I’ve been receiving a lot of pitches for Father’s Day brunch ideas over the past week or so. Many of them come from the usual publicity firms, representing the fine folks at Lettuce and other large restaurant groups. Nothing against Hub 51, Paris Club and Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, they all offer good options for dad this … Continued
Anyone from Michigan (including The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper) will sing the praises of Bell’s. But now that it’s truly hot outside on a consistent basis, you don’t need a lot of coaxing to give this Michigan brewery’s beers a try. Their Oberon is a light wheat ale that is absolutely perfect for summer sipping, coming … Continued
Click here, then “flip through” to pages 22-23 to read my roundup of five great al fresco dining options around the country
There aren’t many movie theaters with built-in, high quality dining options nearby. But things are changing. The folks in Highland Park are finally getting a taste of rustic Italian at Moderno, which took over a lame Rosebud space right next door to their downtown movie theater a few weeks ago. The Davis, in Lincoln Square, … Continued
We’re in the thick of graduation/wedding/shower season, and that means parties; usually at someone’s home; sometimes catered. But for those casual lunches or dinners that don’t really demand a ton of resources (say, 20 guests) you’re probably going to want to make a few things yourself. Whenever I’m asked to bring a salad over to … Continued
Here’s a Top 5 that’s sure to stir the pot of pickled onions a bit. After the remarkable little beauties I had last night at Antique Taco in Wicker Park, I was inspired to pick my top 5 in town (and can’t believe I haven’t even made an attempt at ranking them previously). Obviously, … Continued
This week, The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper looks to Lagunitas, which recently announced it’s going to set up a (huge) brewery in Chicago. They’ve got a little “sumpin’ sumpin’” to quench your thirst: it’s 7.5% alcohol, a tad spicy, and a prototype for an excellent summertime ale. Cheers.
If you spend even a few minutes walking through one of Chicago’s many street fairs this summer, you’ll undoubtedly see the Cevap guys. Grilling their beloved cevapcici (a skinless sausage consisting of 50% beef, 25% lamb and 25% pork). I’ve been bumping into them more frequently as of late, now that the summer fair … Continued
Before The Magic Pan and other crepe-focused restaurants jumped on the bandwagon in the 1970s, Germain Roignant was already pouring and flipping in Lakeview. Originally opened in 1972, La Creperie is considered the oldest family-owned French creperie in the United States with a menu that specializes in a variety of both sweet and savory … Continued
As Chicagoans, we are predisposed to get excited about nearly any event that occurs “outside” or “on a grill.” In just a few weeks, a group of the city’s top chefs will get together beneath The Bean to help raise money for the Special Olympics-Chicago, and the byproduct means a lot of great grilled … Continued
The Green City Market Junior Board is holding another “Meet the Market” event tonight in Wicker Park, and it’s open to the public. The Bedford is hosting the Junior Board and guests in the bank vault from 6-8 p.m. Complete details can be found on the event page here. Seedling Fruit is the featured … Continued