Chicago

Working the Pitchfork

BuzzEditor — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Pitchfork, a brick-walled, antler-adorned Avondale taproom from the crew behind Wrigleyville’s Rebel Bar & Grill, et al., is all about the hard stuff, promoting its selection of whiskey, bourbon, rye and scotch above all else; the ’hood’s indie-leaning neighbors rub elbows over Southern-tinged bar bites and big plates featuring daily specials that, when paired with accompanying drink deals, keep costs in check.

2922 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773-866-2010

Dining News Elsewhere: Obese Americans, Ramsay Loses His Number Two

BuzzEditor — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:18:00 GMT

– By 2018, 43% of Americans are expected to be obese. [NYDN]
– Gordon Ramsay has lost his right-hand man. [Bloomberg]
– The Senate is considering requiring beef to be tested for E. coli. [NYT]

– Top Chef contestants aren't being paid for the TV dinners that feature their faces (and recipes). [Time]
– First canned pumpkins, now an Eggo shortage looms. [NYDN]
– The art of complaining to a restaurant. [Guardian]
– A modest proposal for fixing restaurant and bar smoking bans. [Eater]
– Related: the science behind banning smoking outside. [Time]
– Ever wonder what it would be like to cook dinner for Thomas Keller? [Esquire]
– Talking cooking with Coolio. [Fork in the Road]
– NBC's newest cooking show, United Plates of America, will give away a four-restaurant chain. [Reuters]
– Hey, so, while you eat that sushi, this guy here is going to swallow a sword. [WSJ]
– Starbucks continues to roll out its unbranded coffee shops. [Diner's Journal]
– If New York loses its lawsuit, Tavern on the Green will become Tavern in the Park. [Crain's]
– Restaurants embrace Twilight. [NRN]
– Martha Stewart is not a fan of Rachael Ray. [ABC News, via EMD and GS]
– The Rolling Stones, the wine. [Examiner]
– Pork belly and other over-served dishes. [Between Meals]
– Students arrested for not paying their tip. [Philly]
– Plastic wishbones: what will the kids fight over? [SE]

Top Toques Pig Out

BuzzEditor — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:21:00 GMT

Vie

Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography

On Tuesday and Wednesday, December 15–16, get ready to go hog wild. That's when four of the city's top chefs are teaming up for “The Cadillac of Pig Dinners.” Both nights, Vie's Paul Virant, BOKA's Giuseppe Tentori, Perennial’s Ryan Poli and Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard will come together to cook a four-course dinner dedicated to the Hungarian woolly pig. The first night goes down at Western Springs' Vie, while the second will be held at Lincoln Park’s BOKA. Reserve your spot soon though, as both nights are quickly filling up (6:30 PM champagne reception; 7 PM dinner; $100 per person, plus $40 for optional wine pairings; call 708-246-2082 to reserve).

Mado Tackles a Whole Cow

BuzzEditor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:42:00 GMT

mado

Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography

Bucktown head-to-tail emporium mado is going whole hog with beef at its next family dinner on Sunday, December 6. Nearly every part of the cow will be served in dishes that evening – including options like beef shank terrine, bresaola, corned beef tongue bruschetta, steak and kidney pie and mincemeat pie (6 PM; $80 per person; 773-342-2340).

Dining News Elsewhere: Koodies, Samuelsson Goes to Washington

BuzzEditor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:20:00 GMT

– Marcus Samuelsson will be working the kitchen at Obama's first state dinner. [Obama Foodorama]
– The fight for Cadbury intensifies. [WSJ]
– Chipotle sets its sights on London, Europe. [NRN]

– Costco drops Coke. [AP]
– Related: Coke bottles, 1899–1986. [Pixdaus]
– Milk producers wish they could sell their product "raw." [NYT]
– Hooters is having trouble in Vegas. [Eater]
– A canned pumpkin shortage looms. [Diner's Journal]
– Putting things in perspective with the Fat Map. [HP]
– Jamie Oliver wants to help you find a date. [Marketing]
– A Shake Shack in Boston looks increasingly possible. [GS:B]
– What a $20 Thanksgiving feast from Walmart gets you. [The Awl]
– A word we'd like to quickly forget? "Koodie." [SE]
– Foods named after people. [Mental Floss and Cakespy, via SE]
– They found water on the moon...can you drink it? [Slate]
– Making mushrooms with coffee grinds. [Chronicle, via Coldmud]
– Making art with meat, some wires, a videocamera and a stove. [EMD]

The Hearty Boys and the Case of the Brand-New Restaurant

BuzzEditor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:01:00 GMT

Hearty

Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography

Food Network stars The Hearty Boys offer their New American take on comfort food (e.g. lobster pot pie, root-beer-BBQ pulled-pork sandwich) along with midpriced wines and fun cocktails at Hearty, a funky Wrigleyville haunt serving dinner and brunch; the interior features exposed brick and bright walls, glass artwork and a mahogany and tile bar, and outdoors there’s garden dining in season.

3819 N. Broadway; 773-868-9866

Hearty

Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography

Big Star Makes a Big Splash

BuzzEditor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:52:00 GMT

Big Star

Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography

Behind the scenes at new Bucktown taqueria Big Star lurks a powerhouse team – folks from avec, Blackbird, The Publican, Sonotheque and Violet Hour – who have joined forces to offer ultrafresh, affordable Mexican fare and a bar list focused on American whiskeys and small-batch tequilas; the divey-chic setting, with dangling lightbulbs, bare wood seating and a turntable on the bar cranking out obscure honky-tonk tunes, also includes a cash-only pickup window and seasonal beer garden.

1531 N. Damen Ave.; 773-235-4039

Three Years of Marigold

BuzzEditor — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:04:00 GMT

Marigold

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

To celebrate its three year anniversary, Uptown Indian Marigold will be offering three- and four-course wazwan (Hindi for feast) November 18–21, priced at $24.95 and $39.95, respectively. Dishes will include samosas, Kalonji chicken, malai kofta and kulfi. In addition, special evenings are planned, such a "60640 Night" on Wednesday, when diners located in the restaurant's zip code will receive the three-course wazwan for $19.99, plus a complimentary cocktail tasting, and a "Girls' Night Out" on Thursday, with complimentary henna tattoos, bindis and bangles plus specially priced cocktails (773-293-4653; reserve online).

Dining News Elsewhere: Buzzy Booze, Subway in the Sky

BuzzEditor — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:49:00 GMT

– The FDA is targeting caffeinated booze. [WSJ]
– Meanwhile, its efforts to ban eating raw oysters didn't work out so well. [NYT]
– Burger King franchisees lose 10¢ for every $1 double cheeseburger sold. [NRN]

– A special Subway franchise is set to rise up with the Freedom Tower in New York. [NYP]
– U.S. chicken production is set to fall for the first time in 36 years. [Reuters]
– Champagne sales are a bit flat these days. [NYT]
– Musicians do covers of other bands' hits, why shouldn't chefs cover other toques' recipes? [Guardian]
– Pinkberry's further expansion plans include Boston, DC, New Orleans and Mexico. [Eater]
– Why we read cookbooks. [The New Yorker]
– Want a new drug? Synthetic alcohol isn't out of the question. [Scotsman, via ColdMud]
– Just when we've gotten used to twist-off tops, get ready for wine in a plastic bottle. [Stuff]
– Things a restaurant patron should never do. [Applesauce]
– Related, 10 dirty restaurant tricks. [Slashfood]
– Peace through hummus. [Economist]
– Hard to turn down a "love dessert" made with passion fruit and...Viagra. [NYDN]

Outtake of the Week

BuzzEditor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:46:00 GMT

Authenticity has never been more perfectly faked.

Gemini Bistro Lures the Early Birds

BuzzEditor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:05:00 GMT

Gemini Bistro

Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography

Lincoln Park’s Gemini Bistro offers up a nightly three-course $33 prix fixe from chef Jason Paskewitz, available from 5–6:30 PM. Dishes on the menu include autumn salad with dried cherries, candied walnuts, Roquefort and a champagne vinaigrette; Maine lobster ravioli; steak frites; and hot apple crisp (closed on Mondays; $55 with wine pairings; 773-525-2522).

Dining News Elsewhere: Drink Preferences, Raw Oyster Brouhahah

BuzzEditor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:01:00 GMT

– A whole lot of info on what diners like to drink. [R&I]
– Should the FDA try to prevent you from eating raw oysters? [NYT, Slate]
– Burger King franchisees are suing over $1 double cheeseburgers. [Miami Herald]

– Meanwhile, McDonald's plans for the future. [CNN]
– The backlash to the list of waiter no-nos is on. [XX, Server not Servant]
– How to act around a celebrity chef. [Atlantic]
– The U.K. now has its own version of the Food Network. [Eater]
– Related: Emeril Lagasse is planning a prime-time variety show not on the Food Network. [ABC]
– Mario Batali makes his film debut in The Fantastic Mr. Fox. [WSJ]
– Heston Blumenthal plans a wildly expensive Christmas dinner for a TV special featuring ambergris, aka whale vomit. [Sun]
– Jamie Oliver has seen a backlash for the salt content of his pasta sauces. [Guardian]
– Cooking With Coolio, the cookbook, is now on sale. [EMD]
– Remembering New York City's 1935 ban on baby artichokes. [Diner's Journal]
– Don't be embarrassed to dine out alone. [Between Meals]
– Raising a vegetarian child without the conflict. [LAT]
– Can drunken fruit flies help cure alcoholism? [Wired]
– Looking to find free grub for the rug rats? Try here. [Kids Eat For, via SE]
– Deep-fried turkey disasters. On video. [EMD]

Outtakes: Cruise Lines Edition

BuzzEditor — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:25:00 GMT

Each time we perform a survey here at Zagat we inevitably find ourselves with a slew of amusing outtakes that aren't quite fit for print. Which doesn't mean they aren't entertaining. Here are a few of our favorites from our just completed Cruise Lines survey:

A conga line is not conducive to good digestion.

No activities for anyone who isn't an alcoholic seeking random sex.

They cater to the newly wed and nearly dead.

Great if you like hairy chest contests.

A rust bucket filled with rowdy people.

The more you booze, the better you cruise.

Bathrooms so small you have to sit on the toilet sideways.

It does attract a crowd – it's called ‘God's floating waiting room.'

Bucktown Goes LoKal

BuzzEditor — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:15:00 GMT

LoKal

Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography

The edgy Bucktown eatery LoKal offers modern European fare (cabbage cakes with spicy chili dip, whole wheat potato pierogi in date sauce), plus a limited but affordable wine list and a handful of house cocktails; the space’s concrete floor, mineral color scheme and massive mesh light fixtures create a cool urban vibe, and there’s an intimate lounge area.

1904 W. North Ave.; 773-904-8113

Photo: stevenjohnsonphotography

Zocalo Goes Guaco-Loco

BuzzEditor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:45:00 GMT

Zocalo finds reasons to celebrate.

Photo: courtesy of the restaurant

November 14 is apparently National Guacamole Day, and River West’s Zocalo is celebrating. The restaurant is offering two special flight trios that include mole with freshly diced avocado mixed with pork cracklings, tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, lime juice and serrano chiles, and guacamole mixed with fresh papaya, guava, habanero chiles and walnuts, both served with housemade plantains and tortilla chips (available now through November 14; each flight costs $10; 312-302-9977; reserve online).