Beer(s) of the Week: Belgian Saisons

This week, The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper is taking a closer look at a couple of Belgian saison beers, one from the U.S. (Great Divide Brewery) and the other from St. Feuillian, the fantastic Belgian producer. They are both perfect for the spring, but since one of them comes in cans, it’s an even option for all of those “no glass container” events you’ll be having this season. Cheers.

Oat Cream Sandwiches at Sauce & Bread Kitchen

You could do just fine with a visit to Sauce & Bread Kitchen in Edgewater, and stick to the sandwiches. Or, if you were in a hurry, grab some of the hot sauces, maybe a bottle of chow chow (relish) and a loaf or two of the homemade bread. But you would certainly kick yourself if, after seeing this video, if you neglected to pick up at least one oat cream cookie sandwich. I’m not a huge oatmeal guy, but these little caramel buttercream beauties won me over instantly, thanks to the crisp/soft contrast. How crisp? Listen to the very end of this video, and you’ll see what I mean.

Thanks to Todd Rosenberg for the fine videography (follow him @toddrphoto)

Beer of the Week: Half Acre’s Akari Shogun

Ever since Half Acre finished building its brewery in Northcenter, it seems they’ve been cranking. Exactly three years ago, they became the first brewer in Chicago to sell their beer in cans; they continue with a relatively new product, the Akari Shogun, which is considered an American pale wheat ale. Cheers.

Lahmacun at Pide ve Lahmacun

There are only a handful of Turkish restaurants in Chicago, and of those, only a few serve lahmacun. It’s essentially a thin, crispy pizza-like disc topped with ground lamb and beef. It’s one of only two things that are served at the tiny Pide ve Lahmacun on Irving Park Road, and the key to enjoying it is to use up those colorful condiments that arrive alongside.

Videography courtesy Todd Rosenberg Photography (@toddrphoto)

Beer of the Week: Brooklyn Brewery’s 25th Anniversary

We celebrate yet another Silver Anniversary this week, honoring Brooklyn Brewery’s fantastic, chestnut-colored lager, arriving in a large format bottle. The Hopleaf’s Michael Ropers says cheers to one of the nation’s most influential brewers.

Burnt Ends at Bub City

This resurrected concept from Team Melman and Lettuce Entertain You used to sit on Weed Street, in Lincoln Park in the late 80s (I fondly recall eating a mess of crawdads on a ream of newspaper after an Oingo Boingo concert at Metro in ’88). But the trend of slow-smoking pork and brisket was too much to ignore, and so, a few months ago, Bub City re-emerged as a River North honky-tonk, complete with live music, bourbon on tap and soon, a basement tiki bar called Three Dots and a Dash. Read More