Cook

The Chicago culinary scene is bigger in Texas. At least five Chicago cheftestants have been awarded the coveted “Top Chef: Texas” jacket in the latest season of the show, which premiered Wednesday night. The final slate of 16 cheftestants, which may include a sixth Chicago chef, likely will be revealed next week. In Wednesday's episode, some of the chefs worked with pig and rabbit to create their dishes. Yawn. It seems “Top Chef” has fallen into the “Project Runway” trap of repeating lame ideas for challenges.

Everyone seems to want to be in a reality TV show, and Doron Ofir Casting is hoping to make dreams come true. The casting group is looking for home cooks, electronic dance fans and women "who dare to be different. " But that's not all: They're also casting shows about fanboys and girls, spurned lovers, entrepreneurial college students, people with bad tattoos and for tug-of-war champs. They're all for real! Check out the casting call page at the site by clicking doronofircasting.com . I'm not sure what networks are picking up some of these shows, but a few of...

I have a theory about why I haven't gone utterly broke over the past couple years. It's not my judicious use of credit cards. It's not a budget spreadsheet, or even really a budget. I don't do math. I don't live in a hovel. What I do is cook. Not that I'm actually good at it, mind you. I and my loved ones shall not soon forget the pumpkin bread fiasco of fall '11, or that one time I put eggplant in everything because I contracted temporary amnesia and forgot that it is disgusting.

Non-violent inmates would continue feeding animals and cleaning their cages at the city's Animal Care and Control facility under an agreement advanced by a key City Council committee. The Committee on Budget and Government Operations on Tuesday endorsed the renewal of an agreement between the city and the Cook County Sheriff's Office that would allow 16 detainees at the Cook County Department of Corrections to volunteer for four hours a day for one year at the Animal Care and Control facility at 2741 S. Western Ave. The pilot program started in August 2011 and was set to...

Spring means more for restaurants than just dusting off their patio chairs. Last month's unseasonably warm weather has had a delicious side effect: Veggies and fruits that typically aren't ready for picking until later in the spring are already hitting menus across the city. Whet your appetite with this sampling of dishes showcasing chefs' favorite spring ingredients. Pan-fried Dutch dumplings $12 at Big Jones (5347 N. Clark St. 773-275-5725) Available: Now through early June The menu at this Andersonville restaurant may focus on Southern cuisine, but the...

With the passage of a new ordinance last month, Chicago has caught up with other major U.S. cities like Austin, Seattle and L.A. by allowing food trucks to cook and prepare food aboard their vehicles. The City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection reported Friday that 34 trucks have started the application process for a mobile food vehicle license. Twenty-seven of those are seeking a mobile food preparer license, which permits on-board cooking. The remaining seven seek mobile food dispenser licenses to sell pre-packaged, pre-cooked foods.

Non-violent inmates would continue feeding animals and cleaning their cages at the city's Animal Care and Control facility under an agreement advanced by a key City Council committee. The Committee on Budget and Government Operations on Tuesday endorsed the renewal of an agreement between the city and the Cook County Sheriff's Office that would allow 16 detainees at the Cook County Department of Corrections to volunteer for four hours a day for one year at the Animal Care and Control facility at 2741 S. Western Ave. The pilot program started in...

They both made Chicago proud on Bravo reality TV show “Top Chef.” They both became known on said show for saying exactly what was on their minds. And now Dale Levitski and Chuy Valencia are both bringing their colorful personalities and inventive food to a stretch of North Broadway in Lakeview that's ready for a breath of fresh air. Last week, Sprout executive chef Levitski opened French-American bistro Frog N Snail (3124 N. Broadway) with partner Mike Causevic. Valencia, who until recently was the chef at Chilam Balam...

Culinary stars have always taken to the airwaves to show their talent - people like Rachael Ray, Graham Kerr and Emeril Lagasse wouldn't be household names if it weren't for those who came before them. But the new generation of cooking shows - and the kitchen masters who inhabit them - continue to be hot properties on cable and network programming. According to TV ratings from zap2it, almost 1.7 million people watched the Dec. 7 episode of "Top Chef" and more than 6 million watched the season finale of "Hell's Kitchen.

Everyone seems to want to be in a reality TV show, and Doron Ofir Casting is hoping to make dreams come true. The casting group is looking for home cooks, electronic dance fans and women "who dare to be different. " But that's not all: They're also casting shows about fanboys and girls, spurned lovers, entrepreneurial college students, people with bad tattoos and for tug-of-war champs. They're all for real! Check out the casting call page at the site by clicking doronofircasting.com . I'm not sure what networks are picking up some of...

With the passage of a new ordinance last month, Chicago has caught up with other major U.S. cities like Austin, Seattle and L.A. by allowing food trucks to cook and prepare food aboard their vehicles. The City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection reported Friday that 34 trucks have started the application process for a mobile food vehicle license. Twenty-seven of those are seeking a mobile food preparer license, which permits on-board cooking. The remaining seven seek mobile food dispenser licenses to sell pre-packaged, pre-cooked foods.

Mini-review: City Tavern 1416 S. Michigan Ave. 312-663-1278 Rating:  !!! (out of 4) Off to a good start The backstory: When chef Kendal Duque cooked up the opening menu at Sepia in the West Loop, I wasn't the only one who was impressed. Diners around the city raved, and he earned a James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist nomination in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category. But since he left the restaurant in 2009, it sure seemed like Duque hasn't had the change to live up to the tasty precedent he set there.

Review: Trenchermen 2039 W. North Ave. 773-661-1540 Rating:  !!!! (out of 4) Already hot   ------- What's in a name? trench•er•man (noun) A person who enjoys food. "It refers to a hearty eater; that's the actual definition, and we want people to eat and drink a lot," Mike Sheerin said. "It also translates to the fact that the space used to be an old bath house where politicians and gangsters used to meet.

John Vermiglio, the last Chicago man standing on "Around the World in 80 Plates," was voted off the show by his fellow chefs on Wednesday's episode. "I was super-pleased to outlast everyone else from Chicago," said Vermigio from New York, where he was in town for a cast finale party. "That was a definite goal of mine once I got there and met everyone, so yeah, I was able to do so and hopefully I've done the city proudly, but I'm not coming home with $150,000.”" We talked to Vermiglio on Friday morning about watching his elimination live, his favorite city to...

Mini-review: The Peasantry 2723 N. Clark St. 773-868-4888 Rating:  !!! (out of four) Off to a good start The gist: A brick-and-mortar restaurant dedicated to "elevated street food" isn't a new idea (see Xoco and Belly Shack), but it sure is a tasty one. That's why my taste buds perked up when Alexander Brunacci (of Lincoln Park's successful sausage shop Franks 'n' Dawgs) opened this second spot dedicated to putting his own spin on street food favorites. His signature creativity - and love of meat - is all over the menu.

I have a theory about why I haven't gone utterly broke over the past couple years. It's not my judicious use of credit cards. It's not a budget spreadsheet, or even really a budget. I don't do math. I don't live in a hovel. What I do is cook. Not that I'm actually good at it, mind you. I and my loved ones shall not soon forget the pumpkin bread fiasco of fall '11, or that one time I put eggplant in everything because I contracted temporary amnesia and forgot that it is disgusting.

Opening day is on the way, baseball fans. This Thursday, Wrigley Field's executive chef David Burns, who previously worked at local restaurants Le Bouchon and La Sardine, kicks off his seventh season designing the concession menus for the Cubs' home base. On April 13, U.S. Cellular Field's executive chef Olegario Soto, a former Spiaggia sous chef, will start his eight season with the Sox. We polled both chefs on fan favorites as well as what's new to their gametime menus this season.

And just like that, the holiday season is upon us. Brace yourselves for lots of funky holiday shopping events, seasonal ceremonies, family-style dinners, brew fests and a few non-holiday bashes in between, for when the spirit begins to overwhelm you.   3-6: SOFA Chicago 2011 Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. Short for the International Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art, this annual art bash will make even the biggest...

New reality show "Around the World in 80 Plates" has some serious eye candy in the form of co-hosts Cat Cora and Curtis Stone, but that's not the only reason you should tune in. You witness the egos and cooking chops of"Top Chef," the strategy and alliances of "Survivor," and the international travel and adrenaline of"The Amazing Race. " The show debuts at 9 p.m. Wednesday on Bravo and features a cast of 12 chefs - three with Chicago ties - traveling to different foreign cities and taking over local restaurants in an attempt to recreate the native cuisine.

Between "American Idol," "Dreamgirls" and the Grammys, Jennifer Hudson is probably used to the spotlight by now. All eyes will be on the Chicago native again as the trial of her estranged brother-in-law William Balfour - who has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in the killing of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew in 2008 - begins Monday at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building in Little Village. Hudson, who is not based in Chicago, is expected to attend the trial every day. Hudson fans and news cameras - more than 30 media outlets received credentials to...