Cindy Kurman & Steve Pollack show art at Ready Coffee's ORNOT Gallery - Opening October 4

Chicago French Market is in the June issue of Bon Appetit!

Chicago French Market earns it's place in the Top 5 Food Halls in America!

 

Congrats to our very own Cindy Kurman for getting the photo credit of the Saigon Sister's sandwich!

Lunching at Eve

Walking into Eve (840 N. Wabash, Chicago; (312) 266-3383) the brand new restaurant by the same team behind Tallulah (4539 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago; (773) 942-7585), is like walking onto a glamorous old Hollywood movie, somehow transported to 2008. The decor is heart-stopping; as the most beautiful shade of blue becomes complimented by mirrors, and dotted wood tiles create a whimsical champagne-bubble look. This is a restaurant to feel beautiful in.

What makes Eve stand out from all the latest restaurant ventures, is the attention to details. Every tiny detail in Eve, from the leather table cloths, to the black and creme chairs, to the dark wood floors, to the black napkins, to the unbelievable cocktail list incorporating "eve" in every title, to Chef Graves' food - oh! the food- displayed beautifully on gray menus in lovely script, belong together in the grand scheme of all things amazing. To dine at Eve is an event for the senses.

We start Lunch with appetizers:

Grilled Lobster Sausage (yes, sausage) with Chantrelles, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Pearl Onion, Maple Bechamel ($16); Spicy Pomegranate Glazed Prawns (all other prawns shall hence forth be embarrassed by their inadequacy) with Pumpkin Panna Cotta ($11); Steamed P.E.I Mussels (refreshingly sweet and light) with Honey, Ice Wine , Radish, Concord Grapes ($10); and Duck Consomme (unbelievable) Duck, Rillete Pot Sticker, Green Papaya, Lemongrass Essence ($11).

Following appetizers, the Lunch entrees arrived. It was an incredibly tough desicion, but we made do with some fantastic choices:

Crawfish Po’Boy featuring Tasso Ham, Fried Green Tomatoes, Goat Cheese, Remoulade, Pickled Okra ($13), draped dramatically with a shard of leafy greens; Crab Blt Crab Salad, Pancetta, Leaf Lettuce, Sun Dried Tomato Aioli, with a Roasted Garlic Polenta ($14) that will change your life; Eve Burger (massive and rich served on a buttery brioche bun) 10 oz. Prime Beef with Brie, Port Onions, Stone Ground Mustard, Hand Cut French Fries, ($12); and last but certainly not least, Truffled Tagliatelle served with Tuscan Kale, Woodland Mushrooms, Grana Padano, ($14) - rustic, earthy and surprisingly light.

Lunch at Eve, is in a simple phrase, "So good, you cannot even talk." And honestly, in between bites and genuine love being expressed for the food plated before us and the room surrounding us, we were speechless.

Eve will be opening officially for dinner on November 5; lunch has already begun.

All photos by Cindy Kurman.

Good Karma - New Photos Now Available for Mundelein Hot Spot

If you haven't visited Karma in Mundelein recently, you're missing out. Talented chef Robert Packer dishes out the best contemporary pan Asian cuisine on the North Shore. Karma, fyi, was named one of the best new restaurants in Chicago by North Shore magazine when it opened several years ago and it continues to live up to its reputation. If the great food isn't enough, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the "downtown"décor which is drop-dead gorgeous and the pan-Asian cuisine is simply outstanding.

Chef Packer has designed a varied and exciting new menu that journeys throughout Asia. The dining room is stunning and the lounge is one of the hottest spots around (perfect for after work or weekend cocktails for those in the area or willing to travel north).

In preparation for next week's media dinner, Cindy photographed the delicious new menu items. Here's a sneak peak of some of the items!

Chinese Chopped Chicken Salad, Asian Pepper Short Ribs, Blood Orange Creme


(Left to Right) Whole Tempura Striped Bass, Asian Pepper Short Ribs, Sticky Five Spice Honey Glazed Spare Ribs, Togarashi Seared Ahi Tuna

Cocktails everyone!

Check out these great drinks to go along with the savory dishes: Karma’s refreshing Mai Tai is a delicious blend of Malibu Coconut Rum, Meyers Dark, grenadine, and orange and pineapple juice.

The Geisha Martini is crisp and refreshing with its combination of Absolut Mandarin, Passionfruit, Pom and cranberry juice. Yes please!

Check out more Kurman photos at: Karma