Party With Chicago's Celeb Chefs For Free!

Sixteen Executive Chef Frank Brunacci blowing off steam at last year's "Celebrity Chef Ball" at Macy's. (Meals on Wheels)


This is the biggest chef-focused fete of the year, and you don't want to miss it.

312DD doesn't want you to miss out on going to Meals on Wheels' Celebrity Chef Ball either—which raises enough money for more than 70,000 meals for elderly and disabled residents throughout Chicago—so I've worked out a way for you to win free tickets.

What Will Happen When Avec Re-Opens . . .

(Photo: Doug Fogelson/DRFP)


Word is West Loop nosh spot avec is set to open very soon, according to a tweet from partner Paul Kahan, and TimeOut's got the deets:

Booze News You're Certain To Use

Sable's head bartender Mike Ryan and Master Sommelier Emily Wines will compete in a wine vs. whiskey challenge at the restaurant in October. (Photo: Kimpton Restaurants)


Whiskey vs. wine. How can you possibly make up your mind?!

You'll get your chance to decide which pairs best with bites during a special dinner at Kimpton's Sable Kitchen & Bar in October.

The restaurant's master sommelier Emily Wines (Yes, that's really her name!) competes against head bartender Mike Ryan during an interactive bottle battle that's supposed to complement three dishes from Sable's seasonal, ingredient-driven gastro menu.

Hungry For Hemingway . . .

This sounds pretty cool.

Noted author Ernest Hemingway was a big fan of chef Georges "Kiki" Cuisance's food back when he was cooking at various restaurants in France.

So we can only imagine how thrilled Cuisance was when he was asked to host a three-course, Hemingway-themed dinner to launch the book, "Hunting for Hemingway," written by Diane Gilbert Madsen.

Eat And Drink For Pink

Do your part to help support Breast Cancer Awareness Month by participating in the Lynn Sage Foundation's annual In Good Taste campaign.

You can choose from a list of more than 100 of Chicagoland's most-buzzed about restaurants, and donate at least $1 on your check. The promotion happens throughout the month and you can see the entire list of participants here.

The New Burger King of Chicago?!

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

The competition was pretty fierce Friday night at "Hamburger Hop," Chicago Gourmet's first-ever such event to kick off the two-day food fest.

There was Sola's Carol Wallack, who's pretty familiar with this type of event as she's participated in the South Beach Wine and Food Festival three years in a row. Also, The Gage executive chef Dirk Flanigan was in the house. His burgers are killers. Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat), Seasons' Kevin Hickey (who won the "People's Choice Award"), John Hogan (Keefer's) and Eddie Lakin of gourmet diner Edzo's Burger Shop are also known for bringing it.

With a high-profile judges' panel that included Jean-Luc Naret, the world director of the Michelin guide, Bon Appetit's Barbara Fairchild and world-famous chef Thomas Keller, this little hamburger contest was suddenly serious business. Who would've imagined an unknown chef would win it all?!

STAGE BITES: The Weekly Dining & Drinking Guide

M.I.A. performs at The Vic Thursday.


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

M.I.A. at The Vic. The quirky and controversial British rapper first got our attention in 2003 with her big hit "Galang." Brimming with a mixture of dancehall, hip-hop and electronica, it helped define her style and has kept her in the spotlight ever since. "Maya," just released in July, is M.I.A.'s highest charting album release to date. 8pm Sept. 30. Get tickets here.

Get Ready To Loosen Your Belt . . .

. . . a few more notches.

The fifth-annual Andersonville Dessert Crawl returns this weekend and it's bigger and badder than ever.