Baked Chicago

Top Chef Stephanie Izard to Host First Bites Bash, the Official Kick-Off for Chicago Restaurant Week

 

Kick-off the 5th annual Chicago Restaurant Week and a celebration of Chicago’s epicurean excellence at First Bites Bash, presented by United Airlines!

Stephanie Izard, Chicago restaurateur and winner of Top Chef’s Season 4 will host the highly-anticipated event, and 100... percent of net proceeds generated by ticket sales will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Sweet and savory tastings from more than 50 of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants and chefs will be featured. Tickets are available for purchase at www.firstbitesbash.com.

Brookfield Zoo welcomes new baby gibbon!

 

Chicago's Millennium Park

 

Social Media Week Chicago Starts September 19

Social Media Week Chicago kicks off in just under a week, boasting over 80 events across the Chicagoland area. Local businesses and brands will come together for this global event to discuss the changing social and mobile media landscape across all major industries.

Events are free and open to the public, but registration is required and filling up quickly. Don’t miss out on some of Social Media Week Chicago’s best in keynotes, panelists and speakers by registering for your favorite sessions today. Visit www.socialmediaweek.org/chicago and choose the “LOGIN/REGISTER” tab for registration details.

Not sure what events to attend? Check out:

• Elevating Chicago: Closing the Loop Between Offline and Online Markting, a panel featuring speakers from Zocalo Group, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Museum of Science and Industry and the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau - http://socialmediaweek.org/event/?event_id=204
• Gamification: Moving into the real world, lives and transactions, presented by Chris Mahl, CMO of SCVNGR - http://socialmediaweek.org/event/?event_id=613
• Digital Transformation: How a 162-Year Old Company Moves Like a Startup, presented by David Wolf, VP of Global Marketing at American Express - http://socialmediaweek.org/event/?event_id=614

Taste of Chicago turns 31, introduces some fresh twists on iconic flavors

 

Taste of Chicago kicked off with some delicious new twists on what has been called the "world's largest food festival."

Some people go for the tried and true, like barbecued turkey legs, corn on the cob - or just about any food you can put on a stick. But I'm always interested in what's new at the Taste.

This year Garrett Popcorn (it's 3rd year at the Taste) has rolled out ice cream with popcorn-inspired flavors (available for a limited time): Vanilla Popcorn and Caramel Cream. They've brought back the flash-frozen Popcornsicles, too.

I've always been addicted to their "Chicago Mix" flavor; it's one of those uniquely Chicago flavor experiences. And recently Tammy Green of Garrett Popcorn gave me a great tip for keeping the fingers free of that cheesy, caramelly goodness: use chop sticks to eat the Chicago Mix (especially if you're also working at the computer - keeps the keyboard in pristine condition!).

So if you're like me and need help navigating all the great flavors at the Taste, here's a handy map from Garrett Popcorn so you can easily find them. Be sure to try their new ice cream and tell Garrett's how you like it here, on their Facebook page.

Three Perfect Days - Chicago

The June cover story of Hemispheres (United Airlines inflight magazine) gives some great ideas for experiencing Chicago. The challenge for every visitor is there's so much to do that 3 days is never enough!

 

Download Hemispheres Three Perfect Days Chicago - June 2011

 

Time Out Chicago's Summer Festival Guide Makes a Great Wingman

 
Nothing is more anticipated than summer in Chicago. When it finally arrives, it feels like its jam-packed with parades, festivals and celebrations every weekend. There's some truth to that, which makes it hard to know all the things going on. Time Out Chicago's Summer Festival Guide makes it much easier to navigate all the Chicago summertime fun.

This guide is a helpful resource to know when and where the city's best-loved festivals are happening. Hang on to it at least until Labor Day. But I don't want to think about Labor Day yet, cause summer goes too fast anyway.

Okay, Chicago. Summer is finally here. What are we gonna do first?

 

Chicago Spring Break Getaway Giveaway

Win 4 RT tickets on Southwest Airlines.

The Chicago Spring Break Getaway Giveaway Sweepstakes, sponsored by the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, features 6 grand prizes, each with 4 RT tickets on Southwest Airlines and 4 Chicago CityPASS booklets

Enter through March 31 via Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ChooseChicago?sk=app_4949752878

Pumpkin Carving / Jack O' Lantern Templates from My Childhood

Betty Crocker loves Halloween as much as everyone else!  And she's offering free pumpkin carving / Jack O' Lantern templates of some of the best scarey icons to ever grace a cereal box: 

Count Chocula http://www.bettycrocker.com/~/media/1093C719F8CC45CC9B0D377E9CB05221.ashx

Franken Berry https://www.bettycrocker.com/~/media/17E19589D50840579440283257DDB4B4.ashx

Boo Berry http://www.bettycrocker.com/~/media/Files/PDF/pumpkin-templates/BooOLantern.ashx

 

Andrew Belle's Take on Roasted Eggplant Soup

Chicago native, singer/songwriter Andrew Belle is performing tonight at Schuba's. 

His latest blog entry had a great recipe for Roasted Eggplant Soup, adapted from a recipe he found at www.smittenkitchen.com. 

Read his post about food on the road, try the recipe, and come hear him play tonight at Schuba's.

 

P.S.  I'm a huge fan of Andrew's music as both a singer and songwriter - and whether or not you make it to Schuba's tonight for the live performance, you need to check out his music:  All Those Pretty Lights (one of my favorites), The Ladder or In My Veins (which was featured on season finale of "Grey's Anatomy").