The Back Room Takes Over Le Passage Privet Space; A Few More Key Details

I wasn't too shocked to hear the news that Privet closed last weekend because it pretty much looked like the photo above every time I paid a visit.

But when word came down that the venerable Back Room was set to take over the vacated space on Oct. 4, I got pretty excited.

The legendary jazz-and-blues club is less than a block away from its new home, and will officially close on Sept. 24. This new home in the old Privet is particularly awesome because that venue carries a late-night license, which means new owners Three Headed Productions (The Drawing Room, Evil Olive, Salud) will have the option to stay open until 4am (5am on Saturdays!). Hopefully, they'll also keep the alley-only entrance because, you know, that just feels right when it comes to after-hours jazz and blues clubs (UPDATE: A press release states that a deejay will spin after 1am on weekends).

Here are even more reasons to get excited about this:

Some Very Rad Happenings Around Town

iNG owner/chef Homaro Cantu (center) with chefs Hugo Guadarrama (left) and Vince Griffith. (Photo: iNG)

Remember when I was gushing about that upcoming Scorsese-themed menu at iNG?! Well, it's finally here.

Sept. 18 marks the "premiere," and yes, that includes lights, cameras and a RED CARPET. Look for the menu to play off the food scenes from "Goodfellas," including this first course:

Sleeping With The Fishes: two-part course "Fish & Chips" of rock shrimp chips with dry aioli and smoked rock shrimp roulade, white truffle garlic aioli and gremolata seaweed

According to chef/owner Homaro Cantu, the menu will run about six weeks. It will include six courses for $80 and 10 courses for $100; both will be paired with beverages and include "flavor tripping."

"It is, by far, the most twisted thing I have ever done," Cantu says about the menu. "It will be a delicious experience."

To get a visual of what he's talking about, here's video of one of the dishes, the 9mm Tagellio, and also details on how you can win dinner for two for free.

Here are more rad happenings around town:

Elate Restaurant Has A 'Phantom' Tweeting Its Posts; It's Been Closed For Weeks!

So, check this out.

Elate, which was located on the first level of Hotel Felix in River North, closed a month ago.

It didn't even close quietly, as there was much buzz from local media outlets about its replacement, LM Bistro, which is owned by the same people behind Brasserie by LM and Troquet. But for some reason, Elate's twitter account continues to crank out specials every day to its 1,090 followers.

For example . . .

Get Ready: Green Tie Ball is Saturday

Photo via the Chicago Tribune.

It's one of the biggest affairs of the Chicago social season and it's happening this weekend.

Green Tie Ball goes down Sept. 15 at A. Finkl & Sons (2011 N. Southport Ave.). Put on by Gateway Green Chicago, the event celebrates its 20th year with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Tiny Ramen Lounge in River North is Next Project For Sodikoff Restaurant Group

This news comes from an Ultimate Insider early on a Monday morning:

The hot restaurant group that's behind such winners as Au Cheval, Gilt Bar and Maude's Liquor Bar apparently is going Asian.

Vera's Fall Paella of Duck & Chorizo Should Be On Your Plate Right Now

Look for Vera's new fall paella of crispy duck and spicy chorizo on the menu right now. (Photo: Vera)

Even though we're still feeling the heat of summer, most restaurants are in the process of releasing their fall menus for cuisine and cocktails.

One such menu we're looking forward to is from the Spanish-wine-and-food-focused Vera, whose paella filled with chunks of crispy duck and spicy chorizo caught my eye.

But what to drink with such a decadent dish?! I asked owner/wine director Elizabeth Mendez for recommendations:

The Bristol's Upcoming 'Chef Series' Spotlights the Talents of Celina Tio, Thomas Keller

They've conveniently left out the price of how much it's going to cost for The Bristol's October Chef Series dinner with famed toque Thomas Keller (The French Laundry, Per Se), but if you get tickets to next week's special event, at least you'll be first in line. (Owner John Ross tells 312DD: "Unfortunately we don't have a price as we don't have a menu. We'd rather create menu and then price it. Not handcuff ourselves.")

That Chef Series goes down Sept. 12 and features Top Chef Master and James Beard award winner Celina Tio of Julian restaurant in Kansas City. She'll share the kitchen with Bristol exec chef Chris Pandel, and highlights of the five-course feast include chilled terrine of quail with foie gras, cherries, hazelnut butter and toast; house-smoked sausage with red cabbage, potato and caraway; and Madagascar bourbon hot chocolate with candied ginger cake doughnut. The dessert is paired with a Kentucky sour cocktail and Celina's Bourbon Sipper—the chef's personal bourbon.

Hard-Hat Tour of The Boarding House Uncovers Some Real Gems

The Boarding House's Pork Tots & BBQ sauce, with pulled pork inside. (Photos: The Boarding House)

"I swear we weren't drinking when we came up with them!" exclaimed Alpana Singh about the much buzzed-about Pork Tots & BBQ sauce that's certain to be a hit when The Boarding House opens in mid-October.

She was talking to a roomful of food media types who had come out for a hard-hat tour Wednesday of the four-level venue focusing on global small plates, charcuterie, wine and craft cocktails.

Before the master sommelier/partner led the tour, she first gave us a little history about the building. Apparently it was an actual boarding house operated by women when it was built a couple of years after the Great Chicago Fire.

Here are several more interesting facts to note: