Even though her official birthday was August 15th, the food community continues to celebrate the life of Julia Child all month long with tributes and stories from her past. The legendary cookbook author would have celebrated her 100th last week. I had a few opportunities to meet her in the late 90s, while she continued … Continued
PORTLAND – I honestly thought I was going to see more trucks than campers. But in researching the food cart scene here for an upcoming story, I discovered that not only do the carts here stay put for the most part, they also tend to exist in small spaces that could be described as … Continued
As regular readers of this blog will know, I’m a fan of a well-made cocktail. So you’ll understand my excitement, when, after having just read this story in the NY Times about the vibrant cocktail scene in New Orleans, I found myself here this week. I ran over to SoBou – which stands for South … Continued
We’re taking a break from our regularly scheduled feature this week, to bring you some of my favorite images from the summer. Unlike fall and winter, when we try to rationalize how splendid a bowl of squash soup or roasted root vegetable looks, this time of year, food just looks better. It’s sunnier; colors … Continued
While summer is typically the time to drink rosé, over the next week or so, it’s time to get in touch with your feminine side. The first-annual “Real Men Drink Pink” breast cancer awareness campaign kicks off later this week, and yours truly, along with some other fellas, are drinking and toasting in an effort to raise awareness … Continued
There are so many charitable causes throughout the year in Chicago, it can be hard to choose which ones to support. Honestly, for most people, it’s because the cause is close to their heart or they have some other personal connection. I choose a few organizations each year to get involved with, but I … Continued
I thought I had heard it all. But after my g.e.b. incident, and what just happened to me a half hour ago, I’m starting to think hospitality is under siege in Chicago. I knew I had hit the jackpot last week, after I called Schwa on a whim. I was trying to get a … Continued
It felt, for just a moment, as if I’d been back on the water near Kittery, Maine, chowing on fresh seafood, barely dressed with mayo and stuffed into lightly-toasted hot dog buns. Or was it simply a Northeastern version of skägen, the prized appetizer in Stockholm, Sweden, which marries slender, cold water shrimp with … Continued
Although the Fourth of July may be over, Independence Day festivities for other countries are still in full swing. This week (July 17-21), Leopold is offering a special menu to commemorate Belgian Independence Day. The Belgian restaurant is featuring a five-course menu with different beer pairings for each day of the celebration. The … Continued
I’ve been to Aspen a number of times for the Food & Wine Magazine event, but every time I go, I think to myself, there has to be more than just the Little Nell and the Jerome. I’ve seen more private jets at the Pitkin Co. Airport than I have farmer’s markets, so I … Continued
HOTCHKISS, CO – Winding along Highway 133, on the way to Paonia, a giant road sign beckons with “apricots, cherries and peaches.” It is Delicious Orchards, a must-stop for fruit savvy tourists here; a beacon for U-Pickers as well as hungry travelers. The cafe inside the tiny market has a compact menu of items that … Continued