Friday food porn: Can you take all of Big Timmy?

Two half-pound beef patties, layered with cheddar, Jack, mozzarella and Swiss cheeses, piled with strips of bacon and onion straws and dressed with barbecue sauce, lettuce and red onion, then served with french fries and onion rings.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité! Bastille Day Chicageaux-style

On July 14, 1789, revolutionary troops stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress and prison in Paris, bringing down harsh rule of France’s Bourbon monarchy. The first Fete de la Federation, on July 14, 1790, celebrated the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in France. France — and Francophiles — have been toasting the day ever since. Here are a few events around Chicago.

Friday food porn: Seasons’ sexed-up hot dog

Through July 31, Seasons Lounge and Bar inside Streeterville’s Four Seasons Hotel Chicago serves this handmade version of a Chicago hot dog. (Part 4 of a series in honor of National Hot Dog Month.)

Hot Chicago hotel menu happenings

Chicago’s hotel restaurants are sizzling this summer. Here’s a sampling:

Stetson’s Chop House in the Loop’s Hyatt Regency Chicago has added a $38 three-course set menu to recently enhanced regular menu. Served daily before 6:30 p.m. and after 8 p.m., the prix fixe offers a choice of French onion soup or caesar salad to [...]

Tramonto says ta-ta to Tru

Chef Rick Tramonto announced on Twitter today that he was leaving Tru.

Friday food porn: Meaty beaty big and boxy at Primehouse

The Big Bull brunch bento at David Burke’s Primehouse.

Eat this! Longganisa, sweet Filipino sausage

What it is: Longganisa is Filipino sausage, typically flavored with sugar, black pepper, vinegar and garlic. It may be made from pork, beef, poultry or even seafood.
Where it comes from: Longganisa can be found throughout the Philippines, although each region adjusts the spicing. Lucban and Vigan offer garlicky versions, while Cebu’s variety is extra sweet [...]

Eat for James Beard, Charles the Great Dane

Check out these Chicago benefit dinners.

21 freebies for Mother’s Day in Chicago

You could take your mom out for the usual Mother’s Day brunch this Sunday, May 9, but why not go where she’ll get a little something extra?

Join the fight for life: Dine out on Thursday

The single largest HIV/AIDS benefit in the country, the 17th Annual Dining Out for Life, takes place Thursday, April 29. A portion of your meal check at a variety of Chicago and suburban restaurants will benefit AIDSCare Progressive Services, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Chicagoans with HIV/AIDS through housing,