Posts tagged Steve Dolinsky

Who Doesn’t Like a Little Pig & Pinot?

Yesterday we attended our friend Steve Dolinsky’s annual Pig, Pinot & Pints party where he (along with his wife, Amy, and pal, Rick Cooper) blocks off the entire alley behind his home, sets out a number of tables, lays down some astroturf (who wants to walk on the ground in the alley?), got a live band and served up a whole mess of grub. The pigs, which were grilled and smoked in La Caja China wood boxes over super hot coals, came from Birky Family Farms and a number of chef friends brought side dishes like a tasty vinegar-based cole slaw, wonderful beet salad, baked beans and a gooey, spicy mac-n-cheese courtesy of Rick Bayless.

As guests, we were asked to bring a bottle of wine to share (dozens of amazing Pinot Noir flowed) and Goose Island set up some taps to serve their delicious summer Belgian white ale Sofie and their latest pale ale, Green Line. Who all indulged? Our friends at Feast were there, as was the 312 Dining Diva, Bill and Yvonne Kim (Urban Belly), Donnie Madia and Mike Sheerin (Blackbird, avec), Jason and Lea Hammel (Lula Cafe, Nightwood), Carol Wallack (Sola), Greg Hall (Goose Island), Randy Zweiban (Province), Adam Seger (Hum, Nacional 27), Mike Roper (Hopleaf), Steve Edwards (WBEZ), Ben Bradley (ABC news), Peter Sagal (Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me), Amanda Puck and many more. 

Want to roast your own pig? Dolinsky says it’s pretty easy.

Dolinsky Discovers Victoria

Ok, well, maybe our pal the Hungry Hound didn’t discover Victoria beer, Mexico’s oldest brew, but he’s helping spread the word that it has finally arrived in Chicago. The Windy City is the first place in the United States to import this Vienna-style lager and it’s currently being served at about 15 bars, including one of our faves Tiny Lounge.

Dolinsky points out that Mercadito uses Victoria in its michelada, an iced drink that combines beer, lime juice, a bit of Worcestershire sauce and a dash of hot sauce. Why not pop over for lunch any day this month through Foodie, where $10.50 gets you three tacos and free rice and beans, and try a michelada, or even just a Victoria on its own?

[photo courtesy of Vocalo]

Aldino’s Closes After Just Four Months

When Dean Zanella left the kitchen at 312 Chicago he had big hopes of opening his own place. He eventually welcomed diners to a new Little Italy spot, Aldino’s, in the heart of the UIC neighborhood. Aldino’s served more upscale, seasonal Italian fare and apparently the folks in the neighborhood just weren’t that into it, hence the reason for the, um, breakup. Steve Dolinsky broke the news on his Vocalo blog last week, where Zanella told him that partner Scott Harris (Mia Francesca, Nella Pizza) would re-concept the space and open a new restaurant; Zanella is going to explore other opportunities. Bummer that a good chef simply just picked the wrong ‘hood. Ironic that it was Little Italy, no?