John Manion Leaves Branch 27

John Manion. (Photo via Chicago Reader)

John Manion is out as executive chef of Branch 27 to start his own Latin venture, according to an Ultimate Insider, who also tells 312DD that sous chef Rich Phelps is also gone and leaving for MK.

We expect something pretty big, considering Manion was one of the forces behind the nuevo Latin cuisine scene back in the late 1990s as executive chef of now-shuttered Mas and Otro Mas.

We'll keep you updated as more info comes out about location, concept, etc. . . .

Some Great News From South Beach!

Chicago's own Todd Appel (far right) won second place in the prestigious Bacardi Legacy Competition, which took place in South Beach Tuesday. (Photo: Lynn House)

While we're up here fighting this dreadful blizzard, three of Chicago's top bar stars have been in Miami all week for the annual Bacardi Superior Rum Legacy Cocktail Competition.

Brad Bolt (Bar DeVille), Lynn House (Blackbird) and Todd Appel (Piranha Bros.) all repped Chicago and the Midwest, but it was Appel who came out on top.

Local Family Sends Pizza To Troops For Super Bowl

Uno's famous deep-dish pizza.

This story just warms my cold heart on this blustery day.

The third-annual Operation Pizza Bowl is what an Elk Grove, Ill., family calls its mission to send more than 7,000 pizzas to military troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea—just in time for the Super Bowl.

Apparently, Uno's is responsible for making most of the deep-dish pizzas, and a private label pizza company helped with the rest.

SO awesome!

Is Someone Impersonating Cyrano's Chef?!

(Photo of Didier Durand via the Chicago Sun-Times)

Could this possibly be true?!

Was passed along this email by an Ultimate Insider, which was randomly and allegedly sent to him by Cyrano's owner/chef Didier Durand:

Brave The @#$%^&*&^%$ Blizzard!

(Photo via Favors in the City)

Leave it to my Mom to start reciting the "Ant and the Grasshopper" to me now that the Blizzard of 2011 is upon us. And I will admit that I'm a bit of a grasshopper when it comes to getting ready for these events, but I know I'll be fine in the end.

One of the reasons is because I've got the stamina—and the right winter boots—to trek it to a cool spot for yummy cocktails and cuisine. Plus, many are doing noteworthy deals in our time of need:

Your First Look Inside Bistronomic

Bistronomic exterior (Photo: Ari Bendersky/Eater Chicago)

Eater's got the first photos inside Gold Coast eatery Bistronomic, which was Eve for the last few years.

Helmed by former Cafe Des Architectes chef Martial Noguier, the restaurant is set to open Friday.

Where A Rising Star Chef Dines On Off Days . . .

Dave Beran (left) with Grant Achatz. (Photo: Grant Achatz)

It's not every day you get to sit next to a world-class chef for two hours. So when I got my chance at the Grand Chefs Gala Friday, I didn't let it go to waste.

I was lucky enough to sit next to Dave Beran, the chef de cuisine of Alinea as well as chef of the upcoming and highly anticipated Next restaurant in the Warehouse District.

Beran was pretty tight-lipped on Next's opening date, yet very eager to share some of his favorite local dining destinations when he gets a rare night off.

What A Night For Chicago Chefs!

Kith & Kin's Andrew Brochu (left) shows off his Jean Banchet medal with Olmeca Altos Tequila brand ambassador Daniel de Oliveira at "Grand Chefs Gala" Friday. (Photos: 312 Dining Diva)

Avenues' Curtis Duffy was MIA at the annual Grand Chefs Gala Friday benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. And too bad because he won the most coveted prize of the night: the Jean Banchet award for Celebrity Chef.

Had the talented toque been there, it would have been one hell of a reunion. Andrew Brochu, who worked with Duffy at Alinea, took home the award for Best Neighborhood Restaurant as executive chef at Kith & Kin.

Dave Beran picked up Alinea's award for Best Fine Dining. The chef de cuisine, who will also lead the team at the upcoming Next restaurant, worked with Duffy and Brochu at Alinea.