What a delicious weekend this was. It started out on Friday, at Wicker Park’s brand new Oiistar. “Oii” is Korean for cucumber, and as the Korean-born chef/owner told us, he wants to be a rock star, but when you pronounce it, it should roll off the tongue like “oyster.” Whatever. The four ramens on the … Continued
I never really grew up with Buche de Noel, but I do remember the Kemp’s ice cream logs as a kid, does that count? I’m also no Martha Stewart, but I realize this holiday dessert is subject to creative interpretation. Apparently, the Hotel Sofitel thinks so, as it gears up for its 2nd annual … Continued
Usually, a brewer will be more than happy to let you know what’s inside the bottle. But this week’s pick – courtesy of the Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco – is a mystery. Even though they don’t tell you what’s inside their Christmas beer, The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper has a pretty good idea. Here’s … Continued
Looking for that special gift for the bacon lover in your life? VIP Tickets for Baconfest Chicago, 2013 go on sale beginning at 9 a.m. today. They cost $200 each plus a $5.99 ticket processing fee. The event takes place on April 20, 2013. As with last year, it occurs in two shifts – … Continued
Better hurry up. Time is running out on this one. If you’re a fan of Stone Brewing’s IPAs, their latest release is designed to sell out at some point in the next two weeks or so. It’s called “Enjoy By…” and once you listen to Michael Roper’s reasoning, you’ll see why you need to pick … Continued
If you’d rather not hit the malls, there are two fun ways to do some holiday shopping this week, and party a little bit in the process.
MINNEAPOLIS – You realize pretty quickly, while looking for a parking space, there’s an ethnic experience ahead. Inside the giant, concrete lot adjacent to the Midtown Global Market, there are instructions written not only in English and Spanish, but Ethiopian – a nod to the region’s growing immigrant wave from Somalia and Ethiopia. I had … Continued
This week, Michael Roper goes to Belgium, where world-class beers are as prevalent as corrupt governors in Illinois. Of course, Roper should know; his Hopleaf has Chicago’s best list of Belgians, offering more than 100 by the glass. Today, he’s honoring the trappist monks at Rochefort, who produce one of the country’s best-loved beers that … Continued
With more than a dozen restaurants in Seattle, Tom Douglas is a one-man empire in the Pacific Northwest. On one block of downtown Seattle alone, he has several different concepts, including the flagship, Dahlia Lounge, as well as Serious Pie (a killer pizza joint) and the diminutive dahlia bakery. The bakery was born to serve … Continued
I sent the query out about a day before this most recent trip, asking for some suggestions for places to eat in Seattle, while here on business for just a day. The responses were quick and confident. Canlis, Salumi and Walrus & the Carpenter were mentioned nearly as much as Sitka & Spruce. I have … Continued
It’s not a hippie, drug-induced kind of thing, but the way 3 Floyds’ Zombie Dust has been flying off of the shelves lately, you’d think they were spiking the hops with something. This week, The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper says the pride of Munster, Indiana has a legit hit on its hands, and its sweeping … Continued