Gilt Bar Owner On To Next BIG Project

(Photo: Natasha Hernandez)


An Ultimate Insider tells 312DD exclusively that Brendan Sodikoff is on to his next project and making moves in the Randolph Restaurant Row area.

The Gilt Bar owner/executive chef is rumored to be breaking ground Sunday right across the street from Girl & the Goat.

Our Very Own Prime-Time Celebrity Chef?!

(Photo: Graham Elliot)


He insists that Hollywood hasn’t gone to his head, but the Chicago chef formerly known as Graham Elliot Bowles is simply going by the slimmed-down moniker "Graham Elliot" now.

I kinda dug the three names, but bygones, it’s his decision.

Anyway, did you catch the first episode of FOX’s "MasterChef," featuring Elliot, Gordon Ramsay and Joe Bastianich?! Following the successful formats of “American Idol,” “So You Think You Can Dance?” and “America’s Got Talent,” the show plucks out regular, decent-cooking folks who aspire to be chefs.

Lula Cafe is Back, Baby!

(Photo: Lula Cafe)


After being shuttered for almost a week because of basement flooding, Logan Square's glorious hipster hangout Lula Cafe is back in business, beginning today.

From their Facebook page:

Cool Treats Worth the Brain Freeze . . .

The Chicago Luxury Ice Cream Festival returns for its second year.

This is no ordinary ice-cream event as local artisans, pastry chefs and chocolatiers show off cool, custom designed treats you'll not likely see anywhere else.

We're excited about it for a number of reasons, including the obvious. You'll get a grand tasting of goodies from the likes of Vosges, Black Dog Gelato, Nice Cream, Homer’s, Oberweis, Trader’s Point Creamery, Ciao Bella Gelato, Bob Tail Ice Cream and Sassy Cow Creamery.

There will also be demonstrations and workshops certain to blow your mind from top pastry chefs Christine McCabe, Tony Galzin (MK), Jerome Landrieu (Barry-Callebaut Chocolate Academy) and Michelle Garcia (The Bleeding Heart Bakery).

And, The Great Chicago Brain Freeze should be the biggest draw as chefs compete with unique creations. Guests get to vote on winners.

Last year's third-place winner, Clandestino, returns with chef/owner Efrain Cuevas bringing back his popular Chocolate Chile ice cream as well as Blueberry Huitlacoche and Honey Serrano Sweetcornbread.

Now I don't mind getting a little brain freeze for that!

The Chicago Luxury Ice Cream Festival takes place 7-10pm Friday and Saturday at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Dr.). Get the $25 tickets here.

We've got at least another month of unbelievable heat, so cool off with even more offbeat frozen treats, including some deliciously boozy ones:

WAVE Rolls Out Street Food Cart in August

WAVE Executive Chef Kristine Subido (pictured) debuts her food cart filled with globally inspired grub on August 4. (Photo: WAVE)


While some folks continue to wait for City Hall to act on the food truck ordinance, others keep it moving . . . to other opportunities.

W Lakeshore's WAVE Executive Chef Kristine Subido—who grew up with street food carts in her homeland of the Philippines—is now bringing globally inspired grub to the streets of Streeterville in August.

Back in Business!

(Photo: Longman & Eagle)


Longman & Eagle was one of several Logan Square hot spots affected by flooding last weekend.

Unlike Lula Cafe, which is still shuttered until further notice, L&E continued serving cocktails and a very limited menu.

Tuesday evening, however, they triumphantly posted to their Facebook page that they're fully back in business—with a new menu:

More Props for Blackbird Mixologist Lynn House

Blackbird's star mixologist Lynn House in action. (Photo: Lynn House)


These days when it rains it's a monsoon, particularly for new Blackbird mixologist Lynn House, who is having one heck of a year in her chosen profession.

She recently won a mixology contest sponsored by Absolut, plus her fabulous spirits-oriented career has been tracked by likes of Ebony, Esquire, Metromix and, of course, 312DD.

Now comes the Chicago Sun-Times with even more praises:

More Yummy in Tummy with Second M Burger

M Burger's signature double-stack burger. (Photo: M Burger)


Word from Time Out is that a second M Burger is coming our way soon.

Look for LEYE's burger and fries joint to pop up this time in a carved-out kitchen space of Osteria Via Stato in late August (the first one is located in Tru's former pastry kitchen).