Bravo Stars Take Over Girl & The Goat

"Top Chef All Stars" fan favorite winner Carla Hall, with "Real Housewives of Atlanta" Phaedra Parks (right) and "Top Chef" star Tiffany Derry (right, top). (Photos: 312 Dining Diva)

If you're a Bravo fan, the place to be Wednesday was one of the hot-ticket Top Chef finale parties happening in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York simultaneously.

The sassy channel known best for the chef-focused competition as well as the Real Housewives franchises had its party at Girl & The Goat—owned by Top Chef Season 4 winner Stephanie Izard.

But Was She Drinking A SkinnyGirl Margarita?!

Bethenny Frankel, a natural food chef and star of Bravo's Bethenny Ever After, was in Chicago Tuesday for a quick business trip.

She was staying at River North's Hotel Palomar, and, according to Exec Chef Heather Terhune, apparently ventured downstairs to Sable Kitchen & Bar for cocktails where she hilariously observed:

"The weirdest thing: I'm in a restaurant in Chicago with my single girlfriend & there isn't one man here. Am I in the 'Vagina Monologues?'"

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that all the guys were somewhere watching basketball or hockey . . .

Schwa Reso System Still Frustrates Diners

Exterior of Schwa photo via NBCChicago.com

In 2009, 312DD and NBCChicago.com teamed up to snag the first-ever look inside eccentric Wicker Park sensation Schwa.

Its focus was also on the difficult reservation system, which by now, should be better. Or that's what I thought until I got this email Tuesday from a reader:

Get Ready For Chili & Firefighters & Chefs!

When I served as one of the judges for the Muscular Dysphoria Association's annual Firefighter Chili Cook-Off last year, it was so hot outside that we were sweating like we were in the tropics.

But things are back to normal, and it's so effing cold that today's the perfect day to chow down on chili.

What's awesome about this year's competition—in addition to the fact that I'll be in a room full of fine-ass firemen—is that 10 of them have teamed up with chefs from some of the hottest restaurants in town.

Bravo, 'Top Chef' Take Over Girl & The Goat

(Photo: Bravo)

Scratch those plans if you wanted to stop by Stephanie Izard's Girl & The Goat Wednesday.

The "Top Chef" champ tweeted Tuesday that Bravo was taking over her red-hot West Loop resto for the show's finale party:

"More stressful is tomorrows bravo buyout... All bravo. 'All (Star) Top Chef' finale. Best part, Gail Simmons gonna be here!!"

How exciting. And where is MY invite?!

Tequila, Tex-Mex & Pinups in Ukrainian Village!

Photo via WayneWallace.com

Looks like Ukrainian Village's Jam is soon getting a cool new neighbor.

Sweet Tips, a Tex-Mex tequila bar and restaurant, plans to settle in just behind the popular brunch spot some time in June.

Jerry Kleiner On Fate of Red Light, Gioco

Jerry Kleiner photo via LeShock Value.

Jerry Kleiner finally spoke Monday in a press release regarding the Crain's Chicago Business story about the closings of Gioco and Red Light:

"We are so grateful to Chicago and all of those who contributed to the success at Gioco and Red Light for 15 years. We had a very positive run at both restaurants for a long time and will keep it up with Gioco."

'Shift Drinks' Returns With Sepia, Mobile Speakeasy

Wonder what's inside Templeton Rye's Mobile Speakeasy? We'll find out soon! (Photo: Templeton Rye)

This is such exciting news!

Shift Drinks—one of my favorite industry events—returns to its original home in the basement of Pops for Champagne.

That's when a popular local chef teams up with a renown mixologist to hook us all up with really tasty drinks.