Bang Bang Pie Shop Opens Thursday

Bang Bang Pie Shop's Lavender Coconut Cream Pie. (Photo via instagr.am.)

This news should put a smile on your face.

Bang Bang Pie Shop, a gourmet sweets spot co-owned by former Tru pastry chef Michael Ciapciak, opens Thursday in Logan Square.

Feast your eyes on some of the menu items below. Damn, is all I gotta say . . .

Freebie Alert: GT Fish & Oyster!

To celebrate its first anniversary, GT Fish & Oyster is giving away free oysters.

Yes, you read that right. FREE.

G.E.B. Finally Follows on Twitter

"I turned a new leaf!" Graham Elliot exclaimed Sunday after he started randomly following the more than 17,000 people who follow him on Twitter @grahamelliot. (Right now, he's up to about 217.)

It's been three years since the popular chef of graham elliot, grahamwich and the forthcoming G.E.B. joined Twitter, and he's been vehemently against following anyone. He told those who inquired that at some point he'd start following people, but for some charity cause.

Not sure what he's got up his sleeve, but welcome to the real Twitter experience, G.E.B.!

Your Alternative to 'BaconFest' . . .

(Photo via The Bacon Games)

Missed out on getting tix to the sold-out Baconfest, happening April 12 at the UIC Forum?!

Park Grill, one of the participants in that all-day, offbeat swine scene, plans its own BACONfest as soon as the main event is over. From April 15-20, new Executive Chef Alex Shalev will rock 11 bacon-centric specials on his menu, including a cocktail, appetizers, entrees and dessert.

Check below for a menu certain to make you squeal, including the dish he'll serve at Baconfest:

Brunch Is Coming to Belly Shack!

Belly Shack exterior via Danbites.com.

But don't get too excited now, because they're only doing it on a few scattered dates.

You've got this weekend (March 25) to head over to Belly Shack, plus Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day for dishes like show-roasted pork loin with chilaquiles and red Thai curry sauce; crispy French toast with mango and creme anglaise; and a vegetarian breakfast burrito stuffed with bok choy and Chinese black beans.

The hours?! 10am-2pm or until the food is gone . . .

Sprout's Short Rib Eggs Benedict

Sprout's Short Rib Eggs Benedict via Serious Eats Chicago.

As Sprout owner Dale Levitsky readies for Frog N Snail's debut next week, Serious Eats Chicago gushes over one of Sprout's signature brunch items.

At $18, the Short Rib Eggs Benedict is quite pricy, but the reviewer still highly recommends it:

Notes From: The Southern's HOT Fried Chicken Eating Contest

Brad Boman (top, left) won The Southern's first-ever HOT Fried Chicken Eating Contest. (Photos: 312 Dining Diva/The Southern)

• The Southern hosted a HOT Fried Chicken Eating Contest to kick off its Thursday Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Night, which includes the spicy glazed chicken and Jack Daniels cocktail specials.

• Nine contestants signed up for the contest. Their task was to see who could eat the most of the 10 pieces of HOT fried chicken boneless breasts within five minutes. No one was even close, so we gave them a few more minutes to compete.

• Brad Boman won, eating all his chicken in seven minutes, leaving nothing but the skin behind. He won $50 in cash, a $50 gift certificate to The Southern, and a backpack filled with Jack Daniels' goodies. All the other contestants won a $25 gift card to The Southern.

Why The West Loop Will Be On Fire This Summer

Musician Frank Orrall (left) and Yvonne Cadiz Kim and Bill Kim.

Here's evidence that the West Loop just got even cooler:

Poi Dog Pondering frontman Frank Orrall and mixology vet Peter Vestinos have signed on to some very important projects in the area.

The guys were dining separately at Nellcôte Wednesday with high-profile chefs working on two of the West Loop's hottest spots.