While news of Fidel Castro’s death stretched around the world last week, I couldn’t help think of one of his beloved country’s most famous exports: sugarcane. Used for decades as a crop that was bartered with the Soviet Union for oil and financial support, it became as significant to the country’s survival as that other … Continued
The spirit of Ralphie, Flick and Old Man Parker is strong in the West Loop for the next few weeks. That’s because the folks at CH Distillery have partnered up with The Dogma Group (and World Champion Bartender Charles Joly), to recreate drinks and snacks inspired by the classic holiday film, “A Christmas Story,” through … Continued
Michigan’s Harbor Country is jammed with great places to eat and drink. In the town of Sawyer, Michigan, one company has been rapidly expanding with good food and even better beer. They started with a brewpub, and now operate several business in town, including a grocer, a charcuterie and cheese shop, bottled beer store, all-day … Continued
I will admit that I don’t always see trends coming (or even realize that we’re in the midst of some “next big thing” like poutine), but after having heard about Eataly’s frosé (that’s a portmanteau of frozen and rosé, in case you missed it), I say it’s time for frosé to have its moment. I … Continued
Chicago has seen a surge of brewpubs over the past few years, but nothing quite like a new concept in Ukrainian Village. The kitchen is also getting into the act, offering much more creative fare than just pretzels and French fries.
You know all about the worms. And the crazy-ass hangovers. But that was the tequila of your college days. Shots are so passé. Now you’re all grown-up, mixing blancos (or, if you’re feeling flush, reposados) in your margaritas, and later, after dinner, sipping añejos from a snifter. Tequila production, marketing and consumption have come a … Continued
As you approach the building housing Green River – the new cocktail bar/restaurant collaboration between Danny Meyer’s NYC-based Union Square Hospitality Group and the Dead Rabbit – you can’t help but take pause. “Hang on,” you say to yourself. “Are we going to Stan’s Donuts, or are we getting a colonoscopy?” You enter a nondescript … Continued
For years, you had to venture into the basement of the Palmer House to get those fun rum drinks and crab Rangoon with a side of bamboo, but a pair of expertly curated tiki bars call Chicago home: one in trendy River North, the other in laid-back Logan Square.
I was reading at the Between Bites event last week in West Town (which, by the way, was a lot of fun), and one of the spirits they had on hand was a new brand called Parce (PAR-say). The term means “buddy” or “good friend” in Colombia, and the man on hand doing the pouring, … Continued
Spiaggia is known for using some of the highest quality Italian ingredients money can buy. You would expect, for example, prodigious amounts of prosecco to show up at their newly-remodeled bar. So why are they using tequila in their Aperol Spritz? It has something to do with Chef Tony Mantuano’s history in a 70s band … Continued
Located just an hour outside of Louisville, the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery offers several tours (from historical landmark to ghost tours), tastings of their finely crafted bourbon, and a well-stocked gift shop. Great for bourbon lovers and history buffs, Buffalo Trace is a rare example of a distillery which operated before, during, and after Prohibition. … Continued