The Bears released defensive tackle Anthony Adams, a Bronzeville crash injured four, and other news. more ›

Louisa Chu, Editor of BlackboardEats Chicago, has had a busy month. First, she takes over as Vocalo's new food blogger, then she helps to launch a deal website. Even better, this deal website isn't your average Groupon/Living Social/Whatever knockoff - it's actually good. On BlackboardEats, users can find deals (not a million of them, just a couple per week) at restaurants that have never run deals before. Even better, the watchword of the business is "sustainable" - not "exploitative." more ›

He's got a new cookbook to promote, was recently named the 2010 inductee into the Chicago Culinary Museum Chefs Hall of Fame and he's dropped 90 pounds thanks to cutting out sugars and exercising. Both daily newspapers have in-depth profiles on Art Smith today. Chris Borelli's writeup of Smith is a short Q&A where Smith touches base on his cookbook collection, turning 50 and being, in the words of the Smithsonian, "the most well-known openly gay chef in America." more ›

It is our extreme pleasure and privilege to present to you, Ever Present Reader, a new audio outlet for Chicagoist. This podcast series has been in the pipeline for a long time, and now it's ready to be birthed unto the world, pink and naked and here for your entertainment. We'll be providing you a new podcast each Monday to start your week off with Chicagocentric information that probably isn't being covered on local radio and TV. more ›

• From the "DUH!" Files: Apparently fast food meals aren't good for kids. The Center for Science in the Public Interest released a report this week that concluded that kids meals at fast food chains exceed the 430 calories-per-meal limit. Among the worst offenders, Chili's makes the list twice with kids meals at or over 1000 calories each. [via MenuPages Chicago]
• "Rock Star Chef City" alert: BOURDAIN is in town through next week finally filming for the No Reservations Chicago episode. He's got the venerable Louisa Chu in tow, who'll be escorting him to Calumet Fisheries, Burt's Place in Morton Grove and L2O, among other places. We're so stalking this weekend. [Food Chain]
• Lori Barrett writes about cold soups. [Drive Thru]
• An argument for frozen fish [Washington Post, via]

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