It’s almost Opening Day here in Wrigleyville and the temperature has cooled off a bit from last week but that’s ok, it’s still grilling spring training weather. By the time summer does roll around I’ll be in mid-season form. These lamb kebabs are one of the first things I ever grilled for Cheryl, showing her…
Month: March 2012
Happy World Whisky Day! Whisky Tasting at Binny’s World of Whiskies
Happy World Whisky Day! It just so happens last Thursday Cheryl and I headed south from Wrigleyville to Binny’s Beverage Depot (Lincoln Park) for an annual tasting event they host called World of Whiskies with over 50 different whisky and whiskey (you know the difference) distributors. Since Cheryl and I both like single malt scotch…
What’s for Sunday Dinner: Caramelized Onion and Duck Tart
A couple of weeks ago I bought some frozen duck legs with the intention of making confit. I don’t use the traditional method of cooking them in duck fat, I cheat a bit by slowly cooking the legs in olive oil. It achieves basically the same result, some preserved duck legs you can pull out…
Grilling Season in Chicago Already? Add Some Acid: Chimichurri
Can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted! Very busy this past week, which has also seen some record-setting temperatures here in Chicago. 70s and 80s. In March. Now that’s my kind of Chicago winter. Of course we’ll probably get some snow at Easter now. Oh well, what can you do? It’s pretty awesome…
What’s for Sunday Dinner: Braised Pork Ribs with Apple-Curry Sauce
Yesterday was a beautiful day in Chicago. The sun was shining, temperature was in the mid-60s, and everyone was out soaking it all up. It reminded me of something I read once about Calvados, the French apple brandy, being like a glass of summer sunshine. That description has always stuck with me and I think…
Fettucine with Bay Scallops in a Saffron Cream Sauce
Fridays in Lent can be tough for Roman Catholics, especially when you have some leftover meatloaf and osso bucco in the fridge. Bad for me, good for Cheryl who’s one of those rebellious Protestants. Well it’s not really that tough, but we like to try to convince everyone it’s difficult. It usually doesn’t work though…
Lunching in the Loop: 3 Places You Should Try!
Cheryl works down inside the Loop, as do many Chicagoans. Occasionally I have to leave the friendly confines of Wrigleyville and travel there for meetings or showings. In a couple of weeks I have to venture south for some continuing education classes (ah real estate license requirements!) and I find myself looking forward to having…
Roaming in New Orleans! Things to Do In the Crescent City Other Than Bartering Beads For Breasts
Hard to believe but I’d never been to New Orleans before last weekend. Always wanted to go but just never got around to it. Last month my father suggested meeting there in February and we jumped at it. Flights looked pretty open for flying stand-by so we decided to go the weekend after Mardi Gras…
Top Chef – Finally! The Finale!
If you’ve been following my Top Chef posts you know I feel it’s been a long, uneventful, and trying season for the show and me. Our Facebook status would be “it’s complicated.” As the season progressed I was more and more disappointed in the challenges. Looking back I feel the show’s producers should bear much…
Pureed Potato and Leek Soup (and a Kitchen Essential!)
So after a weekend in New Orleans we needed something a little, um, well, less larger than life which could be heated up quickly for the many (many) gym nights we’re going to need this week. The cupboards were looking a little bare, not quite Old Mother Hubbardish, but I did have a big bag…
