Can He Pull It Off?!

(Photo: Grant Achatz)


Two thousand ten is officially The Year of Grant Achatz.

Just last week, the much celebrated owner/chef of Alinea nabbed the honor of being named the best restaurant in North America (placing at No. 7) by the prestigious San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards.

On Monday in New York, before hundreds of the country's top culinary bigwigs in media and restaurants, he won yet another big-deal honor at the James Beard Awards: Outstanding Service.

All this happened before Alinea's fifth anniversary—Tuesday, May 4—but there's soooooo much more to come.

Three major projects, all set for 2010, are coming up fast:

STAGE BITES: The Weekly Dining & Drinking Guide

The Hypocrites' production of "Cabaret" at Storefront Theater. (Photo: The Hypocrites)


Every Monday look for the week's top performances paired with the best deals before and after the show:

Cabaret at Storefront Theater. The Hypocrites's rendition of the provocative musical taking place in Nazi-ruled Berlin. Most performances have sold out; the live band makes it even more exciting. 7:30pm Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 3pm Sundays (through May 23). Get tickets here.

China Grill: Known for its notoriously large plates of exotic Asian fare, China Grill recently revamped its menu for those with smaller appetites. You can now order diminutive portions of signature dishes like the Lobster Pancakes or Sake Marinated “Drunken” Chicken. And after all these years—it's been around for six!—they've finally added some tantalizing new dishes: Spiced Crispy Pork Belly; Char Siu Baby Back Pork Ribs; and Miso Grilled Vegetables & Udon Noodles. Share if only you care.

Say Hello to the 'Best Chef in Great Lakes Region!'

Koren Grieveson, chef de cuisine at avec. (Photo: Jessica Tampas Photography)


In New York on Monday, avec chef Koren Grieveson won the James Beard Award for the Best Chef in the Great Lakes Region.

Whooo hoooo!

Say 'Opa!' to These Great Greek Meatballs . . .

Athena's "Kestebdakia," or pan-fried ground beef and lamb meatballs. (Photo: Peter Riskind)


Now that it's finally getting warm outside, we can head outdoors for some great alfresco dining.

Greek Town's home to a number of lively spots where you can chill out on some of the most beautiful outdoor patios in the city.

Athena Greek Restaurant, with its picturesque, Mediterranean setting for about 220 diners, is one hot property when the temps hit the 70s. Plus, it's a great place for budget-friendly and authentic Greek cuisine, particularly their meatballs!

May is National Burger Month!

I was kinda bummed about saying farewell to National Grilled Cheese Month until I found out May is National Hamburger Month (!!!!).

Who doesn't love a good, juicy piece of meat?! The thicker, the better, and we love that you can find the absolute best burgers right here in town.

This month is a chance to really go overboard with burgers as a number of spots are doing special deals you don't want to miss:

The Derby, Dos Diablos & Dynamite Deals

Derby-goers at the 2009 party at Arlington Park. (Photo: Arlington Park)


Brace yourself for a BIG drinking weekend.

The Kentucky Derby's May 1 and Cinco de Mayo doesn't even happen until the fifth, but that won't stop folks from indulging in advance.

In fact, Arlington Park gets the party started today with the grand opening of Longshots Sports Bar, which is equipped with 30 flat-screen TVs and a patio with a prime view of the track.

'Flirty Cupcakes' Hit The Street This Weekend!

(Photo: Flirty Cupcakes)


What's that?! A cupcake truck roaming the streets of Chicago this summer?

We're looking forward to Flirty Cupcakes, which will offer gourmet-style sweets on some of the busiest blocks in the city.

'Foodie' Sites Offer Unique Deals, Thrills

So many people are getting engaged later in life, which means that when it comes to registering for their weddings, they really don't need anything.

Case in point is Ben and Jennifer Reid, who were frustrated at the registry options during their engagement in 2008. The couple didn't need any additional household products, but they wanted something to celebrate their new union.

After a frustrating few hours at a department store, Jennifer went home and had an epiphany. She and Ben were big-time dining enthusiasts, so they asked all their friends and family to give them gift certificates to their favorite Chicago restaurants.

That's when they decided to launch Foodie Registry, so that other like-minded engaged couples could enjoy months and months and months of what they've coined as Free Dinner Date Night—courtesy of family and friends.