Monday, May 23, 2011

A Bulls-Themed, 3-Foot Long Pizza

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"Bring on the Heat" al metro pizza at Dough Boys. (Photo: Dough Boys)

Maybe, just maybe, this will be the motivation the Bulls need to win the fourth game Tuesday.

Dough Boys just introduced a Bring on the Heat pizza special for its signature, three-foot-long al metro.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Dante LoPresti is 'The Star of the Bar!'

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Dante LoPresti is the mixologist at Double A. (Photo: Jay Schroeder)

The Bulls effing lost again.

But that's OK because another Chicago hot shot made us proud Sunday during the National Restaurant Association Show's annual Star of the Bar competition.

Double A's fantastic mixologist Dante LoPresti won $5,000 for his Pink Lion cocktail, which contains Cazadores Blanco, Hum liqueur, Elderflower Lillet Blanc and fresh lemon.

I've had it at the bar and can assure you that it's one helluva concoction.

Congrats, Dante!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Your Best Hangover 'Cures' Are Right Here

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You guys are CRAZY . . . when it comes to curing hangovers.

When I kicked off The Hangover Part II contest Monday, I had no idea I'd get a couple hundred recipes and remedies for hangovers almost immediately.

And some of them were so bizarre and out there that they made my head spin. I mean, I've never heard of whipping up Pedialyte & Red Bull together, but The Beer Bistro's Bob McDermott "swears by it."

I also received submissions like "rub a slice of lemon or lime in the armpit of (your) drinking arm before you start drinking to stop a hangover before it starts," drink "pickle juice straight out of the jar," and ummmm, quite a few calls for getting busy in the boudoir.

But it wasn't too hard to pick the Top Six winners (yeah, we decided to toss in another pair of tix!), who will all get advance screening passes to check out "The Hangover Part II" on Monday. The grand prize winner also gets a $30 gift card for Epic Burger. Yum.

Lynn House Hits Up ABC-7's 'Windy City Live'

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Lynn House (left) with fellow local mixologists Carlos Enrique Cuarta and Debbi Peek. (Photo: Lynn House)

ABC-7's new Windy City Live show debuts next Thursday at 9am, but we're way more excited about Friday's show when one of our favorite people in the world is scheduled to appear.

Blackbird's head mixologist Lynn House will be on doing what she does best: making cocktails.

Haute Pastries in the 'Hood . . .

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West Town's Leopold just snapped up one haute pastry chef in Erin Mooney, who was most recently at Atlanta's Dining Room (Ritz-Carlton) as well as BLT Steak.

And before she hit Hotlanta, the Jean Banchet Rising Star Pastry Chef winner (2003) was at Green Zebra and the now-shuttered Spring.

At Leopold, she'll serve as sous chef, but we're certain she'll be tinkering around with the desserts too!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Bad-Ass Butchering Skills . . .

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(Photo: The Bristol)

Here's The Bristol's carnivore crazed chef Chris Pandel breaking down a Slagel Farm goat.

I'm certain he'll have some fantastic specials on the menu this weekend . . .

Bon V Liquor License Reinstated

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(Photo: Bon V)

West Loop nightclub Bon V got its liquor license revoked Monday, but it was reinstated late Thursday afternoon, according to state officials.

"A representative from Bon V came to the downtown office and paid a substantial amount of money to get their license back for at least 30 days," said my source.

That means the spot will be back in business just in time for the weekend.

Food & Wine's Essential Cocktail Guide

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It came in the mail today.

Food & Wine's awesome and indispensable little cocktail party guide spotlighting the country's top culinary and cocktail kings and queens.

And you know we wouldn't even be gushing about this if it didn't include Chicago's stars of the highest order. In the Party Food section, you'll find a recipe for Chickpea Fritters with Tapenade from Girl & The Goat's Stephanie Izard. Apparently she eats cooked chickpeas straight from the can.