I know where I'll be on Saturday. What about you? Bakesale for Japan is the perfect excuse to indulge in some of the tastiest home-baked goodies while contributing to a much-needed cause. Even if you don't have a sweet tooth, stop on by, say hello and grab some confections for your friends and neighbors. I guarantee it will be a winning start to the weekend!
photo credit: Julien Capmell GQ
GQ correspondent Alan Richman crisscrossed the country from Brooklyn to Austin to Seattle in search of GQ's best new restaurants. After thousands of miles (and countless calories), California scored three on the top 10 list with Venice's The Tasting Kitchen at #4, San Francisco’s Flour + Water at #2, and Oakland’s Commis at #9. Full list includes:
For more info and details visit GQ Eats
THREE STARS (exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey)
Alinea
L20
TWO STARS (excellent cuisine, worth a detour)
Avenues
Charlie Trotter's
Ria
ONE STAR (a very good restaurant in its category)
Blackbird
Boka
Bonsoirée
Crofton on Wells
Everest
graham elliot
Longman & Eagle
NAHA
NoMI
Schwa
Seasons
Sepia
Sixteen
Spiaggia
Takashi
Topolobampo
Tru
Vie
If you are a Riesling fan like myself, you won't want to miss this. The sixth annual “Riesling Week,” sponsored by the European Union and Wines of Germany is coming up the week of July 26th - August 1st. This week long celebration of Rieslings will showcase the diverse Rieslings from Germany, Austria and Alsace. During this upcoming week, many of the top dining destinations in New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Miami will offer consumers and Riesling enthusiasts the chance to sample various styles of European Riesling by the glass, by the bottle, or with a special pairing menu. In addition, wine shops (see list below) will host European Riesling tastings throughout the week.
PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS & RETAILERS:
Continue reading "Riesling Week 2010 - July 26th - August 1st" »
Today MICHELIN Guide announced their introduction of an upcoming red guide in Chicago. The MICHELIN guide Chicago 2011, the first-ever MICHELIN guide for a Midwestern city, will be published in November 2010. The announcement was made today by Jean-Luc Naret, worldwide director of the MICHELIN guide.
The MICHELIN guide, whose rating system is internationally recognized as the height of culinary success, is already published in 25 editions covering 23 countries, and additionally includes North America guides to New York City, which was introduced in November 2005 and San Francisco, launched the year after. The MICHELIN guide also recently launched titles in Asia, including two guides in Japan (Tokyo and Kyoto & Osaka) and Hong Kong & Macao.
Continue reading "MICHELIN Guide Announces Chicago Guide 2011" »
Robb Report - the Global Luxury resource has released it's annual Best of the Best Restaurants for 2009. The French reigned with four out of the seven restaurant's kitchens being run by French chefs (Boulud, Ducasse, Gras and Crenn) while the other three are Americans (Chang, Mina, Trotter). Only one female chef made it on the coveted list (Crenn), who we should also mention was named Esquire's chef of the year 2008. Six out of the seven properties are located in North America while only one (Maison Boulud) is located overseas in China.
Congratulations to the following seven restaurants that made the cut:
Charlie Trotter's, Restaurant Charlie - Las Vegas, Nevada
David Chang's Momofuku Ko - New York, New York
Alain Ducasse's Adour at St. Regis - Washington, D.C.
Laurent Gras' L20 - Chicago, Illinois
Dominique Crenn's Luce (pictured above) - San Francisco, California
Michael Mina's XIV - Los Angeles, California
Daniel Boulud's Maison Boulud - Beijing, China
See the complete list with full details and descriptions here
Just in time for New Year's Eve, sommelier Justin Leone of Alinea Restaurant in Chicago shares with us how to properly open a champagne bottle. I know a lot of you have enjoyed drinking your bubbly, but a lot of you have not once opened a bottle yourself. After watching this video, you can confidently take the bottle by it's horns, and impress your friends and company with your champagne poppin' skills. Champagne is my drink of choice and I am not one who feels it should be enjoyed or saved only for "special" occasions. I believe that every day and every fabulous meal should be celebrated and therefore, I love and delight in my bubbly all year round. Cheers everyone and here's to drinking champagne all year round!
2009 is just over a week away, and what better way to bring in the New Year with a nice bottle of bubbly and a fabulous, memorable meal from a celebrated chef. The list below may seem a bit of a splurge for some, but for those who have the benjamins to spare for a special meal with loved ones this New Year's Eve, here are a few suggestions.
As with any reservation at a coveted spot, your chosen times may not be available, but there are a few spaces still left at some of these gourmet heavy hitters below:
LOS ANGELES
Providence
Two Star Michelin Chef Michael Cimarusti if offering a multi-course offering that features luxury ingredients for the most discriminating guests. $175/person/ $225 with wine pairing
Make your reservations at Providence here
Valentino- LA
For a more subdued, yet elegant meal, I suggest Piero Selvaggio's flagship Valentino in Santa Monica. I celebrated the end of 2007 and the arrival of 2008 with an incredible six course tasting menu with an add on of white truffles and a spectacular wine pairing. $135/person. $45/additional white truffle supplement/per person $75/additional wine pairing/ per person
Make your reservations at Valentino here
Melisse
This Los Angeles favorite is offering a $140/person first seating (5:30-6:30) menu and a second seating (8:30-9:30) $250/person which includes live music, dancing and a glass of champagne.
Make your reservations at Melise here
Sona
Bring in the New Year with Chef David Myers' 4 course special menu with complimentary champagne and live jazz. A great deal at $89/person for a Michelin rated restaurant.
Make your reservation at Sona
The Bazaar by Jose' Andre's at SLS Hotel
Chef Jose Andre's and designer Philip Starck's imaginative dining space is offering a $125/person celebration with open menu for it's Rojo and Blanco menus. There will also be dancing in SLS' ballroom.
Make your reservations at Bazaar here
SAN FRANCISCO
Jardiniere
Tracy Des Jardins' theatre district gem is offering a 5:30-7:30pm seating: a 5-course menu ($150/person). 8:30-10:15pm seating: a 6-course menu, party favors, and a champagne toast at midnight. There will also be a Live band.
Make your reservation at Jardiniere
Luce
Esquire's 2008 Chef of the Year Dominique Crenn is featuring a 6-course prix-fixe dinner with a complimentary bottle of Champagne & live entertainment, ($229/couple). Last seating: 8pm. If you have not tried Chef Crenn's food, you are in for a truly delightful treat.
Make your reservation at Luce
Michael Mina
Celebrate the start of 2009 in San Francisco's Union Square at Michael Mina's signature restaurant with executive chef Chris L'Hommedieu's 5-course tasting menu ($175/person) or a 2nd seating 5-course truffle tasting menu ($325/person).
Make your reservation at Michael Mina
Bella Trattoria
If you are in the mood for authentic Italian food in a warm and cozy neighborhood Italian gem, book your table at Bella in the Inner Richmond for a $55/person New Year's party featuring a four-course prix-fixe menu including complimentary prosecco, live music 6-9:30pm, with DJ dance party starting at 11pm.
Make your reservation at Bella
CHICAGO
Charlie Trotters
Ring in 2009 with delicacies items such as caviar, lobster, truffles, Japanese beef, specialty cocktails and premium wines.
Make your reservation at Charlie Trotter's
NEW YORK
Daniel
Celebrate the start of 09 at one of New York's most acclaimed restaurants. Chef Daniel Boulud will be offering a Pre-Opera Dinner: 3-course menu ($195) or a Gala Dinner: 5-course menu with live music, followed by DJ, dancing & champagne toast ($555).
Make your reservation at Daniel
db Bistro Moderne
Chef Daniel Boulud's ultra modern hot spot is offering an a la carte dining from 5-8pm. Beginning at 9pm, they are offering a 5-course gala dinner ($165/person).
Make your reservation at db Bistro Moderne
JoJo
Jean-Georges' award winning JoJo will be featuring a 5-course tasting menu from 8:30pm onward ($125/person; 2hrs only).
Make your reservation at JoJo
wd-50
Chef Wylie Dufresne is offering a 1st seating 6-7pm: a la carte menu. 2nd seating 9-10pm: special 7-course tasting menu, party favors, & champagne at 12am, ($125/person, wine pairings:$75 or $95).
Make your reservation at wd-50
South Gate
A la carte menu for the 1st seating. Chef Kerry Heffernan's New Year's 5-course menu for the 2nd seating. ($175/person, $350/couple incl. bottle of champagne).
Make your reservation at South Gate
Barack Obama and John McCain's Favorite Restaurants
Since it is Election Day (can you believe it!), I felt it was only appropriate to share with you what kind of cuisine both candidates and their significant others fancy. Back in the Summer, Raymond Sokolov of the Wall Street Journal's "Eating Out", wrote a very detailed article in regards to the favorite food and restaurants of both Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain.
In the article, Sokolov mentioned how "McCain is a regular-guy diner-out, happy to follow Arizona custom with a Tex-Mex combo platter but also loyal to the modestly adventurous gourmet food available near his ranch north of Phoenix. The Obamas' favorite spot for a night out in Chicago is the alta cocina Mexican restaurant Topolobampo". Topolobampo btw- is owned by James Beard Award winning chef Rick Bayless.
Along with their shared preference for Mexican cuisine, pizza seems to also top their food choices. Sokolov wrote how "The candidates share an unsurprising taste, one that links them to tens of millions of fellow Americans. My friends, as McCain likes to say, the go-to food for both men is pizza. When campaigning in Brooklyn, McCain dropped into Verrazano Pizza and bought a pepperoni slice, press accounts say. Obama opted for vegetarian pies (all-cheese and the classic tomato-and-mozzarella Margherita) at American Dream Pizza in Corvallis, Ore., says the blog Pizzas and Other Stuff."
I feel that politicians no matter left or right, have an unspoken duty to appear like regular Joe Schmoes on the campaign trail and eat at every day restaurants just like the majority of voters that they are hoping to attract. Like Obama and McCain are really going to stop by Caviar Russe and order an ounce of Beluga or stop at the Beverly Wilshire for a steak at CUT even if they wanted to. Whatever the case, I happen to have a place in my heart for both pizza and Mexican food, so it looks like whomever it may be, I will for sure have something in common with our next President.
So whether it's pepperoni and mushroom, or goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes, or a bean and cheese burrito, or a chilean sea bass fish taco, make your voice heard today and VOTE!
For Raymond Sokolov's complete article, visit McCain and Obama's Favorite Restaurants
L20 chef Laurent Gras
Yesterday was indeed a very French dominated day in the culinary world of New York City. First of all, the 2009 Michelin Guide New York was released and announcements made at a press breakfast at the Astor Center with Eric Ripert and Jean George maintaining their 3 Michelin Stars. Then in the evening, Esquire had a party announcing their 2008 20 Best Restaurants of the Year, Chef of the Year, and Restaurant of the Year.
As noted earlier, French Chef Dominique Crenn of San Francisco was selected as Esquire's 2008 Chef of the Year, while native of France, chef Laurent Gras' L20 Restaurant was awarded Restaurant of the Year.
L20 is a modern seafood restaurant in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Guests of L20 have the choice of either ordering a la carte in the contemporary lounge area, or enjoying a a 4 course prix-fixe or a tasting menu in the main dining room .
"A native of France, Chef Gras worked his way through a “Who's Who” of Michelin-starred kitchens with Alain Senderens, Jacques Maximin, Guy Savoy and Alain Ducasse before coming to the United States in 1997 to take the helm at New York’s Peacock Alley in The Waldorf-Astoria. In 2001 he took the position of Executive Chef at San Francisco's renowned Fifth Floor, where he was named San Francisco magazine’s Chef of the Year and Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chef in 2002."
Congratulations to Laurent and L20 on their award. Will definitely be making a visit there on my next trip to the windy city.
L20 Restaurant
2300 Lincoln Park West (at Belden Avenue)
Chicago, Illinois
773-868-0002
Dinner Hours:
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday- 6:00PM-10:00PM,
Friday and Saturday- 5:00PM-11:00PM and
Sunday-5:00PM-9:00PM.
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