Chicago Shut Out Of 'Best Pizza City' List?!

(Photo: Giordano's Pizza)

When I travel to other cities the last thing I order is pizza. Why?! Because as far as I'm concerned Chicago does it best.

A new survey, however, conducted by TripAdvisor, states that when it comes to the doughy Italian pies, the best pizza in the country is found in San Diego. WTF?!!!

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

One chef's presentation at a recent Taste of the Nation event in Chicago (Photo: Share Our Strength)

Fireworks, FTW!

• Share Our Strength’s annual Taste of the Nation event happens Wednesday, August 14 at the Navy Pier Ballroom and East Lakeside Plaza, which means guests will have a chance to see the weekly fireworks show up close. But the real action, of course, will be inside as the city's top chefs and mixologists serve up bites and booze for a night to remember. Here's the complete list of chefs and bartenders. It's 7-10pm. Tickets range $125-$300.

• In other news, Supreme Lobster's gearing up for the third-annual Supreme Mother Shucker Competition & Seven Seas Charity Feast at Frontier on August 25. Yeah, that's a mouthful, but the spirited event pits the city's fastest oyster shuckers against one another. That happens later in the day (4-7pm), and earlier guests will get to enjoy grub from the likes of Brian Jupiter (Frontier), Bill Kim (bellyQ) and Corey Morris (Mercat a la Planxa) from 1 to 4pm. A portion of the proceeds from the event benefits Meals on Wheels Chicago. It's $55 per person for the cocktail party and tickets may be purchased right here.

So Very, Very Hot Right Now.

Guest holding Three Dots and a Dash cocktail Bunny's Banana Daiquiri (Photo: Annemarie Sagoi)

After more than a year's delay, Three Dots and a Dash is finally open.

The Polynesian-inspired pub that's owned by master mixologoist Paul McGee as well as Melman siblings R.J., Jerrod and Molly debuted officially Wednesday with a bang-up list of boozy cocktails and a sweet soundtrack to complement.

Beats & Eats: Local Restaurateurs Reveal Successful Music Program Strategies

Tru partner/executive chef Anthony Martin (Photo: Tru)

From a Michelin-starred destination to the hippest hangs in town, a number of Chicago restaurants feature music in the forefront.

Owners behind Au Cheval, Tru and Violet Hour explain why their music programs are a key to their success.

So Very, Very Hot Right Now.

Drop biscuit sandwich at Three Aces (Photo: Three Aces)

Thank goodness for restaurants that serve late brunch. If it weren't for them, I'd never get to indulge in fluffy, buttery biscuits, blueberry pancakes or bottomless Mimosas—unless I made them myself.

OK, so I'm being a little over-dramatic, but you get the point.

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

Charles Joly with Sumi Robata Bar owner Jessica Kato at his launch party for Crafthouse on Tuesday. (Photo: Jessica Kato)

It's been a big year for Charles Joly, the beverage director at the award-winning The Aviary.

Earlier this year, the ground-breaking West Loop lounge won a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program. Last weekend, Joly was named Best American Bartender of the Year at Tales of the Cocktail—the international bartenders' convention held annually in New Orleans.

And this week marks the official launch of Crafthouse, an impressive line of bottled cocktails he collaborated with Matt Lindner of The Drawing Room. A private industry event Tuesday evening introduced three classic cocktails (Moscow Mule, Paloma and South Side), which will be sold at select retailers soon.

Congrats to Joly on all his success!

West Town Tavern Has Shuttered

Girl Food Dinner at West Town Tavern in 2012 (Photo: West Town Tavern)

I don't like writing these stories and I especially don't like it when it's one of my favorites.

West Town Tavern celebrated 10 years in business in 2012, but Monday owners Susan and Drew Goss announced that they were closing, effective immediately:

So Very, Very Hot Right Now.

Allium's Bananas Foster milkshake (Photo: Allium/Four Seasons Chicago)

Yeah, it's hot all right, and three of Chicago's most luxurious hotel properties fight it out (unintentionally?!) to decide which one offers the best gourmet frozen treats on National Ice Cream Day.

That gloriously decadent day occurs Sunday, July 21, and the executive pastry chefs from the Four Seasons' Allium, Ritz-Carlton's dec Rooftop Lounge + Bar and Park Hyatt's NoMI Kitchen are going all out. (July is also National Ice Cream Month).

NoMI, for example, transforms its lounge into Soft Serve Sundae School, and Meg Galus has created an assortment of toppings (cookie crumble, lemon curd, graham streusel, peanut butter fudge chunks, etc.). Each sundae is $10, and the event takes place noon to 8pm Sunday.