News Sun Aug 10 2008

Mmm, Midweek Weekend Links

• Vital Information tips us off to the launch of The Local Beet, a new site dedicated to local eating. (I wonder how TastyBeat feels about that logo.)

• Speaking of Tasty Beat, this week they share where Violet Hour gets the herbs for its scrumptious cocktails.

• Epicurious' Raphael Kadushin spares us the Bayless and deep dish in his list of favorite Chicago eateries, partly in response to fellow epicurean Michael Y. Park's request for suggestions.

• Chuck Sudo at Chicagoist lists a few beer tasting events you should check out, and picks He'Brew Origin as the beer of the week.

• Michael Nagrant loves a good huarache like they make at Dona Chio.

• Nagrant has also been thinking a lot about breakfast lately over at Hungry Mag, discussing the future of our first meal with several top Chicago chefs and recalling his first eggs benedict.

• While on the subject, Dejamo's Distracted about hashbrowns.

• At The Stew, Monica Eng tries U-Food, while Renee Enna asks when sampling the produce at a supermarket crosses the line into stealing.

&bulll; Dish gets the early word about three restaurants planned for theWit Hotel, opening later this year.

• Mmm, octopus.

• At KIPlog's FOOD, some foodporn from Dengeo's.

• Pat Bruno tips us off to Ballo's meatball recipe contest. Get yours in by Aug. 15.

• Thrillist digs Yats, a cajun-by-way-of-Indianapolis place in the West Loop.

• MenuPages Chicago notes that there are no photos of C-House on flickr (as of Aug. 7), versus more than a hundred for both L.20 and graham elliot.

• And speaking of L.20 and graham elliot, The Ulterior Epicure gives the former an ultimately not quite spectacular review, and declares the latter "critic proof."

• Meanwhile, Phil Vettel only gives graham elliot two stars.

• And over at L.20... what the hell is that thing?

• Heather Shouse lets us know that Chef Martial Noguier is leaving one sixtyblue for Café des Architectes at the Sofitel.

• Chicago Gluttons live up to their name at Japonais.

• Eating the World checks out Miss Asia.

• Sky Full of Bacon notes the opening of Bull-eh-Dias!, a tapas bar on Southport.

• The Chicago Burger Project is still plugging away, this time assessing the burger at The Grafton in Lincoln Square.

• 312 Dining Diva tips us to the Beer Olympics at Mahoney's Pub & Grill August 17. Get your "national" team ready for beer pong, flippy cup, bags, Quarters, Ping Pong, Golden Tee and pool.

- Andrew Huff