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March 2009 - Posts
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The Grocery Bistro Photo: Steven Johnson Seasonal ingredients from local markets are whipped into affordable, creative New American fare (including vegetarian options) at The Grocery Bistro , a stylish little West Loop storefront where the menu is written Read More...
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Regional Italian comfort food is paired with an eclectic American-Italian wine list, old-school cocktails and a roster of small-production beers at Via Ventuno , a midpriced redo of Jerry Kleiner's Room 21 in the South Loop; carryovers include the Read More...
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photo: Shauna Vaillancourt Hippity hoppity to these restaurants on April 12 for special Easter menus and family fun. Dine : This West Loop Traditional American will offer an Easter brunch buffet featuring carved honey ham and baron of beef, made-to-order Read More...
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– Is artisanal or handmade food always better? [ Serious Eats ] – Even upscale spots aren't immune to value meals. [ CNN ] – David Chang doesn't care for foie gras protesters. At all. [ Eater ] – With power lunches disappearing, Read More...
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Petterino's Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Mostly frequented as a pre-theater spot, Loop New American Petterino’s is trying to diversify with a new nightly three-course prix fixe available to guests who dine after 7 PM. For $19.95, diners Read More...
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– After just three episodes, NBC's The Chopping Block is being chopped, replaced by Law & Order: Criminal Intent . [ EMD ] – Talking business with Nobu Matsuhisa. [ Fortune ] – Food Network is relaunching Food.com as a recipe Read More...
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Tin Fish Photo: courtesy of the restaurant To celebrate the smelt season, Tinley Park seafooder Tin Fish is running a month of specials focused on the local fish. Menu options include fried smelt with homemade tartar sauce ($5.99) and a fried smelt sandwich Read More...
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Presenting our new GOLF app for the iPhone Listen up, tee-totalers. Following the success of our ZAGAT-TO-GO iPhone app, which provides info on restaurants with the flick of a fingertip, we’ve just released a nifty GOLF application, available now Read More...
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– A new study argues meat can be bad for your health. [ Food Politics (PDF), via The Atlantic ] – Morimoto and others will be cooking – a bit – at the new Yankee Stadium. [ Diner's Journal ] – Ducasse in wax. [ Grub Street Read More...
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A scene from tonight's episode of The Chopping Block Photo: courtesy of NBC NBC’s Marco Pierre White–helmed show, The Chopping Block , follows two teams of contestants as they run restaurants in New York. Tonight's episode guest stars Read More...
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Old Town Brasserie Market photo: Steven Johnson Old Town Brasserie has rolled out a solid new prix fixe deal, available every day after 5:30 PM until April 15. The three-course, $32 menu changes daily and features seasonal dishes like sake-brined pork Read More...
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World Pastry Championship winner Laurent Branlard helms LB Bistro & Patisserie , a handsome French-American arrival inside the Streeterville Sheraton, where midpriced breakfast and lunch fare – including build-your-own omelets, parfaits, salads, Read More...
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River North's Mambo Grill will close on March 31, although its owner, Frasca Hospitality Group, says it will reopen late this summer in a location just two blocks away (410 N. Wells St.). Meanwhile, 2008 arrival Rockstar Dogs has also bid Chicago Read More...
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This morning the James Beard Foundation announced the nominees for this year's James Beard Awards. The final list was whittled down from 15,000 entries (almost twice as many as last year), and award categories vary from video webcasts to reference Read More...
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– Bad economy or good, Jean-Georges wants to keep expanding. [ Fortune ] – Thanks to high-fructose corn syrup, sugar is back on the menu. [ NYT ] – The food industry does not want to pay for more inspections. [ WSJ ] – So what Read More...
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Tim and Nina Zagat The Atlantic launched its impressive Food Channel last week, and today senior editor Corby Kummer posted a gracious welcome to two of its contributors, our very own Tim and Nina Zagat. You can read their first article – about Read More...
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So much for old world cooking – unless their microwave is hand-cranked. Read More...
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David Burke's Primehouse Photo: courtesy of the restaurant David Burke's Primehouse has launched a new Sunday Supper, with a family-style menu showcasing an array of the American steakhouse's cuisine. The three-course prix fixe, $42 for adults Read More...
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– The Obamas cave in, get ready to plant vegetable garden. [ NYT ] – The cause of illness at The Fat Duck was likely a norovirus. [ Hospitality , via Eater ] – Coming up with new dishes each season can be taxing, even for Grant Achatz Read More...
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Top Chef Stephanie Izard, TV toque Tyler Florence, Ming Tsai ( Blue Ginger ) and Art Smith ( TABLE fifty-two ) are among this year’s celebrity chefs at Common Threads’ Fourth Annual “World Festival” benefiting health and nutritional Read More...
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Lakeview's Erwin Cafe & Bar has rolled out its take on the "New Deal." Each night (excluding Monday, when it's closed) the restaurant will offer an $18 meal featuring its signature American comfort food. Entrees change daily – Read More...
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– Rating fast food by its impact on the environment. [ MSNBC ] – In a bold move, Per Se may add à la carte to its repertoire. [ EMD ] – It's hard out there for a chef. [ NYT ] – 21 Club joins the list of restaurants Read More...
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Low prices are augmented by the BYO policy at Cafe Bella , a Logan Square counter-serve cafe offering sandwiches, wraps, skewers and salads, and on weekends, dinner entrees and brunch; the loftlike storefront setting features exposed brick, walls hung Read More...
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Simone's Photo: Steven Johnson At funky Pilsen lounge/eatery Simone's , pinball-machine detritus festoons the booths, graffiti-scrawled chem-lab counters double as tables and an old bowling lane tops the bar, all of which vies for attention with Read More...
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– Obama promises to bolster food safety. [ NYT ] – Alice Waters was everywhere this weekend. [ EMD ] – Ramsay loses another restaurant. [ NYP ] – In Italy, fresh pizza from a vending machine. [ NYT ] – And North Korea has Read More...
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Our own Tim and Nina Zagat spoke at New York City's 92nd Street Y on March 10, chatting with Joan Hamburg of WOR Radio about the 30th anniversary of Zagat Survey and the current state of the restaurant industry. You can watch the full video of the Read More...
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If I want to be ignored, I can stay home with my family. Read More...
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Meet David Wondrich, author of Imbibe! and leader of our second and final course at cocktail college. Today we'll be learning how to make the Improved Holland Gin Cocktail, which the mixologist poured for attendees at our recent Vintage Drinks event Read More...
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Sepia executive chef Kendal Duque will be leaving in late March 2009 to develop his own project, which he will announce later this year. Owner Emmanuel Nony says, “We are very sad to see Kendal leave, as he was such an important element to the success Read More...
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– Celebrity chef cookbooks are heavy on the saturated fats. [ Eat Me Daily ] – Salt, the natural mood booster. [ BBC ] – Industry talk with chefs Marco Canora, Floyd Cardoz and Daniel Boulud . [ Grub Street ] – Reviewing online Read More...
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Marco Pierre White on the Chopping Block Photo: courtesy of NBC With Top Chef over, the food blogs turn to the latest cooking show to hit the airwaves, NBC's The Chopping Block , helmed by Marco Pierre White. The show focuses on pairs of contestants Read More...
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At last week's Vintage Drinks event at New York's Keens Steakhouse we learned a fair amount about vintage drinking. Worried that we might not retain it all – what with the drinking – we persuaded the King of Cocktails himself, Dale Read More...
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North Pond Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Lincoln Park's North Pond is putting a positive spin on Depression-style dining March 18 with a 1929-inspired prix fixe featuring bathtub gin cocktails, Waldorf salads, and lobster and quail "à Read More...
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Marchè photo: courtesy the restaurant West Loop French bistro Marché is offering a three-course lunch deal Mondays–Fridays. Choose any app or salad, any entree and any dessert from the menu for $18.95. (312-226-8399; reserve online Read More...
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– Grant Achatz went on Oprah yesterday. [ Eat Me Daily ] – Michelle Obama is starting to talk up healthy eating. [ NYT ] – When is a pint of ice cream not a pint of ice cream? [ AdAge ] – Years after it announced its intentions, Read More...
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Photo: courtesy of Brian Turner Times may be tough, but the U.S. is still very fortunate when it comes to our clean, free drinking water. Which is why the Tap Project ’s World Water Week, March 22–28, is so important. At participating restaurants Read More...
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Palette Bistro Photo: Steven Johnson In the Lakeview space that previously housed the former Lucca’s, the romantic New American Palette Bistro offers creative yet approachable takes on classic dishes plus a small, wallet-friendly wine list; the Read More...
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Grant Achatz Learn to cook from Alinea 's Grant Achatz without buying his epic cookbook . Chicagoist points out that the top toque will be giving a demonstration at the Now We're Cookin' culinary service center on April 1 (no fooling!). Tickets Read More...
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Photo: Umberto Salvagnin It’s green dining of a different kind on March 17, when restaurants and pubs around town celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Irish food, brews and spirited fun. The Abbey Pub : Starting March 12 this Lincoln Square pub Read More...
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– Bruce Lindsay loved eating at Vanguard University so much he left the school his entire estate. [ LAT ] – The hard times may soon reflected in the grocery aisles. [ Chicago Tribune ] – Cheap booze sales are on the rise. [ NYT ] – Read More...
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Tasting Room photo: courtesy the restaurant The Tasting Room is getting ready to revamp its menu. Executive chef Marc Kuchenbecker is switching from French and Spanish small plates to more seasonal fare with wider global influences. We'll see exactly Read More...
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– Enough with the kid foodies already! [ Slate ] – Private food inspectors really aren't very useful. [ NYT ] – Al Roker is pushing an animated show about a chef. [ TVNewser , via SE ] – Gordon Ramsay is in some financial trouble. Read More...
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Slumdog Millionaire Bring in your ticket stub from Slumdog Millionaire and receive 15% off your bill (pre-tax and gratuity) at Uptown Indian Marigold on any weekday or Sunday until March 22 (773-293-4653). Read More...
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Photo: courtesy of Café Bernard To celebrate its 36th anniversary, Café Bernard , a French bistro in the heart of Lincoln Park, is offering 36% off food prices Mondays and Tuesdays until the end of May (773-871-2100). Read More...
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Miramar Bistro has a new chef. Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Miramar Bistro owner Gabriel Viti has tapped Roland Liccioni to helm the kitchen at his suburban French. “Roland Liccioni is the best French chef in Chicago," Viti says; "I Read More...
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– Read this and you'll think twice about out-of-season tomatoes. [ Gourmet ] – The peanut mess gets messier with dead mice in the mix. [ Reuters ] – Restaurants deal with restaurant bloggers. [ NYT ] – Spicy is hot these days Read More...
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Photo: courtesy of Jerry Rutolo Over the years photographer Jerry Rutolo has photographed nearly every major chef you can think of, many before they even lost their baby fat. Since everyone likes a trip down memory lane we unearthed some of Rutolo's Read More...
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Farmerie 58 says bring on more Restaurant Week! Photo: Steven Johnson Restaurant Week is over, long live Restaurant Week! The deals at many restaurants, including Farmerie 58 , have been extended through March 6. To view a list, click here . Read More...
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Tapas Valencia Photo: Steven Johnson The tapas craze continues at the South Loop's Tapas Valencia , a new incarnation of a former suburban Spaniard that serves a big menu of small plates accompanied by a Spanish-accented wine list, sangria and specialty Read More...
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Sunda Photo: Courtesy of Sunda The Gold Coast gets a New American–Pan-Asian infusion with Sunda , named for the Southeast Asian landmass with a rich history of intermingling cultures and cooking styles. Owner Billy Dec says he aimed to create a Read More...
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Vermilion Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Despite the frigid temperatures, Vermilion is already thinking forward to warmer days with its celebration of Holi, the Indian holiday heralding the arrival of spring. March 13–15, the restaurant will Read More...
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– Heston Blumenthal wonders what caused people to get sick at The Fat Duck . [ Daily Mail via Coldmud ] – Not to be outdone by Starbucks, Jamba Juice offers $1 oatmeal. [ NRN ] – Culinary magazines start focusing on affordable recipes. Read More...
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