Ecos de Mesamérica 2013, la entrevista a Massimo Bottura 0 comments

Por Alejandro Zárate Vega

Una de las conferencias más esperadas de la Cumbre Gastronómica Mesamérica 2013, que culminó ayer, fue la del cocinero Massimo Bottura, de Ostería Francescana, en Modena, Italia. Su restaurante posee toda clase de reconocimientos y, experimentar su energía y chispeante genialidad fue impresionante no sólo para la audiencia, también para la prensa especializada.

Bottura se presentó como un simple cocinero de Modena: "esta noche voy a hablar español," aseguró que aprendió el idioma y se preparó mucho para esta presentación por una cuestión de respeto. El centro de su presentación fue también la base de su filosofía, él ve el pasado y la tradición desde un punto de vista crítico y no melancólico: "rompemos el pasado en pedazos para juntarlo de nuevo, nuestra vista mira hacia atrás pero no por nostalgia".

Jerry's Deli Closes After 20 Years in West Hollywood 0 comments

By Lesley Balla

Another matzoh ball bites the dust. Junior's, which opened in Westwood in 1959, closed at the end of 2012. Even New York City's famous Stage Deli recently shuttered. Jerry's Famous Deli closed its Costa Mesa branch last year, and now the West Hollywood location across from the Beverly Center, known for its massive menu and late-night hours, shuttered on Sunday. While reps didn't say why the company closed this location, known for its massive menu and late-night hours, according to WehoVille they're focusing on a string of markets in Florida that they might bring to the area.

Photo of the Day: Soft Shell Crab BLT at Owen & Engine 0 comments

By Sarah Freeman

There is very small window in mid-May when the blue crab is in the molting period and their signature shells turn soft. Hench the name, soft-shell crab. These are a specialty along the East coast, specifically Virginia where they are carefully harvested. The high demand means they rarely make it away from the coast and into the Midwest, but Owen & Engine received a special shipment that will be served until Sunday. The house special right now is a cornmeal-dusted soft shell crab BLT with crab gribiche on baguette. It is served with a side of chips for $15. Get it before it is gone.

Photo of the Day: Bird Naming Contest at Swift’s Attic 0 comments

By Megan Giller

These poor little birds in the paintings at Swift’s Attic don’t have names. The downtown restaurant from Mat Clouser and Zack Northcutt wants you to name them, and the best entry wins a free lunch for two people. Vote now through noon on Friday.

A Book Selected to Last the Length of Your Flight 0 comments

Image courtesy of Qantas

By Colleen Clark

In-flight reading material. It’s a tricky business. You don’t want to fly (pun intended) through a short book only to be left nothing but SkyMall and a barf bag to keep you occupied. On the flipside, you don’t want to pack some lengthy tome and end up toting around 15 pounds of paper for the rest of your trip. Enter the fine folks at Qantas. They have commissioned a series of books whose reading time corresponds to the approximate length of certain flights, the Atlantic reports. The airline teamed up with hip ad firm Droga5 Sydney and Hachette publishing to create the bespoke collection, dubbed Stories for Every Journey. They calculated the average human word-per-minute reading speed, factored in time for meals, naps and bathroom breaks and came up with a list of titles in some super-slick covers.

Jeff Michaud’s Cookbook Available for Pre-Order 0 comments

By Danya Henninger

Jeff Michaud’s new cookbook is much more than just a list of recipes. Now available for pre-order, Eating Italy chronicles the chef’s three years cooking in Bergamo. It was a life-changing experience - not only did it lead to co-ownership of Osteria, Amis and Alla Spina, it’s also where he met the love of his life. “I couldn’t have written this book without the inspiration from my wife and her family,” he says.

National Caffeine Crawl Comes to SF 0 comments

Contraband Coffee

By Tamara Palmer

After stopping in Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Boston and Minneapolis, an event called the Caffeine Crawl is ready to take on the coffee and chocolate showstoppers of San Francisco on June 13. There are four possible routes taking place simultaneously from which to choose, stopping at places such as Contraband Coffee, Dandelion Chocolate, Christopher Elbow, Ritual Coffee and Blue Bottle. It's both an opportunity to check out some worthwhile independently owned ventures and to meet like-minded enthusiasts in the pursuit of the perfect caffeine buzz. Tickets ($30) are available on the official site.

Best Thing We Drank Last Night: Corsair at Booker and Dax 0 comments

By Jacqueline Wasilczyk
While we're a fan of picklebacks, admittedly our favorite way to chase down booze is well, with more alcohol. With the Corsair at Booker and Dax, a Miller High Life accompanies a cocktail that's created with tequila, "Moroccan-style"preserved lemon and lime. The result is a refreshing, citrusy drink that's reminiscent of a margarita, made better with frequent sips of beer (212-254-3500).

The Mother-of-All Tap Takeovers Tonight at Trenchermen 0 comments

It is almost beer o'clock

By Sarah Freeman

We’ve made it over the hump of the week and of Chicago Craft Beer Week. Before the drunken festivities wrap up, we want to make sure that everyone gets their fill of special brews. This is why we present the “Menage-a-Trench” tonight at Trenchermen. The tap takeover features beers from Three Floyds, Mikkeller and Off-Color, the recently opened brewery from former Goose Island brewer John Laffler and former Two Brothers brewer Dave Bleitner. In addition to the beer, chef Pat Sheerin will prepare special menus items. It starts at 5:30 PM and continues until the beer is gone or the bar closes.

A16 Oakland Opens Next Week 0 comments

Photo by Tamara Palmer

By Tamara Palmer

Inside Scoop has an in-depth report on the forthcoming Oakland location of A16 (5356 College Ave.), which a rep for the restaurant confirms will open on May 30 pending final inspection, and how it's positively affecting ideas for the original San Francisco location. Chef Rocky Maselli's menu at Oakland's A16 is expected to be the same as SF chef Chris Thompson's in category only, retaining basic items such as pizzas and pastas. And the new spot has a full liquor license, which allows a lot more freedom with the beverage program, though diners can still expect the same care and attention put into the wine list.

Fred Eric's D'elish Sandwich Shop Now Open Downtown 0 comments

More smoky pork belly, please

By Lesley Balla

There are a few reasons Fred Eric decided to open a new sandwich shop in Downtown LA, right next to his Tiara Cafe. First, he was going over the Fred 62 menu, removing about 60 items (don't worry, there are still 90-plus), and he got to thinking about sandwiches. He loves sandwiches; always has, always will. But he likes really, really good sandwiches, so he set out to create the best possible sandwich anyone can find. And so the D'elish Sandwich Shop was born.

Best Chinese Restaurants in Chinatown 0 comments

By Malika Dalamal

We know the best Chinese restaurants in London are in Chinatown, but navigating the Soho neighbourhood can be daunting for the uninitiated. Before you get lost in translation, click on the slide show below to find the five best restaurants in Chinatown as voted for by you in the 2013 London Restaurants guide.

Blue Blazer Working on Cocktails for Marcie Turney's New Restaurant 0 comments

The cocktail consultants at work

By Danya Henninger

Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran are getting closer to opening Little Nonna’s (the “Italian grandma’s living room” of a restaurant coming to 13th and Locust), and one of the unique touches is a beverage program featuring a mason jar negroni and bottled cocktails. Those drinks were designed in part - curated, if you will - by Blue Blazer Consulting, a new firm from a trio of Philly ex-bartenders.

8 Strange and Innovative Cocktails from Around the U.S. 0 comments

Brown Butter from Aviary, Portland

By Linnea Covington

Today’s craft drink can be made up of almost anything, as long as it tastes good and has a fair amount of alcohol in it. All across the nation, we have found sweet, savory, tart and salty drinks with all sorts of surprising additions, from wasabi to lettuce to a syrup made out of Colt 45. What is the strangest ingredient you've ever had in a drink? Let us know in comments.

On Chicago Beer and American Baseball 0 comments

By Sarah Freeman

Planning to attend a baseball game this summer? Regardless of North Side or South Side allegiances, maybe a more important question should determine whether you visit Wrigley or U.S. Cellular Field: Which stadium serves better beer? Luckily, both the Chicago Tribune and Redeye released in-depth reports on the beer scene at and around the fields.

The consensus? Neither stadium boasts an impressive lineup of local craft beer. Blame small breweries not producing enough to supply the large crowds and both teams’ corporate beer sponsors – Budwiser at Wrigley and MillerCoors at The Cell. However, The Cell took the win for its lineup of Bell's, New Holland and Weinhard's while Wrigley is stuck in the dark ages due to a nostalgia for Old Style.

Best Martinis Around LA 0 comments

Whether you opt for gin or vodka, dirty or with a twist, the martini is pretty much the most iconic drink in all of cocktail land. Click through to find out which bars and restaurants serve the best renditions, and be sure to let us know your favorite place to knock a few back.

Battery & Harris Brings Further Alfresco Boozing to the 'Burg 0 comments

By Jenny Miller

Upper Elm isn't the only alfresco drinking addition to Williamsburg (or as we like to call it, "day-drinking-on-a-patio"-burg) this week. Today, a bar called Battery & Harris opens in the former home of Loreley Williamsburg, at 64 Frost Street. The focus is on craft beers — 20 of them, mostly domestic varieties — and $10 cocktails involving house-made juices and bitters. Foodwise, things lean toward the Caribbean: there's a jerk chicken plate, catfish sandwich and meat-filled patties. Check out some photos of the menu and space below, along with the menu.

9 Best Restaurants for Martinis in Philadelphia 0 comments

The lounge at 10 Arts

Traditionalists are adamant that a martini contains gin, vermouth and nothing else, save for a few olives. The classic has a debonair charm (and packs a punch), but that hasn’t stopped bartenders from tweaking the recipe - vodka fans, holler! - and creating new combinations to strain into your triangular glass. Where to explore these elegant sips? Check out the nine best Philadelphia restaurants for martinis in the slide show below.

Hollywood Pies Owner Takes Yelpers to Task 0 comments

By Lesley Balla

David Miscimarra, the guy who served clandestine Chicago deep-dish pies out of a parking lot before opening a storefront a few months ago, has had it up to here with Yelpers, or any detractors really. Hollywood Pies was supposed to be a simple, casual, sit-down eatery where people could get some of the best deep-dish pizza in town - not full service, just pizza with real plates and silverware at real tables. And now it's even more casual, thanks to the people who've complained about whatever they felt they needed to complain about.

Alden & Harlow Under Way to Open This Summer 0 comments

Michael Scelfo

By Naomi Kooker

Alden & Harlow, an American restaurant with a focus on seasonal, sustainable ingredients, is under construction at 40 Brattle Street in Harvard Square, the former site of the legendary Casablanca.

Chef-owner Michael Scelfo is at the helm, carving out a menu that will focus on what he’d serve at home, for instance winter roasts or backyard barbecues. Family recipes and mismatched plates will be part of the fabric of Alden & Harlow, named for the building’s original architects. Restaurateur and business-backer Brian Lesser (Sweet Cheeks, Storyville, Tavern Road, and any-day-now Bread + Butter cafe and bakery in the North End) is behind the restaurant, which is slated to open sometime this summer.

Scelfo has most recently cooked at Russell House Tavern, also in Harvard Square.

Best Martinis Around Austin 0 comments

Whether you opt for gin or vodka, dirty or with a twist, the martini is pretty much the most iconic drink in all of cocktail land. Click through to find out which bars and restaurants serve the best renditions, and be sure to let us know your favorite place to knock a few back.

Best Martinis Around Boston 0 comments

Whether you opt for gin or vodka, dirty or with a twist, the martini is pretty much the most iconic drink in all of cocktail land. Click through to find out which bars and restaurants serve the best renditions, and be sure to let us know your favorite place to knock a few back.

Feast for Love Event on June 9 0 comments

By Megan Giller

Join the best and brightest in the city’s restaurant scene for a benefit for Dai Due’s Heather Love, who was recently in a devastating car accident. Love suffered a brain injury and broken bones, and her friends at Dai Due, Farmhouse Delivery, Twin Oaks Ranch and more are putting together an incredible night.

Parkside on Sixth Street will host a four-course dinner put on by Austin Food for Life from chefs like Rene Ortiz from La Condesa and Sway, Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher from Lenoir, and Jesse Griffiths from Dai Due, with a silent auction, swag bags and raffle prizes. All proceeds go toward Love’s rehabilitative care. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased here.

Upper Elm at Williamsburg's King & Grove Opening on Saturday 0 comments

By Kelly Dobkin

King & Grove Hotel in Williamsburg is opening its new rooftop lounge, Upper Elm, this Saturday featuring a pay-to-play salt-water pool ($35 on weekdays, $45 on weekends). The menu will include dishes like a shrimp tempura BLT with nori aioli, a dry-aged burger and lobster lettuce cups. Cocktails from mixologist Johnny Swet (Jimmy, Cole's) will range from the McCarren Spritzer to Mezcal Micheladas. Live DJs and acoustic performances will kick off this weekend as well. Stay tuned for more on the launch of Paul Liebrandt's The Elm which will open in the hotel's downstairs space later this summer.

Best Martinis in SF 0 comments

Olive Bar & Restaurant

Whether you opt for gin or vodka, dirty or with a twist, the martini is pretty much the most iconic drink in all of cocktail-land. Click through to find out which bars and restaurants serve the best renditions, and be sure to let us know your favorite place to knock a few back.

Jonathan Gold's Top 101 LA Restaurants 0 comments

Providence hits big

By Lesley Balla

Not to be confused with his 99 picks at the LA Weekly, Jonathan Gold has upped his annual must-hit list to 101 for the Los Angeles Times, unleashed today. And it's even printed in a handy insert, which most people will probably hoard for years (who doesn't have a few Gold lists from years past). In a day when award-winning restaurant critics like Gold are becoming more and more scarce, it's a nice reminder that there's still ink left. Whether it's the 57th pick (Guisados), the 31st (Shanghai No. 1 Seafood Village) or the 1st (Providence), everyone - especially the restaurateurs - is pretty excited. Get the full rundown here.

Tickets Available for Cochon Epic 0 comments

BBQ pork at Fette Sau

Story and Photo by Danya Henninger

It’s not just a name - this is going to be epic. Though Philly’s not on the now-famous Cochon 555 tour, we’re getting our own event, called Epic by Cochon. Instead of a competition, this will be an all-inclusive tasting dinner featuring over 1200 pounds of pork from six different heritage breed pigs.

Call the Oyster Guys to Make Sure Your Next Party Doesn't Shuck 0 comments

Oysters XO founder Rifko Meier dressed in the shuckers' uniform.

By Jenny Miller

Maybe you've heard about the Oyster Girls, party caterers from Dutch company Oysters XO who've been enlisted to serve bivalves everywhere from the the Plaza's World Premiere of The Great Gatsby to private weddings and events. If you think Y chromosomes go better with mollusks, allow us to introduce the Oyster Guys, foxy young things who rove with a bucket and shucking knife, bringing briny goodness straight to you mouth, and possibly your next shindig. Learn more at oystersxo.com

5 Classic Resorts In The Caribbean 0 comments

The Jamaica Inn.

By Alexis Flippin

The classic old-school resorts of the Caribbean are few and far between these days, replaced by cookie-cutter chains and models of sleek minimalism. Those that remain have survived by remaining fresh and relevant through years of changing trends; hey, even grande dames need to rattle their jewelry every now and then. Here are five classic Caribbean resorts, gracious survivors who have managed to both thrive and stay true to their original aesthetic.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken Pops Up at Lula Cafe 0 comments

By Sarah Freeman

While the world (or just hungry people in the city of Chicago) anxiously await this summer’s opening of Honey Butter Fried Chicken, the dangerously delicious fried chicken will make a special appearance at Lula Cafe. The Logan Square restaurant hosts Monday Night farm dinners, and on Monday, June 3 the Honey Butter crew will hijack the dinner and the deep fryers for a three-course picnic-style feast. Since it is the farm dinner, and no one wants to mess with tradition, the meal will feature ingredients from local farmers markets. The dinner will have a 6:30 and 8:30 PM seating. Tickets cost $55 with an optional $25 wine pairing. A portion of proceeds will go to Community Dinners, a soup kitchen in Logan Square.

Check out the menu below and make reservations (right now) by calling (773-489-9554).

Best Martinis Around DC 0 comments

Whether you opt for gin or vodka, dirty or with a twist, the martini is pretty much the most iconic drink in all of cocktail-land. Click through to find out which bars and restaurants serve the best renditions, and be sure to let us know your favorite place to knock a few back.

Best Thing We Ate Last Night: Prawn Salad at Sol Food 0 comments

Photo by Tamara Palmer

By Tamara Palmer

Lines out the door at the main San Rafael location of the Puerto Rican restaurant Sol Food are a typical sight on most days, but we discovered last night that it's open until midnight and can be pleasantly quiet in that last hour. The menu can be almost intimidatingly huge, but we always find ourselves gravitating to the ensalada con camarones empanizados. The mixed green salad is dressed in a light vinaigrette, accompanied by a zesty ranch style dressing and highlighted with fried prawns breaded in plantains, which imparts a unique heartiness. It's rounded out by the simple beauty of fresh avocado and the kind of beefy and bright red heirloom tomatoes that are merely a figment of the rest of the country's imagination. Two tips to avoiding those prime-time lines at Sol Food: Check out the annex location around the corner on Fourth Street, which has a great outdoor patio for dining, or consider the new location in Mill Valley, but be forewarned that the latter closes at 9 PM.

LA Weekend Planner: Tequila Tastings, Patio BBQs, Pool Parties 0 comments

Mini tacos at Loteria!

By Lesley Balla

Drink This
Before you take off for Memorial Day weekend, Jimmy Shaw and Tequila Ocho founder Tomas Estes will walk you through a taste tour with flights of tequila and a menu to match at Loteria Grill Studio City (Thursday, May 23, 8-9:30 PM) and Hollywood (Friday, May 24, 5:30-7 PM). Sample the spirit, ask Estes questions and eat bites like galleta de chicharron de queso, cochinita pibil flautitas, chicken mole poblano sopes and mini quesadillas and tacos. Cost is $35 per person.

Uchi's 86'd Competition Tickets On Sale Now 0 comments

Foreign and Domestic's Gary Lester plating a dish

By Megan Giller

Earlier this week we gave y’all a play by play of Uchi’s 86’d competition semifinals, where Sway’s Chase Gintner edged out the other cooks to take home the gold with his beer brownie and Dippin’ Dots dessert.

Join Gintner and the three winners from the other rounds in a final competition that’s finally open to the public on June 17. Tickets are $75, and the event takes place at 6 PM in a neutral kitchen, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. The ticket price includes a view of the competition as well as sips and bites from some of the best restaurants in town.

Video: Tequila Shot Dos and Don'ts 0 comments

By James Mulcahy

We bet you're taking your tequila shot wrong. That little bit of salt and squeeze of lime is ruining the flavor of the agave. We headed down to Austin to have Jack Allen Kitchen head bartender David Toby show us how it's done. Hint: the old adage of one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor is not the way to go. Watch Toby's tips in the video above, and check out more How To vids here on our YouTube Page.

Hungry Mother Starts Seasonal, 'BBQ Backdoor' Lunch This Friday 0 comments

Hungry Mother's backdoor approach to a take-out lunch, starting Friday

By Naomi Kooker

Beginning this Friday, Hungry Mother in Kendall Square extends its southern hospitality for lunch (it’s a big deal ‘cause it’s a dinner-only kinda place) out the back door. The BBQ Backdoor Friday offerings include the Lexington, N.C.-style pulled pork sandwich ($9) along with add-ons like RC Cola ($1.50), sweet tea ($2), chips ($1), cookies ($2)…and while you wait or if you hang around, you can grab a Miller High Life ($3.50). Take it to go and find a grassy spot for a picnic, y’all (11:30 AM until it’s all gone; 617-499-0090).

New York City's Most Expensive Cocktails, Part 2 0 comments

A $69 Margarita...well alright then

By Emily Rothschild

As we've noted before, $15 cocktails have become so commonplace in New York City that they barely raise eyebrows. And according to the new results of our Mixology Survey, 64% of cocktail connoisseurs say that's the most they will pay for a drink, while a mere 3% of people are willing to pay upwards of $20 a drink. Last year we found 8 expensive cocktails that all crossed that mark, and this year we went in search of more. After poring over loads of menus we were heartened to find that $20+ drinks are still pretty darn hard to find in Manhattan, but we did manage to discover 5 more of NYC's most expensive cocktails.

First Look: Put Everything on a Biscuit at Endgrain 0 comments

By Sarah Freeman

Shaved vegetable salad with black garlic and delicate greens; tender fried chicken with a sweet stickiness from honey, crispy crust and tender interior; pork belly, a fried egg and aged cheddar - these, all placed on biscuits, are a small portion of the all-day menu at the soon-to-open Endgrain.

We first heard about Endgrain last year, and since then it has been waiting for permits. Meanwhile, co-owner and chef Enoch Simpson perfected a menu of globally inspired comfort food while his brother, Caleb, assembled the rustic space featuring pieces of end grain wood. Tucked into a quiet corner of Roscoe Village, just steps away from the Addison Brown Line stop, the 40-seat restaurant has all the makings of a neighborhood gem. The wood bar takes up most of the east wall, while two-top tables line the west wall. In the back, a taxidermy boar protects a wood wall that looks like something out of a carpenter’s workshop. More stuffed animals overlook the bar.

Down(town) and Dirty: "Dirty Sixth" Strikes Back 0 comments

Sixth Street, the way most patrons see it at 2 AM

By Megan Giller

Does Sixth Street deserve the nickname of “Dirty Sixth”? The Austin Chronicle investigates today, asking if the area has cleaned up its act.

"At 2am, it doesn't look any different from the rest of town," Parkside chef and owner Shawn Cirkiel told the Chronicle. "Sixth is the only entertainment district that cleans itself."

La entrevista de los chefs de Frankies Spuntino en Mesamérica 0 comments

Por Alejandro Zárate Vega

El gran evento gastronómico del año concluyó con mucha emoción y toneladas de información. Con llenos totales cada día en la Cumbre Gastronómica Mesamérica 2013, estudiantes y profesionales de la gastronomía en México se reunieron para escuchar las historias y filosofías de los grandes cocineros del mundo pero también, de pequeños restaurantes que -sin la fama ni la exposición de los otros- han logrado generar un cambio en su comunidad y en su entorno social.

Frankies Spuntino es un restaurante ubicado en Brooklyn, Nueva York, en el que sus chefs crean una experiencia culinaria vinculada a sus raices italianas, utilizando sabores de antaño dentro de una cocina moderna. Este local es el resultado del encuentro de dos amigos: Frank Castronovo (1967) y Frank Falcinelli (1965), ambos con educaciones culinarias clásicas pero con una seria pasión y admiración por la cocina italiana que aprendieron de sus abuelos. Con esta base y con la clara conciencia de promover el uso de productos locales, sanos y frescos, mantienen una relación cercana y justa con productores, artesanos y agricultores.

Aquí, la entrevista

Bada Bing! Best Martinis Around NYC 0 comments

Whether you opt for gin or vodka, dirty or with a twist, the martini is pretty much the most iconic drink in all of cocktail land. Click through to find out which bars and restaurants serve the best renditions, and be sure to let us know your favorite place to knock a few back.

Beer-Infused Banana-Bacon Cupcakes at Ms. Goody Cupcake 0 comments

Story and Photo by Danya Henninger

Ok, we’ll bite. And keep biting, because even though the Drunken Elvis at Ms. Goody Cupcake seems like it was cravenly designed to keep up with hot trends, its taste is redeeming. One of several beer-infused cupcakes Gigi Andrews is baking for Philly Beer Week, it features a cake made with Wells Banana Bread Beer and chocolate chips, topped with peanut butter icing and a chocolate-dipped strip of bacon. Yes, yum.

Check Out the Menu for La Brisa de Tacombi, Opening Today in Montauk 0 comments

By Jenny Miller

Tacombi Montauk, aka La Brisa, officially opens today, and we've gotten our hands on the full menu. As promised, there's an emphasis on the Hamptons' coastal bounty, including three kinds of fish tacos using whatever's fresh; expect seafood specials as well. Also new are grilled Sonoran-style tacos. The spot is open daily from 7 AM onward serving Tacombi's breakfast tacos (our citywide favorite) and morning plates like chilaquiles and banana pancakes.

As for those tortillas now being made in-house, owner Dario Wolos sends a few details about the machine the kitchen is using, which they picked up in the town of San Luis Potosi. "It's a classic piece of Mexican Engineering made by an obscure company with a Russian name," he writes via email. "It's the equivalent of having a 1960s car with all the fine tuning and adjustments required for it to operate smoothly." The good news is: "The quality of the product we're getting out of it is really amazing ... truly feels like we're back on the beach in the Yucatan."

Memorial Day Grub: Crab Fest, BBQ and More 0 comments

Jack Rose Rooftop; photo by Greg Powers

By Olga Boikess

There’s no need to miss out on BBQ and crab fest partying just because you’re staying in town for the Memorial Day weekend. Summertime fun is happening right here in the city, and you won’t need to travel far. Here are some possibilities.

Map Your Beer at Percy Street Barbecue 0 comments

Story and Photo by Danya Henninger

The blackboard at Percy Street Barbecue is sporting a new design. The red, white and blue sketch isn’t an ode to Memorial Day (though the timing works well), instead, it’s a map showing where the hundred-plus cans on the restaurant’s beer list are brewed.

5 Quintessential Small Southern Towns 0 comments

By Alexis Flippin

When the frenetic bustle of urban life gets to you, the languid, sleepy-lidded pace of the Southern small town just might be the perfect antidote. The idyllic small towns of the South come in a range of incarnations, from coastal hamlets to mountain hollows to rural trading centers, but all share a sun-drenched serenity and a Mayberry-style embrace. Here are five of the South’s most charming small towns.

Sneak Peek at Umami Mia Pizzeria 0 comments

By Megan Giller

The Barton Springs area pizzeria in the old Romeo’s space isn’t officially open until May 31, but we have the scoop for you today. Last night Umami opened for friends, family and press, and we test-drove the menu, the drinks and the space. Stay tuned below for photos too.

The Space: Romantic yet stuffy Romeo’s is a thing of the past in the now-bright interior - think bold primary colors, sunny windows and servers in shirts designed to look like soccer uniforms. We weren’t too convinced by the plastic-y metal plates that looked like they could double as Frisbees, and it seems the whole interior could use a bit of finesse. But once the outdoor patio is finished (complete with a walk-up by-the-slice counter) and the inside feels a bit more lived in, Umami could have a more comfortable vibe.

Back Bar Bottles: The Dead Rabbit's Pamela Wiznitzer on Using Suze 0 comments

By Gabi Porter

Ever wonder about that obscure liquor bottle you've never heard of sitting on the back of the bar - does anyone actually use it? All this week we're asking drink-slingers about their favorite back bar bottles. Below, Pamela Wiznitzer of The Dead Rabbit in NYC explains how she uses a classic French aperitif.

Bartender: Pamela Wiznitzer - The Dead Rabbit (New York)

Back Bar Bottle: Suze

History: Although introduced to the market in 1889, Suze is not very well known outside of its native France. It is a bitter, aperitif-style liquor which is made from wild gentian. It's sold in an elegant and iconic bottle designed by Henri Porte, and even caught the eye of one Pablo Picasso who depicted it in his 1912 collage "Verre et bouteille de Suze." If it was good enough for Picasso...

How She Uses It: "Suze is a newer gentian liqueur on the market coming from France and has a beautiful sweetness along with a bitter bite simultaneously. The color is a light yellowish-green and it works wonderfully in cocktails that need an added layer of complexity. I personally love to use it to create white negronis in the spring time and find that it plays well with Mezcal, Pisco, gin,and white rums."

Weekend Planner: Women in Wine and Gin-Fueled Turf War 0 comments

By Sarah Freeman

Meet the Market
Think farmer’s markets are tame? Think again. Get rowdy with the Green City Market Junior Board at its first "Meet the Market" of the season. The event, tonight at BellyQ, features passed appetizers and featured cocktails from Koval Distillery and Green Acres Farm. The event is free, but proceeds from every cocktail benefit Green City Market's LINK matching fund (312-563-1010).

Women in Wine
Women (or men) who sip wine can learn about the women who make it on Friday at City Winery. “Women in Wine: The XX Factor” showcases wines from female winemakers. Guest will taste wines to see if they can spot a certain je ne sais quoi in each glass of the lady-made vino. Tickets cost $60 and include wine, cheese and charcuterie (312-733-9463).

Radius Hosts 'Closing' Events; Deluty Readies Opening of 29 Sudbury 0 comments

From left Michael Schlow, Evan Deluty, Cam Neely and Mario Batali at Radius

By Naomi Kooker

Michael Schlow is under way with Radius dinners, such as the one held recently with Mario Batali, as a means to celebrate the French fine-dining restaurant’s 15 years in business. Guests included Evan Deluty, chef-owner of Stella, and former Boston Bruins' right wing Cam Neely. Radius is closing June 29.

While everyone seems to be keeping busy, chef Deluty is especially so, as he's working on readying a modern Italian restaurant, 29 Sudbury, to open next month in the 'burbs (Sudbury's town square to be exact). 29 Sudbury will focus on fresh pastas, and wood-fired pizza from an open kitchen. It will have a patio and the full bar will serve beer, wine and cocktails.