Padma Recaps 'Top Chef,' More

"Top Chef" judges Tom Colicchio (from left), Padma Lakshmi and Hugh Acheson. (Photo: Bravo)

Other than aria's Beverly Kim joining the five other Chicago chefs as one of the official competitors on Top Chef Texas (whew! and yay!), the second episode was pretty uneventful for our homeboys and girls.

But here's a recap from the show's host/judge Padma Lakshmi, who also tells the chefs about the next challenge that has to do with Mother Effin' Snakes . . .

Hot Chef News You Can Use

Chefs Curtis Duffy (left) and Takashi Yagihashi.

This may sound like a minor thing to you, but when you're a chef with as much clout as former Avenues chef de cuisine Curtis Duffy, it's pretty major.

He tells 312DD that after four grueling months, he's finally settled on a chair for his new restaurant that's scheduled to open in the West Loop next spring. That's right, a chair.

The award-winning toque wouldn't divulge details, but if it took this long to find one, that means it's going to be one helluva chair. He's getting 90 of them custom made, which means they will be ready by the time the restaurant debuts.

Duffy's still keeping a tight lid on the restaurant's name and location, and says that he'll be ready to make a big announcement right after Thanksgiving.

Next Up: Glazed and Infused

Scott Harris (Mia Francesca's, The Purple Pig, Davanti Enoteca and quite a few more restaurants) is now tossing his hat in the doughnut ring, according to a tweet from Chicago magazine's Penny Pollack:

"Mid Jan, Scott Harris joins the doughnut fray & the Fulton Mkt crowd w/Glazed and Infused. Counter, couches, wi-fi, & still 'secret' coffee."

Exciting!

Best Impress-Your-Date Food?!

Japonais' sushi. (Photo via Japonais)

Here's something to hold everyone's attention as they wait on pins and needles for Chicago's second-annual Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants to be released Wednesday.

Seamless just announced the winners of the 2011 CRAVED Restaurant Awards, with 15 Chicago spots specializing in delivery getting a nod. Now, what's the best part of this?! Through Saturday, you can get 25 percent off all the winning restaurants.

Here's what won:

Big Week For Big & Little's . . .

Gary Strauss (left) and Tony D'Alessandro at their new Big & Little's location. (Photo: Big & Little's)

In addition to Top Chef co-host Padma Lakshmi throwing props Chicago's way on this season's premiere episode, the Food Network's Guy Fieri is also giving love to one River North spot.

Big & Little's—which boasts as an owner former Hell's Kitchen contestant Tony D'Alessandro—will be featured on Monday's episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Who's Got The Best Fried Chicken In Town?!

Chicago's Harold's Chicken Shack gets the nod as one of the best fried chicken spots in the country by Food & Wine magazine.

Food & Wine just released its list for the best fried chicken in the country and two Chicago spots made the cut.

On Harold's Chicken Shack, they had this to say:

No More MeatyBalls?!

Chef Phillip Foss and his Meatyballs Mobile truck. (Photo: The Pickled Tongue)

One of the first and most popular food trucks is taking a hiatus.

Meatyballs Mobile chef/owner Phillip Foss tweeted Friday:

"Though humbling & heart breaking to inform, The Meatyballs Mobile will only occasionally 'pop up' going forward."

His reasoning?! Because he wants to focus more attention on his successful, but tiny brick-and-mortar project, EL restaurant, in the Pilsen neighborhood:

"My attention will now be devoted full time to EL ideas venture & unlocking our full potential. Still really sad right now."

Good luck, man!

Nov. 4 is a VERY Big Day!

Koren Grieveson, chef de cuisine at avec. (Photo: Jessica Tampas Photography)

That's because it's the birthday of avec chef Koren Grieveson (didja know she has an identical twin?!).

But there's more big anniversaries on this special day. . .