Black Meetings & Tourism - Spice Up Turkey Time With Special Thanksgiving Day Menus Whipped Up By Chicago's Top Hotel Restaurants

Current Events
Spice Up Turkey Time With Special Thanksgiving Day Menus Whipped Up By Chicago's Top Hotel Restaurants
Chicago Hotels Offer Thanksgiving Meal Ideas, Including Festive Options for Dining Out, the Full Holiday Spread To-Go, and More This Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28, Chicagoans can take a step back and leave the entertaining to the hospitality pros at some of the city's top hotel dining destinations. Instead of a juggling act in the kitchen, a sink full of dishes, and a house full of pestering relatives, diners can opt for a sumptuous spread of festive dishes, hand-selected wines and craft cocktails, and a relaxing environment outside of the house. The following hotel restaurants extend an invitation for a hassle-free holiday with special hours and menus this Turkey Day. Thanksgiving Comfort Food at Ferris & Jack Serving regional comfort food all year round, Ferris & Jack at the MileNorth Hotel (166 E. Superior St.) continues to please this holiday season with a three-course Thanksgiving menu that savors the flavors of the fall harvest. At $40 per person, guests can start with a warming Pumpkin Soup with smoked pecans, tarragon, chive, and chervil; or a light Twisted Greens Salad with shaved roots, cranberry, and yuzu dressing. Instead of the traditional turkey entrée, MileNorth treats guests to Cornish Hen with duck stuffing, haricots verts, mushroom cream, crispy shallots, and garlic potato purée, followed by Sweet Potato Brûlée with shortbread cookie and toasted marshmallow. Ferris & Jack is open on Thanksgiving Day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Guests can make reservations by calling (312) 523-0911. Thankful for Options at Filini Filini Bar & Restaurant (221 N. Columbus Dr.) is a 150-seat, contemporary Italian restaurant and bar experience in the premier, upper-upscale Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago. This Thanksgiving, guests at Filini have a say in their holiday feast. Serving a four-course menu starting at noon, the restaurant offers two options for each course so guests can build their ideal Thanksgiving meal. Choices include Roasted Butternut Squash Soup garnished with Maine lobster salpicon and crème fraîche; Heirloom, Spinach, and Endive Salad with dry cherries, Marcona almonds, quail egg, and foie gras truffle vinaigrette; Roasted Organic Amish Turkey with chestnut and herb stuffing, truffles sauce, cranberries, roasted Pink Lady apple, patty pan squash, and sweet potato flan served with the main course; and Pumpkin Cheesecake with milk chocolate sauce and candied pecan for dessert. $55 per person. Filini is open on Thanksgiving Day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. with special holiday menu offered between noon and 10 p.m. Guests can make reservations by calling (312) 477-0234 or online at www.filinichicago.com . For more on Filini, visit Facebook.com/FiliniChicago or @FiliniChicago . Taste of Blu for Thanksgiving Beyond Filini's Thanksgiving dining experience, the Radisson Blu Aqua (221 N. Columbus Dr.) offers to prepare the entire traditional meal for 14 to 22 people for pick up or delivery. At $18.95 per person based on 14 servings or $14.65 per person based on 22 servings, the grand Thanksgiving feast includes holiday favorites such as Free Range and Organic Turkey served with chestnut herb stuffing, truffle, and port sauce; Homemade Cranberry Sauce; and Candied Sweet Potatoes or Yukon Mashed Potatoes. To top off the meal, dessert options include an assortment of Seasonal Cookies, Pumpkin Pie with cinnamon bourbon whipped cream, and Chocolate Pecan Pie. All orders must be made by Thursday, November 14, no later than 3 p.m. Delivery available in Lakeshore East community only. All other orders are available for pick-up on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, please e-mail tasteofblu@radisson.com , or call directly at (312) 234-0103. For more on Radisson Blu Aqua, visit Facebook.com/RadissonBluAqua or @RadissonBluAqua . Ditch the Family at the JW Marriott Chicago After a full day of family activities, slip away for some special sips - complete with flat screen TVs for watching the holiday's football games - at the Lobby Lounge at the JW Marriott Chicago (151 W. Adams St.). Enjoy post-dinner drink specials such as $5 wine selections and draft beers, as well as two $10 specialty cocktails: the Baked Apple Toddy with Calvados and baked apple slices, garnished with shaved nutmeg; and Remembering the Maine, a concoction of Cherry Heering Liqueur, rye whiskey, and sweet vermouth in an absinthe-rinsed martini glass with a brandied cherry on top. Those traveling (or not cooking) can enjoy Chef Russell Shearer's Thanksgiving Plated Dinner Special ($28/person) with brined oven-roasted turkey, savory brioche stuffing, housemade orange and cranberry relish, caramelized shallots and green beans, and more. Drink specials are available 7-11:45 p.m. in the Lobby Lounge; the Thanksgiving Plated Dinner Special is available 11 a.m.-10 p.m. in the Lobby Lounge and in-room dining. Reservations are not required. For more information, please call (312) 660-8200. Like the JW Marriott Chicago on Facebook and follow on Twitter. Festive Thanksgiving Dishes and Classic American Fare at Little Market Brasserie Located in the Talbot Hotel, guests at Little Market Brasserie (10 E. Delaware Pl.) can feast on Thanksgiving fare all week long, from Monday, November 25 through Sunday, December 1. From 5 p.m. to close all week, the full à la carte menu offers seasonal dishes such as the Big Baby, a decadent double cheeseburger with dill pickles, caramelized onions and a signature sauce. Specials for Thanksgiving include a Confit Turkey Thigh Crostini with butternut squash relish and cranberry mustard; Maple-Glazed Duck Breast with sweet potato pavé, apples, and cranberry sauce; Candied Sweet Potatoes with toasted marshmallows; and Bourbon Pecan Pie for dessert. Specials can be ordered à la carte, or as a $40 pre-fixe. Reservations suggested; call (312) 640-8141. For more on Little Market Brasserie, visit Facebook.com/LittleMarketBrasserie or @littlemarketchi . A Traditional Feast with All the Trimmings at Lockwood Restaurant and Bar This Thanksgiving, guests at Lockwood Restaurant and Bar at the Palmer House Hilton (17 E. Monroe St.) can feast on classics such as Maple Honey Molasses Roasted Turkey with rhubarb compote, chestnuts, pistachio stuffing, and gravy; Sweet Potato Marshmallow Gratin; and Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes. Guests can also opt for something modern and elegant such as the Harbor Point Smoked Salmon with accompaniments; or Pan-Roasted Alaskan Halibut with fresh tarragon and a Meyer lemon reduction. Full menu available online. $70 for adults, $65 for seniors, $40 for children, with sparkling wine offered for adults (prices exclusive of tax and gratuity). Thanksgiving Day hours 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Reservations required and may be made by calling 312.917.3404. For more on Lockwood, visit Facebook.com/Lockwood or @LockwoodChicago. Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Spanish Twist at Mercat a la Planxa Adjacent to Blackstone Hotel, Mercat a la Planxa (638 S. Michigan Ave.), the modern tapas restaurant inspired by Spain's Catalan region, offers a festive four-course, 10-dish menu this Thanksgiving. Guests dine on signature dishes such as Serrano Ham & Fig Salad with baby spinach, bacon, La Peral cheese, spiced almonds, and a sherry-shallot vinaigrette; and Gambas al Ajillo, garlic shrimp. Mercat offers a Spanish take on the traditional meal with Pavo, roasted, confit, and fried turkey finished with sherry pan gravy and cranberry-orange compote; and Coles de Bruselas, charred Brussels sprout salad with sherry, candied walnut, cranberries, and feta. Guests can enjoy the holiday tasting menu in addition to the restaurant's regular lunch and dinner menus 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The cost is $65 per adult and $35 per child. Guests looking for a Spanish meal to-go may call ahead 48 hours for the Whole Roasted Suckling Pig, which includes grilled green onions, herb-roasted fingerling potatoes, and rosemary white beans. To make reservations and see the full menu, visit mercatchicago.com , or call (312) 765-0533. For more information on Mercat a la Planxa, visit Facebook.com/MercatalaPlanxa or @MercatChicago .

Current Events

Spice Up Turkey Time With Special Thanksgiving Day Menus Whipped Up By Chicago's Top Hotel Restaurants

Chicago Hotels Offer Thanksgiving Meal Ideas, Including Festive Options for Dining Out,
the Full Holiday Spread To-Go, and More

This Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28, Chicagoans can take a step back and leave the entertaining to the hospitality pros at some of the city's top hotel dining destinations. Instead of a juggling act in the kitchen, a sink full of dishes, and a house full of pestering relatives, diners can opt for a sumptuous spread of festive dishes, hand-selected wines and craft cocktails, and a relaxing environment outside of the house. The following hotel restaurants extend an invitation for a hassle-free holiday with special hours and menus this Turkey Day.

Thanksgiving Comfort Food at Ferris & Jack

Serving regional comfort food all year round, Ferris & Jack at the MileNorth Hotel (166 E. Superior St.) continues to please this holiday season with a three-course Thanksgiving menu that savors the flavors of the fall harvest. At $40 per person, guests can start with a warming Pumpkin Soup with smoked pecans, tarragon, chive, and chervil; or a light Twisted Greens Salad with shaved roots, cranberry, and yuzu dressing. Instead of the traditional turkey entrée, MileNorth treats guests to Cornish Hen with duck stuffing, haricots verts, mushroom cream, crispy shallots, and garlic potato purée, followed by Sweet Potato Brûlée with shortbread cookie and toasted marshmallow. Ferris & Jack is open on Thanksgiving Day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Guests can make reservations by calling (312) 523-0911.

Thankful for Options at Filini

Filini Bar & Restaurant (221 N. Columbus Dr.) is a 150-seat, contemporary Italian restaurant and bar experience in the premier, upper-upscale Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago. This Thanksgiving, guests at Filini have a say in their holiday feast. Serving a four-course menu starting at noon, the restaurant offers two options for each course so guests can build their ideal Thanksgiving meal. Choices include Roasted Butternut Squash Soup garnished with Maine lobster salpicon and crème fraîche; Heirloom, Spinach, and Endive Salad with dry cherries, Marcona almonds, quail egg, and foie gras truffle vinaigrette; Roasted Organic Amish Turkey with chestnut and herb stuffing, truffles sauce, cranberries, roasted Pink Lady apple, patty pan squash, and sweet potato flan served with the main course; and Pumpkin Cheesecake with milk chocolate sauce and candied pecan for dessert. $55 per person. Filini is open on Thanksgiving Day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. with special holiday menu offered between noon and 10 p.m. Guests can make reservations by calling (312) 477-0234 or online at www.filinichicago.com .

For more on Filini, visit Facebook.com/FiliniChicago or @FiliniChicago .

Taste of Blu for Thanksgiving

Beyond Filini's Thanksgiving dining experience, the Radisson Blu Aqua (221 N. Columbus Dr.) offers to prepare the entire traditional meal for 14 to 22 people for pick up or delivery. At $18.95 per person based on 14 servings or $14.65 per person based on 22 servings, the grand Thanksgiving feast includes holiday favorites such as Free Range and Organic Turkey served with chestnut herb stuffing, truffle, and port sauce; Homemade Cranberry Sauce; and Candied Sweet Potatoes or Yukon Mashed Potatoes. To top off the meal, dessert options include an assortment of Seasonal Cookies, Pumpkin Pie with cinnamon bourbon whipped cream, and Chocolate Pecan Pie. All orders must be made by Thursday, November 14, no later than 3 p.m. Delivery available in Lakeshore East community only. All other orders are available for pick-up on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

For more information, please e-mail tasteofblu@radisson.com , or call directly at (312) 234-0103. For more on Radisson Blu Aqua, visit Facebook.com/RadissonBluAqua or @RadissonBluAqua .

Ditch the Family at the JW Marriott Chicago

After a full day of family activities, slip away for some special sips - complete with flat screen TVs for watching the holiday's football games - at the Lobby Lounge at the JW Marriott Chicago (151 W. Adams St.). Enjoy post-dinner drink specials such as $5 wine selections and draft beers, as well as two $10 specialty cocktails: the Baked Apple Toddy with Calvados and baked apple slices, garnished with shaved nutmeg; and Remembering the Maine, a concoction of Cherry Heering Liqueur, rye whiskey, and sweet vermouth in an absinthe-rinsed martini glass with a brandied cherry on top. Those traveling (or not cooking) can enjoy Chef Russell Shearer's Thanksgiving Plated Dinner Special ($28/person) with brined oven-roasted turkey, savory brioche stuffing, housemade orange and cranberry relish, caramelized shallots and green beans, and more. Drink specials are available 7-11:45 p.m. in the Lobby Lounge; the Thanksgiving Plated Dinner Special is available 11 a.m.-10 p.m. in the Lobby Lounge and in-room dining. Reservations are not required.

For more information, please call (312) 660-8200. Like the JW Marriott Chicago on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

Festive Thanksgiving Dishes and Classic American Fare at Little Market Brasserie

Located in the Talbot Hotel, guests at Little Market Brasserie (10 E. Delaware Pl.) can feast on Thanksgiving fare all week long, from Monday, November 25 through Sunday, December 1. From 5 p.m. to close all week, the full à la carte menu offers seasonal dishes such as the Big Baby, a decadent double cheeseburger with dill pickles, caramelized onions and a signature sauce. Specials for Thanksgiving include a Confit Turkey Thigh Crostini with butternut squash relish and cranberry mustard; Maple-Glazed Duck Breast with sweet potato pavé, apples, and cranberry sauce; Candied Sweet Potatoes with toasted marshmallows; and Bourbon Pecan Pie for dessert. Specials can be ordered à la carte, or as a $40 pre-fixe. Reservations suggested; call (312) 640-8141.

For more on Little Market Brasserie, visit Facebook.com/LittleMarketBrasserie or @littlemarketchi .

A Traditional Feast with All the Trimmings at Lockwood Restaurant and Bar

This Thanksgiving, guests at Lockwood Restaurant and Bar at the Palmer House Hilton (17 E. Monroe St.) can feast on classics such as Maple Honey Molasses Roasted Turkey with rhubarb compote, chestnuts, pistachio stuffing, and gravy; Sweet Potato Marshmallow Gratin; and Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes. Guests can also opt for something modern and elegant such as the Harbor Point Smoked Salmon with accompaniments; or Pan-Roasted Alaskan Halibut with fresh tarragon and a Meyer lemon reduction. Full menu available online. $70 for adults, $65 for seniors, $40 for children, with sparkling wine offered for adults (prices exclusive of tax and gratuity). Thanksgiving Day hours 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Reservations required and may be made by calling 312.917.3404.

For more on Lockwood, visit Facebook.com/Lockwood or @LockwoodChicago.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Spanish Twist at Mercat a la Planxa

Adjacent to Blackstone Hotel, Mercat a la Planxa (638 S. Michigan Ave.), the modern tapas restaurant inspired by Spain's Catalan region, offers a festive four-course, 10-dish menu this Thanksgiving. Guests dine on signature dishes such as Serrano Ham & Fig Salad with baby spinach, bacon, La Peral cheese, spiced almonds, and a sherry-shallot vinaigrette; and Gambas al Ajillo, garlic shrimp. Mercat offers a Spanish take on the traditional meal with Pavo, roasted, confit, and fried turkey finished with sherry pan gravy and cranberry-orange compote; and Coles de Bruselas, charred Brussels sprout salad with sherry, candied walnut, cranberries, and feta. Guests can enjoy the holiday tasting menu in addition to the restaurant's regular lunch and dinner menus 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The cost is $65 per adult and $35 per child. Guests looking for a Spanish meal to-go may call ahead 48 hours for the Whole Roasted Suckling Pig, which includes grilled green onions, herb-roasted fingerling potatoes, and rosemary white beans.

To make reservations and see the full menu, visit mercatchicago.com , or call (312) 765-0533. For more information on Mercat a la Planxa, visit Facebook.com/MercatalaPlanxa or @MercatChicago .