Chicago has a history of underground, illicit activities. Remember prohibition? Just ask Geraldo Rivera about Al Capone’s vault. Apparently, Chicagoans enjoy a little under-the-radar dining as well, choosing to seek out “dinner clubs” that require sign-ups, secret agreements and a willingness to let someone cook whatever they want in someone’s apartment/loft/gallery. The key is … Continued
Johnny Costello is in a gin mood lately. The self-described “Bar Man” at GT Fish & Oyster is talking about Nolet, a gin I had never heard of until we shot this video. The fact that he combines it with blackberry syrup and some of the best ginger ale I’ve ever had (spicy!) really turns … Continued
Just the other day, I caught a glimpse of a new wine list in town, from a restaurant located on the Chicago River. They had a few sauvignon blancs from New Zealand, including one from Cloudy Bay (no vintage) that went for about $84, more than a 300% markup. I know that’s typical in … Continued
This week, The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper looks to Belgium, for a unique, sparkling blond ale that’s only been on the market for a couple of years. No, it has nothing to do with Moto science geek chef Omar Cantu, but rather, Omer. It’s a top fermented beer that gets a secondary fermentation in the … Continued
While the nose-to-tail ethos tends to flourish at neighborhood places like The Bristol and The Publican, you wouldn’t think a tourist destination like the Omni Hotel would be a source for bold, in-house curing and aging. But no one was more surprised than myself, when I got a tip that the chef at 676 … Continued
I have to admit, I’ve never been a big gin fan. I can definitely trace it to too many years of ordering gin & tonics at parties in my 20s, and always leaving with a headache. But the presence of brands like St. George, Hendricks and Bols Genever has been changing my mind over … Continued
I had the distinct pleasure of eating in Montréal last weekend, where the locals are still fuming about their hockey coach, who doesn’t speak French (frankly, I’d be more worried about the team, which looked absolutely lackluster against the Devils on Saturday). My original goal was to just visit Schwartz’s for “smoked” meat (more on … Continued
Flemish. Dexter. Pumpkin. Three words you wouldn’t typically associate with great beer, but this week, The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper is looking to his native state of Michigan – specifically, the town of Dexter – where the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery is producing some really interesting beers, all of which are barrel-fermented and barrel-aged (incidentally, they … Continued
I’ve been stumping a lot of bartenders lately. Not just the ones from places that have more TVs than cocktails, but even some of the more seasoned pros behind the bars at The Drawing Room and GT Fish & Oyster. “Have you tried Root yet?” I’ll ask them. When I see their puzzled faces, I … Continued
By Gulnaz Saiyed Hapless Intern Despite its bright, barn-red exterior, Budacki’s Drive In is somehow easy to miss. In Ravenswood, a run-of-the-mill hot dog joint isn’t exactly what you’d expect to find, tucked in among the antique dealers, a throwback candy store and a few sit-down Thai restaurants. It was the smell of deep-fried potatoes … Continued
Valentine’s Day might be over, but you now have another excuse to make plans to eat out: the 5th Annual Chicago Restaurant Week. Beginning tomorrow, and running until the 26th, more than 130 local restaurants will be offering a set, prix-fixe, three-course menu for $22 at lunch, and $33 or $44 at dinner. Participating eateries are as … Continued