It’s rare when art imitates life so obviously, and in-your-face, but there I was on Saturday night in Brooklyn, waiting for a table at Pok Pok, the highly-touted Portland Thai restaurant’s new branch, inhaling the scent of lemongrass and fish sauce, when, after glancing around the rear dining room, I realized there were at … Continued
When it comes to pickles, Paul Virant is a bit of a savant. Long before amuses of pickled purple carrots arrived on tables and garnishes with pickled ramps began to be standard operating procedure at brunches across the city, Virant was picking his peak-of-season produce then pickling it for use during the long winters at … Continued
The Great Carnac, I am not. There is no crystal ball in my pantry, and the only kind of tarot that’s been dealt to me has been fried and served during dim sum service. But there is just so much going on this weekend – the NRA Show, the Beard Awards – that I … Continued
When I think of Leelanau, Michigan, I think of deer hunting, cherry pie and water sports. But the local brewing company also produces some fine beer. The namesake’s Good Harbor Golden Ale is a French style bière de garde that’s inhabited by wild yeasts and spends a fair amount of time in French oak. … Continued
It was a tough slog, but after eating 6 ducks in four days, I felt like I conquered my own personal Great Wall of Peking duck. Beijing is really the capital of this style of duck, and it shows: nearly every great restaurant I visited had their own procedure – be it air hose … Continued
I spoke with Rene Redzepi, chef and co-owner of Noma, after his restaurant was announced as the world’s best by the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants.” This marks the third consecutive year the Copenhagen restaurant has taken home the top place at the awards. You can watch the interview here:
I talked to Thomas Keller today after two of his restaurants made the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list: Per Se in New York (#6) and The French Laundry in Yountville, Calif. (#43). In addition, Keller also received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the food industry. You can watch the interview … Continued
The “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” announced Denmark’s Noma as the world’s top restaurant for the third year in a row today in London. The votes were cast by members of the Academy representing 27 regions around the world. Each region consists of a 31-member panel made up of food critics, chefs, restaurateurs and gastronomes. … Continued
I’m in London this weekend, attending meetings for the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” sponsored by San Pellegrino, which will hold its annual awards ceremony later today (about 2 p.m. Chicago time). I’ve been on the judging Academy the past few years, overseeing the Canada/Mid-USA Region. Organizers have divided the globe up into 27 regions, with each … Continued
Every great road trip experience is marked by dinner at a historic, family-owned diner after a long day of driving. To commemorate the spirit of food and travel, the Greater Midwest Food Alliance is presenting Road Food: Exploring the Midwest One Bite at a Time, a three-day conference that begins today and runs through Sunday. … Continued
If you enjoy cheese, bread and wine, then you do not want to miss out on the second annual Pastoral’s Artisan Producer Festival tomorrow at the Chicago French Market. Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine was one of five retailers selected to win the Outstanding National Specialty Food Retailer of the Year award given out … Continued