Give & Get

How about giving a beautiful corned beef sandwich, eggplant parmigiana or grilled steak as a stocking stuffer? While stuffing those actual gifts in a stocking could be kind of messy, you might consider a restaurant gift card. Most of the large restaurant and fast food chains offer gift cards this time of year. However, if you choose to go local you can also get a little something back for your efforts. Many dining gift cards offer bonuses for the purchaser, buy $100 in gift cards, get a $25 gift card for yourself. It is considered tacky to give those bonuses away, as they usually have greater restrictions on use, but who's going to look a gift meal in the mouth?

Bar Umbriago , 6 W. Hubbard, (312) 494-1200. Guests who purchase $100 worth of Bar Umbriago gift cards this holiday season will receive a $25 certificate redeemable Jan. 1, through May 2013. Purchases must be made before Monday, Dec. 31.

Guests who purchase $100 worth of gift certificates at Brasserie by LM, Brasserie 54 by LM, LM Bistro or Troquet will receive a complimentary $25 gift certificate in return. Gift cards are available for purchase in the restaurants and are for individual restaurants only.

Guests who purchase $100 worth of Burger Joint , 675 N Franklin (312) 440-8600, gift cards will receive a $25 gift certificate. The gift certificate will be redeemable Jan. 1 through May 2013.

Carnivale , 702 W Fulton (312) 850-5005, will ring in the holiday spirit with a $35 gift certificate for every $100 in gift cards purchased.

If you prefer something more tangible than gift cards, consider Chicago Cut Steakhouse's steak knives. It's $100 for a set of four and can be purchased at the restaurant now 300 N. LaSalle or chicagocutsteakhouse.com.

Chicago Q , 1160 N. Dearborn (312) 642-1160, offers two options for holiday stocking stuffers. For every $100 in Chicago Q gift cards purchased, the purchaser
gets a $20 gift certificate. Gift cards are available in $20, $50 and $100 increments. In addition, Chicago Q's sauces, bread and butter pickles and pig powder are available for purchase and can be shipped anywhere in the continental U.S. as well. All are available for purchase at.chicagoqrestaurant.com/sauces_rubs/ or at the restaurant.

Of course to make the holiday pretty and witty and gay, you can always stop in at Kit Kat , 3700 N. Halsted, for festive and fun holiday celebrations on Christmas Eve/Day.with a prix-fixe menu for $40 per person. The regular dinner menu will also be available. Kit Kat's entire martini menu, including its seasonal holiday ‘tinis, will be half-price. In the spirit of the season, Kit Kat will offer dining and drinking guests a 50-percent discount off their entire bill in exchange for a canned good or non-perishable food donation (minimum one donated item per person) for Vital Bridges, in support of its "Harvest for Hope" community food drive. In addition, Kit Kat's over-the-top "Divalicious" weekend brunch will be filled with the holiday spirit this season. Taking place on December 15, 16, 22 and 23, Diva Madam X will entertain brunch guests with a variety of holiday tunes, musicals and sing-along favorites. Kit Kat will be "decked" out with festive decor and the seven projection screens will show holiday movies. (773) 525-1111, kitkatchicago.com.