Foodie Fridays: Eat, Drink And Be Scary: What You're Doing For Halloween!

One of the most fun days of the year will soon be here.  Halloween!  You know you love it!  The parties, the costumes, the drinks, the treats, and being scared out of your wits!  As usual, Chicago is jam-packed with scary activities for adults to have just as much (if not more) fun as the kiddies!

CeCe and Melinda of Raymi Productions kicks the witching season off  by inviting you to join them for "Masquerade Extravaganza" at Bevy Chicago on Thursday, October 25th. Don't miss out on this spectacular night of mystery, music, and fun!  Get your tickets, now at www.masqueradeextravaganza.eventbrite.com.

If you live in the Chicago area, then you're well aware that one of the most talked about event spaces in the city isn't in a hotel, or a chic nightclub, or some crowded after-work bar - it's the infamous Anita Dee II. That's right folks, there's nothing better in the Chicago area than enjoying the sights and sounds of this great city aboard a beautiful yacht that not only brings together the best of the scenic areas of Chicago, but you and your friends, on the biggest party holiday night of the year - Halloween!

Just make sure to get your tickets while you still can!

Saturday, October 27th

Boarding: 9:00pm

Departing: 9:30pm
Returning: 12:30am

Purchase your tickets at www.halloweencruises.com.

Also on the 27th, The Hilton Chicago is back again this year with it's Haunted Hotel Ball.  Watch video highlights from last year's event below. For more information and tickets go to www.hauntedhotelball.com.

Join the folks at III Forks for "A Supernatural Soiree"" on Halloween night!  Come dressed in your best costume to really get into the "spirit" of things!

Known for its exceptional beverage program, Benny's Chop House (444 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago; 312-626-2444) is pleased to unveil its new "Pick Your Poison" cocktail menu.  As part of Benny's new lineup of autumn dishes, the fall cocktail list is inspired by the spooky charm of the Halloween holiday. 

Complete with eerily memorable names true to Halloween, Benny's offers a range of unforgettable cocktails to try this fall. The Headless Horseman ($13) cocktail is inspired by European folklore, and is made with Benny's House Falernum, Plantation 5 Year Rum, and topped with O'Fallon Pumpkin Ale. Gotham and Gomorrah ($13) is another showstopper created with Willet Rye Whiskey, House Vanilla-Pear Syrup, a dash of Fernet Branca, and topped off with Peychaud's Bitters. The Corpse Reviver #444 ($12), is made with North Shore Gin #6, lemon juice, Combier Orange Liquor, Lillet Blanc, and finished with a North Shore Absinthe Rinse.

Other inviting "Pick Your Poison" cocktails are the Black Widow ($12), Goblin's Goblet ($12), Final Breath ($12), Day of the Dead ($13), and Blood and Sand ($13). With this eclectic mix of cocktails you don't have to wait till October 31 to begin celebrating Halloween!

You can celebrate after the holiday, too!  Benny's is set to host a complimentary North Shore Distillery Party, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., on November 2nd. Guests will be treated to a complimentary cocktail tasting, mixed with a variety of North Shore spirits, and accompanied by passed appetizers by Chef Jonathan Lane. The featured cocktail of the evening will be Benny's Corpse Reviver #444, (pictured above) made with the award winning North Shore Gin #6, winner of the Beverage Testing Institute's 95 pts Gold Medal. 

Photo credit: Toffee Break Desserts

If parties and potions are not your thing, enjoy the holiday in the comfort of your own home with sweet treats you can enjoy yourself! 

Stores nationwide have already rolled out the big orange carpet for Halloween candy displays galore, but we wanted to let you in on a sweet little secret: exhibitors for the inaugural Chicago Fine Chocolate Show, taking place at Chicago’s Navy Pier from November 16-18, have a host of grown-up gourmet goodies to celebrate the scariest day of the year. 

Harken back to your days of trick-or-treating with these artisan treats that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and gastronomic cravings. Perfect for a party or to relax when trick-or-treaters have gone, here are just a few Halloween sweets:

·         Ghost Chili Truffles (Le Chocoholique): Try this hand-painted artisan truffle for a spooky sensation, thanks to the use of ghost chili—rumored to be the hottest of the hot. These fiery little bonbons include a creamy white ganache infused with ghost chili and enrobed in a dark chocolate shell.

·         Pumpkin Brandy Chocolates (St. Croix Chocolate Co.): Nothing says Halloween like pumpkin, and adults will be sure to enjoy this version with a little kick. A modern take on a classic, this treat features real pumpkin, pumpkin pie spices, and a hint of warm V.S.O.P. brandy.

·         Dark Chocolate Caramallow (Bruttles): These marshmallows are dressed in style! For their signature Caramallows, Bruttles takes plump marshmallows and infuses them with soft caramel, then dips them in luscious dark chocolate and a drizzle of white chocolate for decoration. 

·         Candy Corn Cupcakes (Sweet Pea Cake Studio): Enjoy Sweet Pea Cake’s chic interpretation of the iconic Halloween candy—delectable Vanilla cake swirled with orange, topped off with Fluff Butter Cream, and adorned by the original candy itself.

·         Salted Caramel Apple-Cinnamon Vegan Lollipops (Desiderio Chocolates): Avoid the undignified process of attempting to eat caramel apples while enjoying the same flavors—with the added bonus of chocolate and organic ingredients. Colombian dark chocolate enrobes a mixture of creamy and luxurious caramel infused with apple puree and cinnamon, all decorated with dry apples.

·         White Chocolate Popcorn (Toffee Break Desserts): An elegant update to the popcorn ball, indulge in a bag of white chocolate-coated popcorn morsels. Also an ideal snack for the obligatory screening of Halloween or Scream.