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Summer Wine Classes Offered by BIN 36

Are you looking to expand your knowledge of wine tasting and pairing? This summer, BIN 36 is offering two seminars that will give you the opportunity to explore food and wine with Wine Director Brian Duncan.   On Tuesday, May 22, Wine 102: Far Out Grapes from Far Out Places will be reviewing various types … Continued

Pineapple Custard Pie at Telegraph

  After yesterday’s post regarding Mindy Segal’s re-booted HotChocolate, I didn’t really think about running another sweet feature, but I’ve had this one in the works for about two weeks. After a casual dinner by my lonesome recently at the bar at Telegraph, in Logan Square, my eyes were drawn to one of their desserts: … Continued

HotChocolate 2.0 Showing Promise

  What a week for Mindy Segal. After a half-dozen nominations, she picked up a James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in the U.S., no small feat, considering she runs an entire restaurant, rather than just a dessert menu tucked within one. But this year, Segal wasn’t in New York City for the awards … Continued

Top 5 Things to Do at Chicago Craft Beer Week

With all of the news recently that more breweries are on their way to Chicago – some homegrown, others, like Lagunitas, will be moving operations here – the annual Craft Beer Week couldn’t have come at a better time. The schedule is pretty extensive, and begins on May 17, running for 11 days. Plenty of people … Continued

Deep, Dark Beer Can Also Be Light and Refreshing

  Not all dark beers are created equally. Take this week’s Beer of the Week: Schwarzbier, from the Mönchshof Brewery in Germany. The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper says since it’s low in alcohol, it is very easy to drink (think warm weather sipper out in the backyard). Here’s to deep, dark, delicious drinking. Cheers.

A Good Night for Chicago at 2012 James Beard Awards

Although it was not a fantastic night for Chicago, the city still came away with five good wins at the 2012 James Beard Awards hosted at New York City’s Lincoln Center.   North Pond‘s Bruce Sherman won Best Chef: Great Lakes after his sixth year of nomination, Mindy Segal won Outstanding Pastry Chef for her … Continued