They are three of the biggest names in Chicago dining -- Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo), Art Smith (Table Fifty-Two, formerly Oprah's personal chef) and Graham Elliot Bowles (Graham Elliot, fittingly enough) -- and now they're representing our city on Bravo's "Top Chef Masters." The "Top Chef" spin-off will put 24 world-renowned chefs into battle to see how they fare while competing in several culinary challenges for charity. Let the food fights begin.
And begin they will this Wednesday, June 10 as "Top Chef Masters" premieres at 9PM. Catch the kitchen competition at weekly viewing parties at Lakeview's Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, where the kitsch quotient is turned up high. Cheer on your favorite "cheftestant" (other too-hot-to-handle toques include Hubert Keller of Fleur de Lys and Burger Bar, Wylie Dufresne of wd-50 and multiple "Top Chef" appearances and Roy Yamaguchi of Roy's fame) while watching the wildly popular foodie reality show on five large-screen TVs throughout Kit Kat.
A fun food and drink menu will enliven the festivities, plus all cocktails are half-off and entrees are two for one. Choose from the "ChiTown Chopped" salad, with chopped spinach and cabbage, carrots and radicchio in a peanut-ginger dressing with crispy won tons ($8); and the "Pack Your Skewers and Go," lamb kebabs with mint creme over basmati rice ($20). Themed drinks include the "Go Graham," with Vox vodka, banana liqueur, Godiva chocolate liqueur and a graham cracker crust rim; the "Art-tea-ni," with Vox vodka, iced tea and lemon; and the "Rick'Rita," with Sauza tequila, triple sec, sweet-and-sour and lime.
Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club is open from 5:30PM until 2AM. The famous "Kit Kat Divas" will perform throughout the evening, starting at 7:30PM, and "Top Chef Masters" airs every Wednesday night at 9PM.
