What they're Tweeting . . .

Erick Williams, executive chef at MK, presides over the hugely popular "Wine on Wednesdays." (Photo: MK)


Kevin Boehm (Partner/Landmark): "March 25th is our free wine tasting, U2's music paired with wine."

Eve: "Crispy Sweetbreads with housemade pancetta, strawberries, grilled red onion and balsamic gastrique."

Greg Hall (Owner/Brewmaster Goose Island): "Ok, ok, Just tasted new version of Demolition Ale, new malt, new hops, new yeast, holy #@$* this is yummy. thin, pale, hoppy and Dangerous!"

MK: "Sweetbreads tonight for Wine on Wednesdays! 3 wines, 3 small plates $25, 6-9pm."

Chef Rick Tramonto: "Looking for New Restaurant spaces for two new for Tramonto concepts the fall."

'Top Chef' showdown at Chopping Block

If you're like 312DD, you've been having some serious "Top Chef" withdrawals.

So, thank the lord for The Chopping Block, which hosts a head-to-head competition between the culinary show's fifth season finalists Carla "Hootie Hoo!" Hall and Stefan "The Arrogant Finnish" Richter.

We'll finally get to see who should've won as they square off in the fifth-annual True Flavor Celebrity Cook-Off, benefiting True Child, a national organization supporting disadvantaged children.



Hall, owner and chef of Alchemy Caterers in Washington, D.C., and Richter, owner of Stefan's Catering in Santa Monica, Calif., each will lead a team consisting of a local chef and an audience sous chef (determined by live auction).

Both teams will have 35 minutes to make a three-course meal with secret ingredients they will only learn of moments before the contest. And local chefs participating in the competition include Heather Terhune (Atwood Café), Luca Corazzina (312 Chicago) and Chris Lateano (South Water Kitchen).

Event occurs 6-9pm April 4. $150. Get tix here.

Wine deals for every wallet . . .

Savvy wine writer Ari Bendersky pours on a few weekly wine and dine deals you don't want to miss.

EXCLUSIVE: U2 partying at The Violet Hour!

U2 hosted a super-private after-party at The Violet Hour on Tuesday.


The Violet Hour publicist just posted this to Facebook:

Ellen Malloy: "U2 after party at Violet Hour...Chicago launch party...details to come. Special invite only. Super exclusivito!!!"

312DD had been hearing buzz from inside the bar earlier about the event happening immediately following the Q&A event at Smart Bar on Tuesday, so apparently this is the real deal.

UPDATE: More from uber-publicist Malloy:

"U2 hosted an exclusive launch party for their new album at the Violet Hour. After a rocking DJ session at Metro, the band headed over to the Violet Hour for an exclusive record-industry event hosted by Interscope Records. The Violet Hour special menu for the evening comprised of Dublin Old Fashioneds (made with Powers Irish Whiskey) and special drinks named after songs on the new record, ('Juliet & Romeo' Moment of 'Surrender' and 'The Magnificent' champagne cocktail). Also served fantastic highlights from the Violet Hour menu.

"Shirley Manson, lead singer of Garbage, was in attendance, along with her long bright red hair. The band came in through the back door at about 10 for a quick party before jetting off to Boston for the next gig."

Operation Stalk a Star on the case

U2 is set to make a special appearance tonight at Smart Bar—not Metro as many media outlets reported this week.


Johnny Clark Street with the U2-stalking Twitter account just posted this about the superband's appearance tonight:

"Smart Bar is right next door to the Metro. So it's not at Metro but at Smart Bar!"

Trust me, there IS a big difference between the two!

What they're Tweeting . . .

Publican Executive Chef Paul Kahan begins brunch this weekend with Beer Mimosas. (Photo: Battman Studios)


Michael Bottigliero (Sommelier/Eno): "Just tasted Eric Perrin's 2004 Ch. Haut-Vigneau. 70 CabSauv/30Merlot fr/Pessac-Leognan. Bright berry fruit, dusty earth, smooth tannins."

Stephanie Izard (Executive Chef/The Drunken Goat): "Going to read up on Peruvian food for my dish at the Common Threads World Festival on March 23."

Paul Kahan (Executive Chef): "Finalizing brunch menu for the Publican. Starts this Sunday. Yumaroo." (Beer Mimosas on tap!)

Nacional 27: "Talk about St. Patrick's Day with a modern Latin twist. Get Irish with (mixologist) Adam Seger's Irish Bacon Sour."

Cary Taylor (Executive Chef/Chaise Lounge): "About to cold smoke a whole mess o' chorizo."

EXCLUSIVE: Debut of Social Twenty-Five

How is this opening right under our watch?!

Social Twenty-Five, a swanky new sports lounge, debuts on Friday to the public. A sneak preview happens later this week, so we'll have even more info after we check it out.

UPDATE: Read the latest info on Social Twenty-Five here.


On the horizon, we're also looking forward to Elate, which is slated to open in Hotel Felix in June.

Operation Stalk A Star officially on

Some dude going by the handle Johnny Clark Street set up a Twitter account to stalk U2 if they indeed show up for the supposed deejay set at Metro tonight.

He tweeted late last night:

"Check back (all day) for updates live from U2's scheduled stop here in Chicago. Updates all day from outside and inside the venue."

If you're a fan of the band, I'd follow him if I were you!