WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

It's not socially acceptable for adults to go trick-or-treating (so they say) so if you don't have a kid to front you—or especially if you do—get your costumes ready for the inaugural Masquerade del Mercado Sunday night at Carnivale. Those crazy Green City Market Junior Board kids will be hosting this new fall fundraiser. As a taste of treats to come, their online auction is live now. High bid's currently $2,000 for a "Night out with the Chefs," the Chefs being Girl and the Goat's Stephanie Izard, Old Town Social's Jared Van Camp, The Trencherman's Michael Sheerin, and Goose Island's brewmaster Jared Rouben—all leading a night of debauchery. Bail not included, I'm presuming.

Thursday, Uncommon Ground on Devon hosts a Koval Distiller's Tasting Dinner. The three-course menu includes a goat cheese fennel salad, sausage, a pear tart, and Koval cocktails with every course. Have you toured the UCOD rooftop farm and/or the distillery?

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The very rich are different from you and me. Not that you could tell at the Museum of Science and Industry's Columbian Ball Saturday night.

The Ball was named after the "world-renowned Exposition and annually plays a crucial role in funding the Museum's exciting and inspirational exhibitions and educational programs. Proceeds from the Columbian Ball go toward the Museum's Annual Fund, which in turn supports every aspect of the Museum experience," according to MSI.

Tuxedoed and ball gowned guests nibbled foie gras lollipops, studded with half a red grape, and finished with a sprinkle of Pop Rocks—I'm guessing the strawberry flavor. Graham Elliot Bowles popularized the combo when he was the chef at the Peninsula's Avenues.

Though I wore neither tux nor ball gown, I also had the Caprese salad skewered on a vinaigrette filled pipette; I have to say I'm not a fan of squeezeable plastic tubes.

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The biggest news in Chicago food today—for some—was that Next: Childhood tickets went on sale just after midnight. At 12:26 a.m., the restaurant posted the announcement on their Facebook page. As of this morning they sold out the three month run, which begins Sunday.

If you're stuck in the storm tonight anywhere near Logan Square get yourself to Revolution Brewing for the WBEZ Member Meet Up. You'll find not only shelter and friends, but if you're a member, the first round's on Rev Brew.

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I've been in Bogotá, Colombia this week on a culinary exchange. It's my first time not only in the city and country, but also Latin America.

The first thing I ate when I landed Monday night was, of all things, a Colombian pizza. The thin, cracker-edged crust held a few pleasantly chewy bubbles, and was topped with chorizo slices, ripe plantain, corn kernels, and finished with a sprinkle of cilantro. The common corn here is nothing like the sweet corn we mostly eat; the closest thing are heirloom varieties, with big, sturdy kernels.

It was all so unlike what I had at Burt's last week that it's hard to believe they're both called pizza—and a perfect first taste.

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The first rule of mushroom club is not all mushrooms are edible.

The second rule of mushroom club is NOT all mushrooms are edible.

And even mushrooms that are edible can still make you sick.

Those are actually not the rules of the Illinois Mycological Association, but it was my takeaway after attending my first meeting, with former IMA president and friend, Catherine Lambrecht.

Mushroom club meets monthly at the North Park Village Nature Center. The centerpiece of the meetings is the Specimen Table.

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(Alton Brown; Lorelei Sandford; Vaughn Sandford, 8; Jared Wilson)

Good Eats host and creator Alton Brown stopped by town last night on what’s billed as his “last tour ever.” Brown retired the series in May, after 13 years and 249 episodes; it was not cancelled. Three new one-hour specials will air soon.

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Ferran Adrià, the chef widely but arguably considered the best in the world, is in the middle of a book tour he kicked off in Chicago last week. WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified recorded the program so you can hear it online here.

The funny thing is you won’t hear him talk much about his new book, The Family Meal, a big, beautiful Phaidon cookbook of El Bulli staff meals. So it’s good thing I sat down with him before the event. We’ll post that video soon.

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