ronnie_suburban

Doesn't Hecky's count? ← Maybe if they didn't drench everything in sauce and had better sides... Still, Hecky's works. But I crave "Suthrin" BBQ - and banana pudding for dessert! ← George, It sounds like you're in need of a full-on pig pick'n! =R=

A bunch of their locations already have. =R=

I don't know about "villain" but it certainly doesn't sound like a very good business decision. =R=

I'm with you on this LAZ; especially as it pertains to the (NW) suburbs. It's "Hot Wheel City" out here! The Indonesian/Rijstaffel would be tremendous as would be a full-service, north side, Manny's-esque-type place. Sam & Hy's on Dempster used to come close (never quite as good as Manny's, though) and Barnum and Bagel just ain't even close. For whatever reasons, this just isn't a good deli town, even though it really should be. For all intents and purposes Shapiro's may be the best deli in Chicago Unfortunately, it seems that "new" (aka new to this market) is hard to come by. When something relatively original does finally pop-up and succeed, it merely gets imitated into oblivion (case in point, the aforementioned churrascarias) or dies on the vine from lack of mainstream interest. I wish more folks were willing to take chances. I guess that's easy to say when it's not my money taking the risk, but as a diner at least, I'm always willing (hell, eager) to try something new and I make a point of doing so as often as I possibly can. Ultimately, I suppose that the best outlets for true ethnic cuisines rely (at least initially) on their respective constituencies. Maybe in 5-10 years, the landscape will look a lot different than it does today. It is happening slowly in some quarters but personally, I'd like my rijstaffel now! =R=

Still more on this sad story in today's Tribune: Historic Berghoff to close =R=

More from the Tribune staff: Berghoff says 'auf wiedersehen' =R=

From the AP piece, in today's Tribune, linked above: =R=

December 28, 2005... From today's Chicago Tribune - Good Eating section: When only the best will do...as New Year's Eve approaches, Bill Daley explores the luxurious but increasingly accessible world of vintage champagnes. Best of 2005...food editor Carol Mighton Haddix reviews the Good Eating section's 10 favorite recipes of the year. Specialty food shop fills a void...Barbara Revsine travels north and visits Lincolnshire Gourmet. Clementines...Oh my darling; Bill Daley delivers this useful guide. How to store all of those holiday food gifts...Test Kitchen director Donna Pierce passes on some useful information. ===== From today's Chicago Sun Times - Food section: Trader Vic's rich history...on the eve of its departure from Chicago's Palmer House, Dave Hoekstra reports on this venerable mainstay and its nearly 50 year history in town. Tastings around town...Celeste Busk previews upcoming events at Schaefer's, reserve, Geja's Cafe and SushiSamba Rio. Ring in weight loss...Denise I. O'Neal's weekly round-up of local food news includes season-oriented programs from Weight Watchers, South Water Kitchen, Corner Cooks, Kaze Sushi, Le Francais, Le Lan, Tsuki and Bank Lane Bistro. ===== From today's Daily Herald - Food section: More carbs, fewer cookies and other savory memories of 2005...food editor Deborah Pankey delivers her take on the top food stories of the year. Cooks of the year...culled from her regular Cook of the Week installment, Laura Bianchi names her Top 5 of 2005. Food and wine classes...a comprehensive listing of upcoming area food events, tastings and classes; broken out by day. ===== From the Chicago Reader...What's New section...reviews of Custom House, Del Toro and Saltaus. ===== =R= <><><><><> Media Digest Notes... Updates from some Chicago media outlets, which do not 'go to press' on Wednesday mornings, will be edited into each week's post as they become available. Please do not reply on this thread. For discussion of any stories which are linked here, please feel free to start a new thread or contact the forum host or digester who will be happy to do it for you.

Two per person, huh? You must be kidding! And by now you might want to mortgage your house to pick up more sour cream and caviar! ← LOL! I'm actually quite suspicious in the other direction but since each invitee has been instructed to bring no more than 2 pieces of each item, that's what I'm going to do. And I'll keep them kind of small, too. After all, I'd hate to upstage all the other guests =R=

It'll be close. There will be 16 people and I'm only supposed to make 2 per person. =R=

Thank you, Michael. I woudn't have remembered to look there. =R=

Thanks, Mel . . . much appreciated! =R=

I'm thinking about making some sort of a caviar and blini course for a NYE, pot-luck, "appetizers only" party I'm attending. If you have a reliable blini recipe or any useful tips for making them, I'd greatly appreciate either (or both). Thanks, =R=

Great report, Eliot. Thanks for taking the time to share with us. It was great meeting you and I really enjoyed our lunch. Schwa and Butter are both on my wish list for 2006 and I hope to get to both in the very near future. =R=

This is probably the wrong place to post about my newly-received Kenny Loggins Christmas cd but I did also receive 4 cookbooks for Christmas/Hanukkah this morning: A Baker's Tour by Nick Malgieri Carlos' Contemporary French Cuisine by Debbie and Carlos Nieto (with Arlene Michlin Bronstein and Ken Bookman) The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman Tapas - A Taste of Spain in America by Jose Andres (with Richard Wolffe) =R=

I had the tonkatsu at Mikado the other night. Does that count? ~Edsel (Temporarily living and working in downtown Indy) ← I'm not from Indiana but I'll ask my wife and get an "official" ruling on that. =R=

December 21, 2005... From today's Chicago Tribune - Good Eating section: Flights of fancy...Robin Mather Jenkins explores the availability of game birds; a welcome alternative to turkey at holiday time. Sources and cooking tips are included. Hail the cabs of 2002...Bill Daley explores the 2002 Cabernets out of California. They're pricey but well worth it in most cases, according to the experts. A bountiful harvest feast...Donna Pierce explores how "Kwanzaa celebrates African culture and culinary traditions." Make room, latkes, for jelly doughnuts...Bill Daley explores a few culinary traditions related to Hanukkah, including sufganiyot. Our gift to you: a selection of practical kitchen tips...in this week's Prep School piece, James P. DeWan details a bevvy of useful kitchen tips. A luxurious Eve meal built around filet mignon...Bill Daley provides us with his road map. A new reference for the kitchen...Renee Enna reviews the latest release from the Cooks Illustrated team, The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. (the exact title of the book is only mentioned in the print version of the review). Plantains...Robin Mather Jenkins with a useful guide. St. Feuillein Cuvee de Noel...Jeff Boda with his Beer of the Month installment. ===== From today's Chicago Sun Times - Food section: To Grandma's house we go...food editor Sue Ontiveros shares her personal Christmas memories which are inextricably linked to the food she ard her family shared during the Christmases of her youth. Tastings around town...Celeste Busk previews upcoming events at Di Pescara, Rockit Bar & Grill and The Chopping Block. From newsman to rancher...Denise I. O'Neal visit briefly with Bill Kurtis whose grass-fed beef is served at Prairie Grass Cafe and Harry Caray's. New company brings taste of Africa home...Denise I. O'Neal reports on a new line of African cuisine frozen food entrees produced by a local company. ===== From today's Daily Herald - Food section: Caviar dreams...just in time for the holidays, food editor Deborah Pankey provides a brief but useful primer on roe. ===== =R= <><><><><> Media Digest Notes... Updates from some Chicago media outlets, which do not 'go to press' on Wednesday mornings, will be edited into each week's post as they become available. Please do not reply on this thread. For discussion of any stories which are linked here, please feel free to start a new thread or contact the forum host or digester who will be happy to do it for you.

I'll be looking forward to hearing (reading) your take on it. =R=

Re: Hubbard Woods, thanks for the information. I grew-up and lived in Glencoe for many years and I never quite figured that one out. It must have been one helluva war between Glencoe and Winnetka for that piece of ground. Please tell me that the 7-11, at least, is Glencoe's or my civic pride will be deeply wounded Maggie, Atwood gets mentioned frequently in the Sun-Times Tastings Around Town column each week, so I've been hearing about them for a while. But, for a long time, all I knew about them was that they had an active publicist. At Recipe for Relief, I finally got to try a few bites and I was delighted. I'm not surprised to hear that your girl thinks the place is a stand-out. Executive Chef Heather Terhune has quite a resume and after my brief experience at their table that night, it's clear to me that she can really cook. =R=

Tru! I'm glad someone mentioned it. A great destination to be sure. =R=

Pork tenderloin sandwiches, baby! Even though I believe they actually originated in Iowa, Indiana is pretty well-known for them. They're basically round disks of pounded pork tenderloin which are breaded, fried and served on hamburger buns with lettuce, tomato, mayo and sometimes pickles. They're fairly thin (maybe 1/2" thick at most) and pounded out in such a way that the patty usually exceeds the width of the bun by several inches. They're really great and I've often said that I could "eat one everyday." Seriously though, it's a relatively diverse state. While it's not a exactly a culinary Mecca, Indianapolis has a lot to offer. Where exactly is it that you might end up? =R=

A worthy and admirable goal. =R=

correction there elfin, Ron and Julie's is not a restaurant, yet. ← YT, as long as you hook me up with your egg roll recipe, I'm sure we can turn a nice profit! =R=

Hi Nick. The best place to have that particular conversation would probably be here. I started a new thread in our General Food Topics forum. I like everyone's local lists so far, too. I haven't been to Les Nomades since their double chef reshuffling but it was truly great the last time I was there and I'd love to go back. I'm honestly not sure I'd enjoy Matsumoto but I'd love to try it anyway. If I'm not mistaken, Takkatsu is the reincarnation of the place by the same name which used to be in Hubbard Woods, right? I'd love to get back there too as I always enjoyed it when it was closer to my home. BTW, is Hubbard Woods part of Glencoe or Winnetka? Sweet and Savories, Bistro Campagne are both rolling along nicely and I'd love to hit both of those as well -- S&S's again and BC for the first time. =R=

A conversation we started in the Heartland forum prompted one member to ask about a more worldly wish list of preferred culinary destinations for 2006. I feel good about 2005 in that I finally made my pilgrimage to Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, AZ. I also made it to Jaques Imo's and Restaurant August in New Orleans and I got there before Katrina did. In 2006, I really want to go to NY and I hope to hit at least a few high-end spots and Katz's too. In fact, I should probably just list Katz's first. I also get to travel for work on occasion but at this point in time I'm not sure where I'll be heading in 2006. Another trip to Phoenix will hopefully take me to Binkley's. I could end up in Buenos Aires but I wouldn't even know where to begin there. What are the restaurants you really hope to visit -- both near your home location and beyond -- in 2006? =R=