Hofbräuhaus Chicago Welcomes Spring With Seasonal Brews And An Easter Kinderfest

Celebrate Warmer Weather with a Variety of Easter Festivities, Seasonal Brews and More

My kids are a bit German on both sides of the family, so we enjoy embracing our heritage with beer, food, and family fun at Hofbräuhaus Chicago. Folks of all nationalities are welcome to enjoy German style spring fun at this 20,000-square-foot German microbrewery, restaurant and beer hall. Check it out!

Hofbräuhaus Chicago, located in Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park entertainment district, will jump into spring with a variety of new offerings including seasonal spring brews, an Easter Kinderfest and a special Easter Sunday celebration.

To pair with its authentic German fare, Hofbräuhaus Chicago will introduce two spring beers brewed in March and April. “Märzen,” a rich amber beer with a smooth and drinkable malt flavor, will be available throughout the month of March. In April, guests can enjoy Hofbräuhaus Chicago’s “Royal Export,” a pale, flavorful and malty brew. These seasonal brews will join the three beers brewed onsite and offered year-round at Hofbräuhaus Chicago: Lager, Hefe Weizen and Dunkel.

To celebrate the arrival of each new seasonal beer, Hofbräuhaus Chicago continues “First Thirst-Days” the first Thursday of every month. Brewmaster Rob Hunter will host a small keg tapping ceremony at 7 p.m., providing visitors with more information about the seasonal beer, free half-liter samples of the new brew and brewery tours upon request. March’s “Märzen First Thirst-Day” is scheduled for Thursday, March 1. April’s “Royal Export First Thirst-Day” will be held on Thursday, April 5.

Hofbräuhaus Chicago will continue its “Off the Hook” seafood specials during Lent from February 14 to March 31. Daily seafood specials will be available for dinner and will feature salmon, halibut, shrimp, mussels and white fish dishes, amongst other types of seafood.

Hofbräuhaus Chicago’s guests can kick off Easter early with the restaurant’s Easter Kinderfest, Sunday, March 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The restaurant will offer fun for the whole family, including egg coloring, a juggler, face painting and meet and greets with the Easter Bunny.

The Easter fun will continue Sunday, April 1 with Hofbrauhaus’ Easter Sunday celebration. The Easter Bunny will make a special appearance for photos with guests from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The entire family is invited to also enjoy a special Easter Sunday menu, featuring both American and traditional German specialties. Dishes include:  

Bayrische Kartoffelsuppe
Creamy Bavarian potato soup with vegetables, frankfurters and croutons

Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
Smoked salmon deviled eggs garnished with fresh dill and fried capers on a bed of arugula and shaved fennel

Geschmorten Lammhaxen
Tender braised lamb shank served with green beans, roasted red potatoes and rosemary gravy

Entenbraten
Classic half roasted duck served with potato dumplings, red cabbage and rosemary duck sauce

Knusprige Schweinshaxen
Crispy pork shank served with Bavarian cabbage and bacon salad, potato and bread dumplings and Hofbrauhaus Dark Beer gravy

Crème Brule
Classic crème brule served with sweet whipped cream and fresh berries





Hofbräuhaus Chicago is located at 5500 Park Place in Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park entertainment district.  Valet parking is available for a minimal charge. Parking is also available in the nearby parking garage (free with validation). For reservations and more information, call 847-671-BREW (2739) or visit hbchicago.com.

"HOPPIEST" HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS AT HOFBRAUHAUS CHICAGO

GET THE HOLIDAYS BREWING AT HOFBRAUHAUS CHICAGO

 

Celebrate the Season with Special Events, Festive Christmas Day Menu, Munich-Style New Year’s Eve Celebrations, Seasonal Brews and More

Here at ChiIL Mama, my kids are a bit German on both sides of the family, and we love to embrace our German heritage with food, music and traditions. Hofbräuhaus Chicago is a great place to find all of the above. Check out their holiday happenings right here. 

Eat, drink and be merry this holiday season at Hofbräuhaus Chicago, located in Rosemont’s MB Financial Park entertainment district. The first and only German micro-brewery, restaurant and beer hall in the Chicago area will celebrate the “hoppiest” time of year with several holiday offerings including a special holiday brew, holiday gift card promotion, visits from St. Nicholas and Krampus, the first-ever Holiday Kinderfest, special Christmas Day menu and Munich-style New Year’s Eve celebrations. 

Holiday shopping can be stressful when trying to find the perfect gift for family or the office gift exchange. Skip the candles or magazine subscriptions and get them something they’ll love at Hofbräuhaus. Perfect for holiday gift-giving, an on-site gift shop allows customers to bring an authentic Bavarian experience into their home. With handmade German steins, men’s and women’s apparel, holiday ornaments and even lederhosen, the gift shop offers something special for everyone. Throughout the holiday season, Hofbräuhaus guests who purchase $100 worth of gift cards at Hofbräuhaus Chicago will receive a free $25 bonus gift card to gift or spend on themselves.



Visitors can solidify their spot on the “nice” or “naughty” list at Hofbräuhaus Chicago this season with a little help from German holiday folklore icons, St. Nicholas and his devilish companion Krampus. The pair will visit Hofbräuhaus from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturdays from Dec. 9 through Dec. 23. Derived from Germanic folklore, Krampus is a beast-like creature said to punish those who are naughty throughout the yule season. Krampus is said to be spotted during the month of December roaming the streets in search of those that wound up on the naughty list.



For those looking for holiday fun for the whole family, Hofbräuhaus Chicago will host its first “Holiday Kinderfest” Sunday, Dec. 17 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Families can enjoy $5 meals for children ages 12 and under in addition to a variety of free activities including face painting, ornament decorating, magic acts, visits with Santa and more. A special bubble show will take place from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.



Those looking to avoid the stress of cooking a Christmas dinner can visit Hofbräuhaus Chicago Monday, Dec. 25 for a special German “Weihnachten” menu. Special holiday dishes include:

Gefligelcremesuppe
Creamy chicken soup with vegetables, croutons and chives

Bayrische Kartoffelsuppe
Creamy Bavarian potato soup with vegetables, sliced sausage and croutons

Gebackener Tortenbrie
Breaded brie cheese wedges lightly fried and served with a winter salad bouquet, balsamic dressing and cranberry sauce

HB Rib Eye und Pfeffersteak
10 oz. grilled rib eye steak smothered with brandy peppercorn sauce and served with sauerkraut, “bratkartoffeln” German pan-fried potatoes with bacon and onions

Frische Knusprige Schweinshaxen
Crispy pork shank served with Bavarian cabbage and bacon salad, potato and bread dumplings and house made HB lager bier gravy

Crème Brulée
Classic crème brulée served with sweet whipped cream and fresh berries

Glühwein



To pair with its authentic German fare, Hofbräuhaus Chicago is brewing a special “Dopplebock” holiday beer at its onsite microbrewery. Hofbräuhaus Chicago’s Dopplebock is an exceptionally malty brew with very little bitterness and will be available December 2017 through January 2018.

Chicagoans are invited to ring in 2018 the Bavarian way with two exciting celebrations at Hofbräuhaus Chicago Sunday, Dec. 31. Families looking to ring in the New Year earlier in the day can celebrate at Hofbräuhaus Chicago’s “Munich-style” family-friendly celebration starting at 2 p.m. Festivities include a face painter from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., followed by a magic show complete with illusions, live animals and a little help from the audience. Families can participate in a parade and toast to Munich’s New Year at 5 p.m. All guests will receive a complimentary glass of champagne or sparkling wine for the little ones.

At the stroke of midnight, Hofbräuhaus Chicago will “prost” to 2018 with a glass of champagne for its guests as they enjoy spectacular fireworks above MB Financial Park.

Hofbräuhaus Chicago is located at 5500 Park Place in Rosemont, in the MB Financial Park at Rosemont.  Valet parking is available for a minimal charge, and parking is also available in the nearby parking garage (free with validation). For reservations and more information, call 847-671-BREW (2739) or visit hbchicago.com.

PHOTO FEATURE: ChiIL Mama's Adventures at The Dill Pickle Food Co-Op Grand Opening Celebration

What's green and new and next to the blue? 

The Dill Pickle Food Co-Op's excellent expanded home! 

Yes, there's a newcomer next to the Logan Square Blue Line "L" stop that's bike friendly, neighborhoody, and full of loads of fresh local finds, organic goodies, bulk buys, and more. It's locally owned by your neighbors, but anyone can shop there, not just co-op members. Have you stopped in yet? You can see the cheerful, bright green roof from blocks away, and the inside is just as colorful and welcoming.

October was an exciting month for The Dill Pickle Co-Op. They've been around since 2009, in a much smaller space on Fullerton, but their new Milwaukee Avenue home will allow them to grow and really come into their own. Here's our photo recap of the first hours of their grand opening party in the new space earlier this month. 



They had a day long celebration packed with live music, dance, martial arts, bounce house fun and crafts for the littles, and loads of vendor samples/coupons/demos. We were lucky to catch a fantastic Capoeira demo.

Check out our full photo feature in the slideshow here and more favorites below:

Back in the day, when I heard the word food co-op, it conjured up dusty images of wholesome hippies stocking barrels of grains and aisles of bulk bins, with 20 types of granola. 





The Dill Pickle Co-Op is so much more. Sure, they have great bulk bin deals, but also a host of fabulous vegan, vegetarian, and carnivore finds, and eco-friendly non food items too. They have plenty of frozen items that are quick to fix. They also have loads of love for the locals, stocking a plethora of fresh produce, dairy and meat from farms in the region. And their homemade hummus is to die for.



This spot is sure to be an "L" commuter hit, on the way to or from work. They have a liquor license, a gorgeous salad bar, coffee bar, ready made sandwiches and lots of great grab n go items. They even have kombucha machines, in case keeping a kombucha scoby alive to DIY seems like a daunting task.







Family Friendly:
My kids are teens now, but it wasn't long ago that both were in tow, just about every time I went shopping. The Dill Pickle Food Co-Op loves littles, and has kid sized carts, goodies and a club, to make shopping with your offspring less stress.










The Dill Pickle Food Co-Op also has coupons and rockin' specials. They've joined with a collective of other co-ops for bulk purchasing power and better discounts. And they pass on the savings locally. The profits stay in our neighborhood, too.







Come on by and check it out! All are welcome. We bought a $250 share as owners, at a very reasonable $10 a month. This gives my family extra coupons, discounts and the chance for even deeper discounts with a work/barter program of a couple hours a week as a HOO (Hands On Owner). Here's their website, so you can keep up with happenings, sales, and more. Also follow them on social media on Facebook and Twitter.






Welcome to the neighborhood, Dill Pickle Co-Op! We'll be in to shop like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often!

 Click image to check out current specials, join, or see more info 

More Photo Favorites:

Potbelly Celebrates International Picnic Day June 18 And National Vanilla Milkshake Day June 20th #ad #FoodFun

Here in Chicago, it's finally the season for a plethora of free outdoor entertainment like concerts, movies in the parks, theatre in the parks, and beach fun at the lakefront. You can BYO picnic to all of these hot spots and more. Potbelly Sandwich Shop is one of our family's frequent picks for easy, stress free carry out meals that everyone likes.

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is pleased to partner up with Potbelly once again. We have been compensated with product or payment in exchange for spreading the word. As always, all opinions are our own.

June is full of excellent excuses to celebrate. Did you know International Picnic Day is June 18th?! Head outside to bask in the sun and enjoy delicious grub from Potbelly Sandwich Shop’s stress-free catering and carry-out services. 

Picnickers can pack their baskets with a variety of Potbelly’s customizable catering options, including toasty, warm sandwiches, craveable salads and freshly baked cookies. We provide plates, utensils, napkins and condiments – just sit back, relax and enjoy a mouthwatering Potbelly picnic. 

ChiIL out in Chi, IL and beyond with National Vanilla Milkshake Day, coming up fast on June 20th. Cool off with Potbelly’s hand-dipped vanilla milkshake that come dressed with the shop’s signature mini-cookie on the straw – an afternoon treat that’s both delicious and adorable!  Along with the classic vanilla milkshake, Potbelly offers chocolate, coffee, Oreo and the option to create your own flavor combination with the shop’s real, wholesome ingredients and flavors.

Disclosure: Once again, ChiIL Mama is pleased to partner up with Potbelly. We have been compensated with product or payment in exchange for spreading the word. As always, all opinions are our own.