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Cocktail Week Takes Over Eater; A New Chef at Big Star; More

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This week's top dish from Eater Chicago, Curbed's restaurant, bar, and nightlife blog...


[Photo: Marc Much]

EVERYWHERE—All of Eater Universe was all about cocktails this week, as the second annual Cocktail Week flooded the sites with boozy content. Here in Chicago, there was an interview with Italian Village's 58-year bartender, renowned-bartenders' hidden gem recommendations, a snide interview with the title holder of "America's best bartender," and much more.

WICKER PARK—The busiest and well-known taqueria in town, Paul Kahan's Big Star, has a new chef. Cary Taylor moved over from The Southern to helm a kitchen that produced 6000 fish tacos in his first week.

UPTOWN—Chicago restaurants are known for "dressing up" as other restaurants on Halloween, but Real Kitchen in Uptown may have topped them all. They produced a hilarious video spoofing the top-ranked restaurant in the country—Chicago's own Alinea.

WRIGLEYVILLE—A massive fire claimed two Clark Street restaurants over the weekend—Roadhouse 66 and Thai Classic. Both establishments vow to reopen soon.