chaudruc

Do you remember Sopraffina in the Crossroads Center? It closed maybe 2 years ago. It was a great venue with tasty "fast casual" food but the concept just didn't catch up there - maybe the demographic was too old. The Rosenthal's were smart to pull the plug when it was clear the concept wouldn't fly.

I am very lucky that my sister and her husband live down in St.Croix and have given me 5 or 6 different bottles of rum from the island. The surprise was the Cruzan Blackstrap. I have always enjoyed sipping rum but this rum on ice is just amazing. Very dark, smoky molasses taste comes through with sweet aftertaste. This in unlike any other rum I have had before and from what I understand it is much more like original rum handed out on sailing ships to sailors. (Rumor?) I've also mixed it with orange juice and club soda the resulting drink is brown and delicious. But really it is so great on the rocks. One bar that serves it in Chicago is Redfish on State near the House of Blues. I will probably have my sister send me a case around Christmas time.