If you're heading out to shake and shimmy all night at a club, you definitely want to have some good food before you go so you don't run out of steam before Last Call. The Chicago Tribune has listed a few places that they recommend if the dancing destination is either Continental or Darkroom, two clubs that are home to deejay Jesse De La Pena:

Feed - It's "a kitschy slice of the South, complete with traditional country music playing in the background, chicken paraphernalia and a limited menu that includes superb sides." 2803 W. Chicago Ave., (773) 489-4600

Humboldt Pie Cafe - It's got a diner menu, and even better, it's BYOB, so you can drink what you want. 1001 N. California Ave., (773) 342-4743

Maiz - Mexican. 1041 N. California Ave., (773) 276-3149.

A Tavola - "Trust us, order the gnocchi. And then go dance it off." 2148 W. Chicago Ave. (773) 276-7567.

Now I wish we had a list like this for Los Angeles.

Rappers in the kitchen? This unlikely combination is about to hit television. Celebrity Cooking Showdown is a 5-night culinary contest between celebrities of varying degrees of success, like Tom Arnold and Gabrielle Reese. The semi-homemade Food Network celebrity, Sandra Lee, will host the show when it airs in April 2006, on NBC.

Feeling outdone by his rapper friend, Coolio, is working on his own cooking/variety show. In what is certain to be either the best or, depending on how you choose to look at it, the worst cooking show of all time, Coolio says " 'This won't be your average cooking show - it'll be Coolio with food. I'll be cooking, talking, rapping, dancing and singing.' There will be a four-piece band, a DJ, and strippers - all in the kitchen." That's right: strippers. Of course, Coolio says that he's a good cook, specializing in enchiladas, spaghetti and egg rolls, and though self-taught, it is entirely possible that he has a few genuine tips to share with the television audience.

But I'm not holding my breath.