Some Good News About Grace That Will Put A Smile On Your Face

Grace owner/chef Curtis Duffy (Photo: Michael Muser)

We've been waiting to hear this one for awhile.

The celebrated, two Michelin-star rated chef Curtis Duffy will finally start taking reservations for Grace on Nov. 6. Just to help you remember that date, it is also Election Day.

The restaurant's set to open late November, but they're taking those resos for December seatings. Here's the number.

DMK Restaurants Host A 'Drink Them Dry' Charity Event To Help Those Affected By Hurricane Sandy

One local restaurant group is stepping up to help in the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast.

From Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 2, DMK Restaurants—which owns Ada Street, DMK Burger Bar and Fishbar—is throwing a Drink Them Dry benefit where 20 percent of beverage sales goes toward the American Red Cross relief efforts.

They'll also sell raffle tickets for a few lucky people to win a $250 gift card to DMK Restaurants.

Crain's Chicago Names 'Top Steakhouses For Business,' And Includes A Bunch Of Chains

I'll give them a pass for putting Morton's on the list because after all it originated in Chicago.

But the fact that Crain's dedicated much of its Best Steakhouses For Business list to chains is pretty inexcusable.

Not to say that Capital Grille, Mastro's and Smith & Wollensky aren't good, but there's nothing unique about any of them. You can get those exact same menus all over the country.

Disappointing!

Custom House's Last Day Is Halloween

Interior of Custom House (Photo: Custom House)

That's really too bad because they made one helluva burger and the bartenders were very skilled in their craft. Custom House was also a great place to hit up before or after a performance at the Auditorium Theatre.

The husband-and-wife team behind the Printers' Row restaurant also owns Eggy's and Maison in the Lakeshore East neighborhood.

Eater Chicago has the scoop on additional closings . . .

UPDATE: Here is the official statement of the closing from the owners:

Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs & Mixologists Are Up To Around Town

Paul McGee pic (left) via Haberdash Men; Jason Hammel photo via Chicago Reader

• Lula Café owner/chef Jason Hammel and Three Dots and a Dash partner/mixologist Paul McGee have teamed up for the ultimate Halloween bash at the trendy Logan Square resto. They've assembled some of the city's top bartenders as Lula transforms into The Violent Hour. Talent includes Brad Bolt (Bar DeVille), Josh Pearson (Sepia) and Benjamin Schiller (BOKA), who will serve scary signature cocktails at numerous stations. Starts at 7pm Oct. 31. No reservations; cash only.

• Grant Achatz (Alinea, Next, The Aviary) is participating in the annual Chicago Humanities Festival on Nov. 4. Too bad it's sold out!

• Former Erwin chef Michael Lathrop is now at Acre. Look for him to interpret the restaurant's farm-to-table concept in his own style.

This Is Every Girl's Fantasy: The First-Ever 'Chicago Chocolate Week' Is On Its Way!

This year we've indulged in Chicago Restaurant Week, Chicago Craft Beer Week and most recently Chicago Craft Spirits Week, so this next big event makes absolute sense.

When the Chicago Fine Chocolate Festival happens again in November, it's adding a new component: the first-ever Chicago Chocolate Week. That's when a number of high-profile restaurants showcase signature desserts Nov. 11-18, with 10 percent of sales benefiting Share Our Strength.

Here's who is on board thus far:

The Inaugural 'Spiaggia Sommelier Smackdown' Promises To Be One Hot Ticket For Charity

I typically don't write about what's going on in the local wine world because frankly the players appear to be a bit stuffy. Their cocktail counterparts are the ones with the colorful stories and events, but this upcoming November event should change that.

The inaugural Spiaggia Sommelier Smackdown, which will be hosted by Spiaggia sommelier Jason Carlen and The Boarding House partner/Master Sommelier Alpana Singh, happens on Nov. 14 and benefits The Cancer Research Foundation. It will also have top wine experts from some of the hottest restaurants in town going head to head in some "juicy" competitions.

Participants include:

Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs & Mixologists Are Up To Around Town . . . And Beyond

Ming Tsai will be in Chicago next week.

• Kampai Mondays debuts on Oct. 29 at Arami with Ervin Guinto pairing eight courses with sake. The restaurant's certified sake professionals will team up with different sake producers each month for this event that's $50 per person (includes tax and tip). Two seatings available: 7-8:30pm and 8:30-10pm. Call the restaurant for a reso.

• Celebrated chef Ming Tsai will also be in town on Oct. 29 to promote his latest cookbook, Simply Ming in Your Kitchen. He'll first do a cocktail reception and book signing at Slurping Turtle (3-5pm), and then team up with Takashi Yagihashi at his eponymous restaurant for a six-course tasting menu featuring recipes from the cookbook (6-9pm).

• Iron Chef winner and Mercat a la Planxa partner/chef Jose Garces stopped through Chicago over the weekend to promote his new cookbook, The Latin Road Home. He also took time to introduce new items to the fall menu, which included such stunners as sopa de fortmage de cerveza (soup with crispy pork belly, truffle and potato) and ropa de cabra (braised goat with goat cheese with grilled baguette).