Much has been made over the past year, regarding the restaurant’s final auction, the high school art show, etc., but I think one of Charlie Trotter’s greatest legacies – at least in terms of his contribution to Chicago’s culinary scene – is all of the great talent he molded, scolded, shaped, sharpened and ultimately sent … Continued
Time again to plan another epic eating and drinking tour. This time, we’re heading in a very different direction. The goal is the same – we need about 20 people to make the trip happen – but this time around, we’ll have a lot more private, exclusive events, featuring some of the city’s best bartenders, … Continued
SAN DIEGO – This town doesn’t get a lot of love from the national food press, but if there was one dish this perpetually 70 degree city could lay claim to, it would be the fish taco. Like a New Orleans po’boy or a St. Louis toasted ravioli, the fish taco was born here, and … Continued
As we get closer to the holidays (seriously, already?) you’re going to see plenty of options for gift hunting. But I always prefer ones where there’s some high-quality food and drink to boot. The 5th annual Artisan Market Streeterville takes place next weekend – Nov. 9 and 10. Last year, organizers offered some really nice … Continued
Had a chance to pop into The Dawson on Friday, and since it was the first official night, I’m not about to get critical, but it’s amazing what energy the place has already. Remember that old Orange breakfast joint, on Grand Avenue, near Halsted? The one just a few steps from the Blue Line stop? … Continued
This Saturday, Chef Emma Hearst and Sarah Krathen, co-owners of the northern Italian-inspired New York City restaurant Sorella, will host a cooking demo and signing of their debut cookbook: Sorella: Recipes, Cocktails & True Stories from our New York Restaurant. The demo and signing takes place at Williams-Sonoma Lincoln Park (1550 N. Fremont St.) at 4 p.m. The … Continued
On the Lower East Side you live, where you’ve been since 1914, you’ve seen the city through highs and lows, from behind a façade shaded white & green. Unpretentious, never boastful, just a neon-lit fixture along Houston Street, Let the tourists go to Katz’s, when I’m in town, I know where to eat. I get … Continued
Having been a huge fan of Thai food for at least the past 15 years, I’ve been keenly aware of Andy Ricker’s influence here in America. His Portland restaurant – Pok Pok – is legendary (I’ve had those chicken wings) and his more recent addition in Brooklyn is trying to bring the same salty, sweet, … Continued
When Jamie Oliver first burst onto the U.S. food scene, most food writers thought the whole “naked” thing (“it’s food, stripped down to its essence”) was just a dumb marketing gimmick. But I could see right away, after having worked with him on a segment from the Chicago Tribune’s test kitchen, that the lad knew … Continued
Before last week’s Nobu United Dinner, I got to sit down with Nobu Matsuhisa, which is kind of newsworthy in itself, considering the man is on the road 10 months per year. We talked about his upcoming hotel and restaurant in Chicago (slated for late 2014), what he likes about the city, and the state … Continued
LAS VEGAS, NV – It’s pretty rare when 28 chefs from the same company get together in one kitchen, but that was the case last week, as Nobu Matsuhisa gathered some of his top talent for one night inside the largest Nobu restaurant in the group’s portfolio, at Caesars Palace. Matsuhisa sat down with me … Continued