'Time' Writer Blasts Grilled Cheese Trend

We were excited when local restaurateur Dion Antic announced last week that he was opening the grilled cheese-focused Melt Sandwich Shop this fall.

I mean, who doesn't like a well-made grilled cheese?! There's absolutely nothing to complain about, especially when this classic, simple sandwich is elevated with gourmet ingredients.

That's why I was a bit perplexed when Time's Josh Ozersky insisted in his latest column that this perfectly gooey grub should be made by your mom's hands, not by someone else's in a cold, restaurant kitchen.

How strange, huh?! Especially since chefs across the country have been reclaiming and reinventing comfort food on a higher level for years. In fact, it's been well documented that the trend hit its highest note right after Sept. 11, 2001, as more Americans gravitated toward cuisine that made them feel closer to home.

Peninsula Looks For Duffy's Replacement on Craigslist

Curtis Duffy, chef de cuisine at Avenues at the Peninsula. (Photo: Peninsula Chicago)

Someone at Peninsula Chicago is being seriously lazy about hiring new staff for Avenues.

I stumbled across this Craigslist ad for listings for not only hostesses, servers and cooks, but a restaurant manager and chef de cuisine positions as well.

Come ON. This is the restaurant that not only scored a two-star Michelin rating, but top accolades from major media all over the world because of current chef de cuisine Curtis Duffy, who's leaving in September to work on opening his own restaurant.

See the complete ad below:

Former Bonsoiree Chef Heads To Pops

Luke Creagan is the new executive chef at Pops for Champagne. (Photo: Luke Creagan)

After just a couple of weeks of leaving Logan Square's Michelin-rated Bonsoiree, Luke Creagan is on to his next adventure.

He tells 312DD exclusively that on Wednesday he accepted an offer to be the executive chef at Pops for Champagne, which has not had an exciting food menu since Andrew Brochu left a couple of years ago.

Life Beyond 'Lolla' This Weekend

(Photo: Lollapalooza 2010)

For whatever reason, you're skipping Lollapalooza this year. You couldn't get tickets. You didn't like the acts. Or, you're simply just over it.

And while the city's pretty much consumed with the three-day music festival happening this weekend (August 5-7) in Grant Park, there is much more going on elsewhere.

August 5 also happens to be National Waffle Day, so you can start your morning with something light and fluffy.

'Andersonville Dinner Crawl' Returns!

The Taste of Andersonville Dinner Crawl returns, offering foodies a chance to chow down at a number of area restaurants at one time.

You get to choose from three routes: SALT, PEPPER or THE WHOLE ENCHILADA when the event takes place 6-9pm August 17 during the weekly Andersonville Farmer's Market.

Today Is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!

Not only is this my most favorite day of the year, but it just got even better.

NPR recently discovered the most ingenious way to celebrate National Ice Cream Sandwich Day during a trip to Lincoln Park's Dirty Betty's. They made them with house-made doughnuts!

While it might not be the most practical way to eat the traditional treat, it's definitely an alternative to the usual. And speaking of which, we found some other spots around town serving up their own twists to the classic summer frozen sweet:

'Hamburger Hop' Back For 'Chicago Gourmet'

NoMI's award-winning "800 Burger" from the first-ever "Hamburger Hop" competition. (Photo: Joseph Storch)

Just got word that tickets for the second-annual Hamburger Hop went on sale Monday.

Last year it was the highlight of Chicago Gourmet, the two-day festival taking place Sept. 24-25 in Millennium Park. Hamburger Hop kicks off the foodie extravaganza on Sept. 23, offering guests signature burgers from 15 of Chicago's top chefs.

Where Bartenders Go For Late-Night Bites

Bartenders Josh Davis (left) of the South Loop Club and Henri's Clint Rogers.

You already know you're dining in the right spot if you spot a chef or two sitting at the next table, but when it comes to late-night noshing, we look to the bartenders for what's going down.

I recently caught up with some of the city's top 'tenders on DiningChicago.com to find out where they like to wind down. And it's no surprise that they prefer to stick closer to home.

Here's what I found out . . .