Instead of pairing cocktails with food, Chefs Paul Virant and Nathan Sears will be crafting a menu based on an all-star cocktail list. more ›

In this case, we mean the headline literally - if you happened to notice that some of Chicago's iconic buildings were lit in green this weekend, it was to honor the Green Tie Ball, Gateway Green's annual charity blowout. The event turned an industrial area (home of metalwork factory A. Finkl and Sons) into the land of Oz for one intensely green night. Charity balls aren't really our scene (and our green tuxedo happened to be at the cleaners), but we found a few things to keep us amused. more ›

When I arrived at the Green City Market BBQ at 4:30 yesterday afternoon, the thermometer had already topped 100 degrees. My shirt soaked through in the first 10 minutes - and my plight was nothing compared to that of the chefs, standing over hot grills. But, that's not what guests to the BBQ will remember. They'll remember the entire Chicago food world, including every restaurant you've ever heard of, standing out there cooking and sweating together, to support an organization we all love. more ›

It's great when someone else does the legwork to find us tasty things to drink, but credit needs to be given - Grubstreet Chicago hoofed it all over the city looking for the best in Spring cocktails, and they found some doozies. Many Chicagoist favorites, including Sable, The Bristol and Lula Cafe are on the list, along with some surprises, like a Ramp Gibson from Hearty. more ›

Sons and daughters of the world, this Sunday is the time when the institutional forces of card companies, restaurants and FTD join up to force you to worship your moms. Know what? Even the most cynical of us knows that she deserves it. So take her out somewhere nice on Sunday! Here's a list of some great mother's day dining events - and best of all, they all still have space. Make your reservations now. A great tip: If you can't find something you like, drop the idea of brunch. Mom can stay up a little later, and there are still PLENTY of reservations to be had for dinner at all of your favorite spots. more ›

A standing-room-only crowd descended on WaterShed Bar Monday night for its inaugural stint as host of the monthly cocktail series Shift Drink. Held on the first Monday of each month, Shift Drink pairs a chef with a mixologist and charges them with devising a creative menu of cocktails and serving them up for the event. This month Sepia's chef, Andrew Zimmerman, and head bartender, Josh Pearson, collaborated on a cheeky menu of four signature drinks that turned a favorable light onto some of cocktail history's dimmer nooks. more ›

Sepia and Slow Food Chicago are pairing up to celebrate Sepia's third anniversary with a five-course meal featuring produce from local farmers and a few well-paired small production wines. Owner Emmanuel Nony and Executive Chef Andrew Zimmerman welcome you to join them at Monday, July 26th at 6:30 for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres followed by what will be a spectacular meal. more ›

Amid all the recent turnover at Sepia a few months back, seeing mixologist Peter Vestinos leave to become the on-staff cocktail guy at Wirtz Beverage Group (formerly known as Judge & Dolph) probably hit us harder than seeing chef Kendal Duque leave. Vestinos's tenure at Sepia was an unqualified success and his cocktails received raves from diners and critics alike. more ›

In "Quick Bites" a couple weeks back we noted that chef Kendal Duque was leaving Sepia (123 N. Jefferson St.), with NoMI chef Andrew Zimmerman replacing him. more ›

Sure signs of summer: fluff pieces from newspapers analyzing the dietary habits of our Presidential candidates. This one in the Wall Street Journal (via the Bright One) takes a look at the restaurants both Senators Barack Obama and John McCain frequent and discover what those restaurants say about them and their families. more ›

We know that Chicago is a restaurant hot spot. While out-of-town writers particularly tend to maintain the clichés (earned, mind you) of Chicago being a steak and potatoes, deep dish pizza town, out-of-town chefs know the real score. more ›

There's a fantastic wine store in the West Loop called Just Grapes with employees who know so much about wine, you'll go as much for the education as you will for a great pour. The wines are arranged by their flavor profile and line the walls of this beautifully designed store. This excellent wine shop has a private room in which we attended their most recent food and wine pairing seminar last night and were impressed not only with the wealth of knowledge about wines offered by corporate sommelier Don Sritong, but also with the incredible food provided by no less than Executive Chef of Sepia, Kendall Duque himself. Eight different fantastic wines were served alongside some of the best food Chicago has to offer and at an incredibly reasonable price of $50. more ›

It's easy to forget that, with all the hype recently bestowed to the Violet Hour since it opened months ago (much of it warranted, we'll preface), that this city was already teeming with master mixologists before Toby Maloney blew back into town. Case in point, at the recent "Chicago Iron Bartender" competition, Sepia's Peter Vestinos beat out a packed field including Nacional 27's Adam Seger, Tim Lacey of Spring Restaurant Group, and Otom's James Macknyk... more ›