This week’s pick is great with colder weather, but The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper says it’s even better with dessert. It’s an Abbey-style Quad (around 10% alcohol) that’s a collaboration between Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux. It features sugar plums grown on the grounds of the Abbey and … Continued
Deerfield’s Bakery is the place to be when a sudden urge for strudel or chocolate chip coffeecake strikes. Last week, for my Hungry Hound reports, I rediscovered that 125 year-old family bakery, some exotic Ghanaian cuisine in Uptown, plus the perfect pairing of doughnuts and barbecue on the South Side, as well as the only-in-Chicago … Continued
This week, The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper is reaching for a bottle of something he’s quite familiar with: hops. That is, HopSlam, the latest brew from Bell’s Brewery in Michigan. He says better go get some now though, as it will only be available in the market for a short time. Cheers.
Ever since Oiistar opened at the end of 2012, the regulars have been talking about owner Sunny Yim’s ramen: the imported Japanese noodle machine, the crazy amount of time (18 hours) it takes to make his pork stock, the abnormally potent level of heat each bowl brings. But just as interesting – and perhaps, more … Continued
Last week, the Hungry Hound battled winter with a barrage of flavors. Check out how chefs are creatively using seasonal, winter citrus in pastry dishes; then celebrate the Chinese New Year with traditional Shanghai favorites in Chinatown; take a peek at Bub City’s warming combination of barbecue and bourbon and, for a special Mardi Gras … Continued
By Ivan Yeh Former Hapless Intern “What defines deliciousness? Taste is tough to explain, isn’t it?” These were the words that stuck with me after watching “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” a David Gelb documentary depicting the life of sushi master Jiro Ono, the 86-year-old head chef at the Michelin three-star restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro. … Continued
Just because The Hopleaf has an incredible selection of Belgians, doesn’t mean every BOTW has to be from there. In fact, this week, Michael Roper is looking across the Lake, to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the Founders Brewing Co. has produced a double chocolate coffee oatmeal stout. The “breakfast” in the title refers to those … Continued
Like barbecue restaurants in the ‘burbs, it seems there is no limit to how many burger joints one city can sustain. In Chicago, The Paramount Room has always offered food that aspires to (and reaches) new heights, despite its outward appearance as just another late night lounge. Their craft beers are as good as anywhere, … Continued
What an incredibly delicious week in Chicago. Check out my latest videos for the inside look at Little Goat Bread and Diner, as well as fine-dining resurrected at Grace in the West Loop; also, some of the best Korean fried chicken in town at Dak Wings.
Tickets for the first bites bash sold out quickly, so that’s a sign there’s high demand for Chicago’s annual Restaurant Week, beginning tomorrow. From the 1st until the 10th, you can score a prix fixe deal ($22 for lunch/$33 or $44 for dinner) on that special place you’ve always wanted to go, like Allium, inside the Four … Continued
With the Super Bowl in New Orleans this Sunday, every TV show in the country is showing people how to celebrate like they do in NOLA: gumbo, jambalaya, etc. But I say if you want to party like a local, you really should be drinking a brandy milk punch or a sazerac. I’ve always … Continued