thursday9
Sheffield’s hosts Sour Night at its Beer School, featuring sour beers including Boon Mariage Parfait, Cantillon Saints-Lamvinus, Liefmans Goudenband, New Belgium’s La Folie and Eric’s Ale, and Ommegang Rouge. 7-11 PM, 3258 N. Sheffield, 773-281-4989.
“Clash of the Titans: Champagne vs. the Rest of the World” pits champagne against cava, prosecco, and American sparklers in a tasting that’ll also include a discussion of the history, production method, and styles of sparkling wines from Champagne and the rest of the world. 6-7:30 PM, Just Grapes, 560 W. Washington, 312-627-9463, $25.
saturday11
In conjunction with the annual Sam Adams Longshot home-brewing competition, Binny’s South Loop is holding a Chicago Home Brew contest. Along with the judging, there’ll be a brewing demo, tastings of some of last year’s Longshot winners, and cheese and sandwiches for nibbling. The winner gets a trip for two to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver in September. Contestants should bring a six-pack of home brew and a detailed written recipe. To enter the Longshot competition, register at samadams.com and bring six additional bottles to be shipped to Boston (on Sam Adams’s dime). 11 AM-3 PM, beer must be submitted by noon for judging, 1132 S. Jefferson, 312-768-4400.
Author and cooking teacher Channon Mondoux discusses the dining culture of the Ottoman Empire, from palace recipes to how dinner was presented, at the lecture Talking Turkey. The program will be followed at 12:30 PM by a ChicaGourmets lunch of Turkish food with Mondoux at Turquoise (2147 W. Roscoe). 10 AM-noon, Chicago History Museum, 1600 N. Clark, 708-788-0338, $5 lecture, $52 lunch (includes lecture).
monday13
Simply It chef Hung Hoang and chef Kim Nguyen (formerly of Pasteur) conduct a Vietnamese cooking class featuring shrimp spring rolls, tofu spring rolls, tamarind-shrimp soup, and bo luc lac (“shaking beef”). The registration fee covers both the lesson and dinner; BYO. 5:30-8:30 PM, Simply It, 2269 N. Lincoln, 773-248-0884, $35.
wednesday15
Smoke Daddy (1804 W. Division, 773-772-6656) marks tax day today with half-price barbecue wings and $2 Miller beers, while Frasca Pizzeria and Wine Bar (3358 N. Paulina, 773-248-5222) will pay the taxes on your tab for the evening. Moonshine (1824 W. Division, 773-862-8686) celebrates not only tax day but also its sixth birthday with $15 mojito pitchers, $3 house microbrews, and $4 cocktails. At Brasserie Jo (59 W. Hubbard, 312-595-0800) complimentary tarte flambees will be served in the bar area along with Hopla drafts for $4.01. Chen’s Chinese and Sushi (3506 N. Clark, 773-549-9100) and sister restaurant Koi (624 Davis, Evanston, 847-6969) will both offer Chinese Plate entrees for $10.99. And through Friday David Burke’s Primehouse (55 E. Ontario, 312-337-1000) will offer a “double instant rebate,” deducting 23 percent (double the standard sales tax of 11.5 percent) from all lunch and dinner bills.