While You Were Watching The Oscars . . .

. . . Schwa's eccentric super chef Michael Carlson was chowing down at Alinea, according to this tweet from Grant Achatz:

"What do u do when Michael Carlson dines? Buy a pill press and make onion sweet tarts."

Wonder if he helped in the kitchen?!

The Sweetest B-Day Ever For Bulls Star?!

(Photo via Twitter)

Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah celebrated his 26th birthday at Underground Thursday.

The best part about it—in addition to a big win over LeBron James and the Miami Heat—was his Bulls-themed birthday cake that was made by Sarah's Pastries.

Accordingly, Noah loved the cake so much that "he wouldn't let them cut it up and he took it home."

Great idea!

Happy Birthday to Joakim!

This Is Gonna Sell Out!

(Photo: James Beard Foundation)

Oh. My. Freaking. God.

Alinea super duper chef/owner Grant Achatz just posted this to Facebook:

Freebies . . . on Friday . . .

Low on cash, but got an appetite for the good life?! Every Friday, 312DD features the best bargain bets around town:

This is absolutely amazing!

Why bother going to one of those cookie-cutter chain restaurants when you can support a local gem like Big Jones with the family. What makes it even better is that if you arrive between 4-7pm, kids dine free when accompanied by an adult. That goes down every day.

Words of the Week . . .

Local food journalist Michael Nagrant's tweet on the mayoral changing of the guard was retweeted more than 100 times Tuesday night:

"Rahm Emanuel just ousted Richard Daley as the mayor of city hall on @foursquare."

You cannot say that that ish wasn't funny as hell!

Are You Pissing Off Your Bartender?!

Photo via Nirvino.

We get it.

You educated yourself enough about elixirs and bitters and all things cocktail related that you can make a Manhattan with your eyes closed.

But when you're not a professional behind the bar and you spout off to the bartender just how knowledgeable you are . . .you just become annoying.

That's the sentiment behind the article by spirits writer Camper English, who colorfully describes the ultimate bar snob:

Say Hello To Perennial's New Exec Chef

Photo via Chicago Sun-Times.

Paul Virant has just been named Perennial's new executive chef and partner. The force behind Western Springs' Vie has also been on Iron Chef and won Food & Wine's Best New Chef.

He replaces Ryan Poli, who leaves his post March 7 to take over Tavernita.

Congrats, Paul!

UPDATE: The restaurant will now be called Perennial Virant.

ANOTHER UPDATE: 312DD finally snagged an interview with Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz—the very busy managing partners of the Boka Restaurant Group, which owns Perennial as well as Boka, Girl & The Goat, the forthcoming GT Fish & Oyster and Landmark.

Thank God For Facebook & Twitter!

The Bristol. (Photo: Neil Burger)

It's hard enough getting into Bucktown's offbeat eatery The Bristol, but now AT&T has made it even more difficult, according to a tweet from owner John Ross:

"Bristol phones are down, but we will be open all week! AT&T says the phones are out in North Bucktown&wont be fixed until Friday? Wow."

Yikes. Get it together, AT&T!