Aviary-Endorsed Project Raises More Than $20,000 In Less Than 15 Minutes

The Porthole by Martin Kastner of Crucial Detail. (Photo: Crucial Detail)

Grant Achatz is like Oprah. I am dead serious.

At 5:58pm Tuesday, the super chef tweeted that "The Porthole by @MartinKastner /Crucial Detail is available on kickstarter."

What on earth is The Porthole?! Apparently a ton of people immediately saw that tweet and went to that link because in less than 15 minutes, more than $20,000 was raised for The Aviary-endorsed product that's one of the showpieces of the cocktail lounge.

Celebrate Whitney's Life at Kit Kat Lounge!

The iconic Whitney Houston would have turned 49 on August 9, and to celebrate her most glorious days, Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club is having a party!

The popular Lakeview spot is dedicating the night to the diva who brought us hot charttoppers like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," "How Will I Know" and "I'm Your Baby Tonight." Of course, that means there will be over-the-top performances by Kit Kat's own "diva" Aurora Sexton, who will sing Whitney's best ballads and pop hits. The party takes place 5:30pm-2am.

Freebie Alert: Maison!

Don't let 'em fool you because apparently there is a such thing as a free lunch.

The new French-focused Maison celebrates what would have been Napoleon Bonaparte's 243rd birthday on August 15.

If you're one of the first lucky 100 lunch guests, here's what you will get:

Little Goat Now Reportedly Opening in October

(Photo: Stephanie Izard)

Stephanie Izard's Little Goat diner concept—which is directly across the street from big sis Girl & The Goat—was supposed to open in mid-September, according to the chef.

But now comes word from Eater Chicago that it's now scheduled to debut in October. Izard also revealed to the site some additional details about the restaurant, including that "the 8,200-square-foot diner will seat 120 people and will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. In the morning, a coffee bar will sell artisan bread baked in house and at night that space will convert into a bar selling local craft brews."

Should More Restaurants Practice This Policy?!

(Photo: 312 Dining Diva)

I had a cocktail last week at the bar in Michael Jordan's Steak House before dinner and got this bill that automatically calculated recommended gratuity.

I thought it was a pretty clever tactic that made its point without embarrassing the customer. Perhaps more restaurants should think about doing the same . . .

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf Soft Opens This Week

Just got word from Sodikoff Restaurant Group top gun Brendan Sodikoff that Bavette's Bar & Boeuf is finally opening this week in River North. That's the team's fifth project, which promises a "traditional American steakhouse with a European influence," an extensive scotch-based program and an adjacent burger bar.

But here's the best part of the news: During the soft-opening phase (Tuesday-Thursday), 100 percent of the profits (minus tips, of course!) will benefit Heshima Kenya, which assists unaccompanied refugee children and youth living in Nairobi.

Deals & Steals You Don’t Want To Miss

Michael Jordan's grilled Maine lobster with lobster creamed corn and watercress salad. (Photo: Michael Jordan's Steak House)

I'm always a sucker for a big hunk of meat—particularly when we're talking about lobster. So I cannot help but be psyched by the newest offering at Michael Jordan's Steak House where you can get a lobster prix-fixe dinner for $49.

Thankfully, it's not just big 'ol chunks of crustacean; the menu is very well thought out and doesn't overdo the theme. You'll start with the sweet corn lobster bisque that's decadently poured over lobster hush puppies in a vanilla bean aioli.

And then there's the main event of grilled Maine lobster that comes with lobster creamed corn and watercress salad. For an extra twenty bucks, you can add a juicy filet, but believe me when I tell you that's going to be too much food. The deal continues through August 31.

Check out even more deals . . . and steals happening throughout the month:

Chicago's Most Fit & Fabulous Foodies

From left: Liz Grossman, Chris LaMorte, Kelli Zink, Steve Dolinsky and Heather Sperling.

Eating out can be hazardous to your health—when you're a professional food & drink writer. I've seen my weight go up and down 10 pounds to 15 pounds to 20 pounds for the last several years because of the rich foods and beverages I must consume in order to do my job effectively.

I've always, however, taken fitness very serious and maintained a regular workout regime. I've always indulged in the very power-driven Forrest yoga and as well as cycling in the city, but only recently did I take up Flywheel in River North.

The intense, indoor cycling experience takes the usual spinning class to the next level, offering high-tech bikes, stadium seating, light weight training, and extreme climbs and descents. Classes average 45 to 60 minutes, and immediately after you're rewarded with a complimentary piece of fresh fruit, which certainly holds off your appetite for a couple of hours.

The hard work has paid off (Forrest yoga+cycling+Flywheel) and I now approach food and drinks more responsibly when I dine out. My routine satisfies my lifestyle and work schedule, but everyone's different.

Here's what some of my colleagues do in order to stay in phenomenal shape . . .