Winners of the Jean Banchet Awards!

Blackbird's Michael Sheerin took home "Rising Chef" honors at the Banchet Awards on Friday. (Photo: Anthony Tahlier)


Friday was a big night for a number of Chicago's top culinary folks as they took home awards at the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence ceremony during the Cystic Fibrosis' annual Grand Chefs Gala.

The event took place in the Fairmont Hotel's grand ballroom following an amazing cocktail party where more than 30 chefs whipped up signature appetizers for several hundred guests.

Here are the winners, who were selected by all participating and nominated chefs voting by secret ballot:

Best Catering Co: Blue Plate; Best Sommelier: Scott Tyree of Sepia; Rising Chef: Michael Sheerin of Blackbird; Rising Pastry: Stephanie Prida of Blackbird; Best Neighborhood Spot: Piccolo Sogno; Best Fine Dining: Paul Virant of Vie; Celeb Pastry Chef: Cindy Schuman of Sepia; Celeb Chef: Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill/Topolobampo/Xoco; People's Choice Award: Curtis Duffy of Avenues.

Congrats to all!

NBCChicago's Flash Mob Party Hits Wicker Park

(Photos: Jason Lewis, ChicagoPhotoshop.com)


"We want to continue doing special events going forward, but not just the same ol' same ol'," says Marcus Riley, an entertainment reporter for NBCChicago.com, about the offbeat parties he's helped organized to put the media outlet on a different level than its competition.

In December, they headed to the South Side for the coolest retro set since "Soul Train" filmed in Chicago.

Revelers donned their best disco threads, accessories and hats on the dance floor as they bumped and boogied through a Soul Train line.

Thursday's first-ever flash mob—which was heavily promoted on NBC's Facebook and Twitter pages—wasn't half as flashy as the retro affair, but cool nonetheless.



One hundred guests showed up to Usagi Ya's upper-level Rabbit Room, in Wicker Park, to indulge in free sushi, cocktails and music from local deejay Com-Lb.

Riley says NBCChicago.com's got more events coming up throughout the year, so if you want to be down, follow them here on Twitter.

Curtis Duffy Gets Super Props from Grant Achatz

Grant Achatz (left) and Curtis Duffy


Avenues at the Peninsula Chef de Cuisine Curtis Duffy is having one hell of a week.

Friday night he's hosting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's annual Grand Chefs Gala, where he's up for two honors in the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence (Best Fine Dining and Celebrity Chef).

And, as he was preparing for those festivities, word came down that he got some major props from one of the most famous chefs in the world.

Alinea's Grant Achatz, who Duffy worked with at Trio several years ago, tapped him to be a part of the James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony taking place on May 3 in New York City.

Each year, a past winner nominates a new chef to cook for the event, and Duffy was lucky enough to get the nod.

"It will be such a memorable experience," said Duffy, who was still in shock from the news.

He's not sure what he's making yet, of course, but he knows it's going to have to be amazing to impress the country's most important people in the dining industry.

Also, we'll see if this means that he'll finally be up for a Beard award himself . . .

Fire Destroys Bronzeville Spots; Where to Go Now

"Game Night" at Blu 47. (Photo: Blu 47)


A three-alarm fire destroyed a commercial building in Bronzeville early Thursday morning that was home to a number of thriving hot spots, including Blu 47, Spoken Word Cafe and a fifth Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken location—which was set to open any day now.

This really sucks because it's a known fact that there's always been a lack of cool South Side places for young professionals to hang, so we're crossing our fingers that they're able to rebuild quickly.

We couldn't reach any of the business owners, but Blu 47 posted a message on its Facebook page, "Please keep our Blu 47 family in your prayers," which generated more than 50 messages from well-wishers.

We did catch up with Art Sims, a Bronzeville resident and regular contributor to "You and Me This Morning with Jeanne Sparrow," which airs weekdays on WCIU-TV. He's also known for putting on lively events at a few of the venues that were damaged.


Art Sims' "Relationship Chat" networking event at Spoken Word Cafe. (Photo: Art Sims)


He says that the loss of these businesses is a blow to the neighborhood.

"It's a tremendous loss because we lack upscale places in our community, and that corner was the place to go," he says. "It offered everything: comedy, poetry, upscale dining. For many years, it was the home of my Original Real Deal Relationship Chat.

"I just hope they're all able to rebuild as soon as possible."

As a frequent diner in Bronzeville as well as nearby Hyde Park, Sims offers some other places to eat in the area:

The Big Easy: "'Hell's Kitchen' alum Chef Jen is bringing something good to the Hyde Park community with her take on Louisiana cuisine, but they still have some kinks they need to work out."

Cedars Mediterranean: "So fresh, and I love their chicken schwarma and hummus. They're located in Kimbark Plaza, so it's easy to park."

Chant: "It's really nice, Pan-Asian-inspired food. They do lobster rangoon and tempura vegetables, and are vegetarian friendly."

Chicago’s Home of Chicken and Waffles: "It's a warm, relaxing spot where you can veg out after their famous chicken and waffles. It's extremely packed on weekends."

The Sit Down: "A sushi bistro that's really good. In addition to sushi they also have Italian fare and sandwiches."

Hyde Park location for Uncle Joe's Jerk Chicken: "The jerk chicken is very good, and the fish is always fresh."

Think Warm Thoughts . . .

The interior of Uncle Fatty's in Lakeview will make you feel as though you're on a beach in Mexico. (Photo: Uncle Fatty's)


Think Brazil. Think Australia. Think Mexico.

Think about anywhere warmer than this cold-ass weather that's got me contemplating wearing three layers of coats this weekend.

It seems to have just snuck up on us, so if you cannot get away, there's no harm in pretending like you're somewhere with more tropic-like temperatures.

Uncle Fatty’s Rum Resort in Lakeview, for example, gets it right when it comes to a warm-weather theme.

Island-style cocktails, beach-y decor (including private cabanas and sandbox) and a rotating list of high-energy, local cover bands are certain to make you feel like you're on vacation.

Through Sunday, Uncle Fatty's hosts its first-ever Winter Music Fest, featuring hip and poppy bands Two White Crew (Thursday), Mike and Joe (Friday), 16 Candles (Saturday) and The Spazmatics (Sunday). Expect large crowds and drink specials.

We wouldn't recommend showing up in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts though.

Music starts at 9pm; $5 cover.

More spots to warm your body, your mind and your soul:

THURSDAY

Deejays spin classic reggae, dub and hip-hop at new Jamaican joint Mr. Brown’s Lounge, in Ukrainian Village. You'll get jerk chicken, oxtails, beef patties and curry goat that tastes like it came right out of Kingston, but you'll also get a little bit of American flair in the dining room that's casual, but clubby.

The guys behind Tango Sur have a hit on their hands with another Argentinean-themed resto in Folklore. The menu is similar, with well-marinated cuts of meats and poultry, but what sets it apart from the original is that it has a full-service bar. Deejay Shon Dervis spins slinky, exotic beats on some nights.

Former "Hell's Kitchen" contestant Jennifer Gavin goes for New Orleans flavor with The Big Easy in Hyde Park. Expect traditional Cajun and Southern food like fried green tomatoes, Louisiana crab cakes, jambalaya and freshly made beignets.


Traditional Caribbean cuisine sets up shop in Ukrainian Village with Mr. Brown's Lounge. (Photo: Urban Daddy Chicago)


FRIDAY

For a kitschy, Hawaiian theme, it's time to get busy at Trader Vic’s, which serves up traditional pu-pu platters, Mai Tais and more. We love this spot for after-work shenanigans, because after a few of these strong-ass cocktails you'll be up for almost anything.

Bucktown's Rinconcito Sudamericano, however, is a bit more laid back, offering authentic Peruvian fare and flair. House specialties include the ceviche, sweet potatoes and an absolutely divine dish called Aji de Gallina, which has shredded chicken, walnut cream and Peruvian spices served over white rice.

Pick your favorite vino (preferably at next door Lush), and head to Habana Libre for heaving plates of Cuban food. Their signature Arroz con Pollo can easily feed a family of four, but make sure you call at least 45 minutes in advance to put in your order.

SATURDAY

Nightlife-inspired Chicago Fashion Brunch hosts its second event at Tocco with a Capri theme. Akira owner Jon Cotay has teamed up with local fashion insiders to transport diners to the exotic coast of Italy. DJ Madrid spins sexy sounds as guests indulge in Italian wine flights, a Bellini bar and delicious brunch items. Of course there will be a fashion show! 11am-4pm. Reservations required at RSVP.fashionbrunch@gmail.com.

More Cuban's in the mix at Cafe Laguardia, which has been at its Bucktown location for almost 40 years. Go for the paella, Cuban sandwiches bursting with thick slices of ham, and shredded beef over mounds of fluffy rice. Most nights feature Latin bands.

Mercadito's superb lower-level retreat Double A offers one of the best tequila lists in the city, plus their award-winning mixologists make exotic elixirs like Caipisutra (Leblon cachaça, pineapple, grapefruit, lime, garam masala), Shuga Daddy (Bacardi Select, spice syrup, kumquat, Champagne, orange bitters) and Down South (Averna liquirizia, strawberry, guava, lemon and Champagne). Deejays spin music to make you hot.

SUNDAY

And Coobah serves up a Latin-inspired brunch with offerings like breakfast empanadas (filled with egg, sausage and aged Manchego cheese), blue corn buttermilk pancakes (dripping with Mexican canela-cinnamon butter and dark Ancho rum maple syrup) and a three-egg breakfast burrito. Also, go crazy with pitchers of sangria that's made from a secret Dominican Republic recipe. 10am-3pm.

Flash Dance, Drink and Dine!

Looks like the coolest TV station in town is NBC-5, who is hosting a "flash mob" party at 9pm Thursday, where guests will be treated to free sushi and cocktails, plus one of Chicago's hottest deejays.

For right now, they're not releasing the location, but we can tell you that the after-party's going down at Carol's Pub in Uptown.

They're only letting in the first 115 people, so to get all the deets follow them on Twitter.

The $6K Wine Was Screaming Eagle . . .

Got an update on the $6,000 wine story I wrote earlier this week.

Turns out the diner at an unnamed Chicago steakhouse ordered a 2001 Screaming Eagle. That bottle retailed for $6,000 at the resto, while a 1998 vintage was a little over $3,000. Perhaps he ordered the wrong bottle?!

I'll admit that when it comes to fine wines, I'm no expert, so I turned to Avenues at the Peninsula Sommelier Michael Muser, who shed light on how this situation could've been handled better:

"You delicately and clearly explain what they just ordered, including the vintage and everything," he says. "If you have an item on your wine list that's $6,000, you need to be very, very cautious, making sure the guest understands the severity of the situation. That is a major purchase."

On the other hand, Muser says, if he wasn't paying attention, "he deserved what he got. This is the most exclusive wine, and I'm assuming they know Screaming Eagle and know it is one of the hardest wines in the world to get."

Foodie Yoga the Next Big Thing?!

As a hardcore yogi who's been practicing for more than 13 years, I'm finding this latest trend on the mat quite disturbing.

Foodie Yoga is the newest brand of yoga at a New York studio. They're combining vegan food with Bikram, which sounds absolutely unsanitary. I'm all about exploring yourself through yoga—and of course I'm all about the food!!!—but this is beyond, as described in yesterday's New York Times story:

"All had signed up for a strange new hybrid of physical activity: first an hour of vigorous, sweaty yoga, then a multicourse dinner of pasta, red wine and chocolate. As soon as the lights went up, dinner was served on the floor: an (almost) seamless transition designed to allow the yogis to taste, smell and digest in a heightened state of awareness."

I really hope this is one trend that never makes its way to Chicago!

UPDATE: It's coming . . . and happening at Province in March!