'Taste of Chicago' Kicks Off First-Ever 'Craft of the Cocktail' Event With Blackbird's Lynn House

If you're one of those people who abandoned the Taste of Chicago years ago, you've got a good reason to go back when the food festival returns to Grant Park this summer.

Blackbird chief mixologist Lynn House wrote this on her Facebook wall over the weekend:

"After 30 plus years, the Taste of Chicago is including the Craft of the Cocktail on its Celebrity Chef Mainstage. Guess who will be whipping up libations? Super psyched and honored!"

Go For The Food, Stay For 'March Madness' At These Chef-Driven Sports Bars Around Town

Old Town Social's in-house charcuterie program of lonza, mortadella, toscano, spicy coppa, summer sausage and lamb. (Photo: Old Town Social)

There's certainly no shortage of sports bars in Chicago, but when it comes to them serving up great fare the list gets so much shorter. We know you came for the games, monster-sized screens and seemingly endless choices for beer, but you can get that anywhere.

And please, let's just get beyond those wings and things. You've grown up and deserve to treat yourself to something better such as house-made charcuterie and smoked Louisiana alligator ribs.

Check out these all-star sports bars that actually serve good food.

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

Mercat a la Planxa's Jose Garces (Photo: Mercat a la Planxa)

It's cold outside, but these people are hot hot hot . . .

• Jose Garces was in town Tuesday to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Mercat a la Planxa. Though he's not the day-to-day chef (that honor belongs to chef de cuisine Cory Morris), Garces' recognition is what brings faces into the Spanish-influenced place. Look for the "Iron Chef" winner to spend more time in his hometown of Chicago because he's scouting for a location for a new restaurant. He won't disclose the concept yet, but he promises that it'll be heavily inspired by one of his existing seven spots in Philly. We're looking forward to that!

• Miae Liam is out at Japonais and has taken long-time Mirai Sushi chef Jun Ichikawa with her to open a Gold Coast restaurant.

Le Bar Wants You To Take A Trip To Normandy For A Bit Of Nightlife & Noshes

The vibrant Le Bar interior (Photo: Sofitel Chicago)

Hey, anything to get out of the snow and into something hot.

It's the last stop on Le Bar's wonderful little tour of France, and it's happening in the sexy, northwestern region of Normandy.

As part of the event, which happens 5-10pm March 7, Le Bar spotlights some homegrown favorites, including the apple brandy Calvados in the night's signature cocktail (also made with simple syrup, lemon juice, apple juice, bitters, splash of ginger ale and fresh mint).

Calvados will also make an appearance in one of the event's appetizers, seared scallops with bacon and parsnip. There will also be glasses of apple cider and baked Camembert with grilled bread, dried fruit and walnuts.

Alpana Singh Repping Chicago For Food & Wine's 'Sommeliers of the Year 2013' Honors

Master Sommelier Alpana Singh

Congrats to The Boarding House's Alpana Singh for being the only Chicagoan named to Food & Wine's annual Sommeliers of the Year list. Here's why she won, according to the mag:

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

Chowdah Fest participants in 2012. (Photo: Ari Bendersky)

Everyone's hustlin', hustlin', hustlin' . . .

• Chowdah Fest returns, but I so wish it was today with this wack weather we're experiencing. But anyway, the fierce competition is back at the Columbia Yacht Club (111 N. Lake Shore Dr.) 6:30-9pm Monday, March 11. If you're able to snag a ticket (the venue only holds 250), you'll be treated to chowder prepared by some of the best in the biz, including chefs Matt Troost (Three Aces), Kevin Hickey (Allium), Ryan McCaskey (Acadia), Homaro Cantu (iNG/Moto) and last year's winner Giuseppe Tentori (BOKA/GT Fish & Oyster). There will be celebrity guest judges, but you'll get a vote to pick the people's choice. $40 in advance; $50 at the door. Get tickets right here.

• Fans of the West Loop resto scene should be thrilled about the second-annual Divine, Dine & Wine taking place 6-9pm Thursday, Feb. 28 at Venue One (1044 W. Randolph St.). Participants include the likes of City Winery, Sepia, Vera and Vivo. Get the $95 tickets ($125 VIP) right here.

Your First-Ever Look At Gilt Bar's Sophisticated New Lower-Level 'Library'

(Photos: Gilt Bar)

For now, the snazzy little ramen bar planned for the Sodikoff Restaurant Group has been put on hold, Brendan Sodikoff tells 312DD.

In its place is something that he's dubbed the Library, which will serve as a "social conversation room" when it opens to the public underneath Gilt Bar Wednesday, March 6.

The low-lit space is filled with hundreds of leather-bound vintage books that Sodikoff's team snapped up from stores in Chicago, London, New York and Paris. Sodikoff boasts that the collection is comprised of the greatest books of all time, so he's hoping that visitors respect them.

Downstairs diners will be able to order Gilt Bar's entire food and drink menu, which includes the yummy Gunthrop roasted chicken, coal-fired ribeye steak and diner-style pies. Sodikoff promises that though it's the same menu, guests will have an entirely different experience in the Library.

Here are more photos of the new space:

Scofflaw Reopens Thursday After A Few Minor Renovations

Photo courtesy of Scofflaw

OK, so I panicked for a minute Monday when I got this message from a loyal reader:

"Any idea what happened to Scofflaw?!! Just drove past and boarding is going up. Sign is down. Liquor going into boxes."

Well, here are the facts, which come directly from Scofflaw: