Chicago Foodies

Goose Island, Revolution, Flossmoor Win Big at Brewpub Shootout

Whether you're more interested in food or beer, chances are you have a pretty hearty appetite for the other as well. This explains much of the anticipation each year for the annual Chicago Beer Society Brewpub Shootout, a members-only event that pits teams of brewers and chefs against each other in a battle to pair the best beer and bites. This past Saturday, the competition moved to new digs at the Zhou B. Art Center on 35th Street, a large enough space to accomodate the 15 competing brewpubs. From grapefruit Sofie to cherry vanilla ice cream pops, brewers and chefs all brought their A-games.

Win Free Beer at Sheffield's Chili Cook-Off

Sheffield's has the recipe for your perfect Sunday afternoon: the Bears game, competition chili, and a chance to win free beer. This oasis for beer geeks stranded in a sea of Lakeview sports bars hosts an annual chili cook-off that carries a grand prize of a $100 bar gift card. If you think your chili has what it takes, you'll need to call or email the bar (events@sheffieldschicago.com) by 5 PM today, then bring a whole pot of your creation to the competition on Sunday at 1 PM. If you'd rather just judge others' hard work, show up at 1 PM with $20 in hand, which will buy you a taste of the chilis, some barbecue, and one drink ticket. Judging is left to the professionals; Spiaggia chef and Top Chef contestant Sarah Grueneberg will be joined by her colleagues from The Purple Pig and Southport Grocer to crown a winner. Since everyone will leave with bellies full and thirst quenched, there are really no losers.

Haymarket Brewery Makes A Statement

I was fortunate enough to have some friends recently invite me to Haymarket Pub & Brewery, the new brewpub that has opened up in the West Loop at Randolph and Halsted.  I don't know what building was there before, but the interior looks a lot like a Rock Bottom Brewery, spacious, a large rectangular bar anchored in the room's center, and abundant tables, booths, and tv's.  Of course the brewing tanks are exposed in back. 

I went there for food only this evening but make no mistake: this place is poised to be serious about beer.  En route from the bathroom, they had kegs of beers that you won't find at Jewel/Osco's beer section ready to pop.  Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine, Victory Golden Monkey, and an unspecified Dogfish Head beer were on the verge of being tapped. 

Beer and Barbeque at Sheffield's

As noted in the excellent post written by Foodies contributor Brian Ziegler on September 20, I, too, visited Sheffield's on the same evening.  By the time I got there,  Brian and his friend had already gotten "the tour" of Sheffield's barbecue operations.  I got my turn shortly after my arrival when Brian introduced me to Sheffield's owner, Ric Hess.  I have been a long time Sheffield's patron and an even longer time barbecue lover, so it was a treat to get a chance to explore Sheffield's excellent barbecue offerings in person.

Barbeque at Sheffield's

A friend and I were having a few beers at Sheffield's, known as a destination for craft-brew lovers and an outstanding selection of beers from Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing, as well as our own Metropoltan and Half Acre.   As always, it's a good idea to pair beer with food.  My friend ordered a pulled pork barbeque sandwich, and I tried the smoked sausage.  Unbeknownst to us, we were a bar stool away from the owner, when my friend explained, "That's the best barbeque sandwich I've ever had".   That changed our evening completely - for the better.

Wining & Dining – West Town Tavern

Tucked into the corner of Chicago Ave and Throop Street, lives a neighborhood favorite and ultra-cozy resto, West Town Tavern. Residents of West Town are no strangers to the tastes of husband/wife duo Susan and Drew Goss’s contemporary comfort food line up, but this one is definitely a must-try for all.

Our picks? While we haven’t sampled the entire menu (yet!), we loved the Lamb (Smoked Lamb Shoulder BBQ with Double Corn Cake and Traditional Black Sauce) and the Scallops (Pan-Seared Scallops with Mushroom-Leek Risotto, Tarragon and Chives), though I do advise conversing with your waiter on the specials for the evening and his/her top choices. Wine and dine? You got it. West Town Tavern boasts a pretty trusty line up of New and Old World wines – again, ask your waiter for his recommended pairing for your dish.

Quite possibly the best part about West Town Tavern? They have sample recipes on their Web Site. I love a good DIY, restaurant-comparable dish – and now they’re making it as easy as possible on us “I only have time to cook on the weekends” girls. Check the recipes out here.

West Town Tavern
1329 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622

 

Longman & Eagle – Comfort Food on the Hottest Day of the Year

A steamy hot day has never instilled in me a hunger for platefuls of meat and glasses of whiskey. But maybe that will change. It was, as the title suggested, a hot night– in the nineties even though it was raining. I have been so overdue to checkout Longman & Eagle that I agreed to go. I further broke tradition and went to a popular restaurant on a Friday night. This meant suffering through a wait of over an hour at the bar which would have been better if I were up for more drinking. The cocktail menu was very nice and the bourbon and whiskey selection was extensive. The bartender, Nathan, mixed a couple of dark and stormys and also chatted up the new Maker's 46 and a couple other options (Cabin Still). This made the wait seem shorter.

In a very loud back room we ordered, and received, duck rillettes where the mustard lived up to the meat and Ricotta gnuddi, a word that makes small children giggle, which were more delicate than I expected and though good, didn't compete with the rillettes. Next came the English pea agnolotti - truffle butter was cheating as the pea filled raviolis were sweet and creamy-rich on their own.

A Revolution is Brewing

I would contend that Chicago has some of the most intelligent, passionate lovers of craft brews around. Lately it seems there has been an influx of headlining brewers making their mark in the windy city – Revolution, Half Acre, Metropolitan, Two Brothers, and most recently and with great fanfare, Stone Brewery. According to Stone’s twitter feed, Chicago became its fifth largest market… after only a week. Bonkers. Yeah. Chicagoans love a good beer.

I’ll be honest, I have not had the opportunity to try out some of the goods from all of the above, but I did make a Sunday mid-afternoon journey to Logan Square to visit Revolution Brewery (2323 North Milwaukee Ave).

The place exudes class, warmth, and passion for both their food and beer. A lot of brew pubs display their tanks right up front – sometimes an indicator of misplaced priorities. If there is serious brewing going on – and I mean, the messy, hot, smelly pour-your-heart-and-soul into it brewing – those suckers are going to be in a place where they’ll actually be used.

Revolution has theirs in the back with windows for curious diners to look through, but where crafting is actually going on by head brewer, Jim Cibak.

Two Brothers Brewery

Continuing my excursions to noteworthy Chicago-area breweries, I trekked to Two Brothers Brewery to take a peek at the #2 craft brewer in IL (the champion being Goose Island). Though they were founded just 13 years ago, family-run Two Brothers has grown tremendously and now distributes in 8 states, and arguably even has an international presence. (Apparently there's a guy who brings 10 pallets of their beer back to Sweden once a year.)

You can get an up close look at the brewing facilities by taking a tour of the premises. Tour guide Gabe was a fount of knowledge about beer-making, and super witty to boot. Seriously, this was hands-down the funniest brewery tour of all time.

Continue reading "Two Brothers Brewery" »

Crystal Cun on January 23, 2010 in $$, Beer, Pub Food, The Burbs | Permalink | Comments (2)

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I’ve had they pleasure of consuming a Boxty on a few occasions. Have you? Until last year, I was unaware of the Irish Boxty, which is the cousin of Tortilla Espanola and the potato latke. Fado Irish Pub offers several Boxty on their menu. This potato pancake dish is found in more rural parts of Ireland and cooked on a griddle instead of a frying pan. It is a perfect consistency to wrap up a hearty meal (like the Trinity Steak Boxty) or as a quesadilla. My favorite on the Fado Boxty menu is the Veggie Boxty Quesadilla. If you like grilled veggies, sour cream, cheese and marinated tomatoes, this might be the perfect pub dish for you.  www.fadoirishpub.com

The Map Room is well-known for its draft beers and extensive bottle list, but their International Night on Tuesdays deserves plenty of recognition of its own. Each week is a trip around the world, as a local restaurant is chosen to cater international food. To get food, you simply need to purchase two drinks and get your meal ticket stamped. Without a doubt, this is a giant step up from the "free wings" ploy of your average bar.

On this particular evening, the featured cuisine was Vietnamese, provided by Bon Bon Sandwiches. I'd been craving a banh mi sandwich for weeks but hadn't had time to trek to Argyle, so this was a welcome sight. If you are unfamiliar with the banh mi, it is the sublime lovechild of French and Asian influences, gestalt in sandwich form. Though there are many variations, the classic banh mi contains thinly sliced pork loaf, ham and pate layered on a baguette-like roll, topped with pickled carrots and daikon radish, a cucumber spear, cilantro and sliced jalapenos. Savory yet sweet and tangy, crunchy while soft, available for merely $3...you will rue all the times you ordered from Subway.

In the mood for some quality craft beers? Itching to get out of the city for the day? In search of hoppy times, I recently took a trip to Flossmoor Brewery for a summer diversion.

Flossmoor Brewery is set in idyllic downtown Flossmoor, an easy 45-minute Metra ride from the loop. If you go over the weekend, the weekend Metra pass will set you back a mere $5. Once you arrive in Flossmoor, the brewpub is immediately adjacent to the station, marked by its distinctive train station decor. Behind the main restaurant is the Old Caboose Ice Cream Shoppe, a charming ice cream parlor built in an authentic caboose car, perfect for your (inner) child.

We started off with the meal with an appetizer of fried green beans, battered in Zephyr Golden Ale tempura. The coating was crisp and well-seasoned, and the bright burst of green bean flavor inside made me feel like this was semi-healthy. If only all vegetables could taste this good.

A couple weeks ago, Chicago's thriving craft beer scene got some unexpected national recognition when the NYT ran an article on local microbreweries. Though a few lesser-known gems are mentioned (like Ukie Village's Bar DeVille), the article reads like a Who's Who in highlighting the area's best beer lists, from the Map Room to road-trip destination Three Floyds in Munster, Indiana. Luckily, many of the best beers are offered in conjunction with excellent food, so no sacrifices have to be made if you are in the mood for noshing. Hipster haven Piece packs its tables with patrons salivating for their thin-crust pizza, while Hopleaf offers an irreproachable menu of Belgian-style mussels, charcuterie and sandwiches. But the grandaddy of all brewpubs in Chicago is Goose Island. When it was announced that the Clybourn brewpub would not be closing after all, I leapt to my feet and shouted, "There is a God!"

Faithful Chicago Foodies readers may know I'm drawn like a bee to honeysuckle to any place that serves unusual animal parts, and I've read much of the recent press around Bucktown's The Bristol around its menu offerings.  I called today to make sure that I could get stuff there that was unavailable elsewhere.

Now, as for the place:  near Damen and Webster, a stone's throw from the Kennedy Expressway, the Bristol, which does not take reservations, had us go upstairs to wait.  The first thing I noticed was that there wasn't a packed crowd on the bottom floor waiting for a table.  What they did was had us wait upstairs, in a spacious layout where we had lots of room to spread out while we ordered a wine and appetizers.  

What Paul Kahan touches seems to turn to gold, and it is largely because whatever he sets out to do he does very, very well. .  His first restaurant in the West Loop, Blackbird, has been wowing diners since 1999, and avec, which was really supposed to have been a wine bar, typically has a very long wait (and always well worth it).   His hidden retro cocktail place in Wicker Park , The Violet Hour, makes amazingly delicious cocktails, and keeps the number of patrons down to a minimum in a very relaxing atmosphere (unlike avec and Publican, ironically).  

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.

Though a chain, Elephant and Castle is purportedly an English pub, and a good one at that.   Though it is very difficult to immitate a pub that's been around for 400 years, and it may not be worth trying, Elephant and Castle's now-third location at North Wabash does a wonderful job giving the pub atmosphere, perhaps better than their Huron St. location.  Fast expansion, as chains are prone to do, may put it at risk of not staying cool, but for now there aren't many places downtown that do a better job as an English pub. 

It has been almost a  year ago since I had reviewed Cru Wine Bar.  I love wine bars, and the fact that it is in the Gold Coast makes it an instant plus, especially since it is near one of our condo's.  With my wife's coupon in hand we decided to taste a couple dishes.

The first server nearly scared us off.   When my wife asked about what type of crab was in the crab and artichoke gratin, she barked "it's crab."  Her series of short answers almost caused us to walk out.  No hard feelings, of course, just that we made a bad decision.  Luckily she didn't serve us, and another person came, and she was more pleasant to deal with.

From the light-up sign one could correctly guess that the Candlelite has been around for a long time. They did close but quickly reopened when a group of regulars bought them back into existence. Obviously people like the place. The crowd included families and a section inside had a reunion going on... Congrats to the Class of '77.

We finally got to Hamburger Mary's after driving past its sign many times. It's a big sign and, hey, you always want a burger, don't-cha? I settled for splitting a burger, rings, and coleslaw. But that's okay, the burger's are huge.

The name of the place and the style of the menu seem to say diner with burger's defined by Mary's Special, Proud Mary, etc. however the velvet curtains, loud club music videos (of people who likely skip the burger) skew it some which I think is a good thing. Another Johnny Rocket's/Ed Debevic's type place isn't as needed.

Fado Irish Pub: It's not a Latke, it's a Boxty

I’ve had they pleasure of consuming a Boxty on a few occasions. Have you? Until last year, I was unaware of the Irish Boxty, which is the cousin of Tortilla Espanola and the potato latke. Fado Irish Pub offers several Boxty on their menu. This potato pancake dish is found in more rural parts of Ireland and cooked on a griddle instead of a frying pan. It is a perfect consistency to wrap up a hearty meal (like the Trinity Steak Boxty) or as a quesadilla. My favorite on the Fado Boxty menu is the Veggie Boxty Quesadilla. If you like grilled veggies, sour cream, cheese and marinated tomatoes, this might be the perfect pub dish for you.  www.fadoirishpub.com

Map Room International Night and Bon Bon Sandwiches

The Map Room is well-known for its draft beers and extensive bottle list, but their International Night on Tuesdays deserves plenty of recognition of its own. Each week is a trip around the world, as a local restaurant is chosen to cater international food. To get food, you simply need to purchase two drinks and get your meal ticket stamped. Without a doubt, this is a giant step up from the "free wings" ploy of your average bar.

On this particular evening, the featured cuisine was Vietnamese, provided by Bon Bon Sandwiches. I'd been craving a banh mi sandwich for weeks but hadn't had time to trek to Argyle, so this was a welcome sight. If you are unfamiliar with the banh mi, it is the sublime lovechild of French and Asian influences, gestalt in sandwich form. Though there are many variations, the classic banh mi contains thinly sliced pork loaf, ham and pate layered on a baguette-like roll, topped with pickled carrots and daikon radish, a cucumber spear, cilantro and sliced jalapenos. Savory yet sweet and tangy, crunchy while soft, available for merely $3...you will rue all the times you ordered from Subway.

Flossmoor Brewery

In the mood for some quality craft beers? Itching to get out of the city for the day? In search of hoppy times, I recently took a trip to Flossmoor Brewery for a summer diversion.

Flossmoor Brewery is set in idyllic downtown Flossmoor, an easy 45-minute Metra ride from the loop. If you go over the weekend, the weekend Metra pass will set you back a mere $5. Once you arrive in Flossmoor, the brewpub is immediately adjacent to the station, marked by its distinctive train station decor. Behind the main restaurant is the Old Caboose Ice Cream Shoppe, a charming ice cream parlor built in an authentic caboose car, perfect for your (inner) child.

We started off with the meal with an appetizer of fried green beans, battered in Zephyr Golden Ale tempura. The coating was crisp and well-seasoned, and the bright burst of green bean flavor inside made me feel like this was semi-healthy. If only all vegetables could taste this good.

Goose Island Brewpub

A couple weeks ago, Chicago's thriving craft beer scene got some unexpected national recognition when the NYT ran an article on local microbreweries. Though a few lesser-known gems are mentioned (like Ukie Village's Bar DeVille), the article reads like a Who's Who in highlighting the area's best beer lists, from the Map Room to road-trip destination Three Floyds in Munster, Indiana. Luckily, many of the best beers are offered in conjunction with excellent food, so no sacrifices have to be made if you are in the mood for noshing. Hipster haven Piece packs its tables with patrons salivating for their thin-crust pizza, while Hopleaf offers an irreproachable menu of Belgian-style mussels, charcuterie and sandwiches. But the grandaddy of all brewpubs in Chicago is Goose Island. When it was announced that the Clybourn brewpub would not be closing after all, I leapt to my feet and shouted, "There is a God!"

The Bristol: Every Part of the Animal

Faithful Chicago Foodies readers may know I'm drawn like a bee to honeysuckle to any place that serves unusual animal parts, and I've read much of the recent press around Bucktown's The Bristol around its menu offerings.  I called today to make sure that I could get stuff there that was unavailable elsewhere.

Now, as for the place:  near Damen and Webster, a stone's throw from the Kennedy Expressway, the Bristol, which does not take reservations, had us go upstairs to wait.  The first thing I noticed was that there wasn't a packed crowd on the bottom floor waiting for a table.  What they did was had us wait upstairs, in a spacious layout where we had lots of room to spread out while we ordered a wine and appetizers.  

Publican: Part Beer Hall, Part Gastro Pub, Part Fill in the Blank

What Paul Kahan touches seems to turn to gold, and it is largely because whatever he sets out to do he does very, very well. .  His first restaurant in the West Loop, Blackbird, has been wowing diners since 1999, and avec, which was really supposed to have been a wine bar, typically has a very long wait (and always well worth it).   His hidden retro cocktail place in Wicker Park , The Violet Hour, makes amazingly delicious cocktails, and keeps the number of patrons down to a minimum in a very relaxing atmosphere (unlike avec and Publican, ironically).  

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.

Elephant & Castle: Proper British Pub Grub

Though a chain, Elephant and Castle is purportedly an English pub, and a good one at that.   Though it is very difficult to immitate a pub that's been around for 400 years, and it may not be worth trying, Elephant and Castle's now-third location at North Wabash does a wonderful job giving the pub atmosphere, perhaps better than their Huron St. location.  Fast expansion, as chains are prone to do, may put it at risk of not staying cool, but for now there aren't many places downtown that do a better job as an English pub. 

Cru Wine Bar: A second look

It has been almost a  year ago since I had reviewed Cru Wine Bar.  I love wine bars, and the fact that it is in the Gold Coast makes it an instant plus, especially since it is near one of our condo's.  With my wife's coupon in hand we decided to taste a couple dishes.

The first server nearly scared us off.   When my wife asked about what type of crab was in the crab and artichoke gratin, she barked "it's crab."  Her series of short answers almost caused us to walk out.  No hard feelings, of course, just that we made a bad decision.  Luckily she didn't serve us, and another person came, and she was more pleasant to deal with.

Candlelite

From the light-up sign one could correctly guess that the Candlelite has been around for a long time. They did close but quickly reopened when a group of regulars bought them back into existence. Obviously people like the place. The crowd included families and a section inside had a reunion going on... Congrats to the Class of '77.

Hamburger Mary's

We finally got to Hamburger Mary's after driving past its sign many times. It's a big sign and, hey, you always want a burger, don't-cha? I settled for splitting a burger, rings, and coleslaw. But that's okay, the burger's are huge.

The name of the place and the style of the menu seem to say diner with burger's defined by Mary's Special, Proud Mary, etc. however the velvet curtains, loud club music videos (of people who likely skip the burger) skew it some which I think is a good thing. Another Johnny Rocket's/Ed Debevic's type place isn't as needed.