Best biz places to chow down

If you're home later tonight, try to check out my girl LeeAnn Trotter, the entertainment reporter for NBC-5. She's doing a roundup on the 10pm news of the best spots to dine for business dinners. I can tell you that I know at least one place on the list: one of my favorite spots with one of the best chefs in the city, David Burke's Primehouse (616 N Rush St., 312-660-6000), with executive chef Rick Gresh at the helm.

Deal of the day . . .

(Photo: Le Bouchon)


One of the best things about Le Bouchon (1958 N. Damen Ave., 773-862-6600) in Bucktown? The cult French fave offers a daily three-course special for only $22. Diners choose from a choice of French onion soup or salad Lyonnaise (greens with lardons, croûtons and poached egg); steak grille maitre d'hotel (grilled steak with house butter and housemade fries) or poulet aux grains avec sa gousse d'all (free-range chicken with garlic cloves, thyme and potato galette); and dessert. With prices that low, you can certainly get a nice bottle or two of vino.

Chicago's culinary couples in the spotlight

Linda and Tom Verhey, owners of Pops for Champagne
(Photo: Pops for Champagne)


There’s nothing sexier than seeing two people in love. And for once, we’re not talking about movie stars or other boldfaces in the tabloids.

It’s all about some of our top restaurateurs who get big props for successfully juggling their personal lives with their passion for entertaining.

And in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, which is coming up soon, 312 Dining Diva is highlighting some standout husband-and-wife teams (and a formerly married duo) who want to make you feel just as special as their bond:

Carl Anderson’s inspiration behind exotic Wicker Park bar Between Boutique Café and Lounge (1324 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-292-0585) was his wife Lu Lu. The couple met when Carl was a wedding planner and Lu Lu was hired to do makeup and hair. When smooth-talking Carl finally managed to get his hair cut for free, he also talked her into dating him. They married eight months later in Maui. Their V-Day special is a six-course, small plate tasting of signature dishes. Each candlelit table will be adorned with lush roses and for an extra $10, guests receive Teuscher Swiss Chocolates and a half bottle of Besserat de Bellefon Champagne. $85 per person.

Chaise Lounge (1840 W. North Ave., 773-342-1840) partner Jim Lasky randomly bumped into his future wife, Mary, when he was walking his yellow Labrador puppy Sydney along Lake Shore Drive in September 1996. They had met a year earlier at a mutual friend’s party. A week after that she showed up at one of his other restaurants; they were engaged by December and married the next August. They now have two children and still have Sydney, who is now 11 ½. They’re offering three different packages for the special occasion: a bottle of wine or Champagne, choice of a shared appetizer, soup or salad, choice of entrée and choice of dessert for two for $150 per couple; the package plus a dozen of red roses for $200 per couple; the package, dozen roses and a limo to escort you to and from the restaurant for $400 per couple ($600 from suburbs).

Linda Verhey was a bartender at Lincoln Park’s River Shannon (425 W. Armitage Ave., 312-944-5087) when she met her future husband, Tom, in 1981. A year later they opened the acclaimed Pops for Champagne in Lakeview, which just celebrated its first year in its new home at 601 N. State St. in November. For the most romantic holiday, they’re doing it in grand style with a four-day celebration. They’re kicking it off with “GALentine’s Day” on Feb. 13, a ladies-night event that includes a flight of rose champagnes paired with Vosges chocolates and live music by the Mikel Avery Quartet from 9pm-midnight. The $10 cover benefits Step Up Women’s Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening community resources for women. Pops will also feature various champagne and food specials through Feb. 16, including five rose champagnes by the glass for $12. Also, the Hinda Hoffman Quartet performs on Valentine’s Day and the Lisa Roti Quartet performs on Feb. 15-16. $15 cover.

The outstanding culinary team of Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand was forged when they were working at the Strathallan Hotel in Rochester, NY, about 30 years ago. Even though they’re no longer married, their continued teamwork on their award-winning restaurant TRU (676 N. Saint Clair St., 312-202-0001) has garnered numerous awards, including the James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Service” award in 2007. In addition to several luxury collection dinners on Valentine’s Day, TRU will offer a specialty dessert package in the lounge.

Mike and Helen Cameron worked together on and off in a Chicago deli, and then one day ran into each other at a Cubs’ Christmas party. Both of them had just ended relationships, so they dated for three weeks, moved into an apartment together and were engaged within two months. Once married, they worked together again at a hotel and began to conceptualize the eco-friendly Uncommon Ground (3800 N. Clark St., 773-929-3680) in Lakeview. For Valentine’s Day, Uncommon Ground is offering a three-course menu for $50. Their second outpost in Edgewater (1401 W. Devon Ave., 773-465-9801) is also offering the deal.

No end to burger trend, says Time

Even though there was no mention of any high-profile Chicago chefs or restaurants (sniff, sniff) in this Time magazine article on the continuing upscale burger trend, here's five top local picks from 312 Dining Diva:


BB's (22 E. Hubbard St., 312-755-0007): This awesome Aussie version is the Bondi, with bacon, cheddar, beet root, pineapple, fried egg and proper chips.

Five Star Bar & Grill (1424 W. Chicago Ave., 312-850-2555): You get three perfectly cooked mini-burgers served with some of the best hand-cut fries in the city.


Fahrenheit & Celcius Lounge (1890 West Main St., St. Charles, 630-444-1350): If you're lucky, your amuse might be the truffled beef tartar "burger." It's a tiny, flavor-packed delight that you pop in your mouth in a single bite.

The Gage (24 S. Michigan Ave., 312-372-2979): Their signature burger is a hefty one that comes with melted onion marmalade on a toasted malt roll.

Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard St., 312-645-6000): And the signature, award-winning Rockit Burger is made from Kobe beef, and comes with melted brie, fried shallots and served with yummy truffle fries.

And then there were 3? Edgewater Restaurant Week in the works

In an effort to gain visibility for all the unique dining options in the neighborhood, the Edgewater Chamber or Commerce is planning a meeting to get their own Restaurant Week going soon.

This just arrived in the inbox:

"Edgewater has a wide variety of restaurants and we intend to advertise
this and bring more customers to our community. We are hoping to get
some ideas and suggestions by holding a meeting at 10:00am on February
18th or 19th. This meeting will be open to people from all of the
restaurants in the Edgewater area and will be held at a location to be
determined. We hope to have as many people as possible to bring more
customers to Edgewater."

Sounds like a grand idea! For more info, call 773-561-6000.

And don't forget about the other two already in the works.

To the Boards

"BYOB Experiences in Chicago . . . " Chowhound

"Best tamale on the North Side?" LTHforum.com

"Best Sushi Restaurant/Bar For Toro?" Chowhound

"Tell me why I should move to Rogers Park?" LTHForum.com

How did we NOT make this list?!

Obviously the editors of Men's Health didn't hang out in Chicago on the weekend when they took this study of the Top 10 most dangerously drunk cities in America.

Rush Street, Division Street, Lincoln Avenue: Stand UP!

What the critics are saying . . .

. . . about:

Lockwood (17 E. Monroe St., 312-917-3404): ". . . . So is roasted Poulet Rouge Fermier ($28), that all-natural, heritage chicken. It is textbook crisp, browned and juicy, on an intense natural jus. On the side are decadent Lyonnaise potatoes topped by a poached egg that oozes rich yolk over all as you cut into it."—Laura Bianchi (Crain's Chicago Business) Read full review here.

Mythos (2032 W. Montrose Ave., 773-334-2000). "Garlicky, creamy skordalia gives punch when spread on cheesy fried zucchini patties, a.k.a. keftedes; grilled octopus proves tender at center and charred at the edges; spinach and feta–stuffed spanakopita is deliciously flaky and fresh; and loukaniko (sausage made off-site but to the sisters’ specifications) is the best I’ve had locally, char-grilled and juicy, with bright notes of orange zest."—Heather Shouse (Time Out Chicago) Read full review here.

Volo Restaurant Wine Bar (2008 W. Roscoe St., 773-348-4600). "The bubbly flight, which includes samples of Cava wine and champagne, and the food-loving flight, make perfect companions to the delicately seared halibut and rare sliced beef with fennel, shaved fennel and spicy greens. The true stars are the melts-in-your-mouth mussels floating in a garlic, butter and white wine sauce and the ahi tuna tataki served with marinated anchovies."—(Chicago CitySearch) Read full review here.

Vong's Thai Kitchen (6 W. Hubbard St., 312-644-8664). "The strength of the kitchen at VTK comes out in the curry dishes and pad thai. Panang chicken, for example, was great. If you like your curry to make your eyeballs sweat, then ask for it 'extra hot.' Slices of tender chicken ('pulled chicken,' the menu notes) were awash in a peanut curry that had been laced with kaffir lime for background flavor. Peas, snow peas and strips of red bell pepper added the perfect mix of texture and accent."—Pat Bruno (Chicago Sun-Times) Read full review here.