Coffee Is Religion at Star Lounge
Coffee at Star Lounge is part skill, gift, science and art but mostly love.
By Camille Izlar
Hapless Intern
Walking into Star Lounge, I was immediately struck by the ambiance of tattoos, colored hair and tasteful leather boots. Instead of popping open my MacBook like everyone else, I jotted on my notepad – I wanted to be as eclectic (and slightly counter culture) as this place felt.
Contrasting Croquettes in Singapore
Catalunya, Singapore (Photo: Rachel Tan).
By Rachel Tan
Hapless Intern
They are oblong parcels of delicious ingredients. Some might say, an upscale Hot Pocket. The croquette is both deep-fried and delicious; these Spanish delicacies are omnipresent in the slew of tapas restaurants opening up around Singapore. But like most classic food items, some stand out from the rest.
Jamon croquettes at Catalunya are playful and elegant in presentation (Photo: Rachel Tan).
Meet the jamón croquette at Catalunya, a contemporary Spanish restaurant helmed by el Bulli and Drolma-trained chefs. Housed in a glass pavilion overlooking the waterfront, consider it for a night out in a space large enough to be dramatic and intimate enough to be romantic. Read More
Skip Weekend Pancakes, Opt for Bento
Slurping Turtle’s Bento Brunch, featuring tuna, pickles, sweet potato and seaweed salad (Photo: Rachel Tan)
By Rachel Tan
Hapless Intern
Nothing screams brunch and weekends like syrup, carbs and maple bacon. But just for once, take a pass on the omelets at Lou Mitchell’s or a short stack at The Original Pancake House, and let Takashi Yagihashi cook for you. The Chef/Owner of the Slurping Turtle is sharing a bit of his heritage, with a weekend do-it-yourself Bento Brunch.
A black and red lacquer box is divided into three, equal compartments, all contributing to a balanced meal from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. One compartment is for a choice of protein, like thinly-sliced short ribs or sashimi. The middle compartment usually houses sweets and pickled sides, and the last features a single serving of perfectly-cooked Japanese rice. Portions are generous and will not leave you craving dessert.
The sashimi slices are cleanly cut and an even thickness. With a selection of fresh salmon, tuna, whitefish and octopus, the meal is infused with color and flavor – none of that fishy aftertaste. Sweet potato fries moonlighting as glazed tempura sticks sprinkled with sesame seeds are a delectable finish. A hard shell adds a complementary crunch to the Japanese sweet potato’s denser, chalkier texture. A couple of slices of tamago – sweet Japanese omelets – are delicately made and well-portioned.
All-American sweet, doughy and dense brunch classics are hard to deny, but Slurping Turtle offers an equally tasty Japanese alternative. Textures may differ, but the flavors are truly one-of-a-kind, especially on a lazy weekend morning.
Slurping Turtle
116 W. Hubbard St.
(312) 464-0466
Editor’s Note: this is our final post for 2012…see you back here in January. Happy New Year!
Foraging for Frogs, Snails and Ricotta with Bacon in Lakeview
Frog n Snail’s bacon-sprinkled ricotta dip atop avocado is a tiny but well-assembled starter (Photo: Rachel Tan)
By Rachel Tan
Hapless Intern
It’s rare these days, finding a “seasonal” menu that does more than simply roast pumpkins or pickle beets.
In Lakeview, there’s a menu with an international worldview to boot, courtesy previous Top Chef finalist, Dale Levitski. The menu weaves from frogs legs with barbeque sauce to snail ragout and gutsy combinations of beef and salmon or chicken and shrimp. Read More
Fall’s Fantastic Flavors
Pumpkins are one of the culinary highlights of fall. (photo: Rachel Tan)
By Rachel Tan
Hapless Intern
One of the best things about fall is the great harvest of ingredients. Squashes, pumpkins, beets and mushrooms are indicative of the season, as our tastes shift from light and citrusy to robust, nutty and earthy.
Here are some restaurants around Chicago that use the fall produce to their advantage in the kitchen. Please allow room for them between Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts.
Starting the Day in Singapore
By Rachel Tan
Hapless Intern
When traveling abroad, skipping out on watery scrambled eggs and questionable ham at the hotel buffet is a must. In Singapore, going out for local breakfast is not only a necessity but a delight.
A hawker center – also known as an outdoor food court – may be daunting to a first-time visitor. So many options, not enough stomach capacity. This video highlights a few treats that are regularly enjoyed by locals and may not always be in the guidebooks.
