Yum. Gimme Some Rum!

Mount Gay Rum Punch. (Photo: Mount Gay Rum)

Get excited.

August 16 is National Rum Day.

Yeah, mon. The first thought that came into my mind when I found out about this momentous occasion is to get to Ja'Grill in Lincoln Park ASAP.

The Ja' Rum Punch is a potent concoction that's made of Appleton white rum, Myer's dark rum, Malibu coconut rum and tropical juices.

Tuesday nights are also popular with a young professional neighborhood crowd that comes out for deejay entertainment in the lower-level lounge. We just need to warn you: Limit yourself to two glasses of Ja' Rum Punch because you might not wake up in time for work on Wednesday!

More cocktails to indulge on National Rum Day:

Lynn House Shakes Up Cocktails at Celeb Wedding

Sherri Shepherd (left) and Lynn House.

If you stopped by Blackbird over the weekend, then you couldn't help but notice that their master mixologist Lynn House was missing in action.

The drinks dynamo got a rare Saturday night off to serve as the celebrity mixologist for The View's Sherri Shepherd's wedding reception at the Fairmont Hotel (The last time she got a night off like this it was for Oprah's all-star wrap party).

Taste of Chicago's Food Truck Scene

Nida Rodriguez posing inside the Slide Ride. (Photo: Slide Ride)

It seems like every time we turn around, a new ride's jumping aboard the food truck trend.

This week alone, Lettuce Entertain You's Wow Bao announced the forthcoming Buns on the Run, and look around this weekend (and next week) for Macy's Culinary Council's A-Go-Go mobile vehicle with super chefs Rick Bayless and Takashi Yagihashi passing out signature bites.

But how did it all begin, and where can you get delicious, on-the-go gourmet grub, including naan-wiches, tamales, meatball sandwiches, empanadas and mac 'n' cheese, every day?

The Worst Dining Stories You'll Ever Hear

(Photo: Zagat)

No one's perfect.

There are bad servers, and there are certainly customers who behave badly like the infamous two-cent tipper.

But never, ever, ever, ever in my years of dining did I think I'd ever come across a story like this:

Who's Got The Skills?!

With oysters so freaking popular right now, Frontier in Noble Square couldn't help but throw a big bash on National Oyster Day, on August 14.

And in addition to offering a number of specials (dozen oysters for $12; $10 oyster Po'Boys; $6 char-grilled oysters), they're hosting a contest to find out once and for all which restaurant employs the best oyster shucker in town.

Don't *&^%$#@#$%^ with Graham Elliot!

(Photo: Graham Elliot)

Uh, oh.

A Syracuse, N.Y., chef got into an online fight with Graham Elliot. What was he thinking?!

Here's how GE laid the smackdown on that a**.

Veerasway Temporarily Closed For 'Reconcept'

(Photo: Veerasway)

Apparently there's no need to worry if you recently passed by Veerasway and wondered why it was dark.

An Ultimate Insider tells 312DD that the Indian-focused resto in the West Loop is temporarily shuttered because it's reconcepting.

UPDATE: Looks like that spot will be joining the burger trend, according to Eater Chicago.

Chefs Unite For Epic Seafood Supper at L2O

L2O's main dining room. (Photo: L2O)

So, here's your ultimate seafood-focused dinner of the summer.

L2O teams up with Supreme Lobster for a Hawaiian-themed dinner prepared by some of the city's culinary stars.

The resto's top toques Francis Brennan and Matthew Kirkley, plus pastry chef Stephanie Prida, whip up a multi-course meal with Curtis Duffy (Avenues), Todd Stein (Florentine), Paul Virant (Perennial Virant, Vie) and Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia) to benefit the Hawaii Seafood Council.