Did you see Sofia?

The hot director’s just one of the celebs spotted around town

By Ellen Fox

September 22 2003

If it's any indication of changing trends, visiting celebs have kept things simple and classic in their eating habits. Vintage steakhouse and simple Italian chow are in--sushi is out. Then again, perhaps it's the city's stellar rep for good ol' fashioned, big-plate dining that has the stars shunning trendier stuff: They can get plenty of raw fish in Hollywood.

Fortunato
Hometown girl Daryl Hannah, currently starring in the film "Casa de los Babys" and appearing on the cover of the November Playboy, recently dined at this Ukrainian Village spot with her mother. Hannah, an old schoolmate of chef Jennifer Newbury, ordered an heirloom tomato salad and bufala ricotta gnocchi with sage and brown butter, then washed it all down with a glass of Cantina Santadi "shardana."

Carmine's
Filming for the South Side sequel "Barbershop II" brought Queen Latifah to town recently, and the rapper-actress indulged in an Italian feast her "Chicago" character Mama would enjoy. Clad in a San Diego Padres T-shirt and jeans, Latifah and a party
of 10 drank vodka-tonics and dug into a plate of chicken and pasta with clam sauce
(but without clams).

Gene & Georgetti
Bar band frontman (and sometime scruffy actor) Russell Crowe and his 30 Odd Foot of Grunts spent a week night at this classic Italian steakhouse during a concert stint at the House of Blues. Crowe split a 16-ounce filet mignon and plate of spaghetti and meat sauce with a mate, and sucked down Jack and Cokes, then headed downstairs to the bar where he and his boys chatted the night away with owner Tony Durpetti and his daughter.

Starfish
Director-of-the-moment Sofia ("Lost in Translation") Coppola sat down at this trendy sushi spot, but only ordered ginger ale (she was there for a photo shoot and interview). Macy Gray was also spotted here, and she only split a bottle of light, sweet Moriko sake with friends before splitting. Is sushi out again

mk
A casually dressed and capped Cedric the Entertainer dropped into this River North eatery last week. The king of comedy--also in town to work on "Barbershop II"--indulged in a cosmo with a group of friends and chowed on porcini mushroom pappardelle and roasted half-chicken with artichoke and green beans. Cedric drinks like a girl? Now that's funny!

Ellen Fox is a metromix special contributor.

Copyright 2004 Metromix.com