|
|
July 2009 - Posts
-
My grandparents courted here, and it's still a hot pickup place. Read More...
|
-
L2O makes a tuna sno-cone photo: courtesy of the restaurant's blog Most places, sno-cones are made with ice, flavored syrup and, if you're lucky, booze . But if the blog for L2O is any indication, here in Chicago sno-cones can be so much more. Read More...
|
-
Park 52 photo: courtesy of the restaurant Beginning August 6, Park 52 sommelier Alain Njike ( NoMI , Charlie Trotter's ) will lead wine tastings every Thursday at 6 PM for the entire month. Participants will sip and swirl four different wines, paired Read More...
|
-
– Michael Pollan considers the impact of Julia Child. [ NYT ] – The House rejected narrowly legislation aimed at giving more food control to the FDA. [ WSJ ] – A new study says organic food isn't really better for you than regular Read More...
|
-
Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia Photo: Copyright Columbia Pictures As we’ve mentioned before , we’re more than a little excited about Julie & Julia , the new movie about the blog-documented journey of Julie Powell (Amy Adams) as she Read More...
|
-
On August 13, 2009, Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation event returns to Chicago with some of the city's hottest chefs, restaurants and mixologists raising funds to end childhood hunger. Participant toques, including Mindy Segal ( Hot Chocolate Read More...
|
-
Today the Cheesecake Factory celebrates National Cheesecake Day by offering half-price on its 30 different types of the sweet treat. The chain also debuts its red velvet variation, and for the next year, it'll donate 25¢ from each slice sale Read More...
|
-
Smith and Wollensky Photo: courtesy of the restaurant The pleasure of dining by the water is something only an aquaphobe could deny. Yet too often the food at waterside restaurants is a washout. To give you a leg up, here are five such spots that score Read More...
|
-
– The situation for this summer's crop of Northeast tomatoes looks grim. [ NYT ] – New York missed inspecting one in five restaurants in 2008. [ NYT ] – Michael Jackson's personal chef speaks. [ Salon ] – Trouble in California Read More...
|
-
Nozumi Photo: Steven Johnson Sprawling and sophisticated, Northwest Suburban sushi and Japanese small-plates specialist Nozumi offers signature rolls, unusual shooters and sake cocktails, plus lunch options like sandwiches, salads and bento boxes; the Read More...
|
-
Follia Photo: Jill Paider Follia , the contemporary Italian hot spot in the Market District, now offers a $28 four-course prix fixe menu every Tuesday and Wednesday, including soup or salad, pasta, entree and dessert from the regular menu (312-243-2888) Read More...
|
-
– Sports drink Muscle Milk is neither muscle, nor milk. Discuss. [ NYT ] – Related: Coke is readying a fizzy milk drink. [ Times ] – July 4th was not so good for big beer sales. [ The Atlantic ] – The demand for blue fin tuna does Read More...
|
-
-
La Madia Photo: courtesy of the restaurant On August 15, La Madia chef-owner Jonathan Fox leads a summer cooking class on how to make homemade mozzarella. Along with learning Italian methods for making hand-pulled cheese, attendees will receive recipes Read More...
|
-
– A drop in sales burns McD's. [ Bloomberg ] – Do chefs and drugs go together like salt and pepper? [ The Daily Beast ] – Cereal gets manly with Wheaties Fuel. [ NYT ] – Just how big is Anheuser-Busch/InBev? [ Accidental Hedonist Read More...
|
-
Art Smith Photo: courtesy of Bravo Want to see what all the fuss is about regarding Art Smith, Oprah's former personal chef, TABLE fifty-two 's chef-owner and the winner on last night's episode of Top Chef Masters ? On Sunday, August 9, the Read More...
|
-
312 Chicago Photo: courtesy of the restaurant To celebrate Venetian Night (the annual lakefront boat parade and fireworks show), Loop Italian 312 Chicago is offering a special $40 five-course dinner menu on July 25. Courses include a fritto misto of fried Read More...
|
-
– Menu-labeling laws going federal? [ NRN ] – For one night, as part of the London Restaurant Festival , fine dining comes to the London Eye. [ Bloomberg ] – Starbucks credits McDonald's with getting it out of free-fall. [ AdAge Read More...
|
-
Cibo Matto Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography At pricey newcomer Cibo Matto , located in the Loop's Wit Hotel, Todd Stein (ex mk ) whips up the namesake 'crazy feasts' of contemporary Italian fare, accompanied by handcrafted cocktails and a heavily Read More...
|
-
6 Degrees Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography Make your own six-degrees-of-separation connection at Bucktown's low-key bar 6 Degrees , which fills its celadon walls with pictures of the owners’ and staff’s friends and neighbors; the moderately Read More...
|
-
– A highly contagious fungus is threatening this summer's tomato crop. [ NYT ] – Cooking dirt, or dishes that look like it. [ NRN ] – Baja Fresh is getting into the Korean taco business. [ Speakeasy ] – There won't be a Read More...
|
-
The only thing consistent is the service – consistently bad. Read More...
|
-
The Terrace at the Trump Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography For sky-high glamour like only The Donald can do, ascend to The Terrace at the Trump , a sleek open-air lounge with pretty 16th-floor views of River North, the Chicago River and Lake Michigan; chef Read More...
|
-
– Starbucks is testing out new logo-less coffee shops in Seattle. [ Seattle Times ] – An excerpt of Times critic Frank Bruni's new memoir drops in this week's magazine. [ NYT ] – In Argentina, Pepsi is now Pecsi. [ AdAge ] – Read More...
|
-
one sixtyblue Courtesy of one sixtyblue Adding on to its existing $4 burgers and beers special, one sixtyblue is now offering diners at its bar the chance to indulge in $7 gourmet hot dogs like the "Vince V," a Wagyu dog with homemade relish, Read More...
|
-
Andersonville's La Tache has rolled out three new deals. On Mondays, the French bistro offers a three-course prix fixe dinner for $20. On Tuesday, all of its wines are half-price, and on Thursdays, those hungry for a deal can enjoy a $10 burger and Read More...
|
-
– Las Vegas dining has gone from feast to famine. [ NYT ] – Deep discounts are starting to hurt large chain restaurants. [ WSJ ] – Related: after franchisees revolted, Burger King will still sell $1 double cheeseburgers – but only Read More...
|
-
Little Bucharest Bistro Photo: Steven Johnson The onetime Little Bucharest in Lakeview has been reborn in Irving Park as the midpriced Little Bucharest Bistro , where Eastern European flavors are tempered with lighter New American accents and full bar Read More...
|
-
Inexpensive Asian everything – egg rolls, stir-fries, noodles, bento boxes, sushi – is on offer at Hot Woks Cool Sushi , which originated in Irving Park and has now expanded with this museum-district Loop spin-off; the new site has minimal-chic, Read More...
|
-
North Center newcomer FDM Mexican Cuisine (a spin-off of Fonda Del Mar) offers a three-course prix fixe Monday–Thursday for $25. Choices include Aztec pasilla-infused soup with avocado and chicken and slow-cooked pork shoulder in a banana leaf topped Read More...
|
-
– The G-8 pledges $20 billion to food and agricultural assistance in poorer nations. [ WSJ ] – Grant Achatz wonders if celebrity chefs really should stay in the kitchen? [ The Atlantic ] – Of course, sometimes it isn't easy for them Read More...
|
-
-
On Tuesdays, all bottles of wine are half off at Loop fave 312 Chicago inside the Hotel Allegro . Also, from 1–10 PM the bar menu is also available at a 50% discount (312-696-2420). Read More...
|
-
– Remember the world food crisis that seemed to be averted in 2008? It isn't over, just laying low. [ Economist ] – The calorie counts that many restaurants display are more wishful thinking than fact. [ WSJ ] – Mr. Chow and Phillipe Read More...
|
-
iPhone's Seafood Watch App Finding sustainable seafood just got a little easier thanks to two tech innovations pointed out to us by Joe Isidori of NYC's Harbour . With Blue Ocean Institute’s Fishphone , diners can find out about a particular Read More...
|
-
Eivissa Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography What could be better than a delicious paella? Learning to make it yourself. On Saturday, July 18, at Old Town newcomer Eivissa , executive chef Dudley Nieto is teaching a class on paella Catalona, a regional, hearty Read More...
|
-
Though it may seem strange that a corporate fast-food chain is supporting a documentary that criticizes corporate food culture, that's exactly what's happening. Chipotle, the second most popular chain in our Fast Food Survey , has arranged for Read More...
|
-
Custom House Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Craving gourmet takeout? Custom House is on your side. The Printer's Row New American is now offering a $12 boxed lunch Monday–Friday from 11:30 AM–2 PM. Offerings include a choice of the Read More...
|
-
– The Obama administration has proposed a sweeping overhaul of food safety. [ NYT ] – In the recession, people keep drinking. They just aren't drinking high-end wines. [ WSJ ] – Are butchers the new culinary rock stars? [ NYT ] – Read More...
|
-
Aigre Doux Photo: courtesy of the restaurant After pigging out this past weekend on ribs, burgers and beer to celebrate our nation's birthday , perhaps you'd like to continue your patriotic eating, albeit the healthy way. To help you out, we've Read More...
|
-
Siboney Cuban Cuisine Steven Johnson A bold exterior mural beckons Bucktowners to Siboney Cuban Cuisine , an upscale-casual Cuban storefront serving lunch and dinner in a chic setting that belies the bargain pricing; design highlights include warm, ambient Read More...
|
-
Rue Montorgueil, Paris, Festival of 30 June 1878 Claude Monet Looking to celebrate French liberté on Bastille Day, July 14? You don't have to go to Paris to get in on the action. River West's Brasserie Jo celebrates with an evening of "Frenchie Read More...
|
-
– Gordon Ramsay 's profits dove 90%. [ Indpendent ] – Meanwhile, despite his newly Botoxed chin, Gordo talks back. [ Daily Mail ] – Unsurprisingly, the elephants swept the humans at the annual Nathan's hot dog–eating competition. Read More...
|
-
photo: Angela Rutherford Buzz Readers, In order to get a head start on the Fourth of July holiday, the Buzz is taking a brief break from our regular posting schedule, returning Monday, July 6. Until then, we hope your holiday weekend is full of sun, fun Read More...
|
-
The corned beef was so stringy, I was practically flossing with my sandwich. Read More...
|
-
Blue 13 photo: Steven Johnson Some restaurants find menu inspiration from seasonal ingredients or exotic locales. And then there's River North's Blue 13 : each Wednesday for the next two months, chef Chris Curren is offering up a five-course New Read More...
|
-
Moto Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Ben Roche, the pastry chef at Market District's Moto , is upping the sweets ante with a four-course dessert tasting menu served in the restaurant's lounge for $35. Though the offerings can change nightly, Read More...
|
-
– Funny looking fruits and veggies are coming back to the E.U. tomorrow. [ Independent ] – The Taste of Chicago wastes a lot of food. [ MP:C ] – Related: more than half the people at the Taste are single. [ Tribune ] – Denny's Read More...
|
|
|
|