Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs & Mixologists Are Up To Around Town This Week

Don't let the cold weather slow you down . . .

• One way to fight off the chill is to attend Red Door's fundraiser featuring the city's coolest chefs in a chili cook-off. The event benefits the Chicken Freedom Project, an initiative by Slagel Family Farms to purchase and convert an existing five-acre commercial, caged chicken and egg facility into a cage-free, old-fashioned farm operation in Central Illinois. Participating chefs include Red Door's Troy Graves, plus John Manion (La Sirena Clandestina), Eric Mansavage (Farmhouse), Enoch Simpson (endgrain), Mark Steuer (Carriage House) and Matt Troost (Three Aces). Tickets are $25, includes food and one Olmeca Altos cocktail, and may be purchased here. 6pm Jan. 28 and Yours Truly is the Special Guest Judge.

• A bunch of Chicago bartenders are going to Occupy NYC this weekend in what they're calling 24 Bartenders, 24 Hours. Their sked is absolutely hectic with a boozy brunch, Skeeball tournament, tattoo sessions, karaoke and more. There's a charity attached to the madness; they're raising $$$ for the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. In on the fun are organizers Daniel de Oliveira (Olmeca Altos) and Sergio Serna (The Drawing Room), plus Charles Joly (The Aviary), Josh Pearson (Sepia), Mea Leech (belly Q) and Paul Sauter (Double A). I guess it's going to be pretty difficult getting a drink around town Sunday night!

First-Ever Bang Bang Pie Shop Baking Class Sells Out In Less Than 20 Minutes

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

I take it that folks really like pie because when Logan Square's Bang Bang Pie Shop announced Tuesday on Twitter that tickets were on sale for its first-ever hands-on pie class, they were gone before you could blink. The event is $60 and happens at 7pm Feb. 4.

Here's what you will miss out on:

Former Mercadito, Trenchermen 'Tender Sets Up Shop At Upcoming Takito Kitchen In Wicker Park

Adam Weber of the forthcoming Takito Kitchen. (Photos: Takito Kitchen)

More modern tacos come to Wicker Park to compete with stalwarts Big Star and Antique Taco with the arrival of Takito Kitchen in March.

In addition to these tacos (they're keeping the magic under wraps for now), the owners plan to unveil a serious mixology program with Adam Weber behind the stick. He previously worked at Mercadito and Trenchermen.

Here's an exclusive, first look at some of Weber's innovative new cocktails:

Look Out For Big Changes On Frog N Snail's Menu

Frog N Snail's interior (Photo: Frog N Snail)

If you're going to make major changes to the menu, now is the time to do it—in the dead of winter.

At Frog N Snail, Top Chef alum Dale Levitski (he also owns Sprout in Lincoln Park) is putting the finishing touches on a brand-new dinner menu that debuts this weekend.

A Sneak Peek Of Siena Tavern, Plus Another Celebrity Collaboration In The Works?!

(Photo: Lucas Stoioff)

Siena Tavern combines the talents of culinary Italian Stallion Fabio Viviani (Top Chef) and the duo behind Bull & Bear and Public House.

We've been told to expect rustic Italian fare and decor mixed in with contemporary fixins', but Siena partner Lucas Stoioff posted the photo above on Facebook, showcasing what you'll see when the restaurant opens in River North on Feb. 15.

Coco Pazzo Team To Open Roman Trattoria and Pizzeria in Streeterville This Spring

From the mailbag:

"There has been a lot of activity at 212 East Ohio in preparation for the opening of Jack Weiss’s new restaurant this spring. Weiss, owner of Coco Pazzo and Coco Pazzo Café, is busy readying the space for a completely different Italian eatery than his long standing Tuscan restaurants. The warm and intimate space will seat approximately 100 people and be home to a Roman trattoria and pizzeria featuring dishes from the Lazio region of Italy."

So exciting and Roman Trattoria and Pizzeria's pretty close to Coco Pazzo Cafe!

Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs & Mixologists Are Up To Around Town This Week

Michael Carlson photo via the Chicago Tribune

Hot shots on the move . . .

• A number of top-notch toques are getting together to help raise funds for a learning garden for Cesar E. Chávez Multicultural Academic Center on the South Side. The likes of Michael Carlson (Schwa), Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia) and Cary Taylor (The Southern) are whipping up the vittles and Chris Gerber, general manager of The Aviary, is hosting. The event takes place 6-9pm Jan. 28 at Cesar school (4747 S. Marshfield Ave.). Suggested donation is $75 and may be purchased by emailing Aaron McKay. Your ticket includes non-alcoholic beverages from Rare Tea Cellar, Peace Tree Brewery and European Imports.

• Get ready to squeal. The entire chef lineup for Baconfest has been revealed.

• Here's iNG/Moto chef Homaro Cantu on Good Morning America plugging his miracle berry diet.

• This is exciting news for the home cook. According to Time Out Chicago, you can now take home sauces created by the chefs of Girl & the Goat, Big Star and Pecking Order.

• The Gage Executive Chef Dirk Flanigan has resigned to work on his own project.

Sushi Dokku—From Former Sushi Wabi Owners—Is Now Open For Business

Got a tip that Sushi Dokku opened for friends and family Monday evening.

I called, and sure enough the hostess who answered the phone invited me to "come on in" to check it out even though the restaurant wasn't officially opening until Jan. 15.

Sushi Dokku's arrival is exciting because it's from Susan Thompson and Angela Hepler-Lee—two-thirds of the former owners of the now-shuttered Sushi Wabi. If you remember, there was a ton of drama surrounding that closing.

Anyway, the new restaurant is directly across the street from the old venue, and regulars of Sushi Wabi should be happy to see some of the old menu standbys. New to the menu are what they're calling "dressed nigiri bites," which will be accompanied by garnishes and sauces. Expect also typical maki rolls, hot and cold Japanese dishes, and a small ramen menu.

Here are some photos of Sushi Dokku's menus. Yeah, you're going to have to squint a bit!