In what looks a little bit like the popular Smorgasburg in Brooklyn, a former New Yorker has quietly been running The NOSH at Wicker Park for the past three Saturdays, and I’m pleased to say this fledgling little eater’s market shows promise. From the Yiddish “to nibble,” this weekly market of sorts has been bringing … Continued
While I’ll always love a pure-bred banh mi from the likes of Nhu Lan or Ba Le, I’ve been dipping my toe into the sea of Asian fusion sandwiches lately, and I’m liking what I see (and taste). A few years ago I ventured out west to Elmhurst, where I had a remarkable sandwich at … Continued
Bring on the pilsners. This week, Roper is going with a Chicago favorite, the Pony Pils from the local boys at Half Acre Brewing. But he’s also got a few other pilsners in mind, namely, Scrimshaw (from North Coast in Ft. Bragg, CA) and Trumer (from Berkeley, CA), both of which are great “lawnmower” beers. … Continued
LOS ANGELES – If you think the fried beauty above looks good enough to eat, don’t worry, there’s a lot more like it coming to Chicago. Rich Labriola, the self-titled Chief Doughboy of the Chicago bakery bearing his name, is partnering with the venerable Stan’s Donuts of Westwood, CA, converting the former Skewerz space in … Continued
Ah yes.. summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Softball games, picnics and a refreshing beer, of course. This week, Roper is feeling the Midwestern love with a quartet of wheat beers, from such favorites as Greenbush, Bell’s and Revolution. You don’t need an excuse to open up one of these, just a summertime thirst. Cheers.
No matter what “Food Wars” says on the Travel Channel, this Chicagoan still says the best beef is at Johnnie’s in Elmwood Park. Paired with their signature lemon ice (“Italian lemonade”) it ranks among the all-time greatest combos of Mantle & Maris, Batman & Robin, even Ben & Jerry. I say this after having eaten beefs at … Continued
Greg Hall hasn’t really taken that much of a break since leaving Goose Island as its Brewmaster. The Chicago native is keeping things close to home, with his new company, Virtue Brands, having built an impressive headquarters just around the bend, in SW Michigan. He’s now got three ciders out on the market: Lapinette, … Continued
Despite its name, there are no teen vampires involved in the brewing or marketing of this breezy summer ale from Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery, which has only been available in Chicago the past few months. The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper says it’s easy to drink this time of year, especially at softball games and the occasional … Continued
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!
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 … Continued
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 … Continued