tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44371890677963612532011-07-08T02:05:56.030-05:00J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.comBlogger91100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437189067796361253.post-79120956313530809232010-01-25T17:56:00.005-06:002010-01-25T18:18:05.386-06:00

No, the Great American Cheese Collection doesn’t sell 100 different varieties of square yellow cheese! They sell great cheese made in the United States – 26 different states to be exact. They open up their warehouse doors to commonfolk (i.e. non-industry people) every Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm and the trek to the South side is well worth it.It’s a casual set up – card tables with various

J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437189067796361253.post-37608483719822460702008-04-10T14:00:00.001-05:002008-04-10T17:32:31.659-05:00

As part of their Culinary Chicago series, the Chicago History Museum is hosting a round table discussion on local and organic eating. For those of you in the Chicago-land area, here are the details:The Local Option | Tuesday, April 22, 7:00 p.m.In honor of Earth Day and Chicago’s efforts to go green, join us as we discuss all things local and organic. What does organic and all-natural really mean

J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437189067796361253.post-4678478688554113912007-07-19T15:13:00.000-05:002008-12-09T06:53:33.106-06:00

Last night was the official kick-off of the West Town Tavern’s BBQ Sparerib Special. Every Wednesday night, Chef Susan Goss serves her Texas-style pork spareribs alongside fried potato salad and black-eyed pea relish – all for $18.75. And last night’s special dinner also included a free piece of Lemon Chess Pie and a bag of Chef’s dry rub spice blend to take home. Plus (as if that wasn’t enough)

J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437189067796361253.post-2473517475004832032007-07-02T12:26:00.000-05:002008-12-09T06:53:33.250-06:00

A friend was over and spotted Thomas Coliccio’s Think Like a Chef on my bookshelf. He said “This book is the reason I became a chef.” Damn. That’s a bold statement – and it must be one heck of a book. Sheepishly, I had to admit to him that I hadn’t read the book or even looked at it that closely. In my defense, I bought it over five or six years ago when I wasn’t as much of a “foodie”. I

J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437189067796361253.post-77067935623953340632007-06-26T17:30:00.000-05:002008-12-09T06:53:33.442-06:00

Thursday, July 12, 2007 from 6:00 - 8:00 pmJoin over 50 of Chicago’s Top Chefs as they prepare delicious tastings using Green City Market foods at this popular annual culinary event. Musicians will add to the festivities.Beverages include Goose Island Beer & Root Beer, Ice Mountain Water, Connoisseur Wines Tasting, Glunz Family Winery Sangria, and wines from August Hill Winery.Tickets ($50

J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437189067796361253.post-28872291221282777652007-06-26T15:10:00.000-05:002008-12-09T06:53:33.585-06:00

The July-through-September class schedule for Sam’s Academy is ready for viewing. Sam’s Academy is the wine education program for Sam’s Wines & Spirits. The classes are held in Chicago (at CHIC/Le Cordon Bleu campus), Downers Grove and Highland Park and are led by Bill St. John.I have taken two classes at the Academy and I highly recommend them to anyone seriously interested in learning more

J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437189067796361253.post-20325798618051533172007-06-19T13:51:00.000-05:002008-12-09T06:53:34.432-06:00

This past Saturday, I went on a walking tour of La Villita (or Little Village) as part of a larger group organized by Slow Food Chicago. We met at the famous clock arch that is the entrance to La Villita at 26th Street and Kedzie Avenue. Our tour guide gave us some background information and history on the neighborhood; here is an excerpt from the Little Village Chamber of Commerce website that

J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437189067796361253.post-17607870686448103242007-06-02T17:09:00.000-05:002008-12-09T06:53:34.592-06:00

On Saturday night, my fiancé and I attended an outdoor patio dinner in Bucktown. We arrived early and sat down at a table with none other than the Wine Diva – Christine Blumer. We attended one of Chris’s wine and cheese pairing classes at the Calphalon Culinary Center where she introduced me to what has become my favorite white wine – Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. Just the smell of it makes me

J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437189067796361253.post-90557216964815059932007-05-26T09:47:00.000-05:002008-12-09T06:53:34.786-06:00

Located on the bustling commercial strip of Clark Street in Andersonville, City Olive is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. It’s a mix of olive oils from around the world and gourmet grocery items including mustards, vinegars, tapenades and sea salt. On my first visit, I purchased a package of Spanish chorizo and a bag of dried Italian pasta (in an interesting shape that I’ve never seen

J.Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03470814170899022126noreply@blogger.com0