A Three-peat for mk

mk just received Wine Spectator's "Best of Award of Excellence" for the third year in a row. The award honors those restaurants with wine lists that display either vintage depth, with vertical offerings of several top producers from major regions, or excellent breadth spread over several wine-growing regions. These wine lists typically offer 500 or more selections, along with superior presentation.

Summer's skinniest sippers

When you pair these salads with the calorie-conscious cocktails below, you cannot help but have a great season of skinny jeans, back-bearing dresses and form-fitting tops:

It's all about the Veevo Italian (Veev Acai liqueur, orange juice and club soda, served up or on the rocks; $9) at A MANO, the casual Italian sibling of Bin 36. Veev is the only liqueur made with acai berries, which are loaded with antioxidants. Veev also is produced in accordance with green practices, is certified carbon neutral and donates $1 per bottle sold to Brazilian rainforest projects.

Butterfly Social Club, the stylish, eco-friendly lounge owned by Mark Klemen (Funky Buddha Lounge), serves only organic and chemical-free drinks, including their version of a Gin 'n' Juice. They use a traditional botanical gin with organic herbs and juniper berries served with fresh squeezed orange and lime juice for $9.

The always jumpin' Martini Park cranks out an extensive drink list of handcrafted cocktails. Customers may choose from favorites like the Gimlet (Tanqueray and fresh lime juice) or Cucumber Martini (Skyy Melon, cucumber essence and fresh lime juice). Both are $11 ($7 every Tuesday for Return of the Cocktail Party).

New Lakeview eatery Shochu is making waves for its unique cocktails made from the distilled shochu liquor in lieu of vodka. The Iwo Oyama is just one drink featuring rice shochu with pear and green tea. Made from different ingredients that also include sweet potato, barley and brown sugar, Shochu has one-third the calories of vodka and is less likely to give you a hangover. It also produces an enzyme called Urokinase, which breaks down blood clots and helps prevent heart attacks and stroke. $8.

And for those not drinking, Sushi Samba rio offers a few great health-conscious "mock-tails" for those looking to save themselves from even more calories. Included is the Ruby Smash, made with raspberries, guava and lime, and served in a martini glass for $8. —Additional reporting by Suzy McMillen

Fun with Foielapalooza

Music lovin' chef Graham Elliot Bowles creates a foie gras-focused menu for Lollapalooza weekend. (Photo: Graham Elliot)


Looks like someone is a little giddy to have foie gras back on Chicago restaurant menus.

Graham Elliot Bowles—known for his love of good music—has created a menu he's dubbed Foielapalooza, taking place during Lollapalooza weekend, and happening at his chic namesake restaurant.

The three-day foie gras and music extravaganza features a nightly changing preparation inspired by and served with music from that evening's headlining act:

August 1: Radiohead
Foie Gras in Rainbows: Grilled foie gras with stewed blackberries, dehydrated raspberries, strawberry puree, blueberry air.

August 2: Wilco
Yankee Hotel Foie Gras: Cornnut-crusted foie gras with corn foam, caramel corn, popcorn shoots, candy corn Sunday.

August 3: Nine Inch Nails
Head Like a Foie: Poached foie gras torchon with black olive, black pepper, black licorice, aged balsamic.

Say buongiorno to newest Italian hot spot

Urban Daddy Chicago has the deets on former Coco Pazzo chef Tony Priolo's Piccolo Sogno right here.

Storm the (French) scene . . .

It's a fabulous day for the French.

Over the weekend, Angelina (who's part French!) gave birth to Brad's baby twins in the French Riviera. France's first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, has a hit album in Britain. And today's Bastille Day, the French national holiday celebrating the storming of the Bastille in 1790.

Many French-focused restaurants get in on the action today:

Brasserie Jo: Enjoy an evening of live gypsy-jazz by Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan, reminiscent of summer nights in France. Also, through July 27, the restaurant offers a special "Frenchie's Menu" with classic dishes like kidneys served with a mustard sauce, blood sausage with sautéed apples and sweetbreads. 6-10pm. No cover.

Brasserie Ruhlmann Steakhouse: Bastille Festival 2008 includes a cocktail reception at the outdoor bar, highlighting select dishes from French-born chef Christian Delouvrier. Delights include Tarte Savoyarde, smoked salmon with crème Fraiche, NY sirloin on the grill, and Brasserie Ruhlmann’s popular raw bar with fresh oysters, clams and shrimp. 6-9pm. $40 in advance; $50 at door.

Cafe Matou: Normally closed on Mondays, the popular Wicker Park eatery is open for a special four-course menu prix-fixe by chef Charlie Socher. Wine director James Rahn will be on hand to offer wine pairing recommendations. The menu is priced at $48, but the regular menu is also available.

Madame Tartine: Fashionable new River North bistro—which harks back to the 1960s—is also doing a prix fixe menu with appetizer, entree, chocolate croissant and a half liter of rosé.

Pops for Champagne: The annual celebration, which settled in its new home last year, takes place indoors as well as outside on the picturesque Tree Studios courtyard. Guests can enjoy more than 25 French sparkling wines and Champagnes, a French-inspired menu developed by chef Andrew Brochu and live jazz. 5-8pm. $75.

Market-fresh goodies make you go mmmmm

Pops for Champagne's executive chef Andrew Brochu's ultra-rich chocolate cake with fresh raspberries, violet and parsnip sorbet. (Photo: Pops for Champagne)


This weekend on "24/7 Chicago: Secrets of the City," we check out several chefs' delectable dessert specials created with picks from the city's many farmers' markets, including the ripest-ever selections of strawberries, rhubarbs, blueberries and more:

C-House: Pastry chef Toni Roberts makes a Brown Butter Cornmeal Poundcake that sounds heavy, but it's light as a feather. It comes with robust Seedling Farm blueberries, homemade blueberry swirl ice cream and cashew "Cracker Jack" popcorn.

Copperblue: Executive chef Michael Tsonton's "Michigan" Panna Cotta is a complicated and rich dish made of raw organic Jersey cow's milk, ginger and wildflower honey, sweet pickled Queen Anne cherry salad and pine nut-caramel crisp.



C-House's Toni Roberts' makes a Brown Butter Cornmeal Poundcake that sounds heavy, but it's light as a feather. (Photo: C-House)


Landmark Grill + Lounge: The Michigan Strawberry Shortcake, designed by pastry chef Elizabeth Dahl, uses locally grown strawberries from Seedling Farm and Ellis Farm in Michigan. The cake is topped off with lavender, fresh whipped cream and homemade strawberry sorbet.

Pops for Champagne: Executive chef Andrew Brochu's ultra-rich Chocolate Cake is accompanied by fresh raspberry, violet and parsnip sorbet. Paired with a nice bubbly from Pops for Champagne's extensive list, this dessert is perfect for you and a significant other.

Socca: Roger Herring's casual French bistro kicks out an unforgettable Strawberry Rhubarb Caramel Croissant Bread Pudding that's complemented by housemade vanilla bean gelato.

Famed restaurants to vacate Harper Court by year's end

After much speculation from the Chicago Maroon and Crain's Chicago Business, it's been confirmed: Restaurants in Hyde Park's storied Harper Court will close by year's end.

The Jamaican-focused Calypso Cafe, Louisiana-themed Dixie Kitchen and contemporary American (with a twist of soul) restaurant C'est Si Bon are the victims of new owner University of Chicago.

According to C'est Si Bon owner Renee Bradford, this latest news was delivered to them three weeks before the Taste of Chicago, but thus far she's had no time for look for a new location.

"I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to react," said Bradford, who added that on Dec. 1 she will celebrate her 18th year in her current location. "I'm going to start looking soon (for a new location), but it's all contingent on whether I find a space because it's not easy getting a permit with the city."

Finally, what does the U of C plan to do with Harper Court?! As of today, they haven't disclosed those details. Developing . . .

Be-bopping, hip-hopping through old-school spots

Time Out Chicago goes down memory lane at some of Chicago's favorite haunts, including the Green Mill, Reagle Beagle and Club Lago.