A Salute to Soldiers, SATC2 & Summertime!

This weekend's dedicated to our fearless military men and women who fight hard for our country. We'd be lost without them!

We've got a nice, three-day weekend to show our support through various events, from Saturday's Memorial Day Parade to a number of fabulous parties. And because the weather's supposed to be incredibly nice all weekend, you'll definitely want to spend a lot of time outside.

Luda Party Now Benefits Gulf Coast Fishermen

Lakeview's Uncle Fatty's Rum Resort was already hosting the official Ludacris concert after-party Friday, but now they've turned it into a benefit for the fishermen affected by the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The festive bar has teamed up with The Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, which has provided hundreds of emergency food boxes to fishermen and families affected. They're donating $5 of every $20 ticket (deluxe packages are available for $60) to the nonprofit organization.

Shift Drinks . . . The Aftermath . . .

I have a new respect for those who work in the bar and restaurant industry this morning. Seriously.

Inovasi chef/owner John des Rosiers and myself had the honor of guest bartending the final Shift Drinks party at Pops for Champagne Monday before it moves over to The Exchange June 7.

Let me tell you that this is not easy work. We shook up three signature cocktails for a few hundred folks that included chefs, servers, bartenders, restaurateurs, booze distributors and others in the biz. It was nonstop busy until last call.

Didn't See This Coming!

Chantelle Pabros, who announced she's leaving her position at L20 as sommelier. (Photo: Chantelle Pabros)


L20 sommelier Chantelle Pabros resigned her position Monday.

Here's the email she sent out:

"I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I am leaving my position at L2O.

FREE House-Made Pop Tarts This Weekend!

(Photo: WAVE)


To kick off its new, American-and-Filipino-focused brunch menu this weekend, WAVE Executive Chef Kristine Subido will be giving away a very special treat.

Subido's signature "Pop Tart," which she's making from scratch with house-made jam, is one of the highlights, plus Filipino sausage with over easy eggs, brioche French toast, a house-made cinnamon roll and Rudy's huevos rancheros.

How 'Bout a Meatball Casserole?!

(Photo: Timothy O'Toole's Gurnee)


Since lasagna can get rather boring, Timothy O'Toole's Gurnee chef Sean O'Brien decided to put his own spin on the classic Italian dish 12 years ago.

He created a Meatball Casserole that comes layered with giant meatballs (the size of softballs!), marinara, pasta and cheese. It's only available at the Gurnee location (Streeterville used to serve it), so if that's too far for you to travel, he's generously given us the recipe:

The Buzz on Rooftop Honey Wheat Beer

The bees behind Rooftop Honey Wheat Beer. (Photo: Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile)


This should be a pretty sweet treat this summer . . .

Half Acre Beer Co. teams up with the Marriott's Harvest restaurant to create Rooftop Honey Wheat Beer.

More than 350,000 Italian five-striped bees call the downtown hotel's ninth-floor rooftop home, and hang out in five hives (up from three last year) to produce over 200 pounds of honey.

Food Fight Over Pigs at Cochon 555!

I thought this guy was the WTF chef of the week, until I found out about this guy at a Cochon 555 event last weekend:

"According to multiple witnesses, (Eric) Bechard, now the chef/co-owner of the lauded new Thistle restaurant in McMinnville, Ore., started a fistfight with Cochon 555 founder Brady Lowe outside Magic Garden, an Old Town strip joint. Earlier in the evening he also headbutted Elk Cove Vineyard’s Craig Hedstrom before being dragged out of the Cochon 555 afterparty at Davis Street Tavern by none other than notorious chef Tom Hurley.