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Thursday, April 25

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News Thu Aug 28 2008

Mmm, Midweek Links

• Is the Diner Grill closed for good, or just for repairs after a fire? We'll have to wait and see.

• Meanwhile, Dish tips us off that Sweet Occasions in Andersonville has closed (end of column). The branch under the Damen Brown Line stop shuttered soon after that station closed for repairs, and the long promised Bryn Mawr location never opened.

• I tried to stay away from the ruckus currently being raised by an off-handed comment from ABC7's Steve Dolinsky on ChuffPo, but the drama was too great. Dolinksy's dig on publications that publish first-day/week reviews of restaurants got him in hot water with Time Out's David Tamarkin and MenuPages. The 312 Dining Diva came to his defense a little, then said Tamarkin's just jealous.

• While Tamarkin's at it, he takes on New York Magazine, too.

Geno Bahena isn't Michael Phelps, he's Mike Tyson.

This Chicago Gluttons review of San Soo Gap San is hilarious, because it's true.

Smoque is held up as an exception to the rule that novices shouldn't open restaurants. [via]

• I love Chicago MenuPages' snarky synopses of Tribune and Sun-Times food section articles.

• Dejamo's Distracted, but can still show us the proper way to cut corn off the cob.

Mmm, brisket. Too bad it's in Texas.

• Fresh Squeeze reminds us that City Farm sells direct to the public, not just high-end restaurants, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

"Top Chef: The Tour" will be at the Green City Market next week.

Chicago Bites gives Schwa a double 10.

All hail Burt's.

• Centerstage has a list of Labor Day Weekend deals for you.

 
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anne / August 28, 2008 9:49 AM

Metromix in the Red Eye this morning (Bite Size sidebar, p. 17) says that while the Andersonville location for Sweet Occasions is closed, the Edgewater and Damen locations are open (I haven't seen either with my own eyes, so I'm not sure). It's a good shop, with great stuff. I'm purplexed at the closing of the very popular Andersonville shop.

Andrew / August 28, 2008 11:17 AM

Hmm, I don't know where the Red Eye got their info, but the phone numbers for the Damen and Bryn Mawr stores listed on the Sweet Occasions website are both disconnected, and both stores were dark during business hours the last time I passed them (both in the past week -- I work within walking distance of the Damen shop). I'll check again at lunch today.

Confused / August 28, 2008 11:46 AM

I think you kind of misrepresent 312 Dining Diva, or at least your use of pronouns is confusing. She defends Dolinksy and then says Tamarkin is jealous.

Andrew / August 28, 2008 1:42 PM

You're right, Confused. I've fixed it.

jen / August 28, 2008 4:13 PM

Fresh Squeeze is wrong -- City Farm sells on Sundays at the Logan Square farmers market as well.

Carrie / September 17, 2008 11:52 AM

I'm very sad about Sweet Occasions' sudden closure. The new Edgewater location looked fairly close to opening too...tables, chairs, and coolers already in place. I'm very curious what happened, as the Andersonville location always seemed busy, if not packed.

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Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

The State of Food Writing

By Brandy Gonsoulin

In 2009, food blogging, social media and Yelp were gaining popularity, and America's revered gastronomic magazine Gourmet shuttered after 68 years in business. Former Cook's Illustrated editor-in-chief Chris Kimball followed with an editorial, stating that "The shuttering of Gourmet reminds...
Read this feature »

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Drive-Thru is the food and drink section of Gapers Block, covering the city's vibrant dining, drinking and cooking scene. More...
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Editor: Robyn Nisi, rn@gapersblock.com
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