scordelia

Umm...I live in Rogers Park, and the neighborhood is improving, but it has not improved that much. Eric Aubriot? Come one, we just got a Starbucks. Jarvis used to be liquor store land back in the old days when Evanston was dry (there used to be an all-night drive thru liquor store that we used to hit when parties at Northwestern ran out).

Animal rights protesters are trying to bring attention to the ban by protesting at venues that continue to flout the ban: On the same day, Cyrano's hosted a fundraiser to repeal the ban: Here is the entire article: Foie Gras Stirs Up Debate

Another fun spot for spice shopping is Patak on Devon Avenue, a couple of blocks west of Western. Take the blue line to Western, then take the 49 bus to Devon. You'll be in the middle of a vibrant Indian neighborhood full of interesting grocery stores and some great Indian food.

We rented an apartment 20m from the Camp de Fiori, so the first day we just bought some groceries (breakfast supplies and gin!), went to place on the square for some early pizza and went to bed. It was at bedtime that we discovered the unadvertised bonus for the apartment--a very friendly cat who came to visit from the neighboring building. Fortunately, we like cats and she was a very friendly, cute one who kinda stayed with us for the rest of trip. Day One--we went to the Colloseum and Forum and walked around. We lunched at Ristorante Mario near the Colloseum. I had gnocchi with asparagus and shrimp that was delish! We also had lovely sea bass and saltimbocca. That night we went to Da Ghigetto in the ghetto which sadly disappointed. The food was as good as I remembered from 20 years ago, but the service was awful, so slow. Day Two--spent the morning shopping at Campo de Fiori for dinner. I had decided to teach my son how to make risotto with squash blossoms. For lunch, we just picked up sandwiches while we were walking around. Dinner was good. We had to unravel the mysteries of the tiny stove, but that was part of the fun, like camping. We had some lovely sausages and cheese befroe dinner, then the risotto which somehow was three times better than at home and a wonderful fresh salad. Then we went out for espresso and gelato and a walk. By the way, out of the several gealterias we tried, Gelato di Joe on Campo di Firor was our favorite, especially the pistachio. Day Three--Beautiful day at the Villa Borghese. Lunch was sandwiches in the park. Dinner was at an old osteria on the Piazza Farnese (there are roosters etched in the windows) which I highly recommend. The spaghetti with marinara is a revelation. Who knew that spghetti could be that good? And the roast suckling piglet--well, need we say more. Day Four--I decided to cook again. We had some leftover risotto which we ate for a primi, then I roasted a butterflied chicken with lemon, saffron and lardo. The chicken turned out great. Then another fresh salad and amazing cannolis for desert that I got at a nearby bakery. Day Five--It is Thanksgiving! We went to Checcino dal 1887! We ate sparingly at lunch to save room for Checcino. Checcino was marvelous! I had the special menu of veal roulades and got a great plate (a pig wearing the papal hat)! We had an amazing bottle of wine (San Leonardo). Great dinner, great place. Absolutely would go back. Day Six--Right behind our apartment was a little fondue place called Lucifero that our son had been begging to go to, and since we spent the day in Ostia Antica trudging around the ruins (really great site), we decided to go to Lucifero. It was terrific. We got the Piemontese fondue with white truffles (16 euros each), and when it came, we could not see the cheese! The whole pot was covered in several layers of shaved truffle! It's a tiny restaurant, and the place is packed, and there are always about 20 people waiting outside for a table. There is no wine list, but tell the jovial host what you are thinking of and what you to spend and he picks some bottles. We also had lardo with honey and grilled veggies. Yummy meal! Day Seven--It's Saturday night, our last night in Rome. We went to Sanpietrino in the ghetto. When we received our plate from Checcina, they gave us a guide book of a whole group of restaurants that give away plates--Buon Ricordo http://www.buonricordo.com/english/home2.htm, which means a good memory. You see, we had rented a house in the Veneto a few years back and went to wonderful place called the Ristorante Parco Gambrinus which is famous for their crayfish. We had the lovely crayfish and got a plate! Then we go to Checcino and get a plate! Before Checcino, we did not realize that there are a whole bunch of these plates. Also, both places were awesome, so we decided to go to another plate place, Sanpietrino. We had a fabulous last meal! Gnocchi with clams, pappardelle con chianghale, tuna with saffron, cod with tomatoes, delizia limone! What a meal! Also if you register with Buon Ricardo, then you get a card and discounts at participating restaurants, as well as plates! We managed to smuggle a kilo of lardo home and some Sorrento lemons (I am making Limoncello as we speak). Also, I have to say that the best pizza we had was at Il Forno on the Campo de Fiori. First of all, it is so cheap and boy is it good! My favorite is the fiori de zucca--just a smear of tomato sauce, a little drizzle of olive oil, then scattered with the fresh blossoms. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

December 21 Trib had a front page article on who is defying the ban in Chicago: Let Them Eat Foie Gras!

WE ARE BACK! We had a fabulous time. We rented an apartment 20m from the Camp de Fiori, so the first day we just bought some groceries (breakfast supplies and gin!), went to place on the square for some early pizza and went to bed. It was at bedtime that we discovered the unadvertised bonus for the apartment--a very friendly cat who came to visit from the neighboring building. Fortunately, we like cats and she was a very friendly, cute one who kinda stayed with us for the rest of trip. Day One--we went to the Colloseum and Forum and walked around. We lunched at Ristorante Mario near the Colloseum. I had gnocchi with asparagus and shrimp that was delish! We also had lovely sea bass and saltimbocca. That night we went to Da Ghigetto in the ghetto which sadly disappointed. The food was as good as I remembered from 20 years ago, but the service was awful, so slow. Day Two--spent the morning shopping at Campo de Fiori for dinner. I had decided to teach my son how to make risotto with squash blossoms. For lunch, we just picked up sandwiches while we were walking around. Dinner was good. We had to unravel the mysteries of the tiny stove, but that was part of the fun, like camping. We had some lovely sausages and cheese befroe dinner, then the risotto which somehow was three times better than at home and a wonderful fresh salad. Then we went out for espresso and gelato and a walk. By the way, out of the several gealterias we tried, Gelato di Joe on Campo di Firor was our favorite, especially the pistachio. Day Three--Beautiful day at the Villa Borghese. Lunch was sandwiches in the park. Dinner was at an old osteria on the Piazza Farnese (there are roosters etched in the windows) which I highly recommend. The spaghetti with marinara is a revelation. Who knew that spghetti could be that good? And the roast suckling piglet--well, need we say more. Day Four--I decided to cook again. We had some leftover risotto which we ate for a primi, then I roasted a butterflied chicken with lemon, saffron and lardo. The chicken turned out great. Then another fresh salad and amazing cannolis for desert that I got at a nearby bakery. Day Five--It is Thanksgiving! We went to Checcino! We ate sparingly at lunch to save room for Checcino. Checcino was marvelous! I had the special menu of veal roulades and got a great plate (a pig wearing the papal hat)! We had an amazing bottle of wine (San Leonardo). Great dinner, great place. Absolutely would go back. Day Six--Right behind our apartment was a little fondue place called Lucifero that our son had been begging to go to, and since we spent the day in Ostia Antica trudging around the ruins (really great site), we decided to go to Lucifero. It was terrific. We got the Piemontese fondue with white truffles (16 euros each), and when it came, we could not see the cheese! The whole pot was covered in several layers of shaved truffle! It's a tiny restaurant, and the place is packed, and there are always about 20 people waiting outside for a table. There is no wine list, but tell the jovial host what you are thinking of and what you to spend and he picks some bottles. We also had lardo with honey and grilled veggies. Yummy meal! Day Seven--It's Saturday night, our last night in Rome. We went to Sanpietrino in the ghetto. When we received our plate from Checcina, they gave us a guide book of a whole group of restaurants that give away plates--Buon Ricordo http://www.buonricordo.com/english/home2.htm, which means a good memory. You see, we had rented a house in the Veneto a few years back and went to wonderful place called the Ristorante Parco Gambrinus which is famous for their crayfish. We had the lovely crayfish and got a plate! Then we go to Checcina and get a plate! Before Checcino, we did not realize that there are a whole bunch of these plates. Also, both places were awesome, so we decided to go to another plate place, Sanpietrino. We had a fabulous last meal! Gnocchi with clams, pappardelle con chianghale, tuna with saffron, cod with tomatoes, delizia limone! What a meal! We managed to smuggle a kilo of lardo home and some Sorrento lemons (I am making Limoncello as we speak). Also, I have to say that the best pizza we had was at Il Forno on the Campo de Fiori. First of all, it is so cheap and boy is it good! My favorite is the fiori de zucca--just a smear of tomato sauce, a little drizzle of olive oil, then scattered with the fresh blossoms. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

I have everyone's suggestions in hand. We leave Friday, and I promise to report our feasts in great detail! Thanks everyone!

I think he has childhood memories of H.R. Puffinstuff.

Since the Chicago City Council is considering a repeal, this is everyone's chance to weigh in with their opinions again. Here is a link to the e-mail addresses for all fifty aldermen. Tell them what you think! Aldermen's E-mails

Alderman Moore (49th ward) now has a challenger for his aldermanic seat, a newspaper editor named, Chris Adams who is being backed by local business owners according to the Tribune (link to article). The article basically just rehashes Joe Moore's latest controversies and emphasizes that he has lost support of local business owners. Rogers Park is in two different wards. Now, my Rogers Park alderman, Bernard Stone (the 50th), is the one is proposed the repeal of the foie gras ban.

When we took our 6 month old to Italy, she really grooved on the rabbit pate baby food from the local grocery store.

There are Amish and Mennonite communities all over the midwest in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Check out The Amish Cook which is a fun cooking and advice column. The author lives in Indiana.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060907/pl_nm/food_horsemeat_dc Anybody eaten horse? ← Chicago banned foie gras, and now this! Horse is very tasty. I have had it stewed with polenta and in sandwiches (kind of like corned beef). If anyone wants to know what happens to unwanted horses, just watch "Animal Cops" on Animal Planet. They are always picking up starved and abandoned horses. Seeing the condition of those animals makes me wonder if the knacker is kinder.

They may be offering faux gras in the lounge, but they are still advertising the real deal in the main restaurant: Tru Grand Collection Can anyone confirm or deny the prescence of real foie gras at Tru?

Someone got busted. An irritating little busybody squealed on Block 44 for serving foie gras. They received a warning. Here is a link to the full article: Chef upset after he is busted for foie gras

I checked out Checcino's website and we are definitely going!

The Health Department has yet to receive a complaint: Sun-Times article

Sadly, I live in the 50th ward and could not vote for you, but I'll give you hand if you run.

Well, Hot Doug's is still serving three specials with foie gras on them. I should know--I just had them for lunch (I had help). I particularly recommend the cognac duck sausage with foie gras and figs

It's official! Foie gras has been illegal for 24 hours, and more restaurants than ever are serving the delicacy--including Connie's pizza. The Health Dept has said that they are not going to enforce it because they lack the resources. Chicago Tribune Article

It was also explained to me by a Chinese friend that the Chinese traditionally prefer not to drink ice cold drinks with hot meals, as it affects the Chi. That's why they drink hot tea, although this practice is changing. I frequently see Chinese families at Dim Sum having Cokes and Ginger Ales along with their hot tea. ← But isn't it the opposite in Japan? Hot sake with cold courses and iced sake with hot? Is Japan a nation suffering from indigestion?

That is where I first had it a few years ago. I was hoping to find some in Rome this fall. Also, here is the information on the grape that I found in the Winegrape Glossary: ISABELLA: Moderately cold-resistant American labruscana grape grown on limited acreages in New York state for use as a tablegrape and in varietal and sparkling wine blends. A selected "bud sport" cultivar is currently grown in California under the name Pierce (has synonym name Royal Isabella). Still grown in cooler regions of Italy and Australia, where it is named Fragola. A selection with the name Albany Surprise is now grown in New Zealand. Also found in eastern Europe under a variety of alias names, (such as Seksarda in Croatia, former province of Yugoslavia and as Izabella in Hungary and Georgia CIS). This historically significant variety has over fifty synonym names (see Geilweilerhof database in the Foreword section above) as a result of its post-phylloxera popularity in the late 19th century. Thought to be derived from a native Vitis Labrusca grape of N. America and an unknown european vinifera probably created by random pollination as a result of the 18th century attempts to establish European vines in the U.S. Reputedly discovered in Dorchester, N. Carolina around 1816 it was promoted by William R. Prince, an influential nursery owner established in Flushing, N.Y, and named after a famous "southern belle", the wife of Col. George Gibbs. Currently being selectively removed and replaced by varieties that lack the "grapey/foxy" taste and flavor of this grape although it still has its admirers. Modern winemaking techniques have succeeded in eradicating the agent responsible, resulting in a popular, strawberry/boysenbery-like flavored wine where those techniques are practiced. It is still grown in quantity in Brazil and other fungus prone regions of South America. An example of random hybridization involving only N. American vine species that resulted in a successful wine is the Norton grape. (See below).

I read somewhere that you could not get real fragolino anymore because the grape is American (oh no!) and the EU banned commercial production. Is this true?

Really well said!

I should have mentioned that my husband is the baby and will not eat offal. Do they have chicken, too? And I know about the tourist thing in Italy. I have always tried to eat at places with posted menus, and I do not wear a camera, jeans and a dopey expression.