Grab a recycled bag, Green City Market (GCM) opens Wednesday. Local farmers from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois flock to the south end of Lincoln Park between Clark Street and Stockton Drive to bring you fresh produce and specialty foods.
Starting May 14, every Wednesday and Saturday (7 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.) through October.
Continue reading "Green City Market Opens" »
Slate magazine has an article up on how food is addictive titled, "Is Food Addictive?"
It's an interesting piece especially since it's not presented as a question. Apparently food is addictive. Considering what would happen if we simply gave food up...
Continue reading "Freebasing Chocolate" »
Just across from Thai Pastry on Broadway in a part of town that's known for Vietnamese and Thai is a nice Chinese spot to get Dim Sum. Lots of the enormity and pomp you expect from Chinatown is right there. From the huge dining room to the linoleum and throwaway plastic tablecloths to the validated parking, it's an experience that I'd expect from Chinatown. Granted the decor, if you even call it that, would be subsistence-non-porous... cheap-o but the food was pretty good and in a pinch it's Dim Sum without the drive and it's legit.
Continue reading "Furama – Dim Sum on the Northside" »
It used to be when you walked into Bob San on Division the sing-song greeting “irasshaimase” would bounce off the celery walls and land on the cement floor at your feet. A pioneer since 2000 on a strip of Division that now boasts a yoga boutique, a chocolatier and a parade of restaurants and bars, Bob San didn’t draw a crowd, initially.
Continue reading "Bob San: Neighborhood Sushi" »
The Wine Enthusiast event held Thursday night at the Field Museum appeared to be well attended, completely filling the main floor of the museum. Wine was definitely in the spotlight with over 60 wineries represented. So many that for someone who does not know much about wine it was very overwhelming - so I turned my attention to the food. A lot of great restaurants were represented with some good and some bad results.
Continue reading "Wine Enthusiast Toast of the Town Event" »
Being from Wisconsin and also being loyal to the the state's professional football team, I found it a bit uneasy stepping inside Mike Ditka's restaurant. However, it was tempting given the rave reviews we have heard about the place.
Continue reading "Mike Ditka's: River North Comfort Food" »
Between Ethiopian food, Indian food and raw fish I've been accused of eating everything. So it wouldn't stand to wonder why I like Kashi cereal. Considering all the fat, cholesterol and calories in some of these write-ups it might be the change of pace, it might be the change of flavor or it might be me rationalizing the health aspect of this cereal. Never-the-less I do enjoy the fiber twig.
Continue reading "Kashi GoLean Crunch" »
This is about the third time I've taken apart a duck and this time it was three ducks. I have to say that any time I'm do something like this I have my copy of the New Professional Chef out (fifth edition) on the counter as I work.
Frozen ducks are real goldmines. The gold being the rendered fat. Considering I'm preparing for Passover this weekend it will go to good use. I'm using the fat primarily to confit the legs and wings. The breasts are to be part of a small course about 1/3rd of breast served on top of a date and cashew pate with a candied fruit and nut topping... haven't figured it out yet.
Continue reading "Dismembering Duck" »
I confess that I eat at the Drive-Thru. I've actually seen studies that show something like 90% of the people out there eat in their cars. Now I can hope that it's granola and bananas and thermoses of soup but somehow I know that it boils down to the drive-thru and if you talk to these people I would suspect that the holy grail of drive-thru is breakfast. McDonald's has been playing with the all-day breakfast option. Lunch-Time Breakfast Burrito! We'll be getting fatter as a nation.
Continue reading "The Dunkin Donuts Coupon Experience " »
I had discovered West Egg over St. Patrick’s Day when downtown revealed too many bars and not enough restaurants. It was packed with patrons spilling over in the “waiting room” at the adjacent building. We were seated quite efficiently and proceeded to eagerly pore over the menu.
Continue reading "West Egg" »
Sometimes restaurants take a while to open. Blame it on the city, blame it on folks when reserves run dry. Hell, I don't know who to blame it on, but I do know a sign in the window promising food doesn't equal a restaurant open for you and me. It's been slow moving for fast food at Veggie Bite, the neon affair on the corner of Milwaukee and Paulina. Lots of signs, no food. This week you can go bite the veggie, they're finally open.
The concept: fast food for vegans. Chili dogs, Philly cheese steak, gyros, cheese burgers, buffalo wings--you name it, they've substituted it.
Continue reading "Veggie Bite: Fast Food Vegan" »
As far as I know the only Laotian restaurant in Chicago is the recently opened Sabai-Dee on Broadway. I enjoy Thai food a bit more than Vietnamese and find Laotian food to be a good mix of the two for my tastes. It seems a bit more Thai-leaning and the fish sauces are pretty light. the upside is that they still integrate tons of fresh herbs and use rice in terrific ways.
Continue reading "Sabai Dee: Chicago's Laotian Restaurant" »
It's back..yaaay! Starting Monday Schlitz has it's long-lost gusto back. I'm a tweenie of Schlitz drinkers: old enough to remember the last years of Schlitz's heyday, but too young to actually drink the real stuff. When I was young I remember Schlitz was well-promoted: there was the motorized Schlitz can in the local parade, and bars advertised Schlitz heavily just as they did Pabst, Blatz, and Old Style. Then in 1969 Miller was bought out by Philip Morris, who expanded the business aggressively. Anheuser-Busch used aggressive marketing to build a base in Wisconsin.
Continue reading "Schlitz: The Beer that Made Milwaukee Famous" »
I've been to several Ethiopian restaurants and while the sour injera leaves my hand sort of dry and the dining process is really neat, I've never really had a craving for Ethiopian food. Maybe it's a change of taste, maybe it's a revved up appreciation for something different or maybe it's the food and atmosphere at Ras Dashen that has me looking forward to more frequent Ethiopian dinners.
Continue reading "Ras Dashen" »
On a particularly lazy Sunday afternoon, my roommate and I decided to leave our couch and go on a mission to find us some cupcakes for breakfast. Hailing from the west coast, we had high expectations for ridiculously-priced cupcakes. We realize it's just a fad and a complete waste of retirement money, but the promise of a piece of heaven throws all rationale out the window.
We did some half-hearted online searching and landed on Molly's Cupcakes in Lincoln Park. The minute we walked in, the decor put a smile on my face. Brightly colored furniture and wooden swing sets captured my attention, as well as the big smiles behind the counter. I immediately zoned in on the Red Velvet cupcakes and the anything-filled-with-chocolate-on-chocolate cupcake, with hot chocolate on the side.
Breakfast of the champions.
Continue reading "Molly's Cupcakes" »
This was an interesting recipe to follow, from Kitchen Sessions by Charlie Trotter. I don't think it was too obscure and not very hard either. At least not like Keller's short ribs from the French Laundry cookbook which is next on the list, as soon as I get a line on some good marrow bones (I have a good line but it sounds like a good excuse, no?).
The browning of leek, garlic, jalapeño, granny smith, and yellow onion created a wonderful aroma. Dumping in a bottle of Zin, thyme, sage and coriander seeds certainly added something. Plunking the ribs into the marinade, I did a very hard thing, I tossed it into the fridge for the night.
Continue reading "Kitchen Sessions: Trotter's Braised Short Ribs pt.1" »
I'll admit, I am looking forward to it. Until the NHL playoffs start it
will be my guilty pleasure. So I am looking forward to seeing how the three Chicagoans do. Yes, three.
Apparently the first contest will be to "spin" the Chicago-style pizza.
I don't know if having Chicago play host to Top Chef will be good or bad. It could be good. As is constantly mentioned the diversity of the local ethnic food is second only to the quality. We are home to not one or two but several of the nation's top destination restaurants. It's definitely a pissing-contest of sorts when you get into how cities stack up against each other food-wise.
Continue reading "Top Chef Chicago: Ahem, 3 Chicago Contestants?" »
I am beginning to find that German, Alsatian (French), and Austrian wines are among my favorite whites: From bone-dry Austrian Gruner Veltliners to sweeter German rieslings, I find that the overall practicality with food and, for German wines in particular, generally low alcohol percentages, make a bottle of wine with dinner for two a practical option. (Sorry, wine pumps don't always keep wine well even when stored air-tight. They may, at best, prolong the life of a wine for a week.)
Continue reading "2004 Spatlese – Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt" »
Better late than never, right? My first trip to Aigre Doux and why not get a prix fixe. I'd say upfront that
it's not generally a good way to evaluate a place. That said I had a very good meal and even though we were a fairly large group up against the back kitchen-wall, I did find the place to be nice and comfy. Then again it could have been the girl drinks.
The other thing to note is that 3 cosmos has the tendency to make any night a remarkable night. The menu option of braised spare ribs made any decision a formality. I've been on a braised meat kick lately and was excited. The haricot vert was a great starter... what better to go with a cocktail. Technicolor.
Continue reading "Aigre Doux: Restaurant Week" »
For a while a friend of mine has tried to pursuade me to visit Lush Wine and Spirits. Tucked away in Roscoe Village, it is a bit out of the way for me geographically so I never stumbled upon an opportunity to check it out. Finally we met up for a free Sunday wine tasting.
Continue reading "Sunday Wine Tastings: Lush Wine and Spirits" »
On Saturday night, the Chicago Beer Society at Goose Island Brewery will present Night of the Living Ales IV. It's already sold out, but this is one of the rare moments to give beer lovers the chance to enjoy cask conditioned ale. Those who have spent time in England or Wales may rememberr the hand-pumped "warm beer" with low carbonation, low alcohol, and a taste unlike bottled or typical draft beer. Forty casks of real ale will be sampled in this event.
Continue reading "Night of the Living Ales IV: Goose Island" »
They've given away 500 Friday and are doing another 500 today.
I spoke with them at 11:15 Friday and there were 350 remaining.
They ran out at 12:45 on Friday. We're projecting availability to last until 1pm Saturday.
Portillo's - Chicago, Illinois
100 W. Ontario
Chicago IL 60610
312-587-8910
Continue reading "Free Hot Dogs at Portillo's - Saturday's Batch" »
I feel like I sold out a friend by including Hagen's Fish Market before The Fish Keg. It's nearly perfect. The first time I was there two 70+ ladies were trying to get their oysters double battered and were not making any headway with the young guy upfront. They asked for a gentleman in particular. If I remembered his name the story would gain in authenticity but I don't.
Let's just call him Harold.
Continue reading "The Fish Keg" »
My first warning probably should have been the "all-you-can-eat sushi" for only $16.99. However, my hole-in-the-wall-lovin' self worked up an appetite as we descended to a basement in Lincoln Park, revealing a small space adorned with wooden furniture and a sushi bar wedged in the corner.
I deliberated over the menu and like all my prior "all-you-can-eat" experiences, secretly vowed NOT to roll out of the door in discomfort by the end of the meal. Their menu had a decent variety of appetizers, nigiri sushi and their special rolls. My friends jumped on the appetizers as I carefully made my choices of the special rolls.
Continue reading "Sushi Para II" »
Looking around for reservations resulted in menus that seemed good to great. For some reason I went into Primehouse expecting one steak option and, I dunno, some fish and pasta options. The menu was fantastic. A choice between a bone-in filet and a Delmonico ribeye or Shrimp... sweet! The appetizer choices of a cold seafood plate– two shrimp and two oysters was terrific and the lobster bisque with a large lobster tempura crisp was consumed so quickly I didn't get a chance to even ask for a taste.
Continue reading "Restaurant Week: Primehouse" »
You go to certain restaurants and you start to notice patterns... Gunthorp Duck, blood orange reduction, etc. Everything needs a fancy variation, right? Justifies the price and your finickiness... dates are just dates, right?
Well, I have always secretly thought, "Yeah, they do look like little roaches." They have that crispy sort of papery husk of a skin and a mushy center. And they're a bitch to pit. Medjool is on the right and common date is on the left.
Medjool dates are hard not to buy at a glance. They're bigger and
plumper. They don't look like dead insects and have a lovely purple hue
to them, instead of the date-brown. They are a bit more expensive but
honestly dates aren't cheap to begin with and you're usually using them
for something fairly elaborate so the extra buck should be worth it for
the visual benefits.
Continue reading "Medjool Dates" »
I guess for many reasons, there are no wine shops left in the Gold Coast. You can pick a few bottles at the Goddess and Grocer, and there's Treasure Island supermarket, but that's it. Gold Coast's lack of wine shops bring me to Old Town where House of Glunz is located on Wells just North of Division. In terms of aesthetics, it's my favorite shop. The shelves are old wood, there are empty bottles going back generations, with old barrels of sherry and family heirlooms, and the dusty, worn feel reminds me of some of the older European wine shops. Paintings of grapes and stained glass make it a cathedral of wine shops.
Continue reading "House of Glunz: Old World Wines in Old Town" »
Lito's Empanadas is an extremely tiny place located on Clark St. in Lincoln Park, and it was love at first sight. When I was on the bus on my way to getting my haircut, I thought I have to stop at this place. Lito's sells nothing but eight styles of empanadas, including a choco-banana empanada for those with a sweet tooth. It's a great place for street meat food at street meat prices, which range from $2.09 to $2.29.
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My wife, as an interior designer, was fortunate enough to get an invitation to get a sneak preview of Sushi-X. I admit I have not been to Sushi-X's original location, on Chicago and Milwaukee in East Ukrainian Village. One of the first thoughts I had was that this is a bold move for them: there are quite a few sushi places around Lincoln Park and Lakeview, anywhere from more "old school" styles with bright lighting and lots of bamboo to trendy, hip places. Sushi-X aims for the trendy and hip segment of the sushi market, with its dark colors, dark lighting, Japanese anime, and techno. Maybe this is good timing as there have been more of the "trendy" places opening around Lakeview, and surprisingly, a few signs around Lincoln Park as well.
Continue reading "First Look: Sushi-X on Diversey" »
German food seems to have very slowly fallen out of favor, and every once in a while there will be news that a German restaurant or pub is closing. Maybe I'm wrong, or maybe I don't see a trend in the opposite direction, and to be fair there have been a few German-themed bars, such as Prost, in Lincoln Park, opening. But for the most part the German places around town generally tend to be older. One of these is Laschet's Inn, which until very recently was run by Germans. The current owners have vowed not to change anything, except add tables in front during the summer and a biergarten in back.
Continue reading "Laschet's Inn: German Comfort Food" »
Over the holidays, a friend of mine who loves to cook turned me on to a very affordable tagine from Sur La Table. As a fan of cooking and experimenting with new foods, I thought a tagine would be a perfect addition to my kitchen-arsenal and I figured for the price (~$20), it would be a great idea for my Christmas list. Sure enough my husband bought one for me but unwrapping the gift was just the start of my adventures in tagine cooking.
Continue reading "Tagine Home Cooking" »
Honestly I had not heard about Terragusto until two days before I ate there. We received a recommendation from someone I just met, and it was convincing enough for us to want to go there. The fact that the restaurant was BYOB made it very easy to consider, and I promptly went to one of my favorite wine shops, Que Syrah on Southport, and picked out a traditional Italian dolcetto (a red wine from the Piedmont region). It seems that lots of people know about this place, too. I was told that 5:00 dinner on Saturday was impossible so I had to settle for Sunday.
Continue reading "Terragusto: Wonderful Homemade Pasta at BYO Prices" »
Though we've never been, for Valentine’s Day my wife and I went to Carnivale as it's had received good reviews. When we walked in right away we felt the place was over the top, yet awe-inspiring with generous use of primary colors, high ceilings, Cuban music, and lots of energy. Coming in there was someone handing out free samples of Spanish olives. Carnivale is mostly pan-Latin but does throw in Spanish dishes like manchengo and zamarano cheese as well as the ever-tasty jamon Iberico. The other thing we noticed was the people patronizing the establishment, were very eclectic and perhaps not a typical West Loop club crowd.
Continue reading "Carnivale: Pan Latin Food in a Theatrical Setting" »
Today when I ordered my coffee, I couldn't resist buying a delicious fresh store-made macarons from Sarah's Pastries & Candies. Macarons (sometimes spelled Macaroons) are credited as being a regional specialty of a town in Northeastern France, but are popular throughout France.
Continue reading "Sarah's Pastries" »
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