Get Sneak Peak of Sheerin's The Trencherman at Chalkboard

Chalkboard owner/chef Gilbert Langlois (left) with chefs Roxanne Spruance and Michael Sheerin (Photo: Chalkboard)

The first-ever Chalkboard Guest Chef Takeover was so successful with wd~50's Roxanne Spruance last month that they've decided to do it again.

It goes down at 6:30pm Dec. 21, and this time Blackbird chef Michael Sheerin headlines the special dinner. But what makes this one even more exciting is that he's planning to give guests a sneak preview of the menu from his upcoming restaurant, The Trencherman.

Here's the menu for the night:

Finally!

(Photo: grahamwich)

I get almost daily inquiries about when grahamwich will finally open its doors.

So I'm happy to report that it will be this week, according to the man himself.

Here's more on what's happening at the space from GrubStreet, which has been obsessively following the story:

Perfect Day To Indulge . . .

The official start of winter is still more than a week again, but you couldn't tell that by looking outside.

Instead of complaining about it, let's just embrace it by indulging in wintertime faves like hot chocolate. Today, by the way, is National Hot Chocolate Day!

If you're in the Loop, The Gage and sister resto Henri offer Trinkschokolade, a European-style hot chocolate made with famed Julius Meinl chocolate and steamed milk.

Fashionista Fa-La-Laaaa . . .

(Photo: Victoria Olivares)

This is how they set it off for the season at Perennial.

Her name is Veronica, and she is fierce!

Tempers Reach Boiling Point on 'Top Chef: All Stars'

Dale Levitski, executive chef of Sprout. (Photo: Sprout)


Wednesday's episode of Top Chef: All Stars, "Night at the Museum," was more of a nightmare for the cheftestants, according to Chicago's only participant Dale Levitski of Sprout.

Here's a recap of what went down, but here's his colorful version:

Sneak Preview of GT Fish & Oyster

(Photo: Victoria Olivares)


Two of my friends braved The Hawk during lunch Tuesday to check out Guiseppe Tentori's sneak preview of GT Fish & Oyster at Grand and Wells streets.

Tentori—who's also exec chef at Boka—gave guests a taste of what's certain to be a signature item at the River North spot, the Lobster Roll. He teamed up with the Gaztro-wagon in front of the space.

Their review in less than 140 characters:

The Best Things TOC Ate All Year

(Photo: via Suckfist)


Looks like the food crew from Time Out chowed down well every chance they got in 2010.

Here's their annual 100 best things we ate (and drank) list, and if you want to duplicate what they did, the team graciously created an ambitious wish list.

Several yummy-sounding dishes and drinks we'll be checking out soon:

Battle of the Local Empires . . .

Rob Katz (from left), Giuseppe Tentori, Stephanie Izard, Ryan Poli and Kevin Boehm of the Boka Restaurant Group (Photo: Boka Restaurant Group)

Time for a year-end poll!

This time it's all about the shot callers, the trendsetters, the culinary collectives responsible for putting Chicago on the map with their various restaurant ventures.

You cannot pick up a restaurant section without reading something cool about what one of these guys is doing, and their names in the food community are just as valued as Tom Ford, Michael Kors and Louis Vuitton in the fashion industry.

But when it comes to the battle of the local restaurant empires, who comes out on top?! Here's your chance to decide (see the poll at bottom of page):