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April 2009 - Posts
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The trailer for the much anticipated (by foodies at least) Nora Ephron movie Julie & Julia – an adaptation of Julie Powell's book and blog , which chart her year-long attempt to cook all of the recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Read More...
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Salute Wine Bar is set to open May 14 Photo: courtesy of the restaurant The Gold Coast gets a grape influx from Salute Wine Bar, opening May 14. The new spot is located in a rehabbed pre-Victorian house filled with cherry wood tables, black-and-white Read More...
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Carnivale Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Looking for someplace to go loco on Cinco de Mayo? No problemo, we've got options for you: On Saturday, May 2, Pilsen's El Zocalo plaza is hosting a "Mole de Mayo" festival with margaritas, Read More...
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– Opening luxe in a downturn. [ NYT ] – Swine flu has pork producers worried about their bottom line. [ NYT ] – Scent-releasing labels are coming to supermarkets. [ WBZTV , via MP: B ] – Urabanspoon has been eaten by IAC. [ TechCrunch Read More...
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Fred's Photo: Steven Johnson Gold Coast fashionistas flock to the top floor of the new Barneys for Fred's (named after the grandson of the store’s namesake), which offers a preening scene and a pricey New American menu of salads, sandwiches, Read More...
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HB Home Bistro Photo: Courtesy of the restaurant On April 30 eat a meal at select restaurants, including Blackbird , Carnivale , erwin , HB Home Bistro , Sola and many more , and 25% of your food bill will be donated to the STOP AIDS Project, a nonprofit Read More...
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Bring your big hats and seersucker suits on May 2 to Via Ventuno 's bar for its first annual Kentucky Derby viewing party. The South Loop Italian will serve a special bar menu, including complimentary boiled peanuts, as well as Derby-themed cocktails. Read More...
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– T.G.I. Friday's joins the cheap-eats club with $5 meals. [ USA Today ] – Auctioning fish – online. [ Globe ] – In New York, cooperative health care for restaurant employees. [ NYT ] – Despite the recession, more people Read More...
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Park Grill Photo: James Steinkamp With warm weather upon us, it's time once again for long meals outside. If you're looking for a spot to dine alfresco and worship the sun, check out our listings of choice outdoor spots in town (including Park Read More...
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LaSalle Power Co photo: courtesy of the restaurant River North is getting a massive new rock 'n' roll inspired bar, restaurant and music venue on May 1. LaSalle Power Co, a 20,000-sq.-ft. venture from the folks behind English and Angels & Read More...
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– Bacon can cure a hangover. [ Telegraph ] – Jacques Torres ups his beef with Hershey's, offers free Kisses. [ The Feed ] – The Cheesecake Factory is adding small plates. [ NRN ] – Don't mess with restaurateur Stephen Starr. Read More...
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Ben Pao Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Once a week, starting May 4 until the end of the month, River West's Ben Pao will sound a golden gong at some point during dinner service, resulting in every table receiving $50 off its check. That’s Read More...
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photo: courtesy of the Musuem of Burnt Food For a few minutes of Hump Day distraction, we can heartily recommend the peerless Burnt Food Museum website. It was started after its curator discovered that hot apple cider, left to cook for too long, can become Read More...
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– Box wines aren't the joke they once were. [ AMNY ] – Take the Twitter recipe challenge. [ NYT ] – Related: the fake Restaurant Girl Twitter legal snafu. [ NYT ] – Life after a gastric bypass, one step at a time. [ The Atlantic Read More...
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Cuba is back in the news in a big way, and our own Nina and Tim Zagat, fresh from a recent trip to Havana, have a bit to say on the topic over on the Atlantic food blog. Covering everything from the food scene to the vintage cars to the beautiful artwork Read More...
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44th Ward Dinner Party Photo: Steven Johnson Cheese, it’s what for dinner at 44th Ward Dinner Party , a Lakeview boîte where a half-dozen fromage sammies (plus a design-your-own option) are grilled up to soak up moderately priced classic cocktails; Read More...
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Fuego Mexican Grill & Margarita Bar Photo: Steven Johnson The Arlington Heights import Fuego Mexican Grill & Margarita Bar looms large in Logan Square with a massive, midpriced menu of classic and modern Mexican fare paired with an equally vast Read More...
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Winter is over, spring is here and you know what that means. Ice cream season is just around the corner. And to get the season going, today is free cone day at all participating Ben & Jerry's locations. Just go in and get a cone – no gimmick. Read More...
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Photo: courtesy of Rufino Uribe Mother's Day is fast approaching, and savvy sons and daughters know reservations for a special meal out with mom fill up quickly. So make plans now for May 10 – or risk a year-long guilt trip when all the good Read More...
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– Food inspections differ state by state. [ NYT ] – Gordon Ramsay is in trouble for pre-preparing food for three of his London restaurants. [ Independent ] – Want to be a TV chef? Talk to this guy. [ NYT ] – The economy is starting Read More...
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I didn’t like his TV show, so why did I think I’d like his restaurant? Read More...
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La Madia begins hosting spring cooking classes Photo: Steven Johnson Join chef-owner Jonathan Fox at La Madia in River North for Saturday afternoon cooking classes. On April 25, May 16 and June 20, Fox will teach participants how to make Italian spring Read More...
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– California food producers are paying private inspectors to hedge their bets. [ NYT ] – Domino's responds to some bad employees' actions, via YouTube. [ Chow , NYT , Slate ] – Getting drunk off air at London's temporary Read More...
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Lockwood Photo: Steven Johnson Looking for more green-friendly things to do before Earth Day ? Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton is hosting a “digital” tasting on April 21. Raising money for Veggie U , a nonprofit organization of the Culinary Read More...
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Normally, we ask you to vote on restaurants, nightlife and the like, but today we ask you to vote for us. ZAGAT.mobi has been nominated for a Webby award, and if you've got a few moments, we'd be much obliged if you show your support at pv.webbyawards.com Read More...
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Photo: courtesy of midorisyu In recent months, world attention has been focused on the shaky economic situation rather than the myriad troubles facing our planet. Which is exactly why we celebrate Earth Day each year on April 22, to remind us to take Read More...
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– Is a new era of fast food approaching? [ NYP ] – Looking forward to the coming sweetener wars. [ NYT ] – Don't bring any genetically modified corn on your next trip to Germany. [ NYT ] – Take a cruise with Marco Pierre White. Read More...
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Taxim photo: Steven Johnson Greektown, it's not: chic Wicker Park arrival Taxim (pronounced tax-EEM) serves midpriced Hellenic small plates as well as à la carte, prix fixe and tasting menus, accompanied by Greek beer, ouzo and an affordable Read More...
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Sixteen Photo: Steven Johnson Sixteen , the super-luxury restaurant in River North's Trump Tower, just got a tiny bit more accessible. In the past weeks the restaurant has quietly rolled out a recession-friendly three-course lunch prix fixe, which Read More...
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Peeping Hopper Photo: courtesy of The Washington Post Easter maybe over, but Peepmania continues. For the third year in a row, The Washington Post has invited readers to send in photographs of homemade Peep dioramas, the best of which it runs on its website. Read More...
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– American restaurants are embracing tax day specials. [ NRN ] – Looking deeper at the Times ' recent story about trichinosis in free-range pigs. [ SE , The Atlantic ] – America is getting into the gin game. [ WSJ ] – Grocery Read More...
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Quince Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Pete Balodimas (ex Spiaggia , Fahrenheit) will take over as executive chef at Evanston's Quince on Thursday, April 16. Owner David Reynolds says, “He is a truly talented chef, and his cuisine fits in Read More...
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– For the second year in a row, commercial salmon fishing in California has been canceled. [ SF Examiner ] – U.S. food safety is not improving. [ NYT ] – BYO with no corkage is suddenly popular in upscale spots. [ WSJ ] – The Center Read More...
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To celebrate spring, on April 19 chef Jackie Shen of Market District's Red Light welcomes Tracey Vowel of Three Sisters Farm and landscape architect Cosmo Ferraro to help teach a class that takes food from the farm and the garden to the table. Ferraro Read More...
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photo: courtesy of Churl No matter how much you try to forget, your taxes are still due on April 15. But that doesn't mean you can't afford a solid meal – after this rough couple of months, you deserve it! We've pulled out a few cheap Read More...
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The New American River North eatery Blue 13 has started a weekly rotating Sunday supper focusing on proteins, such as free-range Amish chicken, local pork, beef and lamb, and in-season fish. Each main course, like apple-glazed pork loin or beef roast, Read More...
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– The Obama administration signals it is taking food safety seriously. [ NYT ] – Calorie counts are coming to the U.K. [ Daily Mail ] – Restaurant & Institutions annual list of the top 100 independent restaurants has been released. Read More...
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Branch 27 photo: Steven Johnson At Branch 27 , a hip, casual hangout in a former West Town library, the unfussy New American menu is abetted by a dark-wood bar issuing seasonal cocktails, microbrews and a price-conscious wine list; its setting offers Read More...
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L2O photo: Steven Johnson L2O 2300 N. Lincoln Park W. (W. Belden Ave.) Chicago, IL 60614 773-868-0002 Food Decor Service Cost 27 29 27 $151 An “artistic triumph”, from the “smart”, “cutting-edge setting” (frosted glass, Read More...
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photo: Paul Lansell April 12 is approaching quickly. If you haven't found a place to celebrate Easter yet , there's still room at the following restaurants. Café des Architectes : This New French–Mediterranean inside the Sofitel is Read More...
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– Retail stores are trying out in-store bars to lure male shoppers. [ WSJ ] – Looking into the business plan of a popular nightclub. [ NYP ] – In the new economy, casual chains have been hardest hit. [ NYT ] – Out of work bankers Read More...
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Zocalo finds reasons to celebrate. Photo: courtesy of the restaurant In honor of National Empanada Day on Wednesday, April 8, Zocalo in River North will offer a trio of empanadas inspired by Mexican, Colombian and Argentinean flavors and recipes. These Read More...
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– Bar food is the hot trend in upscale joints. [ WSJ ] – Tropicana sales plunged 20% after its new (now defunct) designs were rolled out. [ AdAge ] – The recession hits Taste of Chicago. [ The Stew ] – Healthy Choice goes after Read More...
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Oak Park's Café le Coq and the Loop's Powerhouse have both shuttered. Osteria di Tramonto at the Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling has also closed and is undergoing a concept change, according to Dan Egan, director of sales and marketing Read More...
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Bouchon Bakery's bunnies Photo: courtesy of Bouchon Bakery Keeping in line with past creative holiday offerings , Thomas Keller 's Bouchon Bakery in New York has just introduced new Easter-themed treats, including marshmallow and rice crispie Read More...
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On Friday, April 3, Evanston's Quince is offering a four-course seasonal prix fixe paired with three of the finest organic microbrews from Peak Organic Brewing Company . Beer expert Tim Adams, regional manager for Peak Organic, will be on hand to Read More...
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– Restaurant promotions are everywhere. [ WSJ ] – Domino's accidentally gave out 11,000 free pizzas in a botched promotion. [ Consumerist ] – Forget peanuts, pistachios are the new salmonella risk. [ Reuters ] – Best April Read More...
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