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June 2009 - Posts
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Rustic, seasonal Italian fare (including handcrafted pastas) for dinner and weekend brunch are on offer at Fianco, situated in a cozy Lakeview storefront with a warmly lit, romantic trattoria atmosphere complete with exposed-brick walls, plank floors Read More...
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90 Miles Cuban Cafe photo: Steven Johnson 90 Miles Cuban Cafe, a Logan Square BYO, offers budget-friendly entrees plus more casual fare like omelets, pressed sandwiches and empanadas, all served in a setting decorated with brilliant colors, pre-Castro Read More...
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Photo: Jeff Kubina If you're looking for ways to celebrate the Fourth of July (other than consuming $2.33 pizza and wine ), the following restaurants are offering tasty deals: Café des Architectes in the Gold Coast is celebrating Independence Read More...
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– The Nestlé plant in the center of the most recent E. coli outbreak has had a spotty track record with the FDA. [ WSJ ] – Despite the recession, restaurant work is available. [ Diner's Journal ] – Reporting from the front Read More...
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Perennial Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography Get your Sunday supper on at Lincoln Park's Perennial , when the New American offers a three-course prix fixe for groups of any size. For the next three weeks (June 28, July 5 and July 12), the menu incorporates Read More...
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– The food world responds to the death of Michael Jackson. [ Grub Street ] – Related: some classic MJ food videos. [ ColdMud , SE ] – French chefs will invade New York for one night this fall. [ Gourmet ] – Related: how McDonald's Read More...
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Here's an interesting way to mix exercise, fine food and the great city of Chicago. This summer and fall, Fork and the Road is offering culinary bike tours that hit up a variety of Windy City spots. There are five different routes, each with a specific Read More...
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Taste of Chicago is almost upon us, and Costa’s isn’t the only one celebrating. While the massive food fest is happening, June 26–July 5, Vietnamese hot spot Le Colonial will offer $10 tasting portions of some of its most popular dishes, Read More...
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– The current price war going in fast casual restaurants may ultimately hurt the industry rather than save it. [ NYT ] – Why are lobsters so cheap these days? [ The Atlantic ] – The EU is rethinking its position on cloned meat. [ AFP Read More...
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Kevin Zraly With restaurant wine lists growing ever-longer and more ambitious, diners are often confronted by a daunting sea of choices, few of them familiar and many expensive. And how many diners are knowledgeable enough about wine and prices to know Read More...
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Wally & Agador's Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography Michael Lachowicz ( Michael ) is behind Wally & Agador's , a Boys Town sandwich source named for his two dogs, which serves cheekily named ’wiches made with luxe ingredients (Esther Read More...
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La Madia Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography To celebrate America's 233rd birthday, Loop pizza joint La Madia is offering Friday and Saturday specials at an appropriately low price. During lunch, you can indulge in a margherita pizza for just $2.33, while Read More...
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– Actually, Jean-Georges did not cook for Obama last week. He did cook for Bill Clinton and Ban Ki-moon though. [ JGV Blog ] – Starbucks and Jamba Juice are getting sour on HFCS. [ NRN ] – Daniel Boulud is looking to spread his empire Read More...
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If only the food quality was up to the noise level. Read More...
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ROOF Photo: courtesy of the bar Perched on the 27th floor of the Wit hotel, scene-maker magnet ROOF offers spectacular city vistas (with telescopes for close-up views), fire pits, a glass-enclosed private-dining terrace and a contemporary, somewhat industrial Read More...
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– The U.S. and Canada agree on organic food standards. [ Alberta Farm Express ] – Remember that botched KFC free-chicken giveaway? Yeah, some folks are now suing over it. [ TMZ ] – Why we can't just eat one fry. [ Salon ] – Read More...
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Costa's Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Get geared up for this summer's Taste of Chicago (happening June 26–July 5 at Grant Park) with a Mediterranean feast that would make Zorba proud. On the 24th, Greektown staple Costa's – Read More...
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The much-awaited OS 3.0 isn't the only big update to hit the iPhone this week. Zagat is happy to announce that an updated version of Zagat To Go '09 has hit the App Store and is available as a free update for anyone who already bought the application. Read More...
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On Wednesday, June 24, six Chicago chefs (Roger Herring of socca , Michael Taus of Duchamp and Zealous , Rick Gresh of David Burke’s Primehouse , Chris Pandel of The Bristol , Giuseppe Tentori of BOKA and Bill Kim of urbanbelly ) will collaborate Read More...
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– From restaurants to apartments, rooftop gardens are having their day in the sun. [ NYT , WSJ ] – Related: Even Buckingham Palace is getting in on the edible garden bandwagon. [ ObamaFoodorama via Diner's Journal ] – A fake celeb Read More...
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State & Lake Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography Swanky boutique-hotel dining hits the namesake Loop intersection at State & Lake , a New American serving an all-day menu supported by creative cocktails, 16 artisanal tap brews and an exclusively domestic Read More...
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Browntrout Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography Browntrout , a New American in North Center, serves midpriced seasonal small and large plates showcasing local and organic ingredients, some of which are grown on the building's roof; the warm, modern space Read More...
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mado Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography Andrew Zimmerman from Sepia is joining the mado folks in Wicker Park for one night, Sunday, June 21 for a multicourse head-to-tail lamb dinner featuring wood-grilled heart, loin carpaccio and shoulder baked in hay Read More...
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– Examining the troubles facing T.G.I. Friday's. [ Brand Graveyard ] – You can't get Coke Zero in Venezuela anymore. It has been banned. [ LAT ] – Christian Albin, chef at the Four Seasons , died of cancer this weekend. [ NYT Read More...
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It's like eating in the dining hall at Hogwarts. Read More...
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More and more restaurants are offering gluten-free dishes. When Tom Kaplan, owner of Hugo’s in Los Angeles, had a customer get sick after eating his white fish piccata, the seafood wasn’t to blame. It was the gluten in the bread-crumb coating Read More...
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In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Gold Coast's Gibsons' Bar & Steakhouse (312-266-8999) will be giving away 20 $1,000 gift certificates from now until June 29. The giveaways will culminate with a grand celebration on June 30, when Read More...
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– Why some restaurants don't take reservations. [ Between Meals ] – Fish fake-outs: a literal bait and switch. [ CST ] – Jamba Juice moves to expand past smoothies with sandwiches and salads. [ NRN ] – "Some Gentlemen's Read More...
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The first set of cheftestants on Top Chef Masters Photo: courtesy of Bravo TV Last night saw the return of Bravo's much-loved Top Chef , sort of. For the summer the show has spawned a pro-version, Top Chef Masters , in which real top toques compete Read More...
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The Ballpark Reception's short rib sliders Photo: courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel On Friday, June 19, the Four Seasons Hotel executive chef Kevin Hickey – representing the White Sox – and Cubs fan chef Giuseppe Tentori of Boka will Read More...
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Bin 36 Photo: Brian Hall To commemorate its 10th anniversary, Bin 36 in the Loop is counting down 2009 with special monthly promotions. In June the New American bistro is offering $7 burgers, and in August glasses of house wine will run you a mere $5. Read More...
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– Is street food the new bacon? [ SE ] – Remembering Norman Brinker, the man who popularized the salad bar. [ NYT ] – Does gender affect the way you cook? [ EMD ] – Just because it isn't ice cream doesn't mean that fro-yo Read More...
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Nightwood Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography The Lula crew spins into Pilsen with Nightwood , a seasonal-artisanal New American set in a rustic corner storefront with a wood-fired rotisserie, an open kitchen with barstool counter seating and a partially Read More...
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Italian and Asian cuisine combine at midpriced River North aerie Italiasia , where entrees run from chicken Vesuvio to seafood tempura, sweets include won ton cannoli and spumoni, and champagne and sake star on the drink list; its handsome modern setting Read More...
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Father's Day is almost here – it lands on June 21 – so where to take the old man? Here are three options that should put a grin on his face. Both the Chicago and Schaumburg locations of Shaw's Crab House will be pulling out the stops Read More...
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If you thought the funniest thing about fast food was Burger King's homage to SpongeBob's pant-shape , you may reconsider after reading these outtakes from our just-released Fast-Food Survey . If mayonnaise were currency, these guys could fund Read More...
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Regional favorite In-N-Out Burger has been crowned the nation’s primo patty purveyor in our latest Fast-Food Survey. With locations in just four Western states (California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona), In-N-Out nudged out behemoths Wendy’s, Read More...
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– Thanks to its new McCafe's, McDonald's May sales were up 5.1 percent. [ AP ] – The hot dog and American diplomacy. [ NYT ] – Why aren't Brits eating strawberries this year? [ Word of Mouth ] – Fresh from their New Read More...
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Great place to go if you don't like the people you are dining with. Read More...
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Vie Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography Sweet-seekers should skip over to Western Springs' Vie on June 11 for an meal showcasing some of city's top pastry chefs. Three savory dishes kick things off, but after that it's six pastry courses prepared Read More...
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– The U.K. discovers some of its chicken has been secretly injected with beef waste. [ The Independent ] – Grant Achatz aims for another victory with a hefty book proposal. [ Eater ] – The Journal catches up with the ongoing food-truck Read More...
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Taste of Chicago Summer is truly almost here, as the list of participants for the annual food-a-palooza Taste of Chicago has been released . The insanity doesn't start until June 26 (and continues through July 5) but that doesn't mean you can't Read More...
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River North will soon get a taste of modern-tinged Mexican delicacies at New York import Mercadito, due to open mid-summer. On chef Patricio Sandoval's menu, expect a selection of guacamoles (including a mango, jicama and chipotle version), ceviche Read More...
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– Which chains are worst for your waistline? [ NYDN ] – Faux speakeasies are still popular. [ NYT ] – Got food allergies? Try eating these items. [ Chicago Tribune ] – Starbucks is planning to revamp its food offerings again. [ Read More...
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The Lincoln Park space that was Ranalli's longtime home has been reborn as Rocco's Café & Pizzeria , a casual neighborhood place covering classic Italian dishes and pies thick and thin; the vintage tavern setting features red-and-white Read More...
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Eivissa photo: Steven Johnson A rich roster of Spanish tapas, including pintxos, cheeses and cured meats, is served along with several paellas and sangrias at Eivissa , a rustic-chic Old Towner dressed up with warm wood, exposed brick, birch trunk wallpaper Read More...
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Eve is participating in Kids' Restaurant Week Photo: Steven Johnson Dining out with the youngsters will become a lot more fun during Kids’ Restaurant Week, June 20–28, when local eateries like Eve , one sixtyblue , 312 Chicago and Vie Read More...
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By Nina and Tim Zagat Building a better front of the house. Tim and Nina Zagat share their thoughts on service deficiencies and how to remedy them. Over the years that we've spent surveying hundreds of thousands of diners, one fact becomes clear: Read More...
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The Bristol photo: Steven Johnson On June 2, "Bristol Brew" will be introduced at The Bristol during a five-course Goose Island Beer Dinner. Greg Hall of the brewing company helped chef Chris Pandel craft his own style of beer, to be sold exclusively Read More...
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– The Obamas had a food-filled weekend, from Five Guys to Blue Hill . [ Washington Post , Diner's Journal , Politics Daily ] – But Amanda Hesser thinks it wouldn't hurt Michelle to cook a little more in the kitchen. [ NYT ] – Read More...
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