Family Thanksgiving Dinner Feast at Prairie Grass Cafe, November 28 in Northbrook

Dine In or Take Out, Prairie Grass Cafe Has You Covered

Sarah Stegner with Thanksgiving dinner

Prairie Grass Cafe’s (601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, 847-205-4433) popular Thanksgiving Dinner will once again be a delicious way to celebrate with family and friends on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28. Served from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the annual feast from co-chef/owners Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris will feature favorite holiday dishes elevated with the chefs’ unique touch. The menu is sure to please everyone from tradition-loving families to friends and hungry children. The price for this delicious feast is $63 per person for adults and $28 for children ages 3-10 years (not including beverages, tax or gratuity). Children 2 and under are free. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling Prairie Grass Cafe at (847) 205-4433 or visiting the website.

Begin the Thanksgiving celebration with a choice of appetizer: warm Butternut Squash Soup or Organic Mixed Green Salad with Pumpkin Seeds, Parmesan, and Pomegranate and Balsamic Dressing. Highlighting seasonal produce, the salad offers a fresh taste of fall’s bounty.

Organic Mixed Green Salad with Pumpkin Seeds, Parmesan, and Pomegranate and Balsamic Dressing

Then, enjoy Prairie Grass Cafe’s classic Oven Roasted Turkey served with Mashed Potatoes and Homemade Gravy. Simple and straightforward, this traditional dish is great on its own and absolutely heavenly when paired with the four available sides. The Apple Chestnut Stuffing is a flavorful blend of savory and sweet tastes, while the creamy Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash topped with homemade marshmallow is the ultimate indulgence for those with a sweet tooth. Other sides include Fresh Vegetables and Cranberry Sauce.

Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash topped with homemade marshmallow

End Thanksgiving festivities on a sweet note with a choice of dessert: Mom’s Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie or the decadent Double Chocolate Cake. Made in-house and inspired by a family recipe from Chef Sarah Stegner’s mother, Elizabeth, the transcendent pies make the dessert course truly special.

Thanksgiving To Go

Want the taste of a comforting homemade meal without the mess? Prairie Grass Cafe’s Thanksgiving To Go is the annual take-home feast for North Shore residents who want to host their dinner at home. Offering a complete ala carte feast, the menu includes all the dishes served at the restaurant’s Thanksgiving Dinner plus many other mouthwatering options like Apple Sage Stuffing, Homemade Sausage and Giblet Stuffing, Butternut Squash Soup, and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Chestnuts.

Turkeys To Go can be purchased as whole turkeys (serves 10-14 people) or as half turkeys (serves 5-7 people). Side dishes are sold in quarts; some also are offered in pint sizes. Pies and cake are only sold whole (6 slices per pie; 10-12 slices per cake).

Advance orders are now being accepted by phone, 847-205-4433, and must be made by Friday, November 22 or until items are sold out – please order as far in advance of the deadline as you can to be sure everything is available. All orders will be available for pickup on Thursday, November 28 from noon to 2 p.m. View the full order form here. For more information about Thanksgiving To Go, please call Prairie Grass Cafe at (847) 205-4433.

About Prairie Grass Cafe

Prairie Grass Cafe (601 Skokie Blvd.; Northbrook, IL; 847-205-4433), co-owned by chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris, supports Chicago’s Green City Market and local sustainable farms, selecting the freshest ingredients to reflect the season. To make a reservation, please call (847) 205-4433 or visit prairiegrasscafe.com. Follow Prairie Grass Cafe news at newsline360.com/prairiegrasscafe, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SarahStegner, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/prairiegrasscafe, on Facebook at Facebook.com/PrairieGrassCafe

photo credit: Cindy Kurman, Kurman Photography

Thanksgiving To Go Order Form, Prairie Grass Cafe

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille launches Recipe Section on its website

Share your favorite recipe using Perry’s Famous Pork Chop leftovers for a chance to win a free Pork Chop Friday Lunch

Decades ago, when Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille Founder Chris Perry created the Pork Chop to be the unexpected signature of his steakhouse, he had a vision: exceptional dining doesn’t end until the very last bite. He unveiled a generously sized, seven-finger-high entrée that would create leftovers for most, thus extending the Rare and Well Done® experience to his guests’ homes.

Now Perry’s has found a new way to continue its enjoyment at home. Celebrity Chef Rick Moonen, Perry’s Master Development Chef, is creating new recipes for repurposing our Famous Pork Chop leftovers. You can view recipes here: https://perryssteakhouse.com/porkchoprecipes/

 But wait, there’s more. Perry’s knows that whether you visit them for Pork Chop Friday lunch, Sunday Supper, or any occasion in between, there’s a good chance that you’ll be walking away with leftovers. Perry’s is challenging fans to fire-up your stovetop and take the delicious matters into your own hands.  If you have a favorite recipe of your own featuring Perry’s pork chop, share it on your personal social media page and tag @PerrysDining on Facebook or @PerrysSteakhouse on Instagram and hashtag #LeftOverChopChallenge. If Perry’s selects your recipe to add to their website, you will get a free Pork Chop Friday Lunch.

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille White Bean Pork Chili
Made with Take-Home-Leftovers from Perry’s Famous Pork Chop

photo credit: Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

Makes 4 Servings

Perry’s White Bean Pork Chili, made with our Famous Pork Chop
 
½ lb.           Perry’s Famous Pork Chop, finely diced
3 strips      Bacon, cut ¼” wide
1 tbsp.       Unsalted butter
1½ cups     Yellow onions, finely dice
½ cup         Poblano pepper, finely dice
5 cloves     Garlic, fine chop
1 tbsp.       Oregano, chopped
1 tbsp.       Cumin powder
7 oz. can    Diced Hatch Green Chiles, medium heat
10 oz.         Cannellini beans
2 cups        Chicken stock
½ tsp.         Kosher salt
½ tsp.         Black pepper
 

  1. In a heavy bottom pot, over medium heat, melt the butter and add the bacon. Cook the bacon until it begins to brown.
  2. Add onions, poblanos, garlic, cumin and salt. Cook until tender.
  3. Stir in beans, canned chilis, oregano, chicken stock and diced pork chop. Bring to a low simmer and continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes until it thickens.
  4. Garnish with Monterey Jack cheese, tortilla strips, red onions, cilantro. Serve with flour tortillas.

Recipe developed by Celebrity Chef Rick Moonen, Perry’s Master Development Chef


About Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille has earned a faithful following by perfecting prime since 1979. Beginning as a small butcher shop, Perry’s has grown into a renowned group of award-winning restaurants featuring USDA-aged Prime beef, tableside carvings, signature selections, flaming desserts and handcrafted cocktails at its Bar 79. Specializing in a Rare and Well Done® experience, Perry’s currently operates 17 steakhouse locations in Chicago, Birmingham, Denver, Miami and across Texas, as well as the two original butcher shops now known as Perry & Sons Market & Grille. For more information and updates on Perry’s Steakhouse, please visit www.PerrysSteakhouse.com. Facebook (Facebook.com/PerrysDining), Twitter (@PerrysDining) and Instagram @PerrysSteakhouse)

New Off-The-Menu Fall Features at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

Lobster Truffle Risotto
Lobster Truffle Risotto at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (5 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 60523; 630-571-1808) brings the warm, robust flavors of autumn to its a Rare and Well Done® dining experience with five off-the-menu fall features, available for a limited time.

Created by Perry’s Master Development Chef, Rick Moonen, the new fall features are Perry’s Harvest Salad, White Bean Pork Chili, Lobster Truffle Risotto and Pumpkin Cheesecake. In addition, the popular Butternut Squash returns as a seasonal favorite.

Composed raw salad of mixed seasonal vegetables and organic greens with apple cider flax seed vinaigrette, the Perry’s Harvest Salad ($12) is the perfect complement to start your meal.

The new White Bean Pork Chili ($11), infused with poblano peppers, hatch green chilis, seasoned with garlic and oregano and finished with diced applewood-smoked bacon and pieces of Perry’s Famous Pork Chop, is a tasty option to help warm you on chilly fall nights.

The Lobster Truffle Risotto ($45) may be enjoyed as a delicious entrée or side to share with your friends. The Maine lobster is poached in a beurre monte accompanying a creamy risotto, cooked with lobster stock reduction, truffle oil, carrots, peas, chives and tarragon, and finished with black truffle shavings.

A returning fan favorite, the Butternut Squash ($12), pureed with bacon and maple syrup and topped with Italian breadcrumbs, is a flavorful side.

Save room for the final off-the-menu special. Pumpkin Cheesecake ($10), a creamy pumpkin-spiced cheesecake with pecan ginger snap crust, vanilla cream and salted caramel drizzle is just too good to pass up.

When fall arrives, it’s time to plan for the upcoming holiday season. If you’re planning a holiday celebration, Perry’s offers a wide selection of private dining rooms and event options to meet your group’s needs. Perry’s will be open at 11 a.m. Thanksgiving day, Thursday, Nov. 28. Save the date. Make reservations at PerrysSteakhouse.com.

Harvest Salad
Harvest Salad at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
White Bean Pork Chili
White Bean Pork Chili at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
Butternut Squast
Butternut Squash at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin Cheesecake at Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

Deals abound at 5121 Food Hall & Bar in Hyde Park: Red Fish Bleu Fish, Porkchop and The Hyde Speakeasy

5121 Food Hall, 5121 S. Harper, in Hyde Park, which incorporates two restaurants, Red Fish Bleu Fish and Porkchop, as well as The Hyde Speakeasy, offers amazing deals every day, including weekends.

Starting with their Giggles & Vittles Sunday Brunch, family and friends will appreciate the entertainment-packed brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring smoked salmon, shrimp & grits, crawfish boil, oysters, mussels, paella, smoked chicken wings, waffles, pancakes, eggs, fresh fruit and assorted pastries all for $55, including bottomless mimosas.

Celebrity host and comedian B. Cole entertains. Four seatings are available beginning at 10 a.m. The last seating is at 3 p.m. Every seating lasts 90 minutes.60 minutes into your reserved time, the Giggles performance begins.

Giggles & Vittles is a theme brunch with a viewer rating of R (Mature Adults 18+).

Reservations are available online only at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/giggles-vittles-tickets-66800320557.

Brunch tickets can be purchased at the door but reservations are recommended in advance. Tickets include admission, the full buffet, bottomless Mimosas, live music and the comedy show.

During Football season, game days specials feature $10 wing baskets and $16 pitchers of beer.

Celebrate Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. and enjoy $1 oysters as well as half-off appetizers.

All day and evening specials include:
Monday: $16 beer pitchers, $10 basket of wings and ½ off on Ribs
Tuesday: $2.50 tacos, $6 margaritas and $20 margarita pitchers.
Wednesday: ½ off on wine and pasta and $3 whiskey shots.
Thursday: $7 rum punch and $7 martinis.

6-8 PM
Wednesdays and Thursdays: Enjoy a tête-à-tête meal rendezvous from 6-8 pm featuring ½ off lobster tails on Wednesday and Friday
Thursdays and Saturdays: ½ off wine and steak on Thursdays and Saturdays. Reservations required.

INSIDER DEALS: 
• Monday-Senior Citizens (20% off w/ID)
• Tuesday-Industry night (after 9PM 40% off drafts & well)
• Wednesday-Hump Day Pick Me Up (Students & Faculty 20% off with School ID)
• Thursday-Ladies Night ($7 Rum Punch, $7 Martinis, $7 Margaritas)

The Hyde – September
Thursday and Friday: Happy Hour – 6-8 pm
Thursdays: Live Music, Thursdays, 9 pm to 2 am
Every other Friday, Jazz or Burlesque Show, 9 pm to 2 am
Saturdays: Special Event (changes weekly) or Play List, 9 pm to 2 am

About the 5121 Food Hall & Bar, featuring Red Fish Bleu Fish, Porkchop and The Hyde

Red Fish Bleu Fish and Porkchop, located at 5121 S. Harper in Chicago’s Hyde Park, offers something for everyone with a great selection of fish and seafood, smoked meats and Southern Comfort specialties.

Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch are served in this casual and lively restaurant with a friendly staff, delicious comfort food and full bar. The kitchen is always open late. Happy hour specials run weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. along with featured daily specials. Lunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Dinner is served from 3 p.m. to midnight on weekdays and 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

The Hyde is a unique Chicago speakeasy, an innovative concoction of art, live music, food and drinks. Evoking the sensual, friendly vibe of a 1920’s gathering spot, The Hyde is a late-night spot with an exceptional cocktail program, a special cognac bar, and a discreet, sophisticated atmosphere. The speakeasy is open until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends. During weekdays, access The Hyde through the hidden door inside of the Red Fish Bleu Fish restaurant. On weekends, enter through the main door at 5115 S. Harper in Chicago.

The Hyde is available for all types of private events, banquets, weddings, business gatherings and more.

Free validated parking for all three venues is available next to Whole Foods on the lower level of City Hyde (enter on S. Lake Park Avenue). For more information, please contact the restaurant at 773-952-4744 or 773-493-9333.

FREE 4 HOUR PARKING WITH VALIDATION 
(Parking entrance between Whole Foods & BP. Enter through City Hyde Park at bottom of ramp)

Follow us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/redfishbleufish5121foodhall
https://www.facebook.com/PorkchopBBQ
https://www.facebook.com/thehydechi

Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/redfishbleufish
https://www.instagram.com/porkchopbbq
https://www.instagram.com/thehydechi

URGENT DOCUMENTARY ‘NETIZENS’ About Women and Online Harassment Sept 23

“As fierce as its protagonists, doggedly plowing through deeply painful subject matter and bristling with rightful fury.” –Teen Vogue

“A forceful rebuke to legions of victim-shamers who use ‘it’s her fault’ as a mantra.” –Rolling Stone

“Lowen, who produced the disturbing 2011 doc BULLY, scores another infuriating triumph with her directorial debut, NETIZENS.” –The Village Voice

The Film: After their lives are overturned by vicious online harassment, NETIZENS follows three women as they confront the Internet’s wild west. This timely 96-minute documentary features prominent Brooklyn attorney Carrie Goldberg and author of Nobody’s Victim; Anita Sarkeesian, founder of Feminist Frequency and target of the ‘Gamergate’ attacks; and Tina Reine, a businesswoman whose career is destroyed by reputation-harming websites. With Soraya Chemaly, Danielle Citron, Mary Anne Franks and Jamia Wilson. 

NETIZENS is directed by Cynthia Lowen, the producer/writer of the documentary BULLY, which was released by The Weinstein Company and catalyzed a national movement to stop bullying. With this followup film, Lowen tackles the scourge of internet harassment, including “revenge porn,” cyber-stalking, threats of violence, privacy invasions, impersonation and hacking. While law enforcement and tech companies lag far behind the crimes, NETIZENS bears witness as the film’s subjects seek justice on their own terms. 

These screenings are supported by a robust suite of online tools to equip audiences to protect themselves and prevent harassment.

Location: September 23, 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Only at ShowPlace ICON Theatres at Roosevelt Collection, 1011 S Delano Ct, Chicago, IL 60605, (312) 564-2105

To view the documentary trailer and secure tickets, visit he NETIZENSfilm.com website.

Website url: https://www.netizensfilm.com/
Tickets url: https://www.netizensfilm.com/tickets
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NetizensFilm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NETIZENSfilm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/netizensfilm/

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille brings you a Wine Tour of the Veneto Region of Northern Italy with its Fall Tasting of Three Red Blends

This fall, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (5 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 60523; 630-571-1808) takes you to the Veneto region in Northern Italy for a tasting of three red blends, each featuring the Corvina grape varietal but in very distinct styles. The flight of three 2-ounce pours for $22 is available now through October 31, 2019.

Featured wines include:

  • 2017 Masi ‘Bonacosta’ Valpolicella Classico DOC, $10 Glass | $40 Bottle

Light intensity, fresh cherry and soft silky tannins. One of the classics of the great Veronese tradition, made by Masi in a contemporary style.

  • 2015 Masi Campofiorin Rosso del Veronese IGT $14 Glass | $56 Bottle

Rich, intense cherries and berry fruit, good length and soft tannins.

Approachable and versatile, combining simplicity with style and strength.

  • 2013 Masi Costasera Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG $38 Glass | $152 Bottle

Very dark, ruby red, baked plums and cherries with hints of coffee and cocoa. Proud, majestic, complex and exuberant: A benchmark for the Amarone category.

“Valpolicella Classico, praised by Hemingway as ‘a light, dry red wine, as friendly as the house of a favorite brother,’ is made in the Valpolicella Classico region in an elegant style full of simplicity and freshness, from a blend using the traditional Veronese grapes: Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara,” said Susi Zivanovic, Perry’s Corporate Sommelier and Beverage Director.

“The Campofiorin Rosso del Veronese is the original Supervenetian created by Masi in 1964 and internationally recognized as a wine of ‘stupendous body and complexity,’ the prototype for a new category of wines from the Veneto inspired by the Amarone production method,” she said.

“The Costasera Amarone della Valpolicella is the product of Masi’s unrivalled expertise in the appassimento technique,” said Zivanovic. “The traditional grapes for the Valpolicella Classica area – Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara – are laid out on bamboo racks to concentrate their aromas during the winter months.”

About Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille has earned a faithful following by perfecting prime since 1979. Beginning as a small butcher shop, Perry’s has grown into a renowned group of award-winning restaurants featuring USDA Prime beef, tableside carvings, signature selections, flaming desserts and handcrafted cocktails at its Bar 79. Specializing in a Rare and Well Done® experience, Perry’s currently operates 16 steakhouse locations in Chicago, Birmingham, Denver, and across Texas, as well as the two original butcher shops now known as Perry & Sons Market & Grille. For more information and updates on Perry’s Steakhouse, please visit www.PerrysSteakhouse.com.
 
Facebook (Facebook.com/PerrysDining), Twitter (@PerrysDining) and Instagram @PerrysSteakhouse)
 

Prairie Grass Cafe to Host Dinner Featuring Recipes from New Green City Market Cookbook July 20

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Prairie Grass Cafe is hosting a special dinner featuring guest chefs and recipes from the new The Green City GCM Cookbook CoverMarket Cookbook, 6 p.m., Sunday, July 20, coinciding with the official cookbook launch. The cost for the Prairie Grass Cafe dinner is $65 plus tax and gratuity. Cookbooks will be available to purchase separately for $24.95 and all cookbook proceeds will go to Green City Market.

The delicious evening will feature many of the volunteers who have helped to make The Green City Market Cookbook possible.

Chef Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris, co-owners of Prairie Grass Cafe, will orchestrate the dinner. Stegner is Green City Market’s co-chair and a founding board member.

Joining Sarah and George are Sarah’s longtime friends chef/farmers Tracey Vowell and Kathe Roybal of Three Sisters Garden, whose cookbook recipe takes center stage at the dinner; Karen Levin, cookbook author; Amelia Levin, author/journalist, and Kathy Paddor, marketing consultant who oversaw the cookbook’s photography. The Chicago Tribune’s former food editor and longtime market enthusiast Carol Mighton Haddix’s cherry tart dessert recipe will provide the sweet finale of the evening.

Celebrating its 16th season, Green City Market (GCM) has become an institution and foodie haven since its inception in 1998.

“I am very excited and proud of The Green City Market Cookbook.  It represents a community of chefs, farmers, and shoppers that believe in supporting the local food movement coming together,” said Stegner.

Karen Levin, cookbook author and award winning recipe developer and food consultant, volunteered to develop the cookbook with daughter Amelia, also an author and journalist. They were responsible for gleaning 88 recipes sent into the GCM website or given to her from the market’s farmers, chefs, customers and volunteers.

They reviewed the recipes, shopped at the Market weekly and tested 80 of the 88 recipes. A team of volunteers tested the remaining 8 recipes, as well as, proofed and edited the manuscript and final galleys.

The mission of the cookbook was to inspire readers to cook delicious seasonal food from local farmers markets and to share home cooked meals with family and friends. The culinary talent of the Green City community is what makes this book so unique. It’s like a giant recipe swap where professional chefs, customers, and farmers exchange their favorite things to cook with the best ingredients from each season.

The Green City Market Cookbook features 88 seasonal recipes based on ingredients from the Market; appetizers, entrees, soups and desserts for each season, and more than 100 delicious photos of the completed dishes and their key ingredient. Each recipe features a short story submitted by the recipe’s author about why the recipe is special to them.

Sixty percent of the recipes are focused on fruits and vegetables; 40% use meat, fish and eggs.

The Green City Market Cookbook is truly local. The publisher is Evanston-based Agate Publishing, publishers of books from local and regional authors. Chicago top food photographer Chris Cassidy Photography donated his time to bring The Green City Market Cookbook to life.

The cookbook, which sells for $24.95, is scheduled for release this July, can be pre-ordered at https://www.greencitymarket.org/cookbook/index.asp.

The July 20 meal will feature recipes from The Green City Market Cookbook summer section.

July 20 Menu at Prairie Grass Cafe

Salads:
 (served family style)

Eggplant Caponata with Fennel and Oven-Roasted Tomatoes
Contributed by Amelia Levin, Volunteer for Green City Market

Summer Bean Salad with Sun Gold Tomatoes, Market Herbs, Smoked Trout,
and Goat Cheese Dressing
Contributed by Jason Hammel, Chef/Co-Owner, Lula Cafe and Nightwood

Peach and Tomato Panzanella Salad
Contributed by Melissa Graham, Volunteer

Dinner

Creamy Polenta with Braised Greens and Mushrooms
Contributed by Tracey Vowell and Kathe Roybal, Farmers of Three Sisters Garden

Grilled Skirt Steaks with Green Beans, Tomatoes and Pesto
Contributed by Harriet Rosenman, Customer

Dessert

Tart Cherry Pecan Crisp
Contributed by Carol Mighton Haddix, Customer and Author

About Sarah Stegner
Two-time James Beard Award winner Chef Sarah Stegner is co-chair and founding board member of

Stegner_Grant Kessler_34786Green City Market, one of the country’s best known sustainable farmers markets. Her commitment to sustainable practices goes beyond the market and is an integral part of her life at Prairie Grass Cafe, the restaurant she owns with husband, restaurant managing partner Rohit Nambiar and chef/co-owner George Bumbaris.

“My approach to ingredients developed over a long, slow process,” Sarah says. “When I started out as a chef, I knew that the best, freshest flavors came from ingredients produced by local farmers. But I couldn’t find farm contacts easily, so my friends in the business helped introduce me to some of them. The idea to create a green market was a natural progression. What a joy! The farmers turned out to be passionate about what they were doing and very perceptive when it comes to what quality means. I began to establish wonderful working relationships with these producers and the momentum grew from there. Stegner continues to incorporate fresh, seasonal produce from small, regional family farms into her menus at Prairie Grass Cafe.

“It’s all about the quality of the product-its freshness, its flavor and the care by which it has been handled,” she says. It isn’t surprising that Stegner puts the ingredients first. She will talk about her [exceptional] technique when prompted, but she truly believes that it is her attention to quality and local, fresh ingredients that has provided the springboard for her success.

She is doing what she truly loves to do and over the years she has transformed a childhood filled with loving cooking memories into a very personal culinary mission that is honest and pure, yet far from simplistic.

About George Bumbaris
George Bumbaris’s relationship as Chef/co-Owner of Prairie Grass Cafe with long-time friend and George Bumbaris PG05 wboardercolleague Sarah Stegner makes perfect sense. “We had worked together for so long, there are no surprises- and a lot of trust,” he says of the partnership. Prairie Grass Cafe came at a time when both he and Stegner had reached a level of culinary maturity that was important for what they want to accomplish. “We don’t carry the ego with us. We just wanted a good restaurant with good food.”

The rest is history. After 10 years, Prairie Grass Cafe has done what the duo set out to do — provide the area with outstanding, approachable food with a strong convection to locally grown, sustainable and delicious taste.

My vision was a restaurant packed with smiling faces, enjoying their experience with us and enjoying our food,” he adds. Bumbaris always teaches his staff to cook the way one would cook for oneself. With a rule of thumb like that, they continue to have a winning formula at Prairie Grass Cafe.

About Karen Levin Karen Levin
Karen Levin, cookbook author and award winning recipe developer and food consultant, has specialized in recipe development for the past thirty years.  She has written numerous cookbooks for The American Heart Association, The American Medical Association and many major food companies. Karen is a frequent contributor to Cooking Club magazine and for five years wrote a syndicated weekly food column for Tribune Media Services entitled “The Seasoned Cook”. She is currently the recipe developer for the ChefMD website. Karen developed all the recipes for “ChefMD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine” by John LaPuma, M.D. (Crown Publishers 2008) as well as The RealAgeDiet and Cooking the RealAge Way by Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and John LaPuma, M.D. She resides in Highland Park, Illinois with her husband of 35 years.
About Tracey Vowell and Kathe RoybalTracey Vowell
Tracey Vowell (pictured right) and Kathe Roybal were employed in the restaurant industry until they grew tired of the hard work and decided on a career change. They bought their nine-acre farm in 2000, and named it after the Native American practice of growing corn, beans, and squash in the same mounds-a sophisticated, sustainable system that provided long-term soil fertility and a healthy diet then, and still does. The partners (that’s Tracey on left, Kathe at right) focus on specialty vegetables like microgreens (which they grow year round), pea shoots, heirloom tomatoes, summer and winter squashes, herbs, fresh beans (shelled at the Market) and huitlacoche, a mushroom particularly prized in Mexican cuisine. “I don’t know that we chose an easier line of work,” says Tracey, a former chef at Frontera Grill, “but at least we’re exercising different parts.”
(Tracey Vowell photo at right)
About Amelia Levin Amelia Levin
Amelia Levin is an award-winning, Chicago-based freelance writer, editor, media consultant, certified chef (Kendall College), recipe developer and author of Chicago Chef’s Table: Extraordinary Recipes from the Windy City (Globe Pequot, 2012). A former hard news reporter and magazine editor, she is a regular contributor to Edible Chicago and a variety of restaurant industry trade magazines. Her writing and recipes have also appeared in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times newspapers, DiningOut and in cookbooks by Cooking Light, the American Heart Association and others. An active member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP), the International Food Editorial Council (IFEC) and the prestigious Les Dames D’Escoffier society for women, Amelia has also served as a member of the Green City Market Junior Board.

About Kathy PaddorKathy Paddor
Kathy Paddor, president and founder of Paddor Marketing and Green City Market board member is a dedicated “consumer empathist,” Kathy Paddor’s strategic branding sensibility has made her a respected leader in the retail and advertising communities for over her 15+ year career.

Paddor set the vision and artistic style of the cookbook’s photography and led its social media and marketing efforts.

Growing up in a family of retailers, Paddor discovered her career passion early. She held senior positions with Bloomingdales and Marshall Field’s before joining Crate and Barrel. As C&B’s Director of Marketing, her intelligent, creative innovations helped them hold a singular spot in the marketplace.
Prior to joining Green City Market’s Board, Kathy led the development of GCM’s current brand identity and integrated communication strategy, helping to communicate its mission and values to the community in a significant, consistent way.
When Kathy’s not working, her great loves include her family, cooking, dancing, and a great cup of strong coffee.
Recipes:  Summer

By mid-July, the Market is in full swing.  From tomatoes and stone fruits as sweet as candy to peppers, zucchini and eggplant rich with the taste of the sun, the farm stands overflow with the bounty for which we’ve waited so long.

It’s a busy time of the year for farmers, who work hard each day to keep pace with the harvest.  We, too, strive to keep up, visiting the Market regularly, with ambitious plans for making pickles, pesto, salsas and preserves we know we’ll crave come winter.

Creamy Polenta with Braised Greens and Mushrooms

After we started producing cornmeal at Three Sisters, we discovered the magic of a bowl of slightly sweet Polentapolenta with a quick mix of whatever we have in the fridge. Short on time, we are always looking for a good way to get an appealing meal on the table as quickly as possible. I particularly like the earthy flavors of mushrooms and greens, so this dish is an easy choice after a day in the field. Paired with grilled chicken or pork, it makes a wonderfully rich and satisfying dinner, but can be ready to eat in under an hour. –Tracey Vowell and Kathe Roybal, Farmers, Three Sisters Garden

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Makes 4 servings

1 whole head garlic
1 bunch Swiss chard, kale or lamb’s-quarters
1 pound fresh oyster and/or shiitake mushrooms
1 small white onion, chopped
1 fresh hot pepper, such as serrano or habanero, seeded, minced
4 cups milk
1 cup fine white cornmeal
Salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons butter
2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
1/2 to 3/4 cup vegetable or chicken stock or broth
1 (2-ounce) piece firm grating cheese such as Brunkow Cheeese’s Little Darling

Heat oven to 350°F. Separate garlic head into cloves; do not peel cloves. Roast garlic cloves in a large dry skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until they begin to brown and garlic feels soft when squeezed, 8 to 10 minutes. Peel and finely chop garlic; set aside.

Wash chard; shake off excess water. Holding onto leaves, pull off and discard thick stems. Coarsely chop chard; set aside. Clean mushrooms discarding tough stems; cut mushrooms into bite-sized pieces; set aside.

In a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, bring milk just to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; pour in cornmeal slowly, whisking constantly. Whisk in 1/2 teaspoon salt. When mixture is slightly thickened, cover saucepan and place in oven. Whisk after 10 minutes.

Continue to bake 10 minutes; whisk again. If polenta is too thick, stir in additional milk or water. If it is too thin, cover and return to oven for 5 minutes. Stir in pepper; keep warm.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large deep sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and reserved garlic; sauté until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add onion, hot pepper and thyme sprigs; continue to sauté for 5 minutes. Add chard and 1/2 cup broth; cook, stirring occasionally, until chard is tender. If dry, add remaining 1/4 cup broth. Season to taste with salt.

Spoon polenta into 4 shallow bowls; top with vegetable mixture. Grate cheese over each serving.
Tart Cherry Pecan Crisp

Tart cherry pie is one of my favorite desserts, but making and rolling out the crust is time consuming, so Cherriesthis easy crisp is a good substitute. The Michigan tart cherry season is very short; sometimes they are at the Market for only two weeks. When that happens, I like to buy them in bulk, pit them and freeze them in gallon-size freezer bags. For this recipe, I first soak the cherries in ice water for three hours in the refrigerator, which helps firm them up, making pitting easier. The versatile crumble topping can be used for any lightly sweetened fruit mixture, including peaches, pears or a mixture of berries.
–Carol Mighton Haddix, Customer

Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Makes 6 servings

1 quart (4 cups) tart cherries, pitted
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 400°F. Mix cherries and granulated sugar in a bowl; mix well.

Mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Add butter; mix with a pastry blender or quickly with fingers until small pea-sized pieces form. Stir in pecans.

Place cherry mixture in an 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan. Place the topping mixture on top of the cheeries. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the topping is browned and the filling is bubbling. Remove from oven and let stand 20 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

 

ABC’s “The Taste” Kicks-Off Nationwide Casting Call for Professional Chefs and Home Cooks – Coming to Chicago July 12


The Taste Casting

The Taste Casting


Here’s your chance to be a Reality TV Star. ABC’s popular show, “The Taste,” will be casting for season three and they are looking for talent! If you think you can stand the heat, sign-up to get in the kitchen! Open casting calls for chefs interested in competing in this culinary competition series will be held in cities across the country starting Saturday, June 21 in Los Angeles. They will be in Chicago 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, July 12 at Centered Chef Food Studios, 177 N. Ada St. #101, Chicago, IL 60607.

For additional updated casting information and to apply visit: http://www.thetastecasting.com/

“The Taste” is an American cooking-themed reality competition series on ABC. It premiered on January 22, 2013. On May 14, 2013, ABC renewed “The Taste” for a second season. “The Taste” began its second season on January 2, 2014.”The Taste” was listed as a returning series during ABC’s upfront presentations on May 13, 2014, thus confirming a Season 3. For a sneak peek of last season’s finale, http://abc.go.com/shows/the-taste/video/VDKA0_vxzwkzu8

“The Taste” is produced by Kinetic Content who create and produce cross-platform for the multi-genre content for the global television marketplace. Chris Coelen, Sam Dean, Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson and Brian Smith serve as Executive Producers for the show.

ABC is an American commercial broadcast television network viewed in the United States and Canada. Throughout its history, ABC has supported its financial operations by diversifying into the press, the publishing industry, the operation of theaters, and filmmaking.

As one of the “Big Three television networks”, ABC has broadcast many programs that have contributed significantly to American popular culture. These include classic series such as Zorro, The Untouchables, The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, Roseanne, and The Fugitive; more recent titles such as Castle, Lost, Revenge, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, and Modern Family; live broadcasts such as Monday Night Football; the reality shows America’s Funniest Home Videos, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and Dancing with the Stars; and the morning news program Good Morning America. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ABCNetwork.

In addition to Chicago, open casting will be in these following cities:

Los Angeles – Saturday, June 21st
Le Cordon Bleu
6370 W. Sunset Blvd,
Hollywood, CA 90028
10am-3pm

Austin – Saturday, June 28th
The Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex
1156 Hargrave St.
Austin, Texas 78702
10am-3pm

Seattle – Saturday, June 28th
Swedish Cultural Center
1920 Dexter Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
10am-3pm

Boston – Saturday, July 12th
Workbar
45 Prospect Street,
Central Square
Cambridge, MA, 02139
10am-3pm

Lafayette Opens November 4 at Chicago French Market; Celebrate Marche de Noel; Shop for Thanksgiving

The Chicago French Market (131 N. Clinton St., Chicago IL, 60661; 312-575-0306) announces the opening of Lafayette featuring Creole-Cajun cuisine this November and offers a full schedule of fall activities including the return of Chicago French Market’s popular Marché de Noel, November 4 to December 20 and its special Beaujolais Nouveau celebration November 23. Specials, wine tastings, new menu items, food holiday celebrations and live noon-time and after work entertainment abound this November.

About Lafayette. Growing up in Baton Rouge, Chef Sahil’s tastes and smells haveLafayette logo ET always given him fond memories of the south.   Many years later after meeting Chef Hiran, at the footsteps of Veerasway, the two have shared a similar path in the culinary world.  Since then, they’ve shared each other’s vision and approach to global cuisine.  For them it means traveling and immersing themselves in regional cuisines and cultures, then to refine it in their own style.  On their most recent journey they traveled back to retrace the origins of Sahil’s culinary career.   The two spent time learning, exploring, and working in the kitchens of the South to bring back authentic flavors of Creole/Cajun cuisine. 

“Our travels gave us so much more than just a taste of Creole cuisine,” says Patel. “It gave us a look at the fresh regional products that we want to emulate here in Chicago as well a connection with the traditions of the South. With learning timeless recipes and our undying passion for Creole-Cajun cuisine, these traditional dishes will now live on at Lafayette.”

 

Chicago French Market November 2013 Specials and Deals

Abbey Brown Pumpkin SoapAbbey Brown Artisan Soaps Beloved Pumpkin Soap Now in Stock
Abby Brown Artisan Soaps will be featuring its Pumpkin Bars this month. A perfect hostess gift for Thanksgiving and the holidays at only $8.50 per bar, Abbey Brown Soap Artisan creates handmade natural Olive Oil soaps, soothing body oils and relaxing bathing essentials. They make all of their fine products in house, infusing homegrown herbs and botanicals with pure essential oils.

BelloTeaStampCircleGreen-web


Bello Tea Introduces Ginger Bread Tea Latte This November; Invites You to AttendBelloTea Ginger tea_w borderDiscovery Channel Filming November 6
Bello Tea celebrates its first anniversary by offering 10 percent off on all Loose Leaf Tea and Accessories from November 11 to 16. Bello Tea also will be celebrating the season with their featured November Tea: Ginger Bread Tea Latte is a delicious blend of Tea, Ginger Bread, sweetener and milk. Having a hot cup of Bello Tea is the perfect warmer-upper on chilly fall days. Customize your Latte with Black Tea, Masala Chai or Matcha and choose from Bello Tea’s milk options:  whole, 2%, skim, almond, soy and coconut milk are available as well as standard cream. The Latte can be served iced or hot.

Chicago French Market guests are invited to the filming of The Discovery Channel, how do they do it“How Do They Do It”  2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 6.  The Discovery Channel will be featuring the story of ‘Bubble Tea’.  To show its appreciation, Bello Tea will be giving customers complimentary Tapioca with any drink purchase, the entire day.

Bello Tea offers more than 90 varieties of organic, traditional, and fair trade loose leaf teas and herbals. In addition to these delicious and healthy choices, it carries beautiful and stylish tea pots, mugs, cups, and infusers, perfect for holiday gifts.

 

Delightful logo


Delightful Pastries Introduces Expanded Pie Menu for Thanksgiving
Delightful nov pieBring home delicious, homemade pies from Delightful Pastries for all to enjoy this Thanksgiving.  Whatever is your fancy, Delightful Pastries’ new expanded pie menu will have something to suit your taste. Included are traditional selections like Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie and the not so traditional Apple Caramel, Cranberry Fudge, Coconut Chocolate, and Bourbon Chocolate Pecan. All pies ($25) serve 8-10 people; are made from scratch and use no artificial flavors or preservatives. 

For those entertaining for the weekend, pick up a breakfast/brunch savory pie such as the Spinach Lamb ($58), Veggie Quiche ($42), or Ham Quiche ($42). Other items on Delightful Pastries’ to go catering menu include: winter and grain salads, mini-pastry trays, international cookie trays and brownie trays. Pre-orders are recommended and package pricing is available. Orders may be placed at the Chicago French Market location at 131 N. Clinton Ave. (phone: 312-234-9644).

Celebrate Georgia Pecan Month this November with Delightful Pastries
burbon pecan pieWhether you pronounce it “pee-can” or “pah-cahn,” this nutritious nut can be used as a healthy snack, a delicious ingredient to a meal, or even as a dessert.  Pecans are a high-quality source of protein with nineteen vitamins and minerals, and more antioxidants than any other nut variety. Did you know that pecans are the only tree nut truly native to the United States and that pecan trees are one of the largest fruit-bearing trees?

Looking for a pecan holiday fix? Check out how Delightful Pastries is celebrating Georgia Pecan Month with a variety of offerings including Cranberry Pecan Bread ($5), Paradise Brownies ($3.50), Pecan Squares ($3.50), Pecan Praline Brownies ($3.50), Pecan Sables ($3.50), German Chocolate Cake ($42/8-inch; $5.25/slice), Chocolate Nut Pebbles ($6.50/bag), Chocolate Pecan Pie ($45/8-inch; $5.25/slice) and Pecan Caramel Turtles ($27/pound).

Pecan treats are available at Chicago French Market (131 N. Clinton Ave.; phone: 312-234-9644).

ej logo ET

EJ Sushi Bento Box etEJ Sushi Introduces Bento Boxes

EJ Sushi is now selling Bento Boxes, a single-portion home-packed meal that is common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento holds rice, fish or meat, with pickles, cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. These containers are made of hand crafted lacquer ware.  EJ Sushi Bento Box contains Ginger Salad or Cucumber Salad and Miso Soup with Teriyaki Beef $10.95 or Teriyaki Chicken $9.95.

 Lavazza LOGO ET

Lavazza Espression Features Pumpkin Specials This November

Pumpkin Cheese Cake $4.50

Pumpkin, Butter Pecan, and Sea Salt Caramel Gelato
Single Scoop: $2.60
Double Scoop: $3.95Lavazza pumpking butter latte ET
Gelato Pint:  $8.95

Pumpkin Butter Latte $3.65
A nostalgic blend of artisan crafted pumpkin butter, steamed milk, and smooth espresso. Wrap your scarves around your neck and your hands around this seasonal specialty.

Pumpkin Butter $5.95

Caramel Apple Cider $3.10-$3.90
Fresh apple cider infused with caramel and steamed to perfection.

Pastoral_vertical logo

 

Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread and Wine Showcasing Thanksgiving WinesThanksgiving WinesPastoral WineTastingMagento ET
They would be lying if they said they weren’t thinking about wine all the time. So it’s no surprise that they’ve been thinking about their favorite Thanksgiving wine pairings since last year! Stop by Pastoral throughout the month of November to get a wine recommendation or sample some of Pastoral’s Benchmark Wine selections during the week leading up to Thanksgiving. They’ll help you find the right bottle for dinner, desert, or for gifts.

 

Pastoral’s 2013-14 Gift Catalog is now available!

Whether you’re thanking a client for their business, sending a gift to a far-away loved one, or bringing a hostess gift to dinner, Pastoral has your gifting needs covered. Stop by the store for a copy of our new catalog today! Orders can be placed in-store, online or by phone. Local delivery and nationwide shipping is available!

Oh Olive Logo

 

Oh Olive! features Wild Mushroom and Sage Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Special 10 Percent Shopping Discount on Wednesdays This MonthGetting in the mood for Thanksgiving and all the holidays?  Stop at Oh Olive! French Market and sample its delicious Wild Mushroom and Sage extra virgin olive oil. Oh Olive! suggests drizzling the Wild Mushroom and Sage extra virgin olive oil over turkey before roasting and using it to make delicious and unique rye bread turkey dressing.  Oh Olive! chefs also suggest serving a side of Cinnamon Pear Sweet Potatoes. Recipes are available at Oh Olive! at the French Market. Enjoy a special 10 percent discount on shopping any Wednesday in November.  Just say, “I love Oh Olive!” to get the discount.

 

Sam's Gourmet Lasagna CORRECT LOGO

Sam’s Gourmet Lasagna Introduces New Steak & Potato Lasagna; Holiday Catering Orders

Sam’s Gourmet Lasagna introduces its new lasagna, Steak & Potato Lasagna.  The Steak & Potato Lasagna will be featured on November 13 with sample tastings and packaged “to go” for breakfast, lunch or dinner.Sams Steak and Potato Lasagna ET

November is a great time to place orders for lasagna and pasta for corporate events, family gatherings and more with Sam’s Gourmet Lasagna & Pasta for the holiday season.  This month’s featured gourmet lasagnas and pastas include: Mande’s Mac N Cheese; Lasagna selections – Ground Turkey, Vegetable, Chicken, and Sausage. Deadline for placing holiday orders is Friday, November 22.

Sam’s Gourmet Lasagna offers daily Hot Grab n Go Specials. Purchase hot, out the oven (Ground Turkey, Sausage, Vegetable, or Chicken) lasagna for original price and a second lasagna costs just $5. 

Sam’s offers complimentary samples daily at the Chicago French Market from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. 


Chicago French Market November 2013 Events

Saturday, November 2Dean Milano ET
Lunch Hour Music
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Complimentary
Dean Milano

Link to sample music

Singer and songwriter Dean Milano engages in storytelling through his preferred medium, music. Having mastered many styles of music, Milano effortlessly moves between the musical genres of folk, country, rock, ballads, bluegrass and pop.  He spent four years touring with The New Seekers and has been the opening act for the Spencer Davis Group, Bo Diddley, The Kingston Trio in addition to many others. Come listen from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, November 2 at the Chicago French Market.

 

Monday, November 4 – December 20marche de noel
8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Complimentary
Marché de Noel

The Marché de Noel is a holiday feature of the Chicago French Market. Nineteen rotating visiting artisans selling unique gift items will display and sell their wares daily from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through December 20.

Modeled after French Christmas markets, Marché de Noel provides a fantastic atmosphere and unique shopping options, not to mention the opportunity to find those gifts for everyone on your list.

The Marché de Noel at the Chicago French Market also offers shoppers the opportunity to do all their holiday shopping in one location.  Artists will sell jewelry, kids’ items, wall decor, photographs, toys and many more gift options.  A variety of new items will be featured at the Chicago French Market during this time as well.

The Marché de Noel is believed to have begun in Dresden, Germany in 1434 under the reign of Fredrick II of Saxony.  The Marché de Noel first began in France in the city of Strasbourg where it is still held today.  It has continued ever since in France and in many other cities throughout Europe.

Wednesday, November 6CARY KANNO
Lunch Hour Music
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Complimentary
Cary Kanno

Link to sample Music “Hey Ya”

Cary “CKP” Kanno is constantly in search of new musical frontiers. He has been playing guitar and singing for more than 15 years. Cary wrote his first song at age 12 and has been a prolific songwriter and performer ever since. In 2001, he formed the seminal organic hip hop group know as Abstract Giants. The band is still actively recording and playing shows throughout the Midwest.

In 2004, Cary decided he needed another creative outlet to express his rock and funk interests and formed the group Doko Benjo. This 8-piece band features Cary on lead vocals along with a female singer and horn section.

In January of 2009, Cary simultaneously released his two solo CD’s, simply called “Cary Kanno One” and “Cary Kanno Two”. Both were recorded and produced primarily at CKP studios, Cary’s home studio. 

Recently a song Cary wrote and performed was picked up and licensed by the Showtime Network and featured in a commercial for the TV show “Weeds.” Cary has also spearheaded the organization known as “The Chicago Drop,” which is a collaboration of eight hip hop bands in Chicago.

Enjoy his music during lunch hour entertainment at Chicago French Market, Wednesday, November 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Thursday, November 14Pastoral ET
10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Coast to Coast Toast
Pastoral Artisan Wine & Cheese
Beer Tasting

Pastoral celebrates the 32nd birthday of Vanburg & Dewulf, the innovative import company bringing Belgium’s most unique and exceptional brews to the United States and will be featuring Brouwerij Slagmuylder’s uber tradtional Wiktap Pater Tripel Abbey Ale.

 

Saturday, November 16Lee Barrie
Lunch Hour Music
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Complimentary
Lee Barrie

Link to sample music

Lee Alec Barrie is a contemporary jazz guitarist whose style has been compared to Larry Carlton, Chuck Loeb and other popular contemporary jazz guitarists.  Barrie was professional by age 14, starting out with a teenage rock band, playing Beatles, Beach Boys and Chuck Berry tunes plus some classic R&B.

These early musical relationships lasted well into his twenties and he had the privilege of recording with Lipps Inc., a Minneapolis-based band best known most for its number one hit “Funkytown” in the late 70’s. Barrie’s evolution as a guitarist was accelerated when he began to experiment with a Roland guitar synthesizer, which allows his electric guitar to take on the sound of a wide range of instruments. He now has the opportunity to solo as a saxophonist, flutist, organist, violinist and many others, all while playing on the guitar. He chooses the instrument based on the style and mood of the song.

Barrie’s idea for a “virtual band project, in which he plays solo over his pre-recorded jazz backing tracks, evolved naturally. Having taken a break from professional performances for a number of years, he became a self-taught jazz pianist, which gave him the technical and musical skills to arrange and record his own instrumental backing tracks at his home recording studio.

A lunch hour featuring the live music of Lee Alec Barrie, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, November 16 is sure to be an energizing and memorable experience.


Wednesday, November 20steve j ET2
Lunch Hour Music
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Complimentary
Steve Justman

Link to sample music

Folk musician Steve Justman joins the lunchtime crowds from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. November 20. Justman has been performing Americana, folk, and popular music in the Chicago area and the neighboring Midwest region for many years. He is a collector of songs as well as other artifacts of Americana. Influenced by entertainers of all types, Steve showcases his collection of songs in his performances, singing and interpreting a mix of traditional and popular folk, pop standards, and classic country that people might know while focusing on connecting with his audience and pure entertainment.

He has performed and appeared live on WGN radio on Rick Kogan’s Sunday Papers show as well as WDCB Public Radio’s Folk Fest with Lilli Kuzma. He also has appeared on Internet and college radio stations as well as local cable television. Chicago French Market is excited for his return.
Thursday, November 21
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine
Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Tasting
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Complimentary

The annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau is truly an international event. Celebrate this year’s arrival with Pastoral during a complimentary tasting from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, November 21.  Be sure to ask your Pastoral cheese monger to recommend some cheese and salami to accompany this year’s unique batch!

 

Saturday, November 23cfm_beaujolais_flr_1013_ET
Beaujolais Nouveau
1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Complimentary

It’s time to celebrate the Beaujolais Nouveau at The Chicago French Market!  This French tradition begins at midnight on the third Thursday in November. You are invited to taste this young wine from the fields in France:  Beaujolais Nouveau.  The grapes used for this wine were on the vine in August, picked in September, in the barrel in October and in the bottle in November. While you taste this young wine, stroll through the market and experience 32 unique vendors specialties.



Thursday, November 28
Thanksgiving
The Chicago French Market will be closed

Saturday, November 30Lee Barrie
Lunch Hour Music
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Complimentary
Lee Barrie

Link to sample music

Lee Alec Barrie is a contemporary jazz guitarist whose style has been compared to Larry Carlton, Chuck Loeb and other popular contemporary jazz guitarists.  Barrie was professional by age 14, starting out with a teenage rock band, playing Beatles, Beach Boys and Chuck Berry tunes plus some classic R&B.

These early musical relationships lasted well into his twenties and he had the privilege of recording with Lipps Inc., a Minneapolis-based band best known most for its number one hit “Funkytown” in the late 70’s. Barrie’s evolution as a guitarist was accelerated when he began to experiment with a Roland guitar synthesizer, which allows his electric guitar to take on the sound of a wide range of instruments. He now has the opportunity to solo as a saxophonist, flutist, organist, violinist and many others, all while playing on the guitar. He chooses the instrument based on the style and mood of the song.

Barrie’s idea for a “virtual band project,” in which he plays solo over his pre-recorded jazz backing tracks, evolved naturally. Having taken a break from professional performances for a number of years, he became a self-taught jazz pianist, which gave him the technical and musical skills to arrange and record his own instrumental backing tracks at his home recording studio.

A lunch hour featuring the live music of Lee Alec Barrie, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, November 30 is sure to be an energizing and memorable experience.

 # # #

Celebrating Thanksgiving Throughout Chicagoland

There are countless ways to enjoy celebrating Thanksgiving in Chicago.  Whether dining in or out, these restaurants and businesses are offering specials that will make it easy to entertain.

Delightful Pastries. Bring home delicious, homemade pies from Delightful Pastries for all to

Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie from Delightful Pastries

Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie
from Delightful Pastries

enjoy this Thanksgiving.   Whatever is your fancy, Delightful Pastries’ new expanded pie menu will have something to suit your taste. Included are traditional selections like Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie and the not so traditional Apple Caramel, Cranberry Fudge, Coconut Chocolate, and Bourbon Chocolate Pecan. All pies ($25) serve 8-10 people; are made from scratch and use no artificial flavors or preservatives.

For those entertaining for the weekend, pick up a breakfast/brunch savory pie such as the Spinach Lamb ($58), Veggie Quiche ($42), or Ham Quiche ($42). Other items on Delightful Pastries’ to go catering menu include: winter and grain salads, mini-pastry trays, international cookie trays and brownie trays. Pre-orders are recommended and package pricing is available. Orders may be placed at all three Delightful Pastries locations:  5927 W. Lawrence Avenue, in the Jefferson Park neighborhood (phone: 773-545-7215); the Old Town Chicago location at 1710 N. Wells St., just north of North Avenue (phone: 312-255-0724) and the Chicago French Market location at 131 N. Clinton Ave. (phone: 312-234-9644).

Delightful Pastries’ International Cookies Are Perfect for Holiday Entertaining

macaron stack

Macaron’s from Delightful Pastries

November starts the holiday season and entertaining is on everyone’s mind. Delightful Pastries makes it easy, with an array of international cookies, all holiday favorites from around the globe. Available are Cucidati (Sicilian Fig Cookies), Viennese Almond Crescents, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Polish Kolaczki (Raspberry, Apricot, Cheese), Christmas Mice,  Rugula, Linzer and Italian Rainbow Cookies ($19/lb. or by platter, $20-$30). French Macarons ($30 lb.) and Chanukah Macaroons ($1.75 each) also are available.

 

maxwells thankgiving 2013

Maxwell’s at the Club Thanksgiving

The East Bank Club is hosting Thanksgiving dinner at its place this year and you’re invited. The East Bank Club’s signature restaurant, Maxwell’s at the Club (500 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago), is offering a traditional turkey dinner buffet with all the trimmings, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., November 28.

Executive chef Mike Lodes is featuring a variety of appetizer and salad , a carving station with Roast Turkey served with gravy and natural jus, Roast Prime Rib of Beef with horseradish sauce, and Roast Leg of Lamb with mint jelly, and an abundance of side options. To finish off, guests will be treated to an impressive spread of seasonal fruits, assorted cakes, tortes, cookies, and cupcakes, and pies. The price is $45 for adults, $15 for children 10 and under. Reservations can be placed online at maxwellsattheclub.com or by calling (312)527-5800 ext. 301.

East Bank Club’s Food Shop’s Thanksgiving To-go

If you plan to entertain at home this Thanksgiving, East Bank’s Food Shop will be delighted to do the cooking. The Chefs at the Food Shop have put together a complete Thanksgiving menu to suit a variety of tastes. You have the choice of ordering a la carte from their entire menu or selecting the Thanksgiving Package. With the latter option the Food Shop chefs have curated their version of an ideal holiday meal. For the complete Thanksgiving menu visit eastbankclub.com, and to place your order call (312) 527 5800 ext. 318.

DSC03885

Prairie Grass Cafe

Northbrook’s Prairie Grass Cafe (601 Skokie Blvd.; 847-205-4433) chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris want to make your Thanksgiving dinner perfect and easy. The two award winning chefs have announced their “Thanksgiving To Go 2013” menu available for pre-order now. All orders must be received no later than Sunday, November 24 for pickup at the restaurant on Thursday, November 28 between noon and 3 p.m.

The à la carte menu includes everything you would want for the perfect Thanksgiving celebration. Start with a whole Roasted Turkey and Gravy, serving between 10 and 14 people for $110 or half a turkey to serve between 5 and 7 people for $60.

Homemade Apple Sage Stuffing ($14/quart) and Homemade Sausage and Giblet Stuffing ($24/quart) are available by the quart, serving between 4 and 6 people.

A variety of homemade appetizers include Butternut Squash Soup (Serves 4/$20/quart), Organic Mixed Green Salad with Shaved Parmesan, Pumpkin Seeds and Pomegranate (Serves 6-8/$45); Jumbo Cocktail Shrimp with Homemade Horseradish Sauce ($42/dozen); cut vegetable assortment with Amish blue cheese dip (Serves 6-8/$35); or Smoked Salmon Platter with Cream Cheese, Cucumbers, Capers and Red Onions with Pumpernickel and Whole Grain Baguettes (serves 6-8/$65).

Prairie Grass Cafe Pumpkin Pie with Heirloom Pumpkin Pie low res et

Prairie Grass Cafe Pumpkin Pie

Side dishes include Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes (pint/2-3 servings/$7; quart/4-6 servings/$14); Sweet Potato Puree (pint/2-3 servings/$8; quart/4-6 servings/$16); Sautéed Green Beans (pint/2-3 servings/$8; quart/4-6 servings/$16); Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Chestnuts (pint/2-3 servings/$12; quart/4-6 servings/$24); and Local Cranberry Sauce (pint/2-5 servings/$8; quart/6-10 servings/$16).

A Prairie Grass Cafe Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without Mom’s Homemade Heirloom Pumpkin Pie ($24/pie/6 slices); Mom’s Pecan Pie ($24/pie/6 slices) or Double Chocolate Cake ($50/cake/10-12 servings).

Not in the mood to entertain at home? Bring your family and friends to Prairie Grass Cafe this Thanksgiving

Prairie Grass Cafe will be serving a Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, November 28. The cost of $49 per person includes a choice of Butternut Squash Soup or Organic Mixed Green Salad with Pumpkin Seeds, Parmesan, Pomegranate and Balsamic Dressing; Oven Roasted Turkey with Mashed Potatoes and Homemade Gravy; Apple Chestnut Stuffing; Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash with Homemade Marshmallow Topping; fresh vegetable; local cranberry sauce, and choice of Mom’s Heirloom Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie or Double Chocolate Cake. Reservations are required.

Chicago French Market provides one-stop shopping for the Thanksgiving Holidays

Whether it’s a hostess gift, cooking supplies or a meal to go, the Chicago French Market provides opportunities for Thanksgiving shopping under one roof.

Abby Brown Artisan Soaps is featuring its ever popular Pumpkin Bars this month. A

Abbey Brown Pumpkin Soap

Abbey Brown Pumpkin Soap

perfect hostess gift for Thanksgiving and the holidays at only $8.50 per bar, Abbey Brown Soap Artisan creates handmade natural Olive Oil soaps, soothing body oils and relaxing bathing essentials. They make all of their fine products in house, infusing homegrown herbs and botanicals with pure essential oils.

Picking out the perfect wine to pair with Thanksgiving dinner or to bring as a gift is difficult if you’re not wine knowledgeable. When seeking expert advice, look no further than Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread and Wine at Chicago French Market. Pastoral is the perfect shop to learn more and receive expert help in choosing the perfect wine. Staff is trained to know wine and how to pair to complement foods. Stop by Pastoral for advice throughout November.

Stop at Oh Olive! at the French Market and sample its delicious Wild Mushroom and Sage extra virgin olive oil. It’s a perfect enhancement for drizzling over turkey before roasting or for using it to make delicious and unique rye bread turkey dressing.

Not everyone serves a traditional turkey for Thanksgiving, according to the folks at Sam’s

Sam's Gourmet Lasagna

Sam’s Gourmet Lasagna

Gourmet Lasagna. Sam’s offers a delicious ground turkey lasagna and has introduced a Steak & Potato Lasagna just in time for the holidays. They have upped their to go pre-packaged offerings for holiday gift, entertaining and corporate events.