Be a sommelier for a day

Bistro 110's main dining room


This is one of my favorite events. Well, actually any event that includes endless amounts of bubbly is my favorite. But anyway, Bistro 110's (110 E. Pearson St., 312-266-3114) "Sommelier for a Day" is a walkaround wine-tasting event allowing guests to rate their favorites. The most popular selections make the menu.

It's approps that tonight's party takes on bubbly as most restaurants are gearing up for the busy holiday season. Bistro 110 is also celebrating its 20th anniversary, so they'll be sampling Champagne and sparkling wines from France to California.

Also, Executive Chef Dominique Tougne will pair specialty items with the Champagnes and sparkling wines, including smoked salmon pizza, mushroom ravioli, braised short ribs and more. It's $45, or $35 for Levy preferred members. 6-8pm. tonight.

'Dodo has left the building . . .'

. . .states the message on Dodo's website (dodochicago.com), as it closed late last week. I'm kinda sad because it was right in my 'hood in Ukrainian Village and I only got to get over there once since it opened early in 2006.

But have no fear. This eatery, which calls its well-received concept "breakfast+lunch=breakunch," is not going to be extinct for long. In early '08, they're re-opening at 2003 W. Fulton St. at the corner of Fulton and Damen. The owner says he had to get out of his original location due to serious landlord issues and ongoing electrical problems. We're really going to miss those thick hotcakes, strong coffee and hearty sandwiches. Stay tuned for the opening date.

Deal of the day . . .

So I remember a few weeks ago the "Today" show did this story on "blind dining," where customers ate multiple-course meals wearing blindfolds and had to figure out what they were eating. It was intriguing at the least, but quite daunting.

While I haven't come across any blind-dining deals in Chicago, I found this blind wine tasting event tonight at NoMI (800 N. Michigan Ave., 312-239-4030), the award-winning restaurant on the seventh floor of the Park Hyatt Hotel. "Cellar Notes," an open-house style party, takes place every Tuesday for $30 until the end of the year, and tonight's event is "Blind Tasting 101." Who knows what they're going to feature, but it's certain to be an entertaining event that challenges your taste buds. Cellar Notes occurs 5:30-7:30pm, but if you cannot make tonight, here is the rest of the schedule:

Nov. 13 - Australia and New Zealand
Nov. 20 - California Rising Stars
Nov. 27 - Alsace
Dec. 4 - Oregon Wines
Dec. 11 - Sparkling Wines and Champagne
Dec. 18 - Burgundy

Le Passage re-launches with hot new look, celeb chef

Le Passage's Friday night-opening invite is hot too.


The re-launch party invitation for Le Passage (937 N. Rush St., 312-225-0022) just arrived in my inbox, and I'm actually getting a little excited about it. In its heyday, we used to hang out there so much that we knew all the doormen and bartenders on a first-name basis.

Anyway, this is a new day for Le Passage, which has renamed the old Yow Bar The Drawing Room, where celebrated chef Shawn McClain (Custom House, Green Zebra, Spring) is designing the menu with his protege, Nick Lacasse. Not that there was anything wrong with those scrumptious mini-burgers and skinny fries, but methinks he's going to take it up a few notches.

The main room for the club looks the same save for they moved the deejay booth in the middle of the dance floor, but The Drawing Room has undergone a dramatic makeover that will be unveiled at the opening party Friday, Nov. 9 from 9pm-4am.

Give them a call and get on that list.

'Win Chef Kim' at your home

Le Lan's new private dining room could be yours this holiday season.

Here's a chance to impress your friends--if you win.

The stylish Asian-French Le Lan (749 N. Clark St., 312-280-9100) recently unveiled its swanky second-floor private dining room just in time for the busy holiday season. And if you book it for an event now through the end of the year, you'll be entered into a contest to win a dinner party at your home for up to 12 guests. The multiple-course menu--paired with various wines provided by the restaurant--will be prepared by the man himself: Executive Chef Bill Kim.

Blackbird's Paul Kahan as DJ?!

He's great with his hands, so I guess it should come as no surprise that he's using them to spin records now.

That's right. Blackbird's kick-ass, award-winning chef Paul Kahan is the special guest deejay at boutique wine bar Juicy Wine Co. (694 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-492-6620). It'll be interesting to see what he spins when he takes on the turntables Monday, Nov. 12, 10pm-close. Will it be rock? Soul? Old-school funk? Who knows, but it's something you don't want to miss. He's also bringing some signature appetizers for guests to snack on as they take advantage of owner Rodney Alex's hand-picked wine selections for $5.

Deal of the day . . .

The yummy pork empanadas at People Lounge.

Going out tonight?

Wicker Park's People Lounge (1560 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-227-9339) has a deal you should check out right after work. Every Sunday-Thursday 5:30pm-7, they're hosting a happy hour with all tapas for $3. Specials include pork empanadas, croquetas, queso de cabra (goat cheese with garlic bread) and spicy potatoes. You'll want to wash them down with their great selection of sangrias, including a white one made with champagne.

Also, stick around for nightly live music, ranging from Latin to soul.

Chambord takes note

The company behind Chambord, the deliciously decandent raspberry-flavored liqueur, is in town for a few days to get the opinions of some of our top industry experts on how their product is doing at their venues.

At a private event at the James Hotel on Sunday, the company invited service professionals from some of Chicago's hot spots to test out new cocktails and encourage them to create their own. Most of the guests admitted that Chambord is rarely used in cocktails at Chicago's bars and restaurants, but the company aimed to change that trend by the end of the night. Reps from Butterfly Social Club, Blue Water Grill, Club 720, Funky Buddha Lounge, Martini Park and NoMI sampled a variety of Chambord-flavored cocktails, including a sweet tea made with vodka, a bourbon drink and a frozen margarita. But it was their spin on the mojito that everyone seemed to love the most--including me--so I've decided to include the recipe so you can make it yourself:

Chambord Mojito
2 oz. Appleton White Rum
1/2 oz. Chambord
6-8 mint leaves
2 lime wedges
1/2 tablespoon sugar
Club soda

Add sugar, mint leaves, lime wedges and a splash of soda water to a tall glass. Muddle until sugar is dissolved. Add ice to glass. Add Appleton and Chambord. Stir to mix. Top with a splash of soda.