Interesting scuttlebutt over at the Foodie Report

The only reason I give it any consideration is that it’s scuttlebutt I’ve heard off of the Foodie Report.

I read the Foodie Report, but it focuses too much on chains and convenience food for my tastes. I see some of the anonymous commenters points– I don’t want to make, say, a knockoff of a Bloomin’ Onion– but the commenters are a little nasty.

Haha – it’s funny that you bring up that particular post, because my friends and I actually just tried making that Bloomin’ Onion recipe this weekend!

We were visiting some friends who live in West Chester, and they were listing off potential dinner spots (all chains), and when they got to Outback, I said, “You know, there’s a recipe online to make your own Bloomin’ Onion.”

Were they into it? You better believe it. So we made burgers and Bloomin’ Onions at home for a quarter of what we would’ve spent at a restaurant.

(Sorry, that was totally off topic. I don’t have much of an opinion on the Jean-Robert thing, except that I hope he doesn’t end up losing his reputation. This commenter sounds like they could be legit – they’re at least knowledgeable – but yeah, who can tell with Foodie Report comments in general? What was that thing last week about having a master’s degree?)

There has been something going on for some time now, I could never put my finger on it but I could smell it. Chalk and Lavo were an odd mash-up. To understand how to pull off a theme go to Chicago and visit the “Lettuce Entertain You” group. We have had sometimes spotty service at Greenup, we joke that they are channeling Wildflower, we don’t let that keep us away though, we really like some of the wait staff. Same for Chalk. I don’t think JR has anything to worry about, no matter what happens he has done us a great foodie flavor favor and kicked up the bar a few notches in this town.

The Anons at foodie are sometimes entertaining, but mostly pitiful. Last Mondays “What’s for dinner” was a riot. Reminded me of the “Whose on First” Abbot and Costello bit, the pathetic nastiness I have no use for, can’t take the negativity and unwillingness to be part of the community. I don’t understand why the blog software does not allow for removal of anon posts, or for that matter editing of everything. Requiring registration would help but is a maintenance headache.

Julie, we love the Bistro, eating at the bar at the Bistro with the bartenders Jen and Jeannie is one of the best bangs for the buck food, drink and and entertainment wise in town, you must have hit a couple of off nights or something. I love most everything I have had there and the bistro theme. Worst problem I have had is a smelly batch of mussels, not sure how those escaped the kitchen. Admittedly we have not been in as much recently but the crowd at the bar, especially on Friday is always interesting. My biggest complaint is an occasional bad odor in the place, somewhere in the bowels of that old building is a dry trap, sewer gas is getting in.

CinTwin, Lettuce Entertain you is enormously successful, each place is an interesting, different theme and done right, they have the formula down pat, also they cross market well, each place has a rack of cards advertising the others, something I have often thought JR should do. The JR group should have hired their consulting group. I always liked Scoozis! but have not been in three years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lettuce_Entertain_You_Enterprises

Chicago has so much to offer you can literally go out every night and love it. Frontera and Topolobampo are always must stops for me as I love Mex. I’ll poll a couple of friends in our MLF group (Major League Foodies) who have been there recently and post some more suggestions so check back. Whenever I go to a city I Google the living daylight out of it and always find some gems.

Cin Twin1, here are some top notch places in Chicago from a reliable source. If you have deep pockets, Tru or Everest if not try Everest’s sister place Brasserie Joes. Tru and Everest are very high end, in the top 40 in the US. There are tons of places. Google it. They suggest trying
http://www.opentable.com/
for reservations.

Here is a more Pedestrian list
http://www.10best.com/Chicago,IL

Julie,
For great burgers, try the grassfed ground beef from the farmer at Findlay with the grey beard who sells the free range eggs, he is usually on the sw end of the farmers market. Or use the bison at Eckerlins. Also FYI, it looks like your blog timezone setting may be off 3 hours.

In the know,
come to think of it I never have spotted JR at Chalk, I have at Lavo. I’ll find out more this weekend.

CinTwin1,
Your first trip? You will love it, if the winters there were tolerable I would move to the northside in a minute. Hotel prices there are outrageous, I always found residences or daily apartment rentals on Craigs list or VRBO. Chicago is an amazingly clean city, Cincinnasti could learn a thing or two from them.

Wicker Park is fun, urban shopping and restaurants. Definitely Millineum Park and the Bean. The B’ahai Temple is a very cool place in the near north ‘burbs, as are the Botanic Gardens.

Some other suggestions are Shaw’s Crab House, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, Tournesol, Kamehaci, Spring, La Bocca Della Verita, Magnolia Cafe, Bella Via, Green Dolphin. Mind you I have not been up in almost three years so Google or check YELP for the latest info.
You can spend weeks just trying new places.

Julie,
Normally I would say meet for coffee at Findlay around 10 but I am working the Civic Garden Center annual sale Fri eve and Sat morn so I don’t get to go this week, bummer, perhaps I’ll get up real early and make it. Naaa that won’t happen.

as far as buffalo goes, if you have room to store it in the freezer, the kentucky bison co. in louisville ships to homes. you have to buy at least $50 dollars worth to have them ship it to you. quality stuff.

http://www.kybisonco.com