Weekly Food & Wine Deals

There are deals to be found you just have to look for them. Following are a weekly sample of deals on food and wine - buon appetite!











Monday:
Sola Restaurant (North Center) features $30.00 three-course meal
http://www.sola-chicago.com

Tuesday:
Chaise Lounge (Bucktown) features $25.00 choice of appetizer, entree and dessert
http://www.chaiseloungechicago.com

Wednesday:
Feast (Wicker Park) features $25.00 two-course meal and one glass of wine
http://www.feastrestaurant.com

Thursday:
Landmark (Lincoln Park) features $35.00 three course meal
http://www.landmarkgrill.net

Friday:
South Loop Wine Cellar (South Loop) features a $5.00 wine tasting with snacks from 6:30pm - 9:00pm
http://www.southloopwinecellar.com

Saturday:
Randolph Wine Cellars (West Loop) features complimentary wine tasting of 4-5 wines from 2:00pm - 6:00pm. If you like one of the featured wines you will receive a discount on purchase of a bottle
http://www.randolphwinecellars.com

Sunday:
Enoteca Piattini (Lincoln Park) features buy one entree get one free

More deals to come...

12 days of Christmas - Indiana Style

I am a fellow IU grad so I may be somewhat partial but for those that have never heard of Straight No Chaser click the link below. I found this video clip on YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

Happy Holidays!

(Go IU!)

BYOB

One of my favorite things is going out to dinner with friends/family after a long work day. However when trying to cut back a little on the spending we unfortunately tend to cut out the going out. Chicago has so many BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) restaurants that help save you money when you want to catch up with friends. I am letting you know about a few of my favorite spots...

Wakamono - (3317 N. Broadway) Great Sushi and modern atmosphere. *$5 corkage fee

Ping Pong - (3322 N. Broadway) Pan-Asian cuisine. Directly across the street from Wakamono - so if there is a wait at one place walk across the street to the other! *$5 corkage fee

Lucia Ristorante - (1825 W. North Ave.) Italian cuisine with friendly staff

Pizza Rustica - (3913 N. Sheridan) Causal pizza spot

Tango Sur - (3763 N. Southport) Argentinian cuisine, Meat lover's paradise. Expect a fairly long wait for a table on the weekends.

If you have a favorite BYOB spot please let me know. Always looking for fun new restaurants to try!

Personalized Gifts (inexpensively)

Taking the time to personalize a present turns an ordinary item into a unique and heartfelt gift. If your gift recipient is a coffee drinker find a mug with the initial of the first or last name and fill with shortbread cookies for dunking. Swearing off caffeine for the New Year then customize a tote bag and fill with cute kitchen towels or gift cards for their next shopping trip (how green of you!).

Another fun idea is a cookie exchange. That way you not only are gifting but spending time with family and friends. Purchase enough fun cookie tins or craft boxes for everyone to fill up with different cookies and take home at the end of the party.

One of my favorite cookie recipes: Peanut Butter Surprises

Ingredients

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light-brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpats (French nonstick baking mats). Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda, and set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, and 1 cup brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until fully combined between additions. Add vanilla; beat to combine. Gradually add dry ingredients; mix on low speed until fully combined. Add chocolate chips; mix on low just until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; chill until firm, about 1 hour.
3. In a small bowl using a rubber spatula, stir together peanut butter and remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar.
4. Drop 1 tablespoon of dough at a time onto baking sheets, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart. Make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie. Fill thumbprint with 2 teaspoons peanut butter mixture. Top with a second tablespoon of flattened dough. Carefully mold dough to cover the surprise.
5. Bake until firm, about 12 minutes, rotating halfway through. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks to cool for 5 minutes. Remove cookies from baking sheets, and let cool completely on wire racks.

Sweet Treat

The holidays are about good food and giving. Well I came across a great website that is a real sweet treat! Not only are the cookies amazingly delicious but a portion of the sales goes to the Deborah House - a home where shattered lives of young Romanian girls are being restored through counseling, education, legal services and life skill training. Check out Deb House cookies (http://debhouse.com) to order your yummy treat and feel good about giving back to those in need at the same time.

So to all you cookie-monsters out there get eating (and giving)!

Wines to compliment your Thanksgiving meal

There is no one 'perfect' wine pairing for your Thanksgiving meal, there are many options; the only expert opinion that matters is your own. That said, I believe a bold red and an equally extroverted white work well. Pairing wines to a rich, complicated supper is not as difficult as it may seem.

Welcoming guests and relatives with flutes of crisp, sparkling white wine is always festive, whether your hors d'oeuvres are salted nuts or a lavish selection. Although a soup or shellfish starter might be its ideal partner, the wine's bubbly assertiveness allows it to hold its own with more robust dishes.

In many cases, a good-quality, medium-bodied red wine could carry the whole meal. I would suggest a Pinot Noir to enhance the flavors of the dark meat and cranberry sauce. For a white wine look for a Viognier or a Chardonnay to compliment the white meat of the bird and herbal flavors in the sides.

With very little legwork, you can find wines like these in every price range, so taste several -- with your menu in mind -- before you commit, and buy accordingly, budgeting at least a bottle per guest to ensure there's enough for everyone (especially if you are offering different kinds for them to try).

A few of my favorites:
Sparkling Wine
American sparklers have come into their own. Try the grapefruit-tinged Gruet Brut (about $15), toasty Domaine Chandon (about $20), or an almost rose-scented Domaine Carneros (about $25).

Pinot Noir
Try less serious ones with an appetizingly tart edge: We like West Coast Pinots by Adelsheim Vineyard and David Bruce Winery (each about $25); the latter has some leathery elegance.

Chardonnay
Four Vines, "Naked," California ($16.00) Exhibits crisp apple, white peach and pear, finishing long with hints of citrus and mineral.

Holiday Reception

I coordinated "Homeboy for the Holidays" - a holiday reception that was hosted this past Thursday at Homeboy (homeboychicago.com) a home decor store located in the Lakeview neighborhood. Despite the chilly temps numerous guests showed up for the reception in the intimate space. Light Hors d'oeuvres were catered by Adesso Restaurant (eatadesso.com) conveniently located across the street. Kafka wines (kafkawine.com) just a few blocks away provided perfectly paired wines to compliment the food. SODA (sodabyamy.com) was the featured artist of the night - displaying holiday themed handmade ceramics. This event was held to showcase the numerous local Chicago artists whose art is sold at Homeboy.