September 2010
48 posts
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Help Save the Heartland Cafe
The Heartland Cafe, a Rogers Park mainstay since 1976, is in desperate need of a cash infusion. Its fallen into a deep financial hole to the tune of $118,000 and needs to raise $30,000 immediately and another $20,000 by mid-October.
The restaurant, which serves a lot of vegan, vegetarian and organic fare, has seen many bands—mostly folk and bluegrass—come through its space in the last 34...
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Happy Art Smith Day!
In honor of his induction into the Chicago Culinary Museum’s Chefs Hall of Fame, Mayor Daley has declared Sept. 30 Art Smith Day in the city. Daley was so impressed the Smith shed nearly 100 pounds that he’s giving the chef this award. We kid, we kid.
Smith, who owns Table 52 as well as Art of Soul in D.C., is being honored for his work with Common Threads, the organization he started in...
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Todd Stein Taking Kook, Newman to Florentine
When Todd Stein announced he’d leave Cibo Matto to helm the kitchen at the Florentine and that some of his culinary creations would make the move, we weren’t surprised to find out that he’s also taking some of the kitchen staff. Foodie discovered this morning that sous chefs Russell Kook and Mark Newman would join Stein at the soon-to-open restaurant at the forthcoming JW...
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Lines Plague Chicago Gourmet; NoMI Rules Hamburger...
Ah Chicago Gourmet, how you tempt us with your promises of amazing food, fantastic drink and culinary camaraderie. For the most part, you succeeded, but while more chefs and restaurants joined the fray this year, Chicago Gourmet also sold way more tickets than last year, causing the foodie faithful to endure long lines for the temptation of a morsel of food.
Not that the food, once obtained,...
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Uptown Seeing Rash of Restaurant Break-ins
A number of Uptown restaurants, including Chava Cafe, Tank Noodle, Pho 777 and Hai Yen, have been broken into over the last week, prompting a community warning to be issued. The warning says the “unknown subject gains entry through the front door, causes damage to the cash register and escapes with the proceeds” sometimes breaking windows to get inside.
The burglaries have taken...
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Goat, Gilt, Xoco Get Hits in NYT 36 Hours In...
Every week the New York Times travel section gives readers easy tips on how to navigate a city in 36 hours. This Sunday, Chicago gets the 36 Hours In treatment and, not surprising, it’s pretty food heavy. Fortunately there’s no cliche talk of deep-dish pizza and Chicago hot dog’s, rather they hit upon more of our new hot foodie destinations, including Girl & The Goat, Gilt...
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avec to Remain Closed at Least Until October
For those of us craving the lively intimacy of avec for a glass of crisp albarino or some chorizo-stuffed mejdool dates, we’ll just have to wait a little bit longer. Crain’s reports that avec will remain closed until at least October. The restaurant was shuttered following a grease-chute fire on Aug. 9 that led to the tragic death of a Chicago firefighter. Now the restaurant must make...
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Have Bonsoiree Cook in Your Home
How often do you want to throw a fabulous dinner party for your closest friends, but the thought of preparing a grand meal completely freaks you out? We feel your pain, but now the only thing you have to plan is the guest list. Logan Square’s Bonsoiree will bring the dinner to your party and all you’ll have to do is entertain and open up the wine. Lots of wine, if you do it up right....
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Top Chef All-Stars Revealed Tonight
If you fell off the Top Chef wagon after this less-than-exhilarating season, don’t worry because Top Chef All-Stars is being announced tonight. Bravo Digital Media senior editor Monica Reyhani revealed on her blog today that season eight will in fact be an all-stars show and that Anthony Bourdain will share co-judging duties with Gail Simmons alongside Tom Colicchio and Padma. The season...
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Sprout Enclosing Patio, Adding 30 Seats
With summer’s end coming faster than we’d like, Sprout announced it’s going to enclose its patio (personally, we think making it a four-season patio would be nice, but that’s just us). However, the bus traffic and noise from Fullerton Avenue is pushing the restaurant to completely enclose the space. And honestly, doesn’t it make sense for a popular restaurant to...
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Violet Hour, Whistler Make GQ Top Cocktail Bars...
For anyone in Chicago who loves a well-made classic cocktail, the news that the Violet Hour and the Whistler made GQ’s list of the top 25 best American cocktail bars should come as no surprise. Violet Hour, the swank Wicker Park speakeasy, came in at a well-placed No. 3, while the Logan Square hipster hang Whistler showed up lower down at No. 20.
Seattle’s Zig Zag Cafe took the top...
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Eat Like Marcus Samuelsson
Everyone wants to eat the food prepared by our most notable chefs, but what about eating what they love to eat when they’re not in the kitchen? C-House owner and celeb chef Marcus Samuelsson writes about his favorite dishes at various restaurants on Foodspotting. First came New York, which includes 15 items like the tarte flambe from August, bahn mi cari ga curry chicken from Saigon and...
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Chicago Gourmet is Sold Out
If you were hoping to walk up to Millennium Park on Saturday and stroll in to Chicago Gourmet, you’re out of luck. General admission tickets to the foodie fest are officially sold out. Passes to the Grand Cru tasting are also gone, but you can still get tickets to Friday night’s Hamburger Hop where 15 local chefs will compete for the title of best burger in Chicago. It’ll be...
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Mastro's Opening Oct. 22; Taking Reservations...
Famed L.A. steakhouse Mastro’s will soon make its mark on Chicago. The West Coast grill will open its doors on Oct. 22, but with demand being anticipated, they’ll start taking reservations on Sept. 29 (call the restaurant at (312) 521-5100; online reservations won’t begin until Oct. 22). The Chicago location is the first in the Midwest and the only one east of the Mississippi....
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Don't Miss Common Threads World Cookout
Chances are you’ll be hungry on Thursday so why not plan ahead and get tickets for Common Threads’ second annual World Cookout? The event, which takes place at Fulton’s on the River from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., will see some of Chicago’s best chefs coming together to cook and raise awareness for Common Threads, a Chicago based non-profit that teaches low-income children...
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WatchNightline: Blackbird’s Paul Kahan gets his motivation from early wrestling days.
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Bon Appetit Moving to NYC; Barbara Fairchild...
We always liked that Bon Appetit was one of the few major national food magazines to be based in Los Angeles, but news just hit that it’s packing up and moving to the Big Apple. And with the move, longtime Editor-in-Chief Barbara Fairchild will step down after 32 years with the publication. She will help with the transition, but will then concentrate on other opportunities, including some...
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Work Underway at Achatz's Next
Regardless if it opens in fall or winter, or if Epicurious has already deemed this 2010’s hottest opening (if it opens before the New Year), there’s no doubt Grant Achatz’s forthcoming project, Next, will amaze us. The team posted pictures to its Facebook page over the weekend showing the kitchen demolition. Piles of white tiles lay in a heap on the floor where the new over and...
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It's a Boy! Graham Elliot Has a Son
Graham Elliot tweeted on Saturday that his wife gave birth to their son, Conrad Matthias Bowles. They welcomed the little bundle at 3:11 a.m., weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 21 inches long. We don’t have to look at his paws to say we are pretty sure he’s gonna be a big boy. Just take a look at the proud papa! Mazel Tov!!
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Meatyballs Taking Over Sarkis Cafe
The folks behind the Foss Family Food Truck (that’d be Phillip and Kenni Foss) have been quite busy, especially since the actual truck is out of commission. This week, they started taking orders via email to be personally delivered to offices and homes in specified neighborhoods (today they’re heading to the Loop but if you didn’t already place your order, you’re out of...
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Contest: Win VIP Passes to Chicago Food Film Fest
Last week we told you about the premiere Chicago Food Film Fest. Now we have 2 pairs of VIP weekend passes to give away. Want to join in on the fun Sept 24-25 taking place at the MCA Warehouse in West Town? Tell us, in 100 words or less, why you should get the tickets. Get creative. Do you love food? Love movies? Both? The two best answers, posted to our Facebook page, will win. If you’re...
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Update: James Toland to Name Restaurant for...
After soliciting friends, family and blog readers for suggestions on what to name his restaurant, former Lockwood chef de cuisine James Toland has decided to call it Gabba Gabba Hey from a lyric in the Ramones’ song “Pinhead” from their 1977 album Leave Home.
“It has to be lighthearted, fun and somewhat counterculture,” Toland said. “That’s the message....
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Stephanie Izard Helps Open Nate Berkus-Designed...
On Tuesday morning, Top Chef Stephanie Izard, chef/owner of the Girl & The Goat, helped open the Nettelhorst Community Kitchen at Lakeview’s Nettelhorst School; it was designed by designer Nate Berkus with help from Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn. The beautiful modern white kitchen with brand new appliances and utensils will serve as a bridge between home and school, with...
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Thomas Keller Coming to Chicago Gourmet
With Chicago Gourmet taking off in 10 days, things are certainly starting to heat up. The event, now in its third year, recently announced the Friday night burger competition, the Hamburger Hop, with 15 local chefs competing for the title of best burger in Chicago. But the bigger news now is that world-acclaimed (and multiple Michelin star-holding) chef Thomas Keller (The French Laundry, Per Se,...
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We Agree with Katie Lee...
In the Sept. 13 issue of New York, Katie Lee (the former Mrs. Billy Joel), who is a chef and a cookbook author, was asked at the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis event about what food trend she’s tired of. Her response? “I think truffle oil should go somewhere and die.” We couldn’t agree more. What do you think of truffle oil?
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Randy Zweiban Opening Province in Phoenix
Following a couple of years of solid accolades, Province chef/owner Randy Zweiban is taking his Latin-influenced restaurant concept to Phoenix. Province will open at the new Westin Downtown Phoenix likely in late February and will keep much of the same look and feel of the original Chicago location, but will focus on incorporating more of the seasonal ingredients available throughout the year on...
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Dave Posey Replaces Mike Sheerin as Blackbird Chef...
Mike Sheerin, Blackbird’s celebrated chef de cuisine and Food & Wine 2010 best new chef will become the restaurant’s private dining chef while he concentrates on opening his own project. Alinea vet David Posey, who has been Blackbird’s sous chef, has been promoted to chef de cuisine starting immediately.
Sheerin has been credited for bringing a bit of his molecular...
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Former Lockwood Chef de Cuisine Opening Rock Star...
James Toland, the former chef du cuisine at Lockwood, is gearing up to open a laid-back, approachable restaurant, likely in Logan Square. He had raised all the capital and is currently in lease negotiations on an existing business. Assuming all goes well with the takeover, he aims to be open in October.
The currently unnamed concept was originally intended as a place for chefs, where people...
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Kith & Kin Without David Carrier?
Waking up to find out that one of Chicago’s top chefs was “replaced” over the weekend came as a huge shock. Michael Nagrant broke the news that Kith & Kin executive chef David Carrier was fired over the weekend by one of the restaurant’s owners, Ash Taleb.
The news stated that Taleb told Carrier that he would no longer be attached to their forthcoming upscale...
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Mercadito Launching Guest Chef Taco Series
Mercadito already makes some kick ass tacos, but throughout the next year, they’re taking things up a notch with their Guest Chef Taco Series called Tacos for Strength.
The restaurants, located in New York, Chicago and Miami, have tapped the likes of Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat), Ryan Poli (Perennial), Jimmy Bannos, Jr. (Purple Pig) and Michael Fiorello (Mercat a la Planxa) from...
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Baby Carrots Just Got Cooler?
CP+B, the agency who brought us the super-creepy Burger King and other great viral videos (they did the “ask the chicken” one, no?), has just released a slew of ads to give baby carrots a fresh makeover. The message, eat ‘em like junk food, appears in a series of videos with extreme, geeky, sexy, gamer and other themes. Check this one and go watch more. Mmmm, carrots....
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Eat & Watch: Chicago Food Film Festival
There’s really nothing more annoying, or disgusting frankly, than your nearest neighbor scarfing down gooey-cheese-and-jalepeño-topped nachos when you’re trying to enjoy previews at a movie. But there’s something pretty damn cool about watching a movie with a food or drink theme and then getting to scarf down food afterward. That’s the idea behind the Chicago Food Film...
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Speakeasy Wednesday Kicks Off with Efrain Cuevas
Leave it to nightlife impresario (and our pal) Mo.B to tap underground dining guru Efrain Cuevas from Clandestino for the new monthly drink series Speakeasy Wednesday. The first event kicks off tonight at the Exchange featuring Cuevas’ cocktail the Kingston Root Dram: bourbon, homemade root beer and St. Elizabeth allspice dram. DJ Shala will spin hot tunes from hip hop to afrobeat and to get...
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Green City Market Locavore Challenge Starts Today
If you fancy yourself a true locavore foodie, we have a challenge for you. Starting today and running through Sept. 22, Green City Market wants you to pay attention to what you eat and where it comes from. The challenge is to only eat food sourced, grown or produced locally for the next two weeks.
Unsure on what local means? It doesn’t mean getting your produce flown across the country...
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Chicago Streets Welcome Happy Bodega Food Truck
Another week, another food truck. This time it’s the Happy Bodega truck and, like Simple Sandwiches, officially hits Chicago’s streets tomorrow to offer fresh-made sandwiches, Ineeka teas, Crop to Cup coffee, fresh-cut flowers, your morning newspaper, sweets and more.
Happy Bodega, started by Chicagoan Amanda Cavazos, will work toward sourcing local ingredients when possible for...
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Myron & Phil's Not Closing; Developing Second...
Rumors have been circulating that classic suburban steakhouse Myron & Phil would close. The restaurant, which caters to an aging crowd, has seen a shift in business, however, business is fine, according to owner Mark Freedman. In fact, he’s looking to expand.
The second-generation restaurateur is looking at locations further north—Northbrook, Deerfield, Glenview—to attract the...
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Grant Achatz Bio (Almost) Ready to Roll
Over the weekend, Alinea chef Grant Achatz tweeted “We finally finished it” with a link that led to a page on Amazon revealing the cover for his long-in-the-works autobiography, which he co-wrote with business partner Nick Kokonas.
The book, Life, on the Line: A Chef’s Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death and Redefining the Way We Eat, is set for release on March 3, 2011....
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Foss Family Trucks Officially Launches Meatyballs...
What a month chef Phillip Foss has had. After being dismissed from his post as executive chef at Lockwood in the Palmer House Hilton, Foss came back guns a-blazing and isn’t slowing down one bit. Over the Labor Day weekend, Foss and his wife, Kenni, hit the streets in the first Foss Family food truck: the Meatyballs Mobile.
If you follow Foss’ Twitter feed you’ll know the...
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City Provisions Deli Opens Today
Just in time for your Labor Day BBQ and party needs, City Provisions Deli officially opens its doors today in Ravenswood. Featuring a majority of products sourced within 200 miles of the shop, City Provisions, headed up by organic caterer Cleetus Friedman, strives to work with and showcase local farmers and artisan food purveyors to set a focus on all the delicious food produced in the greater...
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Is Top Chef Planning an All-Stars Season?
After this not-so-exciting season of Top Chef, things look like they might be heating up once again. And there’s gonna be some serious smacking down going on. Why? If rumors are to be believed, the producers behind the delicious Bravo show are pulling together an all-stars season that will pit some of the series’ best villains against some of our faves (Richar “High Hair”...
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Michael Nagrant Hearts George Michael; Wants Free...
Is his first post in eons on his Hungry Mag website, food writer Michael Nagrant writes up a pretty sharp-shootin’, snarky review of the Girl and the Goat. We’re not sure if this is a tongue-in-cheek look at the restaurant, pulling together comments and observations from around town over the last few weeks or if he’s truly bummed he didn’t get an autograph from celeb chef...
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Half Acre Releasing StickyFat American Dark Ale
Paying homage to the legend of the Sticky Fat Bear, who descends from the forests of the Pacific Northwest to feast on plump hop cones each season, Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Co. will sell the limited-edition StickyFat American dark ale. The chocolaty rich ale will hit the Half Acre store at their brewery in North Center/Lincoln Square (depending on which real estate map you check) Friday...
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Get a Hummer at Hamburger Mary's
Get your head out of the gutter, y’all (although, based on some of the crowds we’ve seen upstairs in Mary’s Attic it might not be that far out of the question). This is purely a family place (ok, we just made ourselves laugh, too), but local mixologist and creator of the botanical spirit Hum is going to be hanging out at Hamburger Mary’s in Andersonville Thursday night...
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Jeff Ruby Digs Girl & The Goat
Like so many others around the city, Chicago magazine food critic Jeff Ruby seems to have fallen in love with the Girl & The Goat. He praises chef Stephanie Izard, calls out some missteps and admits he’ll be back. Swooning. Just like the rest of us.
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Alinea Vet Jeff Pikus to Helm Kitchen at Maude's...
Alinea vet Jeff Pikus will be executive chef at Maude’s Liquor Bar, the latest venture from Gilt Bar owner Brendan Sodikoff. Pikus, currently in the kitchen at Gilt Bar and who has cooked with Ryan Poli at Perennial, will oversee the menu for what Sodikoff describes as a Paris dive bar.
Sodikoff said the the space will be more of a rustic “bar with food” and will feature a raw...
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Breakfast Queen Ina Pinkney Running for U.S....
If you’ve ever met Ina Pinkney, you know she’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s known for having some of the best breakfast in Chicago at her namesake restaurant (not to mention her fierce fried chicken), but she’s also a rabble-rouser who once she sets her mind to something, she usually gets what she wants.
This time, she wants to go to Washington.
No stranger to...
