Sweet Baby Ray’s Shares Grilling Tips For Summer

Over the holiday weekend, friends and family were sure to be impressed by Sweet Baby Ray’s grilling tips and secret recipes. Sweet Baby Ray’s Paul Papadopoulos and Mike Nykaza were shown on WGN and CBS last Friday, demonstrating how to prepare Sweet Baby Ray’s Brisket, Kansas City Coleslaw, Kansas City Style Brisket Rub, and Smoked Barbecue Chicken.

Sweet Baby Ray’s was not only a hit on television, but radio as well. Chef Duce Raymond shared grilling advice and ideas with Don Wade and Roma on WLS 890 AM. He provided an authentic sample for the hosts by grilling fresh food out on the sidewalk and bringing it up to the studio for a taste.

For the entire month of July, Sweet Baby Ray’s is celebrating Kansas City style barbecue and is offering Kansas City inspired dishes at its restaurant in Elk Grove Village (800 E. Higgins Rd., Elk Grove Village, Ill.; 847-437-9555) Specials include the Quarter Smoked Chicken with Burnt Ends, similar to brisket reduction, served with the Original Sweet Baby Ray’s Stovetop Recipe BBQ Sauce, a side of Kansas City style barbecue beans, Kansas City coleslaw and white bread ($10.49). Add 1/3 slab of Baby Back or St. Louis ribs for only $4

If you missed the television segments, click on the segments below to take a look at Chef Mike Nykaza on CBS:
Segment 1

Segment 2

Segment 3

Click below to download the radio interview with Chef Duce Raymond on Don Wade and Roma WLS 890 AM:
Radio Segment

Sweet Baby Ray's and Birch River Grill on TV Memorial Day

It was an exciting weekend for two Kurman clients, which both had television appearances on Memorial Day (May 25). First up was Birch River Grill's (75 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights) executive chef John Ayaleanos on CBS's morning news, grilling fish tacos with anchor Don Schwenneker. Chef John's grilled wahoo and accompanying cilantro mayonnaise, roasted peppers and warm corn tortillas created wonderful aromas in the CBS studio.

In case you missed it, view it here. For more information on Birch River Grill, visit http://www.birchrivergrill.com/ or call (847) 427-4242.

Later in the day, Sweet Baby Ray's (800 E. Higgins Rd., Elk Grove Village) chef Paul Papadopoulos appeared on WGN's midday news with anchor Dina Bair, to grill outside with Sweet Baby Ray's signature sauce. Chef Paul also showed Dina how to make traditional Carolina-style barbecue, which features no tomatoes and a whole roasted pig. The restaurant features this Carolina barbecue on special throughout the month of June.

View the segment here. For more information on Sweet Baby Ray's, visit http://www.sbrbbq.com/ or call (847) 437-9555.

Glen Prairie Featured on CBS Weekend Morning News

Daniel Ovanin, executive chef of Glen Prairie (1250 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn; 630-613-1250), was featured on CBS 2's weekend morning news Saturday, April 18. He spoke with anchor Mike Puccinelli about what it's like to be a green restaurant and use locally-sourced products, and he also demonstrated how to make Glen Prairie's Spiced Grilled Missouri Catfish, one of the new dishes off the restaurant's newly launched spring menu.

Mike and Daniel also showed off three of Glen Prairie's other unique dishes-- Glen Prairie's Signature Meatloaf, Baby Wedge Salad and Grilled Dakota Farmed Bison Ribeye. Don't forget to celebrate Earth Day at Glen Prairie. The management and staff at Glen Prairie are committed to demonstrating sustainable living through energy and resource conservation, so on April 22, the restaurant will turn off or dim any non-essential lighting, set the cooling system temperature in publica areas at 72 degrees and make additional efforts wherever possible with staff to create awareness of sustainability.

In case you missed the segment, you can view it here: http://tinyurl.com/cqqyvt.

Congratulations to "Best New Restaurant" Glen Prairie

We at Kurman Communications, Inc. are proud to announce the May 2009 issue of Chicago Magazine named Glen Prairie as one of Chicago's "2009 Best New Restaurants." The magazine named 22 best new restaurants, putting the organic, locally-focused Glen Prairie alongside top names like C-House, Graham Elliot, and L20.

In case you haven't picked up a copy yet, here's what the mag had to say:

"... From the excellent local cheese to chef Daniel Ovanin's tender Indiana duck breast on white bean cassoulet with maple gastrique, GP keeps its promise. The big surprise is the terrific chervil-crusted Wisconsin northern pike--rarely seen on menus--set over sauteed green beans alongside a red crock of just about the best mac and cheese in the Midwest. A bonus: The how's-it-goin' chef and friendly staff make sure you have a good time." -Dennis Ray Wheaton

Congratulations to Glen Prairie and chef Daniel Ovanin for this honor. Be sure to catch chef Daniel in action live this Saturday, April 18 during CBS-2's 8 a.m. news broadcast, where he'll be talking about the environmentally-conscious restaurant and shopping at local farmer's markets.

Watch Sweet Baby Ray's on CBS 2

Saturday, Aug. 30, Chef Mike Nykaza from Sweet Baby Ray's showcased alternatives for Labor Day parties on the Weekend Morning news at Chicago's CBS 2 studios. Chef Mike demonstrated to CBS 2's Mary Kay Kleist how to assemble Chicken Kabobs and gave tips on what vegetables and meats work best for the grilling favorite.

Chef Mike was also generous enough to bring Sweet Baby Ray's award-winning ribs for the entire CBS staff to enjoy. Sweet Baby Ray's restaurant took home the first place prize at the Naperville Ribfest earlier this summer in the Best Ribs competition for its St. Louis ribs.

Want to see what the buzz is all about? Try Sweet Baby Ray's out for yourself with their new Barbecue Buffet starting Sept. 14, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a tailgating themed menu featuring an Omelet station, Carved Tequila-Cilantro grilled flanked steak, Slow Smoked Beef Brisket, Grilled Cheddar Bratwurst, Smoked Polish Sausage, Barbecue Ribs, Barbecue Chicken, Pulled Pork, Grilled Pork Chops, Three Bean and Three Meat Chili, Ditalini Pasta in cheddar cheese sauce, plus a number of salads, pastries and fruit. This special brunch buffet is $19.99/adults and $8.99/children 12 and under.

To watch the complete CBS segment, click here.

(Photo Credit: Stephanie DeMeester)