Quote of the week . . .

(Photo: Il Covo)


"It was like 'A Wonderful Life' with a psychedelic Santa," says Carol Johnson, partner of Il Covo (2152 N. Damen Ave., 773-862-5555) in Bucktown, about a special Christmas Eve dinner she hosted for none other than the legendary George Clinton of Parliament fame. Johnson says that Clinton's "dinner" first consisted of only a Long Island iced tea until she convinced him to try some of the Italian eatery's signature dishes, including grilled Vegetale e Scamorza (one of Chicago magazine's top 124 dishes), the calamari fritti as well as several flavors of gelato: rainbow (just like his hair!), strawberry, pistachio, tangerine, vanilla bean and chocolate chip.

The restaurant was closed for the special event (which was a thank you party for his participation in Lip Service's annual Jingle Bell Jam), but she says that a cute neighborhood couple knocked on their door and asked if they could come in for a drink and anything the kitchen could whip up for them. The couple was sommelier Stephan Alexander and Erin Draper of the four-star Italian restaurant Spiaggia (980 N. Michigan Ave., 312-280-2750).

More, more, more

The dining room at the new Rustik in Logan Square. (Photo: Rustik)


There's plenty going on in Andersonville these days, with two major openings on the horizon:

Big Jones (5347 N. Clark St.) will offer creative, contemporary Southern cuisine with an emphasis on local and organic products. And the beverage menu will include classic cocktails, a mid-sized wine list and espresso bar service. Look for it in the spring.

And opening any day now, according to Metromix, is traditional Mexican spot La Cocina de Frida (5403 N. Clark St., 773-271-1907) going into the old Angel's space. As reported here first, chef Pedro Angel took his game to Rustik (2515 N. California Ave., 773-235-0002) in Logan Square, where he's partnering up with Tim Leahy for modern American comfort food and his famous Latin-focused brunch.

Deal of the day . . .

Suffering from the holiday blues and cold-ass weather today?

Get out tonight:

-Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club's (3700 N. Halsted St., 773-525-1111) Project Runway Viewing Party is still going on strong in Lakeview. No cover.

-The monthly installation of RUI: Reading Under the Influence happens nearby at Sheffield's (3258 N. Sheffield Ave., 773-281-4989) with a "hangover" theme. The event will feature readings of both published and original selections by regular performers. Drink specials: $3.50 pints of Goose Island; $4 Ketel One Citroen cocktails; $5 Ketel One Citroen martinis. 7-10pm. $3 cover charge.

-And warm up with the monthly series Revolution Wednesday at neighborhood lounge Rodan (1530 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-276-7036) in Wicker Park. DJ Madrid and guests spin punk, hip-hop, soul and disco. Share budget bites with your friends: cigarette rolls with shrimp and pork rolled in egg wonton wrappers; steamed Chinese sticky buns stuffed with red curry chicken or potatoes; wasabi tempura battered fries with spicy peanut and honey wasabi sauces; or chicken or potato empanadas with roasted tomatillo and poblano sauce. 10pm-2am. No cover.

New poll is up

Which hot new spot are you looking forward to in 2008? The return of Michael Carlson's fabulous Schwa in Wicker Park? Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson's glamorous C-House in Streeterville? Dion Antic's after-hours hipster hang Rock Star Dogs in West Town? Cinner's Chili Parlour & Cocktail Lounge in Lincoln Square? Or perhaps it's celebrated chef Takashi Yagihashi's eponymous Japanese eatery in Bucktown?

Whatever you're getting excited about, 312 Dining Diva wants to know about it. Cast your vote at the bottom of the page!

In with the new . . .

Berry Chill is one of the hotly anticipated spots opening in 2008. (Photo: Yelp; Andrea W.)


As you’ve heard here often, there’s a bunch of openings on tap for ’08.

But wait. There’s even more!

For those waiting on a Pinkberry frozen yogurt shop to open, we’ve uncovered something even better. You’ll want to treat yourself to Berry Chill (635 N. State St., 312-640-0312) when it opens at the end of the month in River North. Owner and “yogurteur” Michael Farah is marketing this bright, late-night joint (open until 4am on weekends!) to the clubbing set with a daily menu of plain chilled yogurt, soy chilled yogurt (lactose-free) and rotating flavors that include pomegranate, mango and green tea. Also, more than a dozen fresh-fruit toppings will be available, including lychee, papaya and pineapple, as well as more than 20 dry toppings like granola, trail mix and cereals. Other Berry Chill offerings: BC Blasts, BC Smoothies, the Veggie Chill and the ChillWich.

Also, Roscoe Village’s Terragusto (1851 W. Addison St., 773-248-2777) had a banner first year in 2007 with its awesome handmade pastas and sauces. And now owner Theo Gilbert is currently working on opening a second location that’s likely to be identical to the popular Italian BYOB. No location has been disclosed yet.

And finally, get ready for even more buzz as the eco-conscious Dana Hotel and Spa (666 N. State St.) debuts this summer in River North. The sleekly modern boutique venue will house Vertigo, the sexy rooftop lounge; Sublime, a Japanese steakhouse/sake lounge; as well as a lobby sushi bar and sidewalk café.

Fat Cat wins top honors for 'Favorite New Hot Spot of 2007' in Nightlife Poll

(Photo: Fat Cat)

And with that, this is the end of my postings on 312 Dining Diva for the year. Fans of Uptown's Fat Cat (4840 N. Broadway, 773-506-3100) were relentless in voting this retro-style lounge Favorite New Hot Spot of 2007 in the first-ever 312 Dining Diva Nightlife Poll.

Also, I just want to take this opportunity to thank the thousands of you for your support since 312 Dining Diva launched on Nov. 4. It's been an exciting experience, and I cannot wait to do it again next year as I cover Chicago's hottest nightlife and dining destinations (blogging six days a week, updating several times a day). And yes, expect more nightlife and dining exclusives often (!!!). So tell your friends, sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter (twice a week!) and keep coming back.

Have a safe, prosperous and fabulous New Year, and remember this:

It is ON in '08!

What the critics said in 2007 . . .

Wicker Park's The Violet Hour was called "the country's most exciting bar" by Food & Wine magazine in 2007. (Photo: The Violet Hour)


. . . about:

The Gage (24 S. Michigan Ave., 312-372-4243). "If you’re in it for the long haul and are doing dinner, expect to fill up—everything is rich and aggressively flavorful. Smoky haddock is formed into a cake and crisped, its smokiness balanced with lemony crème fraîche. The 'salad of crisp potato' is the Gage’s answer to those national chain fried-chicken salads: Crispy panko-coated potato pieces and chunks of tallegio cheese are tossed with a handful of arugula for a dieter’s nightmare (but a glutton’s dream)."—Heather Shouse (Time Out Chicago)

Martini Park (151 W. Erie St., 312-640-0577). "Occupying roughly a quarter of a downtown city block requires disparate areas but coherent design. CEO Chris Barish unites two bars—one curved and looming, the other underlit and backed by a stage. The massive space opens to dozens of tables and plenty of outdoors by limiting decor to metallic fabrics, flagstones, wood, slate and technology in the form of plasmas and illuminated panels. The effect: Vegas in Chicago, including the tanned and expensively dressed patrons."—Fred Schlatter (Chicago CitySearch)

Manor (642 N. Clark St., 312-475-1390). "It’s one thing to be a club that the glitterrati are clamoring to get into. It’s another if they want to come back. Flash in the pans are de rigeur for the River North club scene, and if Manor wants to live up to the solidity of its name, it has to do better than its current you-owe-me staff."—Theresa Carter (The Local Tourist)

Old Town Brasserie (1209 N. Wells St. 312-943-3000). "Appropriately, a trio of patés leads off the menu, including a creamy slab of 'chicken' liver that might have rejiggered my opinion of the bird’s potential had a server not hinted it was made from the outlawed organ of another species. Duck consomme with a single truffle ravioli was a paradigm of clear, dark amber purity, and escargots were broiled in a tomato confit, funky with Roquefort, that begged for the bread basket."—Mike Sula (Chicago Reader)

Sepia (123 N. Jefferson St., 312-441-1920). "Relatively obscure cuts such as veal breast and lamb sirloin get star treatment in Kendal Duque's kitchen, while razor-sharp service (overseen by owner Emmanuel Nony) keeps the dining room humming. The restaurant draws a dress-to-impress crowd, so snag a corner table and enjoy the eye candy. Recommended: Roasted rabbit, flatbread pizzas, veal with minted noodles, lemon-sage bread pudding."—Phil Vettel (Chicago Tribune)

The Violet Hour (1520 N. Damen Ave., 773-252-1500). "The country's most exciting bar right at this moment is the The Violet Hour which just opened in Chicago's Wicker Park. Toby Maloney, the mixologist, is a veteran of Manhattan's Milk & Honey, Pegu Club and Freeman's and, according to some experts, he's as good a bartender as there is anywhere. On a recent eGullet post, Maloney outlined his cocktail menu, which includes a Manhattan mixed with housemade peach bitters and a rinse of Laphroaig (he's reportedly adding eye-droppers of the single malt whisky to a few of his drinks). As if that weren't enough, The Violet Hour's bar-food menu was designed by Justin Large, who cooks at Avec, one of Chicago's best places to eat; I've heard stories about his insanely good deep-fried pickles and croquettes stuffed with chorizo. I wasn't necessarily looking for a new place to drink, but I do hear that Manhattan calling my name."—Kate Krader (Food & Wine Magazine)

NYE: Day After

Wouldn’t you just love a stack of these gooey bread pudding pancakes, from Southport Café, to cure that New Year’s Eve hangover? (Photo: Southport Cafe)


Don’t overdo it on New Year’s Eve, so you can have some more fun on New Year’s Day. There’s plenty to do, whether you want to do something active like a 5K run or check out a favorite brunch spot. Or, if you’d rather stay in, whip up brunch yourself and invite friends over.

Check my recs:

STAY IN:

August (1500 W. Division St., 773-252-9560). If you seriously enjoy cooking and trying new recipes, this is your spot. This corner gourmet market has a cooking focus and you’ll find a rotating lineup of meats, fish, veggies and groceries that you won’t find anywhere else. Also, owner/chef George Djurvic creates daily recipes (and he’s sampling them, too!) so you can surprise and thrill your guests. Oh, and if you don’t want to cook, there’s also heat-and-go entrees.

Goddess and Grocer. Get in touch with the Bucktown or Gold Coast location for specialty gourmet platters. Order a basket of assorted breakfast pastries (muffins, scones, Danish, bagels, etc.) or frittatas (Spanish, Mexican or Italian); trays of assorted mini wraps and rolls, petite sandwiches, Spanish tapas or beef tenderloin rolls; or skewers (chicken teriyaki, sesame-honey shrimp, tomato and basil). 25 E. Delaware Pl., 312-896-2600 or 1646 N. Damen Ave., 773-342-3200.

Southport Café and Grocery (3552 N. Southport Ave., 773-665-0100). Many items from this popular Lakeview café’s menu can be made at home. Treat your guests to their gooey good bread pudding pancakes, which comes with cinnamon-sugar butter and vanilla custard sauce. They’re certain to cure any hangover.

GET OUT:

Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! (2024 N. Halsted St., 773-935-5000). Guests who dine in their jammies on New Year’s Day receive a gift certificate valued for the dollar amount of their meals, so brunch is essentially free. Indulge in options like crepes filled with goat cheese and quince or Spanish-style French toast, and belly up to the build-your-own-Bloody-Mary bar, with seven top-shelf vodkas, stuffed olives and all the spicy trimmings.

Rail Bar & Grill (4709 N. Damen Ave., 773-878-9400). Get an unlimited bloody mary bar, one plate and one side order off the breakfast menu for $20 at this cozy neighborhood hang. Also, single bloody marys $3.50; single menu items $5. 10am-2pm.

Winston’s Market (3440 N. Southport Ave., 773-327-6400). The up-and-coming brunch joint in Lakeview serves sandwiches, build-your-own salad options, house-pressed burgers, grilled skirt steak and stews. Also a family-friendly atmosphere.

WORK OUT:

23rd Annual New Year's Day 5K Fun Run and Walk. Benefiting the Lakeview Citizen’s Council, this event’s route travels north along the lakefront to Diversey Harbor before looping back to the finish. A post-race party at Gamekeepers Tavern & Grill (1971 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-549-0400) includes an awards ceremony, raffle and drinks for runners. 11am. $25 in advance; $30 day of event. Call 773-868-3010 for more info.

Exhale Spa (945 N. State St., 312-753-6500). Only two classes are offered on New Year’s Day: a 75-minute level 2 yoga class at 10:30am and Core Fusion (a combination of yoga, Pilates and strength training) at 12:05pm. $24 drop-in fee.

Moksha Yoga. The River West and Lakeview locations offer classes for the hardcore yogis. Check out the River West location (700 N. Carpenter St., 312-942-9642) for vinyasa or Lakeview (3334 N. Clark St., 773-975-9642) for full-primary Astanga. Both at 10am. $16 drop-in fee.