Thursday Podcast: Vegas Uncorked
Mar. 26, 2009
Las Vegas has been hit hard by the current economic downturn, but the city is still plowing ahead with its annual "Vegas Uncorked" event May 7-10. Four of the best hotel properties are collaborating on a spectacular food and wine weekend. I spoke with chef Paul Bartolotta, of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at the Wynn Las Vegas, about this big event. More information at www.vegasuncorked.com
Vegas_Uncorked
Thursday Podcast: Jason's Deli
Mar. 19, 2009
The March issue of Health Magazine lists the top 10 healthy fast food chains around the country, and surprisingly, Jason's Deli came in a number two. This Texas-based chain has about 200 locations around the country, and has eliminated trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup (mostly) and spends a lot of extra money on stocking its all-you-can-eat salad bar with organic produce. I spoke with company co-owner Rusty Coco about this new wave of healthy fast food.
Jasons_Deli
Common Threads World Festival
Mar. 12, 2009
Common Threads - a local non-profit dedicated to teaching inner-city kids about ethnic foods and cooking - was started by chef Art Smith several years ago, and the annual fundraiser, called the World Festival, has slowly attracted a major who's who of the culinary world over the past few years. This year's event, March 23rd at the MCA, brings together more than 40 chefs from all over the country. I spoke with Linda Novick O'Keefe, the Exec. Dir. of Common Threads, as well as Bill Kim, chef-owner of Urban Belly, one of this year's participants. For ticket information, go to www.commonthreads.org.
Common_Threads
Thursday Podcast: A Sinful Dinner
Mar. 5, 2009
If you're one of those gastronomes who laughs in the face of superstition, then the folks at Blue 13 have just the ticket this Friday the 13th. They're holding a "Seven Deadly Sins" dinner, with each course inspired by one of the sins (greed, sloth, envy, etc.). The $77 dinner starts at 7 p.m. I talked with chef Chris Curren in his kitchen about the meal, as well as the restaurant's recent move to institute Sunday Night Family Meals, a trend that is picking up steam in Chicago. By the way, if you can tell me the name of the artist and the title of the song at the end of the interview, I'll send you a $25 dinner gift card from Brazzaz. Send your answers to me at: steve@stevedolinsky.com. Good luck!
7_Sins_2
Thursday Podcast: Prodigious Pita Producer
Feb. 26, 2009
The Sanabel Bakery (no relation to the island in Florida) has just opened in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood. Run by Pierre Mounsef, who used to operate a popular Lebanese restaurant down the street, he now spends his days shoulder-deep in flour, sugar and yeast, cranking out tens of thousands of pita loaves everyday. I spoke with his son, Ellie, about the growing demand for local, homemade pita.
2009-02-26 Pita
Thursday Pod Cast: Cameron Hughes Wines
Feb. 19, 2009
Cameron Hughes isn't a household name - yet - but his wines are remarkable, because he doesn't even own a winery. He's one of the few people buying wine on the bulk market, and then branding his own namesake label. His latest effort: The Flying Winemaker. Currently, his wines are available at Binny's Beverage Depot and a number of Costcos around the country. I spoke with him from the Costco in Lincoln Park, among bottles of reasonably-priced wines from all over the world.
2009-02-19 Cameron_Hughes
Thursday Podcast: 4-Star Vegan Cooking
Feb. 12, 2009
Linda Long is not a food writer, but an accomplished food photographer as well. In her new book, "Great Chefs Cook Vegan," she talks with some of the greatest chefs in the U.S., and gets them to come up with dynamic, delicious (and from a few, rather complicated) vegan dishes that would have previously been unthinkable. This book really proves that vegan cooking is a cuisine in its own right, and has finally been elevated to rock star status and high acclaim among the nation's culinary elite. I spoke with her on her recent tour through Chicago.
2009-02-12 Vegan
Thursday Podcast:Chocolate
Feb. 5, 2009
Everyone jumps on the chocolate bandwagon this time of year, in anticipation of Valentine's Day. But at Eno - a chocolate/cheese/wine lounge inside the Hotel Intercontinental on Michigan Avenue - the staff is pumped up about chocolate yearround. I spoke with Shara Bauer, the Chocolate Buyer and Wine Manager at Eno, about some interesting chocolates, as well as some great wines that pair with them this Valentine's Day.‚ Incidentally, Shara will lead a chocolate-wine pairing class at 6 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Eno.
2009-02-05 Chocolate
