Mark Your Calendar for More Chef Events

Mercat a la Planxa chef Michael Fiorello at last year's "Celebrity Chef Ball" at Macy's on State. (Photo: Meals on Wheels)


Fall's turning out to be major for chef-related events, from the third-annual Chicago Gourmet in Millennium Park to Meals on Wheels' Celebrity Chef Ball at Macy's on State to Common Threads World Cookout at Fulton's on the River.

And while those events are spectacular in food, folks and fun, not everyone can afford those tickets, which start at $75. That's probably why Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ-FM) decided to host its own food-focused fete, showcasing some of the city's most talked about chefs at $15 ($12 WBEZ members; $10 students).

C-House Chef Spotlights Yummy Local Beer

Nicole Pederson is the executive chef at C-House. (Photo: C-House)


Through the end of the month, you can treat yourself to the delightfully special supper paired with local suds at C-House.

Executive Chef Nicole Pederson has whipped up a three-course deal for $39 that features seasonal dishes and exceptional Midwest beers. You'll start with Goose Island's seafood-friendly Matilda, which complements the steamed mussels and Littleneck clams paired with root vegetables, espelette aioli and spiced Matilda-infused broth.

David Carrier OUT at Kith & Kin

(Photo: Andrews Braddy Photography)


Effective immediately, Chef de Cuisine Andrew Brochu has been bumped up to executive chef at Kith & Kin, relieving David Carrier of his duties.

This shocker came over the weekend as online 'zine Hungry Magazine broke the news about one of the hottest new restaurants in Lincoln Park:

Two Scoops For You . . .

Randy Zweiban, chef/owner of Province in the West Loop. (Photo: Laurie Proffitt Photography)


Some Ultimate Insiders tell 312DD to expect some hot new openings on the horizon.

What Do They Think of the Mayor's Retirement?!

Ina Pinkney, a.k.a. "The Breakfast Queen. (Photo: Ina Pinkney)


Love him or hate him, everyone's got an opinion of Mayor Daley's shocking announcement Tuesday that he wouldn't seek re-election in 2011.

It was all the buzz around town, particularly business owners, who will be severely affected by the changes.

Chicago's bar and restaurant owners took to their Facebook and Twitter accounts to express their views, and here's just a sampling of what some of them had to say:

My Friend's 'Downfall' at Big Star

Big Star's newest addition: the Sonoran Hot Dog. (Photo: Freddy Love)


Brand spanking new to the menu at Big Star is the Sonoran Hot Dog ($6), a bacon-wrapped, all-beef sensation stuffed into a toasted Mexican bolillo roll and topped with chile mayo, yellow mustard, jalapeño sauce, pinto beans, onions and tomatoes.

Of course, one of my friends was bold enough to finish the whole damn thing by himself, and he almost didn't make it. I was 10 minutes late to the Labor Day gathering, so I missed out on the action . . .

Get Ready For MeatyBalls!

Chef Phillip Foss and his Meatyballs Mobile truck. (Photo: The Pickled Tongue)


It's finally here.

GrubStreet introduces us to the Meatyballs Mobile, a new foodtruck concept by former Lockwood Executive Chef Phillip Foss.

The truck, which travels to the Loop, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and other parts of the North Side where it's certain to be a big hit, specializes in kosher meatballs. Foss's wife, Kenni, describes them as "four balls big enough to be part of a freak show" on a bun for $8.

Here's the current menu:

Rockin' Taco Closed Due to Robbery

(Photo: Rockin' Taco)


Some soulless person robbed Lakeview's awesome-est taco joint, Rockin' Taco, early this morning.

The owner posted this to his Facebook page: