Ku'u aku, ho'onanea, luana Me Pilialoha a la sola! (Relax with Friends at sola!)

It's happening, as it does every year. Every citizen in the city of Chicago takes in one deep breath and lets it out in a unified, relieving sigh. The weight of winter falls from our "big shoulders" and now we can get busy planning our tropical relaxation. It's as if our memories hibernated all winter long, but as the April sun reemerges, we all recall just how electric summer in the midwest can be.

sola is no stranger to this early spring anxiety. As the temperature picks up, so does the heat in our welcoming kitchen. Executive Chef Carol Wallack and Chef de Cuisine Alex Shalev are paving the road to a sublime springtime with a healthy batch of Almonds. To further ramp up the excitement, the Chefs are inviting you to win a $50 sola Gift Certificate, just by testifying about your midnight Kalua Potsticker cravings. Read on to learn more.

Ingredient of the Month: Almonds

A wise person once said that a peanut is neither a pea, nor a nut. Sure, that's great and all, but what are we supposed to believe about almonds? sola's talented team of hardly-certified linguists decided to dig deeper into the nutty mystery. Clearly, the name can be divided into two parts: "al" and "mond." "Al" is obviously a reference to everyone's favorite TV weatherman, Al Roker of the Today Show, who also wrote a book about Big Bad Barbeque. "Mond," on the other hand, is unquestionably an Americanized take on the French word "monde," which means "world." Thus, Al Roker's Barbeque is good for the world and thus perfect for sola's delicious spring menu.

While this logic may seem faulty, spending $30 on sola's Almond Prix Fixe Menu is quite the opposite. Stop by sola Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday and partake in three sizeable and mouthwatering courses featuring the elusive almond. Each finely-tuned course can be complemented with expertly selected wine pairings for an additional $15. It's the most logical decision you'll make all week.

The Truth About Almonds

- Although almonds are a great source of protein, they are also high in fat and must be consumed in moderation.
- An almond is actually a stone fruit and is related to the peach and cherry, which explains their distinctive sweetness.
- According to superstition, if you eat almonds before imbibing a few drinks, you will reduce your chances of getting intoxicated and avoid having a ruthless hangover.

Drink of the Month: 2006 Syrah Napa Valley Phoenix Ranch Vineyard

This bold red wine is featured on the menu of sola's upcoming wine dinner with Whetstone Winery. It boasts complex flavors of blackberry, cassis, black pepper and red beets and finishes long with dark chocolate and tobacco leaf notes. It's the ultimate complement to sola's rich Wagyu Hangar Steak

Love sola?

Tell Us About It! And Win $50
We're not kidding. We would never kid you like that. Have we kidded you before? Maybe. But not this time.

This month, we're asking you to offer your sola testimonials to be placed on our website at www.sola-restaurant.com. Tell us about your favorite sola experience, a hilarious sola encounter, or some of the reasons you find sola to be the perfect neighborhood spot. Gush about our top-notch service or our killer cocktails. Pontificate on sola's peace-loving philosophy or just mention your favorite dish.

At the end of the month, we'll pick out our favorite testimonial and award that person a complimentary $50 sola Gift Certificate. All you need to do is send your testimonials to dine@sola-restaurant.com.

Real Simple Restaurant Week

sola is helping Real Simple Magazine celebrate their 10th Anniversary with a special menu available from April 5th - April 9th. Also, stop by Union Station on April 9th from noon to
2 p.m. while sola participates in the exciting event, Real Simple Invites Chicago to Lunch.

Every Sunday - Urban Luau Menu

From the Big Island to the city of Broad Shoulders, guests can experience the fare that Hawaiians gather with family to enjoy. The menu, which changes weekly, is available every Sunday during dinner and is served family-style for everyone at the table to share.

Guests can choose two dishes along with a Hawaiian-inspired salad or soup, plus one of Chef Wallack's sweet and savory desserts. The Urban Luau Menu is $30 per person and children only pay their age - it's the perfect way to get a taste of paradise in our welcoming Northcenter neighborhood.

Burgers, Bacon, Beer - Triple Threat Thursdays

What could possibly be more dangerously delicious than the combination of Burgers, Bacon and Beer? Well... probably nothing - which is why we break that barrier every Thursday night. Indulge yourself this Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. with sola's legendary Wagyu "Kobe" Burger, typically only available for lunch, which is sandwiched between a chewy pretzel roll with house-made bacon, caramelized onions, fresh arugula and melted cambazola cheese. Follow that up with a local craft beer and special dessert featuring our unique and appetizing bacon and you'll be swimming in Triple Threat Heaven. Previous specials include bacon buttermilk ice cream with a malasada, hot fudge, wild strawberry compote and hazelnut brittle and Two Brothers' Ebel Weiss beer, brewed here in Illinois. Join us once and you'll be dreaming the Triple Threat until Thursday rolls back around.