'Hamburger Hop' Back For 'Chicago Gourmet'

NoMI's award-winning "800 Burger" from the first-ever "Hamburger Hop" competition. (Photo: Joseph Storch)

Just got word that tickets for the second-annual Hamburger Hop went on sale Monday.

Last year it was the highlight of Chicago Gourmet, the two-day festival taking place Sept. 24-25 in Millennium Park. Hamburger Hop kicks off the foodie extravaganza on Sept. 23, offering guests signature burgers from 15 of Chicago's top chefs.

Where Bartenders Go For Late-Night Bites

Bartenders Josh Davis (left) of the South Loop Club and Henri's Clint Rogers.

You already know you're dining in the right spot if you spot a chef or two sitting at the next table, but when it comes to late-night noshing, we look to the bartenders for what's going down.

I recently caught up with some of the city's top 'tenders on DiningChicago.com to find out where they like to wind down. And it's no surprise that they prefer to stick closer to home.

Here's what I found out . . .

First-Ever 'Liquid Chicago' Almost Here

If you didn't think you had enough boozy bashes to attend this summer, here's yet another.

Add the weeklong Liquid Chicago to the list because it'll have Whiskey Raw with the Naked Girls Reading, a pub crawl of hot dog stands and gangster hangouts, Pig + Cheese + Cocktails, and more.

Here's a rundown of exactly what to expect Aug. 9-13:

Get Exclusive 'Spirited' Dinner 50% Off

(Photo: Drew Templeton for Mercadito)

Mercadito's launching its first-ever spirited dinner series Monday, and to kick it off in style, they're generously offering four lucky 312DD readers 50 percent off the $55 price tag (excluding tax and tip) per person.

As part of the deal, you'll get four courses of their magnificent Mexican fare paired with Tres Generaciones Tequila cocktails. You'll also be led through a progressive tasting experience of the tequila. Chefs Patricio Sandoval and Aldo Ayala have also included Tres Generaciones in some of the dishes, so if you don't get a buzz by the end of the evening, you did it wrong!

To snag a reservation for the dinner, you must call the restaurant here, but in order to get the special 50 percent off 312DD deal, you MUST email me at igrooveon@gmail.com ASAP. I've got exactly four seats at 6:30pm, so whomever gets to me first gets 'em. UPDATE: Those tickets are now gone!

If you miss out on this spirited dinner, Mercadito's doing more until the end of the year:

Props Are In Order . . .

. . . for Alex Dana of the Rosebud restaurant group, who was rewarded Wednesday with his very own honorary street sign (Photo: George Dana) for more than 30 years of business in Little Italy.

Manny's Deli owner Ken Raskin was also honored with a sign in front of his iconic, politically connected eatery in the Loop.

Congrats to both of these legendary restaurateurs. They've done so much for Chicago's bustling restaurant community!

Kyle Korver 'Misbehaved' at The Aviary

Photo via espn.go.com

Remember that story back in May when Grant Achatz tweeted that a Bulls player stormed out of The Aviary with his entourage after he was refused service for "vodka and seltzer water?!"

Well, Achatz never revealed his name, but an Ultimate Insider confirms to 312DD that it was guard/forward Kyle Korver.

I did some research and found out that Korver typically frequents clubby, bottle-service spots like Studio Paris and Underground, so it sounds like a case of a guy totally out of his element . . .

Melt Sandwich Shop Opens Soon in Bucktown

Just got word that Porkchop's Dion Antic signed a lease late Wednesday afternoon for his latest project: a gourmet grilled cheese concept called Melt Sandwich Shop.

The space used to be home to soup-focused Nalyah's Café, and he plans to trick it out to resemble a "schoolhouse study" with communal tables. That's perhaps due to the fact that he's counting on a large crowd of moms and kids to frequent the spot after classes.

Ikram's 'Red Box' Cafe Open Now

Exterior of the new Ikram via racked.com.

When it comes to high-end shopping, Ikram easily rolls with the big boys like Gucci, Hermes and Jimmy Choo, so building an upper-level cafe would be an added incentive.

So I'm salivating at the news that the tiny eatery—which offers a chic, red interior—opens today to the public. I'm also hearing that a former avec chef designed the menu at The Red Box.