Some Very Rad Happenings Around Town

iNG owner/chef Homaro Cantu (center) with chefs Hugo Guadarrama (left) and Vince Griffith. (Photo: iNG)

Remember when I was gushing about that upcoming Scorsese-themed menu at iNG?! Well, it's finally here.

Sept. 18 marks the "premiere," and yes, that includes lights, cameras and a RED CARPET. Look for the menu to play off the food scenes from "Goodfellas," including this first course:

Sleeping With The Fishes: two-part course "Fish & Chips" of rock shrimp chips with dry aioli and smoked rock shrimp roulade, white truffle garlic aioli and gremolata seaweed

According to chef/owner Homaro Cantu, the menu will run about six weeks. It will include six courses for $80 and 10 courses for $100; both will be paired with beverages and include "flavor tripping."

"It is, by far, the most twisted thing I have ever done," Cantu says about the menu. "It will be a delicious experience."

To get a visual of what he's talking about, here's video of one of the dishes, the 9mm Tagellio, and also details on how you can win dinner for two for free.

Here are more rad happenings around town:


New Red Door mixologist Jay Schroeder. (Photo: Red Door)

● GrubStreet Chicago tells us how to get a sneak preview of the upcoming Next Kyoto menu. Its adjacent The Aviary cocktail lounge now features pork and vegetable ramen in a custom Crucial Detail ramen bowl. It's a nod to the thousands of ramen shops in Tokyo, and the noodles, of course, are housemade.

● Talk about a liquid lunch! For $10, you'll get up to 15 tastes of various wines at David Burke's Primehouse through Friday. Each day is dedicated to a different region and in order to take advantage of the deal, just order at least one menu item. 11am-3pm only.

● Leopold's got a new chef. Former The Gage chef de cuisine Michael Dean Reynolds is now running things at West Town's Belgian-inspired restaurant. Look for new items like smoked pork belly with lambic cherries, cannellini beans and toasted almonds as well as braised goat with Corsican sheep's milk feta polenta, roasted grapes and pistachios.

● Eater Chicago reports that Logan Square powerhouse Longman & Eagle is set to open The Promontory in Hyde Park in early 2013. The venue will include food, craft cocktails and live music. When I posted this on Facebook Tuesday, people went absolutely apeshit because this is something sorely needed on the South Side. My hope is that this strategic move will encourage other big names in the restaurant biz (LEYE, I'm looking at YOU!) to head south as well.

● Get into the giving spirit long before the holiday season kicks in. Publican is holding a food drive Sept. 17-23 to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Those who bring non-perishable food items during brunch or dinner will get a complimentary drink ticket.

● Former Drawing Room and Double A mixologist Jay Schroeder is now heading the beverage program at Red Door. Look for his signature Grapefruit Tarragon Paloma made with Milagro Blanco tequila, fresh grapefruit, lime and tarragon.

● Tavernita has added Saturday to its brunch program. Get ready for tasty, Spanish-inspired bites like fried chicken & churros as well as chilaquiles with salsa, chipotle and mahon cheese. For $18 each, you and your pals can do the Ultimate Brunch, which includes a choice of four items and one cocktail. My recommendation?! Get the kegged Booty Collins (green tea-infused Absolut vodka, passionfruit, lemon, cayenne and yohimbe).