foodie

If you’re looking for your 2010 new summer hot spot look no further than the roof at Epic. The new patio, Epic Sky, opened May 27 and is already super hot. With two private cabanas, plenty of seating, a kick ass view of the city and a great cocktail program what more can you ask for? Ok, maybe some nibbles but don’t worry, that’s coming in the next few weeks.

If you can’t wait that long, pop up to Epic Sky for a cocktail and then park yourself in the first floor lounge for dinner where, if you book through Foodie, each person in your group can get a free glass of wine. It’s a great deal. And when you’re done, head back upstairs to the roof. Unfortunately that seat you asked someone to save? Well, it’s gone.

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about Outside Lands, the San Francisco music festival taking place in Golden Gate, and its amazing food offerings. We also said we thought that with Graham Elliot Bowles behind Lollapalooza’s new upscale food court, Chow Town, that Chicago would give the Bay Area fest a run for its money. Well, with the news that River North rock ‘n’ roll spot Blue 13 coming on board, we have already started salivating about what else will be announced. And anyone who wants to eat at Blue 13 that weekend (Aug 6-8), don’t bother trying—they’re gonna be closed while serving great grub to the masses down in Grant Park.

And speaking of Graham Elliot, have you taken advantage yet of his $42 DIY prix-fixe dinner on Foodie? What are you waiting for?

There’s a reason why Foodie has partnered with the restaurants we do: because the chefs kick ass. Another piece of proof: Wave executive chef Kristine Subido is getting ready to introduce a new brunch menu called Nourish and to tempt diners, she will give away housemade pop tarts with her own special seasonal jam. Brunch kicks off May 29 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will run both Saturday and Sunday. Look for frittata featuring ricotta cheese mixed with basil and roasted tomato (she makes the cheese herself!); garlic- and soy-scented Filipino sausages; three-day, house-cured Salmon atop a bagel with capers—and of course those hot-n-tasty pop tarts! For a faster fix, head in for dinner Thursday night and enjoy a free glass of wine (up to four per table) when you book dinner through Foodie.

[photo courtesy of 312DD]

We just read that Andrew Zimmern, host of “Bizarre Foods” on the Travel Channel, is heading to Chicago this summer to check out all the city has to offer … at least where odd eating is concerned. Sure, some might think that pig’s eyes or lamb brain is strange, but plenty of restaurants around Chicago, including the Bristol, Kith & Kin and Mado have experimented and played around with these, um, special plates. Have you eaten anything really out of the ordinary and if so, let us know. We want Chicago’s craziest foods to be featured on Zimmern’s show.

[via Grub Street Chicago]

Bin 36 owner Dan Sachs posted a great piece to their blog saying how much he and his partners feel like their teaming with Foodie and Foursquare not only is cool but also benefits their diners. Essentially, we’re all connected in this social media world and business that are getting on board are seeing it work to their benefit. Bin 36 rewards people who patronize their restaurants (also including Bin Wine Cafe in Wicker Park) and you can get a boost too. This week, Bin 36 is offering a free cheese flight with the purchase of two or more wine flights to all Foodie members. If you want to explore some great wine from around the globe, including wines made by Bin co-owner Brian Duncan in partnership with wineries in California, take advantage of this great deal.

Book this now!

Got any plans for June 5? Why not join Foodie and Tony Mantuano at Arlington Park for a day of fun at the races. The celebrated chef/partner from Spiaggia has teamed up with Foodie and wants you there as he re-creates his pop-up restaurant Wine Bar Food. For $35, you gain access to the park, a spot in the first-come, first-served special seating area on the finish line, a glass of Prosecco and your first small plate. Since Tony will be on site, you’ll of course have the opportunity to order additional plates of his fantastic Italian fare and have the chance to mingle with him, too (we’ve met him and can tell you he’s extremely approachable and sweet guy).

Order your tickets in advance at the Arlington Park website, and click on the “Buy Tickets” button next to the Foodie line and then enter FOODIEWBF as the promo code. For $35 it’s a great deal and will prove to be a helluva good time!

We’ll see you there!

Chicago has just been hit with some serious live action theater in the form of Fuerza Bruta. This Argentine-born production combines above-your-head activity, on-the-ground action and loads of energy, excitement and fun. Foodie had the chance to hit the preview last week and we were truly blown away. While we only saw two performances, we can’t wait to get back to see more. The lights, music, interactivity and water dancing were mind blowing. You enter into a darkened Auditorium Theatre and are escorted up onto the stage with 800 of your closest friends. You become part of the show; the performers will come up to you. They will engage you. They will make you laugh and smile and jump. The club atmosphere will make you want to dance. You can touch and feel and become part of the show. It’s 70 minutes of non-stop movement where you are on your feet the entire time. If you want to dance, dance. If you want to scream, scream. If you want to just watch, well, just watch.

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If you are without plans Wednesday night, we suggest making a reservation at Custom House Tavern for their special dinner with Palmaz Vineyards. Why? For one, the food at the new Tavern, with Chef Aaron Deal in the kitchen, will blow you away. Second, if you don’t know Napa cult wine Palmaz, this is a fantastic chance to get to know one helluva Cab.

Something that’s cool about this wine dinner is that, unlike other wine dinners where you have a formal multi-course meal, this is going to be set up family style. You can taste through the wines casually, eat different dishes and see how the wines pair differently with various food.

Palmaz is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, but also makes Chardonnay, Riesling and Muscat, which will hopefully all be represented. We recently had a bottle of their 2006 Napa Valley estate Cab (priced at $100) and were completely blown away. We’re not generally huge fans of the herbaceousness of Napa cabs but this one was silky, velvety and well balanced. It gave off notes of jam, raisin and plum and was perfect with the sirloin we had at dinner (we have a feeling Chef Deal will supply a few of those Wednesday night). The ‘06 has a really nice medium body with supple tannins and lots of layers, exhibiting raisin, compote, prune and spice. It’s honestly the kind of wine that makes you say, “damn, that’s a good bottle of Cab” with each sip you take.

There’s still space at the dinner so be sure to head down to Printer’s Row. Tickets are $125 a person, which is well worth it to eat and drink as well as you’re going to.

For some ridiculous bureaucratic reasons, Chicago isn’t allowed to have food trucks on its streets when people are actually cooking inside the trucks. But hopefully, with the help of some mavericks, that is about to change. Matt Maroni, who started a quiet revolution on Twitter with his stream and website, Chicagofoodtrucks.com, is gearing up to hit the road with his Gaztro-Wagon. On June 1, expect to start seeing naan-wiches being sold throughout the city. However, due to Chicago’s strict rules, Maroni will be cooking out of his 12-seat BYO storefront in Edgewater (at Clark and Peterson). But when you see the truck— whether for lunch, dinner or late-night eatin’—make sure you get in line.

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