PopSugar Chicago

5 Spots For Gourmet Hot Chocolate

Kate Stahl — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CDT

If you're anything like me, the minute temps drop below 60, you start craving comforting, warming drinks. A cup of tea gets me through the morning, but when I need a sugar jolt in the afternoon, it's hot chocolate I crave. Swiss Miss works when I'm in a fix, but when I have the time, I'm heading to one of these five spots for a grown-up take on my childhood favorite.

XOCO (449 N. Clark St., 312-334-3688; shown above), Rick Bayless's quick-service cafe, offers the most bean-to-cup chocolate you'll ever drink. Fresh roasted cacoa beans are ground on site for rich concoctions like the Almendrado (a chocolate shot with almond milk), the Aztec (chocolate, water, chile and allspice), and the classic (chocolate and two-percent milk).
Pierrot Gourmet (108 E. Superior St., 312-573-6749) is a hidden treasure of sweets (if you haven't tried the PB&J macaroons, you're missing out), where choco-lovers flock for build-your-own hot chocolate. Dark flavors include Sumatra cafe, chai spice, and cinnamon blend. If you prefer white chocolate, pick from lavender, matcha green tea, and ginger flavors. Keep reading for three more spots for hot choc in town.

About Last Night: Stephanie Izard's Foodie Friends Threw Her One Delicious Party!

Kate Stahl — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:45:00 CDT

Stephanie Izard celebrated the release of her cookbook, Girl in the Kitchen, at the super-cool space Salvage One last night, and it might have been the best party I've ever attended. Why? Well, for one, the food was outstanding. Some of Izard's friends and fellow chefs, including Avec's Koren Grieveson, Primehouse's Rick Gresh, GT Fish & Oyster's Giuseppe Tentori, and Sprout's Dale Levitski (nice friends to have, huh?), each took a dish from the cookbook and used the ingredients to inspire a dish of their own. The results: insanely delicious. There was lots of booze on hand as well, with local brewers, including Goose Island, pouring IPAs, blondes, and more in the cutest little beer steins I've ever seen, and some yummy - and potent - bourbon cocktails (Izard's favorite spirit) created by mixologist Benjamin Schiller. Keep reading to see what you missed (unfortunately, I missed snapping a pic of the woman of the hour, who seemed like she was having the time of her life flitting around among the crowd!), and Stephanie, give me a call next time you throw a bash, OK?

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Stephanie Izard Talks About Her Cookbook, Her Next Restaurant, and How to Get Her Food Free Tonight!

Kate Stahl — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:30:00 CDT

Last night I got to see firsthand the sweet culinary stylings of Chicago's sweetheart chef, Stephanie Izard. I'll get up pics of her big cookbook release party ASAP, but to whet your appetite, here are some tidbits the former Top Chef revealed about her cookbook, her next restaurant project (opening this Spring!), and why she's not leaving Chicago any time soon. If you weren't lucky enough to attend to launch party last night, you can catch Stephanie tonight on the Lillie's Q Meat Mobile, where she'll be serving up soup paired with fresh bread baked by her restaurant's artisan bread-maker. (The menu was planned long before temps started rising again!) The truck will be in the Loop for lunch and in the West Loop around dinner time, and if you buy Stephanie's cookbook, you get your meal for free! Follow her on Twitter for exact locations, and keep reading for some juicy tidbits.

A Day in the Life: Lockwood Sous Chef Val Benner

Kate Stahl — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:30:00 CDT

With the rise of Top Chef, No Reservations, and the Food Network, a chef's life might seem more glamorous than ever, but one look at Val Benner's normal day, and you'll realize that the average chef is too busy working to indulge in the perks. Benner, the sous chef at Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton (17 E. Monroe St., 312-917-3404), has also put in time at the American Club in Kohler, WI, and the Pump Room, but since joining the staff at Lockwood, her food has really begun to shine by turning seasonal farm ingredients into contemporary dishes. She also helped to launch the restaurant’s 2,000-square-foot rooftop garden. Check out a typically busy day in Benner's life below.

5 a.m.: Wake up. Walk my dog Callie and feed her a breakfast of brown rice, kibble, chicken, probiotics, and lard. My breakfast: yerba mate latte with soy milk and honey. Sit down at my vintage refinished dressing table and nurse my yerba mate while making myself presentable for the masses and wake myself up. Walk to the El and hop the blue line into the Loop.
6:30 a.m.: Say hello to the farmers at the Adams Street Farmers Market. Confirm everything they're dropping stuff off at the hotel after the market. Giggle at the fact it's finally apple season: my favorite!
7 a.m.: Walk into the Palmer House Hilton, throw on my clogs and chef's whites, and head up to the 25th floor roof and water my garden. Harvest herbs, flowers, and items for lunch service. Keep reading for the rest of Val's busy day.

A Day in the Life: Chef and Restaurateur Paul Kahan

Rebecca Taras — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 07:59:26 CDT

Welcome back to A Day in the Life. Last time, we took you through a day with Kelli Zink. This week, we've got the inside scoop on Paul Kahan.

I say "chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with smoked bacon" and you say Avec (615 W. Randolph St., 312-337-2002). Those tasty (and highly addictive) little morsels aren't the only reason people are enamored with executive chef/partner Paul Kahan's cuisine, and his other wildly successful restos (Blackbird, Publican, and Big Star) prove it.

But we're not here to tell you how great Kahan's food is (you already know that) or how many international accolades he has received (including a prestigious James Beard award). We want to get personal with the son of a Chicago delicatessen and smokehouse owner who briefly worked as a computer scientist after college. Whether he's being green or just trying to stay in shape, we love that he treks to and from work via his bike five days a week. Hungry for more? Read on.

Two Big-Name Chefs Opening New Spots

Kate Stahl — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:01:00 CST

Out with the old, in with the new seems to be the motto for two of Chicago's top chefs - Moto's Homaro Cantu and Martial Noguier, formerly of Cafe des Architectes - both of whom are opening buzzy new spots in two recently closed restaurants.

In February, Noguier will open Bistronomic in the former Eve space at 840 N. Wabash Ave. (Eve closed in Jan. 2.) The restaurant, a partnership with former Eve owner Matt Fisher, is Noguier's take on the modern French bistro, offering uncomplicated food with entree prices hovering around $20. Looks like French fare is poised to be one of 2011's biggest food trends.

And later this year, look for ING in the old Otom space at 951 W. Fulton Market. (Otom closed Jan. 1.) While not too many details about ING have been revealed, we do know that Cantu plans to stick to the molecular style he made famous at Moto (see photo above), and ING will feature an "interactive and playful dining experience." Rumor has it there might be some kind of Asian spin.

Bring on the new big-name chef spots! They just keep coming!

Source: Moto