This Saturday, May 17, bring out your pom-pons to cheer for more responsible food at the Green City Market's 10th Anniversary Rally for Local Sustainable Farming. Join Tallgrass Beef/newsman Bill Kurtis, Frontera chef Rick Bayless, Da Mare and others in kicking off the event, which pays tribute to sustainable farmers. Whether you're a food organization or just a food fan, it's important to voice your support for fresh, local food. The market is open from 7 am to 1 pm, and the rally will be from 9-10 am.
Whole Foods is offering a series of cooking classes at Lincoln Park Zoo's Farm House, right next to the park space that holds the Green City Market. The classes, three of which are for adults and three of which are for kids, highlight local and sustainable foods. The first class, this Saturday, features a berry menu for kids; toward the end of the summer, adults will get a lesson in sustainable seafood and what it means to be a localvore. Check the zoo's website for dates and times.
It's beginning, people. No more trudging through produce aisles in seach of unwilted lettuce and intact tomatoes. Farmer's market season begins this week, with a number of established markets opening their doors for business. The Federal Plaza market kicks off Tuesday, Daley Plaza's market opens Thursday, and the Green City Market, which got some attention from this season's Top Chef and was named one of the best farmer's markets in the nation by chef Alice Waters, opens Wednesday with cooking demonstrations by Carrie Nahabedian (of Naha), George Bumbaris and Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe, and Bruce Sherman of North Pond Cafe. Lincoln Park's market opens Saturday. Many other markets are opening in June; check the city's online schedule for details.
Vie Restaurant and the North Shore Distillery are joining forces for a one-night only tasting menu of food and cocktail pairings designed by Vie’s chef and mixologist teams using North Shore spirits. The May 29th dinner will allow a limited number of guests and provide opportunities for them to ask questions of both the chef and the mixologists. The cost is $110 per person, before tax and gratuity. Vie is located in Western Springs, so get your Metra pass or ZipCar membership out.
You don't have to travel all the way to Italy to celebrate the annual risotto festival that takes place the first Sunday in May in the tiny Italian town of Sessame. Beginning Monday, May 5, Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar at Lincoln and Paulina will be serving up a special risotto daily through Sunday, May 11. Among the featured risottos: the ever-popular Risotto Milanese (with saffron, parmigiano-reggianno, and herbs), a very springy sounding dish with celery, prosciutto and peas, and a decadent risotto with wild mushrooms, fresh herbs, pecorino tartufatti cheese and truffle oil.
Just a reminder that Dark Lord Day begins at the Three Floyds Brewery tomorrow at 11 am. Get there early to mingle and be prepared to wait in line. Bring cash.... and possibly a coat.
More information and directions can be found on the Three Floyds website. I'll be there with my boyfriend, my dad and my dentist (!), and I'll be posting a full write-up in the feature section next week.
-Atwood Cafe will be serving a specially-priced three course meal featuring foods from local and organic farms for $45 per person. Organic or biodynamic wine pairings will be available for an additional $20 per person. Trees for the Future will receive 25% of your meal's proceeds.
-On April 24, Vella Cafe will be teaming up with Provenance for a $65 three-course meal and wine experience using organic, locally-grown, and biodynamic ingredients from 7-9pm. RSVP required.
-The Stew lists some deals at Carnivale, Big Bowl, and Shaw's Crab House. They also have a list of green-friendly restaurants around town.
Now that baseball season is warming up in the city, I am reminded not only of the rivalries between the Sox and Cubs, but also of the quality of the food at each park. I've eaten some pretty good, well-priced meals at US Cellular, but the Friendly Confines has a pretty good hot dog. Your thoughts?
Now that you've turned in your 1040, why not celebrate with a visit to Va Pensiero's "Celebrate Tuscany" event tonight? Sponsored by ChicaGourmets, the $63 fee covers wine and four courses of delish eats. You may be able to itemize the meal for next year's taxes. Or not.
The Southern Foodways Alliance (in concert with LTH Forum and Greater Midwest Foodways Alliance) will be holding a delicious day camp-like series of events from May 23-25 that explore Chicago's many foods, from soul food to bourbon to tamale sandwiches. Camp Chicago is meant to draw tourists to the city, but is open to anyone, and the organized excursions sound great for those of us who love eating but are carless. The $85 Registration covers several events; day excursions range from $45-55.
Taxes are due next week, and what better way to smother your sorrows (if you owe) or to celebrate your cash flow (if you received a return) than to indulge in barbeque and wine?
On Tuesday, April 17th, from 7-9 pm, Juicy Wine Co. teams up with Chicago's own Smoque and Walla Walla's K Vintners for the ultimate BBQ/wine pairing. Charles Smith from K will personally pair the juiciest of his wines with the finger-lickingest best barbecue in the city, Smoque BBQ. Smith will be pouring his latest releases, including Boom Boom Syrah as well as crowd-pleasers House Wine, Kung Fu Girl and Holy Cow Chardonnay. Tickets are $25, call for reservations.
Juicy Wine Co.
694 N. Milwaukee Ave.
(312) 492-6620
Saturday night from 8 to 9 pm, Chicagoans are encouraged to turn out their lights for Earth Hour. As it's a Saturday night, and you might have plans for dinner or drinks out, fear not. Many local dining and drinking destinations are planning candle-lit meals or themed cocktails. There's a brief list of particpating places in Time Out Chicago and on Metromix.
All of the Four Seasons hotels around the world are taking part. If your pockets aren't deep enough for the Four Seasons--even if you're love of the environment is--you can head to Deleece, Rockstar Dogs or Cyrano's Bistro, which is holding candle-lit dinners not just Saturday, but all weekend.
Mark your calendars! The Chicago History Museum is celebrating the city's cuisine in April with four great events. The first is April 15's lecture "Hot Dog! A History of Chicago Foods" that will explore Chicago's culinary traditions (with free hot dogs provided by Vienna Beef). To celebrate Earth Day, April 22's lecture "The Local Option" will feature guests such as chefs Rick Bayless and Sarah Stegner to talk about organic eating and shopping in the city. On April 29, even more star power (Gale Gand, Carol Wallach) will be on hand to talk about the state of Chicago's cuisine.
If you were lucky enough to score tickets to the (sold out) May 4 companion bus tour to the life-changing "Foods of Chicago" WTTW documentary with narrator Geoffrey Baer and producer Dan Protess, please post pictures in the Drive-Thru Flickr group so that our computer's desktop picture can get a much-needed updating.
If you're interested in celebrating locally, you have plenty of options, but die-hard fans may want to join the LTHForum folks at noon at Weiner and Still Champion, 802 Dempster in Evanston, for what's considered one of the best examples of the genre. They'll also be trying the "Luther Burger," a cheeseburger with Krispy Kreme donuts for buns. And then heading up to Northwestern Memorial for triple-bypasses at a group discount.
From March 16-22, a range of selected local restaurants (e.g. A Mano, Vie, D'Agostinos and Uncommon Ground) will be participating in the UNICEF Tap Project, a benefit that asks diners to pay an extra $1 of their meal cost to support clean, accessible drinking water worldwide. Visit one of these restaurants tonight to support this worthwhile cause.
Just as the weather gets better, it's time to head indoors for some quality time with your cable TV. Top Chef's Chicago edition premieres tonight at 9pm on Bravo, and promises to pose more questions than answers. Will the local contestants have home turf advantage? Will Gail and Padma grab an after-work drink at Cardozo's? Will the contestants visit the Weiner's Circle and shy away from the verbal abuses of the staff? Let's work through these puzzling questions together.
Tomorrow, March 10, is Founder's Day at Peet's Coffee & Tea. That means a half pound of free beans for every customer who buys a half pound. And, as others Peet's enthusiasts know, a free cup of coffee is always part of the deal when you buy beans (yup, every day of the year.) Alfred H. Peet, the founder of the company, died just this past September, almost 42 years after he opened his first shop in Berkeley, CA. Because it's a California company, there are only two outposts here in Chicagoland: the first, in the city, at 1000 W. North Avenue and the second, in Evanston, at 1622 Chicago Avenue. While not exactly a homegrown, local business, Peet's is, on the whole, more committed to quality and community service than some of those other chain coffee joints out there.
Put some sunshine in your Monday! Make reservations now for a celebration of sunny Provence at copperblue. Enjoy six wines from Peter Fischer and Chateau Revelette along side four courses from Chef Michael Tsonton for just $79 all inclusive.
Menu highlights include:
preserved Seville orange gnocchi with pink peppercorn applesauce, grilled fennel salad, apple cider-lemon thyme vinaigrette
Food Network's 2 Dudes are coming to Chicago to drum up some interest in their show, along with some interest in Johnsonville brats. The two dudes are planning to drop a giant sausage from the top of the John Hancock building tomorrow, Friday, at noon, on to a two-story grill. They're asking Chicago Dude fans, brat fans and those with some free time to stop by and chant "drop that brat." Should be some free brat samples for those that do stop by--even if they don't chant.
The Illinois Humanities Council will be showing the documentary King Corn next Saturday (March 15) at the Chicago Cultural Center (77 East Randolph) from 2-4pm followed by a panel discussion about the movie led by local food activist LaDonna Redmond and artist Claire Pentecost. The event is free, but reservations are required, so make them today.
With the long, harsh winter we've had this year, it's odd to reassure yourself that there's an actual end to the cold and snow. The first culinary sign that winter is on its way out? Ramps, a tasty onion-like green (aka wild leek), which will begin blooming later this month. It's only fitting that the city whose name means "land of the wild onion" would have a celebration of this heralded ingredient. Support The Land Connection while chowing down on dishes made of ramps at this year's RampFest, which will take place March 28. Dishes made with locally grown ramps from restaurants such as Blackbird, Vie and Lula Cafe will be served. Tickets are $75 (until this Friday!), and then will range from $90-120; event starts at 7pm at Prairie Production, 1314 W. Randolph Street.
A poster on LTH Forum wrote a summary of his recent experience as a diner at LaGrange's Cafe 36 in the presence of cameras from celeb chef Gordon Ramsay's television show "Kitchen Nightmares," which will be giving the restaurant a revamping in an upcoming episode. Cafe 36's former chef Reinhard Barthel departed last year after disputing with the owner (who was also his father) and ended up at Palermo's in Orland Park, which may be why Britain's Angriest Chef is on the case of improving the restaurant, which has received decent reviews in the past.
For those of you who have yet to try the fabulous spirits created by the local North Shore Distillery, Binny's South Loop will be hosting a free tasting this Friday from 5pm -8pm.
(Their website mentions that they will be adding a brandy to their artisan collection soon!)
I hope you remembered to make reservations at one of the many impressive restaurants participating in Chicago Restaurant Week, which starts today for a one-week run of affordable prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at typically not-so-affordable places (Naha, I'm looking at you).
Plan to eat out on Tuesday, March 11, 2008. In fact, at participating Chicago restaurants, check your guilty conscience at the door and splurge that night, when a portion of your tab will help support 80 community organizations benefitting from the 5th Annual Share a Meal with Community Shares.
Places like Atlas Cafe and Agami Sushi are donating up to 30 percent of their proceeds that day to organizations like Voices for Illinois Children, Mikva Challenge, and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Diners also can up the ante by designating a portion of their bills to a specific member charity of Community Shares of Illinois.
Mark your calendars, ale fans: the Chicago Beer Society's Night of the Living Ales IV will be held March 1 at Goose Island (3535 N. Clark) and will be a celebration (and competition) of locally brewed ales. The ticket price ($35 for CBS members, $40 nonmembers) includes a tasting glass, a load of samples, and appetizers. Take CTA or a cab, folks. You'll be in it to win it and therefore in no shape to drive home afterwards.
Tickets went on sale today at 9:30am for Alton Brown's March 15 appearance at the Museum of Science and Industry. Brown, host of the Food Network programs "Iron Chef" and "Good Eats," will be giving a zany lecture about food and its connections to science, followed by a Q&A and book signing session. Event begins at 11am. Tickets are $40 for adults, $25 for kids ages 3-11.
Today's the last day to get your paczki from Dinkel's on Lincoln. The fried pillows of sugar, fat and fruit are the traditional Polish food consumed in the few days before the beginning of Lent. Still sticking to the New Year's diet? Check out Joelen's Paczki Palooza and live vicariously through her.
Most people resolve that Monday is the big day to start a diet; according to a study, by the following day, 31% of eager dieters have ditched their plans and returned to a steady diet of grape soda and cheez-its. This week is no exception to the time-honored tradition of ditched diets; Fat Tuesday, the day of excessive consumption that precedes Ash Wednesday (and the start of Lent, the saddest 40 days of any Catholic kid's life) is tomorrow. 312 Dining Diva and Metromix have nice summaries of local celebrations, from free beignets at Brasserie Jo to zydeco bands at Heaven on Seven.
If you don't give two shakes about that silly football game on Sunday, why not spend the day making Paczki (Polish-style Filled Doughnuts) with other foodies from LTH Forum? They're organizing a Paczki-making session at Delightful Pastries (5927 West Lawrence, phone 773-545-7215) where you will fry, glaze and fill your own dozen paczki with a number of enticing things (e.g. raspberry, custard, rose petal jelly). You will also take home some chrusciki (cruellers) as well. The event will start at 2pm and costs $15; registration deadline is today.
This Friday night is the ultimate foodie's dream--the Grand Chefs Gala, a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation featuring the culinary prowess of Chicago's best chefs, among them "Top Chef"'s Dale Levitski, Aigre Doux's Mohammad Islam, and Pasticceria Natalina's own Natalie Zarzour. The $400 ticket will get you cocktails, hors d'Oeuvres, a four-course dinner and desserts; however, if you are like me and need to pay rent instead, you can opt to show up at 10pm for the $50 per person Afterparty, which allows you your fill of the dessert course, open bar and dancing.
Have a new sweetie that you want to share Valentine's Day with, but not sure they're worth a $200 fancy pants feast? Or maybe you just want something a bit more low key than the fixed priced menus and disaffected waiters that most joints serve up on the officially sanctioned Day O' Luv. Bittersweet bakery is offering two seatings of a 3 course menu on the 14th for a mere $35 pp. Menu includes an organic greens, beets, and goat cheese salad, your choice of veggie gratin or lamb chops, molten chocolate cake and a glass of bubbly. With seatings at 5:30pm and 7:30pm, you can continue the evening at a swanky bar or back at your love shack with some sweet treats from the pastry case. Reservations are required. (773) 929-1100. Bittersweet Pastry Shop. 1114 W. Belmont Ave.
Be sure to listen to Sound Opinions on Chicago Public Radio (91.5 FM in Chicago) this Friday, Jan 25 at 8pm when Chef Anthony Bordain chats with hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot about "two of the best things on earth: music and food." Other chefs, including Doug Sohn of Hot Doug's and Graham Elliot Bowles of Avenues at The Peninsula Hotel, will weigh in on the connection between the two topics and Jim and Greg are going to play some of their favorite food-related songs.
If you can't catch the show on Friday, it will re-air on Saturday at 11am and will be available by podcast the following Monday on theSound Opinions site.
River North's Aigre Doux celebrates its first anniversary Monday with a $75 prix fixe dinner which includes a complimentary glass of champagne and a menu with all sorts of creative delights such as pan-seared diver scallops with sea urchin foam and blood orange vinaigrette, Tasmanian crab cake with avocado and pomelo mizuna salad and bluefin tuna carpaccio with arugula, kumquat and Sicilian pistachio. And those are just the appetizers. Not sold? Check out our review from last spring.
Dinner service begins at 5 p.m. and reservations are recommended (which can be made online or by calling 312-329-9400.
While we're all ecstatic about the announcement of Chicago Restaurant Week, where local top-shelf restaurants will offer special prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus for the budget-conscious eater, there's another (yes, another) separate event called Chicago Originals that will take place from January 27 to February 3 to allow the less moneyed foodie another opportunity to eat at local nice places (like Cafe Matou and Sweets and Savories) for the price of $20.08! Can you believe the luck we're having?
The Chicago Tribune Web site reported today that some of the city's best restaurants will offer cut-rate, three-course, prix fixe lunches and dinners the week of Feb. 22 to 29.
For just $21.95 for lunch or $31.95 for dinner, you can enjoy an appetizer, entree, and dessert at places like David Burke's Primehouse, Naha, Blue Water Grill, Roy's Restaurant, and Smith & Wollensky. The slogan for the city's first-ever Chicago Restaurant Week is "Eat It Up!" And that's just what restaurateurs are hoping you'll do during what is traditionally a slow time of year for fine dining. Make reservations starting Tuesday.
One of my favorite grocery stores, Sunflower Market, is hosting a screening and premiere party for the TBS show "10 Items or Less" tonight from 6 to 9 pm. Games, prizes and food are all promised, and radio station 101.9 WTMX will be there. The store is located at 1910 N. Clybourn Ave.
I was reading the San Francisco Chronicle a few weeks ago and came across a neat story about a Northwestern University art professor who held a seminar to talk about his Iraqi-Jewish heritage and make the foods of his childhood. The seminar, called Enemy Kitchen, was also an opportunity for the audience to talk about their perspectives on the war and the impact it has had on culture. The professor, Michael Rakowitz, will be bringing Enemy Kitchen to the Hyde Park Art Center this Sunday from 5-7pm, as part of the companion exhibit Consuming War which ends January 20 at the Center. Reservations are required. Click here to register.
If you absoutely have to go out for dinner on amateur night, best make your reservations right now. Luckily, a quick scan of opentable shows plenty of early res's available at lots of swanky spots throughout the city. They even offer a special page that shows some of the fixed price deals and promos for the big night out.
Standouts include Anteprima, Copperblue, and Naha offering their regular menus and others with special tasting menus and the ever popular Champagne toast. BOKA, Gejas, Le Lan, and Bin 36 all have tasty looking options that range from $50-$135 depending on your seating time and number of courses. The best bargain seems to be The Park Grill with a five course tasting menu, live jazz, and free trolley rides home within a two mile radius all for $55. As an added bonus, you can order $10 glasses of Veuve Clicquot NV all night long.
If you haven't yet tried this year's Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, know that it's where you can quickly and in passing grab a bag of some thickly candied nuts. One outdoor vendor in a wooden shed keeps a large pot with a motorized mixing blade aside a counter filled with trays of pecans, almonds, macadamia nuts and peanuts in either coconut, cocoa, cinnamon, amaretto, or just plain sugar flavor (depending on the nut) - and Vienna almonds (vanilla, I think). I tried a few varieties in my visits. Their nuts are reliably crisp, well coated with tasty sugar, and with the fragrance that comes from nothing but a nicely roasted nut. Wash them down with Glühwein, a "traditional German holiday market hot spiced wine" from another shack. My last time there, I was off to meet friends at a bus stop and had six minutes and three downtown blocks to go. I was led astray en-route by a sweet nutty smell that I recognized with smiles. A German-sounding-accented gal scooped cinnamon-sugar pecans into a paper cone that she had on her scale. I was off a minute after the aroma first came to me, and at the bus stop sharing crunches of sugary pecans after another two minutes.
If you're like me, you think that most German food is based on a dare. I'm really no hater of the culture; technically, I'm a little bit German--but I'm mostly Italian, which is why schnitzel never made its way to our family dinner table as a kid. As I've branched out my culinary tastes, I've still been unable to really enjoy German food--the breaded, heavily-sauced planks of meat, overcooked vegetables, spaetzle and gallons of other starchy delights have done little to stir my interest. I bravely endured the food of the Berghoff, let other people order for me at the Brauhaus, and made sure my water glass was always full so that I could wash down what I thought was a flavorless eating experience.
But as hunger makes a great sauce, as my mother once said, the cold weather combined with the food offerings at the Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza (between Washington, Clark & Dearborn Streets) makes for a good lunch hour meal. Milwaukee restaurant Mader's has a booth with very good Reuben rolls, local bakery Dinkel's is selling stollen, and of course, many of the other booths are selling beer, which makes the second part of the workday more enjoyable. The Market also has a fair amount of onsite seating, despite the season. Christkindlmarket is open daily from 11am-8pm (11am-9pm on Friday and Saturday) until December 24, so make a stop before it ends.
Registration begins today for World Kitchen, a series of cooking classes sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs that will be held in the new, top-notch culinary facilities at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph Street starting in January . The cost of most of the events is $30 and offers instruction in a range of subjects, such as making marinara sauce (January 10), Asian New Year delicacies (February 10), and Chicago street food (February 28). Click here for more information and to register.
If you weren't able to catch this past week's premiere of the WTTW "Foods of Chicago" documentary with Geoffrey Baer, you are in major luck: the program will be shown again on Monday night at 7:30pm and next weekend.
While a lot of Chicago food points to pizza and hot dogs, I was wondering why the documentary didn't mention anything of the "new school" of Chicago food that includes places like Charlie Trotter's. Producer Dan Protess shed some light on the topic. "Charlie Trotter has been around long enough that he certainly qualifies as historical. But the other criterion is that it had to be subject matter that screamed Chicago. But haute cuisine is not exactly the Chicago stockyards. Or Polish food."
It's an interesting question. Can Chicago cuisine ever legitimately push its deep-fried reputation into something that shows more versatility? Take Alinea, for example. Will the experience of burning leaves being served with your pumpkin pie-ish dessert ever be a Chicago trademark? I suppose many years down the road, were this documentary to be recreated, a mention of Alinea, or places like Trotter's and Moto, will have their own spot in the limelight. But for now, let's be real: I know only two people who had the money to pay for a meal at Alinea, excited that they were able to eat at such a place. And after the 20 courses of bite-sized dishes served on wires and pillows, they went over to Al's #1 for an Italian beef sandwich so that they wouldn't go home furious about being $150 poorer and still hungry.
Ted Allen, the food expert from Chicago who became famous advising culinarily-challenged straight men on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, is returning to town this week. He'll be at Dinner by Design's Maxwell Street store sharing meal-preparation tips for people who suffer from acid-reflux disease. The meals are meant to be quick and easy to prepare, but without heartburn triggers like spicy or tomato-based sauces, or fatty deep-fried ingredients. There's no time listed for the event, so call the store at 312-997-5100 for more information.
Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday celebrating the dead through art and food, begins today. If you're looking for the sugary, colorful calaveras (skulls) and sweet egg bread (pan de muerta) that are the symbols of the holiday, a nice Sun Timesarticle (mentioned in the Quick Links below) sums up where to go. If you're looking to buy some things online, local confectioner Dulcelandia has a nice selection. And if you're a foodie with a hankering for the gourmet stuff, your buddies at Vosges have come up with a nice trio of chocolate skulls for your indulgence.
Ever wonder how your barista got that cool little leaf design on the top of your latte? Learn how to turn your cup into a canvas at Intelligentia's Espresso Enthusiast Class--a basic course in barista training. Topics include espresso preparation, milk steaming and of course latte art. You'll even receive a free bag of Black Cat coffee for your efforts. There are a variety of dates available and reservations are required. Fulton Street Roasting Works, 1850 W. Fulton, Chicago. $200 per class.
Paula Deen, the Food Network's queen of country cuisine, is coming to The Chicago Theater on November 17th for two live shows. Paula will share her favorite down home recipes with fans, as well as cooking tips and advice. Tickets are still available for both shows. You bet your britches that I'll be there.
Can't wait until November? Try making one of my favorite Paula recipes--corn casserole--at home. (Warning: recipe may not be suitable for the calorie-conscious.)
Paula Deen's Corn Casserole
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (8-ounce) package corn muffin mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, and melted butter. Pour into a greased 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with cheddar. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.
Prentice Women's Hospital at Northwestern opened Saturday, and along with it another chapter of the well-hidden secret of why I love Northwestern Memorial Hospital: their cafeteria. If you've ever tasted hospital food, you know its bland calling card; however, I've enjoyed many countless meals at Spice of Life, the NMH cafeteria. The place has even been on Check Please!. Their sister restaurant at Prentice, Fresh Market at Fairbanks, promises to deliver as much, with chef and author Joyce Goldstein at the helm. I'm excited to get to the new hospital and get my chow on; thankfully, that will be my only reason to be there.
If you go nuts for great Pinot Noir, you best get on the stick and register now for Pinot Days at Navy Pier. Over 50 producers of Pinot Noir from California, Oregon, Burgundy, New Zealand, and beyond will be in town from November 7th to November 10th for a muti-event festival celebrating the soft and sexy red grape. The grand finale is a tasting of over 150 different Pinot Noir-based wines from 1-4pm. $50 Lakeview Terrace at Navy Pier. More info is available at the Pinot Days website.
This Sunday promises to be the reason why Chicago should get the 2016 Summer Olympics bid. The Bucktown Apple Pie Contest at Holstein Park Fieldhouse (2200 North Oakley, 2:00-5:00 p.m.) will feature 75 contestants competing for the top honor. Pies (and other foods) will be available for the selling and the tasting, along with games for the kids, a silent auction, and a $1,000 cash raffle (which could buy a lot of All-Clad, my friend). The event benefits the Friends of Holstein Park.
A lot of media attention has been given to Charlie Trotter recently in celebration of his twentieth anniversary of the opening of his Lincoln Park restaurant. From the city naming "Charlie Trotter Day" in August, to the cover of a recent Time Out issue and a review of invite-only events over this past weekend that was attended by the world's top chefs (the real top chefs, ahem), this is a nice salute to his work.
To celebrate the new fall television season, TV Guide (remember them?) will be hosting a "Free Coffee Friday" tomorrow. Several coffee shops will be offering free regular-sized coffee and copies of TV Guide from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Here's the lucky places: Letizia’s Natural Bakery (2144 W. Division St), Whispers Café Inc. (1031 N. State St), Ennui Café (6981 N. Sheridan Rd), Gallery Café (1760 W. North Ave), Mercury Cafe (1505 W. Chicago Ave), Alliance Bakery (1736 W. Division St), and Janik’s (2011 W. Division). If you miss it, the next opportunity will be October 5.
The October issue of Saveur magazine will be totally dedicated to Chicago eats. Recipes from the kitchens at North Pond, Tru and Nacional 27 will be featured, as well as profiles on local chefs and food stores. The Chopping Block will be hosting a cooking demonstration lead by chefs from local places as well as the test kitchens of Saveur on October 10. The event doubles as a benefit for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Click here for more information.
The All Candy Expo roared into town this past week at McCormick Place, a loud, colorful, three-day event for candy and snack food manufacturers from all corners of the globe to show their stuff to buyers. But not to each other, as I learned.
Wine, wine everywhere, and thankfully, plenty of drops to drink. Two events in the coming week square off to whet your oenophilic whistle. But why let them compete? There's plenty of grape to go around.
Friday through Sunday, sample wares from vintages around the world at the North Center Winefest (big tent, corner of Lincoln and Bernenice). $25 gets you your own tasting glass and 12 food tickets to ensure you're not drinking on an empty stomach. Tastings are $2 a pop.
Celebrate the first day of fall while it still feels like summer with music and wine at Bin Wine Cafe's Jazz and Juice event. Keep that party going on Monday night with an evening of "wine, cheese, jazz & funk," for another $25 as Bin closes down to make merry in private. Cheers.
Blu Coral has been open for a few months now, but they're only just now getting around to a grand opening tonight. But the wait is worth it: RSVP on the site and get on the guest list for free sushi and appetizers from 6pm to 10pm, along with a ribbon-cutting at the beginning and drink specials throughout the night. [via]
I get pretty excited about bake offs. They're so inspiring and a great way for home chefs to really show off. So, I'm proposing that if any of our readers wins the apple dessert bake off at next weekend's Lincoln Square Apple Fest, l'll write about your winning entry and personally make you an apple-shaped pot-holder. Just be sure to take pictures of your creation in process and let me know if you win.
Click here to get all the info you need including an entry form and the official rules.
The super fabulous Concord Grape Tart returns to the menu at West Town Tavern for a limited time. Make sure you save room for this tasty treat that made the Time Out Chicago "100 Best Things We Ate" list when you go. Also, catch Chef Susan Goss for a live demo of two recipes at Green City Market tomorrow at 10:30am.
Plenty of opportunities to have fun with fish this fall with The Fish Guy. Take a sushi class from Hiroko Shimbo on October 14, 15, or 16 for just $100. Class includes lots of sushi and sake as well as signed copies of both of her cookbooks. You can also snag a coveted reservation at the once a week restaurant Wellfleet on September 7, 14, or 21 if you act quickly. Sign up now and get a free Caviar Wellfleet for each couple. 773-283-7400.
Chicago's Green City Market is offering a weeklong Localvore Challenge. The week starts Sept. 10th, so you have a few days to register. If you can make it to the market over the weekend, you can register, pick up a packet of helpful information, and a week's worth of local food. To make the challenge manageable, you can choose certain items to exempt, such as olive oil, salt and other spices, and coffee. The Localvore Challenge web site also offers a list of local food producers, and stores that carry food from the region. If trying to prepare three meals a day using only local ingredients sounds daunting, the GCM web site also offers a list of restaurants that will have locally produced menu options that week. So you can feel like a good citizen and environmentalist while sitting in an air-conditioned restaurant, sipping a cocktail and waiting for someone else to prepare your food.
Think you're a master at macaroni and cheese making? Tillamook Cheese would like to give you the chance to prove it. Just write up three of your favorite (or best) macaroni and cheese recipes (follow their style) and send them in by September 16 to see if you could be one of the three Chicago finalists and then go onto the National finals in Portland, OR. Now that is one way to get cheesed-off.
Chef Morimoto, star of both Iron Chef incarnations, is coming to Chicago next wek to promote a new cookbook and demonstrate his chops. He'll be at Kendall College the afternoon of September 7th, and for $39, you can watch his demonstrations, eat some of his food, drink some wine, and get his autograph on your Wüsthof. Details and sign-up form are on the ChicaGourmets site.
If you can't make or afford it to Friday's event, head to Fox & Obel on Saturday for a free signing and demo, though reservations are required for the latter. Details are available on Fox & Obel's site.
Among the victims of Hurricane Katrina was New Orleans's thriving restaurant culture. The Southern Food and Beverage Museum’s new photograph exhibit, Restaurant/Restorative, focuses on the rebuilding of city eateries over the past two years since the hurricane occurred. The exhibit is now open through September 21 at the dining room of Kendall College (900 N. Branch) during lunch and dinner service.
Editor's note: We sent Cubs in Five columnist Jeff Webber and photographer Phineas X. Jones to the Chicago History Museum for an event on Monday; here is their report.
Iowa's Templeton Rye rolled into Chicago Monday night with a busload of flappers and gangsters and a couple dozen cases of the rye whiskey Al Capone used to call "The Good Stuff." The upstart distillery's tasting party, held at the Chicago History Museum on Monday, brought back a taste that Chicago hasn't had in more than 70 years. Come mid-September, the single-malt, single-barrel rye will begin showing up in bars and package stores across the city. And when you raise a glass, you can thank Templeton Rye founder Scott Bush... and his mom.
The pitch is so succinct, it fits on a cardboard coaster: "Prohibition Era Rye Whiskey available legally for the first time ever." The story: a tiny Iowa town, struggling against hard times, takes to bootlegging and ends up Prohibition's closest thing to a name brand hooch. Fast-forward to the present, where Iowan Scott Bush rescues the famed recipe from the pages of history and brings it to the market in its first-ever legally distributed incarnation. It's the kind of story that lends itself to barfly evangelism. And really, who wouldn't rather hear a fanciful yarn about Al Capone smuggling Iowa whiskey into Alcatraz than suffer through yet another flavored vodka? After umpteen lifeless versions of berry vodka, old school rye whiskey is a breath of fresh air.
After decades of declining popularity, the time is ripe for a rye revival. Even the Manhattan, a rye cocktail in its original recipe, is more often made with bourbon these days. But with small-batch bourbons and prestige whiskeys making their way onto the top shelf, it was only matter of time before the drier, cleaner taste of rye made a comeback as an alternative. Templeton Rye is just the thing to help re-establish the style. Deep amber, with a clean, reedy character, Templeton has a chewy, spicy goodness and a clean finish that makes old fashioned cocktails like the Sazerac, the Rock and Rye and, yes, the Old-Fashioned, seem new again. All of those and more were on the menu at Templeton's tasting party.
Now obviously, a well-appointed tasting party with free-flowing booze is going to win converts. Add fun touches like brand reps dressed as flappers and gangsters and even a pair of period-uniformed "coppers" on a mock raid and you've added some flair. But where so many liquor tasting parties drown themselves in marketing department approximations of cool, Templeton's party spotlighted a certain easygoing Iowan charm. Upon hearing a distributor's boast that Chicago was the first major city to receive the new Templeton Rye, company president Scott Bush's Iowa pride compelled him to assert that "Des Moines is a major city." This drew cheers from the flappers and gangsters, who were, it turned out, all Templeton natives, among them Scott Bush's wife, grandmother, father and, yes, his mom.
Friends, family and neighbors in Iowa have had a year to get hooked all over again on Templeton Rye, but you'll have to wait until the middle of next month to get your hands on it in Chicago. Until then, you can visit the distillery online at templetonrye.com.
Another summer, another Pitchfork. The out-of-town hipsters have cleared out and the empty WaterPlus bottles have been cleared from the field at Union Park, and the Chicago music scene takes a breather before Lollapalooza. Much has already been said in other, more appropriate forums about great performances despite the sound problems, the calm and happy crowd, and Of Montreal lead singer Kevin Barnes's outfit (or lack thereof) so let us turn our hymnals, children, to Festival Food and the Urban Music Scene.
While I admit I am drawn moth-like to the seductive flame of the cheese curd, wherever it may be purveyed, I tried to at least shop around for my afternoon Pitchfork sustenance. The number of vendors was up from last year, and included local stand-by's Wishbone and Connie's Pizza, as well as two separate curry tents (up from last year's single booth), a Whole Foods mini-market, beer rep Goose Island, a Big Bite catering stop, and several more. The most mysterious, to my unfamiliar palate, and charmingly staged, however was the Cevapcici booth.
Word on the street is that the Bravo TV show Top Chef will be filming its next season in Chicago later this year. If you have got what it takes, start preparing for your open call audition, which will be July 29 at Rock Bottom Brewery (located at State and Grand). Click here for details.
Ultimately a success with around two thousand attendees, this year’s Green City Market BBQ showcased about forty different food stands and about another dozen drink vendors—mostly of the alcoholic variety. This celebration of locally produced food and drink took on the intimate and giddy air of a back yard party as patrons slowly grazed from one table to the next. As the crowd grew it never got uncomfortable, but mingling was inescapable. It was genuinely inspiring to hear people talking Illinois-centric food, restaurants and ingredients the way that tailgaters at Soldier Field talk football, the NFC and their beloved Bears.
Calling all BBQ aficionados! Next Thursday from 6 to 8 pm, head to the Green City Market Chefs’ Summer BBQ Festival for victuals grilled by 50 of Chicago’s top chefs is set for 6 pm to 8 pm Thursday, July 12 in Lincoln Park. For $50 in advance, you'll get food by Mark Baker, Rick Bayless and more, plus beer and wine tastings, and live entertainment. Get your tix now at the Green City Market in Lincoln Park or online.
Nick Digilio has asked me to come on his show tomorrow night and chat more about our Gapersblock alternative food fest coverage. Yea! Tune in to WGN radio 720 am Sat night at 9pm (I'll be on about 9:07) and hear us chat chow. You can also stream live at wgnradio.com.
This Saturday, you'll have an opportunity to live out your dream of riding in a public transportation vehicle disguised as food should you board the Chexpress, which is a CTA bus dressed up in...chocolate Chex cereal. According to our buddies at the Tribune, four decorated buses will be in service most of the day (no word on which routes will be used, although it will definitely be one that travels north/south in the downtown area). Adding to the giddiness of your travel experience, the ride will be free, and you may even get a cereal sample.
By now you've probably read about Monica Eng's $1100 Taste experiment; having a bite of each and every offering at Taste of Chicago and living to tell about it. Today she reports back with a rating of everything she ate. A very useful "get it," "eh" or "forget it" system along with her top picks and best overall booths. So, if you're going to brave the greasy mouthed masses, you can make a game plan ahead of time.
The only thing Monica didn't hit was the booze. I did. Yes indeed, you can count on me to scope out the reasonably quaffable adult beverages at any outdoor festival. Read on for my less comprehensive, but all important, drink recommendations.
With all the blog chatter lately on BBQ, you may be hankerin for some ribs. Every Wednesday night, Chef Susan Goss is serving up a Texas-style pork spareribs special with sides of fried potato salad and black-eyed pea relish for just $18.75. If you really want to do it up, visit on July 18th for their official BBQ rib kickoff. On that evening, you can add a glass of Murphy Goode Liar's Dice Zinfandel 2004 for $10 and Chef will throw in a piece of her famed Lemon Chess Pie on the house. Plus, every diner that orders the Q special will get a packet of her BBQ dry rub spice blend to take home. Best make reservations just to be safe. 312-666-6175.West Town Tavern. 1329 W Chicago Ave.
I think every Chicago resident has a love/hate relationship with Taste of Chicago. I go every three years or so to get my fix of meat on a stick and tourist gawking, but nothing makes me really EXCITED to go. This year, Taste offers an International Pavillion that actually makes me wanna throw elbows with the tube-topped masses. The performance schedule includes Chicago-based Muntu Dance Theatre (African) and Foy School of Irish Dance, as well as real deal Kung Fu artists from the Henan Province of China. You can shop for funky jewlery, textiles, and rare spices while you listen to "swingin' body music" by Dutch trumpet sensation Saskia Laroo and (probably) eat something on a stick. Actually, the nibbles in this tent are created by top notch Chicago caterer J&L and inspired by the cuisines of Vietnam, Africa, and Mexico. Anyone know where I can buy a halter top and get a mullet cut by Friday?
Taste of Chicago, that yearly fest of "gastronomic revelry" (i.e. slightly overpriced food portions in Dixie Cups, sticky sidewalk and children as far as the eye can see, eighteen different "varieties" of pizza, and giant freaking turkey legs brandished with the kind of gusto that would make Uther proud), kicks off this Friday.
If you haven't been to the Taste, you should go. No really, bitchiness aside, it's a classicChicago-in-the-Summerexperience. And if the cicadas have been shy in your area, the Taste will fulfill all your swarming and buzzing needs (3.6 million people attended last year, according to the City).
If you have been to the Taste, well, you know how it is. New restaurants this year include Latin-Indian fusion spot Vermilion (yay!) and sandwich shop Potbelly's (wtf?), in addition to perennial favorites Rainbow Cone, Vienna Beef and Sweet Baby Ray's. The full list is here. The party ends July 8, so put your bib on and get downtown while you can.
Support the Foundation on Fighting Blindness by eating and drinking the night away at the swanky Penninsula Hotel on Friday June 22nd. Chefs from Nomi, Avenues, Roy's Chicago, Sushi Wabi and plenty more will be serving up tasty treats while Christine Blumer (The Winediva) and Bob Bansberg (Ambria) guide you through matching wines at each station. Tickets are $150 and available here.
June is Hunger Awareness Month (and today is Hunger Awareness Day), so help out by participating in Dine Out for Hunger, a benefit sponsored by the Greater Chicago Food Depository. A numerous list of local restaurants will donate a portion of their meal proceeds between June 4-6 to the Depository. Click here for a list of this year's participants.
Our comrades in foodiephileness at LTH Forum are holding their first annual Food Photo Contest that ends June 30, so get over to the site to check out the rules. Finally, there's an incentive for enduring the stares of puzzled waitstaff and fellow diners when you whip out your digital to take pictures of your meal. And theirs.
Green City Market, a well-known source of sustainable produce, opens Wednesday in the park beside 1750 N. Clark and runs Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Seedling, an excellent Green City source of fruit, will have their fall 2006 apple cider that they froze for us, apple and bear butters, dried fruit, and perhaps some rhubarb if it's ready. Look for their strawberries in two weeks.
Check out the long list of farmers at Green City. Get your bicycle out because there's no better way to roll here. Everyone's doing it. CDOT's ChicagoBikes.org gives tips. Stop in before work if it's on your way.
Care to learn about organic gardening? Master gardener Bill Shores offers a wide range of urban gardening classes, including indoor salad green and veggie gardening (May 12), container gardening and worm composting (June 23), urban agriculture and edible landscape design (Sept. 8) and even over-winter gardening (Oct. 20). Here's the kicker: the classes take place in chef Rick Bayless' organic garden in Bucktown.
If you need a little inspiration, Shores also offers guided evening tours of the Bayless garden, including his outdoor kitchen, a multitude of stunning container plantings, a commercial organic vegetable garden, worm composting systems and more. One-hour tours run on Wednesday evenings, starting at 6:30pm. May 23, June 20, July 25, August 15 and September 19. Tickets are just $15, but space is limited to 20 participants.
For more information, visit Urban Edible; to make a reservation or join a class, email urbanedible@yahoo.com.
On Wednesday, May 2, the Baskin-Robbins at 3000 North Ashland will be selling a 2.5 oz serving of ice cream for $0.31. Yes, thirty-one cents. Savor the deal, as proceeds will benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Association.
If you've been awaiting the return of the Ghetto Gourment, then wait no longer. No, seriously, reserve now. There are only a few seats left for this Friday's dinner, where you'll be served something called "Forbidden Empanadas". They were originally going to be filled with foie gras and other tasty bits, but thanks to the Chicago ban, Chef Efrain has decided to see what his dinner guests think and if there is enough of a call for the mucilaginous, fatty liver (guess how tasty I think foie gras is) then maybe next time around he'll find a way to skirt the law. Maybe he'll even get his own t-shirt.
Just because they're booked up for paying guests, doesn't mean they don't need some more volunteers. One night next week Andrew and I will be peeling veggies, chopping garlic, washing spinach or whatever else needs to be done. So if you want to ghet in on the action, just fill out their Ghet Involved Questionnaire.
Tonight is a great opportunity to treat yourself to a good meal and also donate to a worthy cause--at the same time! Dining out for Life, held at numerous restaurants around the city and suburbs (click here for a list of this year's participants), is an event where a portion of your meal cost will be donated to AIDSCare Chicago, a local service organization.
Growing Home Chicago is a non-profit whose mission is to "provide job training ... for homeless and low-income people in Chicago, within the context of an organic agriculture business." They've been in operation for nine years, boasting a lot of success stories of program participants who've gone on to careers in the food industry. There are lots of ways to support their program, including buying into their CSA, volunteering, or attending their annual benefit, which this year is on May 1st, at Garfield Park Conservatory. In addition to supporting their cause, your $80 ticket gets you a gourmet dinner made by the likes of Michael Altenberg, Greg Christian Catering, Fox & Obel, Lula Café, and Shawn McClain.
Details are available on this PDF. If you go, be sure to find me and say hey.
If you missed it on our homepage, it's that time of year again: Ben & Jerry's has free cone day! Their site isn't letting you use their finder very well but Google Maps has you covered.
Are you hopelessly behind in getting your taxes ready to file? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. And someone wants to help.
Certified public accountant, Martin Kamenski is celebrating the successful first year of his practice in Chicago. And in honor of that milestone, he’ll be setting up shop at two Wicker Park eateries this week to file instant, electronic tax extensions… for free! Escape the wrath of the IRS for at least another month and buy yourself more time to make sure you’ve rounded up, carried all the ones, and that those deductions are, in fact, legit. You gotta love the way accountants celebrate.
On Monday, April 16th, Mr. Kamenski will hold court at Alliance Bakery (1736 W. Division) from 10 AM to 10 PM. (Mmmm, taxes, cappuccinos and croissants. Does it get any better than that?) Then, on Tuesday, April 17th, he’ll be across the street at Mac’s American Restaurant (1801 W. Division) from 10AM to the deadline for individual filing at midnight. (Mmmm, taxes, burgers and beers. I guess it does get better!)
The Ghetto Gourmet, which the San Fransisco Bay Guardian referred to as a "renegade roving supper club," is "roving" back on into Chicago for five nights at the end of this month and the beginning of May. If you haven't already been out to one of these events, it's well worth the cash, especially because the Beer Cheese soup raved about in this review will be on the menu for two of the nights.
Food this delicious and a night this cool don't come cheap. It's $45-$50 per person, but if you can't come up with the money why not volunteer to help out one of the nights? You might end up doing dishes for 40 people, but working hard for your meal will never taste so good.
"The Ghet" will be in town April 27-28 and May 2, 4 and 5. "Forbidden Empanadas" (with ground pork, foie gras, Granny Smith apples and dried cherries) are on the menu for each night, but the entrees, soups and desserts vary each night.
Order tickets early; some of the nights sold out early last month. Also, there was talk of a potential rooftop dinner during their last visit.
A couple after-work events you might be interested in tonight:
• At HotChocolate, 1747 N. Damen Ave., Michael Recchiuti, a San Francisco–based chocolatier and cookbook author, will appear at a "chocolate happy hour" at 5:30pm. It's free, and sounds delicious.
• The Food Chain rounds up a handful of whiskey related events tonight in advance of the sold-out WhiskyFest tomorrow. (Speaking of which, Delilah's is pretty much the after-Fest headquarters, so you're almost guaranteed to run into some heavy hitters of bourbon, Scotch and Irish whiskey over there Friday.)
When was the last time you had the chance to attend an honest-to-God bake sale? Your nephew's pee wee football fundraiser? You know you miss those opportunities to buy 4 brownies on a tiny paper plate, wrapped in green tinted saran wrap for a quarter...
Well, here's your chance! Debbie Sharpe, chef/owner of a variety of wonderful establishments, is hosting a "Save The Whales Bake Sale" for Greenpeace at her coffee shop Half & Half (1560 N. Damen just underneath the blue line el stop) on April 28 starting at 1 p.m.
Sharpe is working to fund Greenpeace's next venture into the Southern Ocean near Antarctica by selling baked goods, and she is "counting on you good people to either donate some goodies, help me sell some goodies, or buy the goodies".
Sharpe adds, "...and even if you aren't into saving whales, we make a damned good cupcake which you should buy"!
Contact Debbie at Half & Half if you are interested in participating. I am sure you all have a few lemon bar and rice crispy treat recipes gathering dust on your kitchen shelf!
You could get up for a Saturday morning run on April 14, or you can join Slow Food Chicago's walking tour of Little Village from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The thought of Mexican cremerias and panaderia's should make the decision easy.
The cost is $15 for Slow Food members and $20 for non-members. Reservations are required, but you'd better act quickly. The tour is limited to 20 people. If you can't make it to this tour, it will be repeated on June 16.
The Ghetto Gourmet, the Bay Area's "underground dining experience" that spawned the underground or guerrilla restaurant movement, is visiting Chicago for a couple days, and there's still space at three of its four seatings at a secret South Side location. Make your reservations now, and don't forget to BYO bottle and floor cushion.
Enjoy some delicious seafood at Timo on Monday, March 26 as part of the Shedd Aquarium’s Right Bite Dinner Series. Chef John Bubala and his staff will be preparing a fantastic meal featuring a variety of sustainable seafood items including wild Alaskan black cod, farm raised oysters, and locally produced whitefish caviar.
Chef Bubala knows first hand about the ups and downs of the commercial fishing industry; with cod fishermen in the family, he had the opportunity to experience the fishing life first-hand growing up on the Atlantic coast. Although Atlantic cod won’t be on the menu due to problems associated with over fishing, don’t miss this chance to enjoy great food with some interesting people.
The Shedd’s Right Bite dinners also include informative guest speakers, give-aways, and more!
Head over to Dirk’s Fishmarket on Tuesday, March 20, for an evening of easy fish and seafood recipes including coconut basil shrimp, smoky salmon roulades, snapper enchiladas, and tilapia piccata. The class will be held on from 7:30 to 9:00 and at $50 per person, it’s a steal! Dirk also encourages you to bring a bottle of wine, just to make it that much more enjoyable.
Enjoy a podcast featuring an interview with Dirk himself, courtesy of the Chicago Tribune online.
It's beginning, people. No more trudging through produce aisles in seach of unwilted lettuce and intact tomatoes. Farmer's market season begins this week, with a number of established markets opening their doors for business. The Federal Plaza market kicks off Tuesday, Daley Plaza's market opens Thursday, and the 
Now that baseball season is warming up in the city, I am reminded not only of the rivalries between the Sox and Cubs, but also of the quality of the food at each park. I've eaten some pretty good, well-priced meals at US Cellular, but the Friendly Confines has a pretty good hot dog. Your thoughts?
From March 16-22, 
Just as the weather gets better, it's time to head indoors for some quality time with your cable TV. 
The 
With the long, harsh winter we've had this year, it's odd to reassure yourself that there's an actual end to the cold and snow. The first culinary sign that winter is on its way out? Ramps, 
Mark your calendars, ale fans: the Chicago Beer Society's 
If you don't give two shakes about that silly football game on Sunday, why not spend the day making Paczki (Polish-style Filled Doughnuts) with other foodies from 
If you're like me, you think that most German food is based on a dare. I'm really no hater of the culture; technically, I'm a little bit German--but I'm mostly Italian, which is why schnitzel never made its way to our family dinner table as a kid. As I've branched out my culinary tastes, I've still been unable to really enjoy German food--the breaded, heavily-sauced planks of meat, overcooked vegetables, spaetzle and gallons of other starchy delights have done little to stir my interest. I bravely endured the food of the Berghoff, let other people order for me at the Brauhaus, and made sure my water glass was always full so that I could wash down what I thought was a flavorless eating experience.
Registration begins today for 
Learn how to turn your cup into a canvas at 
If you go nuts for great Pinot Noir, you best get on the stick and register now for Pinot Days at Navy Pier. Over 50 producers of Pinot Noir from California, Oregon, Burgundy, New Zealand, and beyond will be in town from November 7th to November 10th for a muti-event festival celebrating the soft and sexy red grape. The grand finale is a tasting of over 150 different Pinot Noir-based wines from 1-4pm. $50 Lakeview Terrace at Navy Pier. More info is available at the 
This Sunday promises to be the reason why Chicago should get the 2016 Summer Olympics bid. The 
A lot of media attention has been given to 
The 
Celebrate the first day of fall while it still feels like summer with music and wine at Bin Wine Cafe's Jazz and Juice event. Keep that party going on Monday night with an evening of "wine, cheese, jazz & funk," for another $25 as Bin closes down to make merry in private. Cheers.
Chef Morimoto, star of both Iron Chef incarnations, is coming to Chicago next wek to promote a 
Care to learn about organic gardening? Master gardener Bill Shores offers a wide range of urban gardening classes, including indoor salad green and veggie gardening (May 12), container gardening and worm composting (June 23), urban agriculture and edible landscape design (Sept. 8) and even over-winter gardening (Oct. 20). Here's the kicker: the classes take place in chef Rick Bayless' organic garden in Bucktown.