For once, we get to make this pun - see some seafood! GT Fish and Oyster's lunch menu has some unexpected delights. more ›

Restaurants across the city are accepting reservations for the fifth annual Chicago Restaurant Week. See what we’re looking forward to this year. more ›

Last week, we told you how you might be able to get tickets to watch Stephanie Izard and Giuseppe Tentori face-off in this week's Quick Fire Challenge. There was a lot of calling, re-dialing and fingers being crossed. If you didn't get tickets, but still want to watch this fairly epic confrontation (and eat the results) this is your chance. It's like Top Chef live in front of you! more ›

The Boka restaurant group has been hosting "Quickfire" cooking competitions for a couple of month, pitting different executive chefs from their all-star lineup against each other in Iron Chef/Reality Television type contests. It's great PR, but here's the important part for you - tickets are free. Really. Free. Considering how hard it is to get into Girl & the Goat, it's probably worth reading on. more ›

- Bleeding Heart Bakery, everyone's favorite punk rock pasty location, is opening a new location in the suburbs. According to their facebook page, they will be opening a new location in Elmhurst by the end of the summer. The new location will be supplied by their new, huge home bakery in the city which will hopefully open in the next few weeks - the opening has been delayed several times already. In any case, suburbanites rejoice, as you won't have to drive all the way into the city to taste their baked goodies. more ›

We toured the about-to-open GT Fish & Oyster last Friday, but we weren't allowed to take any pictures, since the restaurant was still finishing up construction. The Feast got in once things were a bit more in order, and Chef Tentori showed them around the about-to-open restaurant. We are excited to see the rotating series of chalk paintings on the back wall, and to add this to our growing list of "restaurants with ampersands." If you are breathless with anticipation, and you want to eat oysters at the GT-branded boomerang table, this video should keep you sated for a few days. Hints of the decor and menu have been trickling out for weeks, and it seems likely that this spot will be packed to the gills (ha ha) once it opens. Feast also has the entire menu. more ›

Well here's a spot of good news: the mourning period over Earwax Cafe's closing has been cut short. Today, a statement posted to Earwax's Facebook page announced that the popular Wicker Park cafe would not be closing after all, reading:

"Due to popular demand Earwax will re-open after a menu overhaul and cleaning tomorrow. Kurt Guzowski, formerly Executive Chef of Landmark Grill has spruced up the vegetarian and vegan-focused menu, keeping a few of the old favorites and adding some new dishes and ever-changing daily specials. You guys have convinced us to re-open, despite some difficulties, and to stick with the tried and true concept of the cafe."

Restaurant week may be winding down, but it’s not over yet! Restaurant week runs until Sunday, Feb. 27, leaving you plenty of time to squeeze in a reservation or two. Still trying to decide which menu to take on? If you prefer to take part in the fancy and fashionable dining experience scene, with perhaps a slightly less exciting meal, make a date with BOKA. more ›

Yesterday, we gave you Chicagoist's best tips for surviving the impending white fluffy doom. Today, we are hearing more and more businesses getting in the act - either closing altogether or offering great deals to anyone brave enough (or dumb enough) to go out and get 2 feet of snow dumped on their heads. Whether or not a restaurant is on the list, be sure to call ahead - there will be a lot of unplanned closings. We expect this list to keep growing, so we'll update throughout today and tomorrow if anything changes. more ›

Last Wednesday, we attended the latest "86 Hunger" dinner at Naha, benefitting the Greater Chicago Food Depository. This series of dinners, hosted by some of Chicago's best chefs, brings together food lovers who care about problem of hunger in the city. They get a chance to eat some great food and donate a fairly serious chunk of money to charity. When the dinner is cooked by Sarah Stegner (of Prairie Fire) and Carrie Nahabedian (of Naha) it goes without saying that the food will be worthy of the cause. If you like what you see, there are two more 86 Hunger dinners coming up in the next few weeks, hosted by Custom House and Boka - check for details after the jump. more ›

Want to get a sneak peek at GT Fish & Oyster, the new restaurant BOKA's Giuseppe Tentori is planning for the former Tizi Mellou space? If you're near Grand and Wells at 11:30 today, you'll get a chance. more ›

Everyone should have a strategy when entering a massive, culinary event like Restaurant Week. For me, try restaurants that I have yet to checked off my 'dining out' list then eye-ing the menu for delicious and unique dishes and finally going back to places that I love but can't regularly fit into the weekly dining budget. more ›

The Magalitsa pig, also known as the "curly haired hog," is a breed of pig that originated from Hungary and the Balkans known for its thick wooly coat. The meat from a Mangalitsa pig is also rich in fat and is reputed to have a flavor and texture similar to Wagyu beef. In gourmet circles Mangalitsas have eclipsed mulefoots as the new trendy pork. more ›

In case anyone hasn’t gotten the memo, the economy sucks. In our beat, that usually means more coverage of expensive restaurants closing their doors, but there is a larger world beyond the reach of truffles and foie gras. Visits to the Greater Chicago Food Depository are up 35% this year, as more and more people need help to feed their families. Some of Chicago’s best chefs have decided to do something about it - and you can help them out. Plus, you can get some pretty amazing food. What could be better? more ›

Following up on the upcoming Stephanie Izard restaurant she mentioned in her "Re-Grills" is a name for the venue and partners. Time Out Chicago has the scoop (fitting, since they're also trying to hook her up, as well) that the Drunken Monkey Goat is pairing Izard with Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz of BOKA, Perennial and Landmark fame. It's still casual and affordable, in Wicker Park, and conservatively slated to open in summer 2K9. [TOC] more ›

Chicago food pantries are running out of food and thanks to our turbulent economy the number of people turning to food pantries for assistance has increased over 30% since last year. Last night the Chicago Food Depository, a non-profit organization that donates food to over 600 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters and to over 500,000 adults and children every year, held its 15th Annual Bag Hunger Auction to expected success. more ›