Sunday Dinners Are The New Brunch

Vera's lobster paella is only available on Sunday. (Photo: Vera)

I am so over brunch.

It should be stress free, yet the long waits, screaming babies, and impatient and sometimes rude crowds can ruin what should have been a pleasant outing.

That's why we're all about Sunday dinners. By evening, people are calm and back to being civilized. Plus, it's an opportunity to catch some of the best deals of the week.

From Brasserie 54 by LM's new $25 prix-fixe French meal to Vera's lobster paella for two, we've gathered a host of fabulous feasts you don't want to pass up.

Jimmy Bannos Jr. Gets Big Honor From Food & Wine

So this is pretty sweet.

The Purple Pig's Jimmy Bannos Jr. is the only Chicago chef to be honored in Food & Wine's newest cookbook, America's Greatest New Cooks.

The tome features 12 up-and-coming culinary stars from around the country, with 100 recipes and photos of dishes from red-hot Mexican cuisine to ingredient-obsessed Italian food. The book is $32.95 and is available for sale right here.

Here's the cover:

Animal Tots, Foot-Long Grilled Cheese Highlights Of Menu At West Loop Newcomer Park Tavern

Park Tavern's foot-long grilled cheese (Photo: Park Tavern)

OMG.

Just in time for late fall, Park Tavern opens with a menu that's ideal for cold-weather noshing.

The sports bar upgrades typical pub grub with twists on classics such as Animal Tots (pulled pork, cheese curds, grain mustard, fried egg, and Bell’s Kalamazoo gravy over tater tots) and a foot-long grilled cheese of cheddar, chihuahua, pepper jack, candied Applewood bacon and chipotle spread that's topped with two fried eggs on a baguette. More exciting offerings include the Little Jar of Jam (bacon jam, pickled cherries, brie and garlic toast), jalapeño-bacon mac, bacon doughnuts and an Ooey Gooey Butter Cake.

One Good Turn Deserves Another?! Not For One Server Who Left A $5 Tip On $147 Comped Bill

Storefront's dining room (Photo: Storefront Company)

I was pretty bummed when I heard this story because I have always witnessed service industry folks having each others' backs:

According to one of Storefront Company's owners, a group of four women had brunch Sunday at the Bucktown restaurant and were visibly upset about how long they had to wait for their food.

To smooth matters over, their server extended an apology and a comped fruit platter. Apparently that wasn't enough because they complained to the manager on duty after their meal—with one of the diners making it known that she was a server herself . . . at Sunda.

Chicago Bartenders Raise $$$ For Hurricane Sandy Victims; Restaurants Also Pitch In With Fundraisers

The duo behind monthly industry night Party Rock Cocktail Crew celebrates its first-year anniversary at Salud with a blow-out bash featuring an all-star cast of cocktailists.

But what's particularly cool is that organizers Daniel de Oliveira (Olmeca Altos) and Sergio Serna (The Drawing Room) are using this grand opportunity to raise money for a great cause.

They've gathered the likes of Charles Joly (The Aviary), Lynn House (Blackbird), Paul McGee (Three Dots and a Dash), Josh Pearson (Sepia) and other members of the U.S. Bartenders Guild of Illinois to serve as guest bartenders to raise money for those suffering from Hurricane Sandy. One hundred percent of tips and donations will go to the U.S. Bartenders Guild of New York, which will make certain the money goes to good use.

The party happens 8pm-2am Monday, Nov. 5 with two different bartenders working each hour. There will also be complimentary food, shots, punch and beer sponsored by Becherovka and Altos Tequila.

Raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win gift cards for Mercadito, Bangers & Lace, The Gage, GT Fish and Oyster, Farmhouse, 2 Sparrows and The Anthem as well as a St. Germain bike. There will also be a live auction for an in-home, 10-person single malt scotch tasting party (1am-2am). DJ Konsept spins; there's a $20 suggested donation at the door.

Here are additional hurricane relief events happening around town until the end of November:

Feast Your Eyes On 312DD's Signature Taco For Mercadito And Share Our Strength

The 312DD "Taco For Strength" is spiced up with Jamaican Jerk Braised Flank Steak. (Photos: Mercadito)

It's so chilly out there that I decided to warm everyone up with a Caribbean-influenced taco and tippler during November.

I teamed up with Mercadito's talented chef Patricio Sandoval and beverage partners Paul Tanguay and Tad Carducci (of the Tippling Bros.) for the Tacos For Strength campaign to benefit Share Our Strength.

Since the campaign launched in 2011, it's seen much success with high-profile chefs like Stephanie Izard (Girl and the Goat, Little Goat), Giuseppe Tentori (Boka, GT Fish & Oyster) and Wylie Dufresne (wd~50) contributing a signature taco, and they've raised $4,000 for the organization to help end childhood hunger. So I'm pretty honored and humbled to participate.

My spicy contribution is the Jamaican Jerk Flank Steak Taco that's amped up with Peruvian white corn-leek fondue, cauliflower purée and crispy plantains. It's $16.50 for dinner (four per order) and $12.50 for lunch (three per order), and five percent of sales will be donated to Share Our Strength.

But wait . . . there's more!

Some Good News About Grace That Will Put A Smile On Your Face

Grace owner/chef Curtis Duffy (Photo: Michael Muser)

We've been waiting to hear this one for awhile.

The celebrated, two Michelin-star rated chef Curtis Duffy will finally start taking reservations for Grace on Nov. 6. Just to help you remember that date, it is also Election Day.

The restaurant's set to open late November, but they're taking those resos for December seatings. Here's the number.

DMK Restaurants Host A 'Drink Them Dry' Charity Event To Help Those Affected By Hurricane Sandy

One local restaurant group is stepping up to help in the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast.

From Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 2, DMK Restaurants—which owns Ada Street, DMK Burger Bar and Fishbar—is throwing a Drink Them Dry benefit where 20 percent of beverage sales goes toward the American Red Cross relief efforts.

They'll also sell raffle tickets for a few lucky people to win a $250 gift card to DMK Restaurants.