Two years ago, I embarked on a magical, fatty/crispy sojourn to Beijing, in search of the real Peking duck. Nearly every great restaurant I visited had their own procedure – be it air hose between skin and meat, large fan for blowing on and drying out the ducks or poaching in hot water for 30 … Continued
Like all great sandwiches, the Cubano is a remarkable creation marrying flavorful proteins, satisfying condiments and crunchy textures. But unlike its Vietnamese cousin, the banh mi, or its Italian brethren – featuring slow-roasted beef slammed between sturdy loaves and draped in a bracing giardiniera – the Cuban sandwich has something the others don’t: griddled bread.
Spiaggia is known for using some of the highest quality Italian ingredients money can buy. You would expect, for example, prodigious amounts of prosecco to show up at their newly-remodeled bar. So why are they using tequila in their Aperol Spritz? It has something to do with Chef Tony Mantuano’s history in a 70s band … Continued
One of my favorite cities in the world is getting ready to eat and drink like never before. The 13th annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival is taking place over the last two weeks of January, and this year more than ever, the city’s vast arsenal of restaurants and artisans are pulling out all the stops. In addition to … Continued
Ready to get out of the house after your holiday hibernation? Stop by Arami’s monthly Noodle Night next Monday, December 29th. Chef Fred Despres is serving up a special menu of ramen and other noodle dishes paired with Asahi Japanese Beer ($4) and Arami’s signature sake, Ichi No Tori ($9/glass, $15/carafe). Noodle Night takes place … Continued
So many doughnuts in Chicago, so little time (and calorie allotment) to eat them all. On the South Side, there’s no questioning the supremacy of Dat Donut or Old Fashioned Donuts, but on the North Side, the undisputed champion has to be The Doughnut Vault. I’ve been warming to Stan’s over the past few months, … Continued
Located just an hour outside of Louisville, the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery offers several tours (from historical landmark to ghost tours), tastings of their finely crafted bourbon, and a well-stocked gift shop. Great for bourbon lovers and history buffs, Buffalo Trace is a rare example of a distillery which operated before, during, and after Prohibition. … Continued
So much for Chicago being a pizza and Italian beef kind of town. I had no idea last week’s post about my Top 5 Fried Chickens would stir such a passionate discourse. With more than 40,000 views from my Facebook page alone, all of the sudden interest crashed my website briefly the next morning. As … Continued
Running out of gift ideas for the beer lover in your life? Give them the gift of knowledge. Dusek’s Board and Beer is known for its impressive number of beers on tap, beer-centric cuisine, and knowledgeable, hospitable bar staff. The Pilsen restaurant is taking beer lessons to a new level this January, with a six-night series … Continued
One of the hurdles with all of those visiting family and friends over the holidays is the traffic. Unless you want to really be aggressive, stopping by all of your favorite places can be daunting, to say the least. But yesterday, I had Bang Bang Pie biscuits and a slice of maple bourbon pecan pie … Continued
Do you love music, good company, and great wine? Tonight, City Winery brings you all three, as Master Sommelier Serafin Alvarado hosts a special music, wine and champagne pairing concert. The Rack & The Riddler, a rock band made up of adult beverage professionals, will be covering rock hits from the 60’s to the 2000’s. … Continued