Curtis Duffy Hits The Big Time

Curtis Duffy, chef de cuisine at Avenues at the Peninsula. (Photo: Peninsula Chicago)


Just a friendly reminder:

Avenues, the sensational progressive American restaurant in the Peninsula, is closed for the first two weeks of January. That sucks, but now word just came that its phenom chef Curtis Duffy won't be around for the last weekend that month either.

Benjamin Newby Is On Fire!

Award-winning cocktail The Bombay General from The Underground's Benjamin Newby. (Photos: Rockit Ranch Productions)


So, Thursday night at Underground during the third-annual Modern Man Fashion Show, we had the opportunity to sample the entire fall cocktail menu. Yes, the whole damn thing.

Created by operating partner/GM Benjamin Newby, the menu consists of 10 sensational sippers guaranteed to be a hit with cocktail connoisseurs. In fact, one of the drinks was such a hit that it won GQ's America's Choice Cocktail Competition.

Reality Rules This Weekend

Chef Graham Elliott will make an appearance during "MasterChef" tryouts this weekend. (Photo: Graham Elliot)


OK, so my little guilty pleasure is hitting Boys Town this weekend.

Mike Ruiz, the sexy photographer on hit LOGO reality series The A-List: New York, hosts a party Saturday at Spin.

?uestlove Behind The Decks At UG

Fresh off multi-Grammy noms for How I Got Over (Def Jam), The Roots perform at House of Blues Saturday.

But if you're like me, and sick of the attitudes and drama over at the live music River North venue, wait a few hours and head to Underground for the official after party.

Our 'Top Chef All Star' Is Still Cooking . . .

(Photo: Bravo)


Whew.

Sprout Executive Chef Dale Levitski made it through the first episode of Bravo's Top Chef All Stars, and man was it a nail-biter!

Here's a recap of what went down Wednesday, but we were particularly interested in Levitski's point of view of the premiere episode:

Culinary Cutie Hits The Catwalk

Chef Ryan Poli of Perennial. (Photo: Perennial)


I promised I wouldn't make any "Zoolander" jokes, so here goes:

Perennial's very social Executive Chef Ryan Poli leaves his kitchen for one night only to walk the catwalk at Underground Thursday.

The Beginning . . . And The End . . .

The first season of HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" ends on Dec. 5, which is also the 77th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. (Photo: HBO)


. . . of Prohibition comes to a head on its 77th anniversary Dec. 5. That's when the first season of HBO's highly acclaimed 1920s era series "Boardwalk Empire" ends on what's expected to be an explosive cliffhanger until next season.

There will certainly be parties to fete both occasions, such as the one happening at Faith & Whiskey. It kicks off at 6:30pm Dec. 3, with a Prohibition-themed video power hour at 8, which showcases video clips of "Boardwalk Empire," "The Untouchables," "Miller's Crossing," "Legends Of The Fall" and "The Public Enemy."

The Prohibition Repeal Party is hosted by Canadian Club and includes tastings of Canadian Club Sherry Cask, Canadian Club Classic and Club Canadian Club. Revelers—who are encouraged to dress in period clothing—will also be able to toast with $5 Canadian Club shots and cocktails.

Root On Our Very Own 'All Star Top Chef'

Awesome Sprout Executive Chef Dale Levitski is the only local culinary star competing on Bravo's "Top Chef All Stars" when it debuts Wednesday.

In season three, the mad talented cheftestant came in second place, so this is another chance for him to claim the big prize against some of the series' heaviest hitters of all time.