Besides the mole at Palo Alto Sol, I think my favorite Mexican sauce is salsa verde made with charred tomatillos and poblano peppers. The flavors are so bright and piquant that I never get tired of them, especially when teamed with lots of cilantro. Salsa verde makes fantastic chilaquiles, a ... continue reading...
Schwa – fact or fiction?
Schwa is perhaps the most mythical restaurant in Chicago. The general consensus seems to be: amazing food, genius chef (Michael Carlson), unconventional dining experience, frustrating and near-impossible to get a reservation. Since opening in 2005, Schwa's mythology has taken on a life ... continue reading...
Kitchen Table at the Aviary
There are many things I like about the Aviary. Of course, I like the drinks and the food. I always like spending time with the wonderful people who work there. And I like the feeling of watching the Aviary grow and change, from opening weekend, to the development of tasting menus, ... continue reading...
Alaskan beer battered halibut
I was born in Alaska, where my parents lived for a few years. In addition to some funny stories, amazing photos, and the very cute baby-size mukluks that currently reside on my bedroom bookcase, my early childhood in Alaska also yielded a fantastic recipe for beer battered halibut. My lower-48 ... continue reading...
Chocolate cherry oatmeal pecan cookies
These cookies are packed with delicious things - toasted pecans, dried cherries, plenty of dark chocolate, and enough oats to seem "healthy." They're also fairly quick to put together. Of course, you could customize as you like - toasted walnuts or even pistachios, dried cranberries or ... continue reading...
The Aviary
After a year of anticipation, I finally went to the Aviary this week (twice!). The best way I can describe it? A cocktail party at Alinea, complete with re-imagined drinks, more-than-meets-the-eye hors d’oeuvres, playful interactivity, and most importantly – fun. Clearly, a lot of ... continue reading...
Penne alla Vodka
I love pasta with a simple, homemade tomato sauce - but sometimes it's nice to have something a little different. Penne alla Vodka is a spicy, creamy alternative that has become one of my fallback weeknight dinners. This is a fairly ubiquitous dish (for good reason, if you ask me), ... continue reading...
Takashi Japan benefit dinner
Last night I was lucky enough to attend a unique dinner at Takashi restaurant, a benefit for Japan that featured more than a dozen well-known Chicago chefs. Since each of the seven courses was contributed by a different chef, we ended up with a wide-ranging tasting menu of dishes from great ... continue reading...
Dinner at Next: Paris 1906
Last night I had dinner at Next – I would say “finally”, except that it was only a week ago that I made the reservation. It seemed longer, though, since I was starting to feel like a child waiting for Christmas morning. By the time the big day rolled around, I’d started to worry that a letdown might ... continue reading...