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
If you really wanted to splurge on mom, you could obviously go to the Four Seasons or some all-you-can-eat extravaganza, but those kinds of meals are going to set you back at least $60 per person or more (plus tax & tip). I say let’s set a $40 ceiling, and spend the rest on some … Continued
Few people in Chicago know their Belgian beers as well as Michael Roper. As the owner of The Hopleaf, he has given these complex, nuanced beers a grand stage, and he is always more than happy to talk to patrons about them. But this week, he’s sticking to an old favorite: Orval. They only … Continued
Oh the humble tamale. Bastardized via one too many big city food cart; compromised in quality, the result of sitting too long in a steam bath as inebriated customers wait to fill their stomachs with little regard for its construction or contents. But behold the precious namesake at Tamales Garibay, a three-table storefront hugging … Continued