Things are really heating up in La Grange as local businesses get things cooking for Restaurant Week—a celebration of the village's downtown restaurant scene.

But at Bella Bacino's, 36 S. La Grange Rd., celebrating restaurant week means fun events all month long. Starting this week, Bella Bacino's will be hosting pizza-making classes for kids on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and on Tuesdays, adults can drop by from 5-10 p.m. for special wine tasting events.

"I'm working really hard to promote [Restaurant Week] as much as I can," said Linda Bacin, owner of Bella Bacino's. "We have a lot going on."

At Bacino's pizza-making classes, kids young and old will get a kick out of getting their hands on some dough, learning to perfect their sauce swirling technique and baking their own pizzas and cookies to taste.

"We've done this event in the past downtown and it is really great fun," Bacin said of the class. "The kids really love it, and it's really hands on."

Kids will get their own chef hat and apron when they arrive that they can take home with them afterwards. In the class, kids will learn how to knead and shape the dough, spoon and swirl the sauce (like the pros), and then select their ingredients before adding on the cheese. 

Younger kids will be focused on making a Chicago-style pizza. It's not deep dish, but it's got chewier dough that's easier to work with. Older kids can try their hand at making Bella Bacino's famous brick oven pizzas, which have a bit more crunch in the crust.

While the pizza is cooking, kids will decorate a handmade chocolate chip cookie, which they can eat afterwards.

The recommended age for participants is between six and 12 years old, but kids under six can join if a parent can stick around. To sign up, parents need to RSVP with Linda at Bella Bacino's at 708-420-9700. A $15 fee will cover the cost of ingredients and the hat and apron.

Wine Tasting

If parents out there are wishing they could participate as well, don't worry; Bella Bacino's has events for you too. Through February, adults can stop by on Tuesdays from 5-10 p.m. for unique wine tasting events. Groups are welcome and recommended; so bring your friends too.

Those who attend will get a tasting flight and can sample specially paired appetizers. Attendees will learn the differences in the wine from Bacino's staff, their distributors and even a winemaker, as well as why certain wines were paired with certain foods.