Chicago Foodies

2004 Llopart Rose Brut Reserva Cava

Cava, from the Catalonian region of Spain, is an affordable everyday sparkler.  Though it does not have the cache (or the price) of Champagne, you can get a decent bottle of cava for $10 and an immensely enjoyable one for $20.  The Llopart Rose falls in the latter category.  Great with seafood and, arguably spicy dishes, this rose cava is very dry yet with a creamy finish with hints of rasberry.    According to the manufacturer it has been aged sur lie "up to three years".

This cava is sold at  Que Syrah Wines at 3726 N. Southport.

2007 Marotti Campi Rubico Lacrima di Morro d'Alba

Some of the most exciting wines around do not have to cost lots of money; on the contrary, some of the more memorable wines can be under $20.

One example of this is the Piedmont wine from Marotti Campi from the lacrima grape, which, according to the label is an indigenous variety.  The wine is produced in the Marche region, although the word Alba in the name threw me off and I was thinking it was part of Piedmont, which is the province in the northwest corner.    The Marche province, on the other hand, is on the east coast toward the center of Italy and, thus, borders the Adriatic sea.

Drink of the Week: Miller Genuine Draft 64 – Here's the Secret

So I bought a 12-pack of MGD 64. It wasn't hard to rationalize... 64 calories? Sure! I like the TV spot that shows a full glass of 64 vs. a 1/3rd of a glass of the regular beer. But to continue with an accurate representation would be to finish filling that glass with seltzer. Now alcohol isn't the reason we drink beer. To some it might even be an annoying by-product. So in those instances this is the solution you've been waiting for.

But for everyone else it's a light beer that has no finish at all and a lousy 2.8% of alcohol to boot. Say you're at a bar and want to at least get a buzz going. It will cost you far more to get loaded on 64 than a regular light. So in those instances what do you do?

KitchenAid 4.5qt Stand Mixer $130! Black Friday...

Granted it's at Walmart but it's quite a nice price... Especially for the lift-bowl model. Might be something to wake up early to get?

Economic Woe for Lobstermen... $6.95/lb Lobster

A telltale sign of economic slowdown is the reduction in the price of lobsters... People aren't eating out as much and when they do they're not spending as much as they did a few months ago. A quick conversation with Chef Patrick Sheerin from the Signature Room confirmed that the past few weeks have seen a marked decline in patrons, though expectations for the remaining chunk of the holiday season should be a buoy of sorts. (had to throw that nautical reference).

Ordered live from Pine Point Fisherman's Co-op in Maine at Lobstercoop.com you'll be dropping $6.95 for a one pound lobster, $13.50 for a 1.5 pounder ($9/lb) and $25.00 for a jumbo 2lb lobster. What better way to save the economy than to support the co-op. You don't have to order live either... they do par-cooked.
I just think of Annie Hall...

Food and Wine – Entertaining Showcase Chicago – Nov 17th

Annually these events come around and with each year I get more excited. They represent great value, even at a $100+ pricepoint... $110 in advance, $125 at the door in this case. Considering you're getting a taste from  some of the city's best chefs, and a chance to meet most of them, it's a very worthy charitable event. A portion goes to Grow for Good. It's at the Museum of Contemporary Art from 6:30-9:30 this evening.

Participating chefs include: Grant Achatz, Paul Kahan, Giuseppe Tentori, Graham Bowles, Christophe David, Bruce Sherman, Shawn McClain, Art Smith, Rick Tramanto/Gale Gand,  Stephanie Izard and Dale Levitzsky from Top Chef.

Here's a link to their site. The Purchase Tickets button links to a blank page so they may be sold out. Will update when I'm clear on that.

Last Meal – Neverending Buffet

I've answered the last meal question countless of times. Most recently the chicken Makhani at Sabri Nehari... mmmm. But I've never answered it like this. It's a bit PG-13 but likely the best answer I've heard in a while. "Can I get some Herbes de Provence, I'm Dyin' Here" –hee hee.

BRAVO! Cucina Italiana

You know when you walk into a restaurant and the majority of people are waiting to see Madagascar 2 that you are probably in the wrong place.  That’s exactly where I found myself early on a Saturday night – at Bravo, the new restaurant that replaced Wolfgang Puck’s next to the Evanston Century Theater.  The proximity to the theater makes it an easy choice, especially as the weather gets colder.  The wait for a table on a Saturday was about 30 minutes.  We luckily got a seat at the bar, ordered wine and reviewed the menu. 

And Obama's new White House Chef Will Be...

To be the White House's resident chef is to truly serve at the pleasure of the president. Walter Scheib has worked for both Clinton and Bush. Might Obama's choice be a well known Chicago chef? I don't think I'd want Cantu's Moto-style cuisine daily but you never know. Smart money seems to be on Oprah's personal chef - Art Smith, Rick Bayless or personal chef - Daniel Young, according to the New York Daily News.

It's an interesting question when you think about the contextual shift from the delight over a chef's talent and imagination versus a potential overload resulting in a late night mac and cheese binge. Could you imagine asking Charlie Trotter to make you a grilled cheese sandwich and potato chips?  Or Rick Bayless to just make you a bowl of oatmeal?

Actually now that I think about it I remember a dinner at Thomas Keller's restaurant Ad Hoc, in Napa, where I ate some amazing fried chicken. The locals, throughout that day, were actually talking about it and how odd that it wasn't the usual fried chicken day. The allure of simple, comfort food is certainly not lost on the finest chefs. The chocolate chip cookie dough sold at Trotter's To Go, cooked in your own oven, is so good that you will be convinced that there's something worse than butter inside.

I would love to know that a Chicago chef is cooking in the White House so I'm happy. I don't expect it to be Bayless as it would take him away from his business but if asked could anyone say no? I mean, if I were Charlie Trotter and was asked I'd do it just to do it... you know? Why not. I'd just say, "Yes sir. Mr. President, I'll make you that cheese sandwich..."
Choose a chef from the poll.

America in Grant Park

photo: Delia Hinkley

Chicago Election Parties

First off, apparently Starbucks if giving away tall cups of coffee. They got into some trouble by offering it only to voters so now it's fair game for everyone.

Now bear in mind they are basically closing down the city this evening. Some are planning for a million people.  That should be something to see.

Tonight you can choose a party and watch the election.  Save your voting receipts they'll get you specials or discounts... Make sure they have a TV, good specials and are close to Grant Park... here are some options.