thursday1
Mitsuwa hosts hourly demonstrations of mochitsuki, or mochi pounding, a traditional Japanese ceremony where glutinous steamed rice is pounded with large mallets in a mortar to make the sticky rice cakes called mochi. There will be samples of fresh mochi with kinako (soybean flour), sweet red bean paste, and oroshi (grated daikon). Noon-3 PM, Mitsuwa Marketplace, 100 E. Algonquin, Arlington Heights, 847-956-6699, free.
To kick off the new year, in January Le Lan is offering a $20.09 menu, with your choice of main course and dessert for $20.09 (excluding tax and tip). Choices for the entree are braised beef short ribs with apple-chile puree, curried trout with black rice and edamame puree, and marinated tofu with wild mushrooms and couscous; for dessert there’s molten chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream or coffee creme brulee with a cinnamon beignet. 749 N. Clark, 312-280-9100.
sunday4
To celebrate Epiphany, Brasserie Jo is offering a free slice of galette des rois, or three kings’ cake, to all dinner guests. The puff pastry filled with frangipane will be prepared by students from the French Pastry School with the traditional bean inside; whoever finds it is “king for a day.” 4-9 PM, 59 W. Hubbard, 312-595-0800.
In honor of National Spaghetti Day, Angelina Ristorante has three specials: spaghetti with mussels and zucchini, spaghetti with jumbo shrimp and black olives, and baked spaghetti and meatballs ($17-20). Through Thursday, 3561 N. Broadway, 773-935-5933.
wednesday7
The Galway Tribes Irish Pub & Ale House hosts a Bell’s Brewery Party with appetizers, music, and samples of Bell’s brews including Special Double Cream Stout, Expedition Stout, Kalamazoo Stout, Cherry Stout, Porter, Winter White, TCOA, Best Brown, and Hopslam (your choice of six). 6:30-8:30 PM, 9680 Lincolnway, Frankfort, 815-464-9881, $25.