The Two Brothers Brewery in west suburban Warrenville (we’re talking pretty far west of Chicago) has been producing award-winning beers for many years now. One of their latest has caught Michael Roper’s eye this week, as it’s something he sells frequently at The Hopleaf in Andersonville. It’s their Domaine DuPage, a French style country … Continued
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a grilled sandwich, and the Cubans certainly know what they’re doing when it comes to applying heat to bread. A couple of years ago, you could barely find a properly made Cuban sandwich in Chicago, but today, you’ve got at least half a dozen excellent options. As … Continued
If you have any interest in pastry, then in addition to knowing how to make a ganache and perhaps choux pastry, you’ll also need to master a crème anglaise. This versatile component stars in ice creams and sauces, and in the hands of a pro, can be deployed to make addictive desserts. Cindy Schuman, the … Continued
Not that I needed to go to China to get great Chinese food – I can certainly satisfy my dumpling and duck cravings in Chicago – but spending 10 days there last week really did change my life. On assignment for a couple of newspapers, a radio program and ABC, my priorities were duck in … Continued
I was just reading through Gail Simmons’ new book, Talking With My Mouth Full, and came across a section about her love of Montreal bagels, which I too now share, after having seen the light a few weeks ago. There are two primary sources in Montreal – both of which are stellar. Although within the … Continued
After a few weeks of featuring American beers, it seems like Michael is now really getting in touch with his Belgian groove (The Hopleaf does, afterall, carry more than 100 Belgian beers). This week’s pick is a hoppy Belgian ale – kind of a cross between an American/English IPA and a Belgian Trappist Tripel. … Continued
While Chicago’s Italian community slowly recovers from a zeppole-laced St. Joseph’s Day yesterday, there could be cause for lament, now that the window for pastry cream-filled fried dough stuffed with amaro-soaked cherries has passed. But fear not, because there’s another cream-filled cake with fruit I have my eye on, and its inspiration is clearly … Continued
Any pastry chef worth their Plugra will tell you how crucial it is to learn to make a proper ganache. Essentially chocolate and heavy cream, this versatile and rich, dark topping can be used as a filling, an icing or just poured over cakes for a decadent blanket. Cindy Schuman, the Pastry Chef at Sepia, … Continued
Just about every new restaurant (of note) opening in Chicago has an all-star cocktail list. Sometimes, they’ll employ a guy like Adam Seger or Paul McGee to create or consult; one thing is for sure, they stock names like Luxardo and St. Germain with regularity, make their own simple syrup, squeeze their own citrus and … Continued
Belgian Saisons are as popular as Pinterest these days (at least among beer geeks), so it’s no surprise that Le Merle – a product of the North Coast Brewing Co. in Fort Bragg, CA – is top-of-mind lately. It won a Gold Medal at the 2010 World Beer Championships, and it’s been popular at … Continued
You could say Benjamin Schiller is a “spirited” man. His job kind of requires him to be. As the Bartender/Chief Cocktail Guy at Boka, he’s constantly coming up with new drinks that reflect the season, but also, what is made available to him through the markets and his vast network of distributors. This week, Schiller … Continued