Food 411
Chef/owner Robert Burcenski of Tallgrass Restaurant, 1006 S. Sate, Lockport, prepares a six-course dinner built around the favorite foods of French gastronome Jean Athelme Brillat-Savarin at 6 p.m. Sunday; $150.
Brillat-Savarin's A Physiology of Taste was published in 1825. A French lawyer and politician, Brillat-Savarin became one of the famous epicures of his time.
Foods, which will be prepared as they would have during Brillat-Savarin's time in the early 19th century, include foie gras; oysters; crayfish; veal; truffles; cheese and a souffle. Details: (815) 838-5566.
Shaw's Crab House in Schaumburg, 1900 E. Higgins, host its sixth annual clambake from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday; $49.95, all-inclusive.
The menu features a traditional New England feast that includes clam chowder; whole Maine lobster; steamed clams; grilled chicken sausage; corn-on-the-cob; red bliss potatoes; Shaw's key lime pie, and beer and wine. Details: (847) 517-2722.
Sweet Tomatoes' Restaurants 2008 Passport to Flavor Tour is in full swing. In addition to being able to try foods from different countries, kids age 12 and under are eligible to enter the School Fun-Raiser Contest. The restaurant will match donations from every fund-raiser held by the entrants's school at Sweet Tomatoes during the year.
To enter, kids -- from local schools up to 8th grade -- should submit the passport with sticker(s) from one to all four stops. The school with the most passports submitted by students wins.
The foods of Mexico are explored through Aug. 31; Greece follows, Sept. 1-15 with Asia rounding out the tour Sept. 17-30. The first tour was of Italian cuisine. Children completing all stops of the culinary passport will receive free school supplies.
Details: www.sweettomatoes.com.
Highland Park's Great Art, Great Taste Festival kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday on Central Avenue between First and Second Streets. Participating restaurants include Bluegrass; Cafe Central; The City Park Grill; Cosi Cafe; Jade Cafe; Lincolnshire Gourmet; Lou Malnati's Pizzeria; New York Slices; Phoenicia Mediterranean Cuisine; Rosebud Restaurant; Sunset Foods; Stash's Restaurant and Grill, Tamales, A Mexican Joint; That Little Mexican Cafe, and Walker Brother's Cafe.
Details: (847) 926-4300; www.amdurproductions.com.