Chicago's Secret Party Loft . . .

A recent Mr. Topstep party at the "Monster Loft."


Gawker ran a story Tuesday about a New York restaurant industry vet whose Manhattan apartment is the hottest spot in town.

His parties attract the likes of high-profile types ranging from rock stars like Mick Jagger to socialites and media insiders from the New York Post, NBC and New York Times.

Naturally something so cool made me wonder if we had something like that going on in Chicago, so I put the word out on Twitter.

Immediately, a guy who goes by the Twitter handle [@redacted] reached out to tell me about his all-night fêtes, which apparently happen often.

"(I'm only gonna give) you the tip of the iceberg," he says, yet he gave me enough information to make me want to attend the next one.

According to the promoter, his last party cost $10,000, attracted at least 500 people, and featured a bottomless open bar and trampoline in the middle of the room.

If you don't believe me, peep the video here of the massive space before the party and the pictures here of one of their previous events.

Just one question: Where is my invite?!

'Jimmy D' Returns to 'Millionaire Matchmaker!'

Citizen Bar owner Jimmy D’Ambrosio will appear on Bravo's "Millionaire Matchmaker." (Photo: Citizen Bar)


What we love best about Patti Stanger, the producer and irascible star of Bravo's "Millionaire Matchmaker," is that she'll put you in your place no matter who you think you are.

One of the people who found out just how bad ass Stanger is was Chicago's own Jimmy "Jimmy D" D’Ambrosio, who appeared on an episode last season.

The cocky, 31-year-old high roller made his fortune as owner of Citizen Bar, Suite Lounge and Wet Nightclub as well as a high-profile career as a professional poker player, so he's used to getting his way. But that wasn't the case when he went head to head with the outspoken Stanger when he seriously messed up on a date.

For some reason, he's returning to take the heat for a second time. Who knows, maybe this guy's a masochist because he certainly got his b*lls ripped out last season. Catch him as the episode runs at 9pm March 2 on Bravo.

He's also hosting a viewing party the night the episode airs at Citizen, so you'll be able to rub elbows with this swingin' single. Or did he get lucky this time around?!

The party starts at 8pm; themed cocktails include The Millionaire Martini, Patti Pop and Matchmaker Koolaid. No cover.

UPDATE: Here's the video from last season:

How Sweet is This?!

Hot Chocolate's Mindy Segal. (Photo: Mindy Segal)


Stella's Column reports that über celeb pastry chef Mindy Segal (Hot Chocolate) will appear on "Martha Stewart" this week:

"CHICAGO'S MINDY Segal, pastry chef and owner of Hot Chocolate Restaurant and Dessert Bar on North Damen Avenue, will be on 'The Martha Stewart Show' on WMAQ-Channel 5 at 11 a.m. Thursday. Stewart's 'Female Chef Show; will showcase some of America's best women chefs and their favorite dishes. Mindy will make her popular banana brioche monkey bread with butterscotch and almond brittle. Kudos to Martha for recognizing Chicago's food gurus. Last week, the Hyatt Hotels' top pastry chef, Alain Roby, was on."

Very cool for Mindy!

Most Mispronounced Foodie Words

Gnocchi is pronounced "NYOH-kee."


The Stew offers a fun feature on the most mispronounced foodie words, but the best part is in the comments section when readers attempt to "correct" the author on spelling/pronunciation on pączki and panini:

"'Panini' is plural; the singular is 'panino' and is the diminuative of 'pane,' which is a bread roll. 'Panino imbottito' is Italian for sandwich."

"Good try on pączki, but by missing the curlycue at the bottom of the ą you spelled 'packages' instead of 'donuts.'"

"Uh no, Paczki is not pronounced 'Poonch-key,' It's pronounced 'PONE-chkey' where PONE rhymes with Own."

Stage Bites: The Weekly Dining & Drinking Guide

Danielle de Niese stars as "Susanna" in "The Marriage of Figaro" at Civic Opera House. (Photo: Ken Howard)


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

The Alcyone Festival 2010 at Lincoln Square Theater (Berry United Methodist Church, 4754 N. Leavitt Ave.). The works of prominent Cuban-American playwright Maria Irene Fornés are explored, including Letters from Cuba, Manual for a Desperate Crossing and Summer in Gossensass. 8pm Thursday-Saturday; 3pm Saturday (through Feb. 27). Get tickets here.

Bistro Campagne: Chicago Restaurant Week continues through Sunday, and you'll luckily be able to get the deal at this popular French bistro. Three courses for $32 includes entree choices Miller Farms roasted chicken topped with wild mushroom ragoût, grilled wild salmon with roasted Brussels sprouts, and steak frites.

LM Le Restaurant: Another French-focused neighborhood resto is on the Chicago Restaurant Week beat. Menu specials include pan-seared Diver scallops, brown butter crepes and beef cheek Bourguignon. $32 for three courses here too.

Tank Sushi: You'll find tasty maki on the menu at this highly recommended area fave, but also great is that you can get it half-price 1:30-6pm every Saturday and Sunday.



Deleece's stuffed pork. (Photo: Deleece)


Desperately Seeking at Chemically Imbalanced Theater . If you've had experience with personal ads, you'll definitely appreciate this improvisation based on a random ad from the Chicago Reader's "Matches" section. BYOB, but bring your own cups, ice and bottle opener. 8pm Saturday (ends Feb. 27). Get tickets here.

Deleece: There's a number of tasty items on the menu, but we especially dig the grilled pork tenderloin stuffed with spinach and bacon, and served with garlic green beans, a savory apple cobbler and champagne caramel demi glaze.

Frida's: Head here after the performance for late-night botanas , or "Mexi-tapas," that are served after 10pm Thursday-Saturday.

Tango Sur: Bring enough booze for supper and the show because this Argentinian, meat-centric spot is BYOB. The menu never changes, but bring a good group to take advantage of heaving plates of grilled steaks, seafood and chicken.


Prairie Fire's spicy grilled goat sausage. (Photo: Ron Kaplan)


The Marriage of Figaro at Civic Opera House. Mozart's most famous opera (based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais) stars Kyle Ketelsen, Danielle de Niese, Anne Schwanewilms, Mariusz Kwiecien and Joyce DiDonato. Edward Gardner conducts. 2pm Feb. 28. Get tickets here.

N9NE: The West Loop's toniest steakhouse is also participating in Chicago Restaurant Week, with choices like organic salmon dressed up with a Chinese mustard glaze and a Hangar marinated steak paired with garlic fries. The deal's $32 for three courses, but for an additional $10 you can add popular snacks like the crispy rock shrimp or lobster risotto.

Prairie Fire: The West Loop's newest hot spot is owned by award-winner chef Sarah Stegner. Head here for brunch (9:30am-2pm Saturday-Sunday) items like the bacon waffle with maple syrup or the golden browned chicken schnitzel with lemon-caper sauce and sautéed local potatoes. Or, if you can wait until the restaurant opens for dinner at 5pm, definitely get the spicy grilled goat sausage.

Province: The organic-focused resto participates in Chicago Restaurant Week with pan-roasted West Coast Petrale sole and Gunthorp Farms duck confit, but we need to tell you how excited we are that they put the carrot cake on the special menu! It's topped with honey ice cream in a honey-vanilla drizzle.

Update on Girl and the Goat . . .

Computer-generated rendering of Girl & the Goat. (Photo: 555 Design Fabrication Management)


Girl and the Goat owner/chef Stephanie Izard gives us an update on her latest project:

"well the restaurant is coming along, what seemed slowly but surely, but now at a rapid pace. and i am freakin’ out. not really… i am very excited, but just after so much time to have it so near is crazy!

"the bar is one of my favorite design elements. our designer, karen, from 555 design found a number of old fireplaces that will be polished off and used to create a gorgeous and unique backbar. for those who know me, and for many of you that do not, you know that the bar and i are dear friends. i am excited that we will be serving an array of north american craft beers. my friend lincoln who works with our friends at three floyds is helping with the beer list, as he knows more about beer than anyone i know."

On an unrelated note, but up the street in the former Randolph Street location for Bar Louie (741 W. Randolph St.), some activity is going down. An astute Ultimate Insider spotted brown paper over the windows and a sign stating that Haymarket Brewing is the new owner.

Not sure if that's the name of the new venue or the new owners, but we'll let you know soon . . .

'They Brought 'Jersey Shore' to Chicago!'

The Situation caused quite a scene Friday at Lumen. (Photo: Meredith Gregory)


"Jersey Shore" stars Pauly D and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino made quite an impact on Chicago's nightcrawlers during a party in their honor at Lumen Friday.

"The Situation did get drunk to the point that his security guys were propping him up," says an Ultimate Insider who was on the scene. "Pauly D was low key and only did his deejay set, but The Situation was picking girls out of the crowd to bring them back to the VIP area. It was hilarious. They definitely brought the 'Jersey Shore' to Chicago. I've never seen anything like it!"

Our pals over at NBCChicago.com documented all the madness here with about 60 photos for your viewing pleasure.

This!

(Photo: Chicago Tribune)


We totes lived vicariously through the Chicago Tribune's Kevin Pang and Keith Claxton as they embarked upon BBQ Roadtrip '10—an ambitious, 72-hour project that took them to eight states over the weekend.

Armed with Maximum-Strength Pepto Bismol, Purell anti-bacterial gel and paper towels (and laptops and car!), they managed to chow down on Baby Back ribs, pulled pork and "hot" chicken in the likes of downstate Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama:

"FRIDAY, 9:30 a.m. We didn't eat breakfast, obviously. We saved stomach space for what Mike Mills was to feed us. Mills, proprietor of the 17th Street Bar & Grill empire, is to the barbecue fraternity what Kobayashi is to competitive eating. Say his name to those in the know and a chorus of ooooh's follows. ... I'm somewhat swayed by an empty stomach, but truth be told, his baby backs were the best I've ever had. Mills appreciates the meat too much to tamper with it. A bit of 'Magic Dust' seasoning, a kiss of smoke and a light slather of sauce doesn't upstage, but amplifies the ribs. It's a gorgeous piece of work."

Reading about this BBQ extravaganza has me reaching for the Maximum-Strength Pepto Bismol right now!