Two Chicago chefs host The Big Ten Cookout

Julius Russell, new co-host for "The Big Ten Cookout" (Photo: Big Ten Network)


It's a touchdown for Chicago!

This fall, not one, but two local chefs have been tapped by the Big Ten Network to bring an exciting gourmet twist to the typical tailgaiting party.

Julius Russell of A Tale of Two Chefs and former Rhapsody chef Ben Walanka—who made it to the finals on FOX's Hell's Kitchen—will host The Big Ten Cookout on Saturday mornings beginning Sept. 5.



Ben Walanka, new co-host for "The Big Ten Cookout" (Photo: Big Ten Network)


Each week, the chefs join different tailgaters and taste their dishes and then try to enhance and introduce them to clever ways to better feed their teams.

I'm not much of a football fan, but I'll certainly tune it to see what they whip up!

Check your local listings for channels/schedule.

Radhika rocks Kit Kat for Top Chef parties

(Photo: Radhika Desai)


Look for a familiar face at Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club during the next Top Chef season, beginning tonight.

Radhika Desai, former chef at Between Boutique Cafe and Lounge, competed last season when the show took place in New York.

She'll host weekly viewing parties at the offbeat Lakeview eatery that'll include cocktail demos, Q&As and the show on five large screens with sound. For the season premiere, she'll shake up The Slumdog, that's made with Goslings Rum, pineapple juice, fresh mint and candied ginger. Of course, Kit Kat's offering free samples of the cocktail, plus half-price martinis and buy-one-get-one entrees.

Premiere night includes Radhika's demo (8-9pm), followed by the premiere of Top Chef: Las Vegas (8-9pm), Top Chef Masters Finale (9-10pm) and finally the Q&A (10pm).

Also look forward to special guest appearances at upcoming viewing parties by former Top Chef contenders Jill Snyder, Lauren Hope and Ariane Duarte.

Mr. Skin party doesn't disappoint

For those of you who missed Mr. Skin's 10th anniversary party Tuesday at Roof, here's a highlight. (Photo: floozefactor/Flickr)

New night spots for West Town, River North

Clutch's huge outdoor patio is only a stone's throw from long-time West Town favorite Twisted Spoke—which boasts an awesome rooftop lounge. (Photo: Courtesy of Urban Daddy Chicago)


Urban Daddy discovers an abandoned West Town auto repair shop that's been transformed into neighborhood hang Clutch—destined to become famous for its deep-fried hot dogs:

"There's The Ripper—the aforementioned deep-fried dog, slathered with tangy mustard-onion relish—and the Clutcheasy, a third-pound burger that's completely enveloped with a half-pound of crusty cheese."

Also in nightlife news, 312DD had the scoop on Cuvee way back in December, when an Ultimate Insider revealed that Latin-laced club Buzz was closing in favor of a more mainstream spot from the guys behind Enclave.

But what we didn't know was the bar's concept. Metromix reports it's a "super-exclusive spot for the city's elite and in-town celebs to sip from a list of worldly sparkling wines and champagne cocktails." Also, "There is not currently a guest list in place and the door policy and cover charge parameters are still up in the air at this point." WTF?!

On its first weekend, they did manage to attract reality "stars" Khloe and Kortney Kardashian, and a bonified celebrity, Vince Vaughan.

We will see how long the "super exclusive" concept lasts before the reality of the recession sets in . . . Oh, and let's not forget the fact that they've got heavy-duty competition right across the street from the already established after-hours VIP lounge RiNo.

BBQ, Beer & Beats

Summer's winding down, but it's never too late to take a barbecue grilling class. Smoke Daddy's hosting one on its patio, which includes a half-slab of Baby Back ribs, roasted peppers, grilled steak fries, two Coronas and a bottle of Smoke Daddy sauce to take home. Starts at 8pm tonight. $30.

Head to the Warehouse District's Bottom Lounge for the free tastings by McAuslan Brewing, Quebec's foremost micro-brewery. Guests will sample the likes of St-Ambroise Pale Ale, as well as St-Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale, The Great St-Ambroise Pumpkin Ale and the award-winning St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout (back on draft in Chicago following a 10-year hiatus). 6-10pm tonight. Free.

If you'd rather sip cocktails, Brasserie JO is your spot tonight. They're continuing the Summer Spirits Class with a lesson on French liqueurs that includes tastings and passed appetizers. You'll sample the Martini JO, Summer Thyme, La Violette and Kir Royal Alsace. 6:30-7:30pm. Reservations required; $1.01.

If you get off from work early, treat yourself to one of the Roman-style pizzas at Pizzeria Via Stato, in River North. We prefer to sit on the patio watching the bustling State Street action, while chowing down on pies made with housemade sausage, hand-pulled mozzarella or seasonal vegetable toppings. They're all half-price 2:30-4:30pm Monday-Friday.

More scrumptious Italian fare's on special at Follia, where guests get to enjoy a $28 four-course prix-fixe menu offered every Tuesday and Wednesday. You'll get your choice of appetizer, soup or salad, pasta, entree and dessert.

And Blue 13's final Summer Rock 'N' Roll Dinner happens Wednesday. The theme, The Bands That Shaped The '90s, includes music from Nirvana, Soul Coughing, Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam complementing each course. Dinner starts promptly at 7:15pm and reservations are required. $50.

Zagat interviews Greg Hall

Greg Hall (left) with Carlo Petrini, founder of the International Slow Food Movement. (Photo: Greg Hall)


Goose Island head honcho Greg Hall talks to Zagat about the ascendance of U.S. brewers, as well as his role in New York’s Craft Beer Week, for which he's organizing a multi-course beer dinner:

"When I try to match up beer and food, the first, and really only, rule is to match flavor intensity. There’s no 'ales with meat,' 'lagers with fish' or silly rules like that. A well-seasoned dish deserves a flavorful beer and a more delicate dish really works better with a more mild-flavored beer. The difference between beer and wine – and I’d like to clarify that I’m not an anti-wine guy – is that wine is for little flavors that sometimes you have to hunt for.

"Beer is full of big, aggressive flavors, and because of that I think that beer works especially well with cuisines that have really assertive flavors. You always think of spicy cuisines, like Mexican, Southeast Asian and Indian, as being beer food, and they absolutely are. Beer has a little bit more residual sugar that really absorbs the heat and allows the flavor of the spice to come through instead of just the heat of the spice."

BLT Bonanza is something to squeal about!

We cannot hide our glee that BLT Bonanza is finally upon us.

Through Sept. 20, as part of the annual Tomatofest, some of your favorite restaurants will feature their versions of the delicious old-school sandwich, but the twist is that they're doing them up with heirloom tomatoes and pigs.

Need an idea for lunch today? Head over to Blackbird for a sandwich at the bar, where chef de cuisine Mike Sheerin whips up mounds of cured bacon and juicy tomatoes.

Sixteen's Frank Brunacci's behind the creative BLT that's made with Slagel farm pork belly and Nichols Farm heirloom tomatoes on grilled French boule. And you'll find two different BLTs on the menu at Cafe Spiaggia. For lunch, indulge in a "PLT" pizza, with house-made pork pancetta from Becker Lane Farms (Iowa) and Nichols Farm heirloom tomatoes; dinner time will offer a grilled crostini with Nichols Farm heirloom tomatoes, house-made lamb pancetta, Capriole goat cheese and arugula.

Other participants include The Signature Room at the 95th, Green Grocer (offering City Provisions' BLTs to go), Carnivale, Webster's Wine Bar, Osteria Via Stato, The Gage, Publican, avec, Socca, Lockwood and more coming soon.

Mado makes Bon Appetit's Top 10 List

Allison and Rob Levitt of Mado. (Photo: Rob Levitt)


Wicker Park's edgy Mado is the only Chicago restaurant to make Bon Appetit's list of best new restos of the year:

"Husband and wife Rob and Allie Levitt are fanatical about local and sustainable ingredients.

"A chalkboard in the dining room lists all the farms that the restaurant works with, and every two weeks Rob receives a 180-pound pig from Slagel Family Farm, butchers it himself, and uses every bit in dishes like ciccioli (pork cracklin's), charcuterie, and the restaurant's signature porchetta (spit-roasted pork loin and belly)."

Here's also a recipe for Mado's Clam and Calamari Seafood Stew with Salsa Verde.