New spot for Thanksgiving

If you're staying in town for Thanksgiving, we've found a cool spot for you to impress your family or friends.

Contemporary American eatery Powerhouse (215 N. Clinton St., 312-928-0800) opens just in time for you to check out with Executive Chef John Peters (formerly of Naha, Alinea and Trio) in charge.

The holiday menu is offered 11am-7pm on Thursday, Nov. 22 for prix-fixe meals only. You'll get all the fixings such as a butternut squash soup, wild mushroom risotto and salad, plus a choice of meat. Go traditional with a whole roasted turkey with sage stuffing, sweet potato, caramelized brussel sports and cranberries for $55, or go all out new American with choices like the 10oz beef tenderloin with roasted garlic-yukon potato puree, green beans and crispy shallots in a red wine reduction for $68 or a seared venison loin with dried fruit, wild rice ragout, chestnuts and broccoli rabe for $64.

The only downside: no leftovers.

A freebie for my friends . . .

Phillip Foss, a former Le Cirque and Bistrot Margot chef, is at the helm of the Palmer House's hot new Lockwood (17 E. Monroe St., 312-917-3404) eatery, and he wants you to check him out.

Lookwood's hosting an opening party Wednesday, Nov. 15, and if you RSVP now to opening@wagstaffworldwide.com, you'll be all good. The party's from 6-9pm, and includes samplings from the contemporary French- and Italian-influenced menu, cocktails and socializing. It'll give you an opportunity to check out this elegant dining room that tastefully merges sexy new design elements with the hotel's old-school foundation.

Kid Rock to rock Enclave

Kid Rock in cool white.


There's something about Kid Rock that's majorly cool. And it has nothing to do with Pamela Anderson either. He exudes a swaggering, yet humble attitude that just makes you want to buy him a shot.

In fact, he's so cool that Enclave (220 W. Chicago Ave., 312-654-0234)--one of the city's top celeb magnets--is having him break in their brand-new, state-of-the-art deejay equipment this weekend.

The Detroit rap-rocker's in town for his "Rock n' Roll Jesus Tour," and he's hosting the official afterparty at Enclave on Saturday, Nov. 10. Apparently, he started his music career deejaying, so bro is just going back to his roots.

He'll hit the new deejay booth overlooking the entire first floor--directly in the middle of the action--and it's illuminated enough so that you can catch his moves too.

Wanna party with Kid Rock this weekend? RSVP to RSVP@enclavechicago.com. Doors open at 9pm; no cover before 10pm.

Deal of the day . . .

This intimate table for two at Cafe Matou could be yours tonight. (Photo: Peter Riskind)


Doesn't a cozy dinner for two sound pretty good for a chilly night like tonight?

Bucktown's Cafe Matou (1846 N. Milwaukee Ave, 773-384-8911), known for its special $23 prix-fixe menu Sunday-Thursday, just updated its dishes for the winter season.

In addition to the seasonal, French-focused menu, Executive Chef Charlie Socher also changes his entrees daily, so even if you wanted to go a couple of days a week, you'll be able to order something completely different.

Just some of the dishes making my mouth water just about now include the ragoût de poulet à la provençale (chicken braised with white wine, tomato, garlic and fresh basil), salade d’endive, champignons et tomates au fromage de chevre (composed salad of Belgian endive, mushrooms, tomato and goat cheese, served with herb vinaigrette) or the rillettes et saucisse d’ail (Toulouse-style duck rillettes and Lyons-style garlic sausage served with cornichons and caperberries).

Pair some of that with a nice, full-bodied bottle of red vino and you're certain to be warmed down to your bones.