Saturday is the ninth annual "Open That Bottle Night," an event decreed by Wall Street Journal wine column writers Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher. Typically scheduled for the last Saturday in February, Brecher and Gaiter created "OTBN" as a column device, basically. They asked readers to open a bottle of wine they found symbolically significant, and then send in the stories related to that choice. Over the years we've opened up everything from splits of Van Duzer pinot noir to magnums of G.H. Mumm Extra Dry champagne, usually in celebration of something. more ›

The big event happening this weekend is the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show at McCormick Place. The event features over 2,000 exhibitors in nearly 900 product categories showcasing the latest kitchen innovations and technology, sustainability concepts, and fine cuisine. Highlights of the show this year include a celebrity bookstore (a new feature where celebrity chefs and restaurateurs will be in attendance signing books) a food fair featuring regional specialty foods from across the country,... more ›

On a rainy night last month, Chicagoist and a friend headed to Café Bionda, which is a perfect place for waiting out overcast skies. We split a 22-ounce, French cut, bone-in ribeye from Allen Brothers, served with sauteed vegetables, bleu cheese and a balsamic demi-glace. It tasted just as good as it sounded. We talked incessantly about that steak for the next week, to the point where some Chicagoistas could finish the story from memory. more ›

This week is National Wine Week. For those of us who refuse to heed the sage wisdom of George Thorogood and drink alone, here are some ways to enjoy a bottle of wine around town, guaranteed to fall within any budget and get you out exploring the city: In honor of National Wine Week, each day Smith & Wollensky is offering a tasting of ten wines for ten dollars, along with the price of lunch.... more ›

It's no secret that Chicagoist is a teeny bit of a wine snob, if by "snob" you mean "knows enough about it to pick a bottle based on virtues other than it has a pretty label." We love wine and we especially love mixing it with things ... for instance, with a good cause. After all, if we're going to be drinking, let the drinking be done to benefit someone else rather than just ourselves... more ›

Chicagoist tries not to make New Year's resolutions because we're usually breaking them by 12:15 a.m. We do have a few New Year's traditions that we try to honor. We eat black-eyed peas with ham for good luck and prosperity in the coming year. We don our pajamas and head to Puffer's for the annual New Year's Day buffet catered by Maple Tree Inn on South Western. And we have a nice bottle of bubbly... more ›

During a field trip by the Chicagoist staff a few weeks back to Pilsen's Picante Grill your humble Bridgeport corespondent paired his pato almendrada entree with a $3.50 glass of tempranillo. It turned out to be an inspired pairing; the lighter almond molé sauce complemented the tobacco and vanilla notes found in the wine. Chicagoist loved it so much that we just had to share that love with you. more ›