Mmmmmmmm, sandwiches . . .

Slashfood readers pick the top 50 sandwiches in America, including the Cemita and wet Italian Beef at local favorites Cemitas Pueblo and Al's Beef, respectively.

Don't see yours on the list? Make your voice heard in the comments section like everyone else!

For the Fellas (so single ladies know where to go!)

The James Club, at the James Hotel in River North. (Photo: James Hotel)


March Madness's officially on for the NCAA basketball season, and everyone's scrambling on where they're going to watch the games.

If you don't want to get caught up in the mayhem, we suggest reserving The James Club, tucked inside the James Hotel.

The venue's typically used for private dinners and small board meetings, but you can have it for your very own March Madness viewing party for free (with a minimum of 15 people; $65 per person). The personalized wet bar, leather-rimmed billiards table, free Wi-Fi, plasma screen and lush, oversized furniture are just some of the perks.

Plus, you can't beat the David Burke's Primehouse Bracket Buster Menu (mini steak “Burkers,” wings, fajita station, cured Italian meats, sushi station and Chicago-style pizza) that comes with the deal. Call 312-337-1000 to secure.

Here's where else to go on this very guy-centric weekend (where the guys go, the girls will certainly follow!):

THURSDAY

Bulls' star Ben Gordon hosts a March Madness kickoff party at Bull & Bear. We'll put our money on those two coveted VIP tables with personalized beer taps already reserved. 7pm-2am. No cover.

Award-winning British ale B United makes a rare appearance in a Chicago venue, and Roscoe Village's Lush Wine & Spirits gets the honor. A few spaces are left for guests to indulge in sampling, food and words from a rep. 7-8:30pm. $15; RSVP required.

Celebrated Nacional 27 mix man Adam Seger's monthly happy hour class is back, this time focusing on "spice and ice" cocktails. He'll show you how to make his Mango-Ginger-Habanero Daiquiri and Chadwick Mojito. Appetizers and recipe cards, too. 5:30-6:30pm. $15.

Ultimate bro-mance flick "I Love You Man" hits theaters Friday, but you and the boys might wanna check out the specially themed party at Sheffield's before going. Somehow tonight was tagged National Man-Date Day (WTF?!), so they're doing it up big with "man trivia," a “Rock, Paper, Scissors” tournament, $4 bromance shots and more. Oh, and the grand prize for the tournament is a "beer bouquet." O-kay. 9pm-midnight. No cover.

Martini Park's brand-new, after-work menu includes a number of small bites ($5-$8), plus cocktails. Favorites include Rhode Island Style Rock Shrimp and Buffalo Chicken Lollipops. Also, live music and the games will be shown on several monitors. 5-8pm. No cover.

Who needs the Pussycat Dolls when Le Passage has The Dollhouse?! Think sexy burlesque dancers and $200 bottles of Snow Queen vodka. And if you arrive early (10-11pm), they'll pamper you with complimentary cocktails. DJ Adrie Marie spins hip-hop. 10pm-4am. RSVP to LPinfo@lepassage.com for guest list.

FRIDAY

NYC electroclash duo Fischerspooner spins a one-of-a-kind deejay set at Debonair Social Club to support Chicago-based environmental cause "Dude We Can Fix It." The group's raising funds for "We Can Solve It," the Al Gore organization with the goal of having America's electricity generated from non-fossil fuel sources within 10 years. 9pm-2am. Donation.



NYC electroclash duo Fischerspooner spins at Debonair Friday.


SATURDAY

For the first time ever, Gen Art's SHOP Chicago features men's designers—selected by Thrillist. Look for more than 50 emerging accessory and clothing designers, including Lara Miller, organiK Revolution, PAOO LLC, liaMolly, Foxglove Accessories as well as Thrillist-approved menswear DEMOGRAPHIC, Loop Apparel and TATTOOED TEES. Those who get the VIP tickets will also have access to the lounge, which includes sounds by DJ Sye Young, comped cocktails and spa treatments. 1-6pm. General admission free; VIP tickets $40. The Great Hall, Union Station, 275 S. Clinton St.

More shopping on tap over at Funkshion (2121 W. Division St., 773-697-4119) in Ukrainian Village, where you can get cardigans and blazers at 70 percent off. You can also rifle through their new spring line of men's styles (and women's) as DJ Ben Castaneda spins in the corner. Guests will also be treated to an open bar 7-11pm. The after-party happens at Bon V (mention "Funkshion" for free admission). 9pm-3am.

If you're still standing after watching the games all day, how about some scotch sampling from Chivas 18?! Head to Moonshine (8:30-10pm) and/or Five Star Bar (10-11:30pm) for the juice. No cover.

SUNDAY

The Publican's first-ever brunch last Sunday was a little shaky, yet a major success as executive chef Paul Kahan twittered the entire service to the delight of hundreds of hungry fans all over the country. We think it'll be even more crowded as folks come in for the Beer Mimosas, Scrapple & Sunnyside Eggs and house-cured smoked bacon. 10am-2pm

Newcomer Feast Gold Coast delves right into brunch service with Eggs Royale (poached eggs and smoked salmon on an English muffin with hollandaise and caviar) with a glass of Luis Pato Sparkling Rosé Brut for $20 and a classic Hangover Helper (a.k.a. Bloody Mary). 10am-3pm

TUESDAY

Warrenville's Two Brothers Brewery hosts a tasting at Bluebird, highlighting the full lineup of all their beers. They're also bringing in a special pin firkin (5 gallon keg) of just-released Bare Tree Barleywine, plus reps will be on hand to answer questions. Brats and snacks will also be served. 7:30-9:30pm. $25; RSVP required.

Shout out to stouts . . .

Sheffield’s at it again with more "beer school programs" coming up by two of Michigan's premier breweries.

Beer fanatics will love Dark Night, hosted by Dark Horse Brewery, and a chance to check out yummy stouts like One Oatmeal, Too Cream, Fore Smoke and Tres Blueberry.

For the event, Sheffield’s offers $3 pilsner-size (half-pint) paired with comped passed appetizers as Pink Floyd’s "Dark Side of the Moon" serves as a backdrop for the evening. 7pm March 25.


Also happening is Bells’ Oberon Summer Ale Release Party, as the brewery taps its first keg of the season. The lively event includes sampling of the beer; Luke Schmidt of Buddy Nuisance and American Taxi on hand for a live acoustic performance; and raffle giveaways for Cubs tickets, t-shirts and a VIP tour of Bells Brewery. That's happening at 7pm March 30.

Today's the day!

Grab your green and get on the St. Patrick's Day scene.

We've got record high temperatures today, so check CitySearch's hot list for lively venues, including Abbey Pub, The Kerryman and O'Brien's.

Enjoy the day!

Food (Writer) Fight!

"Get a life," emailed Chicago Sun-Times restaurant critic Pat Bruno to Chicagoist dining writer Chuck Sudo in response to this post Monday calling out his "re-review" of Cafe Bionda:

"We still read newspapers, oh yes we do, indeed. So we were happy to find, while reading last Friday's Sun-Times, that restaurant critic Pat Bruno had an opinion of Café Bionda much in line with ours. We also have a good memory and thought, 'Hadn't Bruno reviewed Bionda before?'

Turned out he had. Only it was Bionda's Wicker Park location, and it was only last February that Bruno raved about that one. Helen Rosner at MenuPages Chicago compares the similarities between the reviews. For us, the issue is one of simple laziness. One of the knocks on Bruno's recent work is that it's, let's say, by the numbers. Far be it from us to criticize someone for writing about what he knows best, which in Bruno's case is Italian dining. But two reviews of what is essentially the same restaurant seems like laziness."

Oh, and this gets even better when the Chicagoist writer gets Bruno on the phone, but you gotta read his response—and diss—here.

Drama!

Seriously, what is going on with DC?!

Please, please, please tell me my eyes are playing tricks on me!

Here's today's headline for Daily Candy:

"Slutting Her Stuff"

And then it just gets better from there:

"There are two kinds of hos.

Cheap ones (Ashley — or is it Kirsten?) and hos who make dough.

Jessica Volpe is the latter. Her alter ego, the Pasta Puttana (“pasta whore” in Italian), makes the silkiest, freshest macaroni in the land."

Woot?!

Food Network star looking for fresh faces

Celeb chef David Adjey (Photo: Red Apple Productions)


We cannot get enough of chef-driven reality shows, from Tom Colicchio's "Top Chef" to Marco Pierre White's "Chopping Block."

So now comes Canadian superstar David Adjey ("Restaurant Makeover," "Ready, Set, Cook," "Iron Chef America"), who's doing a nationwide casting call for a brand-new show. Each episode of "David Adjey's Restaurant 101" follows a first-time restaurant owner as he/she gets ready to open to the public.

They're looking for new owners who are launching local restaurants (no chains, franchises) with at least 50 seats and a full-service bar. Potential candidates must also allow cameras to shoot in the restaurant for 10 days.

If a Chicago-area restaurateur is selected for the show, portions of the shoot will take place at the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, happening May 16-19 at McCormick Place.

Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill) and Marcus Samuelsson (C-House) (who are both confirmed to attend) as well as Art Smith (Table Fifty-Two), Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia), Thomas Keller, Gale Gand (Tru), Cat Cora, Mario Batali and other star chefs have attended the show in the past.

For more info on "David Adjey's Restaurant 101", go here.

Weekend Tweet Beat . . .

The "Scrapple and Sunnyside Eggs," from Publican's first-ever brunch service, which was Live Tweeted Sunday. (Photo: Publican)


What were Chicago's top chefs up to this weekend?! 312DD checks out their Twitter accounts:

Grant Achatz (Executive Chef/Owner Alinea): "Figured out way to make entire tabletop a plate. Fun, engaging, and entertaining,but is it fine dining eating w/ hands from table surface?"

Graham Elliot Bowles (Executive Chef/Owner graham elliot): "New spring menu, new music/playlist, new dining room lights, new lavender aroma, new mirror box display...mon, March 30th."

Phillip Foss (Executive Chef/Lockwood): "Just finished brunch at the Publican... sadistic to come during the 1st service, but enjoyed very much... loved the egg poached in red wine.."

Koren Grieveson (Executive Chef/avec): "I'm getting on my motorcycle today and seeking out a fat juicy burger at Kuma's!"

Stephanie Izard (Executive Chef/The Drunken Goat): "Heading back to Chi...will have a blog and recipes from this michigan trip up in a couple days on website."

Paul Kahan (Executive Chef/Owner Publican): "Teaching everyone how to make hash browns, its about the crispy. And the curly parsley. So cheesey on the hashbrowns, I love that." (from the Live Tweet of Publican's first brunch service)

Paul Kahan: "My inspiration for brunch is obviously not any brunch experience I may have had at Erwin but late night dining at the Diner Grill." (from the Live Tweet of Publican's first brunch service)

Ryan Poli (Executive Chef/Perennial): "Still thinking about the great time i had at Sunda last night!"

Debbie Sharpe (Executive Chef/Owner Feast): "Avoiding sea of green in Bucktown by escaping to home by way of alleys. Will deal with OP's hangovers tomorrow at Feast brunch."

Sarah Stegner (Executive Chef/Prairie Grass Cafe): "86 salmon cake benedicts. Sold 25 orders!"

Erick Williams (Executive Chef/mk): "Just got in live sea urchins and they look amazing..."