November 17, 2011

New Year's Eve 2012 at Blackbird!

It is not too early to make New Years Eve reservations!

Blackbird will be offering a 5-course tasting menu for $85 per person, or a 9-course menu for $125 per guest. Call 312-715-0708 to reserve your table in the main dining room today.

Throwing a fête with all your friends? For large groups, Blackbird’s Private Dining room can accommodate up to 25 guests for a seated tasting menu, or up to 70 guests for a cocktail reception. Phone 312-496-0012 for more information.

We look forward to ringing in the New Year with fabulous cuisine, wine – and you!

July 18, 2011

'Young Lions' Friends of Beard Dinner; Sunday, October 16th, 2011

Celebrate. Nurture. Preserve. The three tenets of the James Beard Foundation.

Blackbird invites you to celebrate this credo with us Sunday, October 16 at the ‘Young Lions’ Friends of Beard Dinner, a six-course meal collectively crafted by some of the country’s most notable, budding young chefs.

Sponsored by the James Beard Foundation, the evening highlights the culinary strengths of individuals nurtured by several of Chicago’s acclaimed establishments, and their thriving talents have now catapulted them to head their own kitchens in esteemed restaurants across the country. Guest chefs include:

Karen and John Shields
Town House; Chilhowie, VA

Sean Brock
McCrady’s, Husk; Charleston, SC

Jordan Kahn
Red Medicine; Beverly Hills, CA

David Posey and Bryce Caron
Blackbird; Chicago, IL

Host Chef: Paul Kahan
Co-Hosts: Donald J. Madia, Rick V. Diarmit & Eduard Seitan.

While together these chefs work to preserve culinary foundations, it’s their unique perspectives and techniques focusing on super-seasonal, local cuisine that serve as building blocks for the future. The opportunity to have them back in Chicago, under one roof, crafting one meal, well, that speaks for itself.

The evening’s itinerary:
5pm: Cocktails at the Publican, 837 W. Fulton Mkt
6:30pm: Seated dinner at Blackbird, 619 W. Randolph
Tickets: $175 members, $200 public
For tickets and reservations, call 312.715.0708

The Menu:
first: uni with damson dashi, sheep’s milk and marigold

second: dungeness crab seasoned with brown butter and butter milk, onions, chestnut, lime

third: “Rowan leaves around a hole, made on a sunny day in the shade, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, October 25, 1987 by Andy Goldsworthy.”

fourth: charred strip loin with sunchokes, fried lentils, smoked olives and licorice cream

fifth: toasted farro pudding, wild roots and cantaloupe cream

sixth: steamed black walnut financier with huckleberries, PK’s lovage, burned white chocolate and cocoa nib ice cream

May 26, 2011

Blackbird to Offer an Exclusive Wedding-in-a-Box

Weddings at Blackbird Couldn’t Be Easier. We are teaming up with our favorite online luxury retailer to put together the ultimate Wedding-in-a-Box package for 2011.

The idea: To offer the practical, food-loving couple a ‘no-fuss’ evening to celebrate with close family & friends over spectacular food and wine in a unique venue. With minimal planning there’s no need to wait.

Eight Sundays through the end of the year are available for the exclusive offer, which will feature Chefs Paul and David’s seasonal cuisine from the cocktail hour through the 5-course tasting menu. An open premium bar throughout, wine pairings with dinner and a dance party to follow will keep the evening flowing.

The all-inclusive package isn’t just food and beverage: it also includes floral by Dilly Lily, a Style Matters DJ, and a three-tier wedding cake. The happy couple can say their vows during a ceremony on the second floor in our private salon, too.

The offer goes on sale Tuesday (May 31st) at 11am to all Gilt City members. The all-inclusive package for up to 75 guests is priced at $28,000 (a steal, you’ll know, if you’ve ever planned a wedding.) Please call 312-496-0012 with questions.

http://www.giltcity.com/chicago/blackbird

April 8, 2011

Fly to Blackbird on April 27th

While the snow gives way to rain and the blackbirds fly back to Chicago as a beacon of spring, may it all lead you up to Blackbird’s private dining room on April 27.

We invite you to join our chefs David Posey and Paul Kahan with Paul Leary of Napa’s Blackbird Vineyards for a customized dinner of fare and wine pairings guaranteed to welcome the new seasonal bounty the only way we know how.

6:30 Reception
7:00 Dinner
$125, inclusive of tax and gratuity

Seating is limited, so reserve yours today by calling 312.715.0708.

February 10, 2011

Blood, Bones, and Butter Book Launch & Spring Festival Party

Sunday, March 27th at The Publican

Celebrate the release of Chef Gabrielle Hamilton’s (Prune, New York) highly-anticipated memoir with us at a Sunday evening soiree, recreating the first chapter of her book: a springtime, family-style Lamb Roast. A reading and book signing will follow.

6pm: Reception with hors d’oeuvres
6:30pm: Seated dinner with wine & beer pairings

On the Menu:
- First: Butter Lettuce with Spring Onion, Fennel, Fresh Farmers Cheese & Herbs
- Second: Spit Roasted Crawford Farm Baby Lamb with Lamb Sausage and New Crop Potatoes with Ramps & Asparagus Vinaigrette
- Third: Croissant Bread Pudding with Rhubarb and Brown Butter Ice Cream.

Dinner tickets: $75 per person. Books will be sold separately at the event by the Book Cellar.

Call 312-733-9555 to reserve your spot today!

January 29, 2011

12 Percent Imports and The Publican

Tuesday February 8th come join 12 percent imports and the Publican for a night of food and amazing imported beer. Brian Ewing founder and owner of 12 percent will be in attendance. The Publican will be offering a three-course prix fixe menu paired with four rare beers from Brian’s stellar portfolio. In addition to our prix fixe menu the Publican will also be offering some rare and interesting drafts from
12 percent.

The prefix is 35 dollars for food and 15 for beer exclusive of tax and gratuity.
Reservations are encouraged!
For more info please contact us @
thepublicanrestaurant.com
837 West Fulton Mkt. Chicago 60607
(312) 733-9555

January 22, 2011

Watch the Super Bowl at Avec!

Come join us at avec during Superbowl Sunday! We’ll show the game and serve you the incredible food and wine you have come accustomed to for the past six years. Ask about the “specials”.
Go Bears!

December 7, 2010

New Year's Eve at Blackbird!

Cheers! Prost!! Salud!!
Chin Chin!! Kampai!! Skaal!

Celebrate your New Year’s Eve with us at Blackbird and ring in 2011 with style!

While bidding adieu to 2010, we encourage you to wine, dine and feast on our tasting menu options for the evening:
Five courses at $85 per person, or
10 courses at $125 per person
Additional wine pairings at $35 or $55 respectively per person

As the chefs continue to put the finishing touches on the night’s specialty dishes, make your reservations by calling us at 312.715.0708 or at www.blackbirdrestaurant.com; and stay tuned to our posts on Facebook and Twitter for further details.

For those interested in hosting a group of friends, consider Blackbird’s private dining room for parties of 40 or more!

For NYE large-party accommodations contact Brittney at 312.496.0012 or brittney@blackbirdrestaurant.com

November 24, 2010

Holiday Hours, 2010

We will be closed Thursday, November 25, in observance of Thanksgiving. We will reopen Friday, November 26, for dinner service.

We will also be closed Friday, December 24 and Saturday, December 25 in observance of Christmas.

Happy and safe Holidays!

November 9, 2010

2010 Holiday Parties at Blackbird and Avec!

The holiday bells ring this 2010 as a reminder for you to celebrate with us at Blackbird and Avec!

When you book your lunch or evening parties at Blackbird or Avec guests will gush with tinsel wishes and glitter dreams…

Blackbird’s signature private-dining menu comes provided by Mike Sheerin, Food & Wine “Best New Chef 2010” with accommodations including:
o Private dining room with capacity for an 80-guest cocktail reception, or a 48-guest seated dinner
o Three-course dinner menus starting at $65 per person
o Lunch menus beginning at $29 per person

Avec’s acclaimed menu comes courtesy of Koren Grieveson, “James Beard Best Chef in America, Great Lakes 2010” with space offering:
o Lunch parties and evening buyouts
o Accommodations for up to 50 guests
o Menu options available upon request

We look forward to seeing you! Book now to host your event, while space is still available, by contacting Brittney Andres at 312.919.8480 or brittney@blackbirdrestaurant.com
…otherwise, you just might wind up with a lump of coal.

October 16, 2010

Take a gander and flock to our Dusky Goose wine dinner

On October 27, Blackbird teams with Dusky Goose winery for a five-course dinner featuring “all things goose.”

So we invite you and your guests to join upstairs in the Blackbird salon for this great event. Our Chef de Cuisine David Posey unveils each course as a unique preparation of the succulent bird that can only be matched by wines from Dusky Goose vineyards. And joining in the festivities is Nancy Garvin from the winery to feature their 2003, 2005 and 2007 Pinot Noirs as the perfect pairing.

The evening starts with a 6:30 reception followed by prompt 7pm seating. Priced at $125, inclusive of tax and gratuity, seating is limited, so reserve yours today by calling Blackbird at 312.715.0708.

October 2, 2010

Taste of Michigan

Please join us Sunday November 7th for the first ever all Michigan-produced beer dinner with New Holland brewing company. The focus of this dinner is to utilize the freshest fall produce Michigan has to offer. On the last week in September the Publican team will travel to Michigan to join the New Holland crew, visit with farmers, taste produce and create a beer dinner menu one week before it is held. The event will be a four course pre-fix menu all paired with New Holland beer including a brand new all Michigan grown fresh hopped IPA.

Food $45/guest

Beverage Paring $10-$15/guest

Reservations are accepted

Please call 312.733.9555 to make your reservation

September 16, 2010

Passing the Torch at Blackbird...

Congratulations goes to our own David Posey who’s taken the reins as the new chef de cuisine. Promoted to fill Chef Posey’s vacated role as sous chef is Jonah Resnick. The dynamic duo is diligently at work creating new dishes to add to the fall menu like…

peanut-crusted sardines with pippen apple, pickled kohlrabi and green curry mousse

and a new vegetarian dish of…

Parmesan-ricotta dumpling with matsutaki mushrooms, tomato confit and pine nuts

Meanwhile, Mike Sheerin, a recipient of Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chef 2010” will continue to maintain his formidable presence at Blackbird as Private Dining Chef but with vigilant focus on opening his own project.

May 28, 2009

Amazing Lunch Prix Fixe

Just a reminder that everyday Blackbird features a three-course lunch Prix Fixe for $22.

Within each dish offered, Chef de Cuisine, Mike Sheerin, emphasizes market-fresh ingredients that combine for simple, clean flavors. And Patrick Fahy, our pastry chef caps the menu with two outstanding dessert selections.

We always offer an a la carte menu as well. So come join us at Blackbird, serving lunch Monday – Friday from 11:30am – 2:00pm.