In the pantheon of cuisines that usually get thrown out as options when deciding where to go for dinner, Turkish food is usually not one of them. Mexican? Thai? Italian? Yes, we all have take out menus stuffed into that “misc./tool” drawer in our kitchens. But I’m guessing there aren’t many of you craving a … Continued
As you may know by now, I was in London earlier this week attending the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” awards ceremony. While I was there, I tried to make the most of my extremely short trip. I had lunch at an amazing regional Indian restaurant – Veeraswamy (no relation to Veerasway in Chicago) – the oldest … Continued
Some like buffets. Others prefer their Easter brunches a la carte. If you’re still trying to figure out where to go this weekend, here are five excellent choices, ranging from casual to partial mortgage payments. 1. The Four Seasons If you work for JP Morgan or Goldman Sachs, go ahead, blow some of your bonus money … Continued
I was in London for 48 hours earlier this week, attending the San Pellegrino “World’s 50 Best” Awards held Monday night. As one of the 27 Regional Academy Chairs (I oversee Canada/Mid-USA), I’m charged with finding 30 judges each year, which must be broken up equally among journalists, chefs/restaurateurs and gastronauts/world travelers. Another rule is … Continued
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants today named Alinea number six- making it the highest ranked restaurant in North America. I was in London for the announcement and spoke with Alinea chef Grant Achatz about what it takes to produce at this level, how it feels to surpass his mentor Thomas Keller and what the secret … Continued
The best roast chicken I ever had was at Zuni Café, on Market Street in San Francisco. I’m not sure what Judy Rodgers does to it – they’re most likely brined to retain moisture well ahead of time, and the heat, well, I’m positive it comes from a lot of hardwood. Chicago isn’t exactly a roast … Continued
Please don’t tell my mom about today’s two posts, she’ll kill me. This morning we talked about the 2nd Annual Baconfest over the weekend, and we mentioned that Nathan Sears from Vie in Western Springs took home the “Golden Rasher” for the best bacon dish. Well yesterday, as Sears was basking in the glory of his … Continued
Has it jumped the shark yet? Is bacon as ubiquitous as tiramisu on Taylor Street? Some would argue yes, but many in the food community say bring it on. While the back/side of the hog – the source of bacon – continues to show up on nearly every menu, right alongside beet-and-goat-cheese salads, if you … Continued
Grabbing a beer and a shot in Chicago is easy. But it seems like every other neighborhood bar has the same menu these days: (fill in the blank) sliders, “flatbreads” (a.k.a. weak pizza) and that ubiquitous duo – beets with goat cheese and/or some form of pork belly. But there are bars in Chicago where … Continued
IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO – In what is quickly becoming a monthly occurrence, there was another food and wine festival this past weekend. But unlike events in Aspen, Pebble Beach and Las Vegas – which draw top-tier culinary talent and more winemakers than you could possibly sample in 48 hours – this one was held in Mexico, … Continued
I realize the sheer number of Italian restaurants in our area makes this a somewhat daunting proposition. After last week’s “overrated” edition, I’m turning to my top 5 this week, and all of these places have a few things in common: for one thing, they make pretty much everything – from the grissini and focaccia, … Continued