Zweiban To Open Second Province in Phoenix

Randy Zweiban, chef/owner of Province in the West Loop. (Photo: Laurie Proffitt Photography)


Last week I reported that Province owner/chef Randy Zweiban was opening a new resto in the West Loop.

Turns out I was wrong and while it's true he's working on a second location, it's in Phoenix, Ariz.!

Reads the press release dropped in my mailbox this morning:

Racing Star Rolls into Blue 13

Indy 500 hottie Danica Patrick hit town Tuesday evening and didn't dine at one of the usual suspect restaurants.

Instead, she headed to River North's rock 'n' roll-themed Blue 13 for what sounds like quite an awesome meal.

Today is FREE Dessert Day!

Everyone's on a serious sugar high now that the premiere of Bravo's "Top Chef: Just Desserts" is finally here.

To get folks even more excited about the station's sweetest reality show, Bravo's teamed up with Open Table so that diners all over the country can get a free dessert with dinner tonight.

In Chicago and the 'burbs, 100 restaurants are participating, and you can find the complete list here to make a dinner reservation.

But a few dessert-only spots are also getting in on the action from 1-3pm:

Mark Your Calendar for More Chef Events

Mercat a la Planxa chef Michael Fiorello at last year's "Celebrity Chef Ball" at Macy's on State. (Photo: Meals on Wheels)


Fall's turning out to be major for chef-related events, from the third-annual Chicago Gourmet in Millennium Park to Meals on Wheels' Celebrity Chef Ball at Macy's on State to Common Threads World Cookout at Fulton's on the River.

And while those events are spectacular in food, folks and fun, not everyone can afford those tickets, which start at $75. That's probably why Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ-FM) decided to host its own food-focused fete, showcasing some of the city's most talked about chefs at $15 ($12 WBEZ members; $10 students).

C-House Chef Spotlights Yummy Local Beer

Nicole Pederson is the executive chef at C-House. (Photo: C-House)


Through the end of the month, you can treat yourself to the delightfully special supper paired with local suds at C-House.

Executive Chef Nicole Pederson has whipped up a three-course deal for $39 that features seasonal dishes and exceptional Midwest beers. You'll start with Goose Island's seafood-friendly Matilda, which complements the steamed mussels and Littleneck clams paired with root vegetables, espelette aioli and spiced Matilda-infused broth.

David Carrier OUT at Kith & Kin

(Photo: Andrews Braddy Photography)


Effective immediately, Chef de Cuisine Andrew Brochu has been bumped up to executive chef at Kith & Kin, relieving David Carrier of his duties.

This shocker came over the weekend as online 'zine Hungry Magazine broke the news about one of the hottest new restaurants in Lincoln Park:

Two Scoops For You . . .

Randy Zweiban, chef/owner of Province in the West Loop. (Photo: Laurie Proffitt Photography)


Some Ultimate Insiders tell 312DD to expect some hot new openings on the horizon.

What Do They Think of the Mayor's Retirement?!

Ina Pinkney, a.k.a. "The Breakfast Queen. (Photo: Ina Pinkney)


Love him or hate him, everyone's got an opinion of Mayor Daley's shocking announcement Tuesday that he wouldn't seek re-election in 2011.

It was all the buzz around town, particularly business owners, who will be severely affected by the changes.

Chicago's bar and restaurant owners took to their Facebook and Twitter accounts to express their views, and here's just a sampling of what some of them had to say: