Last Minute Mother’s Day Plans. Some great Chicago-area suggestions.

reprinted with permission from Got Buzz by Kurman Communications, Inc.

BISTRO ONE WESTBistro One West
1 W. Illinois St., St. Charles, Ill. 60174
(630) 444-0600
www.Bistro1West.com

Starting May 1, Bistro One West will keep its doors open for the first Sunday ever, making Bistro One West the ideal west suburban spot to celebrate Mother’s Day! Celebrate the day overlooking the beautiful Fox River on the Bistro One West deck. Enjoy from a delicious menu blend of all things special at Bistro One West including appetizers, entrées and desserts. Appetizers include Fresh Italian Cow’s Milk Burrata with roasted tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt for $11; Baby Wedge Salad with blue cheese dressing, cherry tomatoes and fruitwood smoked bacon for $9; Proscuitto

Deviled Eggs di Parma with seasonal fresh melon for $9; Deviled Eggs filled with buttered Maine lobster for $12; and Mixed Greens tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers and mozzarella with a garlic-thyme dressing for $7. Entrées include Sautéed Tilapia with sugar snap peas, wild mushrooms and roasted garlic butte for $19; Hawaiian Swordfish with grilled shitakes mushrooms, green onion and their signature cole slaw for $12;Sautéed Shrimp with green beans, house greens and lemon olive oil dressing for $12; Fingerling Potatoes with fresh farm egg, roasted asparagus and house greens for $10 (add crumbled ahi tuna, grilled steak or grilled chicken for $6); Meyer’s Farm Naturally Raised Half-pound Beef Burger for $10 (extras: cherry-wood smoked bacon for $3, caramelized onions for $1, fried egg for $2, Swiss, blue or cheddar cheese for $2, and sautéed wild mushrooms for $2); Natural Fruit-wood Smoked Bacon with lettuce, tomatoes, maple-orange aioli on cibatta bread for $10; Caged Free Egg Sandwich with assorted peppers, honey and white cheddar cheese for $8; and Grilled Wagyu served with potatoes and topped with an avocado butter for $26. Extra sides include fingerling potatoes, wild mushrooms or asparagus for $6 each.

Desserts include Butter and Bread Pudding with poached berry compote and vanilla sauce for $6; Caramelized Roasted Banana baked with cinnamon wonton and nutella cream for $6;French Butter Cookies with lemon curd, wild berry compote and chocolate sauce for $7; Vanilla Gelato with balsamic and strawberries or lemon sorbet with vanilla scented berries for $6; and Flourless Chocolate Cake with butter-cream and more chocolate sauce for $6.
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CHICAGO FRENCH MARKET

Chicago French Market 131 N. Clinton St., Chicago, Ill. 60661

Celebrate your Mom this Mother’s Day with treats and delights from Chicago French Market. Choose from a variety of vendors and their exceptional specials to make your Mom feel like a queen.

Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine is happy to present their Mother’s Day gift box! Their gift for Mom features some of their most cherished products from local producers and a sparkling Rose from FPastoral Mother's Day Basketrance. Mom will be delighted with a Wabash Cannonball,a Farmstead Goat’s Milk Cheese from Capriole Farms in Greenville, Indiana; Quince and Apple brand fruit spread, a small batch preserved from Madison, Wisconsin; Potter’s Crackers, an artisan line of crackers from Madison, Wisconsin;Sweet Margy’s Handmade Toffee, made right here in Chicago; and abeautiful Veuve de Vernay Rose, a sparkling Tempranillo from Bordeaux, France. This Artisan Gift Box is $39.99 and will be available online for local delivery or shipping across the continental US, and can also be picked up at one of their three locations.

Pastoral Artisan is also offering a cross promotion with SpaSpace (161 N. Canal St., (312) 466-9585). Treat your Mother to something special. Let Pastoral cater your spa experience at SpaSpace and receive 10% off botSpa Spaceh your catering and your spa package. Must mention special when booking. Not valid with Spa Finder Certificates or any other offer. Not valid for gift certificate purchases. Offer valid 5/1/11 to 5/31/11. Call (312) 454-9644 or visit www.pastoralartisan.com for more information.

Sweet Miss Giving’s is offering specially decorated cupcakes to please any Mother. Call (312) 575-0212 or visit www.sweetmissgivings.com for more information.

Delightful Pastries will be featuring an array of natural, local and sustainable grown ingredients in a vast Mother’s Day Menu. Choose from gluten free desserts, mini pastries, beautiful mixed berry torte’s and savory quiches, Frittata’s, and Beet and Orange Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette, just to name a few. Call (312) 234-9644 or visit www.delightfulpastries.com for more information.

Abbey Brown Soap Artisan’s Spring Special is running now through May 9. Step into spring with handmade products by WomanCraft, an organization providing employment for women regaining their independence. Special items include olive oil soaps wrapped in handmade paper in refreshing scents including Lavender, Jasmine Blossom and Rosebuds; recycled cards and note card sets, made from office paper and perished flowers, handmade and available in a variety of colors; and seed card packs, see your handwritten notes become wildflowers when buried, watered and cared for! Call (312) 738-2290 or visit www.abbeybrown.com for more information.

Have you orLes Fleurdered your Mother’s Day bouquets yet? Les Fleur offers truly original arrangements, gorgeous bouquets, beautiful gift items and more. This Mother’s Day treat your Mom to an array of flower specials; mini cymbidium orchid bouquets ($25), spray rose bouquets in assorted colors ($18), tulip bunches in assorted colors ($10) and pink oriental lily bouquets ($20) just to name a few! Call (312) 463-1111 or email les.fleurs@yahoo.com for more information.

Vanille Patisserie is offering a Mother’s Day limited edition,three-tiered boxes filled with 1/2 poundFrench Macaroons, 1/3 pound assorted shortbread cookies and 1/3 pound buttery caramels for $45. They are also featuring a Rose Vanille 8″ cake for $40 or a 6″ cake for $30, and a Vanilla Bean Mousseline, raspberry marmalade, rose cream center, and Vanille PatisserieVanilla financier cake witha raspberry Glaze for $40. Call (312) 575-9963 or visit www.vanillepatisserie.com for more information.

Canady Le Chocolatier is offering beautiful handmadeChocolate Truffles and Bon Bon’s. A 12 piece box of these specialties is $18. Call (312) 454-8700 for more information.

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RESTAURANT MICHAELRestaurant Michael
64 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, Ill. 60093
(847) 441-3100
www.restaurantmichael.com

Restaurant Michael is hosting a special three-course Mother’s Day brunch Sunday, May 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For $44 per adult and $19 per child (under 10 years of age), begin with choice of Tian of Pan-roasted scallop with baby spinach brie, tarragon-scented corn blini and truffle sauce; Duo of Sliced House-cured Smoked Salmon and Five-spice Seared Yellow Tail Tuna and a warm potato cake with chive and lemongrass crème frâiche; Caramelized Onion and Bacon “Tarte Flambé”; Early Spring Pea Soup with snow pea and fresh Maryland crab; Tossed Baby Greens dressed with choice of honey-truffle or champagne-herb vinaigrette.

For a second-course, choose from Filet of “Loup de Mer” in crispy potato scales with morels, fava beans and asparagus tips; Roast Breast of Duck and Foie Grass Strudel with door county cherries and natural jus; Roast Chateaubriand of Beef Tenderloin with potato gratin and sauce perigord; Duo of Baby Lamb Chops and “Karabuta” Pork Tenderloin Medallions with rosemary jus and baby French green beans; and Soft-shelled Crab Beignet over exotic mushroom risotto with crispy fried leeks and grilled asparagus. For a final dessert course, choose from Fallen Chocolate Soufflé and caramel gelato; Duo of warm bananas foster crepe and Tahitian vanilla panna cotta; Seasonal Sorbet and gelatowith toasted almond biscotti; Warm Berry Charlotte with brown sugar crème frâiche and cinnamon-nutmeg gelato;or Grand Marnier Chocolate Truffles.

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FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR Flemings
25 E. Ohio St., Chicago, Ill. 60611
(312) 329-9463

960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, Ill. 60069
(847) 793-0333
www.FlemingsSteakhouse.com

Mother’s Day Brunch May 8 –Fleming’s will open early at 11:30 am on Mother’s Day and offer a 3-course Brunch Menu until 3 pm, in addition to their regular menu. The Brunch Menu will be offered for $32.95 per person, and a Children’s Brunch Menu will also be available for $15.95. A specialty 99 calorie cocktail, the Tickled Pink, will also be available all day for $6.95. And to make the day even more special, every mother who celebrates at Fleming’s on Mother’s Day will receive a $25 Fleming’s Dining Card* to use for a future evening out. Reservations are now available and can be made online.

*$25 Fleming’s Dining Card valid from 5/9/11 – 6/12/11

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Prairie Grass & Prairie Fire

PRAIRIE FIRE
215 N. Clinton St., Chicago, Ill. 60661|
(312) 382-8300  www.prairiefirechicago.com

Prairie Fire is offering a special Mother’s Day three-course brunch menu for both adults and children 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8. For $42 per adult and $15 per child (under 10), begin the experience with Mini-croissants served warm to the table followed by selection from a three-course prix fixe menu. First-course items include Crispy Shrimp Roll with spicy dipping sauce; “Three Sister’s Garden” Pea Shoot Tendril Salad with arugula, asparagus, Dijon mustard vinaigrette and shaved aged cheddar;Prairie Fire Caesar Salad with romaine lettuce, homemade dressing, toasted croutons and shaved parmesan; and White Bean and Homemade Sausage Soup. Second-course items include Peeky Toe Crab Benedict with asparagus and citrus hollandaise Chicken Roulade with grilled vegetables; Parmesan Crusted Tilapia over creamed spinach and“Three Sister’s Garden” Micro Greens; Ancho Marinated Skirt Steak with mushroom ragout and potato wedges. Third-course dessert items include Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Icing; Double Chocolate Cake; Strawberry Cream Pie; Chocolate Cookie and Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.

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PRAIRIE GRASS CAFE 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, Ill. 60062 847-205-4433 www.prairiegrasscafe.com

Prairie Grass Cafe is offering a special Mother’s Day prix fix brunch menu 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8 for bother adult and children. Select from the buffet and dessert buffet for $42 per adult and $15 per child (10 and under); tax, gratuity and beverage are not included. Buffet items include “Made to order” Omelet Station including choice of river valley ranch mushrooms, springonions, crumbled feta and spinach, and chopped fresh herbs; Fresh “Peekytoe” Crab with grated lemon and herbs for omelets; Hot Fresh Waffle Station with maple syrup; Applewood Smoked Maple Creek Farm Bacon; Roasted New York Grass Fed Beef Strip Loin with mushroom sauce and carved to order; Herb Roasted Little Red Potatoes; Spicy Braised Pulled Pork with Three Sisters Garden black beans, cilantro and avocado relish; Mint Creek Farm Homemade Lamb Sausage with chunky vegetable relish; Prairie Grass Cafe Signature Grass Fed Beef Shepard’s Pie; Parmesan Crusted Tilapia over creamed spinach;Platter of Asparagus with basil remoulade and sliced radished; Chopped Veggie Salad with crumbled Amish blue cheese, red wine vinaigrette (romaine, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and tomato); Caesar Salad with romaine, homemade dressing, croutons and shaved parmesean;Fresh Housemade Farmer’s Cheese served savory with chives and fresh black pepper; Crusty Multi-grain Artisan Breads; Mini Chocolate Croissants; Cheese Danish; Raspberry Jam Danish and Sticky Pecan Rolls.

The desserts includes Crepe Station with valrhona and hazelnut spread, raspberry jam and whipped cream; Fresh Sliced Ripe Fruit; Platter of Berries; Double Chocolate Cup Cakes with butter cream icing; and Mom’s Fruit Cream Pie.

 

Cookbook Signing with Patricia Wells

Sunday, April 17, 3-5 pm at The Spice House on Wells St.

The Spice House shop in Old Town Chicago is proud to host one of their favorite authors,the renowned Patricia Wells. Her new cookbook, Salad as a Meal: Healthy Main-Dish Salads for Every Season, is a wonderful collection of healthy meals perfect for those who want to add more vegetables to our diets. Books will be available for sale and signing, and The Spice House staff will provide some samples from the book. These books make lovely Mothers’ Day Gifts! This event is free but please RSVP to spices@thespicehouse.com or by calling 312-274-0378 so that they know how much food to prepare.

From among the many wonderful recipes in the book, The Spice House staff will prepare samples including:

Australian Coronation Chicken Salad – Created in 1953 to be served to the heads of the British commonwealth to honor the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.

Bar de la Croix Rouge Assiette Saint-Germain (fancy rare roast beef sandwiches)

Seared Pork Tenderloin Salad

-A lovely assortment of cheese accompanied by spiced grapes and olives along with curried pumpkin seeds and spicy Basque nuts

The Spice House is known for offering exquisite spices, herbs and seasoning. It is located at 1512 North Wells Street, Chicago, IL – (312) 274-0378 – Direction . Visit their website at: http://www.thespicehouse.com