I wanted to apologize for being out of touch this past week.  I’ve been ugly sick.  (I first thought I was “pretty” sick but then I looked in the mirror and I really look horrible.)  I’m not eating or even thinking about food for once.  I will be back on my feet soon so I hope to post a fun recipe later this week.

So in lieu of one of my “normal” posts (if you can call anything I write normal), I thought I’d toss out some fun things for you do in the next week.

First, I entered the BaconFest Chicago Nueske’s Amateur Bacon Cook-Off.  Please vote for me #7, Barbara Felt Miller.  Just think of the fun experience I could share if I became a finalist!

Next, The Fourth Annual Mac Madness at Rockit Bar and Grill starts next Monday, March 18!!!  Enjoy fun new spins on your favorite comfort food! Here is the schedule:

Monday:  Jerk Chicken Mac (Pulled jerk chicken, blistered habaneros and monterey jack cheese)

Tuesday: Oxtail Gnocchi Mac (Guinness braised oxtail, potato gnocchi, four cheeses and a parmesan crust)

Wednesday:  Cajun Mac (Andouille Sausage, crawfish, roasted red peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese)

Thursday:  Wagon Wheel Mac (Big Fork Bacon sausage, aged cheddar, seasoned tortilla topping and scallions)

Friday: Lobster Mac (Lobster claw meat, green peas, tomatoes and cheddar jack cheese)

Everyone of them sounds delicious and I wish I was up to a visit right now!

Also, starting Sunday, March 17, Chicago is celebrating the fifth annual Chef Week until March 22.

Restaurants will offer a three-course, prix fixe dinner menu for $44 per person*, and for those who serve lunch, a $22 per person menu will be available. Prices are exclusive of beverage, gratuity and tax. Visit chicagochefweek.com to make reservations through OpenTable or call the following participating restaurants directly:

  • 2 Sparrows (553 W Diversey, 773.234.2320)
  • Acadia (1639 S. Wabash, 312.360.9500)
  • Atwood Café  (1 W Washington, 312.368.1900)
  • Autre Monde (6727 W. Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, IL 60402 708.775.8122)
  • Avec (615 W Randolph, 312.377.2002)
  • Balena (1633 N Halsted, 312.861.3888)
  • The Barrelhouse Flat (2642 N. Lincoln, 773.857.0421)
  • BellyQ  (1400 W Randolph, 312-563-1010)
  • Bistro Bordeaux (618 Church St Evanston, IL 6020, 847.424.1483)
  • Bistronomic (840 N. Wabash, 312.944.8400)
  • Blackbird (619 W Randolph, 312.715.0708)
  • BOKA (1729 N. Halsted, 312.337.6070)
  • Branch 27 (1371 W Chicago, 312.850.2700)
  • The Bristol (2152 N. Damen, 773.862.5555)
  • Baume & Brix (351 W Hubbard, 312.321.0351)
  • Browntrout (4111 North Lincoln, 773.472.4111)
  • David Burke’s Prime House (616 N Rush St, 312.660.6000)
  • De Cero (814 W Randolph, 312.455.8114)
  • Embeya (564 W Randolph, 312.612.5640)
  • Epic (112 W Hubbard, 312.222.4940)
  • The Florentine (151 W Adams, 312.660.8866)
  • Farmhouse (228 W Chicago Ave, 312.280.4960)
  • Filini Restaruant & Bar (221 N Columbus Dr, 312.565.5258)
  • The Gage (24 S. Michigan Ave, 312.372.4243)
  • Gemini Bistro (2075 N Lincoln, 773.525.2522)
  • Graham Elliot Bistro (217 W Huron, 312.888.2258)
  • Gioco (1312 S Wabash, 312.939.3870)
  • Grange Hall Burger Bar (844 W Randolf, 312.491.0844)
  • Green Zebra (1460 W. Chicago, 312.243.7100)
  • GT Fish & Oyster (531 N Wells, 312.929.3501)
  • Henri (18 S Michigan, 312.578.0763)
  • Hot Chocolate (1747 N Damen, 773.489.1747)
  • iNG (951 W. Fulton Market, 855.834.6464)
  • Japonais (600 W Chicago, 312.822.9600)
  • Le Colonial (937 N. Rush St, 312.255.1221)
  • Libertad (7931 Lincoln Ave Skokie, IL 60077, 847.674.8100)
  • Lockwood (17 E. Monroe, 312.917.3404)
  • Leopold (1450 W Chicago Ave, 312.348.1028)
  • Little Market Brasserie (10 E Delaware, 312.640.8141)
  • Lula (2537 N Kedzie, 773.489.9554)
  • Markethouse (611 N Fairbanks, 312.224.2200)
  • Mercadito (108 W. Kinzie St, 312.329.9555)
  • Mercat a la Planxa (638 S. Michigan Ave, 312.765.0524)
  • Mexique (1529 W Chicago Ave, 312.850.0288)
  • Michael Jordan’s Steak House (505 N. Michigan Ave, 312.321.8823)
  • N9NE (440 W Randolph, 312.575.9900)
  • Nightwood (2119 S. Halsted, 312.526.3385)
  • North Pond (2610 N Cannon Dr, 773.477.5845)
  • Perennial Virant (1800 N. Lincoln, 312.981.7070)
  • Piccolo Sogno (464 N. Halsted, 312.421.0077)
  • Piccolo Sogno Due (340 N Clark, 312.822.0077)
  • Province (161 N. Jefferson, 312.669.9900)
  • The Publican (837 W. Fulton Market, 312.733.9555)
  • Publican Quality Meats (825 W Fulton Market, 312.445.8977)
  • Red Door (2118 N Damen, 773.679.7221)
  • Rustic House (1967 N Halsted, 312.929.3227)
  • Sable (505 N State, 312.985.0769)
  • Sepia (123 N. Jefferson, 312.441.1920)
  • Slurping Turtle (116 W. Hubbard, 312.464.0466)
  • Table Fifty-two (52 W Elm, 312.573.4000)
  • Tavernita (151 W Erie, 312.274.1111)
  • Telegraph (2601 N Milwaukee, 773.292.946)
  • Tesori (65 E. Adams, 312.786.9911)
  • Tocco (1266 N Milwaukee, 773.687.8895)
  • Tortoise Club (350 N State St, 312.755.1700)
  • Trenchermen (2039 W North, 773.661.1540)
  • TWO (1132 W. Grand, 312.624.8363)
  • Urban Union (1421 W. Taylor, 312.929.4302)
  • WAVE (644 N Lakeshore, 312.255.4460)
  • Vie (4471 Lawn Ave. Western Springs, IL 60558, 708.246.2082)
  • Yusho (2853 N Kedzie, 773.904.8558)

Finally, everyone is looking for St. Patrick’s Day activities and there are a ton of them out there.  Here is one I wanted to share but remember to DESIGNATE A DRIVER!!!

Sixth Street at Horseshoe Casino will be doing its part to take part in the festivities—some of the day’s highlights include:

  •  The Chicago Rovers—a well-known Irish band—will be playing in Sixth Street throughout the day, along with bagpipes on the casino floor
  • Horseshoe Casino will feature Moylan’s Irish Red, Four Horseman Irish Stout and Irish Car Bombs at the bar

Hope to write more later this week!!!