Someone's Having a Birthday!

Kwesi Dei is the VIP host at Manor, Stay and RiNO (Photo: Kwesi Dei)


Supermodel by day and VIP host for Manor, Rino and Stay at night, Kwesi Dei (4/4) is the man you should be schmoozing if you want the best seats in the house.

Deejay Jernell Geronimo (4/2) spins infectious mashups at Manor (Tuesday, Thursday), Y Bar (Wednesday), Crescendo (Friday, Saturday). He's also been voted one of Chicago's top turntablists year after year.

Season 3 "Top Chef" finalist Dale Levitski (4/3) is still working to open his West Loop spot Town and Country, but in the meantime, you can catch him at Relax on Thursdays, where he's whipping up memorable three-course feasts paired with specialty cocktails.

High-Tech tasting from farm to table

Phillip Foss, executive chef at Lockwood (Photo: Lockwood)


He's the guy who brought us the infamous Lobster Haute Dog and Foie Gras Sliders, so it shouldn't come as a surprise Phillip Foss's delving deep into technology for his latest project.

Lockwood's executive chef has partnered with Ohio farmer Lee Jones to raise awareness of sustainable produce through a live, digital tasting at the restaurant. Guests will connect to farmer Jones via live Internet video conferencing in order to gain a better understanding of how sustainable agriculture is farmed; how that produce made its way onto the evening's menu; and will have the opportunity to garnish their own dishes with produce highlighted throughout the conversation.

The event benefits Veggie U, a non-profit organization of the Culinary Vegetable Institute and The Chef's Garden providing children with an understanding of sustainable agriculture. 6-9pm April 21. $95.

Master in his Domain

Fernando Betata, Master Sommelier at NoMI (Photo: NoMI)


There's only about 100 Master Sommeliers in the United States, and NoMI's own Fernando Betata recently joined the ranks of this exclusive club.

The Master Sommelier diploma's the highest distinction a professional attains in fine wine and beverage service, so you can imagine it doesn't come easy. But if you're game, Betata's willing to test your skills to see just how much you know about wine.

Tonight's event at NoMI includes a blind tasting, appetizers and wine. Do it if you dare. 5:30-7pm. $30.

Here's where else you need to be:

THURSDAY

Two weekly events at one sixtyblue should certainly grab your attention. A seasonal, three-course prix-fixe menu happens Monday-Thursday, with executive chef Michael McDonald hooking up dishes like chicken chorizo gumbo, seared filet of salmon, or chicken and biscuits. Or, head to the bar on Fridays for hand-battered Alaskan codfish paired with hand-cut fries and homemade tartar sauce. That's $10.

A former neighborhood library has been transformed into Branch 27, in West Town, officially opening tonight. It should give long-time neighborhood fave West Town Tavern a run for its money as its interpretations on classic American fare are spot on. We're still craving the well-brined boneless roasted chicken with brussels sprouts with chunks of bacon!

Speaking of classics, pioneering West Loop eatery Vivo is working hard to re-invent itself. Each week, Taste for Charity raises money for a different cause. This week, your $10 donation goes to breast cancer research. Resident wine specialist Erik Hampe pours six wines paired with apps. 5-8pm.

Ask for the Spring Sampler Menu by name at Red Light, another West Loop gem. Executive chef Jackie Chen put together this menu that includes signature dishes like Black Tie Shrimp and lobster rolls as well as a daily chef's preparation of fish. $20.09 through April 30. Sunday-Thursday for dinner only.



Ambrosia, created by Le Bar mixologist Daniel (DJ) Love (Photo: Sofitel)


FRIDAY

Rampfest has managed to gather some of the city's most fabulous chefs to create signature dishes with ramps, a native wild leek. Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave.). 7-9:30pm. $90.

Treat yourself to Ambrosia, created by mixologist Daniel (DJ) Love of Sofitel's Le Bar. Made with Pernod Absinthe, gooseberry juice, cognac, St. Germain and Martini & Rossi, the decadent drink just won the World Cocktail Competition’s State Finals. Get over there and get one before he competes for the nationals in San Fran on May 10.

SATURDAY

Green City Market kicks off April with a Bacon & Eggs-themed month—complete with chef demos and special events at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Dr.). At 9am, chef Mike Cisternino (Tavern at the Park) is first with an organic zucchini & mint frittata wrapped with speck ham and served with a fresh cherry tomato sauce. Also, make sure your face is in the place by 10am for Beard-nominated Mindy Segal (Hot Chocolate) and 11am for Sam Burman (bluprint). And if you have kids, bring them for the first-ever Green City Market Easter Egg Hunt, happening at noon. Prizes include special treats from the farmers and producers at the market. Free, but RSVP required; send email to admin@chicagogreencitymarket.org.

If you're still pissed over the outcome of Season 5's "Top Chef," you don't want to miss this showdown, happening at The Chopping Block. "Top Chef" finalists Carla "Hootie Hoo!" Hall and Stefan "The Arrogant Finnish" Richter go head to head. 6-9pm. $150.

In Fine Spirits fetes its first anniversary with a tasting event, where guests sample New World wines, cocktails, artisanal beers and appetizers. 3-5:30pm. $35.

SUNDAY

The Diva Brunch has nothing to do with 312DD, but it's one of the wildest we've seen in a long time. The Scooty & JoJo Show hosts this weekly event at The Spot, featuring drag queens and kings. Of course, your favorite brunch items will be on the menu, but just gimme those Bellinis and Mimosas. 11am-2pm.

And the Chicago Defender Charities throws a birthday party for hip-hop star/deejay Biz Markie. Interesting, but it's obvious they're trying to draw a younger crowd with it happening at Victor Hotel. Also, Slick Rick performs. 8pm-2am. Call 312-225-2400 for ticket price; we couldn't find it anywhere.

Top local chefs hit NRA in May

Gale Gand, executive pastry chef/partner of Tru and host of Food Network's "Sweet Dreams"


They're whizzes in the kitchen, so if you'd like to learn the secrets of top culinary kings and queens, head to the Celebrity Book Signings & NRA Show Bookstore in May.

As part of the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (May 16-19), local and national chefs will make appearances throughout the event, including:

Stephanie Izard, May 16 at 11am: The Season Four winner of Bravo's "Top Chef" and owner/chef of The Drunken Goat (opening fall 2009), Izard will be signing Top Chef: The Cookbook. She'll also hold a culinary showcase in the NRA Show Culinary Scene later at 3:30pm.

Rick Bayless, May 16 at 2pm: Award-winning chef/restaurateur, cookbook author and host of Mexico—One Plate at a Time on PBS, Bayless is behind Frontera Grill and Tobolobampo. He also authored Authentic Mexican: Regional Cooking from the Heart of Mexico, One Plate and Mexican Everyday. Check him out also in the NRA Show Culinary Scene at 12:30pm.

Daniel Boulud, May 17 at 12:30pm: Boulud is chef-owner of The Dinex Group, made up of Feast & Fêtes catering company and nine award-winning restaurants, including the renowned DANIEL and the Feast & catering company. He also wrote six books, including Braise: A Journey Through International Cuisine, Café Boulud Cookbook, Letters to a Young Chef, Daniel Boulud Cooking in New York City and Daniel's Dish: Entertaining at Home with a Four Star Chef. He'll also participate in the NRA Show General Session and Keynote Executive Panel at 2pm.

Marcus Samuelsson, May 17, 1:30pm: He's the exec chef at NYC's Aquavit and Riingo, and Chicago's C-House, host of Inner Chef on the Discovery Home Channel, and corporate chef of Townhouse Restaurant Group. He authored En Smakreasa, Aquavit, Street Food and The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa. Samuelsson will also hold a culinary showcase in the NRA Show Culinary Scene at 12:30pm.

Art Smith, May 18 at noon: Chef/owner of Table Fifty-Two in Chicago and Art and Soul in Washington, D.C., Smith wrote Back to the Family: Food Tastes Better Shared with the Ones You Love, Kitchen Life and Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family.

Takashi Yagahashi, May 18 at 2pm: Renowned chef and restaurateur, Yagahashi owns Takashi Restaurant in Chicago and operates Noodles at Macys on State Street. His first book, Takashi's Noodles, will be available at the 2009 NRA Show. Also, look for him in the NRA Show Culinary Scene at 12:30pm.

Gale Gand, May 19 at 1pm: Gand is executive pastry chef/partner at Tru and host of Food Network's Sweet Dreams. She'll sign copies of her new book, Gale Gand's Brunch!: Fantastic Recipes for the Weekend's Best Meal, Chocolate and Vanilla and Gale Gand’s Just a Bite.

BIN 36 introduces $9 lunch

Popular wine-focused eatery BIN 36 celebrates 10 years with the $9 lunch in April (Photo: BIN 36)


When you work in the downtown area, pickings are slim on the cheap side unless you're willing to go fast food.

That's why 312DD's particularly excited about the brand-new lunch deal at BIN 36.

Starting today—and for the rest of the month—the wine-focused favorite's celebrating its 10-year anniversary by offering a $9 lunch deal. Choose one of their hand-crafted sandwiches/salads and soft drink (no wine, boo!), which includes grilled cheese (cheddar, Swiss and goat cheese with white truffle oil, caramelized onions & toasted pine nuts on sourdough), wood-grilled burger, classic hot corned beef and a classic Cobb salad.

With this hookup, we could go every day!

Or, if you're looking to mix it up every now and then, check out even more deals at Blackbird and Eve.

EXCLUSIVE: A First Look at Market!

(Photo: Darkroom Demons)


Kenny Williams—the GM for the Chicago White Sox—unleashes Market during prime time baseball season.

Scheduled to open the first week of May, the sleek, sports-minded spot settles in right next to Harpo Studios in the West Loop, though it would've been nice to see Williams and his partners set their sights on the Bridgeport area (home of the White Sox, which is starving for at least one swanky sports bar).

The multi-level Market boasts an indoor 4,500-square-foot bar and dining area with 20 flat screen televisions, 2,500-square-foot outdoor beer garden, 1,200-square-foot sidewalk cafe and a sprawling 4,000-square-foot rooftop lounge with a 360-degree unobstructed view of the city.



(Photo: Darkroom Demons)


They've also secured the talents of chef Joe Rosetti, who's worked the kitchens in Gioco and David Burke's Primehouse. His menu's stepping out with quirky twists on the classics: Popcorn Shrimp served in a traditional movie theater-style popcorn bucket; Mac n Cheese Muffins in a picnic basket; and the Fifty Yarder—shrimp and pork tenderloin skewers—served in the shape of a football goal post.

Hope this one's a home run!


Also:

If you cannot wait until May, look for this week's openings of West Town's newest gem Branch 27 (sneak peek Wednesday!) and Greek-focused Taxim (Thursday), in Wicker Park.

Props for future chefs

Radhika Desai, executive chef at Between, serves as one of the esteemed culinary judges for the annual Cooking for Scholarships competition. (Photo: Between Boutique & Cafe)


A number of culinary rock stars sit on the judges' panel for the annual Cooking for Scholarships competition for the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP).

Former Blu 47 chef David Blackmon is charged with the program for the Chicago Public Schools, where 19 high schools (more than 1,500 students) take part in culinary arts education. Nationally C-CAP operates in seven cities and has awarded more than $3.5 million in full/partial tuition scholarships for students to attend culinary, baking and hospitality management intuitions.

This year's event will be held April 18 at the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago with chef judges Rick Gresh (David Burke’s Primehouse), Richard Camarota (Custom House), Mark Sparacino (Ristorante Prosecco), Phillip Foss (Lockwood), Mark Mendez (Carnivale), Radhika Desai (Between Café and Lounge), Seth Siegel-Gardner (C-House) and Carrie Nahabedian (NAHA) participating.

The spirit’s gonna git ya!

WhiskeyFest goes down April 1 at Hyatt Regency Chicago, but if the $95 ticket's a bit steep for you, we've uncovered some other deals around town:

Kicking off WhiskeyFest is The Great Whisk(e)y Debate, happening tonight at Five Star Bar. The unique, interactive seminar brings to light the differences and nuances between bourbon, Canadian Whisky and scotch whisk(e)y. Whisk(e)y “professors” (bourbon advocate, scotch malt master, Canadian Whisky ambassador) will educate participants, and of course you'll be treated to a tasting of all. Starts at 9pm. Free.

Both Lush locations (University Village, Roscoe Village) host parties celebrating WhiskeyFest tonight. Enjoy an extensive tasting of Old Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, then join the mayhem at Twisted Spoke for barrel-aged beer from Goose Island, plus Death's Door spirits and cocktail creations by Nacional 27's mega-mixologist Adam Seger. And return to Lush on Thursday for even more complimentary, whiskey-infused cocktails. That's 6-8pm.

At Boka tonight, members of the Illinois Chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild face off for one spot to represent our state at the National Cocktail Competition in San Francisco in May. Guests will be treated to canapes and cocktails created by Boka's Dan de Oliveira. 8-11pm. No cover.

Also happening tonight is a late-night scotch tasting (midnight-2am) by Chivas 18 at Delilah's. Arrive early for $2 High Life, $2 Canadian Club and a 7pm showing of legendary rock-opera "Tommy." No cover.

On Wednesday, Chivas 18 heads to Bull & Bear to deliver another comp tasting (6-7pm) during the monthly Divo Series. The party gives props to local guys in media, biz, charity and fashion. Sponsored by Thrillist. 6-9pm.

And Province Executive Chef Randy Zweiban and the restaurant's mixologists team up to pair Cielo tequila cocktails with cuisine. Guests will also learn about the history and craft of making this fine tequila. 5:30-7:30 Wednesday. $30.