ronnie_suburban

Thanks for the information, Ben. Thursday is my day to choose lunch for the office and your post has inspired me. =R= ← It should be interesting to see if the food is still up to snuff...For me at least, presentation is an important part of the fun of a great meal. ← Yeah, there's no question in my mind that it won't be as good as eating in the restaurant; for a variety of reasons. Still, I'll try to order something that looks like it can travel well and hope for the best. In the end, I will be comparing it with other PGC meals I've actually eaten on premises. That said, the lunch menu looks almost completely different from the dinner menu, so it won't be a direct comparison by any means. A more useful comparison -- and one that I know I will make -- is between carry-out lunch from PGC and carry-out lunch from other, similar places that we hit on a regular basis. A few that come to mind (in the same approximate price range) are Bluegrass, Player's Grill, Rosebud (Highland Park) and Miramar (Highwood). FWIW, their current lunch menu looks outstanding and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's lunch. =R=

I've gone in jeans and khakis and in neither uniform did they kick me out. =R=

Thanks for the information, Ben. Thursday is my day to choose lunch for the office and your post has inspired me. =R=

March 2, 2005... From today's Chicago Tribune - Good Eating section: A wine and (grilled) cheese party...Bill Daley takes on the challenge of pairing up the classic American sandwich with the proper grape. Tasting notes are included. The Local Option...Robin Mather Jenkins files a Cheap Eats review of this DePaul-area eatery. Organic farmers come to town...Robin Mather Jenkins previews the FamilyFarmed.org Expo taking place in town next week. Making room for chocolate (not drama)...Kathy Kaplan on a new, locally-made brand of confections now hitting the market. ===== From today's Chicago Sun Times - Food section: A plate of yesteryear...Tom McNamee chronicles the oyster and its history in the Chicago cuisine scene. Fulfill dietary guidelines by expanding veggie list...Sue Ontiveros with more excellent advice about how best to eat healthfully. Tastings around town...Celeste Busk rounds up events taking place at Le Lan, Harry Caray's, HotChocolate, Thyme, Dessert Gourmet, Chicago Botanic Garden and Tuscany. A fistful of restaurants...Denise I. O'Neal reports on Lawry's newest outpost as well as upcoming events and programs at Cafe des Architectes, The Wauconda Public Library, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, Atwood Cafe, Pili.Pili and Levy Restaurants. ===== From today's Daily Herald - Food section: Cooking classes...a comprehensive listing of upcoming area food events, tastings and classes; broken out by day. ===== And last but certainly not least, in this week's installment of Chicago Magazine's Dish...Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby report on the seemingly odd pairing of Ina Pinkney and Rich Melman, whose "collaboration" will be documented on the CNN series The Turnaround. =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.

Thanks, noambenami, for taking the time to share your experience with us. I'm not shocked to hear about the service lapses because I've heard and read other reports which have echoed them somewhat. In fact, my one (near) experience at Trotter's, unfortunately, centered on a big service lapse. As for the food, it's highly subjective so I appreciate your measured comments in that area. BTW, Zealous is helmed by Trotter alum, Michael Taus. =R=

I have always gone very early to Miramar. The one time we went a bit later, without calling first, we ended up waiting about an hour for a table -- and that was around 5:30 pm on a Saturday It's certainly a great and fun place and I'm very happy to see it succeeding but unless you want your entire Saturday night to just be dinner, it's an extraordinarily tough place to dine. However, the food is great I'd suggest calling in to get on the list between 5 and 5:30 on a weeknight. That should land you at a table between 6 and 6:30. If your schedule can accommodate it, that should do the trick. I've also walked in around 5:15 numerous times and been seated right away. But, that was months ago and it may be even busier now than it was then. =R=

Lately it's been very busy and even before the holidays, it was hard to get a weeknight reservation for as early as 6 pm. That said, when we've walked in at or before 5:30 on weeknights, we've been seated without a wait. I know that's pretty early, but in our current configuration, it works for us. I do recommend making a reservation, regardless. I have a feeling that this latest review from Mr. Vettel isn't going to make getting a (walk-in) table at PGC any easier. I'm very happy for the folks at PGC. This most recent review should further solidify their business for quite some time. And, at least for now, they seem to be proving that there is no such thing as a "cursed" location. =R=

Thanks for the heads up, Anko. It's been a while since I updated the Check, Please thread. =R=

A new, Interim Executive Director was named today: James Beard Foundation Selects Restaurant Industry Veteran Edna Morris as Interim Executive Director =R=

February 23, 2005... From today's Chicago Tribune - Good Eating section: Sorry, Miles...in spite of some great lines in Sideways, Bill Daley defends the merlot grape and its potential to be great. Personal touch...Kenn Ruby trails personal chef Cali Bergold as she caters a dinner party for 8 in Hinsdale. A guiding hand...Bill Daley reviews Anne Willan's latest tome, The Good Cook: 70 Essential Techniques, 250 Step-by-Step Photographs, 350 Easy Recipes. demitasse...Joe Gray files a Cheap Eats review of this Taylor Street cafe. TV time for local duo...Renee Enna reports on a Chicago duo who have been named among the 8 finalists of The Next Food Network Star. ===== From today's Chicago Sun Times - Food section: Oscar time: Don't forget the food...Beverly Levitt explores the connection between food and this year's nominees. Different challenges, one goal: lose weight...food editor Sue Ontiveros continues her quest to help us all get healthier. Tastings around town...Celeste Busk previews upcoming events at Nine Steakhouse, Chef's Station, Cafe Baba Reeba, Webster's Wine Bar, Binny's-Downtown and Star Bar. Grab your bib: Culinary Week simmers soon...Denise I. O'Neal previews Culinary Week coming up at Marshall Fields as well as special events at Va Pensiero, Petterino's, Max's-Highland Park and Burhop's-Wilmette. Carey cuisine: 'Everyday' host makes cooking simple...Frazier Moore reviews Everyday Food, which premiered last month on PBS. ===== From today's Daily Herald - Food section: Cooking classes...a comprehensive listing of upcoming area food events, tastings and classes; broken out by day. ===== And last but certainly not least, in this week's installment of Chicago Magazine's Dish...Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby deliver the shocking news that KDK's Saiko will be shuttered permanently following service this Saturday, barely a year after it opened. ===== =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.

Some more good Alinea buzz from Monifa Thomas in today's Chicago Sun-Times: Chicagoans apparently starving for Alinea =R=

Congrats, chef, on the great ink! Very nice. =R=

Okay guys and gals, let's get back to Trotters. Anyone been there lately? If so, how was it? =R=

I'd like to thank everyone for their empassioned comments here. Chef Trotter put Chicago on the culinary map and it's not surprising to see some amount of potshots hurled in his direction. It is the nature of things. People often root for the underdog, the up-and-comer, over the incumbent. I'd also like to remind everyone that opinions are simply that -- opinions -- and we all have them. One of the primary functions of this forum is for us to share those opinions. While there may be consequences for stating one's opinions anonymously outside of this forum, there are absolutely none for doing so within this forum. Anonymity is accepted here and those who choose it do so for a variety of valid reasons, not necessarily cowardice. Posts made anonymously are welcome here as long as they adhere to our user agreement. Whether you choose to accept an anonymous opinion or not is a personal choice, but anonymity does not necessarily invalidate one's opinion. I'd also like to remind everyone that the power of anonymity is quite limited here in our forums. Even anonymous posters have, in the past, requested that their own posts be removed from the forum after they found themselves in hot water. So please, post responsibly. Carry on. =R=

Phil Vettel's latest review at metromix.com awards Le Francais 4 Stars: =R= Le Francais 269 S. Milwaukee Avenue Wheeling, IL 847-541-7470

I don't think anyone here is personally claiming to be better than CT (at least not from what I've read in this thread), only that he is being surpassed somewhat by others who are up and coming. =R=

Dick, I appreciate you breaking your personal custom to bring us the details. It really does sound fabulous. Of course, with those wines, you had one hell of a great head start. Having been blown away at Carlos back in December, I think I understand exactly how you feel. Thanks again for the write-up. =R=

Thanks, Rob. Much appreciated. For whatever reason, my search at Tribune on "Cantu" returned no results. =R=

I and my google bot seemed to miss it -- and today was recycling day so the Sunday paper is gone. Do you have a link? =R=

Wow! Ok, I think we're all kinda' feeling the same thing (about CT) but I really admire that you actually have the "onions" to say it. And I agree about Grant. He has arrived and doesn't need help from anyone. =R=

Elephantine egos aside, chefs have to abide by employment laws, and that means confirming dates of employment. If Chuckie the Wunderchef thinks he can wipe his employment records clean and deny that Chef X ever worked for him, he's going to have many hungry lawyers breathing down his neck, but they won't be looking for food. ← In most traditional cases, I'd agree by default but if the chef in question has only staged or externed -- and there is no pay involved -- I'm not sure if that would be true. =R=

Thanks, VeryApe for taking the time to find those quotations and transposing them here. I was completely unaware of this reported rift between the chefs. Either way, if the Dish piece is accurate -- and we have ZERO reason to believe it isn't -- maybe the conflict between the 2 chefs has been resolved. Is this kind of "stonewalling" common in the cheffing biz? =R=

News of yet another major, upcoming event at Trotter's was reported by Chicago Magazine's Dish this evening: Wow! =R=

From AP, via Yahoo: 'Super Size Me' Wins Writers Guild Award =R=

February 16, 2005... From today's Chicago Tribune - Good Eating section: Point, click, COOK...Bill Daley files this fantastic piece about the eGullet Culinary Institute. It's no sin...Bill Daley advises on how best to "lighten of the lenten burden" via "the cup." 5 Loaves Eatery...Donna Pierce files a Cheap Eats review of this south side eatery. From small evergreen seeds, inspiration...Donna Pierce on pine nuts and several terrific applications for them. Lifetime inspiration turns into a store...Elizabeth Owens-Schiele reports on My Favorite Gourmet, in East Dundee. A Food Guide we can sink our teeth into...while Janet Helm likely fumes, the Good Eating staff pokes a bit of fun at the new version of the Food Guide Pyramid issued by the U.S. government. Match made in Thai heaven...Robin Mather Jenkins sits down with noted Thai cuisine expert Nancie McDermott who is promoting her newest tome, Quick & Easy Thai. ===== From today's Chicago Sun Times - Food section: In search of vitamin C...Susan Figliulo is hot on the ascorbic acid trail. Pour it on, bring down the house...Jennifer Olvera discovers that bartending a la Tom Cruise in Cocktail is alive, kicking and open to the public. Run like the wind, and pounds won't follow...food editor Sue Ontiveros continues to channel your mother; this week's missive is on the inarguable benefits of exercise. Banchet winners announced...a list of this year's winners. Chef aims to help relationships in need of warm-up...Denise I. O'Neal reports on what one local chef is doing to "spread the love." Tastings around town...Celeste Busk previews upcoming events at Gioco, Va Pensiero, The Chopping Block, Geneva Inn, NoMi, Vivere and Le Colonial. ===== From today's Daily Herald - Food section: Cooking classes...a comprehensive listing of upcoming area food events, tastings and classes; broken out by day. ===== And last but certainly not least, in this week's installment of Chicago Magazine's Dish...Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby report that nomadic chef Patrick Robertson has left 22 Restaurant and Bar Moderne. ===== =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.