Louisa Chu

Midsummer night's BBQ: Burnt edges

By: Louisa Chu | Jun. 20, 2012

Jun. 20, 2012

"We don't officially carry burnt ends," said Barry Sorkin, owner of Smoque BBQ.

Was it a dream? I remember calling up just this past Sunday to place a Father's Day pick-up feast with pulled pork and sliced brisket, asking for as much bark and crust as possible. Then I heard the question: "Like burnt ends?"

Burnt ends are BBQ black gold. A delicacy of the Kansas City school of Q, they're the crisp and fatty brisket ends, traditionally cubed, then smoked again—sometimes slathered with sweet, tangy, ketchupy KC-style sauce.

Not everyone loves them. Some people find them too tough and dry. These are the same people I'm guessing who don't like the corner or edge pieces of baked macaroni and cheese, cornbread, or cobbler.

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This week in food: Sake tasting & more

By: Louisa Chu | Jun. 18, 2012

Jun. 18, 2012

 

Tuesday, June 19

Take a big juicy bite out of Chicago Rarities Orchard Project's latest lecture in their series at the Haas Park fieldhouse, this one featuring apple historian Dan Bussey. Bussey, "Orchard Manager at the Seed Savers Exchange...and owner of Albion Prairie Cider Orchard and Mill (a 4-acre collection of over 250 apple varieties first started in 1979) in Edgerton, Wisconsin, specializing in blends of apples for sweet and hard cider using a historic 1913 Mt. Gilead press...has documented over 15,000 apple varieties grown in the United States since 1623." He's the man to talk to about this year's upcoming apple harvest—or lack thereof.

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Shared spaces: 5 Rabbit beer dinner at Logan Square Kitchen

By: Louisa Chu | Jun. 15, 2012

Jun. 15, 2012

Logan Square Kitchen, the idyllic but embattled shared kitchen and event space, permanently closes its doors on June 28.

This Sunday, June 17, owner Zina Murray hosts a farewell potluck. "No fees, no reservations, just neighbors gathering for some good food and drink," says Murray on their site, where you can find further details. 

5 Rabbit Brewery invited me to their beer dinner at LSK during Craft Beer Week.

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Tabled manners: The soft-shell crab Royale

By: Louisa Chu | Jun. 13, 2012

Jun. 13, 2012

A couple of weeks ago, I unexpectedly found myself staring down the soft-shell crab Royale at Lula Cafe in Logan Square and thought: How am I going to eat this thing without looking like a scene out of Alien?
 
Or Prometheus, to be au courant.
 
It was a buttermilk-fried soft-shell crab sandwich with a sunny side up farm egg, bacon, coleslaw, pickled ramp gribiche, on a soft buttered bun—with a side of "Cajun" spiced potato chips. The Royale is the title of Lula's "breakfast sandwich series" only available during brunch, which is actually served daily.

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This week in food events: Father's Day and more

By: Louisa Chu | Jun. 11, 2012

Jun. 11, 2012

Monday, June 11

Come sail away for the 6th annual Taste of Columbia at the Columbia Yacht Club, benefitting the Legacy Foundation, featuring food from Benny's Chop House, South Water Kitchen, Fox & Obel, and more—plus drinks from our friends at Rare Tea Cellar, 5 Rabbit Cerveceria, St. Germain, and more. "The Legacy Foundation...supports Junior Sailing at Columbia....proceeds of the evening will help the Sailing School continue to create more outreach programs and scholarships, purchase new equipment, and maintain safety standards of used equipment."

Split for a screening of the documentary Bananas! at Chicago Fair Trade. "[D]iscuss the challenges to securing healthy food and supporting production that is safe for workers.

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The 'ripest mulberry,' now in season

By: Louisa Chu | Jun. 8, 2012

Jun. 8, 2012

"Thy stout heart
Now humble as the ripest mulberry
That will not hold the handling"
 
–Coriolanus, Shakespeare
 
If you walk around Chicago now and see sidewalks stained purple, look up: You've found a mulberry tree in season.
 
If a nearly black ber

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Bye, bye, lamprey pie

By: Louisa Chu | Jun. 6, 2012

Jun. 6, 2012

Queen Elizabeth II wrapped up her Diamond Jubilee festivities last night in London, celebrating 60 years as monarch, but no word yet on whether she actually ate any lamprey pie—made with sea lampreys from our very own Great Lakes.

"From a biological station in Michigan," said Dr. Mark Gaden, Communications Director at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in Ann Arbor.
 
The English city of Gloucester presented the pie, traditionally made with the eel-like fish from their River Severn, where the brook, river, and sea lampreys are now protected species.

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This week in food events: This little piggy and more

By: Louisa Chu | Jun. 4, 2012

Jun. 4, 2012

Monday, June 4

Forage for "mushrooms in the Chicago region," virtually speaking, at this month's meeting of the Illinois Mycological Association (aka Mushroom Club) at the North Park Village Nature Center. "Patrick Leacock, a mycologist at the Field Museum...discusses the types of macro-fungi found in the Chicago area...He is creating a checklist of over a thousand fungi found in the region" and yes, some are edible. This event will be recorded for WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified. 

Tuesday, June 5

Get in on Garfield Park Chef Night Out, benefitting Inspiration Kitchens.

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