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.
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Thursday, April 18
Dog whisperer Doug Sohn will be talking to the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago this Sunday (10:30am, 7574 Lincoln Avenue in Skokie) about the journey of his business and how he keeps churning out quality food. Maybe he'll bring samples?
— Robyn Nisi / Comments (1)
Chef Grant Achatz announced via Twitter that his eagerly anticipated new restaurant, Next, will likely open next Friday, April 6, with its Siamese twin bar, Aviary, delayed slightly. "We want 2 make it great," he tweeted.
Since Next's air travel-inspired booking system is not yet live, the best way to be sure when tickets for dinner are available is to sign up online and follow Achatz and the restaurant on Twitter. Meanwhile, Chicago magazine has an "annotated" look at one of the dishes soon to grace diners plates.
Next
935 W. Fulton Market
— Andrew Huff
Now We're Cookin' in Evanston is offering shared-use kitchen space that's available to farmers' market participants. If you have reserved a space at a local market and haven't yet finalized your prep kitchen arrangements, give them a call.
Their kitchens are open 7 days a week so you can prep for any market, anywhere in the city or suburbs. Don't forget that summer is an extremely busy period in the kitchen, so reserve your time now.
Contact them to schedule a tour at 847-570-4140 or info@nwcookin.com
— Ryan Frieson
I'll leave the reviewing of Kanela to others. Not because the new Lakeview "breakfast club" (inhabiting the former home of Orange on Clark) isn't review-worthy, but because my brother happens to be the chef there, and that degree of nepotism seems extreme even for Chicago. Suffice to say, I'm very proud (and you can read a real review and some more details--scroll down!--on your own).
What I will write about is the presence of loukoumades on a Chicago menu. Now, you can get gyros at just about any burger shack from Andersonville to the far South Side; the taramosalata at the Greek Islands is salty and generous; the saganaki flaming up and down Halsted; Tina Fey has endorsed the roasted chicken at the Athenian Room; and good lord, the Greek-style yogurt is practically jumping off the supermarket shelves. My point is, it's not like Greek food isn't well-represented here. But I've never seen loukoumades anywhere in the city -- and there are few things better to chase a steaming pita full of succulent meat and tzatziki than a sticky-sweet ball of lemony fried dough. I'm generally not a fan of the fried pastry products, but this is a doughnut I can get behind. Possibly because I first tried it with the Mediterranean sun on my shoulders, made by a serious man named Stavros or Yannis, with a side of melty Nutella -- just in case the honey-lemon syrup wasn't doing its job to make my teeth ring. But it's so simultaneously light, crispy and chewy, so sweet and tart... I'm sold. At Kanela, bougatsa and coffee frappes are on the menu, but the Greekness of the restaurant name doesn't extend too far into the food itself. Thank goodness it made it to the loukoumades -- and at only $3 for a plate of 5-6 walnut- and cinnamon-dusted fritters, one can only hope it's a trend that will catch on. Opa!
— Andie Cavedo / Comments (1)
I watched Baby Boom, one of my favorite '80s films, this past week. Diane Keaton plays a successful New York businesswoman on the verge of becoming a partner at her firm when she inherits custody of a toddler whose parents died in a car accident. Her white-collar career aspirations fall apart as her investment in parenting increases (the movie is a terrible stereotype about women not being able to balance career aspirations and family, etc.), and in a game-changing moment, Keaton's character moves to Vermont and begins a popular gourmet baby food enterprise using the loads of apple trees growing in her backyard. In the end, Keaton shacks up with Sam Shepard and everything makes sense, so if you need to throw a curve in your life, why not start your home orchard? It could change your life. Slow Food Chicago is hosting an afternoon-long seminar on how to select and graft plants on Saturday, April 9; admission $25-35, and trees will be available onsite for purchase.
— Robyn Nisi
Michael Moreci is a freelance writer.
Cooking is making a comeback. Of course, to a degree, it never left--people will always apply to heat to their food so, at the very least, it isn't toxic. But the culinary renaissance we're experiencing is less about the simple necessity of sating hunger and more about galvanizing culture, promoting good health, and reintroducing the communal bonds food can enable. First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative is educating children and families on the benefits of healthy eating habits; and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution has campaigned to get more nutritious menus in schools.
In Chicago, the non-profit organization Common Threads is front and center in the movement. Co-founded by chef Art Smith in 2003, the organization has a simple goal: to use food as a tool to build cultural awareness and strengthen family bonds. What started as a small initiative at Shoesmith Elementary in Hyde Park has ballooned into a national organization buttressed by a lineup of all-star chefs, including Paul Kahan of Blackbird and Chris Nugent of Les Nomades.
In that initial start-up period, the focus was on breaking down cultural barriers; Smith hatched the idea for Common Threads after cooking for 9/11 volunteers. His thinking was that by teaching kids about other cultures through food, he could help create a more tolerant and open-minded world.
— Drive-Thru
Picture by Joe Marinaro from the Drive-Thru Flickr Pool. Add your pics! Unlike Kuma's wait, you can view this burger immediately.
— Robyn Nisi
If you're going to Baconfest or even if you're not, Bacon Noir, a short film produced by Chicago Reader and directed by Ky Dickens will whet your pork appetite. The film stars chefs Stephanie Izard, Rick Gresh, Patrick Sheerin, and Chris Pandel, with the larger-than-life Bacon Prophet played by Second City writer and performer Tim Mason! Also featured in this tribute to the grit and belly of Chicago's urban landscape is Hey Champ's Singer/Guitarist, Saam Hagshenas and street artist CZR PRZ. It's based on the principles of the Bacon Manifesto.
— Ryan Frieson
It seems Treat Restaurant will not be closing after all, but taking a vacation and then reopening in a larger as-yet-determined location later this year (second item).
— Jen Bacher
If you like baking cookies and want to take your talents to South Beach, Pastry Chicago is holding its fourth annual Cookie Baking Competition on April 16 at the Lincoln Park Whole Foods; while the prizes haven't been announced, you can bet they'll rock, as Kitchen-Aid is a sponsor. Register by April 11 (only 25 spots to fill!).
— Robyn Nisi
Sable Kitchen and Bar has been named one of America's best new bars, according to Food and Wine magazine.
— Robyn Nisi
Xoco, Edzo's, Purple Pig and Three Floyd's are among this year's Great Neighborhood Restaurant Award winners.
— Robyn Nisi
The 2011 James Beard Foundation Awards finalists were tweeted out today, and naturally, several Chicagoans are among the nominees.
Among the journalism awards, the Tribune's Monica Eng is a finalist in the Environment, Food Politics & Policy category, while Michael Gebert and Julia Thiel were nominated in the Multimedia Food Feature for their Key Ingredient series.
The Publican is a finalist for Outstanding Restaurant Graphics. Topolobampo is a finalist for Outstanding Service, and Richard Melman is among the finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur.
Paul Kahan is a finalist for Outstanding Chef, and Stephanie Izard's Girl & the Goat is up for Best New Restaurant. Local Best Chef: Great Lakes finalists include Michael Carlson, Curtis Duffy, Bruce Sherman and Paul Virant. Blackbird's Patrick Fahy and Hot Chocolate's Mindy Segal are both vying for Outstanding Pastry Chef.
Stay tuned till May 6 to see who among the journalists win, and May 9 for the full awards gala.
— Andrew Huff
Can you stomach another week of special prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at some of the city's nicest restaurants? It's like being stuck at Ikea on a Saturday! Avec, Boka, Blackbird, Hearty, and Prairie Fire are among the restaurants participating in Chicago Chefs Week, which runs through Saturday. Lunch menus are at $22; dinner $33.
— Robyn Nisi
I was just walking along when I saw this pizza from Bella's Pizza in Beverly just hanging out. Too cool!
— Marcie Hill / Comments (2)
Humboldt Park's Indian-ish and veggie-friendly BYOB spot, Treat Restaurant, will be closing on April 3rd. I'll admit to being a bit sad about this - I've always enjoyed their Daal, Poori & Eggs for brunch, as I'm still unable to master making daal at home.
— Jen Bacher
Picture by katherine of chicago at the Drive-Thru Flickr Pool. If you love pie, get up to three of your friends and take part in Hoosier Mama's Second Birthday Scavenger Hunt tomorrow, co-sponsored by Drive-Thru. You must be registered in advance; call 312-243-4846 to enter. More info here.
— Robyn Nisi
Outstanding in the Field announced their 2011 season last week and tickets go on sale this coming Sunday.
My 2010 best meal was at a 100 person long table, perfectly situated under two bent willow trees at Kinnikinnick Farm on a sunny warm evening in August. We made the trek up to Caledonia, Illinois, just 2.5 hours from Chicago smack in the middle of Lollapalooza as the haze from the Lady Gaga concert the night before wore off. After taking the road where the blacktop ended, just like in the country songs, we saw a big chalkboard with an arrow pointing right and took the turn. Parking in a grassy field next to a big red silo, we strolled over to the house where our fellow diners were sipping on Golden Jet (Goose Island/Publican brew) and a Summer Punch by the folks from Death's Door Spirits.
Outstanding in the Field (OITF) sets off in May on a grand tour of farm dinners across the US. As a guest, you receive a fine meal made from ingredients grown on the soil you're sitting on, composed by a local renowned chef, and paired with local drinks and favorite vineyards of the OITF staff.
— Joanna Kanakis / Comments (3)
You have one more day to cast your vote for the Baconfest Poetry Competition. I'm torn between the intimacy of "Rendering" ("bacon became Bacon, my mouth gaped adrool- / and still / that sizzle echoes / through time's larders / and the years' open windows...") and "Ruminations on the Smell of Bacon" ("If they could, / those air-freshener guys would / abandon the mamby-pamby / scents of jasmine and lilac, / devise a way to give you the man-happy smell / of black coffee and bacon."). Winner gets admission to the sold-out April 9 event at UIC Forum and a few other porky gifts.
— Robyn Nisi
What goes better with your green beer than some pork sausage this is flavored with salt, pepper, Irish Whiskey, and dyed Chicago River green? Head to Butcher & Larder to pick up a few wee links.
— Cinnamon Cooper
Ready Made posted the recipe for this delight, straight outta the kitchen of Lula Cafe (via their pastry chef, Kate Neumann). As someone who would eat mud if had goat cheese in it, and who also has an equal love of panna cotta and caramel, this recipe looks insanely awesome (even if I have to buy silver gelatin sheets to accomplish it).
— Robyn Nisi
First, the Chicago Sun Times told us about TheJMom.com mother-curated dating site for single Jews. Then, Judd Hirsch turned 76. And now comes word that Chicago will play host to a Downtown Seder at the Chicago Cultural Center on Wednesday, April 13 at 7pm.
Ensuring that I won't need to book a last minute ticket back home to New York for Passover this year, the Downtown Seder is an event planned and produced by New York-based CityWinery founder Michael Dorf. The premier Chicago Downtown Seder event will feature performances from Israeli singer/songwriter David Broza with master flamenco guitarist Javier Rubial, New York comedienne Judy Gold (currently appearing in "Love, Loss and What I Wore" Off-Broadway), and renowned Anshe Emet Cantor Alberto Mizrahi aka "The Jewish Pavarotti".
A reading of the Haggadah will complement a traditional kosher meal. Well, traditional if Executive Chef Laura Frankel for Spertus Kosher Catering, and cuisine by Wolfgang Puck are part of your standard Pesach fare. Only 400 tickets are available, priced at $118 and $500, with tables of eight available for $1800 and $3600. For tickets and more information, please visit www.citywinery.com/seder. All proceeds for the event will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Two questions remain:
Will Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel be asked to read the questions of the Wicked Child?
and
Will they leave the Cultural Center's massive doors leading out onto Washington St open for Elijah?
— Ben Schulman
Located next to the Empty Bottle, you may have noticed Bite Cafe has been closed for remodeling since January. Well, if you can wait just another week, it's set to reopen this coming Monday, March 21st.
In addition to the internal sprucing up, the remodel will also bring with it a more "classic American diner"-style menu. We're just hoping owner Bruce Finkelman's success at Longman & Eagle doesn't cause a price-jump at Bite; their brunch, lunch, and dinner options have always been affordable in our book.
— Jen Bacher / Comments (1)
Chicago Honey Coop wants to help you become the beekeeper you always wanted to be. On a dreary day like today, why not start planning for all the awesome gifts of homemade honey you can give to others? Or to yourself? Haul out your Ren Faire garb and get your meade cup cleaned and at the ready; CHC's Beginning Beekeeping Class is Saturday, May 14 (10am-3pm) at Hull House; for $65, you'll learn the ins and outs--hive management and maintenance, and how to keep healthy bees. The second stage of the class ($78) is May 21 at CHC's apiary; you'll get hands-on time with the equipment. Both events culminate with a pot luck lunch. Register soon--before you have to transfer to Grover Cleveland.
— Robyn Nisi
March 14 has a lot of spiritual significance for mathematicians--and as it, happens, lovers of food. Pi, a constant represented by 3.14, is the ratio of a circle's area to the square of its radius (I don't know what it means, either)--is a day for science folk and food lovers to rejoice in the coming of spring, donuts in the breakroom, or, even better--special deals on pi(e)-shaped foods.
Hoosier Mama Pie Company (1618.5 West Chicago) is celebrating its second birthday today--and to show their love of 3.14, they're open 11am-7pm today for walk-in service; in addition, they'll be borrowing the Gaztro-Wagon for a day of mobile pie love all over the city.
Because no birthday can truly be confined to only one day, Hoosier Mama and Drive-Thru will be teaming up this Saturday, March 19 at noon for a Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt! Teams of 1-3 people will be given a list of tasks to complete in the area (which can be reached by foot or quick bus ride) over the course of three hours; all you need is a digital/phone camera and sleuthing skills. The winning team gets a YEAR of free pie (i.e. one pie each month for 12 months)--and HMPC will donate $100 to the charity of the winning team's choice. Think of all the summer barbecues, office gatherings, birthday parties and holidays that you will be the unsung hero over when you roll in with a Hoosier Mama pie. Can you smell the victory? Register by calling HMPC at 312-243-4846.
— Robyn Nisi / Comments (2)
March is my make it or break it month.
The snow is gone; it's grey and wet and I am starting to go stir crazy. Somehow a winter of stews and soups and casseroles still has left me hungry. I try eating out more often in hopes that the freshness I'm looking for will suddenly appear on my prepared plate. But even out on the town in good restaurants, my plate is wanting. Everything just feels tired.
Needless to say, it doesn't seem like anything could possibly grow out of the compacted muck I like to call a "backyard." If I cut into one more mealy tomato that I paid two dollars for, I think I'm going to lose it. We're turning our clocks back this weekend and with your extended light into the evening, I propose that you help usher in your own little spring. Start reminding yourself that the end is near, asparagus is on the way and spring is coming.
there's hope for you just after the jump...
— Joanna Kanakis / Comments (3)
Image by mediageek from the Drive-Thru Flickr Pool. Add your pics and get that free chocolate chip cookie recipe from Neiman Marcus!
— Robyn Nisi
Some people go to Hooters for the waitresses while their famous buffalo wings beckon others. I, personally, make special trips for their Sangria. These sweet drinks are made with red or white wine and flavorful juice. Quite tasty.
They are also good for relaxing. Sipping on a glass of Sangria helps release the pressures of the day. You tend to feel more "at home" at Hooters as you mellow with each sip. And it complements many of the menu selections quite well.
Whether you going to Hooters for the waitresses or wings, be sure to add sangria to your menu to make it an extra special evening.
— Marcie Hill / Comments (2)
One of my favorite things about going up to northern Wisconsin in the summers of my childhood was that my mom, a Chicago south-sider, had made almost identical pilgrimages with her family a generation earlier. Granted, the drive from Chicago was much longer than from central Wisconsin where I grew up, the medical technology for removing an errant fishing lure from someone's face was slightly more primitive, and the drone of Jet-Skis was still a nuisance of the future for my mom -- but there's something decidedly timeless about the Northwoods. Few northern institutions epitomize that time warp more than Wisconsin supper clubs -- many of which were started in the 1930s and '40s, and still exist, still serve ice cream drinks from the bar (Pink Squirrel, what up!) and oyster crackers with the near-mandatory bowl of soup, and still advertise their whereabouts on wooden planks nailed to the trees along windy, pine-shaded roads. And if this description was not romantic enough for you, some dear soul has gone and made a whole documentary film about the phenomena.
Chicago documentary filmmaker Holly De Ruyter is exploring the history and enduring present of Wisconsin supper clubs in her new film, Old Fashioned. (Like the drink! Get it?) And she's fundraising the old-fashioned way as well, by throwing a party this Saturday at Will's Northwoods Inn to kick up some cash and unveil the film's trailer. Full details are in Slowdown and on Facebook, but a $15 suggested donation will get you two drink tickets, plus the cheese, sausage and raffle largess Will's is known for, and ice cream drinks! Do you know how hard it is to get a bartender to make you an ice cream drink these days? Bartenders HATE making ice cream drinks! Haaaaaaaate. But mostly because getting the ice cream and the flavoring are just so far outside the normal orbit of the bar -- so they can't hate on it if it's the focal point of the event, right? Here's hoping... If you're into the supper club nostalgia, or just are dying to know what exactly a Pink Squirrel is, this event is not to be missed.
— Andie Cavedo / Comments (3)
Today is a blessed day in the donut-loving community--Paczki Day, the Tuesday before Lent. As we've said before, a few of the hot spots for picking up these delights are: Delightful Pastries (now in Old Town & the French Market in addition to their original 5927 W Lawrence location); Bennison's in Evanston (1000 Davis); Oak Mill Bakery (several locales in the burbs and city); and if you're feeling sinister, Dominick's (you don't need an address for that, do you?).
— Robyn Nisi / Comments (1)
With 227 votes, Irene Rivera's Date and Bacon Jam Thumbprint Cookies was the most voted for recipe in Nueske's Amateur Cookoff. For anyone who's counting, that's about as many votes as former crack addict Patricia Van Pelt Watkins received in the recent mayoral election. Irene and five other finalists will compete at Chicago's Baconfest 2011. Also vying for the top prize is Monica Sehgal Sharma's intriguing sounding Tandoori Bacon Nachos and Elizabeth Schuler's back-to-basics Bacon Country Meatloaf. You can peruse the recipes of all six finalists -- as well as the recipes of the contestants who weren't selected -- here. There's no point in beating around the bush, however. Some of the non-winners look... kind of gross. We're looking at you Bacon-Weaved Bacon Log. [Baconfest]
— Andrew Carlin / Comments (1)
Between underground dinners, food trucks, and community kitchens, some chefs can be as elusive as unicorns. Combining all three early next month: Glimpse.
A collaborative effort between Logan Square Kitchen, Hum Spirits, Gaztro Wagon, and Fritz Pastry, Glimpse is a pop-up restaurant happening April 6-9 only.The menu will be family-style dinner service and is divided into five courses: fish, veggie, meat, cheese, and dessert; diners must choose 5 courses at $10 each, minimum. A drink tasting menu will also be available for $5/course, $10/drink a la carte, or $10/bottle of wine. Take a peek at the menu here.
In this new age of social media, reservations will be take via Twitter. You follow @Glimpse_Chi, they in turn follow you; you direct message them for reservations and they will confirm. Seating is limited, but if your party is large enough, there will be one chef's table available each night.
-Logan Square Kitchen, 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave.
— Jen Bacher
Stephanie Izard's opening an old-school diner this fall, sans gastro-foof but with plenty of "'moons over My Hammy' and shit."
— Sunny McDaniel
In a Chicago winter, chili cook-offs are a dime a dozen -- but shouldn't those dimes go to a good cause? The Heat It Up contest (which has got to be the last of the season) is a fundraiser for the Glenwood Sunday Market, an organic, local, sustainable, nonprofit market in Rogers Park.
— Sunny McDaniel
Chicago's very own swarming of locavores and farmers unite March 17-19 for the Family Farmed Expo at the UIC Forum to help consumers learn more about good food and where to find it, to help restaurants connect with farmers and to help chefs connect with you. This three day extravaganza is a trade show, conference, and all around local foodie fest open to anyone who may be interested.
Thursday and Friday's programming is target more towards financiers, producers and purchasers of local products on a commercial level, but Saturday is your best bet for the common folk like us. Starting at 9 am they'll have workshops on how to raise your own bees and chickens, how to preserve local food (think canning, freezing, drying), how and where to get involved in the local food scene and more. Here's the full list.
Stephanie Izzard kicks off a round of chef demos target to teach us what to do with that beef heart and fennel root that you pick up at your farmers market. These local agriculture-supporting chefs have been paired with a family farm, who will provide the ingredients. Chef's include Bill Kim (Urban Belly/Belly Shack), Paul Virant (Vie), Chris Pandel (the Bristol).
Tickets for the event are $10 for the exhibits and chef demos only, $25 to gain access to the workshops if you buy your tickets online in advance. Plus, if you're a dedicated locavore and looking for a party to eat, drink, and listen locally on Friday night, Localicious will feature about 20 restaurants, wineries, distilleries and breweries for a mere $75 a ticket.
— Joanna Kanakis
"This is just wonderful, a wonderful surprise. Oh, I can't believe it! You hear about churches giving out stuff and everything. This has never happened in this neighborhood that I know of. Not from a store. When was the last time you heard of a store giving you twelve dollars' worth of food? Thank you."
These words of gratitude were expressed by Barbara Sullivan, who has lived in the Avalon Park community for eighteen years, in response to the bag of groceries that contained oatmeal, fruit snacks, cereal bars, popcorn, raisin bran, corn and fruit cocktail left on her doorstep by Save-A-Lot Food Store's street team. "I came out because my mother took in a bag. She said, 'I don't know what's going on...all this food." She thought it was a church or something. I looked at the bag and it said 'Save-A-Lot.' I go, 'I don't believe this!' I saw the truck and came out to see if you were going down the block."
Save-A-Lot Food surprised nearly 7,000 families with a free bag of groceries this past Monday in the Chatham, Englewood, West Englewood, Avalon Park and Greater Grand Crossing neighborhoods where they opened new stores the previous week. All of these areas are considered to be food deserts because they meet one or more of the criteria: 1) no grocery stores are in the immediate community; 2) more fast food restaurants than healthy options are in the area; or 3) the price of healthy food is not affordable.
— Marcie Hill / Comments (4)
Maple syrup's all the rage these days -- especially the urban kind. Learn about its humble roots (hardy har) and the time-consuming-yet-remarkably-simple syrup-making process at the park district's free Maple Syrup Festival, March 26 and 27.
— Sunny McDaniel
Friday, March 11, founders of Alinea and all-around culinary superstars, Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas, will be on hand at Kendall College for a signing of their book, Life, On the Line: A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat. Below is the schedule:
Wood-Mode Auditorium at Kendall College
2pm Reception
2:30pm Presentation/Q&A
3:30pm Booksigning/Reception
The event costs $45 to attend and includes beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres and a signed book. RSVP today to events@kendall.edu or call 312-752-2196.
— Renee Barone
Picture by Mel Hill Photography from the Drive-Thru Flickr Pool. Can't fight this feeling anymore? Add your pictures.
— Robyn Nisi
Lula Cafe has bought the recently vacated dry cleaners shop to its north and will be building a 1,200 square foot coffee and pastry space, which is a pretty brilliant solution for enduring your hour wait for a table.
— Robyn Nisi
Yeah, a strolling group of beer lovers will be traipsing about Logan Square tomorrow night for a tour of six (oy, six!) the neighborhood's finest draught houses. The free event, organized by the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society, starts at 6pm at Humboldt Liquors (3017 West Armitage) and ends at 10pm at Weegee's (3659 West Armitage). You'll be home in time to watch the 11pm Oprah rebroadcast on TV, so it's really a win-win for you.
— Robyn Nisi
Master pastry chef and Guinness Book record-holder Alain Roby has built a life-sized chocolate replica of his home kitchen.
— Sunny McDaniel
It's not new, it's not flashy, but my oh my does The Brown Sack make some great food.
I'd never been to The Brown Sack until they moved to their new spot at Belden & Central Park. From the outside the shop is cute and unassuming, and not much flashier inside featuring the menu on a large chalkboard with specials on a card at the counter. The best way to keep up with their specials is actually on facebook, where they post almost daily.
Some recommendations:
Slow-Roasted Pork Sandwich - the meat is very herbal (their online menu says thyme, I could've sworn I tasted rosemary), and is topped with their apple-ginger cole-slaw, which is also an excellent bet for a side dish.
Corned Beef Reuben - not greasy, and somehow none of the ingredients slipped out as I was eating this! Oh, and it was classically delicious.
Pasta Salad (side) - pick this over the potato salad; it's got the exact right amount of creamy dressing, with small bits of carrot and onion that stick to the curly noodles so you get some in every bite.
I also got the Spicy Pork Pozole last time I was there, which was on special. If I had my say, it would be a regular item on their menu, because it was amazing - enough pork to get a piece in every bite, but in perfect fat matchstick-size pieces; just enough heat as you were eating it, but not enough to linger for more than a few seconds after each bite; rich broth; tender yet firm pieces of hominy.
I have yet to get a shake because I've only been so far when it's been cool out, but I've totally got my eye on the Oreo. Although with Nutella and Nutmeg shakes popping up as specials lately, you never know...
-The Brown Sack, 3581 W. Belden, 773.661.0675 for carry-out or delivery
— Jen Bacher
We gave you a heads up on Chicago Restaurant week but if you just weren't quite fast enough on Open Table we've got good news: 60 restaurants are extending their deals. We're including a few of our favorites below, plus you can check Chicago Tribune's The Stew for the whole list.
CHICAGO q
Extended through Thursday, March 3.
GREEN ZEBRA
Extended through Sunday, March 6.
MEXIQUE
Extended through Sunday, March 6.
PHIL STEFANI'S 437 RUSH
Extended through Thursday, March 31.
QUARTINO RISTORANTE
Lunch menu only extended through Sunday, March 6.
RIVA CRAB HOUSE on Navy Pier
Extended through Thursday, March 31.
TAVERN ON RUSH
Extended through Sunday, March 6.
TUSCANY RESTAURANT on Taylor Street
Extended through Thursday, March 31.
VEERASWAY
Extended through Sunday, March 6.
— Joanna Kanakis / 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...
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