Beer of the Week: Rye of the Tiger

Apparently, the folks at Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewery are big Survivor fans, or maybe just miss Rocky III. In either case, their “Rye of the Tiger” celebrates their 25th anniversary, and this IPA features rye, which the Hopleaf’s Michael Roper says is great for beefy, meaty, ham-centric dishes. Cheers to that!

Fried Oyster Po’Boy Sliders at GT Fish & Oyster

Ever since my first trip to New Orleans, I’ve been in love with po’boys. One of the reasons is due to the magical, only-in-New Orleans bread (usually from Leidenheimer). Choices typically range from roast beef to fried shrimp or oysters. On a parallel track, regular readers here know I have a thing for all things Korean – especially fiery, funky kimchi. So when Giuseppe Tentori put a fried oyster po’boy slider with kimchi on his menu at GT Fish & Oyster, I was more than curious. I think calling it a po’boy is a stretch, mainly since the bread is more Hawaiian than French loaf, but this great little slider ($4) is one you really should try, even if you’re just planning on sitting at the bar to sip and slurp.

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)