The Stew - chicagotribune.com

Puffs of Doom offers inspired cream puffs

By Dana Juhasz Ardell — Tue, 29 May 2012 11:06:00 PDT

Puffs of Doom offers "locally-made artisanal cream puffs" in more than 300 flavors. If you've been pining for a flavor beyond vanilla, chances are Rebecca VanderKloot and Luke Petillon have incorporated it into one of their puffs sold at area farmers markets. With flavors such as pineapple bourbon caramel, spiced apple almond, chocolate covered bacon, blackberry Kahlua and raspberry vodka lemonade, they've got sweet, savory, ice cream, boozy and gluten-free varieties covered. Puffs of Doom also...

Arun's, 14 others named as Taste of Chicago Pop-Up restaurants

By Phil Vettel — Sat, 26 May 2012 05:18:00 PDT

Fifteen Chicago restaurants will participate in the 2012 Taste of Chicago for exactly one day, as part of the event’s inaugural Pop-Up program, the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events announced Saturday.

Takashi Yagihashi, Art Smith competing on season four of Top Chef Masters

By Kevin Pang — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:19:00 PDT

Takashi Yagihashi, chef of his eponymous Bucktown restaurant and River North’s Slurping Turtle, will be competing on the new season of Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters.

Lagunitas signs Chicago lease, targets November taproom opening

By Josh Noel — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:57:00 PDT

Remember last month's surprising announcement that Lagunitas, one of the nation's fastest-growing breweries, would build a massive outpost in Chicago to furnish beer to the eastern half of the country?

Kellogg-Achatz mystery solved; recipes legit, agreement expired

By Phil Vettel — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:45:00 PDT

We know more about the minor flap that ensued when a couple of recipes attributed to Alinea chef Grant Achatz (one was credited to a chef Grant Actatz) surfaced on a Kellogg-owned website. The recipes, which called for the use of Keebler Town House brand crackers, didn't sound much like the great chef's food.

Chicago Craft Beer Week: a roundup

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:16:00 PDT

At long last, it's back: the 11-day Chicago Craft Beer Week.

Healthful foods not really more expensive than junk food, says USDA study

By Monica Eng — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:29:00 PDT

One common complaint among activists trying to change the food system is that junk food is cheaper than healthful foods and the balance must change.

Logan Square Kitchen announces closing, citing burdensome city regulations

By Monica Eng — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 PDT

Last month when Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his streamlining of city business licensing procedures, he chose Logan Square Kitchen as the location to herald this new day in better relations between the city and small businesses.

Tony Hu adds to Chinatown empire; Spring World to become Lao Yunnan

By Kevin Pang — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:56:00 PDT

Tony Hu, Chicago Chinatown empresario, has taken over control of Spring World restaurant and will rename it ... get ready now ... Lao Yunnan. It will become his sixth "Lao" concept in Chinatown.

Fake Grant Achatz recipes appear on a Kellogg's site

By Phil Vettel — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:00 PDT

K, e, double-L, oh, double-Good Grief, what are you people thinking?

5 Rabbit to open brewery in southwest suburbs

By Josh Noel — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:37:00 PDT

5 Rabbit Brewing, which has had its Latin-influenced beers made at six different breweries since launching last spring, will open a brewery of its own in the southwest suburb of Bedford Park later this year, co-owner Isaac Showaki said today.

American livestock get extra dose of antibiotics from spent ethanol grain, report says

By Monica Eng — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:36:00 PDT

Lawmakers press FDA on this unregulated practice As the battle wages on over the safety of feeding antibiotics to livestock for growth promotion, a new report reveals yet another source of unregulated antibiotics in American animal feed--spent ethanol grain.

Markethouse hot links now available daily

By Judy Hevrdejs — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:32:00 PDT

How hot are the specialty sausages that Markethouse Restaurant executive chef Scott Walton has been turning out? Popular enough that Walton will now be making 30 pounds of his most popular sausages daily.

Meat glue safety and labeling defended by industry

By Monica Eng — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:53:00 PDT

"Meat glue" has been around for decades, but, like "pink slime," the product has recently bubbled to the surface of public consciousness in a way that's making the meat industry uneasy.

Share your best farmers market tips

By Monica Eng — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:27:00 PDT

I attended my first outdoor farmers market of the year today and couldn't resist a bunch of ruby rhubarb, a bundle of asparagus and kale and basil plants. I smell pie and quiche in my near future.

Help stamp out hunger

By Bill Daley — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:32:00 PDT

Put out some non-perishable food items with your mail on Saturday, May 12, for the Stamp Out Hunger food drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Video of animal abuse prompts Tyson to halt sow purchases pending investigation

By Monica Eng — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:21:00 PDT

Live from the 2012 James Beard Foundation Award

By Kevin Pang — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:10:00 PDT

NEW YORK — Observations from a really long evening at Avery Fisher Hall for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards.

Revolution Brewing picks up two gold medals at World Beer Cup

By Josh Noel — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:17:00 PDT

Chicago-area brewpubs won a combined three gold medals at this weekend's World Beer Cup in San Diego, one of the most eagerly-watched competitions in the craft beer world.

Will the majority of Americans be obese by 2030?

By Monica Eng — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:23:00 PDT

Monday morning researchers revealed the findings of a new study challenging linear time trend forecasts on American obesity that predict 51% of the U.S. population or more will be obese by 2030.

Half Acre to open a brewery tap room this summer

By Josh Noel — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:28:00 PDT

Chicago has had a flood of good beer news in recent weeks, (thank you, Lagunitas and Three Floyds ) and now we have one more installment, courtesy of local heroes Half Acre Beer Company .

Small Bar Fullerton sold, to become The Beer Bistro North

By Josh Noel — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:17:00 PDT

Small Bar Fullerton will become The Beer Bistro North after owners of two of the city's better craft beer bars completed a sale today on the west Lincoln Park space.

Alinea No. 7 on 2012 World's 50 Best Restaurants list

By Phil Vettel — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:12:00 PDT

To the extent that being named one of the 10 best restaurants in the world can possibly be disappointing, Monday's announcement that Alinea was number seven on the list was a bit of a letdown.

City set to hear testimony on soda taxes

By Monica Eng — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:31:00 PDT

Health advocates and soda supporters will go head to head Tuesday in a City Council committee hearing on a sugary beverage tax.

Chicago outdoor farmers markets expand access for low income shoppers

By Monica Eng — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:02:00 PDT

Some early Chicago area farmers markets will open their tables this month with the first produce of the season--although wacky temperatures coaxed ramps and asparagus out in April this year.