Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs & Mixologists Are Up To Around Town This Week

Eric Mansavage of Farmhouse (Photo: Farmhouse)

The sun will come out . . . today.

• Farmhouse Executive Chef Eric Mansavage is incredibly busy these days. He recently launched a new brunch menu that has already garnered a steady stream of fans on Saturday and Sunday. The menu's seasonal, of course, keeping in line with the restaurant's philosophy of using local and fresh ingredients. Highlights include the Farm Egg Scramble, which comes with spicy breakfast potatoes, and sweet potato biscuits & gravy with venison sausage. There's also a small list of brunch cocktails, which include a signature Bloody as well as seasonal cocktails listed as "savory," "sweet" and "sour." Farmhouse is also planning an expansion to Evanston, which Mansavage will oversee when it opens in late May.

• Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar this week introduced an enormous chef's bento box that should certainly leave you satisfied. It comes with 12 items, which are customized to your tastes. It's available during lunch and dinner.

• Peter Balodimas steps down as Rosebud restaurant group's corporate chef to open Domestic in the just-shuttered Rosebud Trattoria.


Blackbird's new Smoke Gets In Your Eyes cocktail (Photo: Sonja Kassebaum)

• Blackbird's flying high with new spring cocktails from chief mixologist Lynn House. She's added four new drinks to the menu, including a Sea of Green (Ford's Gin, Green Chartreuse, cucumber, egg white, rosemary mist) and the Scotch Flip-inspired Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (North Shore Silver Lining, Monkey Shoulder, orange bitters, Old Fashioned bitters and whole egg).

• Lillie’s Q owner/chef Charlie McKenna has reopened his satellite BBQ-focused store in the Chicago French Market.


Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar's new jumbo chef's bento box (Photo: Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar)

• If you're in the New York City area on April 17, try to get a reservation at CITY GRIT for a special dinner featuring one of Chicago's own. Carriage House chef/owner Mark Steuer is the special guest chef and he will be whipping up a meal showcasing Lowcountry specialties from his native South Carolina. It's $75 per person.

• Here is Zagat's 2013 list of 30 Under 30 up-and-coming chefs, bartenders, sommeliers and more.