s will be back. 6/26-7/5, 11 AM-9 PM (closes 7/3 after the fireworks and 7/5 at 6 PM), Grant Park, Columbus and Jackson, 312-744-3315.

saturday27

The Hyde Park Art Center’s first Fryvalry, part of Artists Run Chicago, features two deep-fat fryers, one for meat, one vegetarian. According to founders Phillip Von Zweck and Kevin Jennings, “you bring it, we fry it, you eat it.” Sat 6/27, 5-8 PM, 5020 S. Cornell, 773-324-5520, free.

Gary Wiviott, author of the new book Low & Slow: Mastering the Art of Barbecue in Five Easy Lessons, and Colleen Rush, author of The Mere Mortal’s Guide to Fine Dining, discuss Wiviott’s barbecue techniques and tricks at the Chicago Foodways Roundtable talk "Low and Slow BBQ." Sat 6/27, 10 AM, Kendall College, 900 N. North Branch, 847-432-8255, chicago.foodways.roundtable.@gmail.com, $3.

sunday28

At Red Light’s Pig Roast and Cooking Class, chef Jackie Shen will roast a whole pig in a La Caja China box, designed to roast a pig in under four hours; Greg Hall of Goose Island will discuss pairing beer with pork and provide beer from his company. Reservations required.Sun 6/28, noon, Red Light, 820 W. Randolph, 312-733-8880, $55.

monday29

Lisa Williams (of Lisa Cooks Allergen Free) and Carnivale executive chef Mark Mendez host a family-style allergen-free dinner (sans gluten and the other eight most common food allergens--wheat, eggs, soy, dairy, fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts). Reservations required. Mon 6/29, 6:30 PM, Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton, 773-665-0430, lisacooksallergenfree.com, $50.

Every year around this time I lie awake wondering which plague is going to afflict the thin strips of reclaimed weed fill and the laboriously hauled buckets of rooftop dirt I call my garden. Wind and the pernicious curse of squirrels are usually my biggest foes. This year, rats have gnawed their way into my supposedly rodent-proof city-approved and distributed composter.

And then this morning WBEZ reports that 2009 might be the Chicago area's wettest year on record, with rainfall almost ten inches above average. This didn't ease my growing fears about the unceasing cloud cover preventing my tomatoes and chiles from fruiting, to say nothing of the repeated biblical deluges that have already drowned my kale. So this morning I was happy to see this pretty baby dangling from my Stupice Czech tomato plant. That's typically an early variety, but four other heirlooms up there have fruited also, which felt great until I spied the swarms of sickly white aphids clustered all over the stalks.

In any event, I'm curious what gardening readers are contending with this season. How grows it in these End Times?

I first came across these handsome soft preztels at Lincoln Quality Meat Market, and followed them to their source at Lincolnwood's Schlegl's Bakery (say it out loud--it's fun). I've fallen for less-than-noble knots before, but these I can feel good about; baked fresh, never frozen, and of a sturdier architecture than most. If they don't look too salty in the shot, rest assured there's plenty of residual sodium left behind after the visible crystals get brushed away. The only beef I have with these is their short shelf life. I'd even consider freezing them if I'm wasn't going to get to them for more than half a day.

Schlegl's also bakes pizza, cheese, and onion pretzels and pretzel rolls, though I've yet to try them.

Schlegl's Bakery, 3915 W. Touhy, 847-568-1750

friday19

Tonight at 7 PM, in an undisclosed location, chef Efrain Cuevas's underground dining company Clandestino will cater a fund-raiser for WBEZ hosted by Jim Derogatis and Greg Kot, of the show Sound Opinions. The five-course dinner pairs food and wine with five albums they've chosen, among them Curtis Mayfield's Superfly, Naked Raygun's Throb Throb, and Mavis Staples's We'll Never Turn Back. Courses include Memphis pulled pork with a buttermilk waffle, tomato-rhubarb barbecue sauce, pickled carrot, and rhubarb relish; chicken “confit”  and greens agnolotti, chicken and greens roulade, and chicken consomme; and herb-crusted hanger steak with braised marrow, potato terrine, and oyster mushroom ragout. $250; reservations here.

saturday20 

Chicago's second annual Kids' Restaurant Week kicks off today and continues through Sun 6/28, with participating restaurants--including Vie, Uncommon Ground, Aigre Doux, May Street Market, and Eve--offering  fixed-price menus from 5 to 7 PM. Kids under 12 pay their age; adults and kids 12 and over pay $29.

sunday21

Heritage Prairie Farm’s Father’s Day Pig Roast includes a buffet with side dishes from grilled mashed potatoes to deviled farm eggs to local cheeses, and chicken, brats, and veggie burgers. There’ll also be live music and local beer and wine ($5 a glass). Reservations required. Noon-4 PM, Heritage Prairie Farm, 2N308 Brundige Road, Elburn, 630-443-8253, hpmfarm.com, $35, kids 13 and under pay their age.

The first tour by Fork and the Road, a new company founded by LTHForum members Dimitra Tasiouras and Sharon Bautista to introduce people to little-known restaurants by bike, covers “international BBQ.” It promises chicken seasoned with Pakistani spices; pig, duck, and chicken at a Chinese hole-in-the-wall; and a chance to grill meat Korean-style over live coals. The ride leaves from Pause Cafe (1107 W. Berwyn) and covers about 15 miles. Helmet required, 18+. 11 AM-3 PM, $50.

Chef Michael Staver, an instructor at Kendall College and UIC, teaches a cooking class on Grilling From the Garden. Reservations required. 1 PM, Grand Street Gardens, 2200 W. Grand, 312-829-8200, $10.

tuesday23

Delilah’s hosts an absinthe tasting, with 16 varieties, including North Shore’s Sirene. Van Gogh-related films including Vincente Minelli’s 1956 Lust for Life will be screening all night in celebration of the artist’s birthday. a 6-9 PM, Delilah’s, 2771 N. Lincoln, 773-472-2771, $20.

Culinary historian and cookbook collector Penelope Bingham asks "What Would Lincoln Eat?," discussing the 16th president’s diet, cookbooks from when he was alive, and the recipe for his favorite cake. 6:30 PM, Bezazian branch library, 1226 W. Ainslie, 312-744-0019, free.

It's another round of new restaurant reviews this week in Food & Drink. In addition to featured takes on Han 202, Ristorante Al Teatro, and Fuego Mexican Grill & Margarita Lounge, there are ten more recent openings in the listings.

You might observe that things lean heavily toward Mexico this time. After hitting five new Mexican spots in the space of nine days, no one knows that better than I do. What's going on here? Each place has pretensions above the corner taqueria level. Two are on Milwaukee Avenue, two are on Lincoln, and, sad to say, I'd only return to one of them. Geno Bahena's new Lakeview spot Los Moles is pretty terrific, but given his track record I wonder if it'll be around by the time I'm ready to go back.

Frankly, I wonder how long any of them will be around. I'm certainly not one to denigrate the tremendous influence the School of Rick has had on our restaurant scene, and I'm not saying each of these new spots are necessarily derivative of Frontera/Topolobampo, but I can't help thinking that's where this is coming from. We already have plenty of really good upscale Mexican restaurants--Salpicon, Sol de Mexico, Mixteco Grill, to name just a few. Is it possible to open a truly original Mexican restaurant anymore? Just asking.

And another thing, unrelated: Rumor has it that changes are afoot at Grocery Bistro that may render our review obsolete.

Rib-sticking eastern European fuel is about the last thing I need in mid-June, but thanks to this endless monsoon season, almost everyone I eat with has been forced into a delayed prehibernation feeding cycle. That's probably why I found myself chauffeured northwest-ward the other night, headed for Smak-Tak.

This tiny, tidy Polish chalet on Elston is much beloved for its deep bowls of hearty soups, (clear amber-colored chicken noodle, creamy mushroom, thick barley), its plump, butter-drenched pierogies (tangy cheese and potato, finely ground meat, assorted fruit flavors, incredible mushroom and sauerkraut), and ample, thoughtfully accented dinners such as hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage, breaded cutlets, each served with sides of pickled vegetable salads or potatoes and flourished with generous dollops of pure white sour cream.

But there's one plate in particular among that assortment that is a destroyer, an absolutely delicious but insurmountable plate. To order and finish it is essentially to commit yourself to an extended period of slack-jawed catalepsy, preferably in a reclined position, attended by concerned loved ones. The placek po wegiersku, or Hungarian-style pancake, is formed by one of Smak Tak's enlarged but delicately crispy potato pancakes folded over a massive portion of mushroomy, peppery beef goulash, topped by a length of coiled sour cream, and a mocking sprinkle of chopped parsley.

It took me two days to finish it off, and I had help. Wake me up when the sun comes out.

Smak-Tak, 5961 N. Elston, 773-763 1123