Dining out: Italian-American eatery Passero opening in Arlington Heights
Arlington Heights welcomes Passero
Chef Matt Peota, most recently a sous chef for Rick Bayless' Frontera Hospitality Group, and his wife, Rikki, are bringing upscale Italian-American cuisine to downtown Arlington Heights with the opening of Passero on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Featuring locally sourced fare in a newly remodeled 60-seat space, the restaurant will feature handmade pasta and Italian small plates at dinner, while drinks will include classic cocktails and a boutique wine list. Italian deli-style lunches will consist of hot and cold subs and salads. “We want to get to know our community and bring an urban-feel restaurant to downtown Arlington Heights where people can walk-in and get to know us, too,” Peota said in a prepared statement. “The food is a blend of contemporary American with the Chicago-style Italian cooking of my grandmothers.” Hours are 4:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday, 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday. Passero is at 5 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, (224) 857-8900, eatpassero.com/ or facebook.com/Eat-Passero-846574288854668/.
Sullivan's hosts Antinori wine dinner
Saverio Notari, owner/winemaker of Col de Salici Winery, will be visiting from Tuscany, Italy, to lead an Antinori wine dinner Monday, Oct. 23, at Sullivan's Steakhouse in Naperville. A prosecco reception at 6 p.m. starts off the six-course dinner created by executive chef Angel Salazar. Guests will have the opportunity to try wines from Italy's most prestigious areas, including Chianti Classico, Bolgheri, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Orvieto. The dinner costs $125, plus tax and gratuity. Wines will be available for purchase. Make reservations at opentable.com or (630) 305-0230. Sullivan's Steakhouse is at 244 S. Main St., Naperville, (630) 305-0230 or sullivanssteakhouse.com/naperville/.
Murder Mystery at Morton
Put on your detective hat and step back in time to the 1950s to help solve a murder mystery at the Morton Arboretum's Ginkgo Restaurant. Be on the lookout for clues when you arrive at 6:30 p.m. Thursday or Friday, Oct. 26-27, for cocktails. The seated dinner begins at 7 p.m. with classic turkey potpie, '50s five-bean salad and country-style pot roast and ends on a sweet note with pineapple upside-down cake. Tickets, which cost $80 for members and $90 for nonmembers, include the four-course meal, two drinks at the bar and the live theater performance. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. Register at (630) 725-2066 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, in person at the Visitor Center or at registeronline.mortonarb.org/SpecialEvents/MysteryDinneratTheMortonArboretum/ or mortonarb.org/events/mystery-dinner. The Morton Arboretum's Ginkgo Restaurant is at 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org/.