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
Here’s a Geo Quiz I produced and reported about smoked meat (viande fumée) from Montréal, Canada: Click Here to Play
Two weeks ago, I ran a little contest, asking you to tell me (on video), why you think you deserve to win VIP tickets to the already-sold-out WingFest on February 26th. I’m pleased to say, we have a winner.
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
This week, The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper heads to Quebec (where I’ll be eating smoked meat in a few days) for a fantastic beer from one of my favorites – Unibroue. If you’ve heard of Éphémère and Maudite, then you’ll probably adore their Don De Dieu as well. It’s crisp and refreshing, and still a … Continued
Since we’re talking about love today, I should make a confession: I’ve always been in love with Alsatian food and wine. This tiny sliver of a region within France straddles Germany, so the culture encourages world-class wine production, consumption and hearty cooking influenced by Strasbourg, Lorraine and Germany. I’ve always been a fan of … Continued
Every Sunday, I look through the New York Times’ Magazine, always making a note to check out the food column. I’ll typically save the issue if it’s something interesting, but I rarely get around to actually making the featured recipe(s). A few weeks ago, however, I hung on to the January 15th issue and made … Continued
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – St. Charles, IL might as well be the boonies when it comes to culinary innovation. A few years ago, Pete Balodimas and his family tried to change all that with Fahrenheit, a cutting edge restaurant some 40 miles from downtown Chicago. But the restaurant didn’t last, and Balodimas soon moved up and … Continued