described it as “demi-sec” even though labeled as “brut”. I didn’t find it sweeter than brut, though it tasted riper, fuller and softer than Champagne with less mineral character and acidity. The...

's Clover Farm grocery. It’s fairly small, it’s relaxing, and the food approaches urbane for Joliet. Taste of Polonia is a buffet that in its one year has won some adherents. There’s slim pickin’s for Asian...

We had invited a couple of dear friends over for dinner two summers ago, the first time they had been for dinner as we had just moved back into town. The menu was fairly simple, and one I’d made many times before. Tossed...

it, there is a lot of not very good food around period- and as one of the nation’s oldest ethnic fast and inexpensive foods, Chinese food has perhaps more than its fair share of bad examples. If you based a decision on...

personality Don Baumhefner hosted a blind tasting of nineteen 1994 Vintage Ports from his cellar for comprehensive look at their early stage of development, plus a California ringer. Bartholomew Broadbent provided additional...

I stand open to correction, but my understanding was that the specific bufala in question were a fairly small population and came from the south of Italy (vs. Tuscany) and that to be worth eating, the cheese must be exceptionally...

surface with a pastry cutter. I prefer to use my Wusthof chef’s knife as much as possible and then puree things in my Waring blender. Call me crazy, but I actually LOVE chopping things (onions, garlic, you name it) since it...

of the state of our cities. And gentrification is not the solution: it just pushes the problem elsewhere. So how far past GAP (the retailer or the station) does your walking take you on a regular basis?

But the items you list (dairy-based, especially butter, foods) are likely to turn your stomach or at the very least cause an offensive (negative) reaction. That’s very different than what the OP stated. I didn’t...

in a surburban area. I was excited...I’d heard so much about this place over the years. We ordered a slab of ribs and a platter of chopped pork, beans, etc. Both were ok and that’s all...just ok. Far better than...

. It is possible that, as Claire stated “that charm wears thin” and my excitement might diminish if I’ll go too much to SM as have happened to me with Vong and other restaurants. It did not happen yet and I hope it...

of their greatness. New York has Chicago beat, water-wise, hands down. As for the importance of water to bread.....and New York Pizza in general....I will only refer you to the thread on the Tri-State area board labeled:...

the keeping-it-real schtick, however, these “experts” have nothing new to offer me. To be fair, I should admit that I generally don’t use guidebooks to tell me where to eat locally, and only consult them for maps and addresses...

of a dish where as the spoon descends more flavors come in. Smoked risotto. Tre Marchettis was terrible in Verona, Il nuovo Galeon surprised in Venice, Alle Testire predictably excellent and fairly priced and, the absolute dog of...

My freezer’s in a better state than it’s been in some time. I am a meat hoarder, shopping the sales and stocking up, even if I don’t always keep up. After a family emergency where I didn’t leave the house...