There is a history of successful people getting involved in the wine/beer business. Coppola made his way in film before Napa Valley cab, and the same is true of the Firestones. Yes, they made their name in tires first, but now – according to The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper – they’re also brewing excellent beer. Take … Continued
As you can probably tell, I’m on a bit of southern kick this week, especially after yesterday’s post about some of my eating highlights in Charleston. When you’re in the Lowcountry, near the Carolinas on the Outer Banks, one of my favorite dishes has to be shrimp and grits. True, the rest of the … Continued
I’ve always been a fan of lowcountry cooking, but as much as I would see a deviled egg here or some pimento cheese elsewhere, I had never really spent any significant time in the South, with the intention of purely eating. In Charleston for work last week, I had an opportunity to have a couple … Continued
This week, as the weather begins the slightest shift to milder temperatures, Michael Roper looks across the pond to London, where a relatively new brewer is producing a dynamite porter, in the classic style. Trust us, it’s not as heavy as it looks. Cheers.
Revolution Brewing has been a bright spot in Logan Square since it started filling up loyalist’s growlers with frequency. Now, the Chicago brewer is branching out beyond the brewpub, selling a fantastic new Belgian-style saison. You can’t miss the dynamic bottle art, and if The Hopleaf’s Michael Roper enthusiastically recommends it, you know it’s worth … Continued
(videography by Todd Rosenberg) In the waning days of summer (I can’t quite reconcile the fact that August is already in the past), you don’t have to make the trek to Ukrainian Village (or their latest store, at Belmont & Damen) to try Jesse Oloroso’s gelato. In fact, the owner of Black Dog Gelato … Continued
If you consider yourself an avid cook or just someone who likes to eat in Chicago, you better clear your calendar next weekend. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding, the local chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier is planning a series of events and classes all over the city Sept. 7 – 9, … Continued
(Videography by Todd Rosenberg) There’s been a resurgence in demand for all things smoked, partly due to the amount of press places like Mile End in New York and Schwartz’s in Montreal receive (the latter doesn’t smoke their meat anymore, by the way. I’ve been inside their kitchen and seen the proof). But I’ve … Continued
Even though her official birthday was August 15th, the food community continues to celebrate the life of Julia Child all month long with tributes and stories from her past. The legendary cookbook author would have celebrated her 100th last week. I had a few opportunities to meet her in the late 90s, while she continued … Continued
(Videography by Todd Rosenberg) All month long we’re roaming around the Chicago French Market, sampling some of the best bites. So far, we’ve introduced you to the glories of gourmet take-out at Wisma, as well as the crispier-than-thou frites at Frietkoten. Today, we’re heading to Vietnam, sort of, for the traditional banh mi sandwich … Continued
PORTLAND – I honestly thought I was going to see more trucks than campers. But in researching the food cart scene here for an upcoming story, I discovered that not only do the carts here stay put for the most part, they also tend to exist in small spaces that could be described as … Continued