Weekend Tweet Beat

Stephanie Izard of The Drunken Goat (Photo: Stephanie Izard)


What were Chicago's top chefs up to this weekend?! 312DD checks out their Twitter accounts:

Grant Achatz (Alinea): “42 preordered Tour menus tonight about 50% covers. Check average w/wine+tax+tip will be $500/pp.”

Curtis Duffy (Avenues: “Just finished a great meal at The Bristol with great friend (chef) Phillip Foss (Lockwood)!”

Stephanie Izard (The Drunken Goat): "Heading to Walla Walla, Wash., today to make The Drunken Goat wines (red and white blends) for the new restaurant!"

Mark Mendez (Carnivale): "Brainstorming asparagus dishes, most of what I think of has been done, even though I know it tastes good."

Giuseppe Tentori (Boka): "Thinking about peas, morels, and pig tail or feet."

The Hunt . . .

. . . is on for colorful eggs and Easter brunches this weekend, but also for the hot hangouts:

THURSDAY

New York's top turntable temptress DJ Kiss (Goldbar NYC; Studio 54 Vegas) is back in the Chi, this time spinning her special brand of mixes at The Outfit's weekly Manor party. 9pm-2am (she goes on at 11pm). Cover varies.

Deep house maestro Miguel Migs (a.k.a. Petalpusher) takes the reigns at Crescendo for a party that's perfect for the bottle-service crowd. 9pm-2am. Cover varies.

Fashion fiends, get ready. Julia Failey's at Pivot (1101 W. Fulton Market, 312-243-4754), showcasing her jewelry collection along with the store's 50-plus, sexy, eco-friendly frocks. Her line's also 20 percent off today. Guests will also indulge in organic wine and snacks from Green Grocer and Bleeding Heart Bakery. 5:30-8:30pm. No cover.

Mark Caparone of Caparone Vineyards in Paso Robles, Calif., hosts a special tasting at Red & White. The small family winery has been making wines—with an emphasis on Italian reds—for 30 years, so this should be a good one. 6:30-8pm. Free.

FRIDAY

Tonight's debut of Infinity Presents...Bliss should get your Good Friday off to an amazing start with DJ Vince Adams at the helm. Happening at Green Dolphin Street, the after-work party includes live music, comedy and more. Of course, DJ VA throws down soul, hip-hop and house as he always does. Time to scrub da ground! 5-11pm.



New York spin siren DJ Kiss spins at Manor Thursday. (Photo: DJ Kiss)


Another great bet on Good Friday is the deal at Nacional 27, where guests get a comped Ahi tuna and watermelon ceviche appetizer with dinner. And if you join the restaurant's Facebook group, you'll also be treated to a free mini mojito (print out invite). 5-8pm. No cover.

SUB 51 goes Hollywood this weekend with the smooth stylings of DJ Morse Code. He rocked the house during his performance back in February, so this is something to definitely check out. 10pm-2am. No cover.

SATURDAY

Yet another L.A. deejay spins this weekend. They're hosting Rick Rude (Hyde, L.A.; Body English, Las Vegas) over at Lumen. Expect mashups and the usual shenanigans, but Genuine Entertainment's parties are fun and full of pretty peeps (and we don't mean those Easter candies!). 9pm-3am. $20.

And can you believe Sound-Bar's been around for five effing years?! Tonight, the club celebrates with a live performance by Euro dance sensation Erika ("Relations," "I Don't Know," "Ditto"). Get there early for the comped cocktail reception (10-11:30pm), and extend that service until 1am for $35. 9pm-5am.

It ain't happening, folks . . .

(Photo: Hot Doug Drop)


Sorry I got everyone all worked up about the possibility of Hot Doug's being delivered to the Loop.

Owner Doug Sohn has sadly shut down the idea, according to Drive-Thru.

At least for the time being . . .

Get it together, please . . .

(Photo: www.stevenjohnsonphotography.com)


West Loop newcomer The Grocery Bistro, a casual concept by chef Andre Christopher (Japonais, Pops for Champagne, one sixtyblue), is catching heat from Zagat's commenters:

"The decor sums it up - cute on the surface, but upon closer inspection cheap and not very well put together. Menu was blue cheese heavy and fresh veg light. Staff was easy on the eyes but sloppy with the service. Will not return. Bummer."

"Tried to make reservations last week and couldn't get a call back - left multiple messages. Won't try again."

Dude, this is your wake-up call. Answer it!

Ben's still in!

Ben Walanka, executive sous chef at Rhapsody (Photo: FOX)


So, we haven't checked in lately with our hometown hero Ben Walanka, Rhapsody's colorful exec sous chef who's still holding it down on Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen.

If you need to get caught up on episodes, check here. The next show airs at 8pm CST on FOX, so you'll be all caught up just in time!

Eight for Easter Brunch

C-House chefs Toni Roberts and Seth Siegel-Gardner are whipping up something special for their "Bossa Nova"-themed Easter Brunch. (Photo: C-House)


With so many incredible brunches happening around town, it's almost impossible to make a choice for Easter—happening on Sunday.

You've got the info on all the great buffet deals (which is great when you've got a fam to feed), but what if you just want to indulge in some truly creative options prepared by our local culinary geniuses?!

Check the list for the best chef-driven brunches in the city:

ajasteak's Sunday School features female servers in plaid Catholic school skirts and pigtails, but don't let that distract you from the main event: the 16-inch pancakes in lemon poppy seed, milk chocolate caramelized banana or spiced apple with hot caramel. Chef Josh Linton's also whipping up indulgent egg dishes, plus roasted wild salmon BLT and a generous Wagyu beef stew. 11am-3pm. $9-$22 for entrees.

312DD had the scoop on Radhika Desai's forthcoming move to New York. The executive chef at Between Boutique Café & Lounge is serving one last Easter brunch before she takes off in May. You don't want to miss the Back-to-Basics Sunday Brunch with all sustainable ingredients and organic produce like Duck Confit Eggs Benedict and Ginger Pancakes with cinnamon maple syrup. $8-$12. Or, for $15, go for the all-you-can-eat buffet filled with exotic items like bacon and cilantro muffins, cardomom rice pudding, and paneer and egg samosas. 10am-2pm.

Just last night, the one and only Charlie Trotter made an appearance at The Bristol, so Executive Chef Chris Pandel must be doing something right. For Easter, he's doing a two-course menu for $21 (includes coffee or tea), featuring Bristol's fantastic burger, a duck confit Reuben and housemade maple sage sausage. 10am-5pm.

Over at Cafe des Architectes, chef Martial Noguier's doing a three-course treat for $45. Choose from entrees: braised lamb shank with English peas; Swan Creek Farm chicken with poached baby leeks and served in a cast iron skillet; and Arctic char with spring onions and pancetta. 11:30am-5pm.



Bristol Burger with Cheddar and Pickles. (Photo: Neil Burger)


C-House’s weekly Brazilian Bossa Nova Brunch gets an Easter twist as chef Seth Siegel-Gardner introduces specials like C-Monkey Bread, the C-House version of the classic loaf. Festive Green Eggs and Lamb will also be served, and pastry chef Toni Roberts hooks up house-made PEEPS for dessert! 10am-3pm. A la carte; prices range $12-$15.

If you're rolling like a rock star, why not treat yourself to chef Laurent Gras' $90 three-course, prix-fixe feast at L2O?! Dishes include Asparagus, Truffle vinaigrette, Olive; Lamb, Rosemary Crumble, Zucchini; and Caramel, “Egg,” Chocolate. 4-10pm.

Michael McDonald's Easter Brunch at one sixtyblue is also three courses, but this one will only cost ya $35. You'll get made-to-order Belgian waffles for kids, plus a tropical fruit salad with “Angel Food” croutons; slow-cooked pork belly with buttermilk biscuits and spicy sausage gravy; and farfalle pasta with spring morels, pea shoots and fava beans. Also, the cocktails: 160 Smokey Mary (kissed with a drop of liquid smoke) and a Champagne Cosmo ($9 each). 11am-2:30pm.

We've never seen so much hype over a brunch than at Paul Kahan's new Sunday sensation over at The Publican. Where do we start?! The surprisingly good Beer Mimosa (with fresh-squeezed OJ and 1809 Berliner Weisse), red wine-poached egg with La Quercia prosciutto, or the smoked ham chop with Bird Mill grits and poached egg. No matter what you do, you cannot go wrong here. 10am-2pm. $3-$18.

Bravo to three top Chicago chefs!

Graham Elliot Bowles (Photo: GEB)


More great news for Chicago today!

Graham Elliot Bowles (graham elliot), Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill) and Art Smith (Table Fifty-Two) will soon go head-to-head on Bravo's new chef-centric show Top Chef Masters, premiering June 10.

Hot Doug's deliveries to the Loop?!

Yes, you read that right, but Hot Doug's owner Doug Sohn is pretty pissed because this is not his operation and he believes drama will soon ensue for his North Side operation.

A company called Hot Doug Dropoff created the concept, delivering orders to the Loop, and Drive-Thru gets to the bottom of it . . .

Now, whose downtown addy can 312DD use tomorrow so we can order a dozen?!