Chicago Foodies

Pot to Bowl: White Bean and Herb Soup

For my inaugural post, I wanted something universal, simple, and delicious. Something most people could throw together relatively easily. With the air getting crisper, the days getting shorter, and need for comfort food getting stronger--soup is definitely on the mind.

It's funny. Every time a coworker or friend asks "So, what'd you make for dinner?" and I say "Soup," the most common response is "Ohhhh. I totally love soup." It seems to be the most universal food that most people aren't making from scratch--or at least somewhat near scratch. Soup is one of the few foods found in most cultures in the world--whether the lentil soups found in Africa, the seafood brilliancy found in the Caribbean, the  Miso-based soups of Japan, or the peasant soups of Italy.

Cotija Cheese

I’ve recently discovered Cotija (ko-TEE-hah) cheese and I love it.  Actually, I’m certain that I’ve had it many times at various Mexican restaurants but did not know it by name.  I first discovered it on the menu board at Frontera Fresco where it is deliciously sprinkled on their salads and Huaraches. 

Cotija It is a hard, dry cheese that is typically sold already grated and has a very salty and robust flavor similar to Feta, Parmesan or Romano.  It also goes by other names such as Queso Anejo or “aged cheese” and Queso Seco or “dry cheese.”  Cotija is not the best melting cheese but it is extremely versatile and has a long shelf life, which is why I love it. 

You can grate it over any type of food and it works perfectly.  I’ve been using it as a substitute for Parmesan (similar in calories and fat) and grating it over pasta and lasagna. It works great on salads, vegetables, soups (especially tomato), chili, tacos and enchiladas.  The cheese is sold in grated form at Devon Market at Devon and Clark.  I'm sure you can also find it at any Mexican grocery store.  It truly is the most versatile cheese out there and now the only cheese you’ll consistently find in my refrigerator.

Gigantic Green Grapes

When I was a kid one of the first foods I remember really enjoying were green seedless grapes. I would eat a big bowl of them while watching the Muppet Show, SWAT, or if my babysitter let me stay up late, the Love Boat which I didn't like as much but just felt lucky to be able to stay up.

I remember my grandfather bringing bunches of seedless grapes from his grocery store on Fullerton and Kedzie. I remember they were special for that reason only. I remember them sometimes being very cold and sometimes being very sweet. I remember sometimes getting grapes with chalky seeds that would crunch as they hurt your teeth.

I've had lots of grapes since that never really jogged these memories but Dominick's has exceptionally large green grapes and I have to wonder how big they must have been in my hands then. Even bigger than these are now.

Trader Joe Gem Wines: Trellis Chardonnay

This is the first of what might be many mentions of quality wines under $7 at Trader Joe's. Three buck chuck is good for a simple Sauvignon Blanc but I'm not a big fan of their Chardonnay. To be honest I have only been a recent convert after a great trip through Napa and Sonoma. Odd that I've had the best luck with cheap Chardonnays at TJ's.

Trellis is a terrific wine especially uner $10. At $5 it's a great case to snag and crack a bottle any time "all of the madness has got you goin crazy." It has a very light oaky cream with a good balance of fruit. If you're a diehard steel cask Chardonnay drinker you might want to give the oak barrel stuff another chance. It seems that the use of Oak has balanced a bit.

Jesus, William H. Macy was in Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon.

Vote Yes On Prop 2 – and NO to industrial farming

If only we lived in California. This should be adopted in Illinois.

In California on the ballot is a proposition to guarantee humane treatment of animals raised in the food industry. Their website is comprehensive and it's led by the Humane Society. If we all think of how well we treat our pets and how poorly we treat our food it changes your perspective.

I've complained about it before but have to say it again. Industrial farming is amazingly bad for animals and for us. Forgetting Foie Gras as it's really a different issue, the simple nature of expansion, greed and efficiency is deplorable. When you go out to eat ask where your meat, poultry and eggs are coming from. In fine dining establishments we generally don't think to ask but if we pay a premium for "quality" food I expect thought and consideration to not only be paid to the preparation of the ingredients but to who the suppliers are and how they do their business. There are myriad reasons beyond ethics.

The newest strains of ecoli have developed due to antibiotics that are necessary in overcrowded and filthy farms. Hormones as well are short cuts to maximize pound per animal. But to be frank eating is an experience and when you know what you are eating lived a short and miserable existence because of you it kind of ruins the taste of your food. And since you know it why are you still eating it?

So please list your favorite places to get humanely treated, drug and hormone free meat poultry and eggs.

Mon Ami Gabi's "French Masters" Dinner

Mon Ami Gabi is hosting  a survey of Surrealism presentation by the Art Institute. A wine reception will be followed by dinner. It doesn't look like dinner

Tuesday, October 14,
wine reception at 6 p.m.

Mon Ami Gabi Chicago
2300 N. Lincoln Park West,
(773) 348-8886
www.monamigabi.com

$65 per person, plus tax and gratuity 
RSVP:   Reservations are limited; call (773) 348-8886 for reservations.    

Adesso: BYO Italian in Lakeview

Tonight I bought a bottle of red wine and went over to a restaurant with a curious, funky vibrant inside called Adesso.  With a striking brown floral motif, Adesso grabs your attention as you walk down the west side of Broadway a few blocks north of Belmont. 

Service is peppy, attentive, and not pushy or intrusive (though perhaps not quite as informative)   Since we were in the restaurant on a slow Wednesday we never had to wait for anything either.

Cyrano's Bistrot: Cozy French Restaurant

Cyrano's Bistro, a brightly colored restaurant in River North has an intimate feel to it.  When you walk in, you are greated with a "Bonjour", and the staff is predominantly French or attempting to speak French.  The wine list leans toward the Languedoc, the Southern region of France where much of its wine is produced.  (Languedoc is the highest-producing wine region in France, though most of its wine is consumed domestically.)   I ordered a delicious premier cru Burgundy off the wine list, and split a salad with spice walnuts, pears, blue cheese, haricots verts.  We were served by an American who called himself Marcel (and I'm betting that's his stage name).

Chicago Commons: Pour Out Your Heart

Chicago Commons is hosting a wine tasting event Friday October 17th.
Taste and bid on this fabulous group of delicious, affordable “vins enigmatiques” from Austria,France,Germany,Portugal,South Africa,Spain,and the West Coast, recommended by William Gibson (Wine Consultant,Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois), and dine on sumptuous hors d’oeuvres.

Special feature of the evening “Riesling – The World’s Most Undervalued Grape” Two flights of focused Riesling wine tasting by Serafin Alvarado, Master Sommelier.
6:00 p.m. Wine tasting and silent auction open
6:30 p.m.– 7:15 p.m. Focused Riesling Tasting Flight A with Serafin Alvarado
7:30 p.m.– 8:15 p.m. Focused Riesling Tasting Flight B with Serafin Alvarado
8:30 p.m. Silent auction closes
9:00 p.m. Check out

More information after the jump...

Triente Cannau di Sardegna 2005

A few weeks ago in a Friday afternoon tasting of several wines at Lush Wine & Spirits, I had a unique, refined yet full-bodied Italian red wine called Pala Triente Cannonau di Sardegna (Sardinia).    Cannonau was the grape varietal used in 95 percent of the blend, with the remaining five being mixing grapes. This is the first time in memory that I had a wine from Sardinia, as there are so many different wine regions throughout Italy. 

Alinea: Another Peek

Alinea has made a name for itself in the Chicago food scene for mixing food and science.   For starters you actually order over the telephone when you make reservations--they offered the twelve-course chef's tasting menu  for $145 or the twenty-six course tour for $225.    Its Lincoln Park address is very discreet, and if it weren't for the valet parking men we would miss the front entrance.  Opening the doors you walk down this long, dark hallway highlighted in red, and once you get to the end a pair of automatic double doors opens in front of you, just as you ask yourself how to get in.  The actual entrance is a bit cramped, in spite of the long hallway, and I found myself dodging people serving food.   The host was able to find my reservation, and he reiterated our request that my wife didn't care for shrimp and olives.