Results tagged “grantachatz”

I am a chef who likes to cook more than proliferate and manage restaurants. That’s why Frontera Grill, Topolobampo and, now, Xoco are all together. I can slide from one kitchen to another, tasting and training and coaching and cooking. Cooking is why I became a chef, and I never want to get too far from it.

The expansion of the Alinea brand continues unabated. Now Achatz, Kokonas and company are opening their daunting wine cellar and selling wine subscriptions. In addition to rare selections hand-picked by Alinea sommelier Joe Catterson, Alinea:Oenophilia subscribers will also receive tasting notes, recipes for pairings (all the more reason to break out the Anti-griddle), and a "welcome kit" containing a bottle of Laurent-Perrier brut champagne, a pair of Rona Artist champagne flutes and a cork and card presenter from designer Martin Kastner.

When it comes to Alinea and Grant Achatz, what is understood need not be discussed. So let's let two minutes of video and this review do the talking, instead:

• North Shore Distillery's Sonja Kassebaum writes a loving profile of graham elliot beverage manager/head mixologist Lynn House (pictured). [Thinking of Drinking]
• Baconfest news: the Publican is hosting the VIP Pro cookoff the day before the fest. [Baconfestchicago.com]
• Mike Sula cheers the return of kaiseki master Seijero Matsumoto. [Food Chain]

The Pilot Group, the force behind the Thrillist and Daily Candy newsletters, has named former Starchefs features editor Heather Sperling as editor of its Chicago newsletter, which is set to launch on July 6. Sperling's bylines have appeared in Plate and Michigan Avenue magazines, and The Atlantic Food Channel. New Yorker readers familiar with the in-depth piece on Grant Achatz and his battle with Stage IV tongue cancer may also recognize Sperling as Achatz's girlfriend. (Achatz also has a blog on the Atlantic Food Channel). As to any conflict of interest, CEO Geoff Bartakovics told us via email, "...our EIC, Nick (Fauchald), has a specific understanding with Heather: she will neither promote Grant's restaurants or work, nor ignore his existence (ignoring a top chef would be as disingenuous as shilling for him). Of course, Grant does not need Tasting Table to promote his already incredible career. Since Tasting Table is really about selection -- not blanket coverage -- I don't foresee any problems."

• Cook County Circuit Court clerk Dorothy Brown had no problem accepting gifts from employees until the Tribune came calling.
• What began as a simple break-in at a house in Matteson led to that town's biggest pot bust ever.
• Students rallied at Northwestern yesterday in support of classmates who say they were the victims of racial profiling.

The annual James Beard Award winners were announced over two nights in New York. Despite some strong showings from local chefs, media and restaurateurs, the ceremonies turned into a case of "It was an honor just being nominated."

Grant Achatz started his rise to chef superstardom at the long lamented Trio in Evanston, which also served as a proving ground for Rick Tramonto, Gale Gand, Shawn McClain and Dale Levitski.

In another interview with indieWIRE, Cutler gives a few more insights into the film.

Between now and Wednesday, we're counting down the top 8 local stories that captivated us in 2008.

Say you're Nick Kokonas, partner in Alinea and Daddy Warbucks to Grant Achatz's Little Orphan Annie, and you want to do something slightly different with the Thanksgiving turkey. Do you brine it? Deep fry it? Grind it and turn it into a giant pot pie?

     

Found this waiting on my doorstep last night. It's the long-awaited Alinea book. And wouldn't you know, it's a monolith. I was literally afraid to touch it for fear that I might have a mindsplosion.

The saying goes, "It ain't bragging if you can back it up." It's also been a while since we've visited Alinea, both the restaurant proper and as a news item. This look inside the kitchen is a nicely detailed look at what goes on behind the scenes.

The Sox and Cubs sit atop their respective divisions, Chicago resident and Illinois Senator Barack Obama is set to be named the Democratic Presidential candidate, and Chicago made the short-list to host the 2016 Olympics. Some have suggested that the summer of '08 is Chicago's "moment", to which we say, "Really? Just now?" Yes, Chicago has seen some great success stories so far this year: Tracy Letts' August: Osage County has a Pulitzer and is expected to add a Tony while Alinea's Grant Achatz has made headlines for his fight with cancer and for being a pretty damn good chef. And with all the other things about our great city that we love, we can understand why there's a swell of civic pride. We just think expectations should be tempered a bit. The Cubs are due any day now for their annual collapse, this year's election will be one of the most hotly contested in recent history, and we have a long road to travel before we secure the 2016 games.

Alinea's Grant Achatz won James Beard's most coveted prize of Outstanding Chef last night at New York City's Lincoln Center. The awards, aptly described as the Oscars of the culinary world, are named after famed American chef James Beard and seek to call attention to the country's best of the best in all things culinary. Julie Child said of James Beard, "Beard was the quintessential American cook. Well-educated and well-traveled during his eighty-two years, he was familiar with many cuisines but he remained fundamentally American."

What's with the sudden level of attention on Grant Achatz? Chicago Magazine has a couple new pieces out about the Alinea superchef (and Chicagoist Grills interviewee), Men's Vogue has a piece, and the New Yorker has a gargantuan profile about Achatz. Is it because of the Alinea Cookbook coming out in the fall? No, it's because more and more of the national press are picking up the story about Achatz looking tongue cancer in the eye and kicking its fucking ass.

The S. Pellegrino list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants was announced yesterday. Both Alinea and Charlie trotter's made the cut: the House of Achatz settles in at #21 while Trotter's lands at #38. What is notable about the two restaurants' inclusion on the lsit is that Alinea jumped up fifteen spaces from its debut on last year's list, while Trotter's fell eight spots.

After voting in the Chicago Way, the 2008 James Beard Award nominees were announced today (via). The list is filled with some familiar names (Grant Achatz for outstanding chef, Rich Melman for Outstanding restaurateur) and encompasses a good cross section of the city's dining scene. For the coveted "Best Chef: Great Lakes" category, the inclusion of North Pond's Bruce Sherman, Naha's Carrie Nahabedian and Graham Elliot Bowles gives Chicago a 3-in-5 chance that the winning chef will be located here. The one section where Chicago's restaurants were notably absent was in the "best new restaurant" category, where Sepia was snubbed.

New York magazine got their hands on a copy of this year's James Beard award ballots (check it out for yourself here) and as usual, our city's restaurants are well-represented.

Some chef news for you: Monday both Chicago Mag's Dish and TOC broke the news that Avenues' Graham Elliot Bowles will be leaving the AAA five-diamond award winning restaurant in April to open a new restaurant in the former Harvest on Huron space (217 W. Huron).

A 14-year-old Illinois girl was on a cruise off the coast of California with her family when her appendix burst. The USS Ronald Reagan was dispatched to rescue her, and they did--including a helicopter transport between the ships. [Trib]

Carly Simon once sang "anticipation ... is keeping me waiting." Keep those lyrics in line now that pre-orders are being taken for the long-awaited Alinea cookbook, due from Ten Speed Press in autumn 2008. Ordering the 100-recipe book, currently listed at a downright-cheap-for-Alinea fifty dollars, also affords buyers some added perks. Buyers will receive a limited-edition copy of the book signed by chef Grant Achatz and members of the Alinea creative team. All pre-sale...

What do Brooke Shields, Grant Achatz and this Chicagoist mama have in common? All three have a professed love for the convenience and taste of HomeMade Pizza Company. HomeMade Pizza Co. sells uncooked pizzas that you then take home and pop in the oven. Twelve minutes later, you’ve got a fresh-tasting, thin-crust dinner. Voila! June Cleaver has nothing on you. Menu options include funky, artisanal options like goat cheese and herbs or a combo of...

We've been out this afternoon, unable to check our inbox until recently. We saw this and corresponding reports from others.

Coalfire is a new New Haven-style pizza parlor on Grand owned by longtime Matchbox bartender J. Spillane and partner Bill Carroll (Unrelated, Matchbox has the best margarita in the city, hands down). Now, anyone who's eaten at Piece is familiar with New Haven-style pie. The twist with Coalfire is that the pizzas are baked in a coal-fired oven, hence the name. The Reader's "Food Chain" blog has been keeping up on the Coalfire thread over...

The James L. Beard Awards — the Oscars of the culinary world — were handed out last night. Though Chicago didn't win a large number of awards, we did win one of the most important ones, so we can take solace in that.

Quick, name the top five chefs in Chicago. Now name the five most famous chefs in the country. While the cuisines may vary from Grant Achatz's "molecular gastronomy" to Mario Batali's classic Italian, the one thing that most — or all — of these chefs have in common is the pale, pale, color of their skin. As Maureen Jenkins writes in today's Sun-Times, "the shortage of chefs of African descent is noteworthy if only by...

The James L. Beard Award nominees were announced yesterday and as in years past, Chicago represented. And the Chicago-based nominees are: Outstanding Restaurateur: Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Outstanding Chef: Jean Joho, Everest and Paul Kahan, Blackbird Outstanding Restaurant: Frontera Grill and Spiaggia Rising Star Chef of the Year: Graham Elliot Bowles, Avenues Outstanding Pastry Chef: Mindy Segal, HotChocolate Outstanding Service: Tru Outstanding Wine Service: Bin 36, Wine Director Brian Duncan Best Chef, Great...