The Duffy Duck vs. Foss Hog

Mancow (from left), Phillip Foss and Curtis Duffy at Franks 'n' Dawgs. (Photo: Phillip Foss)


We're taking a break from our regularly scheduled Meatball Mondays to bring you something a little different today.

Apparently there's a vicious little battle going down over at Lincoln Park's Franks 'n' Dawgs, where two local celebrity chefs are competing to see who has the best signature hot dog.

Warm Oatmeal Cookies with Rum Soaked Raisins

. . . is what you'll find at The Cookie Bar, a new sweets shop set to open in Lincoln Park in about two weeks, according to Time Out.

They Took Down 'Big Mel!'

Dos Diablos' "Big Mel" chimichanga is 18 inches and weighs 3.5 pounds. (Photos: Marcus Riley)


River North newcomer Dos Diablos offers standard Mexican fare, but one menu item has been getting tons of buzz: The Big Mel (cue the "da da da daaaaaa" music).

Mom's Day, a Milestone & 'World Cocktail Week'

I've gotta give props to Sunda.

Their first-ever day for brunch service is Mother's Day. Mother's Day?! Ask anyone in the restaurant biz and they'll tell you that's the single busiest day of the year.

Nevertheless, Executive Chef Rodelio Aglibot's whipped up a number of classic Asian dishes—with serious contemporary swagger—that should impress even the most discerning mom.

Big Props For Curtis Duffy From Food & Wine

Curtis Duffy, chef de cuisine at Avenues at the Peninsula. (Photo: Peninsula Chicago)


Avec's Koren Grieveson and Alinea's Grant Achatz may have scooped up the big honors for Chicago at the James Beards Awards Monday (Best Chef, Great Lakes; Outstanding Service, respectively), but it was Avenues's Curtis Duffy who had the Best Dish of the James Beard Gala.

A 'Top Chef Masters' Viewing Party; 'Top Chef Tour' Hits Town

Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia/Terzo Piano.


Big news for the "Top Chef" franchise this week . . .

Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia/Terzo Piano) hosts a viewing party so guests can cheer him on as he competes in the "Champions Round" of the second season of "Top Chef Masters."

Can He Pull It Off?!

(Photo: Grant Achatz)


Two thousand ten is officially The Year of Grant Achatz.

Just last week, the much celebrated owner/chef of Alinea nabbed the honor of being named the best restaurant in North America (placing at No. 7) by the prestigious San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards.

On Monday in New York, before hundreds of the country's top culinary bigwigs in media and restaurants, he won yet another big-deal honor at the James Beard Awards: Outstanding Service.

All this happened before Alinea's fifth anniversary—Tuesday, May 4—but there's soooooo much more to come.

Three major projects, all set for 2010, are coming up fast:

STAGE BITES: The Weekly Dining & Drinking Guide

The Hypocrites' production of "Cabaret" at Storefront Theater. (Photo: The Hypocrites)


Every Monday look for the week's top performances paired with the best deals before and after the show:

Cabaret at Storefront Theater. The Hypocrites's rendition of the provocative musical taking place in Nazi-ruled Berlin. Most performances have sold out; the live band makes it even more exciting. 7:30pm Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 3pm Sundays (through May 23). Get tickets here.

China Grill: Known for its notoriously large plates of exotic Asian fare, China Grill recently revamped its menu for those with smaller appetites. You can now order diminutive portions of signature dishes like the Lobster Pancakes or Sake Marinated “Drunken” Chicken. And after all these years—it's been around for six!—they've finally added some tantalizing new dishes: Spiced Crispy Pork Belly; Char Siu Baby Back Pork Ribs; and Miso Grilled Vegetables & Udon Noodles. Share if only you care.