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The Chicago Reader

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Blogs, Bleader Aug 10, 2017
Video
Chance the Rapper says he has a larger platform than any politician, Trump included, and other Chicago news

Also, the Park District demands answers from security firm after stabbings at Northerly Island concert.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Illinois, Chance the Rapper, Bud Billiken Parade, rap music, Donald Trump, Chicago Park District, Northerly Island, Monterrey Security, Live Nation, Dropkick Murphys, Rancid, Illinois General Assembly, Diamond Bradley, Tionda Bradley, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Bradley sisters, missing people, missing persons, cold cases, Swedish American Museum, Sweden, Swedish flag, Balena, fire, Boka Restaurant Group, Michelin Bib Gourmand, Kevin Boehm, Video

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Feb 29, 2016
Cold Storage might leave you cold

The new casual seafood spot from the Boka Restaurant Group is fishily inconsistent.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Review, Cold Storage, Swift & Sons, Stephanie Izard, Girl & the Goat, Balena, Momotaro, GT Fish & Oyster, Boka Restaurant Group, Chris Pandel, Meg Galus, Giuseppe Tentori, Perennial Virant, Balena, Momotaro, Boka

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Dec 1, 2015
Recommended
Swift & Sons is a cut above in Fulton Market

The Boka Restaurant Group's long-awaited steak house reimagines the format in a repurposed meat locker.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Review, Swift & Sons, review, Fulton Market, Boka Restaurant Group, Philip Danforth Armour, Formento's, Balena, Fulton Market Cold Storage, Chris Pandel, Gustavus Franklin Swift, STK Chicago, Boeufhaus, RPM Steak, Bavette’s, Meg Galus, NoMi, Recommended

Blogs, Bleader Aug 18, 2015
The Sofitel's cheesemaking and charcuterie program is almost ready for retail

The Sofitel Hotel's cheesemaking and charcuterie programs are humming along and almost ready for online shopping.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food & Drink, Food Chain, Sofitel Hotel, Greg Biggers, Leigh Omilinsky, Anna Young, charcuterie, cheesemaking, Cafe des Architectes, Balena, Chestnut Provisions

Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Feb 23, 2015
Formento's is not your nonna's red-sauce joint

The folks behind Balena and the Bristol take a stab at Italian-American—with some weird twists.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Restaurant Reviews, Formento's, old-school Italian, red-sauce joints, nonna, Tony Quartaro, Bristol, Balena, Steve Morgan, B. Hospitality

Blogs, Bleader Feb 16, 2015
Nonna's Italian Dip Lampredotto is one gutsy sandwich

Formento's adjunct sandwich shop introduces the Florentine Italian beef.
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Nonna's, Italian Dip Lampredotto, Formento's, Italian food, Tuscan food, Florentine food, Balena, The Bristol, sandwiches, tripe

Blogs, Bleader Feb 12, 2015
Illinois's first in-restaurant cheese-making operation has 'kind of taken off'

Remember when the Sofitel Hotel started making its own cheese and charcuterie? Here's what's up with that six months on.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Sofitel, Cafe des Architectes, Greg Biggers, Leigh Omilinsky, Chestnut Provisions, Chris Pandel, Balena, Smoking Goose, charcuterie

Blogs, Bleader Oct 30, 2014
Jean Banchet nominees show a scene that's doing just fine, thank you

The Jean Banchet awards are announced, and show that our scene is still about where real people eat.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Jean Banchet awards, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Grace, L2O, Boka, Lee Wolen, Genie Kwon, Momotaro, Moto, El Ideas, Chris Pandel, The Bristol, Balena, Abraham Conlon, Fat Rice, Parachute, Tete Charcuterie, The Radler, Salero, Arthur Hon, Sepia, Liz Mendez, Vera, Senza, Sixteen at Trump, Megan Miller, Baker Miller, Jonathan Ory, Bad Wolf Coffee, Owen & Engine, Dusek's, A10, La Sirena Clandestina, Alinea, Ryan Sutton

Blogs, Bleader Oct 6, 2014
Previewing the normal Italian-American at Formento's

Getting a taste of what Formento's, at 925 W. Randolph, will offer when it opens in December.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Formento's, the Bristol, Balena, Chris Pandel, John Ross, Tete Charcuterie, Gene & Georgetti, Little Goat, Vera, La Sirena Clandestina, Next, G.E.B., Pizano's, Italian-American cooking, Italian-American restaurants

Blogs, Bleader May 14, 2014
Karen Herold looks at her own restaurant designs

The restaurant designer explains her work at some of Chicago's top restaurants.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Karen Herold, Studio K, Balena, Embeya, Boka Group, Rob Katz, Kevin Boehm, Maple & Ash, GT Prime, Wood

Blogs, Bleader May 13, 2014
Karen Herold makes dreams come to life as restaurants

Chicago's hottest restaurant designer on how she plans your dining experience for you
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Karen Herold, Studio K, Kim Nawara, Girl & the Goat, GT Fish & Oyster, Embeya, Steve Wynn, Michael Morton, Brendan Sodikoff, Balena, Boka Group

Blogs, Bleader Feb 25, 2014
Nico Osteria's Erling Wu-Bower talks his world of seafood

How you run a seafood restaurant in the middle of the country.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Nico Osteria, Erling Wu-Bower, Amanda Rockman, Balena

Blogs, Bleader Feb 21, 2014
Ferran Adrià and a very heavy book, and other upcoming events

Ferran Adrià at Balena and more events
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Ferran Adria, Balena, Fountainhead, Frontier, Mercadito, DMK Burger Bar, County, Sepia, Nightwood

Blogs, Bleader Nov 4, 2013
Video
Who's dining in the Room at Next?

There just aren't enough ways to really blow money on fine dining, but here are two from Next and Balena.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Next, the Room at Next, Grant Achatz, Noma, Rene Redzepi, Balena, The Wolf of Wall Street, capitalistic excess, Video

Blogs, Bleader Sep 24, 2013
Michael Ruhlman: The soul (and craft) of a food writer

Talking with food writer Michael Ruhlman about the life of writing about food
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Michael Ruhlman, Thomas Keller, Charcuterie, Balena, The French Laundry Cookbook, The Book of Schmaltz

Blogs, Bleader Sep 10, 2013
Dine with Ruhlman, Elie at upcoming dinners, plus a Pilot Light fund-raiser

Authors Michael Ruhlman and Lolis Eric Elie come to town for special dinners, while Paul Kahan and Matthias Merges raise money for teaching kids about food.
- By Michael Gebert
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Michael Ruhlman, Chris Pandel, Chandra Ram, Charcuterie, The French Laundry Cookbook, Balena, The Bristol, Lolis Eric Elie, Treme, Big Jones, Paul Fehribach, Paul Kahan, Matthias Merges, Pilot Light, Publican Quality Meats

Blogs, Bleader Apr 11, 2013
This way for durian: Announcing the Key Ingredient Cook-Off

Coming May 3: Twenty-six Chicago chefs, five ingredients, primo booze, and bucks for the Healthy Schools Campaign
- By Kate Schmidt
- Tags: Food Chain, Food & Drink, Key Ingredient, Key Ingredient Cook-Off, Julia Thiel, Michael Gebert, Mike Sula, Grant Achatz, klupak kluwas, durian, Malort, millet, bananas, flour, rabbit lungs, bamboo worms, duck tongues, sea cucumber, Healthy Schools Campaign, Ryan LaRoche, NoMi Kitchen, Paul Virant, Vie, Perennial Virant, David Posey, Blackbird, Phillip Foss, El Ideas, Chris Pandel, the Bristol, Balena, Jared Van Camp, Nellcote, Old Town Social, Paula Haney, Hoosier Mama Pie, Patrick Sheerin, Mike Sheerin, Trenchermen, Brooklyn Brewery, City Winery, Tenzing Wine & Spirits, Scofflaw, Bridgeport Art Center

Food & Drink, Cocktail Challenge Mar 15, 2013
Slideshow
Cocktail Challenge: Balsamic vinegar

Lisa Selman of Little Market Brasserie crafts a tequila-based eye-opener with unfermented grapes.
- By Kate Schmidt
- Tags: Cocktail Challenge, balsamic vinegar, wine, unfermented grapes, oak, juniper, Italy, Middle Ages, Balena, Natalia Cardenas, Lisa Selman, Little Market Brasserie, tequila, ginger syrup, mole bitters, Pico Piquin, kosher salt, apricot-peach preserves, lemon juice, Alex Renshaw, Sable, chalk, Sable Kitchen & Bar, cocktail challenge, Slideshow

Food & Drink, Cocktail Challenge Mar 1, 2013
Slideshow
Cocktail Challenge: Lentils

Natalia Cardenas of Balena makes a deliciously leguminous adult beverage.
- By Kate Schmidt
- Tags: Cocktail Challenge, Blackbird, Mary Rose Braun, Balena, Natalia Cardenas, lentils, legume, white lentils, urad dal, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, coconut milk, horchata, rice water, rum, mole bitters, Roald Dahl, vermouth, egg, Lisa Selman, Little Market Brasserie, balsamic vinegar, cocktail challenge, Slideshow

Food & Drink, Cocktail Challenge Feb 11, 2013
Slideshow
Cocktail Challenge: Cod milt

Blackbird's Mary Rose Braun dresses up a briny delicacy.
- By Kate Schmidt
- Tags: Cocktail Challenge, Caviar, fish roe, cod milt, sperm sac, Red Door, Jay Schroeder, Blackbird, Mary Rose Braun, pisco, boba pear, tapioca balls, bubble tea, Balena, Natalia Cardenas, lentil, lemon juice, simple syrup, orange bitters, Stout syrup, rum, cocktail challenge, Slideshow

Blogs, Bleader Dec 26, 2012
124 tasty things from 2012

I ate it all
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Year in Review, Food Chain, Food & Drink, Slurping Turtle, Bar Toma, Goosefoot, Three Floyd's Brewpub, Katsu, Nha Hang Viet Nam, Nhu Lan Bakery, Munster Donut, Yusho, Acadia, Sheeba (RIP), Alan Lake, Bread & Wine, Sankalp, Publican Quality Meats, Hagen’s, Urban Union, Lake Langano, RPM, Bar Ombra, Au Cheval, Baconfest, Cho Jung, Allium, Letherbee gin, Nellcote, The Nut House, Balena, Al Bawadi Grill, Troquet, Frog N Snail, Monti’s, Premise (R.I.P.), Spinzer Restaurant, ScofflawPhil’s Last Stand, Ma Gong La Po, Pizzeria da Nella Cucina Napoletana, Antique Taco, Cuenca’s Bakery, Kai Zan, Graham Elliot Bistro, Olga’s Deli, Himshikar, Smoking Goose’s Delaware Fireball, Dragon Ranch, Trenchermen, Yvolina’s Tamales, Savoy, Spencer’s Jolly Posh Food, Ghareeb Nawaz, Wood, Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf, Best Naan, P.E. Mullins, Masaki, Journeyman Distillery’s Featherbone Bourbon, Bonsoiree, 28-year-old cheddar, Covo Gyro Market, Bare Knuckle Farm, Butcher & Larder, Andy Thai Kitchen, Julien Fremont Cidre Brut par Nature, Elizabeth, Lao Ma La, Valentino Pasta, Wild Ophelia, The Publican, Homestyle Taste, Northern City, Masa Azul, Badou, La Sirena Clandestina, Fat Rice Avec, Reno, Embeya, Variations on a Theme

Food & Drink, Food & Drink Feature Dec 26, 2012
My favorite restaurants of 2012

Philly cheese steaks, foraged fairy tales, former Portuguese colonies, and more from a not-so-calamitous year
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Food & Drink Feature, Year in Review 2012, Monti's, Philly cheese steaks, Yusho, Brian Runge, Jared Van Camp, Nellcote, Balena, Marty Fosse, Bar Ombra, Pizzeria da Nella Cucina Napoletana, Nella Grassano, Arami, B.K. Park, Scott Malloy, Masaki, Kai Zan, Carlo Vizconde, Melvin Vizconde, Andy Aroonrasameruang, TAC Quick, Andy's Thai Kitchen, The Bedford, Mark Steuer, Carriage House, Brendan Sodikoff, Au Cheval, Bavette's Bar & Boeuf, Mike Sheerin, Pat Sheerin, Trenchermen, Acadia, Ryan McCaskey, Iliana Regan, Elizabeth Restaurant, Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

Best of Chicago, Food & Drink Jun 20, 2012
Critics' Picks
Best Antiquity

Bristol/Balena chef Chris Pandel's fish sauce
- By Mike Sula
- Tags: Food & Drink, Best of Chicago 2012, antiquity, Bristol, Balena, fish sauce, Chris Pandel, The Bristol, Critics' Picks

Best of Chicago, Food & Drink Jun 20, 2012
Critics' Picks
Best Bitters-Based Cocktail Menu

Balena
- By Julia Thiel
- Tags: Food & Drink, Best of Chicago 2012, Balena, Critics' Picks

Food & Drink, Key Ingredient May 30, 2012
Video
Key Ingredient: sheep's milk

Toni Roberts, pastry chef at the Wit, crafts a Creamsicle-inspired push pop
- By Julia Thiel
- Tags: Key Ingredient, Toni Roberts, Amanda Rockman, Balena, the Bristol, sheep's milk, Priaire Fruits Farm, push pop, ice cream, Creamsicle, State and Lake, State & Lake, Video

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