Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
✶ Thank you for your readership and contributions. ✶
Friday, April 26
This deliciously gruesome zombie cake was created by the always creative Bleeding Heart Bakery. Fortunately, It's pretty easy to disable this zombie -- just eat its brains!
Join the Drive-Thru flickr pool!
— Andrew Huff / Comments (1)
In May I traveled to Buenos Aires and spent a week eating and drinking in South America's second largest metropolis. Many guidebooks are quick to peg Argentina as the place to drink Malbec. While this is true, Argentina has much more to offer.
-12-thumb-450x337-2221.jpg)
— Gemma Petrie / Comments (3)
I'm the kind of person that doesn't mind a bit of seasonality in my drinks. A little pumpkin in my beer, a little mulled spice in my wine...but easy on the apple pie, okay Leinenkugels? So I gladly accepted an invitation to Stoli's new Gala Applik launch party, the Moscova Affair, earlier this fall at Manor. I am not generally a vodka-drinker, nor a club-goer, so arrived thirsty, slightly early, and with all the scattered nervousness of a kid on the first day of class. With corset- and leather-clad servers and an Adam and Eve-themed silent circus tableau by San Francisco's Vau de Vire Society that more than lived up to the smoke-swilling lush-lipped ad campaign Stoli has plastered over CTA bus stops for months, I felt appropriately out of my element. At least the place was lousy with vodka, featuring at least five different suggested mixers for the new apple-infused Stoli blend, which I was expecting to taste more like Apple Pucker but has actually a mild, almost perfumey character. Applik and ginger ale was probably the best of the combinations I tried, though the signature "Applik Temptress" featured sour mix and a dash of bitters. Vanity Fair suggests a sangria-like white wine and fruit cocktail called, appropriately or not, the Rio 2016. Ouch. And, mmmmm!
I don't know that there's anything particularly seasonal about champagne, unless you feel the end of Daylight Savings Time should be celebrated with bubbles. But I still stopped by Pol Roger's Jazz Celebration last night at Pops for Champagne, an institution that I've been meaning to try for years. The White Foil Reserve Brut was the drink of the night, comprised of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes and fermented early in its life to a precise 46 F degrees, a process apparently distinctive to Pol Roger. A bottle of the White Foil retails for about $60, according to our pourer, though Pops has several other Pol Roger varieties on their menu as well, starting in more like the $115 range and rising steadily from there. The Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1998 is aged in the deepest, coldest cellars in Pol Roger's operation, and has a dense, almost edible quality to it, with bubbles so fine you barely notice them and a mouth-feel much more like wine than champagne. My favorite was the Brut Blanc de Blancs 1999, which was both demi-sec and a bit tart, I thought the most interesting in terms of flavor of the bunch.
In other drinking news, C-House, in the Affinia Hotel, continues its prix-fixe Goose Island beer menu through the end of this week, and more paper seems to peel back every day from the windows of Lush Wine and Spirits' new location on Chicago Avenue. Whatever causes you to raise a glass this fall, be it circus folks, or grain alcohol, or the pleasing pop of a champagne cork, there are plenty of places and things to drink this time of year.
— Andie Cavedo / Comments (2)
This week I would like to introduce you to Caroline of Whipped.
What brought you to Chicago?
I grew up in Michigan, moved to Europe for a bit while courting my husband and then lured him back to the U.S. with the promise of big city living. Chicago became our home in 2001.
What do you do when you aren't blogging?
I have my own marketing consulting business where I am lucky enough to work with a bunch of chefs! I relax by playing with my daughter, swimming, doing yoga and scheming up dinner party plans that I don't have time to execute.
— Whitney Merritt / Comments (2)
— Robyn Nisi
I made it over to Market, a restaurant that doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up. The place is a combination of a sports bar full of flat-screens with a separate dining area that looks very modern and high-end. The food, however, is a dimension unto itself--not because it's bold or memorable, but because it's served in the weirdest contraptions that not even the most serious of psychedelic drug users could have conceived.
I ordered "The Answer," one of the strangest names for a steak sandwich (or "sandwedge," as Market's menu faux-cleverly refers to them). The actual sandwich itself was served on a wooden cutting board. The fries that accompanied it were in a European-style cone that was stuck into a wrought iron stand (similar to what you suspend bananas from to avoid ripeness) that arced over the sandwich, with small ramekins of ketchup and aioli set into side bars that made me think this was a fuck swing for side dishes. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw another diner eating a pasta dish--a little grater that would have fit perfectly in a Cabbage Patch Doll's kitchen also hung on a device similar to the hardship that my fries were enduring, comically waiting to cover her rigatoni with a snowstorm of parmesan.
I spent a good half of my meal trying to get through several tough, rubbery chunks of skirt steak before I finally gave up and asked for a take-home container. To their credit, Market has awesome take-home containers.
Things got even weirder when dessert for the group of us in attendance was wheeled out--in a small grocery cart filled with caramel and cheese corn, and topped with a small aquarium-sized dollop of cotton candy. While the cart's wheels made for easy passing of the mountain of pure sugar that we were all giddily eating, I still came back to the same questions: who makes miniature grocery carts that double as serving dishes? Why all the visual fuss over the average-tasting food? Why did the bar, restaurant and food have such a huge disconnect? The silent cab ride home provided little guidance, my leftover Answer getting colder by the minute.
Market
1113 W. Randolph
312-989-4787
— Robyn Nisi / Comments (2)
Join Today's Chicago Woman (TCW) magazine at The Chopping Block in the Merchandise Mart on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 6pm to 9pm for "The Taste of TCW" cooking competition. This cuisine and culinary challenge won't only be tasty, all the proceeds will benefit the TCW Foundation, a charity that raises money for varies organizations dedicated to helping women and children.
The challengers are Radhika Desai, Season 5 contestant on Bravo TV's "Top Chef"; Elaina Vazquez, owner of Boutique Bites; and Jennifer Gavin from Fox TV's "Hell's Kitchen" and owner of Catered Excellence. Rocking the judge's panel will be Shelley Young of the Chopping Block and Chef Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass and Prairie Fire. The emcee for this delightful evening will be Steve Dolinksky, "The Hungry Hound" from ABC 7.
Tickets are $75, which includes the cuisine and culinary challenge plus hors d'oeuvres from the participating chef's favorite recipes, beer and wine, and signature cocktails from Sundas's mixologist, Sherrie Geslack. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase. Visit Today's Chicago Woman magazine to reserve your tickets.
— Shanna Quinn
This orange heirloom tomato would be perfect for a Halloween jack'o'lantern centerpiece. Photographed by Damon Taylor
Join the Drive-Thru Flickr Pool!
— Andrew Huff
Last week I attended the book launch party for Sweetness: Delicious Baked Treats for Every Occasion by Sarah Levy. Chicago native Sarah Levy opened the original Sarah's Pastries and Candies in 2005 after making candies out of her mother's kitchen and has since expanded to a larger location at 70 E. Oak and on the 1st floor of Macy's on State. I asked Sarah why she decided to write a book and she said that she wanted to try to bridge the gap between professional bakers and normal women. She wanted to create a resource that would take away some of the fear and apprehension behind creating treats and candies. Click on for my review of the book.
— Whitney Merritt / Comments (1)
Liza Whitacre, a barista and trainer for Metropolis Coffee, was killed yesterday when she slipped under a truck on her bike at Damen and Wellington Avenues. Metropolis closed early yesterday and remains closed today, to allow staffmembers time to mourn. The coffeeshop will re-open Friday at 6:30am.
An email from Metropolis remembering Whitacre is posted after the jump.
— Andrew Huff / Comments (5)
Dessert/Erotica 140 characters at a time.
If you're like me and daydream about buttercream, chocolate ganache, and anything with a buttery, flaky crust...and are a borderline-might-actually-be-a twitter addict then you need to add these sugarcoated tweeple to your follow list ASAP. Tweets about delicious treats maybe not be as good as eating them but they are titillating -- it's dessert foreplay, if you will.
— Shanna Quinn
Not to be confused with the popular music review and news site, Pitchfork Food & Saloon opens this weekend, starting with an open house Thursday night from 6pm to 8pm. A drive past the restaurant last night confirmed that workers are scrambling to finish the space, but a peek in the windows revealed what you might expect from the owners of Waterhouse, Rebel and Blue Light: exposed brick, tall wooden chairs and lots of wood trim. Standard pub, with a pretty standard menu of burgers, wings and the like, but a fine addition to a neighborhood beginning to gentrify as young families move west from Lakeview.
But back to the name. Time Out's Julia Kramer was amused to find out the manager had never heard of Pitchfork the website, previously the biggest pitchfork in Chicago until they moved to New York. [Edit: Pitchfork's headquarters remain in Chicago; the New York branch is a second office.] This gained them derision from the likes of Idolator, but fortunately they're not alone: Alderman Dick Mell sent out an email announcing the restaurant's open house and sending folks to Pitchfork.com (the full email is posted after the jump.) PitchFork Saloon's website is, for the record PitchforkChicago.com.
— Andrew Huff
This week I would like to introduce you to one of the first food blogs that I really fell in love with (and we are lucky enough that Kristin lives in Chicago): Kristin of The Kitchen Sink!
What brought you to Chicago?
I went to college at Northwestern, where I fell in love with both Evanston and Chicago---not to mention my husband, whose family lives here, too. We spent a couple years in Washington, DC after college, but we've been back for about five years.
What do you do when you aren't blogging?
Well, I'm a lawyer by day. Beyond that, I love wandering, in this city and other cities and in the wilderness, too. My family is in Minnesota and I try to get up there as much as I can. Beyond that, I'm usually cooking or eating or scouring the markets (farmers' and otherwise) for food. So, I suppose I'm never that far from the stuff that ends up on the blog.
— Whitney Merritt / Comments (2)
— Robyn Nisi / Comments (1)
"What possessed you to make your own candy pumpkins?" -- I've been getting this question a lot over the past few days as I talked about writing this piece. The only answer I have is because it sounded fun ...and it was fun!
My original plan entailed making candy corn but as my sugary adventure progressed, I felt 
taking the leap into candy pumpkins was way more impressive--and I enjoy being impressive. The recipe is exactly the same for candy corn if you chose to go that route.
— Shanna Quinn / Comments (4)
Bleeding Heart Bakery, known for its scrumptious organic pastries, is branching out with a new weekly artisan bread co-op. Bread lovers can order a loaf of bread each week, placing the order no later than Friday and then picking up the loaf on Sunday. Loaves only cost $5, but be sure to place your orders! The weekly special will not be available for sale at the store.
This co-op kicks off this week with Polenta Asiago Roasted Garlic Bread (does it get any better??).
Place your order no later than 7pm on Friday, October 23rd by calling 773.327.6934 or by emailing thebleedingheartbakery@gmail.com.
The first loaves will be ready for pick-up on Sunday, October 25th at 1pm.
— Caroline Kraft
Food chat site LTHForum's annual Great Neighborhood Restaurant awards were presented Monday night in a ceremony at past winner Marie's Pizza & Liquors, adding 23 new venues to its excellent list of winners. For the first time the awards have been expanded to include non-restaurants (referred to as Great Neighborhood Resources), in acknowledgment that there are so many important places in Chicagoland that don't necessarily serve food but provide ingredients, equipment or otherwise support restaurants and home cooks.
The GNR awards have always been an excellent avenue for recognition of restaurants that aren't necessarily new or trendy, places that are simply making great food and contributing to the culinary wealth of the city. For smaller spots, the awards provide a much-appreciated boost. Winner Juan Zaragoza of Birrieria Zaragoza said, "Sometimes you're about to hang the towel, and somebody comes in and says 'Hey, we like your food.' And we say 'You do?' And that keeps us going."
Several of the nominees attended the ceremony, including Delightful Pastries owners Dobra Bielinski and Stasia Hawyrszczuk, who took the opportunity to announce that they will soon be opening a new store at 1710 Wells St., in addition to being part of the French Market, which officially opens Nov. 17. "I think it's an excellent idea to have farmers markets like they do in France: all year round, not just three months out of the year," Bielinksi said.
As a surprise, the owners of Marie's Pizza turned the tables on LTHForum and awarded the site its own "Favorite Foodies Award." Said Marie's' Nadine Karavides, "You can pass it amongst yourselves like the Stanley Cup."
Below are the 2009 award winners, in alphabetical order, with links to either the business' website or the LTH Forum nomination thread.
— Andrew Huff / Comments (1)
Chicago Eats TV made its debut yesterday, promising to "deliver hot and fresh videos about some of the most unique places around." That's a tall order that's not really borne out by the first three episodes, which feature fREDHOTS in Glenview, Cans and Canteen in Bucktown, and three spots for hot wings -- Yak-Zies on Diversey, McGees Tavern and Jake Melnick's Corner Tap. Not exactly unique and undiscovered territory.
Hopefully they'll branch out into some truly interesting stuff, but in the meantime, I recommend visiting Sky Full of Bacon, which makes up for its infrequency with excellent depth. The recent two-part series on whitefish fishing on Lake Michigan
— Andrew Huff
Wiener and Still Champion, 802 Dempster St. in Evanston, is one of the rare hot dog stands that doesn't rest on its laurels. Hot Doug's aside, it's a rarity to find innovation in the realm of mom'n'pop fast food joints. But as some new items debuting on this spot's menu today prove that a little ingenuity takes you a long way.
Take the corn dog. Most places offer the same boring version pulled out of the freezer. At Wiener and Still Champion, they make their own "Dippin' Dogs," all-beef hot dogs hand-dipped in a slightly sweet, polenta-like cornmeal batter when you order one. The result might ruin you for inferior corn dogs forever. Now owner Gus Paschalis has taken his Dippin' Dogs to a new, gut-busting level. The top of the line used to be the Deluxe Dippin' Dog (or "DDD," named in honor of the restaurant's appearance on the Food Network show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives"), two Dippin' Dogs covered in homemade chili and Merkt's cheddar cheese. Now you've got the Big Dipper, a 1/3 pound, 10-inch hot dog wrapped in enough batter to make it hard to imagine actually eating.
— Andrew Huff / Comments (2)
Looking for something to do with the kiddies during the daylight hours of Halloween? Green City Market is hosting at Halloween Party during their last outdoor market of the season on Saturday, Oct. 31. The market will then move indoors at the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum Wednesdays and Saturdays from Nov. 7 through Dec. 23, followed by twice monthly markets during the winter.
— Whitney Merritt
Sometimes when one door closes, another one really does open.
I was still mourning the recent closure of Urban Café on Irving Park Road when the Julius Meinl Coffee Bar & Patisserie opened down the block (1416 W. Irving Park Road). I felt much like I did when I was about 10 and picked out a new hamster to replace our family's first hamster, which died after only a week: a little guilty and wistful, but, on the whole, selfishly happy to have a tiny, fuzzy poop-machine once again - or, in the case of Julius Meinl, an elegant neighborhood coffee-and-pastries stop.
— Mandy Burrell Booth / Comments (1)
Here's the first Friday Foodporn! Each Friday, we're will now feature a photo from the Drive-Thru Flickr Pool and feature it here on the blog. This first shot is of purple and green onions at the Green City Market, photographed by Swanksalot.
Better late than never, friends.News Fri Oct 16 2009
Mmm...End of the Week Links
— Robyn Nisi
Who said the finer things in life should be off limits to the rest of us?
That's the premise driving a new salon series kicking off this Sunday at The Bluebird in Bucktown. Over the next four Sunday evenings (through November 15), two artists--Mary Livoni and John Coyle Steinbrunner--and 25 to 30 guests will put themselves in the capable culinary hands and comfortable setting of The Bluebird for a delicious family-style dinner, wine and beer pairings, and art-centered conversation that cuts through the crap.
— Mandy Burrell Booth / Comments (1)
Sam's Wines & Spirits is currently having its annual warehouse sale. This is the perfect time to stock up on some heavily discounted wines for the upcoming holidays. The goods could be marked down as much at 75%. They will also be sampling dozens of the wines every Friday and Saturday during the sale so that you can try before you buy. The sale runs from now until the 25th, in-store only.
Sam's Wines & Spirits
1720 N. Marcey Street (near North & Clybourn)
312-664-4394
— Whitney Merritt
Just because it's cold out doesn't mean you can't smoke a mean rack of ribs. Gary Wiviott, LTH Forum founder and author of Low & Slow: Master the Art of Barbecue in 5 Easy Lessons, is teaching a rib class at Backyard Barbecue Store, 1147 Greenleaf Ave. in Wilmette, this Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1pm. Learn how to do ribs the right way on both a Weber smoker and a Big Green Egg, and how to make his basic Wiviott Rub (which is also now available at the Spice House), Tangy 7-Pepper Barbecue Sauce and Lexington Red Slaw. The class costs $50; call 847-251-2272 to sign up.
And if you're really ambitious, you can test your newfound skills in the Backyard Barbecue Store's third annual Ribfest on Sunday, Oct. 18.
— Andrew Huff
This week, I would like to introduce Elizabeth Stephens of The Fearless Cook.
What brought you to Chicago?
I grew up in the Atlanta area and went to UGA (in Athens) for undergrad, then attended the Creative Circus, a small advertising and design portfolio school (also in Atlanta). I got a job after graduation at an ad agency in Chicago and, though I've since moved to another job, have been here ever since (about 2 and a half years now).
What do you do when you aren't blogging?
Well, being in advertising, I work a lot. I love to do yoga, especially bikram yoga. I also - obviously - cook, but I also love trying out all the great Chicago restaurants. And I read a lot - books, magazines, you name it, I probably have my nose stuck in it.
— Whitney Merritt
Chicago ex-pat Naz suggested I check out Foodzie. He described it as "Etsy for food" so I dove right in. And it seems young, but it holds promise. So whether you like jam, snacks, dried or cured meat, coffee, or even produce you're in luck. And, thankfully, you can even search by locality. There are just a few Chicago area vendors currently, but the Creme de la Crimini Sauce by Coupla Guys sounds like something I'd buy on name alone. And these Damn Good Cookies made by Chocolate Gourmet look, well, damned good.
— Cinnamon Cooper
The Lincoln Square Dutch pancake house, Pannenkoeken Café, has a new location now open in Wicker Park (2257 W. North Avenue). And what - pray tell - is pannenkoeken, you ask? It's a Dutch pancake, thinner than its American cousin, baked rather than fried, and includes some delicious toppings. My recent pick at the new Pannenkoeken location included raisins, apples, and havarti cheese.
Store hours at the Wicker Park spot are M-F, 7am-2pm; Sat. & Sun., 8am-2pm.
And I will say, my friend's reply to my invitation to join me on this tasty adventure was wholly accurate: those Dutch pancakes are huge!
— Caroline Kraft
I came home from the Ravenswood Art Walk with my mouth buzzing. It should, probably, have been because I couldn't wait to talk about the art I'd seen. But it was actually because I stopped in to tour local spice company Urban Accents, where I tried samples of Sloppy Joes made with their Rio Grande Chili blend, jalapeno-infused lemonade and some pineapple grilled with chili peppers and paprika. The rest of my body may have been in a still-half-asleep, Sunday morning daze, but by midmorning my tongue was abuzz and happy.
Before starting his business, Tom Knibbs, Urban Accents' owner, worked in plastic packaging, but his heart was always in specialty foods and spices. He says he once had to be dragged out of a spice shop, where he'd gotten lost amid the scents and ingredients lists. That and a desire to find a lemon-pepper mix without salt, lead him and co-owner Jim Dygas into the business. Their spice blends, once mixed in the basement, are now sold at Whole Foods, Fox & Obel and other specialty markets in Chicago and beyond. After talking with Tom during the weekend of the Art Walk, I exchanged some e-mail with him in order to learn more about life behind the spice rack.
— Lori Barrett
On any given day, you never know what you'll find when you open up your inbox. Color me surprised, then, when I opened my e-mail to discover an invitation to represent Gapers Block as a judge in a semi-final for DeKuyper's Mix Master Bartender Contest.
Not one to say no to the difficult task of judging cocktails, I joined the judges panel, and on September 30th at Martini Park, we sent one lucky bartender on his way to the Chicago final.
Contestants had to create a shot or drink that had no more than three ingredients, one of which had to be a DeKuyper product. It had to be a drink that was fairly simple to prepare, so no mashing or muddling, and no energy drinks. We judged the entries on taste, appearance, creativity of name, simplicity, and originality.
— Jill Jaracz
I've had a very, very packed full summer. It wasn't full of the leisurely iced adult beverages sipped slowly under stars, or the long, lazy Saturdays at the beach that I had imagined, but it was definitely an adventure. I've spent the last five months working on a cookbook. And it isn't quite finished, but it is close enough to completion that I'll talk a little about it.
— Cinnamon Cooper / Comments (2)
This year, 35 percent more Chicagoans are turning to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and its network of pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. Now, more than ever, it's important to support this incredible organization so they can help feed those in need.
Beginning Oct. 21, six local restaurants will play host to the Food Depository's inaugural "86 Hunger" dinner series, an event that will unite chefs and guests together in an effort to ending hunger in out community. Each dinner in the series will provide guests with an intimate dining experience at some of the most prominent restaurants in Chicago.
Tickets for individual dinners (schedule below) are $150, and all proceeds benefit the Food Depository. Information and tickets are available here.
The Frontera Grill dinner includes a visit to Chef Rick Bayless' home garden, as well as a live cooking demonstration in the restaurant's test kitchen. VIP tickets for the Frontera Grill dinner are $1,250 and include entry to four other dinners. Chefs and restaurants are donating their time and labor for the dinners, which will include approximately 100 attendees each.
— Kaitlin Olson
It may be October in Chicago, but the time is always right to for this girl try out a new spot for ice cream. Especially when that spot features high-tech, liquid-nitrogen-spewing equipment, and a list of about 60 options for flavors, mix-ins, and toppings combined to make whatever creation you can dream up - all at Wicker Park's iCream.
— Caroline Kraft
On Saturday Chicago gets an opportunity to look a little deeper into the vegan world. A new festival called VeganMania brings local vegan-friendly restaurants together with animal-free clothing vendors, no-kill animal shelters, live music, and makers of meat and cheese alternatives just in time to help with Thanksgiving plans with any vegan friends. The famed Soul Vegetarian and Chicago Diner will serve food alongside newer restaurants like Delicious Cafe. I'm particularly curious about the high fashion vegan winter coats expected from Vaute Couture. The day also includes live music and speakers, including Dr. Michael Greger of the Human Society of the United States.
In a prepared statement, organizer John Beske said, "We're excited to prove to the world that Chicago's reputation as Hog Butcher To The World no longer accurately describes our progressive and compassionate city."
The festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m at Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk. Free admission and free samples. El: Blue Line to Division. Bus: Ashland 9, Milwaukee 56, Division 70, North 72.
— Chris Brunn
Andrea, of local food blog Forkable, just launched a redesigned of her site. She is celebrating in style by throwing a launch party this Thursday, October 8 from 7 pm to 10 pm at Archie's Tavern (2600 W. Iowa). Sip a $2 whiskey or beer and enjoy some free, homemade Forkable favorites like jalapeno poppers, cheesy onion casserole and bbq seitan while you meet the author.
— Gemma Petrie
This week, I would like to introduce Natalie Slater of Bake and Destroy!
What brought you to Chicago?
Destiny and a moving van. I was born in Joliet and as a teenager I spent every second I could spare in Chicago. As soon as I was ready to go to college I moved to the city. I graduated from Columbia with a BA in Magazine Journalism.
What do you do when you aren't blogging?
I'm the Internet Communications Manger for a Chicago-based green e-commerce company (ReusableBags.com), which means I'm kind of always blogging. I run our corporate blog, Facebook page and Twitter accounts. Besides Bake and Destroy I also have The Donut Database and Send More Cops. And I contribute to Brutal As Hell and All Things Cupcake. So um...yeah, always blogging.
— Whitney Merritt
Two Chicago area colleges are in the Daily Beast's list of of the best campus food. Wheaton College's cafeteria, which under Klaus Mandl, an Austrian chef who preferred to call the dining hall an "in-house restaurant," was rated best in the nation by the Princeton Review. Mandl has moved on, but the cafeteria still buys local and turns out dishes like pork loin with dulce picanta salsa and wheatberry pilaf. Illinois Institute of Technology also made the list, partly for the Rem Koolhaas-designed campus center and partly for the dining options, which include a trayless cafeteria, a food court and a sit-down restaurant offering an inside out BLT or a chicken breast grilled with cilantro and tequila.
— Lori Barrett
GB contributor Shaz Rasul came across this bulletin board in a CPS elementary school, challenging students to take a week off of eating "Flaming Hot" Cheetos and other snack foods. Shaz says on his blog,
For those of you not hip to the urban elementary school youngsters' taste in chips, let me say that the flaming hots (preferably in their ubiquitous cheeto form, but also popular their frito incarnation) are the top of the charts.
As one student remarked recently, "the flaming hots, they get in your MIND".
Flaming Hot Cheetos are such a hit with kids that some schools have even banned them permanently -- though with limited efficacy, since kids can get them as soon as they leave school. They're considered disruptive in the classroom because the kids seem to get an endorphin buzz from the super hot snack, making them even more difficult than usual to control.
— Andrew Huff
Food Loves Writing Loves Autumn Loves Apple Tart Cake.
Their name creeps me out, but the food is reportedly tasty: Chicago Bites visits Browntrout.
So much is going on with Foodmomiac's newest soup recipe, but I'm into it.
The passing of Gourmet magazine is mourned over at My Vegetable Blog.
I am always looking for new ways to cook, serve and eat french toast.
Pinch candies pecans -- for salads. Yeah, salads.
I didn't think it was possible to make a healthy version of Cincinnati-style Chili, but Lindsey's Kitchen sets me straight.
Dr. Vino explains the newest trend of natural wines.
A meal in 180 characters: chefs twittering and blogging from the kitchen get attention.
Serious Eats' Ed Levine visited Hot Doug's when he was in town last month; Hot Doug is in New York visiting him today.
— Robyn Nisi
Last spring one of Chicago's favorite culinary landmarks, Club Lago, was forced to close after a 50-foot chimney collapsed onto its building. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 7 the family-owned restaurant will host a grand re-opening party after being closed for six months.
The party will begin at 5 p.m., reservations are recommended.
Club Lago
331 W. Superior St.
Chicago, IL 60610
312.951.2849
— Kaitlin Olson
I'm not sure if this happens to everyone's kids over the summer, but my two kids sprouted some very serious candy cravings during the lackadaisical months. So last night, when the request for "dessert" came up, my husband was prepared: He had a Jelly Belly BeanBoozled game.
Not for the weak of stomach, the game consists of a box of jelly beans and a spinner that directs players to jelly beans of a certain color. Green might be Juicy Pear or Booger; black is Licorice or Skunk Spray; white is Coconut or Baby Wipes, and so on. We went through about 20 napkins, and spitting was most definitely allowed (in the sink). My first taste, a yellow-white jelly bean, was either Popcorn or Rotten Egg. I couldn't be sure which it was; it tasted like eggy popcorn. The black Skunk Spray flavor was deemed "like eating a match," while the Baby Wipe was oddly tolerable--it kind of had that unusual savory-sweet combination that cupcake makers around town are playing with. After biting into the Barf bean, my son shoved a banana in his mouth to clean his palate. My daughter hovered over the sink. The dog turned out to be the real winner. He happily moved from player to player, gobbling up the Canned Dog Food, Moldy Cheese and Pencil Shavings no one else could tolerate. A mom can only hope this run in with Barf and Skunk Spray might curb the candy cravings.
— Lori Barrett / Comments (1)
New to Chicago and want to find restaurants that focus on locally grown food? Lived here all your life and need help finding committed business to the local food movement? Local Yolkel is a recently launched website that hopes to provide a comprehensive directory of restaurants, grocers, bakeries, caterers and cooking classes that use locally sourced ingredients. Soon the website will also include a comprehensive listing of local CSA (community supported agriculture) programs.
— Whitney Merritt
After a week of what seemed like the true beginning of fall - crisp temps, necessitating jackets; leaves starting to turn and fall off their branches - I woke up to what I would expect for an autumn Saturday morning. My condo was still and quiet, and I lay in bed, just reading and enjoying the lazy early hours.
But somewhere around 11:00 a.m., my upstairs neighbhors, whom I rarely hear due to different work schedules, began what sounded like the makings of a pretty sweet dance party (or at least a rousing soundtrack for a weekend cleaning spree). To some, this beat-laden accompaniment to the peaceful weekend may have been a nuisance. To me, it was an audible reminder of my community, of the friendly 9 people who have been my neighbors over the last year and a half in our 6-unit Bucktown condo.
— Caroline Kraft
Roof on the 27th floor of The Wit rolled out new cocktails for fall, and I had the chance to sample them when I dropped by a media event for Telluride ski resort on Thursday evening.
Several tempted me: the Spiced Pears & Honey, with Hangar One Spiced Pear Vodka, housemade honey syrup, and lemon; Ipanema, with Leblon Cachaca, apricot nectar, and Madeira; and Blood Orange Sidecar, with Landy's Cognac, orange bitters, and blood orange simple syrup.
But Roof's Great Pumpkin won me over, first with its nostalgic name, and then with its not-too-sweet, nice-and-warm-going-down taste. Maker's Mark Bourbon anchored a hint of citrus and the namesake ingredient, pumpkin simple syrup.
This drink oozed autumn and was a perfect choice on a chilly, rainy night. Makes me want to spend the weekend in search of more great pumpkin cocktails in Chicago. Anyone have any tips?
— Mandy Burrell Booth / Comments (1)
Don't get sloshed. Don't get sloshed. Don't get sloshed.
This was my mantra as I walked into Tru to attend a wine dinner. Wine (and beer) dinners seem to be all the rage, don't they? You have a multi-course meal that's paired with wines from a specific winery, and usually someone from the winery is on hand to talk about the wine, answer questions and become your new best friend. Well, maybe not that last bit, but they certainly seem to be pretty accessible.
— Jill Jaracz / Comments (1)
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 »
312 Dining Diva
A Girl in Her Kitchen
Bake & Destroy!
Blue Kitchen
Check Please! Blog
Chicagoist Food & Drink
Chicago Bites
Chicago Dining Examiner
Chicago Foodies
Chicago Gluttons
Chitown Tap
Dining Chicago
Dish
Dr. Vino
The Feast Chicago
The Food Chain
Food Loves Writing
Food on the Dole
Green Sugar
Grub Street Chicago
Guys Drinking Beer
Hungry mag
The Kitchen Sink
Lottie + Doof
LTH Forum
The Local Beet
Mariobatalivoice
One Hundred Eggs
The Paupered Chef
Pro Bono Baker
Sauceome
She Simmers
Smart Cabbage
Serious Eats
Sky Full of Bacon
The Stew
TOC Restaurants & Bars
Two Bites in Suburbia
Zagat Chicago
Join the Drive-Thru Flickr Pool.
Drive-Thru is the food and drink section of Gapers Block, covering the city's vibrant dining, drinking and cooking scene. More...
Please see our submission guidelines.
Editor: Robyn Nisi, rn@gapersblock.com
Drive-Thru staff inbox: drivethru@gapersblock.com
Subscribe in a reader.