Archive for the ‘River North’ Category

It's a good thing Chef Jesse has a good sense of humor. Honestly, I knew sushi wouldn't be difficult but having someone walk you through the steps certainly makes it easier. And after a couple shots of sake, I needed a little help! 

Welcome to the first video blog on Beauty and Her Feast called "Cooking with Beauty". I was wise enough to charm some of the best chefs around to teach me a few tricks in their kitchens. Now, I am sharing the culinary fun with you! The first of my on-going series was filmed at Sunda Chicago with Chef Jesse DeGuzman. Chef Jesse walks us through one of my favorite dishes on his menu but won't give us the full recipe for the Thai Sweet Chili Sauce. So, Beauty and Her Feast is hoping all you cooks pitch in and send us YOUR recipes! 

Stay tuned…in one week, Sunda Part 2 will be uploaded for the Sushi segment. Beauty and Her Feast has a fantastic line up in kitchens across Chicago. Then, this summer I am headed to LA to cook with some West Coast culinary masters. Make sure to subscribe to the Beauty and Her Feast youtube channel so you don't miss an episode. Enjoy!

Thank you to Sunda Chicago, Chef Jesse DeGuzman and my brother Kelly Luthringshausen for filming. 

So, if I’m being totally honest about this post…I’m jealous. And I’m not embarrassed to admit it. A couple of months ago, I started writing for one of my favorite Chicago websites, Cheeky Chicago, as their “eats” writer. I adore the founders and love the site, so it came as no surprise that they have, yet again, come up with another awesome idea. Erica Bethe Levin and Jessica Zweig have done an unbelievable job not only building Cheeky Chicago but branding it as well. They are out almost every night of the week for events that they sponsor. It’s a ton of work and they live the ultimate Cheeky, urban life. 

There I was, sitting at my home-desk when an email came through about a contest being held by Cheeky. And that’s when I felt it. The jealousy because I’m not eligible. Ya know those contests that say “employees and their family members are not eligible to participate”? I can’t even have my six year old enter on my behalf!  But I’m still so excited about the contest and for Erica and Jessica. Cheers to you both! 

Here’s the deal. 

Cheeky Chicago is teaming up with food travel bloggers Mike & Chao Chow to launch their first-ever guest contributor contest where readers can write about their Cheekiest food adventures in the Windy City.  The top ten winners of the contest will win the opportunity to attend the exclusive opening of the Chow's new restaurant Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar (230 W. Erie), opening in River North in May 2011. The Cheeky girls will also name a grand prize winner that they will send to San Francisco to write about the Bay Area restaurant and nightlife scene in conjunction with their debut of the new Cheeky San Francisco site launching in late 2011. 

Readers who would like to enter can apply here:

http://www.cheekychicago.com/cheekychow/

The contest begins Wednesday, April 6th with winners being announced April 29 and the grand prize winner will be announced on May 6th, at Union's grand opening party. 

Any Beauties that want to be Cheeky…here’s your chance. I promise, if you win…I will come visit you in San Francisco! Good luck. 

I know, I know. Hub 51 has been around. So, now I choose to post about it? I was there this weekend with a group of young bevies after a fashion event at Saks. I knew Hub 51 would be a crowd pleaser. I’ve been there a bunch…for drinks, for fish tacos, for the guac. And that’s just what I’m talking about Beauties…the guacamole, on anything and everything Hub. For starters, the guacamole is damn good…and those chips! The super-thin, crispy chips are, unfortunately, so addictive. This is where my story begins of being trapped by Hub 51's tortillas. It's just not fair. I sat down with the best of intentions to not overload on chips when the young “Skinny Gang” ordered the Pulled Chicken nachos. So, “I can handle it,” I thought. I even refrained from ordering a cocktail because I’m off the juice for a month. But then the nachos were delivered to our table and, well, it’s kind of like a tax write off, right? So, I dipped in and would pay later. One thing I had to agree with the Skinny Gang on…there are just certain days you need nachos. It was one of those weeks when nachos felt right, and tasted even better. The bowl was big but wasn’t overloaded like some nachos can be. The key here is the combo of flavors: pulled tender chicken, guacamole, white cheddar, a roasted tomato salsa and fresh jalapenos. 

My main entree was the Chicken Enchilada Stack. It’s not that anything on the menu is “over-the-top” or immensely innovative but it’s bar food done really well with great ingredients. It’s the place that keeps you coming back because you know you can get good food in a hip atmosphere. The girls loved it. A typical Beauty and Her Feast move, I pulled apart my meal figuring out how to make it at home until the waiter told me they make the tortillas fresh for each dish. OK. Forget that. I know how much work it is to make tortillas. The dish is layered like this: tortilla, layer of braised, pulled chicken, tortilla, layer of guacamole & roasted corn, tortilla, covered in cheese and baked served with salsa verde and pico de gallo. Simple, I know but the great flavor comes from a combination of the braised meat and the fresh tortillas. The other stuff helps too. I can pull off everything but making the tortillas at home. 

The tacos are served with the same warm tortillas and I was lucky to sneak a taste of their pork shoulder. I’m in for the braised pork tacos my next visit to Hub 51. For more info on Hub 51 or to view their menu, click here. 

Hub 51 on Urbanspoon