Chicago’s first snow storm of the season might be keeping some people at home this weekend, so I thought, what a perfect time to have an expert illustrate how to make the perfect omelet. The folks at Meli Cafe certainly know how to make a great one – they do it hundreds of times … Continued
Last week, I offered my five (or so) suggestions for newcomers to our city; places that any self-respecting Chicagoan has been to, in order to establish a baseline of sorts, for where we’ve come from (and where we’re obviously headed). The post was inspired by my 20-something cousin, who had recently moved to town, … Continued
This week, Michael is keeping the love right here in Chicago, with a Goose Island beer I had never heard of until we shot this feature. Last week, it was Posca Rustica, this week, Pepe Nero. Say what? I guess that’s why you go to The Hopleaf in the first place, to get turned … Continued
Blackbird’s reputation as one of Chicago’s best restaurants has typically been a result of the food. But over the past year, their Mixologist – Lynn House – has been blazing a trail for the restaurant’s cocktail program as well. We asked her to show us how to make a classic drink, but she put … Continued
I was having dinner earlier this week with my cousin, a 20-something from Minneapolis who just moved into the city a few months ago. I took her and her new boyfriend to one of my go-to Thai joints – Aroy – up on Damen. They were totally into it, and kept peppering me with questions about … Continued
Beer lovers are always looking for something wonderful; something jammed with flavor and nuance and maybe even a little spice. They loathe the family gatherings that offer nothing more than mass-marketed Bud or Miller, and as hip as PBR may be, a beer lover would rather drink mead before he/she puts that aluminum can … Continued
Are you a pork fan interested in going whole hog? Back after popular demand, Chef Nathan Sears and Chef Amber Blatt of Vie Restaurant will be dishing on all details of preparing a hog, from butchering to making sausage, bacon, pâté and more. The three-hour afternoon classes include lunch and and lots of take-home … Continued
I had never heard of Roncesvalles, but apparently, it is to Toronto what Logan Square is to Chicago: a bohemian ‘hood on the verge of gentrification. My friends were planning to take me and Max with their kids to a relatively new barbecue joint there called Barque Smokehouse on Sunday night, which, appropriately enough, was … Continued
Not that long ago, Hannukah presents for my kids included Fisher Price games and Lego Star Wars. It’s funny how the older they get, the more elaborate the gifting becomes. But let’s be frank: Hannukah is not about the gifts, and never really was. It’s a Jewish guilt response to Christmas. Certainly, growing up in … Continued
Typically, the heat of a new place determines the “see and be seen” (SABS) factor. If it’s new, and they’re serving sushi on backlit tables, then chances are there’s going to be a wait to get in. But there are roadblocks aplenty to achieving successful SABS status.
For some reason, I keep hearing more and more about Montreal-style smoked meat lately, and thankfully, I keep running into it. Last month, in Brooklyn, I had lunch at Mile End, and along with the imported bagels and poutine, they also made a dynamite smoked meat/pastrami that took me right back to the legendary Schwartz’s … Continued