Sneak Peek: Shochu food photos now available from Kurman Communications.

Photo credit: Cindy Kurman

We've been getting a ton of requests for Shochu photos so I'm happy to announce that I photographed the food and room yesterday. The photos are great! Everyone can pick up high resolution photos at our site, http://kurman.mycapture.com/. Or, you can give us a call at 312-651-9000. Shochu is an American lounge and restaurant featuring the popular liquor from Japan by the same name, shochu. Conveniently located at 3313 N. Clark in Wrigleyville, Shochu (pronounced show-chew) is offering reasonably priced and great tasting small plated foods with an Asian-edge. There's a full bar with a lot of creative Shochu based cocktails as well as a terrific beer and wine list. For information and reservations call 773-348-3313 or visit www.shochuchicago.com). Check out my photos!

Green City Market opens May 14

In case you missed it, Green City Market and Nichols Farm are featured in the May issue of Real Simple magazine. Kurman Communications secured the placement last August. Just goes to show you how long in advance the magazines work! Kurman's leader Cindy has been on the GCM board for nine years!

Now in its 10th year, Green City Market reopens on Wednesday, May 14th in Lincoln Park, with a lineup of ways to explore spring's fresh produce. At 9:30 AM, two "Savor the Seasons" events – one with chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris (Prairie Grass Cafe), the other with North Pond's Bruce Sherman – showcase salad-tastings. And at 10:30 AM, Carrie Nahabedian (Naha) gives a cooking demo. Also opening for the season is Edible Gardens, the market's farm-at-the-zoo educational project for kids (10 AM–1 PM). Green City Market runs Wednesdays and Saturdays (7 AM–1:30 PM; Lincoln Park between 1750 N. Clark St. and Stockton Dr.).

On Saturday, May 17th, the market will hold a rally for local sustainable farming featuring GCM board members Bill Kurtis is Master of Ceremonies and celeb chef Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo) will be joined by other board members and Mayor Daley. Other like organizations are invited to participate! Activities include live entertainment, a kids' parade and the ceremonial cutting of the world's largest organic carrot cake (9 AM–noon at Green City Market in Lincoln Park just north of North avenue between Clark and Stockton, www.chicagogreencitymarket.org).

If you're up for joining in the rally, the celebration is geared to all who support the Market's mission; Chicago organizations are invited to host tables with their information and encourage their members to attend. Don't miss this great exciting expression of sustainable community to support a cause we so fervently support!

Celebrate Mother's Day with Powerhouse Restaurant and Champagne Henriot

If you are anything like me and are scrambling for Mother’s Day plans, Powerhouse Restaurant & Bar (215 N. Clinton St., (312) 928-0800) is the answer as to where to take mom. Powerhouse has partnered with one of France’s renowned Champagne houses, Champagne Henriot, to give mom a complimentary glass of Henriot Blanc with her meal.

Powerhouse was just voted one of Chicago’s Best New Restaurants by Chicago Magazine, so you can’t go wrong with anything on this menu. While there, try some of Powerhouse’s signature menu items such as the Slow-Roasted Chicken Thigh with faro, braised artichokes, Swiss chard and sorrel sauce; Walleye Pike with English pea custard, black trumpet mushrooms, white corn and roasted red pepper nage, or Double-Cut Iowa Pork Chop with mustard spaetzle, red cabbage, poached pear and mustard jus.

Don’t forget to end the meal with Powerhouse’s signature dessert of Sweet Potato Doughnuts with brown butter, cinnamon sabayon, poached pear and pepitos, yum! And, if your family is big, check out their great private and semi-private dining spaces, they can handle all group sizes. If your mom is anything like mine, she will appreciate having someone else cook and clean up in the kitchen!

Buzz About Kurman Restaurants

Congratulations to Kurman restaurants featured in the May issue of Food Arts magazine. I couldn’t agree more with the title of Barbara Revsine’s piece, “Second To None,” because it seems like genius chefs constantly invade Chicago’s restaurant scene with their talents. And who can complain about that?!

Haven’t picked up the latest issue? Not to worry, I’ve posted the Kurman restaurants here:

Sample sophisticated fare at Powerhouse Restaurant & Bar (215 N. Clinton St., Chicago; 312-928-0800), “a stylish restaurant tucked into an historic building that originally housed the power plant for a local rail line. Diners can sample full flavored starters such as slow roasted chicken thigh paired with toasted faro before tucking into equally flavorful entrees such as grilled wild striped bass with chorizo sausage.”

At Aigre Doux (230 W. Kinzie St., Chicago; 312-329-9400), the “seasonally attuned menu… features dishes like glazed duck breast partnered with huckleberry compote, rack of lamb with truffled grits, and sticky toffee pudding.”

The mag also sent kudos to Shochu (3313 N. Clark St., Chicago; 773-348-3313), where “contemporary American cuisine with an Asian edge is featured... Named for Japan’s best-selling liquor, the restaurant focuses on small plates and features cocktails made with its signature spirits.”

Listed as noteable newcomers include suburban eateries Haussmann Brasserie (305 Happ Road, Northfield; 847-446-1133) and Maijean (30 S. Prospect Ave., Clarendon Hills; 630-794-8900).

Thinking about all the stellar food at those restaurants makes me hungry. Dinner date anyone?!