“Restaurant” Review: Fox & Obel Cafe, Chicago

October 21, 2011

You may notice that “restaurant” is in quotes, because I wouldn’t really call this a restaurant, but more like an attempt at a restaurant added to a high-end grocery store. I’ll keep this pretty brief, it wasn’t very good, in fact, it was pretty awful. And the bar was low, like “I am super hungover [...]

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Maybe Grant Achatz will adopt me?

October 20, 2011

I don’t post anything for weeks on end and then it’s two Grant Achatz videos in a row. Am I obsessed? I would say yes, slightly, in good way though (I think). Also, Achatz has been posting a bunch of new videos lately, and they happen to be pretty good. This one is the story [...]

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Alinea’s Pumpkin Pie

October 19, 2011

I’ve been in Chicago for over a year and I haven’t had the chance to eat at Alinea yet, and seeing things like this make the fact that I haven’t been there yet even more  unforgivable!

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A Two Page Contract to Eat Dinner? GTFO

August 15, 2011

I’m all for chefs wanting to exert some control over their dining room, and wanting to create a great experience, but making me sign a two page contract to eat dinner at some new restaurant in DC called Rogue 24? For serious? It really takes all joy out of it for me. Besides, good luck trying [...]

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The Greatest Cake Ever: Willy Wonka Birthday Cake

August 12, 2011

There is really not a lot that can be said about the Willy Wonka Birthday Cake, except that I want one right now. I mean, look at this thing:  Get the full rundown and recipe on The Kitchen Magpie blog. Does an oompa loompa hold my plate for me when I eat it?

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Edible Parmesan Pencils

July 22, 2011

I don’t usually go for kitschy kitchen gadgets, but this is cool, clever, and potentially useful: edible Parmesan pencils.

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Adventures in Home Sausage Making

July 19, 2011

We’ve been pretty lucky to have a new butcher open up a few blocks from our house that carries pork and grass-fed beef from local farm, makes some awesome sausage and charcuterie, and has quickly become my fountain of all meat knowledge. Inspired by all the goodness coming out of that place, I decided to [...]

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The Black Sheep Restaurant Chicago

July 14, 2011

I haven’t written a post in quite a lone while, and while I wake up everyday with the best intentions to get my ass in gear and start posting about all sorts of deliciousness, work, kids, and life seem to get in the way. I’ve needed a bit of a kick in the ass to [...]

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Recipe: Cochinita Pibil

May 26, 2010

As a father of two in household where both me and the wife work full time, simple is good. Looking at this recipe for Cochinita Pibil makes my mouth water and is instantly added to my category of simple recipes. I may not get to this one until the fall, as long braises in the [...]

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Getting Back to Basics

March 3, 2010

I’ve been trying to make this year all about increasing my cooking knowledge and have been reading a lot of different books, and one that is giving me some “aha!” moment is “James Beards Theory and Practice of Good Cooking.” I got one of the original versions (signed) from my Dad for Christmas and was [...]

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