When our "creature of habit" gene keeps leading us back to the same sandwich place (Milk and Honey) we can’t help but get excited when owner Carol Watkins opens another sandwich shop just down the block. She partnered with John Manion, former chef/co-owner of Mas to open Cipollina in the former Milk and Honey Bake Shop space. Cipollina offers several new Italian deli-style sandwiches and paninis we can throw into our "sandwiches close to home" rotation. Our favorite is identified on the menu by its ingredients: “prosciutto, arugula, chopped Calabrian peppers, parmesan truffle butter.” more ›

• Chez Pim's Menu For Hope fundraiser is still going strong (it lasts through Dec 21). So far, more than $50,000 has been raised to benefit the UN World Food Programme's school lunch program in Lesotho, Africa. Kalyn's Kitchen is the regional host for the Midwest, and there are lots of great regional prizes. Our friends over at Drive-Thru put together a yummy looking package, but what we'd really like is to win Movable Feast's offering of getting to hang out with Moto's Homaru Cantu and Ben Roche.
• We're sad to see Mas close it's doors. Chef/owner John Manion told Dish, “It’s a totally different neighborhood than what we opened to nine years ago. I’m ready to do something else. It’s my baby and I don’t have much of a security blanket but I’m looking forward to doing something new. I want to cook food again—not that I don’t at Mas—but I have different ideas [now].”
• Our love for TasteSpotting knows no bounds. A few days ago, we came across this photo, and our mouths started watering. What could be better on a cold winter night than homemade gnocchi with toasted hazelnut, brown butter and sage? Even better? Our Kitchen Sink is local. If you are reading, Chicagoist loves dinner invitations.