What was he thinking?!

I understand what Prez O was trying to convey with the "King of Beers" message, but he missed out on a grand opportunity to showcase some of our finest beers when he sits down for what's being called the Beer Summit.

Before he settled on such ho-hum suds as Bud Light, he should've first taken a peek at this recent New York Times travel story on Chicago's new wave of microbrews that includes local stars Goose Island and Piece.

I'm just sayin' . . .

UPDATE: Goose Island founder, owner and CEO John Hall makes a statement!

“Whatever style of beer chosen, the President has the right idea. Sharing a pint helps people relax, drop our pretenses and just be ourselves. If Goose Island can get Cubs fans and White Sox fans together, anything is possible.”

Top Chef Masters liveblog is hysterical

Art Smith of Table Fifty-Two (Photo: Table Fifty-Two)


There were some gems all night as Gawker liveblogged week seven of Top Chef Masters featuring both Art Smith (Table Fifty-Two) and Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill/Topolobampo).

Not gonna tell you how it turned out ('cause I know most of y'all Tivo-ed it!), but this snark on Smith was the quote of the night:

"Love him or hate him — you have to admit he's like a character straight out of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. And this finalist group needs all the character it can get, since it already includes Suzanne Tracht and Anita Lo — who are like characters straight out of Midnight in the Poppy Garden of the Living Dead."

Free Your Mind . . .

. . . and let your body lead you to the annual Northalsted Market Days, going down Saturday and Sunday in Boystown (Halsted, between Addison and Belmont).

It's considered the largest street festival in the Midwest, so it's a little shocking that they've never offered VIP access until this year. And oh what a year to do it!

The all-star, girl-power retro weekend includes performances by En Vogue (9pm Saturday), CeCe Peniston (3:30pm Sunday), Berlin (6:30pm Sunday) and Jody Watley (8:30pm Sunday).

We're excited about them all, but especially En Vogue (pictured above), who set the standard for the contemporary girl group way before the likes of Destiny's Child, The Spice Girls and Pussycat Dolls with chart-topping hits Free Your Mind, Hold On and the super-steamy Giving Him Something He Can Feel. They're celebrating 20 years as the fabulous foursome and still look good!

Those with VIP access at the Horseshoe Casino stage get unobstructed views of the stage. Prices are $30 (access to back of house and one beverage) and $50 (front of house and two beverages). For those steep prices, one or two drinks is jankity as hell! Get tickets here or try your luck at the gate.

Of course, that's not all that's happening this weekend . . .

THURSDAY

It's National Cheesecake Day, and of course the iconic Eli's is in on the action. They're giving away slices (one per person, while supplies last) 7am-2pm at Wright Farmer's Market, in the restaurant's parking lot. If you miss out there, you'll still get freebies at the cheesecake sample bar inside Eli's Cafe.

Tonight (and every last Thursday of the month) Goose Island Clybourn exec chef John Manion serves an all-you-can-eat Slagel Family Farm pig roast dinner for $17. Includes sides like red-skin potato salad or sweet potato fries with curry catsup. Starts at 6:30pm—until the whole pig is gone.

If you've never checked out Pilsen sensation Mundial Cocina, tonight's the last night to dig into the $10 tasting plate that comes with three luscious Latin bites and a delicious glass of sangria.

WTF is Megan?! Whomever she is, she's looking for a millionaire, and Manor somehow got roped into hosting the kickoff party for her show premiering on VH-1 Sunday. Super star NYC DJ Kiss spins; get there early for comped Snow Queen cocktails (10-11pm). 10pm-2am. Cover varies.

Dope OM Records house music deejay Andy Caldwell is on the sked at Spy Bar, which could be quite a blast if you can get over the fact you're in a hardcore nightclub. 10pm-4am. $20.



Seats are still available for Bluebird's Lagunitas Brewery tasting on Monday, where guests will get to sample the limited release Lucky 13.


FRIDAY

As I excitedly gushed last week, Top Chef New York star Fabio Viviani makes an appearance at Wildfire.

Ethnic funk, roots and folk band Funkdesi performs at Wild Hare. 9pm-until. $10.

More island grooves await you at Ja' Grill, one of the very few Jamaican eateries on the Near North Side. Every last Friday of the month, they're serving Caribbean beats along with exotic eats. Deejay Boombostic spins reggae, dancehall, ska, soca. 7pm-2am. No cover.

Lucky you. You get two chances to check out Dee Alexander—one of Chicago's top crooners—at the Green Mill this weekend. If you've never seen her live, you're definitely missing out. 9pm Friday; 8pm Saturday. $12.

SATURDAY

Though it's been open for a week, tonight's the official grand opening over at Red Canary in River West. They're expecting a big crowd (especially with all the media coverage it's been getting!), so arrive early to get prime placement in the lounge or dining area. Drink specials include $5 Stoli drinks and $5 Patron shots.

SUNDAY

Branch 27's finally launched brunch service, and we're hoping it's as good as it sounds. Mmmmmm for the pork belly hash skillet, half-pound burger with aged Cheddar, and a BLT stacked with thick-cut bacon and topped with chipotle aioli and fried eggs. Our drinks of choice will definitely be Ginger Lemonade (with Stoli Ohranj), the Raspberry Mint Julep, and a cucumber melon cocktail with Hendrick's gin. Brunch is served 11am-3pm Saturday and Sunday.

Oh my goodness. Kick The Keg Sundays starts today at Faith & Whiskey. If you think that sounds like trouble, you're probably right. For a minimum of four people per table, and $20 a head, you'll get all-you-can-drink tableside keg service. And that is four hours of drinking—if you're counting.

MONDAY

And Bluebird showcases Lagunitas Brewery for a special tasting featuring mainstays like IPA, Czech-Style Pils, Maximus and the Censored Ale. They'll also treat guests to Lagunitas' limited releases Correction Ale, Lucky 13, Hop Stoopid, the Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale and the just released Imperial Red. Flatbreads and snacks also served. 7:30-9:30pm. $25; reservations recommended.

It's National Lasagna Day!

In honor of this momentous occasion today, Italian-focused chain Buca di Beppo's giving away comped, lunch-size portions of its cheesy, hearty lasagna.

Get all the details here.

Yeah, he said it . . .

Crimson Lounge mixologist Todd Appel (Photo: Todd Appel)


Todd Appel, the supreme star mixologist from Crimson Lounge, is known for creating offbeat, yet tasty cocktails with fresh juices he squeezed himself, but he draws the line when it comes to the latest local food fad, offal:

"Tongues and hearts...should stay in the boudoir...and the belly thing is way too trendy for me...I like smoked pork belly though...sometimes called bacon."

Dennis Rodman of the culinary world?!

Graham Elliot Bowles as a Chippendale?! (Photo: Marcus Riley for NBCChicago.com)


This is what happens when I'm on a tight deadline and cannot go out.

I miss Graham Elliot Bowles's turn as guest bartender at Monday's popular industry-driven event, Night Shift, at Pops for Champagne.

Occasionally they'll have a celebrity chef fill in behind the bar shaking up his/her signature cocktail, but of course, Bowles (of the eponymous River North eatery), took it to the extreme, according to our friends at NBCChicago.com:

"Yes, that was the acclaimed chef guest bartending with a shirt buttoned down to his navel, a wig, bowtie, fake moustache and the piece de résistance—cut-off jean shorts that were cut way too short for comfort. His or ours.

Judging by his recent behavior, it begs the question, is Graham going crackers?

'We're just having fun. There's two ways you can take something like this—super fun or super serious,' Bowles said in between mixing drinks at the bar. 'It's a reflection of our restaurant—we like to have a good time.'"

UPDATE: Oh lawd have mercy. Brace yourselves, people. Now there's a slideshow.

This thing will certainly sell out!

Paul Kahan (Photo: Battman Studios)


We typically find the mobile James Beard Foundation dinners a little too dry for our tastes, but the one going down at Publican later this fall on Oct. 18 is one certain to attract not just the hardcore foodies but a cool crowd as well.

As always, the dinner benefits the prestigious New York organization and its culinary educational programs, so its price tag of $125 a person should come as no surprise. But Beard winner Paul Kahan (Best Chef of the Midwest, 2004) has gathered his staff to create such a memorable dinner that you'll want to whip out your credit card ASAP.

The teams behind avec, Blackbird and Publican will each contribute a course, from Michael Sheerin's goat charcuterie with crab apples, dates and dandelions to Brian Huston's take on the Slagel Family Farm suckling pig with Concord grapes, chanterelles, minestra nero and verjus.

Each course is paired with Napa Valley's Blackbird Vineyards, Goose Island Beer Co. and Three Floyds Brewing Co. And arriving guests will be greeted by highboy tables filled with oysters, smoked black cod and spicy pork rinds, as well as flutes of Henriot Blanc Souverain N.V. Champagne.

The only things missing?! Some of those amazing hand-crafted cocktails from their Wicker Park bar, The Violet Hour, and one of the resident deejays from sister lounge Sonotheque—known for cranking out infectious, soulful beats.

Wandering Goat Dinner Series off to great start

A goat-headed mannequin greeted guests at the first-ever Wandering Goat Dinner, which was held on the Near West Side. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)


Stephanie Izard's much-talked about BBQ for the kickoff of the Wandering Goat Dinner Series didn't disappoint.

Held Sunday in the spacious backyard of Socca executive chef/owner Roger Herring's Near West Side townhouse, the event was filled with Top Chef fans, friends, investors and lots of media types.

Guests mingled and sampled small plates from stations set up all over the backyard. We couldn't decide what we loved best: the succulent braised beef over cornbread appetizer or the savory sweet polenta bite. Whatever the case, nothing beat having as much Three Floyds Gumballhead beer as one could consume in a few hours. Ahhhh, summertime!

Izard's underground Wandering Goat Dinner Series are part of a cool marketing tool to promote her upcoming Drunken Goat restaurant that she's opening with dynamic duo restaurateurs Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz (BOKA, Landmark, Perennial) in early 2010.

The next event takes place in September; for more information check here.