Radar
the latest on dining
05/14/08
04:55 PM
Dish

Down By Foie

Foie’d Logic

Chicago’s city council repealed the infamous two-year-old foie gras ban on Wednesday by a vote of 37 to 6, thus ending one of the stranger episodes in local politics. Alderman Tom Tunney (44th ward), along with cosponsors Emma Mitts (37th) and Bernard Stone (50th), introduced the repeal with no debate, reportedly over the strenuous objections of Joe Moore (49th), who, according to the Sun-Times, said it would be “the first time in my 17 years on the city council that a matter was...

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05/07/08
06:00 PM
Dish

Cute Restaurant Alert

Go Now

Mixteco Grill (1601 W. Montrose Ave.; 773-868-1601), a 35-seat BYO restaurant named for a region of Oaxaca and the indigenous people who inhabit it, opened last week—and we’re smitten. “The food there is the only food that is 100 percent authentic Mexican,” says Raul Arreola, the chef/owner. “No influence of other food. No Mayan. No Spanish. No French.” Arreola, a Mexico City native, put in 11 years at Frontera Grill, and ascended to sous-chef at

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05/06/08
05:15 PM
Dish

Dish Flash—Achatz Update

Then and Now
A full Dish column is coming tomorrow, but first we wanted to direct you to two terrific stories from our upcoming June issue. One is Burned, a dramatic narrative by Jennifer Tanaka on Grant Achatz’s brave and frightening days since his diagnosis with oral cancer. The other is Dennis Ray Wheaton’s From There to Alinea, a thoughtful examination and comparison of Achatz’s current stunner with the place where he came of age years ago: Napa Valley’s legendary French Laundry.

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In the Magazine

The Tale of the Taco

The Tale of the Taco

Seven great tacos that make a celebration seem in order

See Marcus Cook

See Marcus Cook

Marcus Samuelsson lets his food do the talking.

Trend: Gluten-Free Goodies

Trend: Gluten-Free Goodies

The offerings at Rose’s WheatFree Bakery & Café may be gluten-free, peanut-free, casein-free, corn-syrup-free, and trans-fat-free, but they obligingly leave in the most important element: flavor.

Dining Tidbits

Dining Tidbits

For April 2008: Park 52, Schwa, Haussmann Brasserie, Curio Cafe

Dining Out: Olive Branches

Dining Out: Olive Branches

One's Greek, one's Turkish, and never the twain shall meet. But two smart neighborhood spots bring out the glory of their hallowed Mediterranean ground.

 

Best Of

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Chefs on the Grill

Chefs on the Grill - Carol Wallack

Chefs on the Grill - Carol Wallack

Carol Wallack reminisces about how a bad beach day changed her life from surfer girl to carrot peeler to restaurant doyenne of Sola. 3868 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-327-3868

 

The Hot List

10 places everyone's talking about—and dining at—in May. In order of heat:

TAKASHI We know at least two other fine restaurants occupied this Bucktown space in recent years. We just can't remember their names. 1952 N. Damen Ave.; 773-772-6170

SIXTEEN Two seconds after lunch service was announced, the noon hour booked up for weeks. Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, 401 N. Wabash Ave.; 312-588-8030

TALLULAH Is it the lobster-stuffed deviled eggs? The spicy buffalo tartare? The decadently rich sweetbreads? Can't be the street parking. 4539 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-942-7585

SCHWA Talk about comebacks. You'd think Michael Jordan had dusted off his old jersey. 1466 N. Ashland Ave.; 773-252-1466

MERCAT A LA PLANXA The worst entryway in restaurant history—through a cramped lounge, up a curvy staircase—hasn't stopped traffic to this tapas lair. Blackstone Hotel, 638 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-765-0524

FAHRENHEIT Any restaurant that successfully deconstructs mole and incorporates a beignet is worth a drive to St. Charles. 1890 W. Main St., St. Charles; 630-444-1350 *CLOSED: Read our update here

UNCOMMON GROUND The real action on Devon has shifted to this warm, friendly spot. 1401 W. Devon Ave.; 773-465-9801

UNION PIZZERIA Campagnola's pizza-obsessed offshoot has patrons lining up to worship at the altar of the wood-burning oven. 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston; 847-475-2400

GAETANO'S Gaetano Di Benedetto, the talent at La Piazza, takes his tricks a couple of blocks away; west suburbanites follow. 7636 W. Madison St., Forest Park; 708-366-4010

ROCKSTAR DOGS A stripper pole and a footlong Tommy Lee tribute dog tell you where this East Village joint's heart is: in its pants. 801 N. Ashland Ave.; 312-421-2364

 

Recipe File

Recipe File

Recipe File

Salsa Verde and Salsa Roja at Fonda del Mar