There’s something about a seafood boil that brings people together. The irresistible sight of a steamy pile of jumbo tender shrimp, perfectly cooked potatoes, and corn steamed in fragrant cajun spices with a splash of hot sauce is hard to pass up. When I was asked to feature a recipe from Mark Bittman’s new cookbook […]
Over the next several weeks many of us will be busy hosting holiday parties to entertain friends and family. While I’m working on main courses and desserts, my guests will be making merry; to keep them happily entertained and take the edge off their appetites I will lay an ample spread of cheeses, wines, and […]
When it comes to cocktails, we all have our favorites; in the springtime, I like a French 75 with vodka, not gin which remind me of late afternoons at a sidewalk café in Paris. During the height of summer, I like something citrusy with a herbal, green garden twist like a mojito or something with […]
The Lagunitas name is legendary among beer aficionados, and since 2014 the Chicago brewery and taproom have been thrilling locals and tourists alike with world-class beers made right here in the city, served up alongside some of the most spectacular pub grub in Chicago. The brewery is located on the near west side in a […]
I rarely pass up an offer to test premium spirits, and when asked if I’d like to try Herradura Tequilas I jumped at the chance. Founded in 1870, Casa Herradura is the world’s only remaining tequila producing hacienda, still harvesting agave by hand and estate bottling each batch using the same traditional methods they began […]
People either love or hate oysters, I don’t know if I’ve ever met someone who was indifferent about them; there is just something so delightful about enjoying these briny little morsels of sweet tender flesh right out of their shells in their own natural broth. I never pass up a chance to have them, and […]
“Bonjour!” was the first thing I heard when I entered the luxurious lobby of the Sofitel Water Tower Hotel. The relaxed atmosphere and attentive staff are very welcoming and though I am tempted to linger awhile, my focus today is on the hotel’s crowning jewel, the restaurant Café des Architectes. The dining room has an […]
Those who know me and longtime readers know that I dream of being a Chef one day, having started my site years ago while living in southwestern Germany. I got my start with a stack of cookbooks that my husband gave me as inspiration to start pursuing my dream. If you had told me back […]
Though the tragic events in Paris on November 13th cast a shadow over À la carte Chicago, the spirits of my French colleagues gradually recovered as hope and determination replaced fear. One week later the 31st annual Passport to France event began with an uncorking of emotions in a celebration of French culture and resolve. […]
I recently had the pleasure of attending a private luncheon for the Consul General of France, Mr. Vincent Floreani. The event was part of À la carte Chicago, a celebration of contemporary French cuisine and culture. Fifteen guests gathered at Chez Moi in Lincoln Park to experience a four-course menu prepared by Executive Chef Dominique […]
I was contacted some months ago by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago inviting me to judge at their ‘World of Chocolate’ event held annually at Chicago’s Union Station. 22 culinarians would compete in three categories for the best chocolate themed dishes. I tasted many, many dishes and though they ranged from sweet to savory to […]
To most of us, the stars stand motionless in the heavens; beyond reach and imagination, we struggle to grasp the enormity of the universe and to understand our place in it. But for some the stars are more than mere points of light, they are shifting constellations of genius, and those of us lucky enough […]
A Cook's Canvas 