As of April 1st, please note that I will no longer be making posts to this blog; all future posts may be found here: http://ralphpancetta.com/whatsnew.htm.
Please check my Facebook page as well: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ralph-Pancetta/198958636998. There you can post comments and check for news items/links to new reviews. Thanks!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Steampunk Thursdays at Elate
Starting March 22nd, live music and the sights and sounds of Steampunk make Elate restaurant the place to be on Thursdays!Chicago (March 2012) - Elate restaurant (111 W. Huron, 312-202-9900) in Chicago's River North neighborhood, is taking its eco-friendly philosophy to new heights, on Thursdays, by re-inventing itself as the Steampunk center of Chicago. Beginning Thursday, March 22 and on every Thursday thereafter, Elate will be the scene of Steampunk Thursdays.
Imagine a world planted in the Victorian era, where steam has become the foremost source of energy and Victorian design and fashion ideas rule. Now imagine that one hundred years later (i.e., today), Victorian sensibility still rules and modern technology has blended with modern rock, techno and jazz music. That's what Steampunk Thursdays are all about.
Beginning Thursday, March 22, from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., Elate will welcome local singer/songwriter and rock icon Graham Czach, along with his band the Time Machines. The band will perform sets at 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
The high energy music, great for dancing or simply listening and enjoying, is the band's innovative sound where vintage jazz meets modern techno and hip hop.
The Steampunk philosophy is about sight as well as sound, so put on your best Steampunk fashions and strut down the aisles of this cool restaurant and bar. If you're in the know about Steampunk, you'll love it at Elate on Thursdays.
Elate's acclaimed dinner menu, featuring the culinary artistry of Executive Chef Michael Noll, is available until 10 p.m. and guests can order from the bar menu from 10 p.m. until 11 p.m. Enjoy Elate's special Steampunk cocktails and carefully elected wines throughout the evening.
Elate -- 111 West Huron, Chicago, Illinois 60654, 312-202-9900,
Elate's menus offer organic wine, spirits and fare and the restaurant composts, recycles, and purchases as much local product as possible. The interior features reclaimed wood tables and flooring, high efficiency lighting, eco-friendly paint and 80% recycled drywall. Elate encourages the use of hybrid vehicles by offering those cars complimentary valet parking.
Chicago Chefs Week!
Elate Joins 50 Plus Restaurants in Celebrating Chefs Week -- March 18 - 23, 2012
Chicago, March 12, 2012 -- More than 50 of Chicago's best and newest restaurants will be featuring special lunch and dinner menus during Chicago Chefs Week 2012, taking place March 18th - 23rd. Prix Fixe lunch menus are set at $22 and dinner menus are set at $39 plus tax and gratuity. Joining the impressive list of restaurants are new-ish hot spots Bistronomic, Bombay Spice, Elate, GT Fish & Oyster, Henri, Perennial Virant, Roka Akor and Yusho. For a complete list of participating restaurants and menus, visit Chicago Chefs Week. It's recommended to make reservations early, as spaces fill quickly.
Chicago, March 12, 2012 -- More than 50 of Chicago's best and newest restaurants will be featuring special lunch and dinner menus during Chicago Chefs Week 2012, taking place March 18th - 23rd. Prix Fixe lunch menus are set at $22 and dinner menus are set at $39 plus tax and gratuity. Joining the impressive list of restaurants are new-ish hot spots Bistronomic, Bombay Spice, Elate, GT Fish & Oyster, Henri, Perennial Virant, Roka Akor and Yusho. For a complete list of participating restaurants and menus, visit Chicago Chefs Week. It's recommended to make reservations early, as spaces fill quickly.
Check out
Monday, February 27, 2012
National Chocolate Soufflé Day
Head over to Benny’s Chop House: February 28th is National Chocolate Soufflé Day
Making the perfect chocolate soufflé is no easy task. Chocolate soufflé is the ultimate chocolate dessert, yet people shy away from it because of all the last-minute work and the fear it won’t rise. Soufflé is one of those dishes that either turns out brilliant or it’s a complete and utter flop.
Don’t fret. When you find an excellent one, it’s something to savor. Benny’s Chop House (444 N. Wabash, 312-626-2444) has the technique perfected. Pastry Chef Aaron Lindgren knows his stuff. He trained under the tutelage of 4-star chef Charlie Trotter. It doesn’t get any better than Aaron’s Chocolate Soufflé at Benny’s.
Check out this Tim Turner photo of Pastry Chef Aaron Lindgrin's Chocolate Souffle:
Making the perfect chocolate soufflé is no easy task. Chocolate soufflé is the ultimate chocolate dessert, yet people shy away from it because of all the last-minute work and the fear it won’t rise. Soufflé is one of those dishes that either turns out brilliant or it’s a complete and utter flop.
Don’t fret. When you find an excellent one, it’s something to savor. Benny’s Chop House (444 N. Wabash, 312-626-2444) has the technique perfected. Pastry Chef Aaron Lindgren knows his stuff. He trained under the tutelage of 4-star chef Charlie Trotter. It doesn’t get any better than Aaron’s Chocolate Soufflé at Benny’s.
Check out this Tim Turner photo of Pastry Chef Aaron Lindgrin's Chocolate Souffle:
Benny's Chop House
Check out the great
March Entertainment Schedule
March Entertainment Schedule
at Benny's!
About Benny's:
Since Benny’s Chop House (444 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago; 312-626-2444) opened in 2010, it has stood out among Chicago’s steakhouses as a premiere gathering place where food and drink are served with refined excellence. Not only is this true of the delicious American cuisine from Executive Chef Jonathan Lane, but it’s also true of Benny’s lounge, which offers one of Chicago’s most attractive atmospheres for savoring a fine beverage while enjoying the artistry of Chicago’s finest live entertainers.
Prairie Grass Cafe Winemaker Dinner
Prairie Grass Cafe and Evolution Wine and Spirits present Yalumba Winemaker's Dinner
Thursday, March 8 -- mark your calendars & save the date!
NORTHBROOK, Ill. - Prairie Grass Cafe (601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, IL 60062; 847-205-4433) and Evolution Wine and Spirits (1704 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647; 773-772-9463 and 2766 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062; 847-272-2200) are presenting a wine dinner featuring the Australian wines of Yalumba Winery, with a special appearance by Yalumba's Ambassador of Wine Jane Ferrari.
Prairie Grass chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris have worked with representatives of Yalumba to present the perfect food and wine pairings. The evening will begin with a reception featuring a Mini Crab Cake on a spoon with basil remoulade and bacon tempura with Ranch dressing and NV Jansz Sparkling Rose.
Thursday, March 8 -- mark your calendars & save the date!
NORTHBROOK, Ill. - Prairie Grass Cafe (601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, IL 60062; 847-205-4433) and Evolution Wine and Spirits (1704 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647; 773-772-9463 and 2766 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062; 847-272-2200) are presenting a wine dinner featuring the Australian wines of Yalumba Winery, with a special appearance by Yalumba's Ambassador of Wine Jane Ferrari.
Prairie Grass chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris have worked with representatives of Yalumba to present the perfect food and wine pairings. The evening will begin with a reception featuring a Mini Crab Cake on a spoon with basil remoulade and bacon tempura with Ranch dressing and NV Jansz Sparkling Rose.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Benny’s Chop House
There's still time left for some great deals at Benny's -- but hurry, February is coming to an end!!
While most Chicago restaurants feature value-priced prix fixe menus during Restaurant Week, Benny’s Chop House (444 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60611; 312-626-2444) is celebrating through the whole month of February this year. Their special prix fixe menu is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $22.00 per person. To add a glass of Benny’s Chop House Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, the meal is $30.00 per person.
Benny’s Restaurant Week menu begins with a choice of Potato and Leek Soup with Bacon Lardons and Tarragon Pesto or a Spinach Salad with Sunny-Side Egg and Bacon Vinaigrette. This is followed by a choice of Butternut Squash Tortelloni with Ricotta Salata and Brown Butter Sage Sauce, Seared Vermillion Snapper with Glazed Carrot Quinoa and Roasted Shitake-Yuzu Vinaigrette, or a 6-ounce Natural USDA Prime Filet with Duck Fat Fries, King Mushrooms and Sauce Bordelaise. This delicious meal ends with a Trio Plate of Milk Chocolate S’mores, Passion Fruit Crème Brulee and Banana Cream “Pie.” There’s no reason that celebrating great dining only has to a week. Visit Benny's
Chop House to continue the celebration.
While most Chicago restaurants feature value-priced prix fixe menus during Restaurant Week, Benny’s Chop House (444 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60611; 312-626-2444) is celebrating through the whole month of February this year. Their special prix fixe menu is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $22.00 per person. To add a glass of Benny’s Chop House Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, the meal is $30.00 per person.
Benny’s Restaurant Week menu begins with a choice of Potato and Leek Soup with Bacon Lardons and Tarragon Pesto or a Spinach Salad with Sunny-Side Egg and Bacon Vinaigrette. This is followed by a choice of Butternut Squash Tortelloni with Ricotta Salata and Brown Butter Sage Sauce, Seared Vermillion Snapper with Glazed Carrot Quinoa and Roasted Shitake-Yuzu Vinaigrette, or a 6-ounce Natural USDA Prime Filet with Duck Fat Fries, King Mushrooms and Sauce Bordelaise. This delicious meal ends with a Trio Plate of Milk Chocolate S’mores, Passion Fruit Crème Brulee and Banana Cream “Pie.” There’s no reason that celebrating great dining only has to a week. Visit Benny's
Chop House to continue the celebration.
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