NYE at Alinea and the Aviary; Michelin-Starred Caramels

CHICAGO— Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas have unleashed New Year's Eve details for all their Chicago restaurants: At Alinea, expect a $400 "special extended tasting menu" by Achatz and executive chef Mike Bagale (with an optional reserve wine pairing for an additional $300), while Next's NYE offering will be the final night of its theatrical Bocuse D'Or menu. The Aviary, meanwhile, will host a vaudeville-themed cocktail party featuring a 10-course menu paired with classic cocktails and a live show featuring a "five-piece band, 12 femme fatales, two comedians and one master of ceremonies." Tickets to the latter are $494; more information here. [EaterWire]

THE INTERNET— A dozen acclaimed chefs — including Dominique Crenn, David Kinch, and Daniel Humm — have teamed with luxury-experience curation site IfOnly to offer a Constellation Caramel Collection featuring the chefs' take on the sugary treat. A box of 48 caramels (four from each participating chef) offers flavors like ember and grilled butter (by Joshua Skenes) and passionfruit (from Gary Danko). Each box is $100, and a portion of proceeds benefits the James Beard Foundation. [EaterWire]

SANTA BARBARA— The city of Santa Barbara will celebrate its annual International Film Festival with a culinary component: Broadway World reports that Film Feast 2014, running January 30 to February 9, 2014, will function as a "restaurant week" of sorts, linking local restaurants (and their special prix fixe menus) with festival attendees. More information here. [BroadwayWorld]