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A Chicago skyline in chocolate chip cookies is the centerpiece of the AIDS Foundation’s annual World of Chocolate fund-raiser this Thursday from 5:30-9 PM at the Hilton Chicago. Chocolate also shows up here in cheesecake, martinis, and even seafood dishes: China Grill is offering a chocolate Thai shrimp cake with cactus-mango salsa, and the Sheraton will be serving chocolate-crusted tuna with a white chocolate reduction. Attendees can watch chocolate-making demos by a chef and students from the French Pastry School and browse a holiday bazaar; there’s also an open bar and buffet. $75 in advance, $100 at the door.
Tre Kronor’s julbord, a traditional Swedish Christmastime smorgasbord, returns this year with a lineup that includes nine kinds of herring, whole smoked salmon, shrimp salad, reindeer meat, cheeses, and a dessert table. Lutefisk (the gelatinous whitefish everyone loves to hate) also makes an appearance, as do Swedish meatballs and julskinka, or Christmas ham. It’s BYO; vodka or aquavit is suggested for the herring course. Friday and Saturday and 12/6-12/22, seatings at 5 or 5:30 and 8 PM. $46.95 (without tax and tip).
The cost of lunch plus a $7 donation to Common Threads will allow you to try wines from around the world this week at David Burke’s Primehouse. Listed in order from Monday to Friday, the offerings will come from: Austria/Northern Italy/Hungary, Australia, France, North America, and Spain.
