There are many things I like about the Aviary. Of course, I like the drinks and the food. I always like spending time with the wonderful people who work there. And I like the feeling of watching the Aviary grow and change, from opening weekend, to the development of tasting menus, ... continue reading...
Alaskan beer battered halibut
I was born in Alaska, where my parents lived for a few years. In addition to some funny stories, amazing photos, and the very cute baby-size mukluks that currently reside on my bedroom bookcase, my early childhood in Alaska also yielded a fantastic recipe for beer battered halibut. My lower-48 ... continue reading...
Chocolate cherry oatmeal pecan cookies
These cookies are packed with delicious things - toasted pecans, dried cherries, plenty of dark chocolate, and enough oats to seem "healthy." They're also fairly quick to put together. Of course, you could customize as you like - toasted walnuts or even pistachios, dried cranberries or ... continue reading...
The Aviary
After a year of anticipation, I finally went to the Aviary this week (twice!). The best way I can describe it? A cocktail party at Alinea, complete with re-imagined drinks, more-than-meets-the-eye hors d’oeuvres, playful interactivity, and most importantly – fun. Clearly, a lot of ... continue reading...
Penne alla Vodka
I love pasta with a simple, homemade tomato sauce - but sometimes it's nice to have something a little different. Penne alla Vodka is a spicy, creamy alternative that has become one of my fallback weeknight dinners. This is a fairly ubiquitous dish (for good reason, if you ask me), ... continue reading...
Takashi Japan benefit dinner
Last night I was lucky enough to attend a unique dinner at Takashi restaurant, a benefit for Japan that featured more than a dozen well-known Chicago chefs. Since each of the seven courses was contributed by a different chef, we ended up with a wide-ranging tasting menu of dishes from great ... continue reading...
Dinner at Next: Paris 1906
Last night I had dinner at Next – I would say “finally”, except that it was only a week ago that I made the reservation. It seemed longer, though, since I was starting to feel like a child waiting for Christmas morning. By the time the big day rolled around, I’d started to worry that a letdown might ... continue reading...
Chocolate banana muffins
I've recently been on a bit of a cookbook binge, and got two books by Nigella Lawson. Her writing can be over-the-top at times, but that just makes the recipes more fun to read. What other cookbook can boast shellfish characterized by "bouncy sweetness", cheesecake that's an "overindulgent ... continue reading...
Dark chocolate brownies
It's pretty clear that I love chocolate - for example, a typical day at the office starts with a few squares of my favorite 65% Michel Cluizel single-origin chocolate. Given this, perhaps it's odd that I don't make many chocolate-based treats. Only rarely do I bake a chocolate cake, cookies, or ... continue reading...