Thursday, November 13, 2014

ThinKArt Event: The Art of Intervention Diplomacy and Deployment after Iraq This Friday



ThinKArt invites you to 
The Art of Intervention: Diplomacy
and Deployment after Iraq
featuring
Dominique de Villepin
Former Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of France

Friday, November 14
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
Doors open: 4:30 p.m.
Mandel Hall, 1131 E 57th St
Free and open to the public

 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Michelin Announces Chicago's 2015 Star Ratings; Grace joins Alinea with Three Stars; 42 grams Earns 2 Stars

Michelin announced its Chicago 2015 star ratings this afternoon. Congratulations to  Grace (652 West Randolph Street, Chicago) which now has three stars, joining Alinea in Michelin's elite group of  highest rated restaurants here. Alinea has held the honor for five straight years (ever since Michelin started rating Chicago restaurants.)

Of note, only 115 restaurants of the more than 20,000 that Michelin rates in 23 countries currently have that distinction.

Also noteable, 18-seat BYOB Uptown restaurant 42 Grams (4662 N. Broadway, Chicago), earned two stars for its creative and inventive food.

L2O, which is closing at the end of the year, also maintained its two stars rating since the guide went to press before they announced their closing. 

Last week, Michelin announced its Bib Gourmand winners for Chicago. The winners can be found here: http://www.michelintravel.com/michelin-reveals-chicagos-2015-bib-gourmands/

Here’s Michelin Guide's full list of 2015 starred selections for Chicago. If you were rating, how would you vote?

Three Stars:
• Alinea
• Grace (upgraded)
Two Stars:
• 42 grams (new)
• L2O (closing later in 2014)
• Sixteen
One Star:
• Acadia
• Blackbird
• Boka
• EL Ideas
• Elizabeth
• Everest
• Goosefoot
• The Lobby
• Longman & Eagle
• Moto
• NAHA
• North Pond
• Schwa
• Senza
• Sepia
• Spiagga
• Takashi
• Topolobampo
• Tru

Monday, November 10, 2014

American Food Roots launches video series on the food of World War I just in time for Veterans Day


 
American Food Roots Video

"Meatless Mondays" were not invented by hippies. Soybean croquettes were not the brainchild of the vegan movement. And maple syrup was promoted as an "alternative" sweetener long before the war against high-fructose corn syrup. All of these items, in fact, can trace part of their heritage to World War I.

American Food Roots launches a video series tomorrow profiling the food of World War I and the lasting
Food is ammunitionimpact it’s had on American culture. Beginning on Veterans Day 2014, the series will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great War with the help of three nationally recognized historians who unpack the story of the way we eat today.

"What’s surprising in this material are the number of foods and nutritional concepts that we think of as contemporary," says American Food Roots’ managing editor Bonny Wolf, who moderates the conversation. "In fact, many of our current culinary habits can trace their beginnings to this seminal event 100 years ago."

 "A World War I Meal From Soup to Nuts," the first in the five-part series, introduces the idea that America began fighting the war from its kitchens long before its soldiers reached Europe. The "First Course" video profiles the rise of peanut butter as a meat substitute -- driven in part by Southern farmers who were transitioning from cotton -- and a high-falutin’ ingredient called "mayonnaise." In the remaining three videos, soybeans are fashioned into croquettes and braised tongue tells an early nose-to-tail story. Dessert is all maple syrup, which bolsters barley flour and buckwheat in a cake that will please today’s health-conscious bakers.

The American Food Roots series will become part of "War Fare," a digital exhibit hosted by the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Mo.

American Food Roots is an award-winning online magazine that covers American food and culture. AFR took two prizes in the Association of Food Journalists 2014 Awards, including in the "Best Food Blog" category. It was founded in December 2012 by four veteran journalists and is run by NPR commentator and food writer Bonny Wolf and Associated Press food writer Michele Kayal.

"Why dig up the roots of American food?" AFR’s mission statement asks. "Because that’s how we know who we are."

Video Participants

Bonny Wolf is a long-time journalist who contributes regular food commentary for NPR’s Weekend Edition. She was chief speechwriter for two U.S. secretaries of agriculture and is managing editor of American Food Roots.

Julia Irwin, who teaches at the University of South Florida, is a historian of American foreign relations and has recently published a book on the American Red Cross and the development of U.S. humanitarianism abroad during WWI.

Helen Veit, who teaches at Michigan State University, is a historian of the 19th- and 20th-century United States, with a focus on food.  Her book "Food in the Civil War Era" was published in May. She also is considered an expert on WWI food.

Amanda Moniz is a historian of 18th-century humanitarianism and a former pastry chef. She teaches historic cooking classes, writes about history through food and is assistant director of the National History Center.

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American Food Roots
  
War Bread
Makes 2 loaves
During World War I, white flour was thought to be the purest, healthiest flour and so was saved for the War Bread 300troops. Many breads of the era used "thirded" recipes, recipes that included three different types of grain -- a throwback to Boston brown bread. The original version of this recipe calls for 1 cake of yeast and for the bread to be baked in "moderately hot oven." We have done the conversions for you. This recipe was adapted from "Foods That Will Win the War and How to Cook Them," by C. Houston Goudiss and Alberta M. Goudiss.

Ingredients
•2 cups boiling water
•2 tablespoons sugar
•2 tablespoons fat
•1½ teaspoons salt
•¼ cup lukewarm water
•6 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
•6 cups rye flour
•1½ cups whole wheat flour

Instructions
Pour the boiling water into a large bowl and add the sugar, fat and salt. Put the bowl aside to cool.
Meanwhile, dissolve the yeast in the 1/4 cup of lukewarm water. When the boiled water cools enough to keep a finger in it for a few seconds, add the dissolved yeast. Add the rye and whole wheat flour.
Cover and let rise until twice its bulk, shape into loaves; let rise until double and bake about 40 minutes, in a 350-degree oven.

 Copyright © 2014 American Food Roots

Salmon Loaf
Makes 1 loaf
Fish was seen as a plentiful and economic alternative to meat. (In fact, even chicken was considered a Paprykarz_salmon300meat alternative.) Recipes of the World War I era also assumed a certain amount of cooking skill. The original directions for this recipe, adapted from "Foods That Will Win the War and How to Cook Them," by C. Houston Goudiss and Alberta M. Goudiss, simply said "Mix thoroughly. Bake in greased dish 30 minutes." We have offered a bit more help.

Ingredients
•2 cups cooked salmon
•1 cup grated breadcrumbs
•2 beaten eggs
•½ cup milk
•½ teaspoon paprika
•½ teaspoon salt
•1 tablespoon chopped parsley
•1 teaspoonful onion juice

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Grease an 8 1/2-by-4-inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients until well combined. Form the mixture into a log and place it in the greased loaf pan. Bake until cooked through, about 1 hour or until firm.

Copyright © 2014 American Food Roots
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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

The Redhead Piano Bar Hosts 3rd Annual Cabernet for a Cause Wednesday, Nov. 19

The Redhead Piano Bar (16 W. Ontario) is excited to host its Third Annual Cabernet for a Cause,
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, November 19 to benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation. Enjoy over a dozen wonderful cabinets, snacks, fun and great company for a $20 donation. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Lynn Sage Foundation for local Breast Cancer Research.

Reservations are not necessary but may be made by emailing Stephen@RedheadPianoBar.com or by calling 312-640-1000. Business casual attire is required.



Green City Market Junior Board Online Auction Now Live

The  Green  City  Market  Junior  Board  is hosting an  online  auction packed  with  exciting,  one-of-a-kind  experiences  for  Chicago  food  and  drink  lovers.

This  year,  the  auction  features coveted  items  such  as A  Glittering  Night  at  the  James  Beard  Awards:  VIP  treatment  at  the  "Oscars  of  Food,"  plus  dinner  at  Beard  Award-winning  Frontera  Grill,  or  Stock  Your  Home  Bar  with  Your
Own  Mixology  Class:  Charcoal  Bar's  Danielle  Pizzutillo  conducts  a  private  mixology  course  for  6  –bottles  included.

The  online  auction  can  be  found  at  http://www.32auctions.com/gcm2014 and  will  end  on  Sunday,  November  16th at  6  pm.

The  online  auction  items  include:
• A  Glittering  Night  at  The  James  Beard  Awards
• Brewer  for  a  Day  +  Dinner  in  Pilsen
• Butchering  Class  and  Dinner  in  Wicker  Park
• Distilling  and  Brewery  Tours  Around  Lake  Michigan
• Do  Ravinia  Right:  Music  &  Picnic  Under  the  Stars
• Exclusive  Rooftop  Dinner  for  6  at  Lightology
• Pies  +  Beer  +  Live  Music=  Epic  Summer  Fun
• Private  Wood-¬-Fired  Dinner  for  12
• StockYour  Home  Bar  with  Your  Own  Mixology  Class

The auction is being held in conjunction with the Green City Market Junior Board’s Thursday,  November  13 local  and  seasonal  fall  fundraiser,

A  (Mostly)  Veggie  Affair:  Cheat  on  Meat  or  Go  Whole  Beast!
at  Wicker  Park’s  Chop  Shop  &  The  1st  Ward  (2033  W.  North  Ave.)  from  7 p.m. to  10 p.m.  Throughout  the  evening,  guests  will  enjoy  a  walk-around  stationed  tasting  featuring  local  chefs’  all-vegetable  dishes  made  with  Green  City  Market vendor  produce.  Complementing the array of  delicious
vegetarian  fare,  Junior  Board  member  chefs  Jared  Batson,  Scott Manley  and  Eric  Mansavage  also  will prepare  three  whole  pigs  “Three  Little  Pig-¬-style,”  incorporating  straw,  wood  and  bricks  both  in  their  cooking  methods  and  for  creative  inspiration.  With  all  the  great  local  food  on  offer,  attendees  will  be  able  to
Cheat  on  Meat  or  Go  Whole  Beast!


Tickets  are  on  sale  now  for  $55 at http://gcmveggieaffair.brownpapertickets.com/.
Proceeds  from  both  the  event  and  the  online  auction  will  benefit  Green  City  Market’s  LINK  Card  matching  program,  Illinois'  food  assistance  program  that  enables  families  to  purchase  wholesome  local  and  seasonal  food  from  the  farmers’ market.


Green City Market
Green City Market is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the availability of a diverse range of high-quality foods by providing a marketplace for purchasing sustainably grown food and to educate, promote, and connect farmers and local producers directly to chefs, restaurateurs, and the greater Chicago community. Green City Market, Chicago’s only year-round sustainable farmers market, operates May-October at the south end of Lincoln Park, 7am-1pm, every Wednesday and Saturday and in the Fulton Market District at 222 North Halsted Saturdays from 7am-1pm. The Market moves indoors to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum November-April. For more information, visit www.greencitymarket.org or call (773) 880-1266.

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Monday, November 3, 2014

Karma Asian Food and Fine Wine and Karma Pub Serving Roasted Chicken Asian Style Succotash and Fresh Shaved Prosciutto Flatbread Now Through November 6

Mundelein, IL -  Karma Asian Food & Fine Wine (510 East Route 83, Mundelein, IL; 847-970-ROASTED CHICKEN  20 3006900) has added a savory Roasted Chicken with an Asian-style Succotash ($20) to its menu this w eek. This delicious fall special gives succotash an Asian twist using a unique blend of edamame, corn, peppers, bok choy, sticky rice, and sweet chili lime and is available until next Thursday, November 6.

Also, Karma Pub is  featuring its fresh shaved prosciutto flatbread ($12) this week. Crisp and thin, the flatbread special features a combination of freshly shaved prosciutto, Mozzarella, tomato, pesto, Parmesan, and Arugula. 

Proscuitto Mozzarella Tomato Pesto Parmesan Arugula Flatbread 12_300
Karma and Karma P ub allow guests to order from each other's menu. The result is that guests can have the best of two worlds-a choice of food and a choice of atmosphere. Both restaurants focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and purchase from local sources as much as possible. 

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