File under “leading economic indicators.” Claudio, aka “the tamale guy,” reports an uptick in sales in the last week. The bars on his beat have been more crowded since November 4, he says, and those drinkers are eating more tamales. He chalks it up to a mild postelection surge in consumer confidence. On the other … Continued
till: TROUT ROE coconut, hyssop, passionfruit TOMATO basil, mozzarella, olive oil CAULIFLOWER five coatings, three gels, apple LOBSTER popcorn, butter, curry WAGYU BEEF maitake, smoked date, Blis Elixir RABBIT prune, shallot, burning leaves SHORT RIB Guinness, peanut, fried broccoli LAMB carrot, poppy seed, pistachio CONCORD GRAPE yogurt, mint, long pepper CRABAPPLE foie gras, brown sugar, sorrel … Continued
I was supposed to go back to the island this weekend for the hotel’s first-ever juniper festival, a “let’s all whitewash the fence” kind of deal in which participants forage for wild juniper berries, for later (ostensible) use in Death’s Door gin. But I just couldn’t get it together. It looked to be cold and … Continued
Sunday about 20 plant nerds converged on Gompers Park, at the far-northwest corner of Foster and Pulaski, for Nance‘s final foraging walk of the season. We walked into this thick stand of lambs quarters right off the bat; if you’re looking, it’s at the south end of a little bridge at the southwest corner of … Continued
Passed on from the master gardeners’ list-serv. Hey, it worked for Old MacDonald. Dean’s Forum: Urban Farming Solutions Wednesday, November 5th 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. UIC School of Public Health Auditorium A presentation by: Dickson Despommier, PhD Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Local Panelists Rodger Cooley, Heifer International Erika Allen, Growing Power Orrin Williams, Growing Home Dr. Despommier’s … Continued
Has died. As I was reading the Tribune story I got a call from S., who worked with Studs years ago on the Steppenwolf production of Division Street, America. He lives in LA now. He was crying. On the first day of rehearsal, S. said, Studs walked into the room, surveyed the actors, and spread … Continued
I have a date to go to Alinea in a few weeks, on the nickel of an old friend and his bride, who have done very well for themselves. Damn them. Anyway, I haven’t been back since it opened three years ago, but ever since the Alinea doorstop landed earlier this month I’ve been thinking … Continued
OK I just wasted a good hour, at least, plugging through the posts on this blog, trying to ID “the squirrel’s” nameless restaurant. Let’s see: –It’s on the southwest corner of the three-way intersection of a four-lane, east-west artery and smaller two-lane north-south street that dead-ends at the east-west street. –I am pretty sure the … Continued
I am, it is fair to say, one of the lousiest, laziest master gardeners in Chicago. I went through the 12-week training in early 2007; in the ensuing year you’re supposed to complete 60 hours of volunteer week to get your full MG certification. My tally has been stalled at about 30 for a while now. … Continued