national beer day

...was apparently April 7th....which means I'm late posting this. On April 7th, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison Act into law, ending the 13 year long prohibition of alcohol in the United States. This is definitely news to me. Anyhoo, I recently visited Goose Island for a tour. For $10, a Cicerone (a beer sommelier) will give groups an extremely thorough explanation of the beer brewing process, the history of Goose Island and, the best part, a beer tasting. Bottoms up!

roof top:

Spring is finally here and roof tops around the city are open for viewing pleasure. I love you Chicago!

renga tei:

As I continue to search for my favorite Japanese spots in the city, I can say, with confidence that I have found one to add to the (very short) list. Renga Tei, in Lincolnwood, is nestled into a random corner of a strip mall. Don't let the looks of the establishment fool you! Everything about this quaint, traditional restaurant was just what I needed to fulfill my craving for Japanese food. No frills, no ambient electro music and certainly no wait!

maude's:

Randolph St. French. American. Casual. BONE marrow. Oysters. Salmon tartare. Chicken Liver. Stirred Drinks. VERY. HAPPY. GIRL.

elizabeth taylor

Elizabeth Taylor and Chicago. I read an article this morning in the Chicago Sun Times that highlights the legends' presence in our city in an article titled Elizabeth Taylor tied to Chicago Through Love, Death and Perfume. Here are the highlights:

-In May 1950, Taylor married Conrad “Nicky” Hilton, an heir to the Chicago-based Hilton hotel chain and would-be great-uncle to future celebutantes/entrepreneurs Paris and Nicky. (Hilton died in 1969, before they were born.)

-In mid-1956 she met Chicago-bred film and theater producer Mike Todd. ... the couple wed in February 1957.

-Returning in the fall of 1987, Taylor stayed at the old Park Hyatt...pumped an upscale fragrance called Passion at the former Marshall Field’s on State (photo above). The first in a line of pricey perfumes that includes White Diamonds and Violet Eyes, Passion’s local premiere caused a frenzy, with fans pouring in from several states to catch a glimpse (and, perhaps, a whiff) of the cinematic goddess.

-During an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 1988, Taylor was in a less-than-cheery mood. Looking back 20 years later, Winfrey confessed, the conversation was “still painful to watch.” Because she probed Taylor’s relationships — a topic Taylor had tried to nix before the session began — Winfrey got only curt replies. “You’re so revealing — you just tell everything!” the budding talk queen ribbed. “I declare! You’ve got to stop talking so much, Ms. Taylor!”

spring?:

Spring soltice has passed and the groundhog's prediction was for an early start to spring this year. Please tell me why is it still raining [snowing]?

I did get to break out my Marc by Marc Jacobs wellies that I bought at the Wicker Park store and the give-away umbrella that I brought home from the Bulls game a few weeks ago. Oh the simple pleasures.

mon poulet roti:

It would only be fair for Thomas Keller to own a restaurant in Chicago. Between French Laundry and Bouchon(s) on the West Coast and Per Se on the East Coast, it's just not fair that the Mid West doesn't get a little taste of Keller in the flesh. Who am I kidding, not that I could afford to frequent the restaurant, but, nonetheless, it would still be comforting to have him in my city to celebrate special occasions. Lucky for me one of my closest girlfriends just sent me Kellers' Simple Roast Chicken recipe. I thought it was a joke when she told me that the only ingredients involved were chicken, salt and pepper. I had no idea that it was so easy!

Simple Roast Chicken (Thomas Keller via Bouchon)
Ingredients
One 2- to 3-pound farm-raised chicken. (I bought a free range organic chicken at my Whole Foods, which just happened to be on sale this week)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons minced thyme (optional)
Preheat the oven to 425-450°F. Rinse the chicken, then dry it VERY well with paper towels, inside and out. The less it steams, the drier the heat, the better.Remove the wish bone. Salt and pepper the cavity, then truss (click on the video above if you've never done this) the bird.

Salt the chicken (about 1 tablespoon). When it's cooked, you should still be able to make out the salt baked onto the crisp skin. Season to taste with pepper. Season with thyme if you wish.

Place the chicken in a sauté pan or roasting pan and put the chicken in the oven. Don't baste it, don't add butter. Roast it until it's done, 50 to 60 minutes. Remove it from the oven and baste the chicken with the juices and thyme and let it rest for 15 minutes on a cutting board. Remove the twine.

Now EAT THE MEAT!

I think brussels sprouts go well with anything these days, so I roasted them with olive oil, vinaigrette and garlic. I added some quinoa to the mix and viola! A simple, weekday dinner.