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Chicago’s Chef Ball Dishes up a Good Cause

  No plans next Friday night? Join fellow foodies and philanthropists for the annualĀ Meals on Wheels Celebrity Chef Ball. Not only will you be supporting the philanthropic efforts of the Meals on Wheels program – which helps feed thousands of Chicago’s homebound and elderly – you’ll also get to attend one of the biggest chef … Continued

Lowcountry Comes to Wicker Park

  Mark Steuer didn’t look like he was too nervous last night. Settling into expediting at his new restaurant, The Carriage House, in Wicker Park, the South Carolina native wasn’t phased that the likes of Chicago Magazine’s Penny Pollack or “Check, Please”‘s Alpana Singh were both dining at the same time (separate tables). He seemed … Continued

Chicago Gourmet Rides Again

Organizers couldn’t have dialed up a better weekend for Chicago Gourmet. With crisp, slightly warm weather and clear skies, the city never looked better, as more and more VIPs made their way here for two days of classes, tastings and seminars with some of the city’s top food talent. The festivities kicked off Friday night, … Continued

Beer of the Week: A Grand Cru from Belgium

I had never heard of a beer deemed “Grand Cru.” I had always thought that term applied to a region or wine with a special designation. But this week, The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper is going crazy for a very special bottle from St. Feuillien, produced by one of the world’s few female brewmasters. This Belgian … Continued

Savouring Stratford (Ontario)

STRATFORD, ON – Don’t ask anyone for directions to Justin Bieber’s house, or for that matter, any other details about the pop singer’s life before YouTube. The teen with the famous ‘do and the baby face may have grown up here, but locals have been just as proud to host their annual Shakespeare Festival, entering … Continued

Singapore Dumplings

Rachel Tan Hapless Intern   SINGAPORE – There’s always room for a plump dumpling, no matter where you’re eating.   Something as elemental as a small crepe-like disk of rice flour and water creates the perfect canvas for meat, vegetables or sweet fillings. In Singapore, some of the most popular types include traditional soup dumplings, … Continued

Top 5 Italian Red Sauce Joints in Chicago

In honor of today being “Italian Village Day” in Chicago, I thought it only appropriate to delve into some of the city’s best red sauce joints. If you’ve come looking for Rosebud or La Scarola, you’ll be disappointed they’re not here. What these joints all have in common though, is their hospitable surroundings, serving comfortable, … Continued

Happy 85th, Italian Village

If you thought Gene & Georgetti has been around awhile, the River North steakhouse has nothing on the Italian Village. Today, the City of Chicago is proclaiming it Italian Village Day, in honor of the legendary restaurant’s 85th anniversary. Alfredo Capitanini opened the restaurant in 1927, which has played host to politicians, celebrities and more … Continued

Beer of the Week: Union Jack IPA

There is a history of successful people getting involved in the wine/beer business. Coppola made his way in film before Napa Valley cab, and the same is true of the Firestones. Yes, they made their name in tires first, but now – according to The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper – they’re also brewing excellent beer. Take … Continued

Lowcountry’s Bounty in Charleston

I’ve always been a fan of lowcountry cooking, but as much as I would see a deviled egg here or some pimento cheese elsewhere, I had never really spent any significant time in the South, with the intention of purely eating. In Charleston for work last week, I had an opportunity to have a couple … Continued

Beer of the Week: Meantime Porter

This week, as the weather begins the slightest shift to milder temperatures, Michael Roper looks across the pond to London, where a relatively new brewer is producing a dynamite porter, in the classic style. Trust us, it’s not as heavy as it looks. Cheers.