Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs & Mixologists Are Up To Around Town This Week

Rick Gresh of David Burke's Primehouse (Photo: David Burke's Primehouse)

Where the hell is spring?!

• The Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's annual Red or White Ball is one of the best young professional charity events of the year, particularly because it attracts a lot of creative types. In 2011, they added a chef component to the VIP portion of the event, and this year's lineup looks pretty impressive. Set to serve are Rick Gresh (David Burke's Primehouse), Thomas Elliott Bowman and Ben Roche (Baume & Brix), Puje Dorlig (Jellyfish), Mark Payne (Deca Restaurant + Bar) and Jean Tippenhauer (Fred's at Barneys New York). The main event takes place at Venue One (1044 W. Randolph St.) with the after-party happening at Nellcôte. 7pm (VIP reception), 8pm April 5. Get the tickets right here.

• Robert DeNiro's glamorous Nobu restaurant that he owns with chef Nobu Matsuhisa is apparently on its way to the West Loop.

• Speed Rack returns to Chicago, and it's a great opportunity to see the city's most talented female bartenders compete against one another in various cocktail challenges. Proceeds from the event benefit breast cancer research and it's a strong turnout from Chicago's mixology community. Some of the competitors include the likes of Annemarie Sagoi (Big Star/The Charleston), Cristiana DeLucca (The Drawing Room) and Jess Keene (Barrelhouse Flat). Star-tenders Paul McGee (Bub City/Three Dots and a Dash), Lynn House (Blackbird) and Peter Vestinos (BellyQ) will serve as judges. 3-7pm March 24 at Cobra Lounge. $20 in advance by purchasing tickets here; $25 at door. Admission price include an open bar and appetizers.

The 2013 James Beard Nominees Are In . . .

Chef Curtis Duffy and his team at Grace are one of the James Beard nominees for 2013. (Photo: Michael Muser)

The nominees for the 2013 James Beard Awards have been released.

Chicago's representing our vibrant dining scene well this year, with One Off Hospitality (avec, Blackbird, Violet Hour, etc.) leading the pack with four noms and West Loop newcomer Grace in the running for Best New Restaurant.

Here is how Chicago fared:

Get Ready: Perennial Virant Launches Breakfast

Perennial Virant's biscuits and gravy with Gunthorp Farms chicken sausage and sunny side up eggs. (Photo: Perennial Virant)

Well, this makes sense for Perennial Virant, especially when Green City Market opens its outdoor event directly across the street in the spring.

Beginning April 1, the award-winning restaurant on the first floor of the Lincoln Hotel will start serving breakfast 6:30-10:30am Monday through Friday. Wednesdays should be especially busy with the pre- and post-Green City Market crowds.

Erling Wu-Bower Talks His Heritage, New Menus & First-Ever Cocktail Program At Avec

Erling Wu-Bower photo via Time Out Chicago.

Since taking over as chef de cuisine at avec last summer, Erling Wu-Bower has been pretty consistent with changing the menu on a regular basis. He works with his team of chefs and cooks to come up with at least three to five dishes every other week to keep the menu fresh and the staff inspired.

"The restaurant's menu does not just reflect my thoughts," Wu-Bower says. "The more people contributing helps the menu stay creative."

It's nice to know that a place as busy as the Mediterranean-focused avec (it's open daily at 3:30pm and stays open late) doesn't rely on its popularity and the fact that diners don't mind ordering the same items every visit.

Wu-Bower gets his creative juices flowing by reading online menus and a set of recipe books meant for the avec staff. It also helps that he brings a diverse ethnic background to the table; he's half Chinese, half Creole.

Hubbard Inn Has Been Sold

Hubbard Inn's interior (Photo: Hubbard Inn)

I received a tip earlier this week regarding the fate of ambitious River North cocktail lounge Hubbard Inn.

Apparently there are rumors that the team behind the bar as well as Barn & Company, Black Bull, English and LaSalle Power Co. sold everything last month.

"This is not true," says one of the principals, David Mitria.

Freebie Alert: M Burger!

M Burger's signature double-stack burger. (Photo: M Burger)

This is the kind of news we LOVE.

To celebrate its third birthday, all M Burger locations (Loop, River North, Streeterville, Water Tower Place Mall) will generously give you a special gift.

Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs & Mixologists Are Up To Around Town This Week

Charles Joly of Aviary.

Bring on the sunshine . . .

• Beer enthusiasts should get excited about this: Aviary's Charles Joly has collaborated with Evil Twin Brewing and Against the Grain Brewery to create a porter using grilled corn husks. Check out the video.

• American Junkie is set to open Wednesday, March 20. In addition to acquiring former City Tavern/Sepia chef Kendal Duque as head chef, the River North-based restaurant has also recently tapped Bob Zrenner (Hubbard Inn/Black Bull Tapas) and Tony Potempa (Boarding House) to join the team. Zrenner will serve as #2 in the kitchen, while Potempa will head the cocktail program, which will focus on lighter, California-inspired cocktails. There will also be two cocktails on tap at all times.

The Shamrock 'Shake,' Jameson Cocktails & More Part of St. Patrick's Day Celebrations This Weekend

The line outside of Celtic Crossings in 2011. (Photo: Celtic Crossings)

Last year was absolutely insane on St. Patrick's Day in Chicago for a number of reasons. The Irish-themed holiday fell on a Saturday. It was sunny and almost 80 degrees. Everyone was in a great mood.

Even if we don't get similar weather this time around, everyone should still be in a great mood because there's just so much cool stuff going on. From specially designed cocktails and magically delicious cupcakes to authentic Irish restaurants and bars where you can get your Shamrock "shake" on, we've got you covered this week.