Bleeding Heart To Close Oak Park Store

The Facebook page for Bleeding Heart Bakery's Oak Park location posted this message Thursday afternoon:

Notes From . . .

. . . Le Mysterieux Festin at Henri.

• Henri/The Gage Executive Chef Dirk Flanigan teamed up with the restaurants' mixologist, Clint Rogers, and Wirtz Beverage's Eric Hay for Le Mysterieux Festin, or "a mystery dinner." The first-ever event attracted more than 70 diners.

• The unique concept involved five top local bartenders choosing from 100 "mystery" ingredients and creating a cocktail to match one of the five courses for the dinner. They had no idea of any of the ingredients the chef used for each course.

Was It A Hoax?

Late Wednesday afternoon, Chef Paul Kahan sent out this outrageous tweet:

"Come get fresh whale veal at Publican Quality Meats! It's amazing. Only $49.95 per pound!"

And if you thought it was crazy as hell like we did, you might be on to something. Our friends at Eater Chicago called up PQM Thursday to inquire about that alleged $49.95 whale veal, and had this to say:

He Said What Now?!

Chef Paul Kahan is a pretty low-key guy, but today he gets props for the most outrageous quote of the week:

"Come get fresh whale veal at Publican Quality Meats! It's amazing. Only $49.95 per pound!"

He's not kidding, y'all . . .

A Recipe For . . .

... Crispy Black-Eyed Peas at Ada Street.

Los Angeles native Zoe Schor cultivated her culinary skills with some of the best names in the biz: Thomas Keller (Bouchon), Tom Colicchio (Craft) and Todd English (Beso). As chef of Bucktown newcomer Ada Street—owned by powerhouse duo Michael Kornick and David Morton—she's bringing everything she's learned, but making certain she keeps dishes as uncomplicated as possible.

"My appreciation for food and wine comes from a childhood of learning that if it's easy, it isn’t necessarily good, but that good doesn't necessarily mean complicated," says Schor. "Simple pleasures are often the best."

Take, for example, her signature Crispy Black-Eyed Peas appetizer. She's elevated the Southern favorite, yet keeps its preparation and ingredients basic.

Here is the recipe:

Why Is This Show On Television?!

I haven't stepped foot inside The Wiener's Circle since the obnoxious cashier on the other side of the glass leaned across and screamed at my friend: "Do you suck c*ck with those glasses on?!"

The room, which was full of drunken, late-night revelers, erupted in laughter, much to my friend and her fiance's chagrin.

I know that part of the so-called appeal of this Lincoln Park greasy spoon is its crude, rude and raunchy crew members, but it really bothers me that it's now on national display. With TruTV giving The Wiener's Circle a weekly reality show, it feels as though it's gotten worse just to play to the cameras.

The restaurant's owned by two white guys (Barry and Larry), who appear occasionally on the show, but what makes it wild, weird and provocative are the out-of-control antics from the all-black staff, which consists of several women and one man.

Get Your Grub On . . . For A Good Cause

Here's the scene at last year's bustling "Red or White Ball." (Photo: Steppenwolf's Auxiliary Council)

Two tasty events benefiting great causes are coming your way.

The Steppenwolf's Auxiliary Council hosts the annual Red or White Ball at Architectural Artifacts (4325 N. Ravenswood Ave.) Friday.

Guests who spring for the VIP reception (7:30-8:30pm) get to sample signature bites from the likes of Jean Tippenhauer (Fred's at Barney's New York), Tim Graham (Paris Club), Moosah Reaume (The Pump Room) and Kate Milashus (ZED 451). Barrelhouse Flat owner/mixologist Stephen Cole will be on hand to pour cocktails.

Crofton on Wells Closes To Re-Concept

(Photo: Crofton on Wells)

For more than 10 years, Suzy Crofton's River North spot, Crofton on Wells, shined as one of Chicago's top places for contemporary American fare.

She received accolades from the likes of Esquire and Food & Wine, plus a glowing three-star review from Phil Vettel of the Chicago Tribune. In 2011, the restaurant also garnered a Michelin star (only to lose it in 2012).

So it was pretty shocking to find out that Crofton decided to pull the plug on her operation Saturday. According to Eater Chicago, her reason was simple: Business "has been painfully slow."