Archive for the ‘Suburbs’ Category

I would guess a nationally recognized pastry chef wouldn’t need to answer an ad in the paper for work. But when the job description is just as appealing as a galette, Chef Gale Gand is all in. A friend showed Gale the ad thinking she might know someone to apply as the Chef in Residence for Elawa Farm in Lake Forest, IL. After reading it, she realized, the job was perfect for her and the next thing she knew, she signed on to bake three times a week, host cooking demos, cooking classes and work with the garden director. The garden director asked for a specific “wish list” of what to grow and sell at the Farmers Market. With several varieties of herbs, honey, and fruits, their garden is at her disposal to create. 

With over 600 acres of wetlands, the farm is a regular spot for runners and walkers who often end up at the market for a stroll.  What Gale has set out to do is add the element of leisurely consuming while shopping. Although she won’t be on hand for every farmers market, she is eager to make it interactive for shoppers. When someone happens upon Elawa's Garden Market selling fresh goods, they can eat a yogurt or have a lemonade. 

This is just the beginning according to the new Chef in Residence. By partnering with Elawa, Gale has a home at the kitchen to host cooking classes and demos which holds up to 20 people. The classes will definitely be seasonally focused. “I want to pick tomatoes and make a sauce from scratch with the class,” says Gand. Lessons will be both “savory and sweet based on ingredients we are celebrating from the garden.” 

The Garden Market at Elawa Farm is open from June 21 - October 15 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Chef Gale Gand’s cooking class schedule is as follows:

Aug 17, Wed, 11:00-1:00- Tomato class-Fresh Tomato Sauce, Roasted Tomatoes, Pasta

Sept 19, Monday, 1:00 - 3:00- Apples class- Applesauce Doughnuts, Apple Butter, Apple Fritters

Oct 18, Tuesday, 11:00-1:00- Pumpkin Class - Pumpkin Muffins, Gnocchi, Soup

Nov 17 Thursday 1:00-3:00 - Pie class

The classes will be $75 per person and run approximately two hours. For more information, call 847-234-1966

For more information, contact Elawa and click here.

Always one to be on the lookout for new restaurants, I found my Beauties a good one this week. A couple of months ago, I heard that Lettuce Entertain You was opening a new restaurant in the suburbs of Chicago, not too far from where I live. I was all over it hounding their PR peeps to get me info. Yesterday, I dined at Tokio Pub for their “friends and family” day. Usually, I can gage a restaurant by how often I think I’ll come back. Let’s just say, there’s a chance I could be a regular, if…I can get in the place. I’m predicting LEYE has done it again and the tiny add-on to Shaw’s Crab House is going to draw a crowd. Opening an izakaya-style restaurant is a first in the burbs with most locals not even knowing what it means. So, are we surprised that LEYE is a trendsetter?

Much like the big city food movement, Tokio Pub is all small plates ranging from $5-$7. Their moniker is “Asian small plates, fusion cocktails and pub style beer,” your basic description of izakaya. The menu layout reads: SEAFOOD, CRISPY RICE, ROBATA GRILL, TACOS, VEGETABLES AND DESSERTS plus their self-proclaimed signature dish, pub wings. I tasted six different items on the menu and took sips of four different cocktails. I promise, I didn’t drink all four! I met the guy behind Tokio Pub, Bill the Brains, who explained this concept table-side. 

Within the first week of test runs, Bill is already confident the place will be busy for lunch and dinner and heavy on the cocktails late at night. Easy to see why. The place feels like a cleaned up garage with funky servers and really good bites but still very grown up. I say this with love. Tokio Pub is industrial in design which gives the food and cocktail menu center stage. It’s low-key and an easy place to hang out which is what he was going for. I predict the foodie crowd that lives in the Northwest suburbs will want to be the “in” crowd at this pub. Bill the Brains, I concur. You done good. 

Beauty Bites…

• Chicken Meatballs from the Robata Grill
• Braised Pork Tacos
• Crispy Fish Tacos
• Crispy Shrimp Tempura

And Beauty hearts the cocktail menu!

Tokio Pub

900 East Higgins Road, Schaumburg

847-517-2722

I’m an internet snooper when it comes to food. When my mind starts to drift while working, I start googling places to read menus and chef profiles online. Which is how I landed at Bauer’s Brauhaus in Palatine last night for dinner with Prince Charming. It’s so close to our home, I couldn’t believe I missed it. I knew he would be happy having grown up during his formative years in Germany. If there’s anyone who knows schnitzel, it’s my Prince. 

Obviously, this place is loaded with great German beer but they have a huge selection of stateside as well as local brews. They offer a flight for $12 of six draft tasting portions. We went with a half liter of Tucher Hefe-Weisse. The original space was already a German haunt so when the new chef, Jason Bauer, swooped in, he felt the following was already there…why mess with a good thing. Professionally trained at Kendall College, Bauer previously worked under Paul Virant at the highly-touted and award-winning Vie in Western Springs. He’s now gone into a family business with his aunt, uncle and father inspired by his roots of spaetzle and schnitzel. They completely gutted the inside and succeed in creating an updated Alpine atmosphere. I loved the huge ceiling-hugging stein chandeliers. Prince Charming especially loved the beer wench outfits that each of the female staffers run around in. It made me feel like I escaped to Epcot on a rainy night. 

I was craving a good schnitzel and I got just that. Bauer has done a great job of melding old world dishes in an updating setting with quality ingredients. We started with the huge pretzel served with three dipping sauces along with the potato pancakes. Bauer’s potato pancakes are thick and crispy on the outside yet tender and heavily woven with sauteed onions on the inside. Hard to stop eating them. He was nice enough to send out some plump mussels in a perfectly seasoned Riesling broth spiked with dill. 

I didn’t veer too far from my plan and ordered the veal schnitzel (offered in pork too) with herbed spaetzle. Um, let’s just say, I earned my clean-plate award for the evening with Prince Charming reminding me that he needed to taste it before it was gone. Prince ordered the sausage platter which comes with three homemade sausages: bratwurst, knackwurst, thuringer accompanied by sauerkraut and pretzel dumplings. By meals end, we decided that we’re thrilled to have a really good German option so close to home. The place was packed and for good reason. I imagine it will be with such a huge beer selection and a cozy bar…the wenches help too. I love family owned restaurants as it feels good to support a hard working chef with roots. 

Bauer’s Brauhaus

45 W. Slade

Palatine, Il

No reservations. Plan to wait after 6.30 PM

Maybe I’m being ambitious but I plan to publish Monday Munchies to provide you Beauties with dining events and options around town for the week. Carry on…

Big Jones

From March 4 - 8, Big Jones will celebrate Mardi Gras with a number of festive menu specials. They will offer po’ boys and king cakes as well as peacemaker sandwiches and calas. Executive Chef Paul Fehriback says this quintessential Mardi Gras sandwich, the peacemaker, is made with a dozen fried oysters set on a New Orleans French loaf with remoulade slaw, pickles and a side of pork fat potato chips. For more information or details about the Mardi Gras menu at Big Jones, click here.

5347 N. Clark St., Chicago IL 60640

773.275.5725

Retro Bistro

Also celebrating Mardi Gras in the burbs is Retro Bistro March 4 - 6 and "Fat Tuesday" on March 8 with a three-course Cajun Menu. They will have live music on March 8 and the staff will be dressed for the parade…in the restaurant of course! The King of the Parade will be there (Chef Barth maybe?) handing out beads. For more information or to celebrate with Retro Bistro, click here.

1746 W. Golf Road, Mount Prospect

847.439.2424

Wisma

Chef John des Rosiers is opening his second location of Wisma in Libertyville, IL, Tuesday March 1. The first location is in Lake Bluff. His formal restaurant, Inovasi in Lake Bluff, has spawned two Wisma's to provide a better "pick up" option for our hectic lifestyles. "We take less time to cook for ourselves, and less time to eat properly cooked food from scratch.  Wisma provides the perfect solution for those 2-3 times a week when we don’t have time to prep and cook our meals," says the Chef. Trust me, make time to stop in. Not only is the food great, but both spaces have a great aesthetic. For more info, click here.

528 N. Milwaukee, LIbertyville, IL.

847.234.1805

Osteria Via Stato

For a change of cuisine, Osteria Via Stato (Lettuce Entertain You) will be hosting a Tuscan Wine dinner. Chef David DeGregorio will be preparing a five-course family-style meal inspired by the countryside and paired with Tuscan wines. The meal is $65 per person. For menu details, click here.

For reservations call, 312.642.8450

620 N. State, Chicago IL

Smoke Daddy

They recently released a bottled Bloody Mary Mix for at home enjoyment. This Saturday, March 5, Smoke Daddy will host a release party and sampling event starting at 1 p.m.  Party guests and curious sippers will enjoy live acoustic blues music by Miles Sullivan and complimentary Smoke Daddy Bloody Mary Mix "Smokin' Mary" samplings from 1-3 p.m. For more information, click here.

1804 W. Division Street, Chicago IL

773.772.6656

 Restaurant Week is extended!

For a full restaurant list from Phil Vettel of The Chicago Tribune, click here.