A HOT Fried Chicken Eating Contest!

I hope The Southern's hot fried chicken is as GREAT as you'll find at Prince's Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville! (Photo: via roadfood.com)

If you think you can handle the heat, sign up for The Southern's first-ever HOT Fried Chicken Eating contest, happening March 22.

If you don't know what HOT fried chicken is, then you haven't visited the South often. The spice is slathered on and incredible, but it doesn't hide the flavor. That's the key.

This Weekend's Big For Adam, Oscar & You

Adam Seger's 'Moet Red Carpet Glamour' cocktail. (Photo: Tuan Bui)

It's a big weekend for Hollywood types who are on pins and needles for the annual Academy Awards show on Sunday.

But I'm more excited for Adam Seger, who won Moet's first-ever cocktail contest for the famed Oscars' after-party also known as the Governor's Ball.

He stopped by The U's You & Me This Morning to whip up his Moet Red Carpet Glamour that he'll make for hundreds of celebrities at the bash. See him make it right here, so you can re-create it at home for your Oscar-themed party.

Or, if you're going out instead, check out scores of sexy soirees happening around town:

Josh Pearson Snags Another Honor!

(Photo: Sepia)

Fresh off his awesome Banchet win for Best Mixologist, Josh Pearson snags another cool honor.

But this time Sepia's red-hot bartender competed for his favorite charity, United Through Reading, at Texas de Brazil's first-ever Caipirinha Mixology Competition on Tuesday.

Going up against Pearson was The Bedford's Peter Gugni and Benjamin Newby of The Underground. The guys were charged with coming up with their own spin on the Caipirinha—Brazil's national cocktail—to win money for their favorite charities.

While Pearson competed for United Through Reading, Newby shook cocktails for Open Heart Magic and Gugni whipped up drinks for Imerman Angels. One hundred percent of the party's proceeds went to the winner's chosen charity.

Pearson's Literate Caipirinha won the People's Choice Award as well as knocked the socks off the judges, which consisted of the RedEye's Emily Van Zandt, Michigan Avenue mag's Rachel Gillman, and the Chicago Sun-Times' David Hammond.

In the end, Pearson won $3,000 for United Through Reading, which he says 95 percent actually goes to help people.

Wanna try to make their cocktails at home?! Check them out:

Your VIP Invite To Nellcôte's Exclusive Bash

Nellcôte's beautiful interior. (Photo: Nellcôte)

The West Loop's hotter than ever with so many restaurants set to debut this year, including the just-opened Au Cheval diner at Halsted and Randolph.

But taking it up a few notches should be Nellcôte, when it officially opens the first weekend of March. The French-focused spot's helmed by chef Jared Van Camp (Old Town Social), and it's so beautiful that it's breathtaking.

To celebrate, Van Camp's throwing an exclusive, Evening of Exile-themed VIP bash, and he's inviting 200 of his closest friends to party with him.

Wanna join?! I've got five pairs of tickets for some lucky folks to attend the party, which includes passed appetizers from Van Camp's menu, specialty cocktails and wine. It happens 6-8pm Feb. 28.

Follow 312 Dining Diva on Twitter for a chance to win. We'll randomly select five lucky folks by 3pm Friday, Feb. 24, so you'll have an opportunity over the weekend to pick out the perfect outfit to wear.

Good luck!

For Those Who Didn't Give Up Meat For Lent

Au Cheval's griddled double cheeseburger looks yummy! (Photo: Au Cheval)

Brendan Sodikoff's a beast when it comes to opening restaurants. The guy's had much success with Doughnut Vault, Gilt Bar and Maude's Liquor Bar, and now he's opening what he's calling a "high concept" diner.

You won't find the typical fixin's at Au Cheval, his latest spot, opening Wednesday. The very meat-heavy menu contains dishes like beef stew with marrow bones, foie gras terrine, griddled burgers, crispy potato hash with duck heart gravy, and a 32 oz. pork Porterhouse with foie gras and apples.

And unlike most diners, you'll find booze on tap, from a number of offbeat beers to classic cocktails.

Join The First-Ever 'Keepin' It Classy' Crawl!

312DD's joined forces with Google Chicago and Uber premium car service for the first-ever Keepin' It Classy Crawl 3-7pm Saturday, March 3. And guess what?! You're invited!

By "classy" we mean we'll be tasting our way around town at some of my favorite high-end spots, and by "crawl" we actually mean we'll be chauffeured by Uber, everyone's private driver.

We will rate and review our bites along the way (food photography is welcome and encouraged). We'll be stopping at three to four cool joints, but have decided to keep you guessing until the day of to make it more fun and "underground" inspired.

To find out how to get a complimentary invitation, here's more information, including details on the event.

Good Luck!

Who Will Snag a Beard This Year?!

Grant Achatz with his Beard award in 2008. (Photo: James Beard Foundation)

It's that time of year again. Time for the announcement of the semi-finalists for James Beard. Last year, the actual award ceremonies were pretty dismal for Chicago, so here's hoping we'll fare better in 2012. New this year is a category for Outstanding Bar Program, in which two Chicago spots were tapped; no Chicagoan included in the Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional category.

Here are the semi-finalists; the narrowed down list of Restaurant and Chef Award nominees will be announced March 19:

First Sneak Peek At Melmans, Rancics Resto

Over the weekend, RPM Italian—the trendy Lettuce restaurant boasting as owners Bill and Giuliana Rancic, siblings Molly, Jerrod and R.J. Melman, as well as chef Doug Psaltis—threw one helluva bash. The guest list was as VIP as Chicago gets, and of course, 312DD was on the scene to check it out.

One of the highlights of the night was the awesome interview I scored with the Rancis for The U's You & Me This Morning. The happy couple, who are first-time restaurateurs, were treated like royalty, but nowhere near prima donnas. They jumped in to help every chance they got, including shaking up cocktails and taking reservations over the phone.

RPM Italian opens to the public Feb. 26.