In an interview on WSCR-AM 670 a few minutes ago, Lettuce Entertain You scions RJ and Jerrod Melman told afternoon hosts Terry Boers and Dan Bernstein that they expect the Paris Club, the ambitiously hip French bistro project they're putting in the former Brasserie JO space, to open the second week in January. more ›

2010 has been a mixed year for Chicago restaurants. Despite some notable openings, the recession continues to take its toll as restaurants have fewer dining dollars to compete for. Metromix has put together a gallery of many of the restaurants that have closed in 2010, and it brought a tear to our eyes. So naturally, we decided to share it with our readers - either out of a sense of nostalgia or of sadism. more ›

Time flies in a couple of months. It was in early July when news broke of Brasserie JO closing at the end of August. Well, the end of August is here. Brasserie JO closes Sunday Saturday after 15 years of business. Chef Jean Joho is working with HUB 51 (and Lettuce Entertain You scions) RJ and Jerrod Melman to create a "casual and funky" neighborhood French restaurant in its place. more ›

For four days the Sheraton Hotel and Towers downtown was overrun by a burly, bearded, tattooed mass of humanity. They had one other thing in common: they all had a deep love of beer. The annual Craft Brewers Conference and biennial World Beer Cup shone a spotlight on Chicago just as the local craft beer scene is growing by leaps and bounds. Breweries from 90 countries entered a record 3,330 beers in the World Beer Cup, in 90 style categories. Many of those beers, as well as rare vintages, were available for sampling at the conference and throughout the city. more ›

• It's dinner and a show this evening at Brasserie JO (59 W. Hubbard). Guests this evening will be treated to traditional French Christmas carols courtesy of students from LaSalle Language Academy at 7 p.m.
• Epic (112 W. Hubbard, 312-222-4940) opens today. Helmed by chef Stephen Wambach (most recently the corporate chef for Laurent Tourondel’s acclaimed BLT Restaurants) with rock star pastry chef Christine McCabe (Charlie Trotter, Gabriel Viti), Epic will focus on contemporary American cuisine with a French influence. Think hamachi with artichoke, blood orange and Meyer lemon and seared halibut with caramelized cauliflower and hazelnut emulsion.

There have been so many Bastille Day events happening around town in the past few days you'd think the original thirteen colonies rebelled from France. Since there's a seeming load of Francophiles in town we've compiled a list of Bastille Day events and prix fixe menus for you to consider. more ›

That's how adults trick or treat: with a glass in their hand, holding it out in such a way that says, "This isn't going to re-fill itself." We're going to remind you of some events and start giving you the low down on fun things happening for Halloween. more ›

Lots of upcoming events in September. Get out those calendars and start making your reservations for some good food and drink. more ›

We're never bored with pairing beer with food. One reason for that is we seem to never exhaust the possibilities of finding surprising and unexpected pairings. This, and the $49 cost, was what attracted us to last night's beer dinner at Brasserie JO featuring selections from Van Steenberge brewery in Belgium. more ›

Lots of festivals, tastings and food-related events this week, people. more ›

There are a couple of really interesting beer dinners of note in the coming weeks that could wind up being hard reservations, if you're the type to wait until the last minute to get reservations. more ›

A good drink can improve the quality level of a meal. It can make a mediocre dinner tolerable, or raise the bar on a perfectly cooked entree. The best chefs, along with their sommeliers, wine stewards, and spirits experts, plan a meal and its pairings with meticulous detail. Although beer and food have complemented each other for centuries, restaurants in the States are placing an increased emphasis on offering beer pairings for those who don't... more ›

Hurricanes be damned, the spirit of Mardi Gras is alive and well in New Orleans. This weekend, give it up Chicago style with several fundraising events happening around the city. more ›

The China Grill is opening in the Hard Rock hotel today, so plan your social events calendar accordingly. The restaurant is the fifth China Grill, following in the noble footsteps of its New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and Mexico City predecessors. Join us now, won't you, and let's say it unison: Mexico City? Anyway. more ›

We don't ever want to become the kind of pet owner who carries around a teensy dog in a purse—that shit is annoying. But sometimes…we get a little jealous. It's hard to be away from the poochie (or kitties) all day, and every once in a while, even thought it goes against our better sensibilities, we can almost understand why you'd want your little doggie with you all the time. more ›