This was our first ever Cocktail Pairing Feast and I was more than pleased with the outcome. I started planning this event with potter Melissa Monroe, who has a beautiful studio in a red barn. Back in June we wondered what veggies would be ready in the garden for the July 31 dinner date. Melissa […]
Read moreOur Monday night dinner was a big success! Who said you’re only allowed to eat gourmet food on the weekends?? Our dinner was hosted by Quench, the Experience, a west side restaurant that serves up delicious soul food. They’re a BYOB restaurant and they”re closed on Monday so they invited us to come cook with […]
Read moreIn the tradition of superb aphrodisiac meals of the past, Clandestino served up an aphrodisiac feast using some very special ingredients. Thanks to master guitarrista Neil Dixon Smith for a beautiful performance. Pickled oysters w/ cucumber cappellini and caviar Rocket salad w/ local baby beets and chevre Ancho linguini w/ sweet corn, garden squash, huitlacoche, […]
Read moreThe gallery dinner series was developed together with artist Vicki Fowler of the Mutherland gallery in Bridgeport. We serve dinner in the artist’s studio, and create a seasonal menu in collaboration with the artist, many times using elements from the artwork in the design and styling of the menu. Our last gallery dinner was in […]
Read moreI don’t know about you, but I heart Public Radio. Back in college, I volunteered at 90.1 WEFT, the Champaign-Urbana community radio station. Briefly, I aspired to be a part-time DJ, playing tracks at my whim, seamlessly swapping vinyl, tapes, and cd’s, imposing my musical taste on thousands of listeners. I settled for alphabetizing LP […]
Read moreMusic inspires food on Friday June 19th at an undisclosed location. Amuse: Cheese Sampling including cheeses from Saxon Homestead Creamery in Cleveland, WI and other fine cheeses. Junior Wells and Buddy Guy: Hoodoo Man Blues Memphis pulled pork, black bean waffle, tomato rhubarb ‘que sauce, pickled carrot and rhubarb relish Rhubarb from Seedling Growers: Michigan, […]
Read moreThis dinner party was a throwback to a menu I prepared in July 2008. That was my first time working with live bay scallops but the best part of that meal was the cheese, of course! It was a Pleasant Ridge Reserve from Uplands Cheese in Dodgeville, WI. If you’re curious about how they make […]
Read moreSo you want to get some dirt under your nails and grow some food? Excellent! The great thing is that you don’t need to leave city limits. There are many small growing spaces around town that you can access anytime. We all want to save some cash on food, and one of the best ways […]
Read moreJust got back from Memphis. It was my second year in the Memphis in May BBQ Contest. Last year, my team the Ques Brothers took 3rd place in Pork Shoulder, and this was quite an accomplishment, especially being a new team on the competition BBQ circuit. Really though it’s about having a good time, cooking […]
Read moreDinner was served in a studio space in the South Shore neighborhood. It was an Ode to Cheese; every course highlighted by one of our favorite cheeses. We started things out with one of Chef Nikki Stanger’s favorite bites, the Grana Padano crisp filled with queso fresco mousse. We made the queso fresco using whole […]
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