Chicago is a melting pot of flavors and tastes. Over the past 11 years, we have treated our viewers to a whole world of cuisines. In this week’s episode, we will revisit some of our favorites. From the spicy Indian dishes of Hema’s Kitchen to the festive China Town favorite Lao Sze Chaun to the exotic Middle Eastern evening dinner shows with belly dancers at Juliana. We’ll show you how easy it is to be transported to another land when you go out to eat right here in Chicago.

Aside from learning about the great eateries our city has to offer, this episode is also like a World history class. In describing the dishes they have to offer, the chefs and owners often share some of their country’s political history. As countries were occupied and later gained their independence, the cultural influences of their occupiers were left behind in their recipes. Almost every culture has some form of dumpling or noodle that could easily have come from a neighboring country. Ultimately, each country makes a dish their own using a different technique in the preparation and seasoning.

After watching this week’s show, explore the world…try a new cuisine…in essence, go out to eat in Chicago!

Happy eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

On this weeks show, guest reviewer Jessica takes us to Bridgeportfor a family-owned restaurant called Nana. At Nana’s, the seasonal menu of breakfast and brunch classics are made using fresh organic ingredients from local growers and farmers. Our guest reviewers raved about their fresh and delicious dishes that have wonderful Mexican flavors. The star of the show was the Baked Chilaquiles which is a corn tortilla casserole, filled with poblano cream and accompanied with black beans. But guest reviewers Marcus and Susan were blown away by the amazing Bloody Mary cocktails. Nana’s makes a roasted poblano Bloody Mary with crop organic vodka, house-made pickles and vegetables, and wild ricegouda that guest reviewer Marcus says was simply the best!

When I think of brunch, I don’t usually think of cocktails. My immediate thought is of fresh squeezed orange juice. However, brunch cocktails are some of the most innovative delights, using unexpected ingredients that enhance your meal. These creations, along with the cocktails you’d expect to find in the evening, are typically the work of mixologists.

Mixology, as defined by the fourth edition of the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, is the study of preparing mixed drinks. A Mixologist is a bartender, but a bartender is not always a mixologist. According to the Professional Bartending School of America, the difference between a bartender and a mixologist is that the mixologist has more extensive training, has greater industry knowledge, and usually works in more upscale food and beverage establishments. However, many people say a good bartender keeps a lively, happy bar – serving drinks quickly and occasionally creating his or her own drink concoctions. A mixologist uses fresh ingredients, like fruits and vegetables, and unique techniques to conjure up intricately flavored cocktails. While getting just the right pour from a beer tap is a skill, creating cocktails takes a little longer, involves several “tools” of the trade, and like the bar scene at The Drawing Room, includes some theatrical flare.

Guest reviewer Susan introduced us to the “sex-in-the-city” vibe at The Drawing Room. Here the bar is where the action is. Mixologist Charles Joly, a cocktail competitor, is responsible for developing the beverage program at The Drawing Room. His drinks call for house-made syrups and juices along with herbs, bitters, fruits, vegetables, and sometimes obscure liquors that are a sheer delight to the crowd at his bar. He pairs the flavors of his creations with the dishes served in the dining room to create a complete upscale dining experience. You can even get your drinks prepared tableside as they come around with a custom-built cart. Like guest reviewer Jessica suggests, this is the perfect place to take anyone who wants to experience “fancy” drinks in the big city!

Happy eating and drink responsibly!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

At Restaurant Sarajevo, charming Chef/Owner Enes Hubjer greets his guests with a big smile and puts on a great show with a flambé fruit dessert that is sure to please. Guest reviewer Sanja introduced us to this little known old-world restaurant serving Bosnian cuisine on Chicago’s North Side. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but when you enter and experience the rosewood covered walls, drapery lined windows, and are greeted with hearty welcomes and warm Lepia (Bosnian bread), you feel like you’re right at home. Bosnian herself, Sanja tells us this is truly authentic and delicious Bosnian cuisine. From the chorba (beef and vegetable soup) and cevapcci (beef and lamb sausage) to the warm and friendly service, this place is certainly one to try.

Guest reviewer Eric took us to a restaurant that has been around for over 18 years. The first thing that strikes you as you walk into Zealous is the spacious dining room that is in a converted warehouse with live bamboo dividers reaching up towards the vaulted ceilings. The muted colors, modern curves, and accents of green are meant to provide a Zen feeling. Along one wall is a 15-foot wine cellar in which they keep their vast collection of wines that knowledgeable staff will help pair with your meal. Ambiance aside, our reviewers tell us that the food is the thing at Zealous. Chef/Owner Michael Taus has created a global menu of dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. The attentive wait staff serve dishes such as a short stack of mango pancakes with Hudson Valley foie gras with a sunny-side-up quail egg in a savory caramel sauce or Chilean sea bass with pan-fried noodles in a coconut curry sauce. Yum.

And then we get to Burt. Burt’s Place, as guest reviewer Mike tells us, offers some of the best Chicago-style deep-dish pizza in town. But, you have to follow a few rules to ensure your visit is a good one. We told our reviewers to be sure they made their reservations early for Burt’s Place. This means calling at least a day in advance or, as Sanja did, two days in advance and placing your order. Burt is the only one in this small restaurant’s tiny kitchen. He gets all of his ingredients fresh daily and cooks based on the reservations taken so, if you just show up, you probably won’t get served. If you want sides, order those in advance as well because Burt may just not have the time or the space in the oven. Reviewer Eric did not know this. Upon ordering cheesy garlic bread his waitress came back from the kitchen to say “Burt says you’re pushing it.” This may all sound like too much just for pizza, but each of our reviewers had to admit that it was totally worth it! Burt takes great pride in the pizzas and other foods he prepares. He purchases fresh meat and makes his sausage daily. He cuts all of the vegetables himself, never using frozen or packaged, and reviewer Eric tells us the pizza sauce tastes garden fresh. If you can get past the strict rules for ordering, you’ll love the smiling, friendly service, neighborhood feel, and the unique décor. This is definitely not a fine dining experience, but – according to our reviewers – some darn delicious pizza

And here’s my behind-the-scenes nugget for this week… You may notice when watching this week’s episode that guest reviewer Mike had a very strained voice. We noticed this as well when he arrived at the studio to tape this episode. We later learned that Mike was at the Bears game the day before and no matter how much he shouted the Bears still lost. Needless to say, we were all concerned about whether his voice would hold out for the show. Associate Producer Jacqui made sure he stayed hydrated and used his voice sparingly before we started taping. He sounded pretty rough, but he made it through the taping. Rest assured this was not his actual voice, and since the Bears are not in the Super Bowl this weekend, he probably sounds much better now.

Happy Eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

The tour begins in Evanston, where student and guest reviewer Amber introduces us to a campus favorite, Edzo’s Burger Shop. This is not a low-calorie experience, so save room! At Edzo’s you can build a burger that is the envy of all other burgers. It starts with a fresh (never frozen) choice chuck. Aside from a selection of locally-raised beef options, you can also choose to have a “Griddled” burger, which is pressed down thin on the grill making it crispy or the “Char” burger, which is left thick and juicy. Finish your burger with a selection of cheeses and toppings. For a side, they are hand-cut, twice-cooked potatoes that can be made plain, with garlic, gravies, sauces, and more. And Amber tells us your meal is not complete without a milkshake. They use an old-fashioned Multimixer spindle machine which blends the shakes at a slower speed than modern mixers. According to the Edzo’s website, this older machine whips in less air, so the shake is creamier. During our visit to Edzo’s, our crew raved about these shakes, specifically the addictive Nutella shake. Edzo’s owner and Chef Eddie Lakin is not your average burger-joint cook. After culinary school he worked in European kitchens and many fine dining restaurants in Chicago, but his desire was for something a little different life. He wanted to prepare delicious food at his restaurant and still be home in time to have dinner with his family. So, if you’re going to try Edzo’s, get there before 4:00 pm because they’re only open for lunch (and late lunch).

Next, we visit Chicago’s latest restaurant hot spot, Logan Square. Over the past few years many high quality restaurants have popped up in Logan Square, like Hachi’s Kitchen, Lula, and El Nandu. I actually grew up in Logan Square… it wasn’t such a young and hip place to be back then. It is such a pleasure to visit and see such businesses thriving. On this week’s show, guest reviewer Adam shared his favorite Italian eatery in Logan Square, Buona Terra Ristorante. The cuisine is classic Italian and Chef Jose Garcia adds a special flair to each of his signature dishes. The farm-to-table fresh ingredients were a hit with our reviewers, as well as the crew who took home extras to share with their families on the day of the shoot. This vibrant restaurant is intimate, warm, and relaxing – and definitely a great place for a date night. Amber says it’s her new favorite place in Logan Square, and all of the reviewers agreed it was a delicious experience that is priced right. Check them out on Thursdays when they have a fantastic prix fixe menu for $21.95.

Finally, this week’s culinary tour ends with a relaxed, French dining experience in Oak Park at Hemmingway’s Bistro. Guest reviewer Reggie and his wife enjoy finding a nice, relaxed place to have a great meal and he says Hemmingway’s is one of their favorites. This restaurant has a classy, elegant feel. The owner and Chef Christopher Ala has worked in kitchens all over the world and brings that experience to his French menu. The dishes are delicious and elegantly presented. However, there is a price to this elegance, so our guest reviewers all agree that Hemmingway’s is more of a special occasion restaurant.

Here’s a little insider information on the production of this episode: our bartender did not show up for the taping of this episode but, as they say, the “show must go on” and we needed to have a bartender. Executive Producer David Manilow grabbed a dish towel and slid right into the role! Watch closely during the discussion segments and you might see him pouring wine and busily maintaining the bar in the background. Hitchcock would be proud.

Happy Eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

Tattoo shop owner/guest reviewer Paul introduces us to Three Aces, a “gastropunk” bar as described by co-owners Anthony Potenzo and Lyle Aker. Our guest reviewers had to see past the dark beer bar, tattoos, and rock n’ roll vibe to discover the deliciously modern Italian menu, but secretly I think they really loved it. This is one of those “don’t judge a book by its cover” situations. Five-star chefs are not always found in white table-clothed restaurants. Under this restaurant’s tough exterior you will find perfectly prepared food. Traditional Italian dishes like mussels and braised pork shank are served along with a selection of gourmet pizzas and, a fan favorite, the Ace burger. What makes the Ace burger so good? Well maybe it’s the perfectly cooked beef or the aged chedder, bacon jam, aioli, and other trimmings all served on a hearty pretzel roll. I’m making myself hungry just writing this!

Then, the Check, Please! train pulls into the station…Sushi Station to be precise. I was so excited to see this restaurant on the list for this season. My family and I love going to Sushi Station so it’s a personal favorite. The sushi is served on small plates, usually four pieces each, and goes around the restaurant on an enclosed, refrigerated conveyor belt. When you see a sushi you like, you lift the little glass door and grab it before it gets away. Sounds very gimmicky, right? But this routine is actually quite popular in Japan. As guest reviewer and former resident of Tokyo John Paul tells us, this is called kaitan zushi. It’s a buffet that comes to you! This might seem like the fast food of sushi, but the freshness, quality, and variety offered are undeniable. The service is great too. If you don’t see something you like on the belt or you’re looking for something hot with your meal, just tell the wait staff and it’s there before you know it. My favorite rolls are the Carribbean Roll (slices of avocado, masago, and shrimp over crab salad topped with mayo and plum sauce) and the simple Bostation Roll (tuna, avocado, masago, and crab salad). The best part about this place are the small plates, priced right, so you can be daring without spending an obscene amount of money to try something new. My kids don’t like sushi, but there’s always something on the hot menu they enjoy. They love to sit along the conveyor belt and wait for my husband and me to spot our favorites so that they can quickly grab it for us. It’s a great family night out! I’m afraid I must disagree with guest reviewer Paul on only thing; I think it’s a great date night place as well. I actually think it would also be a great place for a first date, because it’s so unique and fun that it wipes away those jitters!

In keeping with unique culinary experiences, guest reviewer Meredith revealed her favorite little hot spot, Ruxbin. Chef Edward Kim is definitely in touch with what is pleasing to the taste buds. His cuisine is an eclectic mix of Pan Asian, French, Latin American, and other international flavors. Our guest reviewers raved about the flavor he pulls from unexpected ingredients. Chef Kim is spot-on when he describes a typical American pantry as being a little bit of everything. I have Italian pastas and sauces, Puerto Rican spices and vegetables, Chinese noodles, and so much more in my pantry. He’s right…modern American cuisine is actually a “fusion” cuisine. While the food steals the show at Ruxbin, the service and ambiance are icing on the cake. Be prepared, though. It’s very small. We affectionately call this “intimate” on our show. There are only 32 seats and they don’t take reservations. As guest reviewer Paul discovered, it fills up quickly. The secret is out, people love this place, and if you’re lucky you may be asked to wait to be seated. It’s that good.

Well there you have it. Three memorable culinary experiences that you must try. I hope you will. Write to us and to tell us about it!

Happy Eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

If you’re in the Hyde Park neighborhood and have at least $10 in your pocket, guest reviewer Elliott tells us you have to try the unique gourmet sandwiches at Zaleski & Horvath Market Café. The name is a mouthful, but so is the place. Zaleski & Horvath looks like a deli, possibly a coffee shop, or even an organic grocery, but don’t let that fool you. It really is one of the tastiest sandwich shops in Chicago. The owners are serving up food with a conscience. As many ingredients as possible are purchased from local growers and meat purveyors. What’s more, these sandwiches are not just your run-of-the-mill turkey and swiss! There are sandwiches like the Jamon, Jamon which includes Serrano ham, manchego cheese, quince paste, dijon, mixed greens, and roasted tomato on French bread. Vegetarian options are plentiful and if you’re a picky eater there are create-your-own options as well. Visit their website and you will also find an incredible selection of daily soups. All of our guests loved their uniquely crafted sandwiches and eclectic environment. We’ve heard it said many, many times on Check, Please! but this one truly is a gem – delicious and the price is right!

Guest reviewer Ed took us to a truly unique culinary experience in Lincoln Square at Jibek Jolu Central Asian Restaurant. Listening to our reviewers discuss this restaurant was quite a history lesson. Jibek Jolu, which means Silk Road, is the only Kyrgyzstani restaurant in Chicago. Kyrgyzstani flavors are a mix of many cultures due to the nomadic nature of the people and the influences of neighboring countries. You’ll find Russian, Turkish, Afghani, Chinese, and even Korean styles of dishes at Jibek Jolu. The menu is dominated by meat, potatoes, dumplings, and noodles. Jibek Jolu is not a restaurant for vegetarians, but certainly for adventurous eaters willing to try a unique cultural cuisine. The noodles are hand-pulled on the premises and the house salad is served hot including fried beef, onions, garlic, and cucumbers in a soy sauce. You can be sure you are having an authentic Kyrgyzstani experience because Grandma is busy cooking in the kitchen at this family run business.

I think my favorite part of this week’s show was the discussion about the Michigan Avenue gastro pub, The Gage. Situated across the street from one of Chicago’s most visited tourist attractions, Millennium Park, The Gage offers the perfect fine dining experience for native Chicagoans or visiting tourists. On that point, Alpana and the guest reviewers practically broke out into an enthusiastic tourism commercial for Chicago! “Welcome to Chicago – we’re glad you’re here!” It was a silly moment, but fun to watch. With such a great location, The Gage is the perfect place to end your day of sightseeing in our beautiful city. The energy in this restaurant is electric and the food and spirits are top-notch. All of our guest reviewers were very pleased with their meals. That is until guest reviewer Ed’s dining neighbor poked her nose across the table, just inches from his sour cherry strudel, to admire his dessert. Alpana calls this “food-dropping.” While it is a compliment that others “ooh” and “ah” at your order, let’s all be good foodies and keep our noses out of others dishes, okay?

Happy Eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

How do people get on the show?
This is the most frequently asked question I’ve heard or read. We have 36 guest reviewers on Check, Please! each season which are selected in early spring. If you are interested in becoming one of our “real-people” reviewers, just click on “Be On Show” and complete the application. We look for detailed and “flavored” responses and for restaurant picks that have not been featured on the show. To be sure your restaurant has not already been reviewed, you can search for your pick on this site. Prospective reviewers must be available to tape the discussion segments of the program at the WTTW studios in the middle of a week day, during the summer months. And, of course, they must be willing to visit two other restaurants recommended for the episode. Each season, applications are considered by our Executive Producer and one of the Associate Producers, and calls are made to potential reviewers as we organize the next season’s episodes. As you’ve seen on the show, we try to select a variety of people and restaurant types, and put them together for each episode.

Who selects the restaurants you review?
The restaurants are recommended by our selected “real-people” reviewers, not by the staff of Check, Please! We get lots of letters from individuals recommending restaurants or asking why we haven’t covered a restaurant. The answer is simple: if we haven’t received an application from an interested reviewer for that restaurant, or we haven’t selected the person recommending that restaurant for the show, then it won’t be reviewed on Check, Please!

How many restaurants have you covered and will you run out? By the end of this season, we will have reviewed 396 restaurants. You can watch reviews for almost all of them on this website. And no, we will not run out of restaurants to cover! We invite reviewers to tell us about restaurants throughout the Chicago area, which includes the suburbs and just over the border of Indiana. There is no shortage of restaurants to consider. Not to mention, new restaurants are opening all the time.

What happens when a reviewed restaurant closes?
The restaurant business can be difficult so restaurants closings are not unusual. Restaurateurs often close one eatery, only to re-open another with a completely different chef, menu, atmosphere, or address. As soon as we know of restaurant closings, we update the website and pull the episode in which it was featured from our broadcast replay lineup. Sometimes, our viewers are the ones you let us know about restaurant closures – thanks for your updates!

Does Check, Please! impact business for restaurants?
Most if not all of the restaurants featured are overwhelmed by the business that follows a review on Check, Please! “Hidden gems” are revealed to thousands of viewers who look forward to new culinary experiences. In fact, the bump in diners and business continues each time an episode featuring that restaurant airs! So if you like a restaurant you see on the show, get your reservations in early!

Do the restaurants know the reviewers are coming?
No. When our reviewers visit the restaurants, the restaurants do not know that they are visiting or reviewing it for Check, Please! We want our reviewers to have the same experience any person would have visiting the restaurant. After our reviewers dine at the restaurant to form their opinion and review, they come to our studios to tape the discussion part of the show with the other two reviewers. It’s only after we’ve heard the reviewers comments that we send a producer and camera crew out to the restaurants for a few hours to videotape exterior shots of the restaurant, the décor and atmosphere, activity in the kitchen, interviews with the chef and staff, and the dishes the reviewers mentioned in the studio discussion.

Well, that’s all for now! I hope you found an answer to one of your Check, Please! questions here. If not, write in and let us know what’s on your mind!

Happy holiday eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

Are you ready for an upscale prix fixe, multi-course meal, perfectly prepared, uniquely flavored, and artfully presented for around $25? Yes, you read that correctly! In this week’s show guest reviewer Greg Gurley reveals the best kept dining secret in Bridgeport – Han 202. This is not your “around-the-corner” carry-out Chinese restaurant offering shrimp fried rice. No. Han 202 offers a multi-course meal of uniquely paired ingredients like perfectly seasoned beef over a salad of shredded green apple or monkfish in a delicate black bean sauce, followed by a decadent chocolate truffle dessert. Guests choose from a selection of dishes for each course. Good luck making a decision because according to our guest reviewers everything is wonderful. Chef Guan Chen wants his guests to truly enjoy the flavors he puts together through a fusion of the best ingredients and techniques from Asian and American cuisine. If you visit the website for Han 202, you will find the story behind the restaurant’s name. It is the inspiration for Chef Chen’s fusion creations. In a nutshell, it describes the Chinese Han Dynasty of 202 B.C. and how, after losing a battle due to an inadequate breed of horse, the Han people bred a hybrid horse that rivaled their opponent’s and won the next battle. The idea of taking two known items and blending them to create something new and bold is what fusion is all about. Our guest reviewers all agreed that Chef Chen, a humble master at his craft, reaches his goal of creating something memorable and delicious. And, since it is BYOB you really can’t beat the value for this quality, fine dining experience. The only drawback to this restaurant is that it is small and quite intimate. When people hear about this place, it’s sure to be full so make your reservations now!

If prix fixe is not your style and you’re looking for some great whiskey and burgers, then guest reviewer Erica Hennes has the place for you. If you see a skeleton riding a motorcycle at Ogden and Grand, then you’ve found the Twisted Spoke, a self-proclaimed “family biker bar.” Wait, did I really just write “family biker bar”? Our reviewers say this place is definitely not just for bikers…the crowd is a good mix of young and old, “yuppie” and ordinary guy. There’s a huge selection drinks, the widest selection of whiskeys around, and a great menu of Mexican and American bar foods. Now, while it may seem like a mild-mannered bar setting serving the ever-popular Bad Boy burger and fries on a Tuesday afternoon, the manners are thrown “through-the-window” at midnight on Saturdays. Be warned that at midnight a delightful brunch menu becomes available as you and your guests can enjoy a selection of pornographic videos. Really! This two-and-a-half hours of porn and brunch in the wee hours is what they call “Smut & Eggs.” Go ahead check out the website for more details.

Cue the light jazz music…we need to change the mood a little. Guest reviewer Elaine Michelini reveals her favorite special occasion recommendation in Evanston. Oceanique is a classy, upscale seafood restaurant, providing a serene, fine-dining experience. The food was fantastic, but reviewers Greg and Erica wanted more from the experience. The quiet atmosphere was a little unsettling for Erica, but all agreed that the seafood and desserts were exceptional. Maybe they could liven the place up with some creative movies in the late evening? (Just kidding.)

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so I hope you have wonderful dining plans whether they are at home, with friends, at grandma’s, or at your favorite special occasion restaurant. New episodes of Check, Please! will return again in January 2012!

Happy holiday eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

Guest reviewer Steve recommended his favorite Italian eatery, Davanti Enoteca. Not really knowing for sure because he has never been to Italy and isn’t Italian, he tells us it’s authentic…the real deal. Luckily, guest reviewer Rose, who has visited Italy, had to agree. She was very excited to tell us that the pizza was the closest to pizza to what she has experienced in Florence.

Authentic is a word you will hear a lot on our show when people are referring to ethnic cuisines. In my opinion, it might be a word that is used too often to describe a culinary experience. Not because it’s not true, but because it doesn’t always complete the idea. I know I’m being a bit nitpicky, but when I hear this repeatedly as we’re producing this show, I find myself wanting to know more. For example, saying that a dish is authentically Italian gives us the idea that the food is made with an old-world technique and skill, and that sounds great. Who wouldn’t like a dish that has the flavor of your grandmother’s best family recipe? But ‘authentically Italian’ is only part of the picture; it’s just not descriptive enough for me. Italy is a big country, with a variety of food styles and preparation. Classically Italian dishes are simple, using no more than eight or nine ingredients; regionalism makes the difference. While pasta is a staple of Italian cuisine, the treatment of pasta may vary in northern Italian and southern Italian dishes. By the same token, Middle Eastern cuisine varies greatly as well. Reviewer Ronia recommended Alhambra Palace and says their dishes are deliciously authentic Middle Eastern fare. There’s that word again. The owner of Alhambra Palace breaks this down further for us by explaining that the menu is primarily Moroccan. While Middle Eastern suggests a region of the world and conjures up commonly used ingredients like olives, olive oils, sesame seeds, and chickpeas, the techniques and application of these ingredients within a recipe can vary wildly. The description of the cuisine as authentically Moroccan makes you (or at least me) think of spicy dishes inspired by Moorish, Mediterranean, and Arab influences. These dishes are actually spicier than other Middle Eastern cuisine.

Reviewer Rose introduces us to a neighborhood barbeque favorite called Smoque. Rose was new to barbeque when she first was discovered Smoque. As she explains, she didn’t know that she would be a fan of this kind of food, but Smoque is now the benchmark by which she measures all other barbeque. Is it authentic southern barbeque? Our friend Steve sure thinks so! But I think you should decide for yourself. Barbeque is one of those things that can make enemies of friends – it’s a dicey debate I’d rather not get into. All I know is that all of our guests wholeheartedly agreed that Smoque is delicious barbeque. Ultimately, I guess that’s all that really matters!

Happy eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

I think guest reviewer Marti Berkowitz did it up right at Mastro’s. As it’s a steakhouse – and the meats are the stars of the show – Marti took on the true task of any good restaurant reviewer by trying almost every appetizer and side she could order to provide a thorough assessment of her experience. Kudos Marti! Way to take one for the team! Needless to say, she loved the experience. The portions are generous, and all of our guest reviewers agreed with reviewer Jeremy – the meal, service, and atmosphere at Mastro’s are top notch.

Guest reviewer Miguel de Baca had our reviewers venture out to Highland Park for what many people might consider a new twist on Mexican cuisine. While it only makes sense that in every culture there are varying traditions, it is not typical to think of Mexican food prepared in…kosher-style? Owner Isaac Nava is a Mexican Jew and uses recipes handed down in his family from generation to generation. Nava explains that the dishes are prepared in “kosher-style,” eliminating the use of shellfish and pork, and traditional Mexican dishes like quesadillas are given a kosher twist. For example, King David’s Quesadillas are made with lox, cream cheese and onions. Reviewer Marti found that this style of cooking might reduce the spicy-heat that is often found in Mexican cuisine, which makes for milder flavors. In accordance with Jewish law, Nava also closes his restaurant on Fridays at sundown until Saturday at sundown so, if you’re planning a visit, you may want to call to confirm the hours of operation.

This restaurant selection encouraged me to learn more about the meaning of “kosher.” I did a little research and found an online encyclopedia of Judaism called “Judaism 101,” which explains kosher in basic terms. It explains that Kashrut is the Jewish law related to foods that can or cannot be eaten. Kashrut is derived from the Torah, the first five books of the Bible that contain Jewish teachings. Kosher describes food that meets the standards of the Jewish law. People keeping kosher observe these laws year-round, not just on high-holidays like Passover. Kosher for Passover is different than kosher for year-round. Kosher food is not simply “blessed” by a rabbi but, rather, butchered or prepared in certain ways. For example, acceptable meat products are kept and prepared separately from dairy products. Kosher kitchens typically have separate dishes and cookware for these items. The laws state that certain animals — pigs, for example –are never to be eaten. The law includes any part of the animal, its eggs, and/or milk. According to this website, “kosher-style” doesn’t necessarily mean that the food is prepared kosher, but that traditional Jewish foods may be served.

Finally Marti introduced us to Melanthios Greek Char House and we found that our table was filled with Greek food aficionados! Miguel’s brother lives in Greece and having visited many times, he knows moussaka (layered eggplant, potato, and meat topped with béchamel sauce and baked)t and raved about the moussaka at Melanthios. Jeremy’s wife is Greek and brought her Greek family along to dinner, and they raved about their meal as well. It’s fantastic luck when we bring together three very different people, and a common thread links them together in some way. Of course there’s the love of food but in this show we discovered that each of our guests has a “Greek” connection!

Happy Eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW