NYC Restaurant Owner Snaps!

Times are tough in the restaurant biz, and while we understand restaurateurs need to think outside the box to get people in seats, this one right here takes the (*&%$#@#$%^?! cake:

Vadim Ponorovsky, the owner of Paradou in New York's famed Meatpacking District, fired off a "team-building" email to employees that was so full of expletives it made even us blush.

Here's a sample:

"How many times do we have to tell you how important it is that you collect emails. Everytime (sic) we have a slow night and you make no money and you sit there bitching about how you make no money, remember its (sic) because youre (sic) f**king lazy motherf**kers. YOU SHOULD ALL BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY!!!!! ALL OF YOU, INCLUDING THE HOSTS!!!!"

Oh, honey, it gets much worse! When one of the employees sent his crazy-ass email to Gawker.com, he decided to turn his anger on the New York media outlet to take out further frustrations on editors.

Word to bar and restaurant owners, if you want customers, this is not how you get them!

The Next Iron Chef?!

Jose Garces of Mercat a la Planxa (Photo: Mercat a la Planxa)


We've got our fingers crossed tightly for Philly-based chef Jose Garces—who's also behind the Blackstone Hotel's hot Spanish property Mercat a la Planxa—to pull a victory over New York pastry chef Jehangir Mehta to become the Next Iron Chef.

The finals go down 9pm Sunday on Food Network, and you bet we'll be watching (even though the Bears will take down play the Philly Eagles at the same time).

312DD had the chance to hang out with Garces at Mercat a la Planxa earlier this week during the first-ever Olive Oil from Spain tasting where he created six dishes (and a cocktail!) with three unique varietals.

As the master of Latin cuisine, it's no surprise that Garces uses his Chicago trips to check out the competition around town. He usually makes his way to family-owned restaurants in Pilsen, but on this trip, he checked out Paul Kahan's much talked about Big Star in Wicker Park.

No word yet on how they measured up . . .

Bright Lights, Tasty Bites at Mag Mile Fest

For Chicago, the official start of the holiday shopping season happens once the first float makes its way down the street for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.

With weather sunny and in the mid-50s on Saturday, those checking out the festivities will catch a lucky break. Get excited also about the newest component of the festival, the culinary pavilion featuring some of the area's most popular restaurants. From 11am to 4pm on the hour, five executive chefs will demo signature bites, and the first 100 guests will get a sample.

Indulge in dishes from Cliff Ostrowski (China Grill), who's set to prepare tempura sashimi with hot mustard champagne sauce at 11am. Tavern on Rush chef John Gatsos makes a classic Day After Thanksgiving sandwich at noon. At 1pm, you'll find The Saloon Steakhouse's James Day getting the crowd all worked up over his veal Involtini with chestnut and Applewood bacon stuffing and cranberry demi glace. Scott Walton of Markethouse whips up butterscotch bread pudding at 2pm. And the Signature Room's Patrick Sheerin will make roasted squash soup at 3pm.

The culinary festival goes down at the foot of the Hancock Building on Delaware Street. It's also free!

'Tis the season to get out and about all weekend long . . .

THURSDAY

Bistro 110 celebrates the release of the new Beaujolais with an after-work tasting event. You'll get to sample six wines paired with Charcuterie, cheese and additional light bites. 6-8:30pm. $25.

The Last Call For Fall event benefits the Auxiliary Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Young professionals will be mingling, drinking and eating for a good cause at District Bar. Get tix here. 6:30-9:30pm. $35 in advance; $40 at door.

November is Movember, which raises money for men's health awareness, specifically prostate and testicular cancer. You'll get to bid on hot bachelorettes and bachelors tonight at Basil Leaf Café, plus there's a raffle. Event includes appetizers and a cash bar. 8pm-2am. $20.

If you're looking to get into something completely different tonight, head to The Silver Room for a unique spoken-word set. Twenty random people will be selected to tell their stories. 8-10pm. $5 donation.

This is just way too much machismo in one night. Brew & View's doing a triple threat movie-a-thon: The Hangover, Inglorious Basterds and Pulp Fiction. You'll also get $3 drafts of MGD, High Life and Miller Lite. Starts at 6:30pm. $5.


Juicy Wine Co. owner Rodney Alex (at top) hosts "The Breakfast Club" every Saturday.(Photo: Rodney Alex)


FRIDAY

Through Sunday, mention Week To Give Back at The Drawing Room for special deals. Ten bucks from your meal will be donated to the LUNGevity Foundation, plus you'll also receive a special dessert flight for the table. Now, that's sweet!

SATURDAY

If you've got a big group and you're hungry after the Lights Fest, head over to Osteria Via Stato for a special family-style meal. For $38.95 per person ($19 for kids), get appetizers, two pasta dishes, a main course and side dishes. The Italian Dinner Party antipasti is $19.95 per person ($10 for kids), and add a pasta dish to your Italian Dinner Party antipasti for $24.95 per person ($12 children).

Juicy Wine Co. continues its weekly Breakfast Club with DJ LA*Jesus spinning classic 1980s hits. They're also hooking up late-night munchies like the Dirty Bird Bubble Bath brunch combo of fried chicken and waffles paired with champagne; and Swan Creek soft scrambled eggs with shaved summer truffles paired with Benton's smoked country bacon. OMG, soooo yummy! 11pm-2am. No cover.

SUNDAY

New Lincoln Square eatery LM Le Restaurant puts the smack down with a French-focused brunch of a la carte items like banana- and pecan-topped buttermilk pancakes; the signature LM omelet with Camembert cheese, caramelized shallots and spinach; and brioche French toast with roasted pears and crème chantilly. Each guest also gets a complimentary croissant. 9am-2pm Saturday and Sunday.

And if you love chili, you don't want to miss Moonshine's first-ever Warm Up & Bear Down Chili Cook-Off. Sixteen contestants, both pro and amateurs, will compete for a grand prize of $1,000 in cold hard cash. Confirmed participants include Moonshine, Luxbar, Socca, Division Street Ale House and Timothy O’Tooles. The Bears will be playing the Philly Eagles, so expect the parking lot to be transformed into one big tailgating event. It's $10 or donate a winter coat for 1st Ward Ald. Manny Flores's annual Coats for Needy Families Drive. 3-7pm.

Peppermint Bar Opens for Seasonal Fun

Just in time for Friday's after-work shenanigans, the Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile transforms the lobby lounge into the Peppermint Bar.

A number of culinary students from the Illinois Institute of Art are behind the project. They're crafting an incredible (edible?!) gingerbread and hand-made peppermint candy facade that will stay up throughout the holiday season.

This should be an ideal spot to hang, plus since it's not on the Mag Mile, you shouldn't have to worry about hordes of shoppers and tourists getting in your way.

Just indulge in a number of seasonal cocktails made with hand-infused vodkas, including the Egg Nog Martini, Elf Iced Tea (with candy cane vodka!) and Spiced Poinsettia, which uses honey crisp cider.

The hotel's also home to the farm-centric MARKETHOUSE, helmed by Executive Chef Scott Walton.

Viagra Desserts Are Delicious, Trending Upward

Students training at a South American culinary school have been experimenting with this Viagra-based dessert. (Photo: AP)


Attention, restaurateurs:

Book your airline ticket now to Bogota, Colombia STAT.

Students training at a South American culinary school have been experimenting with a Viagra-based dessert, and according to Asylum, they created a "gelato-like combination of passion fruit and crushed blue pills that will have Ben & Jerry's panicking if a version makes it to North America."

Yeah, this is crazy all right, but it sure would make a ton of guys—and girls—happy!

Stage Bites: The Weekly Dining & Drinking Guide

R&B king R. Kelly performs at Auditorium Theatre Tuesday and Wednesday.


Every Monday look for the week's top performances paired with the best deals before and after the show:


R. Kelly at Auditorium Theatre. The Pied Piper of PYTs hits the stage two nights in a row. 8pm Tuesday, Wednesday. Get tickets here.

Custom House Tavern: Hit two big events in one night! Winemaker Guy Davis (Davis Family Vineyards) will be on hand for a tasting paired with items from executive chef Aaron Deal's new menu. You'll also get to sample Apple-Ation, Davis's hand-crafted apple brandy made from fruit growing in a century-old orchard in Sebastopol. It starts at 6:30pm Tuesday, so you can valet here and walk over in a matter of minutes. $45.

Utopia International Caribbean Cuisine: If you're coming from the South Side, hit up this new-ish Jamaican joint in the South Loop for the specials: $5 for three jerk wings, $5 signature cocktails (Tuesdays); buy one entrée, get second for half off on Wednesdays. Prices for dishes (think jerk chicken, red snapper) range $10-$25.

The Shrine: Also going down in the SoLo is the Tuesday night affair featuring deejay Timbuck, who'll spin hip-hop, soul and R&B. There's no cover and $4 Patron shots. 9pm-2am.


Hang out at Roof for appetizers and cocktails before heading over to Chicago Theatre for "Banana Shpeel." (Photo: Concentrics Restaurants)


Calls to Blood at Royal George Theatre. Five performances left of New Colony's well-regarded dark comedy about a picture perfect couple trying to conceive. 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays through Nov. 28. Get tickets here.

Boka: Highlights on the fall menu include a black truffle and apple risotto with chamomile chicken thigh as well as an herb-crusted whitefish. Or, you can also take advantage of a special pre-theater menu that's seasonal, three courses and $35.

Landmark: Lighter fare faves include share-able pizzas (BBQ pork or Italian sausage and grilled sweet corn), cracked black pepper polenta fries, and oven-roasted mussels, drizzled with basil and white wine-garlic infused broth.

Vinci: You'll get traditional Italian dishes, plus the Cacciuco, or seafood stew of shrimp, mussels, calamari and fish in tomato herb broth for $23.95.


Cirque Du Soleil's Banana Shpeel at Chicago Theatre. The vaudevillian-like show, sprinkled with Cirque Du Soleil's signature death-defying acrobatics, is Thursday through Jan. 3. Get tickets here.

The Berghoff: They're doing a number of daily specials that you'll get to enjoy before the show. From 2:30 to 7pm, the nachos, veggie quesadilla and BBQ pork sliders are $3. You can pair that with the $6.95 signature Berghoff beer flight. And on Fridays, you can do a flight of three bourbons for $7.

Roof: Even more small plates can be shared at theWit's glamorous rooftop lounge. You cannot go wrong with the trio of mini lamb burgers, shrimp crostini, or apple and bacon pizza.

The Wine Bar at the Walnut Room: Small plates of cheese, olives and candied walnuts are perfectly paired with various vino. No reservations accepted ever, and since we're in the throes of holiday hell, get there as early as possible to nab seats.

Travel+Leisure, Celeb Chefs Diss Chicago

Six New York celeb chefs were gathered by Travel+Leisure to dish on their fave late-night dining spots around the world.

Not only was Chicago excluded in the roundup, but it was passed over for the likes of Vegas, New Orleans and Miami in the states, plus more "exotic" global spots like Shanghai, Paris and Delhi.

Anthony Bourdain, David Chang, Eric Ripert have all definitely dined in Chicago recently, so how in the world could they have dissed The Silver Palm (I guess Bourdain forgot how much he loved Dan Palm's Three Little Piggy Sandwich), Nick Lacasse's inventive small plates at The Drawing Room, the hand-cut fries and chargrilled Whoopskidawg at Superdawg and Pie-Eyed Pizzeria—which packs a perfect slice of New York-style cheese or sausage any time of the night.

Oh, and had Paul Kahan's new taco joint Big Star been around longer, we'd vote for that one, too!

The Man Behind High-End Tea Scene

(Photo: Rodrick Markus)


Last week during an epic tasting party at the Elysian, as some of the city's top chefs handed off signature bites to guests, one guy was off to the side doing something we've never seen before at one of these events.

Rodrick Markus, founder of Cicero-based Rare Tea Cellar, was pushing a collection of unique, high-end loose teas. Seriously, tea at a party where guests typically go straight for the open bar?!

It's actually becoming a bit of a trend, thanks to Markus, and detailed here in an article in Crain's Chicago Business.

At Spiaggia, the 1949 vintage pu-erh tea goes for $195 per single-serve pot (they've sold about six thus far), plus multi-course, tea-focused dinners at L2O and Naha have ranged from $125 to $250 a person.

Yeah, we know that's a bit steep, so look forward to Thursday's opening of Bakin’ & Eggs, a breakfast/brunch/lunch spot that will sell Rare Tea Cellar products at more affordable prices.