Dine Around deals you don't want to miss

Lockwood Executive Chef Phillip Foss (Photo: Lockwood)


The second-annual Chicago Gourmet is just around the corner, but your $$$ are a little short for the full-price ticket of $150 per day.

This year, the event's producers are giving us somewhat of a break with the chance to get a free one-day pass by participating in the Dine Around program.

All you have to do to gain access is to dine in at least five of the more than 30 restaurants participating in the program through Sept. 27 (Chicago Gourmet happens Sept. 26-27).

Yeah, we know, that sounds pretty daunting, but 312DD's picked out the Top 5 best deals so you know where to go:

Chef Kevin Hickey's menu at Seasons Restaurant at the Four Seasons is likely the best deal of the bunch, a four-course, prix-fixe feast that comes with wine pairings if you desire. The menu's seasonal and priced at $50 ($65 with the wine pairings).

If you're looking for a seafood-only menu, they've got you covered over at Hugo's Frog Bar. Three courses at $29.50 is also a helluva deal, plus you get your choice of New England clam chowder, spicy basil-crusted Norwegian salmon, sauteed frog legs and jumbo lump crab cakes.

At the Palmer House's glam Lockwood, chef Phillip Foss holds it down with stylish, seasonal fare. His special Dine Around menu includes local produce in the Kendall Farm's crème fraîche mushroom soup, Blue Hill Bay mussels, free-range chicken with summer veggies, and the spaghetti with eggplant "bolognese." Menu's $38.

West Town neighborhood gem Mexique gets props for its casual, yet upscale fare, including braised short ribs (with hibiscus flower glaze) and truffle pomme frites and a pan-seared Alaskan halibut with black bean puree gordita. If you think that's great, they top it off with a moist tres leches chocolate cake. It's $50, and also includes a glass of white or red wine.

And wow. For $50, you'll get four seasonal courses at TRU, including a selection from the signature Chef's Collection, house aperitif and dessert.

Devin Hester Scores Us Free Berry Chill!

We're still a little salty at new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler for losing last night's big game against the Packers (and now word comes down that Brian Urlacher is out for the season!), but this should make the pain go away:

Bears wide receiver Devin Hester loves Berry Chill, and because he scored a touchdown last night, they're giving away The Hester—a 5 oz. original yogurt topped with his mango, pineapple and Gummi Bears.

Available at all locations today only.

No Blogging for the Birthday Girl!

312DD deserves a few days off, right?! ;)

High Fashion that's Edible!

Local milliner-extraordinaire Eia Radosavljevic created edible headpieces—made from veggies and snacks!—which will be unveiled during Clandestine's monthly dinner party Friday. (Photo: Anke Loh)


It may be Fashion Week in the NYC, but here in the 312 773 it's all about the first-ever Feast and Fashion fete.

That's the deal, and thrill, for the monthly Clandestine affair, you know, those secret underground dinner parties where guests don't find out the location until the day before the event.

What we can tell you is that it's taking place in a Lincoln Park supermarket, where local designer Anke Loh should intrigue diners with her clothing paired with offbeat headpieces by milliner-extraordinaire Eia Radosavljevic that are made from veggies and snacks. Models will strut their stuff down the supermarket aisles and food-ish jewelry will adorn guests who want them.

Since it's going down in a supermarket, diners will get their grub at four different kiosks, including an heirloom tomato salad in the produce department; wild salmon tartare at the fish counter; mixed grill of local quail and artisanal sausage at the deli; and a sampling of Clandestine's award-winning, house-made frozen custards in the freezer aisle.

Additional entertainment includes DJ Moppy spinning and Yuri Lane "beatboxing" on a harmonica.

8-11pm Sept. 11. $50; BYOB (get booze on premises) and get your ticket here.

THURSDAY

Get an early start on your Oktoberfest reveling with Clybar's new German-style Das Boot that's meant for drinking 72 ounces of suds. For $36, you'll get to fill it up with one of the seasonal beers or your fave, but it's only available daily by reservation.

In the market for new wheels?! Kia rolls into fat event space En-vent (344 N. Odgen Ave.) through Sunday for the Soul Collective party. RSVP here for tonight's event, which includes free booze, test drives and music by Moneypenny and Neon Indian. Through Sunday, the all-day parties include performances by Plain White T's, Times New Viking and The Walkmen. Follow on Twitter here to find out how to get in. Free.



These boots were meant for . . . drinking out of. (Photo: Clybar)


FRIDAY

Raise your hand if you love freebies. The new dealio over at Nacional 27 isn't exactly free, but how can you be disappointed when they're doling out paella and tapas for $2.27?! The after-work gig happens in the lounge, where you can chow down on as much as you like from 5-7pm Fridays. And if you're not too full, hang around for Miami Nights, the sizzling South Beach party with DJ Cairo. 9:30pm-2am. No cover.

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in NYC, and Le Passage's throwing a fundraiser with proceeds going to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. One person will win a trip to New York! 10pm-4am. $10 donation.

SATURDAY

It's the last day of National Waffle Week, so don't miss out. We suggest heading over to The Pony for their signature Saturday brunch dish: Southern fried chicken and home-style waffles, with strawberry whipped butter and Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup. $7.

Get an early start on celebrating Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16) with Salud's sixth-annual Tequila Festival. In addition to giveaways, they're doing $4 Modelo Especial and Negra Modelo drafts, plus you'll get to dance to a 10-piece salsa band. 8pm-3am. No cover.

Old Town Wine Crush happens Saturday and Sunday, with a Grape Stomping Competition as well as live music by Gin Blossoms, 16 Candles and soul-infused local band Jambon. $30 ($45 for premium tastings).

SUNDAY

You can go loco over the new brunch menu at Angels & Mariachis, approps named Sombrero Sundays. Come in wearing a big-ass sombrero (you can also buy one at the bar for $20) for 50 percent off your beverage tab. Also, with a purchase of an entree, you'll get a bottomless Mimosa for $20 (Does that mean it's only ten bones with a sombrero?!). Signature dishes include the Chilaquiles (crispy corn tortillas topped with cheese, onions, sour cream and two eggs) and Huevos rancheros (tortillas with two scrambled eggs, ham, tomatoes, cheese and house-made red ranchero salsa). 11am-3pm.

MONDAY

And River North mainstay Zocalo celebrates its third-year anniversary and Mexican Independence Day through Sept. 17. For $30 per couple, you'll get three courses, including guacamole and chips, grilled flank steak in a pasilla broth, and a roasted poblano pepper stuffed with ground pork and beef.

¡Qué Viva La Fiesta!

Mexican Independence Day goes down on Sept. 16, and of course Chicago's getting in on the action.

Look for the biggest celebration to happen in Pilsen as more than 25 eateries whip up their best signature bites for the second-annual Buen Provecho!

Guests will get to nosh on food from traditional Mexican spots Mundial Cocina Mestiza and Ristorante al Teatro as well as the American-fare focused Honky Tonk BBQ and Nightwood (peep the entire list of participants and get tickets here).

Buen Provecho! takes place 5:30-9:30pm Sept. 16. $25 in advance; $30 at door.

Your guide to new Bayless joint

Rick Bayless' long-awaited Xoco is finally here.

Before you head over, The Stew gives the 411 on everything you need to know:

"The menu breaks down by wood oven toasted sandwiches, panini grilled sandwiches, soups and salads. Fillings include many versions of pig — La Quercia prosciutto, braised cochinita pibil and carnitas — Gunthorp chicken, mushrooms, chorizo and more. Wood fired sandwiches come on crusty Labriola rolls with various condiments including many types of onion — pink pickled, white pickled, grilled knob onions, caramelized onions and raw.

"We’re sure they won’t mind when we say that, having eaten the churros at El Moro and Xoco recently, Bayless’ are better. They’ll be served all day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (the restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday). The breakfast menu is different, with cocoa and Intelligentsia coffees and something Bayless chef calls the 'open faced breakfast torta.' It will feature a hollowed-out crusty roll filled with beans, a poached egg, chopped Serrano peppers and queso fresco."

EXCLUSIVE: 'Glambert' goes ga-ga over Sushi Samba!

Guess who showed his pretty lil' head over at Sushi Samba rio late Thursday night?!

Fabulous American Idol songbird Adam Lambert, in town for the American Idol 2009 Summer Tour at Allstate Arena, dropped by the restaurant with his parents and cousin.

Sushi Samba Chef de Cuisine Dan Tucker says the group noshed on a wide range of items from his Asian-South American fused menu, including the Rainbow Dragon Roll, Samba Rio Roll, Chilean sea bass antichuchos and Kobe beef empanadas (there was a lot more!).

The restaurant's other guests—who admired the star from afar—said "he looked extremely stylish and laughed a lot" with his dining companions. And because he stuck around for at least a few hours, said sources, it's safe to say he had a good time!

We Wanna Get High Like Peggy Olsen

Vertigo Sky Lounge's lush outdoor area is ideal for soaking up the scene this holiday weekend. (Photo: Susan Kezon)


Props to you if you recognize the Mad Men reference, but if you don't, we won't hold it against you.

For the record, our kind of high is the new Mile High Club, taking place at the Affinia Hotel's C-View, Twisted Spoke and dana hotel's Vertigo Sky Lounge.

SVEDKA Vodka's collaborated with each fabulous venue to spotlight signature sippers in September. At C-View, they're doing the Future Ex, made with SVEDKA 80 proof vodka, fresh lemon juice, house-made raspberry and thyme syrup, and garnished with a fresh raspberry.

Over at West Town's neighborhood gem Twisted Spoke, you can belly up to the bar for the CLEM_BOT (SVEDKA Clementine, pear liquor, peach puree, curry powder and orange juice with a splash of soda and garnished with a Clementine orange). And Vertigo's Mile High Club creation is the iVERTIGO—with SVEDKA Clementine, elderflower liquor and fresh muddled cucumbers.

We cannot promise you'll get the munchies after drinking 'em, but you'll certainly feel good.

Another summer bites the dust, but not before we party all weekend long!

THURSDAY

For those of you backing the bid for Chicago to nab the 2016 Olympics, make your voice count at the local hospitality industry's rally at the downtown Hyatt (151 E. Wacker Dr.). Led by Concierge Preferred, expect more than 500 supporters to show up, including Billy Dec of Rockit fame, Tim O’Malley (Concierge Preferred), Lisa Bertomeu (Hilton Hotels) and Lori Healey of Chicago 2016. Starts at 4pm.

Tonight's the final night of the Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video, so if you kept your ticket stub for any of the movies, you'll get free entry to the closing party at Coup d'Etat. Party with local filmmakers, producers and actors until 2am. Tone B. Nimble spins. Party starts at 9pm.

FRIDAY

Indulge in unique frozen treats at the Chicago Luxury Ice Cream Festival, happening at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Dr.). A number of local micro-creameries (Homer's Ice Cream, Black Dog Gelato, Castle Rock Creamery), pastry chefs and artisans will be on hand. For $25, you'll also be treated to a grand tasting of rare ice creams, experience live demos and workshops, and participate in the Great Chicago Brain Freeze—a chef competition where guests get the chance to vote for the winners and taste the results. 6-9pm.

New Sushi Samba rio chef Dan Tucker (formerly of Alinea) fetes Brazilian Independence Day (Sept. 7) with a menu featuring his twist on traditional dishes, including Braised Pork Belly a la pancha (Feijoada broth, malagueta oil & collard green puree), Casquinha se Siri (stuffed blue crab, palmito & acai vinaigrette) and the Amazon Roll (alligator tempura, smoked soy, chiles & bacon farofa). Menu available through Sept. 7.

SATURDAY

A little freebie goes a long way, especially when we're talking cheese. Didja know America's Finest Artisan Cheeses doles out samples every Saturday?! They're amping it up for Labor Day weekend with an all-out cookout that'll include Allen Bros. steaks, ribs, burgers and of course all the high-end cheese you can stuff in your mouth. 9am-3pm. Free.

Bash on Wabash is back for a sixth year, happening in the South Loop between 13th and 14th streets on Wabash Avenue. Expect the usual street fest antics, including food vendors, arts and crafts, and live music. 11am-10pm Saturday and Sunday. $5 donation benefits the Greater South Loop Association.

SUNDAY

Since it's a holiday weekend, branch out a little and head somewhere you typically wouldn't. We love the idea of brunching at Pilsen's Nightwood for the sweet corn and duck confit crepes; oatmeal griddle cakes; or their twist on fried chicken and waffles (with stone fruit compote, poached eggs and whipped cream).

The idea behind this Labor Day Backyard BBQ cracks us up: It's BYOM (bring your own meat!). Hosted by The Silver Room, the daylong event happens in the store and on the back patio with deejays Shon Dervis, Alton Miller and others providing the soundtrack. There's also a bar to purchase booze and grills for your meat. 11am-8pm. Free.

The White Party happens at Clybar, with a special buffet, open bar and DJ Storm spinning the hits. $20. 7-10pm.

Put on your Sunday best for the White Shoes Party at HUB 51, which should be an interesting scene if everyone follows suit. DJ Konsept spins; drink specials include the HUB Punch, which is soooo red that it'll ruin those spanking white shoes if spilled. 9pm-2am. No cover.

MONDAY

And if you don't plan on laying around all day basking in the "last" day of summer, make a reservation now for Cuatro's first-ever Labor Day Boat Party. They've secured an impressive list of deejays (Vick Lavender, 33 1/3), plus a special performance by MAAD SOUL. Your ticket also includes a premium open bar and lavish buffet of empanadas, chimichurri marinated NY strip skewers and more. Boat departs from North Pier (455 E. Illinois St.) at 6:15 sharp. $65 in advance; $75 at door. Get tickets here.