Sam's Sold To Binny's?!

From an Ultimate Insider:

"I am hearing from folks who have steered me right in the past that the rumor mill is saying that the announcement that Sam's will be sold to Binny's is coming shortly."

A quick scan around the 'net came up with this gem from Wine Berzerkers.

Wow, just wow.

UPDATE: Here's even more detailed information from the Chicago Tribune, which came out about an hour later.

Sightings galore, plus a hot new local couple?!

Robert De Niro was spotted at Spiaggia this week!


Zwecker's got the scoop on a ton of celebs rolling through town:

"As Vince Vaughn graciously worked the room at the party at
Prosecco following the Chicago premiere of his new Couples Retreat comedy, people noticed a nice-looking new couple: NBC-5 anchor Marion Brooks and White Sox GM Kenny Williams."

And . . .

"Given The Little Fockers is filming here, get ready for lots of sightings -- including Robert De Niro at Spiaggia and Jessica Alba at Hub 51 and Jessica Alba at Sunda, where she was joined by Ben Stiller."

UPDATE: An Ultimate Insider tells 312DD that Kenny Williams says that he is only friends with Marion Brooks, and that she has a boyfriend.

Tap That Keg; Slurp That Oyster . . .

Who says grown-ass men and women like us are too old for a good ol' keg party?!

Landmark Grill + Lounge's bucking the trend by throwing a Keg Party and Oyster Fest, but don't go expecting it to be fratastic.

On tap you'll find brews by Goose Island (312, Honkers Ale, Matilda, Harvest Ale), so drink as much as you can handle for $20 ($15 if you can prove you're industry). As part of the deal, guests will also be treated to Executive Chef Kurt Guzowski’s oysters done three ways: baked, fried and raw. Deejay JRose spins. 8pm-2am Thursday.

But wait. There's so much more . . .

THURSDAY

If you're bored with the usual wine-pairing dinners, then this one's for you. Otom teams up with the North Shore Distillery's mixology team for a three-course dinner paired with cocktails. Diners will also get to meet the new chef, Thomas Elliot Bowman, who'll lead an informal discussion. 7-9pm. $50.

The 16th annual Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza happens tonight, but it's gonna cost you plenty. $130 ($115 for members) gets you loaded up on the finest booze in the world. You can still register in advance here. 6:30-9pm at The Union League Club of Chicago (65 W. Jackson Blvd.).



Mercat a la Planxa Chef Michael Fiorello demos the tableside paella experience. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)


FRIDAY

You'll know exactly how fresh your paella is over at Mercat a la Planxa, which just introduced a "tableside" experience. After your server sells you on the idea, Chef de Cuisine Michael Fiorello brings over all the ingredients on a pig cart and starts cooking. During his demo, he'll explain all the steps it takes to make the perfect paella, which takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Of course he cannot do everything at the table, so it'll finish baking in the kitchen. It's topped off with grilled marinated chicken breast, saffron aioli and a parsley tomato salad. $40 for paella served tableside on Fridays only.

To observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Peninsula's doing its part by donating $2 for every afternoon tea served in the lobby to the charity. That's served daily 3-5pm Monday-Saturday and 4-6pm Sunday. Friday afternoon tea guests will also be treated to informal fashion shows featuring designs from local boutiques and retailers. And $5 from each meal at Avenues and Shanghai Terrace will also be donated to breast cancer research charities.

The guys over at Blue 13 are so excited that they're going to be featured on the season premiere of Check Please! tonight that they're throwing a viewing party. Have dinner at the offbeat contemporary American eatery and indulge in one of their favorite wines, Four Vines Anarchy, on special at $10 a glass. 7-9pm.

Speaking of premiere parties, Enclave's hosting such a ridiculous bash for Nip/Tuck that it's worth a mention. It's sponsored by Liposuction Cosmetic Institute and Longevity Medical Spa, and one "lucky" winner will get $4,500 in treatments. Woot?! 9pm-2am.

SATURDAY

It's free day at the Museum of Science & Industry, and while that's exciting and all, we're more giddy about the cooking demo. They've gathered a number of amazing chefs who'll be whipping up allergen free black bean cakes served with fire roasted salsa! The lineup: 10:30am Michelle Garcia (Bleeding Heart Bakery); 11:30am Mike Cisternino (Tavern at the Park); 12:30pm Joshua Linton (ajasteak); 1:30pm Ina Pinkney (Ina's); 2:30pm Lisa Williams (Lisa Cooks Allergen Free).

SUNDAY

Rooting for someone special at the Chicago Marathon?! If you're at the finish line, head on over to The Gage when it's over. If it's chilly outside, the buckwheat waffles, traditional Irish breakfast and house-made corned beef hash are certain to warm you up. Brunch's served 10am-2:30pm.

TUESDAY

And you'll be rewarded sweetly at The Drawing Room if you help them raise money for Macy's Come Together campaign for Feeding America. Tonight through Oct. 17, donate $10 to the cause and get a complimentary dessert flight (value $12). Your $10 will be matched by Macy's and will provide 140 meals to those in need in the Chicagoland area.

Shake-Up in South Loop!

The acclaimed Shawn McClain is out as head chef at Custom House, says Dish:

"Shawn McClain, the original exec chef/partner/driving force, is on his way out at the South Loop standout. While still a part owner, McClain and his long-time partners at Custom House, Green Zebra, and Spring, Sue and Peter Drohomyrecky, are trying to figure out how to divide the business. 'Now, my focus is on Spring and Green Zebra,' says McClain. 'Sue and Peter are taking over Custom House. We have had such a hard year with the economy, it just drove us back to try to focus on individual projects.'

"Meanwhile, per the Drohomyreckys, Custom House’s new exec chef is Aaron Deal, a Johnson & Wales graduate. 'We are going to redefine ourselves as a tavern,' says Deal, who was executive chef at Charleston, South Carolina's Tristan for the past two years. 'The menu will be influenced by my experiences at [New York’s] Gramercy Tavern.' The only new dish Deal would tell us about was his foie gras pot de crème with pickled grapes, toasted almonds, and blue cheese—but he's headed to Ferran Adrià’s endlessly innovative El Bulli in Roses, Spain, so lord only knows what he’ll come back with."

One Good Pizza Slice One Parlor at A Time

Pizza Freaks!

Boy, have I found something you'll love:

WorstPizza.com is a new site by Craig Agranoff, a self-described "pizza expert," who's cataloging the best pizza in South Florida and the entire United States. It's complete with a interactive pizza map, easy-to-find slice ratings and a special section on new store openings and closings in local areas.

There's a ton of Chicago restos on here, including Giordano’s, Panino's, Lou Malnati’s and Stefano's.

The site also had this pretty glowing review for the much-heralded Sapore di Napoli:

"I’m not sure how authentic Sapore di Napoli’s Neapolitan pizzas are, but they definitely fulfill the fragrant requirement. The ingredients are incredibly fresh; the Salsiccia pizza’s Italian sausage was homemade and tasted incredible, and the mushrooms from the Funghi pizza were more complementary to the pizza than any pizza I can remember eating. The Margherita pizza was ranked best in town by Chicago magazine, so you might choose to evaluate the restaurant by its known dish. I was pleased by my Neapolitan pizza-eating experience, and the restaurant is clean, comfortable, and a good place to have dinner and a bottle of wine on a warm summer’s night."

Chicago Doesn't Make Cut; Gets Honorable Mentions

Bristol gets "honorable mention" as a "Best New Restaurant of the Year" from Esquire. (Photo: Neil Burger)


When Esquire's controversial writer John Mariani was in town last fall giving props to Mercat a la Planxa for being named to the mag's prestigious Best Restaurants of the Year list, who knew that would be the last time we'd see a winner in a while.

Since then, he's dined at a number of notable eateries, causing even more controversy in Chicago, and made a few enemies.

Could that be the reason not one Chicago restaurant made the big list for 2009?! Instead, The Bristol, Publican, Province and Sepia (which opened in July 2007, so confused why it's on the list . . .maybe it missed the deadline for 2008?!) had to settle for "noteworthy honorees of the year." Interesting stuff.

Eating Las Vegas has the entire list of winners—and Top Places Not to Miss—here.

Look for the November 2009 issue of Esquire on newsstands next week.

Enough Chef Shufflings to Make Your Head Spin

Lockwood's kitchen at full speed. (Photo: The Pickled Tongue)


OK, now. Let's see if we can keep up.

Monday word broke about C-House's new executive chef.

Also, we discovered from Eating Las Vegas that Sixteen acquired Sarah Kosikowski, a Las Vegas-based pastry chef who's also a James Beard Rising Star nominee.

Sugartoad's Jimmy Sneed moves on to make way for Geoff Rhyne, who's placing greater emphasis on seasonality and regional products.

And big news comes from Time Out that Boka and Blackbird finally hired new pastry chefs. Say hello to Kate Neumann and Patrick Fahy respectively.

By the way, that sous chef position still needs filling over at the Palmer House's Lockwood.

Fashionable Plates in the Kitchen, on the Runway

C-House partner/chef Marcus Samuelsson (left) cooking with designer Zac Posen. (Photo: WWD)


Marcus Samuelsson's star continues to shine, this time next to one of our favorite designers, Zac Posen.

The C-House partner/executive chef discusses with WWD on how similar fashion and food are:

"You really appreciate somebody that uses good fabric or uses good ingredients. I don’t know how it is for Zac, but for a chef you constantly ask, ‘Doesn’t it taste good? Doesn’t it taste great?"

At least with the clothes we don't have to worry about the carbs!