The spot: The menu at Logan Square’s Friendship Chinese Restaurant boasts that this place is “180 degrees from ordinary Chinese.” Over the past year, owner Alan Yuen has been transforming the space, which was once a traditional chop suey house and has been in his family for 26 years. Now very Zen-like with a chic, modern dining room sporting low-hanging blue lights, a copper-colored back wall and a parade of silver Buddha heads in the foyer, Friendship is a popular spot for young, neighborhood folks looking for a romantic night out. Yuen has also transformed the cuisine, which he calls “gourmet Chinese.” We like the coconut wasabi chicken, wok tossed with Asian greens in coconut wasabi and white wine ($12.95). The house-made lo mein ($11.95) with a choice of beef, chicken or shrimp for an additional $1 is a bestseller. On “$8.95 Tuesdays,” every entree is—you guessed it—$8.95. Corkage fee is $3 per wine bottle; no fee for beer.

The bottle: Yuen recommends pairing beer rather than wine with Friendship’s cuisine. That’s easy enough to find across the street at Crown Liquors (2821 N Milwaukee Ave. 773-252-9741), which stocks a decent selection. A six-pack of Tsingtao, a Chinese lager, is $7.99. If you insist on wine, Yuen suggests going for a sweeter variety. Crown doesn’t have an extensive wine selection, but the sweetness of the 2005 Schlink Haus Riesling ($9.99) should temper the heat of the wasabi chicken and other spicy dishes. --By Emily Hiser Lobdell

Be afraid. Be very afraid: Before you go out tonight, trying to scare up some Halloween fun, let this entry in the Equitable Building's pumpkin-carving contest serve as a grim reminder of what will happen to you after one too many pumpkin martinis.

It’s getting cold. The CTA is slow. The Bears stink. Bet you have a lot to complain about, huh?

That’s the idea behind the Chicago Complaints Choir, a group of locals who sent in their gripes and wrote an 8-10 minute song about their problems with the help of Finnish artists Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen. The duo has organized choirs around the world for the last two years, and Chicago’s choir--comprised of about 50 people, who did not need to prove their vocal abilities before joining--is the first official complaints choir in the U.S. (Unofficial choirs have been organized in Alaska and at Penn State University without Kalleinen and Kochta-Kalleinen.)

It’s too late for you to join in on the grousing, but you can catch the choir for free at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday at the MCA, and for $5 at 8 p.m. at Empty Bottle. The group will also travel around the city from 3-7 p.m. Sunday, stopping to perform in various neighborhoods and other specific spots, including a scheduled stop at 4 p.m. in Millennium Park.

Want to create your own choir or see where else people are complaining? Check out http://www.complaintschoir.org/. What would you most want to complain about in the form of song?

 

Well look at that! Our photographer was out on assignment Monday night at Minibar | Winebar, and who did he run into but former ’N Sync-er Lance Bass—hangin’ with Miss Foozie! According to Bass’ Web site, the singer is on a book signing tour, and he was scheduled to have been at the Lakeview Borders at Clark and Diversey earlier that night.

 

 

We got a bit more action that we bargained for while celebrating Halloween at Durty Nellie’s in downtown Palatine on Saturday. Decked-out suburbanites packed the place to rock out with '80s cover band Hairbangers Ball, and a dude dressed as ornery assistant regional manager Dwight Schrute from “The Office” won the costume contest, scoring a trip to Mexico. The real award-winning comedy of the night, though, was an altercation that broke out near the main floor bar and made its way out to the parking lot: Two Fred Flintstones sporting huge fake feet took on a bevy of bouncers, while unruly Wilmas in ratty orange wigs screaming on the sidelines. Club-bearing baby Bamm-Bamm Rubble, though, was ironically no where to be found.

It's a recipe for high drama: One Cuban revolution, one aristocratic senora, one young Cuban cook who vows to care for her employer's house on the eve of Fidel's march into Havana. One passionate, politically minded husband who imagines a greater life for his countrymen. Stir gently. No, put on the lid and shake.

All of the ingredients are there. But this staging of Eduardo Machado's drama, "The Cook," at the Goodman Theatre, directed by Henry Godinez, falls flat on timing and pacing.

Sure, the ingredients are good: The story tackles issues of class struggle, national identity, political turbulence and gender and sexual equality. There are touching, personal moments too, most notably when Gladys (Karen Aldridge) faces the cold reality of what it means for her cousin Julio (Phillip James Brannon) to be gay in Fidel's Cuba. Carlos (Edward F. Torres), the would-be patriarch of Gladys' home, is the most transformed of the central characters, moving from playfully subversive servant to arrogant, nasty government appointee to a somewhat comical old man who cries--not from the weight of history--but from dicing too many onions for his wife.

The set is colorful and bold (and arguably difficult to navigate): a long kitchen table takes center stage for the duration of the play. The set dressing and actors age well throughout the story with professional touches (copper pots dull as we move through the decades), but the drama hiccups and spurts, and pacing and staging are awkward. Ultimately, these timing troubles dampen the storytelling (odd because the notion of time is central to the plot). Our verdict: This "Cook" needs a bit more seasoning.

 

The long-awaited NV Penthouse Lounge officially opened this weekend after a series of soft launch parties and cocktail receptions earlier this month. It was my first time in the place since my Behind the Bar video--a lot has obviously changed since!

It’s just too bad that cold weather has set in because one of the best things about NV, set on the eighth floor of a modern River North building, is the outdoor area with private cabanas for bottle service. Each one has a circular window with a skyline view.

Inside, the narrow space features black and white decor with green lighting accents. While there are quite a few tables and private seating nooks, NV seems to cater to a flashy crowd with bottle service packages named after the seven deadly sins. We’re just green with envy over the crowd that can afford to drop a couple hundred on a night of cocktailing!

He can't throw a touchdown. He can't hit a home run. But Joey Chestnut can eat. A lot.

On Sunday, Chestnut ate 103 small, square Krystal hamburgers in 8 minutes--8 minutes!--to win $10,000 and first place in the Krystal Square Off. That broke the record of 97 burgers set by Japan's Takeru Kobayashi, who also lost his hot-dog-eating title this year when Chestnut took down 59.5 hot dogs in 12 minutes at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.

For what it's worth, Kobayashi didn't participate in this year's Krystal Square Off due to jaw pain from a wisdom tooth extraction. Or was the former champ just scared to come in second?

Could you eat 103 burgers in 8 days? Whose burgers are the easiest to eat quickly? What spot has the best burger that deserves to be savored?

 

 

Surprise, surprise. "Saw IV," the worst installment in a irritatingly successful franchise, topped the box office over the weekend with $32.1 million. That's slightly more than "Saw II" ($31.7 million) and a little less than "Saw III" ($33.6 million), but miles ahead of the week's No. 2 movie, "Dan in Real Life," with only $12.1 million. Even though Steve Carell's comedy is merely average, why do so many people prefer to see an awful, awful, awful horror movie? Did you see "Saw IV," or have you been lucky enough to avoid the series completely? Are you excited for next week's Denzel Washington-Russell Crowe flick, "American Gangster"?  

Platiyo, which we chose as one of our favorite margarita places in 2006, looks to be shuttered. We're disappointed: In addition to the great margies, the kitchen turned out marvelous, stylish dishes.

In other news: Samuel's Deli in Lakeview has closed after 28 years; there are rumors that a sports bar and grill is looking to take over the space.

Tokyo 21 has '86'd its sushi menu; it now will be exclusively a late-night bar opening at 10:30 p.m.

Wakamono has expanded; the tiny Lakeview sushi den moved into bigger digs next door, but it's still BYOB.

The spot: While the charming outdoor patio recalls a cozy Mexican village scene, indoors, newish Bucktown taqueria Lobos Al Fresco Tacos has the all the ambience of your average burrito joint: bright lights, blaring TV and tacky booths. So what sets it apart? This unassuming spot serves some of the best Mexican food around, and neighborhood folks can’t get enough. The carne al pastor taco ($1.95), filled with guajillo sauce-marinated pork, grilled onions and pineapple, is a standout, as is the Yucatan-style cochinita pibil ($10.50), a dish of shredded pork slow-roasted in a banana leaf. The steak burrito ($6.25) is another hearty choice, and don’t pass up the guacamole appetizer ($4.25).
 
The bottle: Just a block east, Olivia’s Market (2014 W. Wabansia Ave. 773-227-4220) offers a great wine selection as well as a decent mix of chilled beer. Keep it casual, but authentic, with a six-pack of Pacifico ($8.99), Tecate ($6.99) or Corona ($8.99)—and don’t forget to grab a lime or two from the market’s small produce section. While you might not think to pair a burrito with vino, Olivia’s staff recommends the Fontana Mesta Tempranillo, a popular red bistro wine in Barcelona. It’s a steal at $7.99. Expect hints of strawberry, vanilla and tobacco flavors, which should pair well with heavier Mexican entrees. --Emily Hiser Lobdell, Metromix special contributor

If you're going to have a concert called "Movies Rock," shouldn't it feature more rockin' singers than Fergie and Carrie Underwood? The just-announced event takes place Dec. 2 in L.A.--and can be seen Dec. 7 on CBS--and is meant to honor the relationship between music and film. Nice idea, but performances like Underwood doing "The Sound of Music," Beyonce doing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and Fergie and Jennifer Hudson singing "Live and Let Die" and "Goldfinger" seem like they'd be part of a concert called "Movie Songs to Sing at Family Karaoke Parties." What classic movie songs do you think should be included, and who should sing them? Allow us to suggest Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom," sung by Velvet Revolver (or Sir Mix-A-Lot?).

Sure, Chicago has its underground party scene. But the Chicago arrival of traveling entertainment venue, Stoli Hotel, made warehouse parties a little more mainstream this month—and the open, 50-gallon drum of raw meat and dead rat I encountered (no kidding!) on the way from the car to the party at 240 N. Ashland Ave. seemed like what you’d expect on your way to a hush-hush, super-hot rave.

First launched in L.A., the Windy City locale of this party spot—not a hotel—opened Oct. 10, and ends this weekend with a Halloween bash hosted by celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton.

I checked in last night, when the Dark Wave Disco crew (Greg Corner, Trancid and Mark Gertz) hit the decks, followed by DJ Steve Aoki Kid Millionaire. A diverse crowd mingled, sipped complimentary Stoli cocktails and danced in the large space outfitted with decor inspired by the Hotel Moskva, the Russian hotel on the Stoli label.

The real party started up in Elit Suite, the V-VIP lounge named after Stolichnaya Elit vodka, when rapper Common and an entourage of about 50 filed in. Other special guest rooms lining the Stoli Hotel entry hall were done up in color palettes reflecting the Stoli flavors; after the rapper Common’s arrival, no one in those areas seemed as important to the crowd.

If you get a chance, check it out: Each night features a different host and there’s complimentary drinks (RSVP at going.com)! Plus, if you show up early enough, you could snag an appointment at the Stoli Spa, complete with mini-massages or reflexology treatments sounds like a plus. At the very least, it’s a change of pace from your usual stomping ground.

 

Good news, sci-fi fans. As reported by Maureen Ryan on "The Watcher," you don't have to wait until the Sci Fi Channel movie "Battlestar Galactica: Razor" debuts on the small screen Nov. 24. There will be free screenings of the film Nov. 12 in eight cities around the country, and, yes, Chicago is one of them. You can catch the flick at AMC River East 21, Century 16 in Deer Park and Century Evanston 18 in Evanston, but be sure to register at battlestarevent.com to reserve your seat. With the series' rabid fan base, you'll surely need a reservation, but don't jump the gun: The site doesn't go live until Friday. Will you head out to see "Razor" on the big screen or wait until you can watch it from the comfort of your couch? Or are you anti-sci-fi and can't tell your Battlestars from your Death Stars from your Star Treks?  

Leave it to Handlebar to shake up our boring, Guinness-drinking ways.

 

We stopped in at the Wicker Park bar a couple of nights ago for looking for a mac 'n' cheese fix, but we got distracted by the beer list. What could possibly take our minds off Handlebar's incomparable mac 'n' cheese? Banana Bread Beer, that's what.

 

Though it was novel, at first we weren't so sure about the banana-beer combo. But we were curious. So after a careful examination of the big imperial pint bottle (turns out it's made by Charles Wells, the same brewery that gives us Young's Bitter and Young's Special) we sniffed, we sipped, and, lo and behold, it tasted just like bananas. Ripe bananas, actually. (You know, the kind you'd use to make banana bread.) We liked the smooth, nutty undertones too--so much, in fact, that we went back for second helpings.

 

Bottom line: Wells Banana Bread Beer probably isn't cut out for daily drinking, but if you like fruit beers and English bitter, we think you'll find it has a certain, um, appeal.

Hey, just because a guy writes a song with a silly name like "Fa Fa" doesn't mean he's not concerned about serious stuff like environmental awareness.

Adam Gardner, Guster frontman and co-founder of non-profit group Reverb, which has worked with artists including John Mayer and Red Hot Chili Peppers to make their tours more environmentally friendly, will testify on Capitol Hill Wednesday about ways in which biodiesel is helping musicians fight global warming. Gardner's band seems more likely to provide the tunes frat-house barbecues than offer anything that's culturally relevant, but we're very much in favor of artists getting involved in pro-active, non-annoying ways. (Bono good. Ellen DeGeneres bad.) Though we certainly hope Reverb's work with Dave Matthews Band came after their embarrassing incident in 2004 when their tour bus dumped hundreds of pounds of human waste onto a tour boat in the Chicago River. Yuck.

Is Capitol Hill-testimony less convincing when it comes from, groan, a musician? Or should people listen up to any commentary on environmental issues, whether it comes from Al Gore or Ashlee Simpson? OK, maybe not Ashlee Simpson ...

If you're thinking about making reservations for Table Fifty-Two, Art Smith's new restaurant, you better hurry. We just called: Next available table is Dec. 26. The next Sunday seating -- when Art brings out his family-style spread -- is Dec. 30.

How serious is Ryan Gosling? He's willing to walk out of a role over creative differences even after packing on 20 pounds for the part.

In fact, Variety reports that that's exactly what the "Lars and the Real Girl" actor just did, pulling out of Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's novel, "The Lovely Bones." Mark Wahlberg, a fine actor but not quite on the same level as Gosling, has stepped into the role of Jack Salmon, for which Gosling had also begun growing a beard. Shaving is easy, but losing 20 pounds? We don't treat that quite so lightly.

What do you think about Gosling's choice? Would the weight gain influence your decision as an actor? Any weight-loss tips for Ryan?

 

With penis trinkets in tow, I climbed aboard a bachlorette party bus this weekend with a group of friends in Rockford and headed for the Cadillac Ranch in Bartlett. Not familiar with the club? Think country tunes, cowboy hats and line dancing. Oh, and then think dance beats and sweaty, drunken grinding on the dance floor. Yes, this spot does both!

I'm a little fuzzy on the timeline, but the scene was totally country when we rolled in around 10:30 p.m. I made a bee-line for the dance floor and managed to scoot my boots without drawing blood from my companion (I was wearing stillettos). Country tunes gave way to the occasional dance mix as the bar got darker (and our group got more drunk). Before I knew it the club was packed and everyone was grinding away on the dance floor. My cowboy hat-clad dance partner was already riding off into the sunset. Or maybe he just took his hat off.

Verdict: This 4 a.m. spot is a fun place to party for a special occasion, but I wouldn't have minded a change of scene after a couple of hours (um, more than the country-mouse, city-mouse switch). If I ever go back, I'll go for the line dancing and skip the tired late-night club scene.

Yes, with Halloween approaching Josh Hartnett's disappointing vampire flick "30 Days of Night" topped the box office this weekend. Of course, its $16 million take isn't any more impressive than Hartnett's latest sucky performance, but it was more than enough to stay ahead of the next-highest new movie, "Gone Baby Gone," which made only $6 million to land at No. 5. The terrible sports spoof "The Comebacks" came in at No. 6 with $5.85 million, and the week's big loser was "Rendition," the Reese Witherspoon-Jake Gyllenhaal topical thriller which placed ninth with $4.17 million. Did "30 Days of Night" scare you? Why didn't Reese draw more viewers to "Rendition"? Is the American public just tired of movies related to terrorism and the Iraq war?

This weekend I popped into the recently opened La Madia to check in on our Best Bartender finalist, Jennifer Contraveos, the beverage manager at this River North newcomer. After getting a taste of her signature Cane Juice cocktail (Clear Creek Pear Brandy, 10 Cane Rum, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, homemade ginger simple syrup and a cinnamon sugar rim) at our big bash earlier this month, I tried the full-size version on the menu at this upscale pizzeria and lounge: delicious! But her Crimson Crush (Stoli Citros vodka, pomegranate juice, fresh lemon sour, muddled mint, rock-candy syrup and soda water) was equally mouth-watering — and much too easy to drink — so just be careful when sipping her tasty concoctions.

As for La Madia itself, the bar and lounge area at the front—plus the windows that open to the street and a side patio nook—look to be a real draw. The rest of the space is outfitted with booths and seating at the "pizza bar," where you can watch your thin crust get popped into the fire-y oven. Prices were reasonable ($10-$15 for pizzas) and the atmosphere is upscale yet laidback. Drawing a consistent crowd at their Grand Avenue location will be La Madia's real test.

What's the best thing about attending a Morrissey concert alone? Well, yes, there is a certain poetic harmony to it -- it's Morrissey, after all. But for me, it's being able to mill about in the parking lot with about 50 other acolytes for as long as it takes to watch the singer emerge from the stage door. After his Saturday concert at Star Plaza Theater in Merrillville, Ind., we waited about 45 minutes to catch just a few additional seconds of the man. A bewildered parking lot security guard asked us, "You like him that well, huh?" When we assured her that, yes, in fact we did, she replied. "Well, I have never heard of him before, but he's got a wonderful voice. I'll give him that." When Morrissey finally came out of the buildign, he smiled, waved to the crowd, climbed into his chariot and took off. A fan ran after the bus, but the security guard just shrugged.

After a two year run, Saltaus is closed. Now stop asking Michael Taus about it.

He says he's received 37 calls in four hours since the news hit this morning, so on advice of his lawyer, he decided to clarify that he has nothing to do with just-closed Warehouse District restaurant.

Taus says that although he was a onetime partner and executive chef, he severed ties in Nov., 2005, about a month after its opening. He has, however, been involved in a nasty court fight over his "ownership interest" with Saltaus' current owner.

He also wants you to know that his other restaurant, Zealous, is doing just fine -- and also has nothing to do with Saltaus.

 

The spot: Since its July opening, Cafe 103 has had North and South Side foodies alike flocking to Beverly. Shirley and Blair Makinney, who also own gourmet food shop Beverly’s Pantry next door, serve contemporary American cuisine in a warm, hospitable room with only nine tables. During the week, you’ll find a neighborhood crowd, but weekends draw folks from all over the city. Chef Thomas Eckert (formerly of Vermilion and Monsoon) has a hit with his tandoori artic char, served with potato gnocchi, ham hock, baby red lace spinach, red orach (mountain spinach) and chicken broth ($24). To avoid the dinner rush, stop mid-day instead. Cafe 103 just started serving lunch Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our pick from the lunch menu: a half-pound Kobe beef burger dressed with roasted pears, spinach, pistachios and blue cheese, served with fries ($12).

The bottle: The Makinneys recommend picking up a bottle at nearby Armanetti Beverage Mart. “We e-mail them our newest menu so they can make recommendations if someone needs it,” Shirley Makinney says. Armanetti manager Tom Gibbons suggests pairing a bottle of 2006 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand ($16.99) with any seafood or poultry dish. And the earthy 2003 Castellani Toscana Campomaggio ($15.99), a red blend, is a good choice to support the rich Kobe burger. Hey, why not have a glass of wine at lunch? Cafe 103 charges a $3 corkage fee per bottle. -- Emily Hiser Lobdell is a Metromix special contributor.

Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married?" opened without advance screenings--and, eventually, mediocre reviews--but topped the weekend office with $21.5 million. Perry, the man behind previous chart-toppers "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and "Madea's Family Reunion," again showed that he's critic-proof, which can't be said for "We Own the Night," the unexciting Joaquin Phoenix/Mark Wahlberg thriller, which received average reviews and made only $11 million to come in at No. 3. George Clooney's terrific thriller "Michael Clayton" expanded its release but also earned only $11 million and tied with "Night" for third--pretty disappointing for a great film with such a high-profile star. But the weekend's biggest disappointment was the sequel "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," which brought in only $6.2 million to place sixth. How does Tyler Perry do it? Does anyone care about costume dramas? Why haven't you seen "Michael Clayton" yet?
 

 

If we had disposable income coming out of our ears, spoiling ourselves with spa treatments would be one of the first things on our list. Luckily, the city’s spa scene is chock full of deals this week, for those of us who aren’t trust fund babies.

National Spa Week starts Monday, Oct. 15 and runs through Oct. 22, with a dozen spas proffering treatments for $50 a pop. Some standouts: a 45-minute massage or a shave and -- how's this for pampering -- back scratch at the Gold Coast location for Halo for Men; a pear and green apple body wrap at Channing’s Day Spa; or a super-seasonal pumpkin mani-pedi at Siren Salon.  Find more Spa Week info here.

If you can’t fit in a spa stop next week, there’re still many deals to be had around town through Oct. 31 as part of Pretty in Pink, where select spa treatments are offered for $31, benefiting Y-ME in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

 

You may want to think twice about opening that fortune cookie at your local kung pao palace. The New York Times reports that a Queens-based manufacturer (who distributes to Chicago) has been slipping not-so-nice messages into its batches. Fortunes like "Today is a disastrous day. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and "Perhaps you're focusing too much on yourself" have caused a stir.

We asked Brenda Wong, the manager of Chicago-based fortune Cookie maker Fortella, if she approves. "Probably not," she says. "They're supposed to be fortunate fortune cookies, not unfortunate fortune cookies."

Well, on the plus side, the old gag of adding "in bed" to the end of the message still seems to work just fine.

The spot: Su-Ra Korean Restaurant is impressive in its simplicity. Exposed brick and muted burgundy and taupe hues create an atmosphere of serenity in the modern, open dining room. In good weather, the restaurant’s back door opens to a small, gated Korean garden with a handful of tables. The no-fuss menu is filled with dishes created with rice; fresh, seasonal vegetables; and chicken, pork, beef or shrimp. Owner Euiha Hwang, who previously owned a restaurant for 5 years in Korea, says the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop ($11) is his best seller. This traditional Korean dish of steamed rice and vegetables with fried egg and spicy red pepper paste sauce is served in a sizzling stone pot with a side of miso soup.

 

The bottle: At a Korean restaurant, why not drink like they do in Korea? Snag a bottle of soju, a potato-based Korean liquor, at Chicago Food Corp. (3333 N. Kimball Ave. 773-478-5566). This Asian food market has a wide variety of the clear spirit, which tastes a bit like sweet vodka. If you’ve got a large party and foresee shots in your future, spring for the large, plastic 1.75 liter bottle of Green Soju ($12.95). Casual drinkers might prefer a modest .375 liter bottle of Jinro Chamisul Soju for ($3.99). If shots aren’t your thing—or if you don’t have time to hoof it to Avondale—grab a chilled bottle of Barefoot sauvignon blanc ($9.99) from Crespo’s Food and Liquor (2157 W. North Ave. 773-486-5588), a neighborhood store just a block east of Su-Ra. The crisp white wine tones down the heat of the Korean red pepper paste served as an accompaniment to many of Su-Ra’s dishes. --Emily Hiser Lobdell is a metromix special contributor.

Customers are hungry for Piece delivery, so the the popular Wicker Park brewery and pizzeria is answering the call with Piece Out—set to debut early November. The takeout and delivery space will move into the Lille Gallery address. Though the full delivery area has yet to be determined, 9-to-5ers will be happy to hear that day deliveries to the Loop are part of the plan. In related news, Piece is adding five fermenting tanks to increase award-winning brewer Jonathan Cutler's brewhouse capabilities. 

Apparently, even a big white building that’s glowing fire-red inside can be easy to overlook if it doesn’t have a sign.

Housed in the old Scully’s and Ollie’s Bar and Grill Space, new Lincoln Park spot Forno Diablo is easy to miss thanks to adjacent Middle Eastern restaurant Pars Cove’s three signs. Too bad: This decent two-month-old pizza joint and bar make for a nice place for a bite or a drink before a movie at Landmark Century Centre Cinema.

We liked the affordable menu of Italian mainstays and were eager to try brick-oven pizzas like the buffalo chicken Pizza Diablo ($11) and could-have-been-cheesier quattro formaggio pie ($9). Unfortunately, the crackery crust was unremarkable and the hot sauce lacked much zip. (If we’re ordering a pizza with “Diablo” in the title, we want it to be steamy!)

On the plus side, for those who prefer Spaten to Miller Lite during a meal, there's a there’s a considerable array of beers on tap (when we stopped in, Red Seal drafts were 2 bucks.) But we wouldn’t go back too late on a weekend night, as a row of tables in the center of the space prevents any mingling room. Not surprisingly, our friendly waiter told us that the place is pretty much dead after dinner on weekends. He said people departed after dinner for Duffy’s.

But we think maybe everyone is just having trouble finding it.

We’ve camped out for the first pick at concert tickets and after-Thanksgiving sales, but for…bread? Well, there’s a first time for everything. The first 100 customers lined up at new bakery restaurant Boudin SF in Lombard’s Shops on Butterfield complex tomorrow will score free sourdough loaves every day for a year. Seriously—they’re giving away a whopping 36,500 loaves.

If west suburbanites have the same passion for free food that Californians have (this is the first Boudin SF outside of the Sunshine State), you best bring a sleeping bag: At a similar giveaway at a new Sacramento location, lines topped 100 by 2 a.m.

The culinary gadabouts are absolutely abuzz with the news that three-star Schwa hs closed. We think this tiny BYOB with the big reputation for gastronomic genius probably has been a overrated lately. Despite chef-owner Michael Carlson being named one of Food and Wine's Best New Chefs in 2006, recent reports have complained of inconsistent courses and a loopy kitchen staff (that doubles as servers). A friend liked to call it "Truck Stop Alinea" for its odd blend of elegant cuisine and slacker attitude. Still, we hope to see Carlson back in the kitchen soon.

One more closing: Dodo is closing at the end of the month. It plans to relaunch at Fulton and Damen in 2008.

Finally, the American public realized that Ben Stiller hasn’t been funny in years. Stiller’s latest, the Farrelly Brothers remake of “The Heartbreak Kid,” took in only $14 million over the weekend to come in at No. 2. But a family comedy hit is what the Rock is cookin’, as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “The Game Plan” earned $16.3 million its second week of release to top the box office once again. The lame kid fantasy “The Seeker: The Dark is Rising” was No. 5 with $3.7 million, and the reggaeton-infused drama “Feel the Noise” wasn’t feeling the love from audiences, placing seventh with $3.4 million. Did you get burned by “The Heartbreak Kid”? Did you seek out terrific movies in limited release like “Michael Clayton” or “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” even though they’re barely playing anywhere?

What a week to be a “Top Chef” fan in Chicago! Between chef sightings on Michigan Avenue, reports of film crews at the Green City Market and the Boystown Whole Foods, and tonight’s big live reveal, we were in reality TV heaven.

Sadly, though, this was also the week we had to bid farewell to our hometown hero. Yes, Dale finally had to pack his knives and go. But first, we got to see 75 minutes of really good TV.

The final challenge was the season’s least contrived but most demanding: The chefs were asked to cook the best meal they’ve ever cooked in their lives. There were time constraints, celeb sous chefs (Rocco DiSpirito, Michelle Bernstein and Todd English), altitude issues and a surprise last-minute addition of
a fourth course.

When all was said and done, it was a nail-biter. In past seasons, we thought we had a pretty good idea who was going to win before the big announcement. But going into the live portion of tonight’s judge’s table, we weren’t sure who would come out on top. We only knew who wasn’t going to win: Casey. Though she’s been our favorite to win it all for weeks, her dishes tonight seemed uncharacteristically scattered—and she seemed tired and out of sorts.

It came down to Hung and Dale. Hung’s early dishes were criticized for lack of acid and timid flavors, but his duck course was the biggest hit of the night. Dale’s food was hit or miss; he started with a foie gras mousse most found too heavy, but followed it with a scallop course Tom called a “triumph.” His confusing third course was drowning in curry jus, and Tom declared it “terrible.” Everyone raved about his final course of Colorado lamb.

As much as we love watching “Top Chef,” nights like tonight are frustrating. For all its drama and slick editing, the show has one major limitation: We’ll never be able to taste the chefs’ dishes and declare a winner ourselves. We just have to trust Tom and the gang to do the heavy lifting for us. Here’s how they broke it down:

First course: Hung

Second course: Dale

Third course: Hung

Fourth course: Dale

It could have gone either way, but tonight was Hung’s night. It seemed a bit anticlimactic, maybe because we never really fell for Hung the same way we did for Dale and Casey. Or maybe we just didn’t feel the same tension this season as in past seasons, where there were villainous characters like Marcel to make the
winners seem all the more heroic.

Speaking of heroes, what will become of our Dale now? Last we checked in with him, his plans to open his own place in 2008 were on track. We’ll keep you in the loop as things progress.

If, like us, you’re feeling a little empty now that the season is over, don’t worry: You can still read wrap-up and reactions at The Stew. And, of course, you can count on us to keep stalking the Bravo crews as they film Season 4 here in Chicago in the coming weeks. We’ll report any sightings here—be sure to drop
us a line if you see anything!

The spot: The modest storefront of Butterfly Sushi Bar and Thai Cuisine belies the sexy orange-and-black, Monarch-esque color scheme of the long, narrow dining room within. If you savor sashimi but the thought of raw fish makes your date squirm, this two-year-old restaurant may be the perfect compromise. Anti-sushi types can play it safe with Thai favorites such as spicy panang noodles ($7 with chicken, beef or tofu; $8 with shrimp), while sushi lovers relish in a full menu of nigiri and maki. We like the crunchy spicy tuna rolls ($6), a slightly creative take on traditional spicy tuna maki that incorporates avocado and tempura crumbs.

The bottle: Just across the expressway from Butterfly, Juicy Wine Company (694 N. Milwaukee Ave. 312-492-6620) is the best spot in the neighborhood to find eclectic sakes and wines to accompany sushi and Thai cuisine. Owner Rodney Alex suggests “thinking pink” when selecting a bottle; Hana HouHouShu sparkling rosé sake, a rosé rice wine with rose hips and hibiscus ($18 for 300 milliliters), fits the bill. Alex also recommends Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Washington’s Columbia River Valley ($15) to complement the heat of spicy Thai cuisine. “It’s like biting into a really freezing cold, Granny Smith apple,” he says.

--Emily Hiser Lobdell, Metromix special contributor

At about 3:50 p.m. Tuesday, I spotted Casey, Joey, Sara N., Lia, Sandee and another woman (a producer, maybe?) milling about in front of the Starbucks on upper Michigan Avenue (at Grand Avenue), discussing where they should go for a bite and drinks.

“Reagle Beagle?” Casey said into her phone. So I stepped up, introduced myself as the Nightlife Producer of metromix.com, and suggested that while they might enjoy the retro-sitcom vibe and cozy decor at the Beagle, the food might not be quite what this group of seasoned chefs was looking for. I suggested that instead, they head around the corner to Quartino for pizzas, Italian small plates and wine.

Then I found out Casey was on the phone with fellow finalist, Chicago’s own Dale Levitski. She told him she'd run into me; I said hi. And then Casey handed me her phone so he could talk to me! (Yeah, I was kinda geeking out at this point.) We chatted briefly, and he told me he was on his way to meet up with the fellow contestants.

The group was incredibly friendly and very smiley--you could tell they'd really bonded during filming. In fact, they were so likeable that I felt like I asking if I could tag along. But instead, I wished Casey well and said I couldn’t wait to watch tomorrow’s finale.

--Karen Budell

Years removed from Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Kindergarten Cop" and Vin Diesel in "The Pacifier," audiences are still happy to see a huge mass of muscle taking care of a kid. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's "The Game Plan," a Disney comedy about a football star looking after the daughter he never knew he had, took the top spot at the box office over the weekend with $22.7 million. That means considerably more people wanted to see something derivative and escapist than a serious political thriller, as "The Kingdom" earned $17.7 million to place No. 2. Last week's champ, "Resident Evil: Extinction," fell to No. 3 with $8 million. The only other major opener, "Feast of Love," starved for attention with $1.8 million to come in at No. 11. Is The Rock now officially a movie star? Did you take a trip to "The Kingdom"? Will next week's Ben Stiller comedy, "The Heartbreak Kid," be funny or stupid?