Source: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-Wire/June-2012/Elizabeth-Fenner-on-WGN-TV/
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Sunday, September 30, 2012
Virgin Atlantic Brings Clubhouse to Newark
Here at Virgin Atlantic we're thrilled to announce details of our latest investment in luxury travel: a brand-new Clubhouse at Newark Liberty Airport set to open in October 2012....
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Get paid to make videos for Urbanspoon
Do you love making videos and have a passion for great food?
If so, we want you to produce and star in your own video segment on the Urbanspoon Street CrEdibles Show on YouTube launching in September. Check out the Hungry Channel videos for inspiration.
Each episode will have a different theme or topic, and we want you to film a 1-2 minute segment that showcases the most intriguing restaurants, food trucks, or pop-up eateries in your city.
Remember, this is all about you! So feel free to share your creativity, your unique voice, and (by all means) your passion for great food. We want you to think out of the box to highlight foodie opportunities, people, and dishes that make your city special.
We are currently accepting pitches for the following episode themes:
EXOTIC BAR BITES
Our audience wants to know the most unique kinds of food at your favorite happy hour. Think of this as a combination of great food, small plates, bargains, good ambience, and a fun environment. So, what makes your selection so great?
DESSERTS THAT SEAL THE DEAL
Ever been out with the one, or at least the one for that night? Nothing like a sweet treat to lead to even more sweetness. Tell us all about the moment before the moment and what was it you were eating that indeed sealed the deal!
BESTEST BOOZY BRUNCHES
What on earth could be better than a lovely lazy Sunday awash with innovative and satisfying cocktails spent with good friends and a spread of interesting food? Where can someone go in your town to maximize a brunch experience? Tell us what to eat and drink, and what will make it memorable.
10 ON THE CRUNCH-O-METER
What will give the biggest and best crunch for our cash? Crunch is so satisfying but what's out there that we haven’t tried? Crunchy fried chicken, crunchy roasted soybeans, crunchy noodles in chicken salad, the crunchy rice in paella... the world is your crunch, tell us about it! How does the food get the crunch? Is it good? Make certain we hear the crunch when you taste it!
To Apply:
- Read our Videographer Guide with technical specifications on our Facebook page.
- Send a 2-3 sentence pitch for your video idea to Ronnie Weinstock (Exec Prod) at rlynnw@yahoo.com and Christopher.Castelonia@electus.com.
- All pitches must include one of the episode themes above.
Payment: $500 per accepted video piece. You must receive written pitch approval to be eligible for payment.
Submission Deadline: Video Pitches due ASAP - we're hungry!
Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/88/Get-paid-to-make-videos-for-Urbanspoon.html
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Dalai Lama speaks at Loyola | Photos
In town for the 12th annual World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Chicago, the Dalai Lama gave a talk yesterday at Loyola University. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, answered questions and invited high school students onstage with him to speak about peace. The students, who spoke in front of a packed house of 3,000 at Loyola's Gentile Arena, were asked to participate as winners of an essay contest. Each presenter wore a white scarf that the Dalai Lama had blessed and given to them before the proceedings. Actor Sean Penn was on hand to make introductions.
Source: http://timeoutchicago.com/things-to-do/chicago-blog/15323011/dalai-lama-speaks-at-loyola-photos
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8 reasons to watch the Ryder Cup
If you're not into golf, you might not know the Ryder Cup is this weekend. Or that it pits 12 of the best American players against 12 of the top Europeans. Or that it's been held pretty much biennially for 85 years, with this edition being the first time it's in Illinois (Friday-Sunday at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, to be specific).
Still, you might have an inkling that it's a big deal (and that those giant golf balls on Michigan Avenue are related). Let's put it this way: Happy Gilmore would feel right at home at this sold-out event-curse words, wild getups, thunderous crowds and all.
So even if you've never picked up a golf club or can't tell a fourball from a screwball, here are eight reasons to watch the Ryder Cup.
�
Rivalry!
Whether you're American or European defines who is "us" and "them," of course. Either way, the Ryder Cup is the crown jewel of golf's team events. The rivalry runs so deep that fans boo and shout insults, and the players brace themselves for abuse from the more than 100,000 fans who compose the galleries over the three days.
"I hope that I won't get heckled but if they do [heckle me], you've just gotta stay calm and play the best round of golf," said Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, the top-ranked player in the world. "Emotions run high here, and obviously the majority will be pulling for the American team."
�
Celebs!
Keep your eyes peeled for Michael Jordan (an honorary U.S. coach), Scottie Pippen, Michael Phelps, Bill Murray and other big names. And Justin Timberlake is serving as the first Ryder Cup ambassador for the Americans; he's been in Chicago all week with fiancee Jessica Biel. Never mind the fact no one knows what his title means or what powers he has.
�
Pride!
There's no prize money at stake. Zippo. It's all about pride and country-or continent, as the case may be. Not that the players would trade that for the two years of bragging rights if they win.
"I just love this event," said Phil Mickelson, who holds the record for U.S. Ryder Cup appearances with nine. "I have realized over time how much I love the Ryder Cup, how much I love being part of the team and how much I want to play and compete."
�
Illini! Wildcats!
Steve Stricker, an Illinois graduate, is teeing it up for the American squad, and British player Luke Donald, a Northwestern alum, will represent the Euros. On a related note, if Donald's Northfield home is egged Monday, he'll know why.
�
Fashion!
If you thought the ridiculous hats at the royal wedding and Wimbledon were out there, wait till you see these-and no, it's not just the European fans. Hats in the shape of putting greens, suits made out of the Union Jack-there's no outfit too bizarre.
�
Tiger!
Yes, Woods is playing. No, Elin won't be there, but she wasn't exactly a lucky charm even when they were married. He's got an unimpressive 13-14-2 record in this competition. Still, he'll figure prominently in the outcome.
�
U-S-A! U-S-A!
Er, sort of. The Americans dominated the first six decades of the Cup but have lost six of eight, including 2010 in Wales. Despite the fact the U.S. is the favorite on paper most times, it's anyone's Cup.
�
Gentlemen? Uh
At most golf tournaments, players go out of their way to be polite. Not here.
"Ryder Cups, it was all about how badly can I beat this guy; and if I can beat him that bad, let's beat him worse," said Lanny Wadkins, a former participant and captain for the U.S. "If I was going to tell the American team something right now, it would be to get ready to step on their neck and twist your foot."
Said English player Ian Poulter: "There's something about Ryder Cup where you can be great mates with somebody but boy do you want to kill him. It's passion like you've never seen before."
�
Want more? Discuss this article and others on RedEye Sports' Facebook page.�Source: http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-red-0928-ryder-cup-primer-20120927,0,6250020.story?track=rss
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Hawaii Food & Wine Festival 2012
Let's face it, I have a great job. As the social media manager for Urbanspoon, I get to spend my days posting food news on Facebook and Twitter, looking at diners' photos, and interacting with bloggers. Yes, it is a sweet gig. However, there are days that make my job even better!
Last weekend, our friends at Hawaiian Airlines invited us as their guest to attend the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival in Honolulu. The four-day festival co-founded by Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong showcases over 50 internationally renowned master chefs, wine producers, and culinary celebrities. Throughout the weekend, there were a variety of cooking demonstrations, tastings, and panel discussions. 
Since I love to eat and travel my trip started the minute I got on the plane, because Hawaiian Airlines' head chef is Chai Chaowasaree. Chef Chai owns Singha Thai Cuisine, located in Waikiki, and Chai's Island Bistro located at Aloha Tower Marketplace. When traveling nowadays it seems like simply getting ANY food on your flight is a luxury, but the meals on Hawaiian were filled with local ingredients. We had several options, including pulled pork sandwiches and chicken teriyaki with pineapple. I have to admit that I bought the premium dinner option on the flight back to Seattle – and then proceeded to eat the complimentary dinner immediately following. And of course, what flight to Hawaii would be complete without a complimentary mai tai!
It would be easy to go on and on about every bite, sip, and conversation I had over the weekend, but instead I'll offer just a few highlights.
Enter the MODERN Dragon
The festival opened at the MODERN Waikiki with Hawaiian Airlines' event "Enter the MODERN Dragon." This event featured a range of talented chefs serving Asian-inspired dishes, and was named for 2012, the year of the dragon in Chinese astrology. The event's star of the evening was Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who also has a restaurant in the MODERN hotel.
As the sun set on Waikiki, we sampled everything from fish tacos to sake - each taste more delicious than the last, light and irresistibly fresh! There was one personal issue. I am a Food TV nerd. I love Food TV – so I was totally star-struck and admitted my lack of coolness at one event, telling a food writer, "isn't this exciting – it is just like Top Chef!" She was quick to point out she does not own a TV, and I timidly recoiled.
The rest of the weekend involved expert panels on food culture, restaurants, and cooking demonstrations. Two of my favorite sessions:
Get Wild and Raw in Hawaii with Masaharu Morimoto & Ming Tsai
Many of us have seen Morimoto on Iron Chef. He comes out of the smoke with arms crossed like a true Samurai warrior – silent and skilled. He is easily one of the more intimidating characters on the show, but don't be fooled by the Iron Chef exterior. He is charming in person. His co-presenter, Ming Tsai, is the host of Simply Ming on PBS. Watching these two masters at work was thrilling. Not only were they chatting away and expertly deboning a fish at the same time, but their passion for food and for their friendship became evident. Both had a lightness of heart as they presented. Ming Tsai teased Morimoto that he had one of the longest lines at the reception the evening before because his food was so delicious, but that Ming had taken another approach – he just chose to work slowly so that a line would have to form for him, too. We had the luxury of tasting each of their fish dishes.
Battle of the Food Geeks: Silicon Valley Startups vs. Roy Yamaguchi, Todd English, & more . . .
This session was a perfect fit for Urbanspoon, combining our love for both food and technology. The panel included David McClure of 500 Startups, Christine Quinlan of Food & Wine Magazine, and Chefs Lee Anne Wong, Susan Feniger, Sang Yoon, and Roy Yamaguchi. They listened and questioned entrepreneurs who described their food-based startups.
Urbanspoon was one of the first food apps, but we still see ourselves as a startup in many ways. So, we have a sweet spot in our hearts for each of the companies who presented. For the most part, each company was a different type of home delivery service, offering everything from gourmet food samples to paleo diets for CrossFit athletes.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Aihui Ong, the founder of www.lovewithfood.com, one of the day's presenters. Love with Food offers home-delivered gourmet food samples, and for every box or product you buy, they donate a meal to a food bank. Since their launch they have given away more than 10,000 meals to hungry families. We bonded over the fact that both Food With Love and Urbanspoon have strong connections to food bloggers. I had the opportunity to ask her what advice she would give to new food bloggers. Aihui suggested, "Write about a particular niche. Regardless if you are a vegetarian or if you love desserts just make your food colorful and creative!" I couldn't agree more.
I had a wonderful time attending the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival this year. Again, special thanks to our host Hawaiian Airlines. To see even more pictures and videos from the festival, check out this album on our Facebook page.
And as we say goodbye to summer here in Seattle, I am personally hoping to scheme my way into another sunny, warm, and exotic food trip soon. If anyone knows of another food festival in paradise -- send an invite my way!
Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/102/Hawaii-Food-Wine-Festival-2012.html
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Virgin Atlantic Brings Clubhouse to Newark
Here at Virgin Atlantic we're thrilled to announce details of our latest investment in luxury travel: a brand-new Clubhouse at Newark Liberty Airport set to open in October 2012....
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Strip Mall Stigma
Your friend invites you to try a new restaurant - but it's in a strip mall. She's heard really good things about it - but it's in a strip mall. You immediately look up the restaurant on Urbanspoon and find mostly positive reviews, sprinkled with hackneyed phrases like "a hidden gem" or "don't let the strip mall exterior fool you!"
We've all dined at strip malls, and they are certainly not a new concept, but what is it about these restaurants that make us uneasy? Why is there a difference in attitude towards the standalone versus the strip mall locale?
Strip malls are places we pass every day, places that are near and easy to access, yet we keep saying we'll eat at that one place someday. If we do muster the courage to go, there's the fear of walking into a deserted restaurant. Pulling up to the strip mall, you notice there are cars parked there, but where are their owners? Are they getting their hair cut? Picking up dry cleaning? The impermeable tinted windows make it difficult to catch a glimpse before you decide to jump ship. Once inside, there's no turning back.
It's also difficult to give these restaurants a chance when the location acts as a revolving door for each new tenant. No one wants to spend time and money on a place that will close down within the year. Economist and professor Tyler Cowen writes about finding good, affordable places to eat in his newest book, An Economist Gets Lunch: New Rules for Everyday Foodies. He points out that restaurant owners in strip malls have more flexibility to be creative and innovative since their overhead costs are lower.
Cowen suggests exploring suburbs for the best ethnic restaurants. Areas where a particular ethnic cuisine dominates will serve above-average food. These areas have plenty of competition, along with an informed clientele that makes them immune to mediocrity and gimmicks. Restaurants with poor quality will quickly be run out of business.
Next time you're looking for a new place to eat, don't let the strip mall exterior fool you. You just might find a true "hidden gem."
These strip mall restaurants have high ratings on Urbanspoon:
- Ripe Eatery in El Paso, TX
- Pupatella in Washington, DC
- Pho 95 in Denver, CO
- Jebena Cafe in Seattle, WA
- Da Rae Jung in Chicago, IL
- The Chicken Lady in Los Angeles, CA
- KoMex Fusion Express in Las Vegas, NV
- SpecialTea Lounge in Miami
- Café Sarajevo in Phoenix
- Savera in Toronto, ON
Now it's your turn! What are your favorite strip mall restaurants? Share your suggestions on our Facebook page or create a guide of the best strip mall restaurants in your city.
Post written for Urbanspoon by Lisa Martinez of El Paso Veg Snob
Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/95/Strip-Mall-Stigma.html
Caribbean Holidays: Where to Eat in Barbados
We've looked at where to stay and now we're looking at where to eat in Barbados. Our most popular Caribbean destination is not short on options...
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Saturday, September 29, 2012
Keefer Restaurant Rewarding Chicagoans Who Take on Winter
For anyone who has been in Chicago during winter, it?s hardly a secret that the first two months of the year are not the best times to be in here, unless you are into wind gusts and frosty temperatures. To demonstrate the plight of their fellow Chicagoans, Keefer?s Restaurant along with The Ungar Group, created [...]
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Shinto Japanese Steakhouse Offers an Espresso Beer
Now coffee lovers and beer drinkers can have the best of both worlds. The Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout is a Japanese beer that is offered on Shinto?s extensive wine, beer and cocktails menu. In addition to Japanese beers, their drink menu boasts beers from China, Belgium, Amsterdam, Holland and Canada. The Hitachino Next Espresso Stout [...]
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Ragu - Worst TV Commercial of 2012
I know we are still barely halfway through the year, but I'm fairly certain nothing from the food advertising industry is going to come close to the horrid concept of Ragu's latest TV spot. The ad successfully combines creepy and disjointed to deliver an experience that makes you go ewwwwww instead of mmmmmm.
The plotline is fairly simple: young kiddo in a nice house walks into his parent's bedroom without knocking. Cue the quizzical, mystified, slightly grossed out image on the nice kiddos face. Now inexplicably cut to the smiling, wholesome family serving some nice red Ragu at dinner that evening. Dad's face clearly says, "this meal is the second best thing I've had today"; fortunately we only see Mom's back silhouetted in the foreground.
What on earth is Ragu's message? "Our pasta sauce is so (fill in the blank) that it will wipe away the visuals of your parents fornicating." It's so bad there's even a country style soundtrack: "Parents in bed, but its still 8:00, that's why they taught you you should always knock. Ragu because growing up's tough . . . Ragu because he's been through enough." I thought this was a SNLesque parody until I heard the wannabe Sam Elliot voice reading the tagline: "A long day of childhood calls for America's favorite pasta sauce."
I'm definitely having steak, or soup, or casserole, or barbecue, or pizza tonight . . . anything to avoid popping open that pasta sauce jar stirring thoughts of my parents going at it.
Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/93/Ragu-Worst-TV-Commercial-of-2012.html
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Chicagoist Has First Look at Elizabeth: "Like If Alinea Went On a Camping Trip"
A duck egg "czernina."
Though we've long been intrigued by Iliana Regan's unique personal vision for Elizabeth, we will admit to not being immune to the concern that Anthony Todd phrases as "Foraged ingredients sound fey and precious — will I actually get a meal here?" There's also concern about whether Regan, skilled underground dinner chef that she is, is up to running a whole restaurant, given relatively little professional kitchen experience. But Todd reports from its third night of service that "Elizabeth is one of the best things to happen in Chicago's dining scene since I've been eating here."
He writes:
Instead of being yet another pointless way for chefs to brag about their food, foraged components make this restaurant stand out. Why? Regan doesn't need to come up with ever more tortured, not-really-ironic presentations of standard ingredients ("let's puree it, then powder it, then rehydrate the powder and form it into a perfect approximation of its former self") to shock the jaded diner. Here, the ingredients themselves are enough to make your eyes go wide.
When was the last time you tasted Queen Anne's lace gel? Yeah, that would be never. Pine juice? Acorns? Fermented crab apples? Pickled rose petals? Carrot tops? The list goes on, but surprisingly none of these ingredients ever shocked the palate. They just nudged it gently out of its familiar sleepiness.
The intimacy of the small space creates a warm, communal atmosphere that Todd suggests is more like a party than the usual dining experience:
It has a similar feeling to El Ideas, a sense that you are part of something special — rather than a snobby, pretentious atmosphere. It creates a sense of possibility, adventure and excitement. Regan wants to tell you about her food and your dining companions want to talk about it. No one cares about your tie.
Read it and check out his photos. [Chicagoist]
Read more posts by Michael Gebert
Filed Under: first looks, anthony todd, chicagoist, elizabeth
Source: http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2012/09/chicagoist_has_first_look_at_e.html
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Giuseppe Tentori, Next among winners of 2012 Jean Banchet Awards
TweetThe Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence, the local James Beard-like awards of the restaurant world, announced winners at a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Friday Night. The ceremony was hosted by WLS-TV personality Steve Dolinsky and master … Continue reading
Get High: It?s the Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago
No one understands the brutality of winter quite like Chicagoans, which is why they are so quick to flock outdoors once the weather warms up. They?ve also been known to indulge in alcoholic beverages from time to time. With those powers combined, MyCityWay has our picks of the best rooftop bars in Chicago. C-View: This [...]
Source: http://www.mycityway.com/blog/2012/08/28/get-high-it%e2%80%99s-the-best-rooftop-bars-in-chicago/
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Why Food Deserts Are Food Deserts: Shakedown at Pete's
There's a lot of highminded talk about fixing food deserts. Then there's the reality of actually doing so, as David Roeder reports in a piece at the Sun-Times which bears not only reading, but reading between the lines. Pete's Fresh Market, a successful south side chain, bought a piece of land on the west side from the city to try to alleviate the food desert in that area. Construction was under way when a group of "professional agitators" showed up demanding work and making threats. Police, however, seemed not all that interested in the agitators, who behaved themselves when the police showed up (surprise); you could almost think that these shakedowns are regarded as a normal part of doing business in that part of town. Pete's stopped work, and contractor Dunleavy Construction pulled its equipment from the site. With the project stalled, Alderman Robert Fioretti held special meetings to ensure it would keep going— but as the location is moving to Alderman Walter Burnett's ward shortly, it remains to be seen if he'll be as vigilant and do as much to motivate the police.
In the meantime, Pete's is also reported to have fired its original security firm at the site. Did the goal of hiring locally from the community mean that Pete's wound up with a security firm that was in effect another arm of the same group (there is, of course, another word for group that might apply here) as the community agitators and not to be trusted if it came down to a fight? That would be classic Chicago street politics, to be sure. For now Pete's seems to be successfully pushing the city to respond strongly, but it's also demonstrating why it can be legitimately difficult to lure corporations into these neighborhoods in the first place. [Sun-Times]
Read more posts by Michael Gebert
Filed Under: food deserts, pete's fresh market
Source: http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2012/09/food-desert-petes-fresh-market.html
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Friday, September 28, 2012
Virgin Atlantic Eyes Moscow Flights
We've today announced plans to fly from London Heathrow to Moscow in 2013, with the new route representing our first move in building a broader network...
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Get Social with Chicago Food Blog
The Chicago Food Blog is growing online and we would like you to join us! Our Twitter account is booming with nearly 6,500 followers and growing. If you would like to visit our Twitter account click here > http://twitter.com/chicagofoodblog. To join Twitter click here The Chicago Food Blog is also on Facebook with a Facebook [...]
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Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/my-food-blog/info/chicago-food-on-facebook-and-twitter
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Head for Heights: Five City Cable Cars
Bird's eye views of cities normally come from observation decks or helicopter tours, but in several Virgin Atlantic destinations there's an altogether more dangly way to see the sights...
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DAS Will Snoot-ify German Food
Sir Paul
Though it seems as if every culture's food is represented abundantly in our fair city, there's a dearth of German-focused restaurants, and certainly a lack of upscale ones. The folks behind Perennial Virant have set out to change all that with their new concept, DAS, an upscale restaurant within casual dining spot Radler, both serving German grub. Expect Radler to be very German beer hall, with a medium-sized menu of bar snacks and entrees, a hefty German beer selection, and inexpensive to mid-range pricing. Radler will be replete with authentic decor and communal tables. DAS on the other hand, is an entirely separate thing, an exclusive chef's table a la kitchen table at Tru, or New York's Momofuku Ko, where the prices will range from $80 to $10,0 plus tax and gratuity. DAS, if you're wondering, is an acronym for the philosophical term "ding an sich", which means "thing in itself." A special six-course menu will only seat 8-10 diners Thursday through Saturday. The team is aiming for a spring/summer 2013 opening, and it will probably be located somewhere in Logan Square. [Crain's]
Read more posts by J'nai Gaither
Filed Under: intelligence, adam hebert, das, nathan sears, perennial virant, radler, vie
Source: http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2012/09/das-radler-opening-in-logan-square.html
Strip Mall Stigma
Your friend invites you to try a new restaurant - but it's in a strip mall. She's heard really good things about it - but it's in a strip mall. You immediately look up the restaurant on Urbanspoon and find mostly positive reviews, sprinkled with hackneyed phrases like "a hidden gem" or "don't let the strip mall exterior fool you!"
We've all dined at strip malls, and they are certainly not a new concept, but what is it about these restaurants that make us uneasy? Why is there a difference in attitude towards the standalone versus the strip mall locale?
Strip malls are places we pass every day, places that are near and easy to access, yet we keep saying we'll eat at that one place someday. If we do muster the courage to go, there's the fear of walking into a deserted restaurant. Pulling up to the strip mall, you notice there are cars parked there, but where are their owners? Are they getting their hair cut? Picking up dry cleaning? The impermeable tinted windows make it difficult to catch a glimpse before you decide to jump ship. Once inside, there's no turning back.
It's also difficult to give these restaurants a chance when the location acts as a revolving door for each new tenant. No one wants to spend time and money on a place that will close down within the year. Economist and professor Tyler Cowen writes about finding good, affordable places to eat in his newest book, An Economist Gets Lunch: New Rules for Everyday Foodies. He points out that restaurant owners in strip malls have more flexibility to be creative and innovative since their overhead costs are lower.
Cowen suggests exploring suburbs for the best ethnic restaurants. Areas where a particular ethnic cuisine dominates will serve above-average food. These areas have plenty of competition, along with an informed clientele that makes them immune to mediocrity and gimmicks. Restaurants with poor quality will quickly be run out of business.
Next time you're looking for a new place to eat, don't let the strip mall exterior fool you. You just might find a true "hidden gem."
These strip mall restaurants have high ratings on Urbanspoon:
- Ripe Eatery in El Paso, TX
- Pupatella in Washington, DC
- Pho 95 in Denver, CO
- Jebena Cafe in Seattle, WA
- Da Rae Jung in Chicago, IL
- The Chicken Lady in Los Angeles, CA
- KoMex Fusion Express in Las Vegas, NV
- SpecialTea Lounge in Miami
- Café Sarajevo in Phoenix
- Savera in Toronto, ON
Now it's your turn! What are your favorite strip mall restaurants? Share your suggestions on our Facebook page or create a guide of the best strip mall restaurants in your city.
Post written for Urbanspoon by Lisa Martinez of El Paso Veg Snob
Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/95/Strip-Mall-Stigma.html
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Los Angeles: The L.A. County Fair Begins
Today marks the start of America's Labor Day weekend, which means it's also the opening day of the L.A. County Fair - the biggest and brightest in the USA...
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Virgin Atlantic Brings Clubhouse to Newark
Here at Virgin Atlantic we're thrilled to announce details of our latest investment in luxury travel: a brand-new Clubhouse at Newark Liberty Airport set to open in October 2012....
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Shinto Japanese Steakhouse Offers an Espresso Beer
Now coffee lovers and beer drinkers can have the best of both worlds. The Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout is a Japanese beer that is offered on Shinto?s extensive wine, beer and cocktails menu. In addition to Japanese beers, their drink menu boasts beers from China, Belgium, Amsterdam, Holland and Canada. The Hitachino Next Espresso Stout [...]
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Thursday, September 27, 2012
West Loop wonder
Review: Embeya
564 W. Randolph St. 312-612-5640
Rating:�!!! (out of four) Off to a good start
It seems like there's a new restaurant opening in the West Loop every other week these days, and Thai Dang, the chef of recently opened Embeya, is just happy to be in the middle of it all.
"Honestly, I am forever humbled," said Dang, who worked at award-winning restaurants such as Ria and Balsan at the Elysian Hotel (now the Waldorf Astoria) and L2O. "Here I am on a restaurant row, Randolph Street, [near] great restaurants: Blackbird, Avec, Girl & the Goat, people I really respect." Even though many of its neighbors are special-occasion restaurants, Embeya is aiming to be destination-worthy, but also casual enough to draw in West Loop locals. With more than 100 seats, there's certainly room for both.
Dang calls Embeya "progressive Asian." After talking to him about it, I'd call it extremely personal. The menu is a thoughtful mash-up of Dang's Vietnamese heritage and travels throughout Asia. "I don't want to classify it [as] Vietnamese. I don't want to classify it [as] Chinese," he said. "What I showcase on my menu is all of my travels, through Japan and Thailand and my family, we cook and we enjoy each other's company every weekend."
The restaurant's name is the phonetic spelling of "em be," which means "baby" or "little one" in Vietnamese. It's a nickname that, as the youngest of 10 kids, he's still occasionally called by his siblings to this day. I stopped in to see what the little one with the big new restaurant was cooking.
Hello, gorgeous.
A spin through the revolving door lands you right in front of some Elle Decor magazine-caliber eye candy. Beyond the driftwood host stand are lighting fixtures ensconced in huge tufts of straw--inspired by sea anemones, the hostess told me as she caught my friend and I gawking at them. Through a towering wooden wall with geometric cutouts, weaving among the pretty people and scenery is Attila Gyulai, Dang's business partner. It's not only his chin-length head of dark hair-which is so lustrous that he'd surely be a Pantene model if, you know, Pantene marketed its shampoo to men-that caught my and my dining pal's attention, but also the purposeful way he worked the dining room. Prior to opening Embeya with Dang, Gyulai lead operations at luxury hotels such as the Elysian Hotel (where he met Dang) and Four Seasons. Though Embeya has the we'll-take-care-of-you feel of a glitzy hotel resto, it's without the pretense or the inflated, OMG-I'm-paying-how-much-for-this-drink prices.
Seriously, try the chicken.
By the end of this year, half of Chicago will have eaten Embeya's chicken and scallop dishes. At least that's my prediction if every server is like the ones I had. On two separate visits, two different servers recommended the scallop ($12) and garlic chicken ($18), and both preceded it with an "I know it sounds lame to recommend chicken, but ..." disclaimer. It's not the best I've ever had, as the servers attested, but it was certainly juicy and tender, with an understated sauce of scallion, ginger and garlic dripped across the plate.
Excuse me, is your plate on fire?
As for that scallop, get your camera phone ready: It arrives inside a scallop shell with flames dancing around the edges. Unlike mediocre maki that's set afire at sushi bars just for show, the flavors here live up to the flashy presentation. Soy-sake sauce is just bold enough not to overpower the delicate flavor of the perfectly cooked scallop, accompanied by pickled shimeji mushrooms so tiny and tender that they resisted any effort I made to pick them up with my chopsticks. Sweet potato noodles (similar to Korean japchae) topped with uni (sea urchin), ginger and jalapenos make a tasty sidekick.
Other dishes I tried weren't as memorable as that scallop. Tender ribs with a tamarind-toasted garlic-hoisin sauce ($16) were all tang, with not much to counter it. And though the one dessert our server endorsed with enthusiasm, sticky rice with cardamom-cured mango ($6), was a light and simple way end to the meal, I can't say it was memorable.
File these under: Not for date night
I'm still thinking about the explosion of flavor that was Dang's baby clams ($11), which are diced and mixed with peanuts, fried shallots and toasted garlic as well as Thai chilis and basil. I was happier eating it with a spoon than on the huge, chewy-in-parts rice crackers that came with it. Not the best thing to order if you're, say, meeting a Match.com date; if there's a more graceful way to eat it, my friend and I couldn't figure it out. Dang also deconstructs a Vietnamese summer roll ($9) by serving chunks of pork belly on the side of the traditional rice paper-wrapped veggies, noodles and herbs. The pork's so-crispy-it's-sharp skin reminded me of the Macao-style pork belly from Chinatown's Minghin-that's definitely a compliment-but it was as challenging to eat as the clams. Cutting up both the roll and pork into small enough pieces to combine into one bite was seriously awkward, yet eating them separately didn't seem quite right either.
Why yes, I'll have another drink
Signature cocktails ($12) such as the Tendron & Lime (coconut water, lime and vodka) are simple but made more special with garnishes, such as a crown of lime zest and a cube of caramelized coconut. The wine list taps Asia's neighbors to the west with with sparkling wines from Italy and Germany and rich reds from Spain and Austria. It all goes down so easy with Dang's dishes that you could easily end up a couple rounds in before the meal's half over.
Bottom line
I wasn't sure if Embeya could carry out its intention to be both a destination restaurant and a neighborhood place. But with enough flavor and showmanship to please one-time diners as well as $6 desserts and friendly bartenders to keep West Loop condo dwellers happy, it's headed in the right direction.
______
West Loop status update
Catch up on what's new and coming-soon on and around Randolph Street's Restaurant Row.
Recently opened ...
AUGUST: Belly Q (1400 W. Randolph St.), City Winery (1200 W. Randolph St.), RM Champagne Salon (116 N. Green St.)
JUNE: G.E.B. (841 W. Randolph St.), Alimentari (621 W. Randolph St.)
MARCH: Nellcote (833 W. Randolph St.)
Coming soon ...
OCTOBER: La Sirena Clandestina (954 W. Fulton Market), Oon (802 W. Randolph St.)
NOVEMBER: Little Goat (820 W. Randolph St.) Grace (652 W. Randolph St.)
�
Source: http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-red-review-embeya-chicago-20120928,0,2266229.story?track=rss
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'Perfect' pitches a delightful musical campus comedy
"Pitch Perfect" works because of the focused, crisp and punchy direction of feature newcomer Jason Moore, who brought the same snappy energy to the Tony-winning best musical "Avenue Q." It works because the superb cast of young, attractive performers reeks with charisma and salubrious sexuality. It works because the numbers are so great you want to run out after the movie and join a choir.
Source: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120927/entlife/709289965/
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vtravelled Loves: The Algonquin, New York City
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FirstBites Bash Feb. 2 gives preview taste of Chicago Restaurant Week
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Source: http://www.dinewisechicago.com/?p=308
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Island Hopper Diner Getaway
Aloha!
A few months ago, we asked some of our favorite Urbanspoon blogs in New York City to compete for a luxury guest writing gig in Hawaii. Our winner was Bradley Hawks who writes the food blog Amuse Bouche.
Right now, Bradley is travelling in Hawaii and sharing the experience on his blog. You can see his daily posts on www.bradleyhawks.com and we'll be sharing his updates on our own Facebook page and Twitter account.
But wait, it gets better... now you can experience Bradley's trip for yourself. Book and keep any reservation at a New York City restaurant through Urbanspoon and enter to win the Island Hopper Diner Giveaway.
This trip for two includes: first class tickets on Hawaiian Airlines, eight nights of accomodations on four islands through Marriott Hawaii Hotels, AND because this is Urbanspoon...
...dinner for two at a top-rated restaurant on each of the four islands.
And remember, every time you make and keep an Urbanspoon reservation at a New York City restaurant you can enter to win. That's right, you can enter multiple times! Good luck!
Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/86/Island-Hopper-Diner-Getaway.html
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Get Social with Chicago Food Blog
The Chicago Food Blog is growing online and we would like you to join us! Our Twitter account is booming with nearly 6,500 followers and growing. If you would like to visit our Twitter account click here > http://twitter.com/chicagofoodblog. To join Twitter click here The Chicago Food Blog is also on Facebook with a Facebook [...]
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Rob Levitt on His Favorite Cuts; Plus Signing/Hog Butchering With Ruhlman Oct. 19
The Butcher & Larder's Rob Levitt has a guest post at Michael Ruhlman's blog today, talking about the enjoyment that his customers get from rediscovering all the variety of meats that he offers:
We sell a lot of great stuff at the shop, but rarely do customers glow more than telling us of the, “Best burger EVER…” Or perhaps a roasted chicken, a pot roast or a pot of tomato “gravy” made with pork neck bones (finally—someone has these…). For the slightly more adventurous the tale might be of their first links of homemade sausage and often I stand and listen to the story of the guy recently gifted with a Big Green Egg go into the most intimate details of his first smoked pork shoulder.
Levitt will also host a signing and whole hog butchering session for Ruhlman's and Brian Polcyn's new book Salumi at Floriole Cafe and Bakery on October 19. He will have a Catalpa Grove Berkshire hog and talk about butchering and salumi-making; there will be tastings of Chef Polcyn's charcuterie and Virtue Cider will provide drinks. The cost is $95 and includes a copy of the book, or you can win one of 10 tickets, as Levitt describes at his blog:
In a tweet (140 characters to @butcherlarder) tell of the first time you realized food mattered. I’m not looking for sustainability cheerleaders or tale of the first time you cooked something sous vide. I want to hear about you standing on a stepstool to reach the counter and work side by side with your grandma and aunt to make the family ravioli. The first time you made Grandma’s Sunday gravy for your family and knew the tradition would live on. I want to hear about how food brings joy, because if it didn’t, if we only ate to survive, Charcuterie and Slaumi would have died in the New World. But it didn’t.
The same weekend Ruhlman and Polcyn will also be at this event at EL Ideas, as previously reported. [Ruhlman.com]
Read more posts by Michael Gebert
Filed Under: blogs, michael ruhlman, rob levitt, the butcher & larder
Source: http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2012/09/rob_levitt_on_his_favorite_cut.html
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Euphoria Food, Wine & Music Festival
Food and Wine festivals are popping up all around the country. Yet, all are not created equal. The Euphoria Food and Wine Festival in Greenville, SC is a combination of food, wine, and music. In fact, one of the founders of Euphoria is musician Edwin McCain. Euphoria features talent from as far north as New York City and Toronto and as far west as California.
The late September timing brings optimal weather for this outdoor event. They host several tasting events throughout the weekend and feature bites from a plethora of vendors. In addition, there are wine seminars and wine-pairing dinners. Music is always intermingled throughout the event, with performances by the talented Mr. McCain and a variety of other jazz and bluegrass groups. There is always some sort of musical event no matter where you find yourself during the Euphoric weekend.
- Festival-goers can pick and choose individual events to attend or buy the VIP package for high rollers.
- The festival is arranged in such a way that there's ample time to experience all the events.
- Everything is within walking distance, so you can park your car when you arrive and not need it until you head home.
Highlights from the 2011 Euphoria Festival:
Pairing Dinners
There are a variety of pairing dinners to choose from for wine, beer, and even Champagne. We were able to attend the prosecco pairing dinner and enjoy appetizers including heirloom tomato gazpacho with spicy crab, and corn and shrimp hush puppies. The list of food could keep going and going. (Alaskan halibut with Georgia clams and bacon, duck with foie gras sausage, carrot puree and grand marnier reduction. . .)
Sunday Supper
We enjoyed a gorgeous backdrop as we were treated to farm-to-table Southern fare by James Beard winner Sean Brock. All of the dishes were served family style and we were seated at picnic tables. Chefs and guests co-mingled with no lull in the conversation as all excitedly share their favorite events and the highlights of the weekend. Music is once again a key element; this time, the stylings of a talented bluegrass band. It was the perfect ending to a fabulously gluttonous weekend.
New events I'm looking forward to at this year's event:
Recipe of a Rhapsody (7 - 10:30 pm, Thu 9/20)
There will be a lot more blues music this year, and guest tickets include hors d'oeuvres, a variety of beverage selections, and an unforgettable concert experience.
Beer Garden (11 am - 4pm, Sat 9/22)
Don't you love a beer garden? Ticket holders will be able sample over 40 brews and learn a little too! Be sure to make some time for local and regional microbreweries too.
Saturday night Champagne Dinner at Nantucket Seafood Grill (7pm, Sat 9/22)
Guest Chef and James Beard Nominee Colby Garrelts of Bluestem Restaurant in Kansas City, MO will team up with Nantucket's Executive Chef, Charles Handford, for one of the elegant Saturday Dinners. This meal will feature dishes to be paired with Champagne from Moet.
For more information:
Euphoria 2012 is coming up this week! The dates are Thursday, September 20th to Sunday, September 23rd. You won't want to miss it. Stay for all or part of the weekend - it's up to you.
Order tickets or follow them on Twitter.
Written for Urbanspoon by Malika Harricharan from The Atlanta Restaurant Blog
Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/97/Euphoria-Food-Wine-Music-Festival.html
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