Today is the last day you can enter for a chance to win a trip to Chicago for a massive, pork-centric weekend, courtesy of the National Pork Board. It’s all part of an effort to help consumers refine their entertaining skills this summer. The all-inclusive trip for a winner and a guest will be July … Continued
Over the course of many years in the business (about 18, give or take) I’ve accumulated a number of cookbooks. Sometimes, they flood in, like during the Fall drive to get publicity before the holidays. Other times, it’s a trickle, like right around now. But I’ve come to the realization that, while I do love … Continued
Bring on the pilsners. This week, Roper is going with a Chicago favorite, the Pony Pils from the local boys at Half Acre Brewing. But he’s also got a few other pilsners in mind, namely, Scrimshaw (from North Coast in Ft. Bragg, CA) and Trumer (from Berkeley, CA), both of which are great “lawnmower” beers. … Continued
LOS ANGELES – If you think the fried beauty above looks good enough to eat, don’t worry, there’s a lot more like it coming to Chicago. Rich Labriola, the self-titled Chief Doughboy of the Chicago bakery bearing his name, is partnering with the venerable Stan’s Donuts of Westwood, CA, converting the former Skewerz space in … Continued
Click here to read my story about walking downtown L.A. and finding better food than you’d expect.
Ah yes.. summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Softball games, picnics and a refreshing beer, of course. This week, Roper is feeling the Midwestern love with a quartet of wheat beers, from such favorites as Greenbush, Bell’s and Revolution. You don’t need an excuse to open up one of these, just a summertime thirst. Cheers.
No matter what “Food Wars” says on the Travel Channel, this Chicagoan still says the best beef is at Johnnie’s in Elmwood Park. Paired with their signature lemon ice (“Italian lemonade”) it ranks among the all-time greatest combos of Mantle & Maris, Batman & Robin, even Ben & Jerry. I say this after having eaten beefs at … Continued
ASPEN, CO – There is always so much to see, taste and experience at the Food & Wine Magazine Classic at Aspen, it’s hard to know where to begin. There are always two, distinctive programs – one for consumers, the other for the restaurant trade. It’s the latter I tend to focus on, since those … Continued
Ever wonder how some restaurants last a lifetime, and others can’t seem to make it past their 2nd birthday? As part of DePaul University’s continuing Lincoln Park Community Research Initiative, I’m going to try to find out for myself tonight. I’ll be leading a roundtable with the restaurateurs that somehow continue to make places like … Continued
Greg Hall hasn’t really taken that much of a break since leaving Goose Island as its Brewmaster. The Chicago native is keeping things close to home, with his new company, Virtue Brands, having built an impressive headquarters just around the bend, in SW Michigan. He’s now got three ciders out on the market: Lapinette, … Continued
I rarely get to go back to restaurants for a second or third time, due mostly to my schedule and constant – some would say frenetic – task of filing four stories per week for ABC 7. But every now and then I get to make a return visit, and it was with great pleasure … Continued