Shout out to stouts . . .

Sheffield’s at it again with more "beer school programs" coming up by two of Michigan's premier breweries.

Beer fanatics will love Dark Night, hosted by Dark Horse Brewery, and a chance to check out yummy stouts like One Oatmeal, Too Cream, Fore Smoke and Tres Blueberry.

For the event, Sheffield’s offers $3 pilsner-size (half-pint) paired with comped passed appetizers as Pink Floyd’s "Dark Side of the Moon" serves as a backdrop for the evening. 7pm March 25.


Also happening is Bells’ Oberon Summer Ale Release Party, as the brewery taps its first keg of the season. The lively event includes sampling of the beer; Luke Schmidt of Buddy Nuisance and American Taxi on hand for a live acoustic performance; and raffle giveaways for Cubs tickets, t-shirts and a VIP tour of Bells Brewery. That's happening at 7pm March 30.

Today's the day!

Grab your green and get on the St. Patrick's Day scene.

We've got record high temperatures today, so check CitySearch's hot list for lively venues, including Abbey Pub, The Kerryman and O'Brien's.

Enjoy the day!

Food (Writer) Fight!

"Get a life," emailed Chicago Sun-Times restaurant critic Pat Bruno to Chicagoist dining writer Chuck Sudo in response to this post Monday calling out his "re-review" of Cafe Bionda:

"We still read newspapers, oh yes we do, indeed. So we were happy to find, while reading last Friday's Sun-Times, that restaurant critic Pat Bruno had an opinion of Café Bionda much in line with ours. We also have a good memory and thought, 'Hadn't Bruno reviewed Bionda before?'

Turned out he had. Only it was Bionda's Wicker Park location, and it was only last February that Bruno raved about that one. Helen Rosner at MenuPages Chicago compares the similarities between the reviews. For us, the issue is one of simple laziness. One of the knocks on Bruno's recent work is that it's, let's say, by the numbers. Far be it from us to criticize someone for writing about what he knows best, which in Bruno's case is Italian dining. But two reviews of what is essentially the same restaurant seems like laziness."

Oh, and this gets even better when the Chicagoist writer gets Bruno on the phone, but you gotta read his response—and diss—here.

Drama!

Seriously, what is going on with DC?!

Please, please, please tell me my eyes are playing tricks on me!

Here's today's headline for Daily Candy:

"Slutting Her Stuff"

And then it just gets better from there:

"There are two kinds of hos.

Cheap ones (Ashley — or is it Kirsten?) and hos who make dough.

Jessica Volpe is the latter. Her alter ego, the Pasta Puttana (“pasta whore” in Italian), makes the silkiest, freshest macaroni in the land."

Woot?!

Food Network star looking for fresh faces

Celeb chef David Adjey (Photo: Red Apple Productions)


We cannot get enough of chef-driven reality shows, from Tom Colicchio's "Top Chef" to Marco Pierre White's "Chopping Block."

So now comes Canadian superstar David Adjey ("Restaurant Makeover," "Ready, Set, Cook," "Iron Chef America"), who's doing a nationwide casting call for a brand-new show. Each episode of "David Adjey's Restaurant 101" follows a first-time restaurant owner as he/she gets ready to open to the public.

They're looking for new owners who are launching local restaurants (no chains, franchises) with at least 50 seats and a full-service bar. Potential candidates must also allow cameras to shoot in the restaurant for 10 days.

If a Chicago-area restaurateur is selected for the show, portions of the shoot will take place at the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, happening May 16-19 at McCormick Place.

Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill) and Marcus Samuelsson (C-House) (who are both confirmed to attend) as well as Art Smith (Table Fifty-Two), Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia), Thomas Keller, Gale Gand (Tru), Cat Cora, Mario Batali and other star chefs have attended the show in the past.

For more info on "David Adjey's Restaurant 101", go here.

Weekend Tweet Beat . . .

The "Scrapple and Sunnyside Eggs," from Publican's first-ever brunch service, which was Live Tweeted Sunday. (Photo: Publican)


What were Chicago's top chefs up to this weekend?! 312DD checks out their Twitter accounts:

Grant Achatz (Executive Chef/Owner Alinea): "Figured out way to make entire tabletop a plate. Fun, engaging, and entertaining,but is it fine dining eating w/ hands from table surface?"

Graham Elliot Bowles (Executive Chef/Owner graham elliot): "New spring menu, new music/playlist, new dining room lights, new lavender aroma, new mirror box display...mon, March 30th."

Phillip Foss (Executive Chef/Lockwood): "Just finished brunch at the Publican... sadistic to come during the 1st service, but enjoyed very much... loved the egg poached in red wine.."

Koren Grieveson (Executive Chef/avec): "I'm getting on my motorcycle today and seeking out a fat juicy burger at Kuma's!"

Stephanie Izard (Executive Chef/The Drunken Goat): "Heading back to Chi...will have a blog and recipes from this michigan trip up in a couple days on website."

Paul Kahan (Executive Chef/Owner Publican): "Teaching everyone how to make hash browns, its about the crispy. And the curly parsley. So cheesey on the hashbrowns, I love that." (from the Live Tweet of Publican's first brunch service)

Paul Kahan: "My inspiration for brunch is obviously not any brunch experience I may have had at Erwin but late night dining at the Diner Grill." (from the Live Tweet of Publican's first brunch service)

Ryan Poli (Executive Chef/Perennial): "Still thinking about the great time i had at Sunda last night!"

Debbie Sharpe (Executive Chef/Owner Feast): "Avoiding sea of green in Bucktown by escaping to home by way of alleys. Will deal with OP's hangovers tomorrow at Feast brunch."

Sarah Stegner (Executive Chef/Prairie Grass Cafe): "86 salmon cake benedicts. Sold 25 orders!"

Erick Williams (Executive Chef/mk): "Just got in live sea urchins and they look amazing..."

Supermodel does Gibsons . . .

Former supermodel/talk show host Tyra Banks taped "Oprah" Thursday, but instead of heading to the Gold Coast for lunch, she opted to dine at the Gibsons in Rosemont. Wearing jeans and trenchcoat, staffers said she looked fabulous (but of course!), and only chowed down on shrimp cocktail and a tomato and goat cheese appetizer.


And speaking of Gibsons, sister restaurant luxbar is the place to be for the annual St. Patrick's Day benefit for Misericordia. Head to the top floor for the buffet (filled with Sliders, chicken fingers and more), $2 green Bud Light drafts, $4 Jameson shots, and tastings of 12- and 18-year Jameson. That party happens 1-4pm March 14. $10.

EXCLUSIVE: More info on Social Twenty-Five!

Photo courtesy of Urban Daddy Chicago


Turns out the guys behind couture-themed club Moda have teamed up with the crew from John Barleycorn to transform Moda into swanky sports lounge Social Twenty-Five—which was exclusively reported here earlier this week.

They've swapped fashion for flatscreens, plus look for rocker-inspired and champagne-based cocktails, mini versions of our fave fare (burgers, pizzas, tacos), and a highly energetic atmosphere.

They're opening it to the public tonight at 8pm, so try to make an appearance.