We were out at Silver Cloud last night, when we remembered the interview we did with Larry Bell from last December. Didn't he say that he was going to have the new Kalamazoo Brewery beer at Silver Cloud? Indeed he did. We were excited to give it a shot, so we asked the waitress what they had on tap from Kalamazoo. When she said that they had Oberon on tap and on special, as soon as we picked our jaws up off the floor, we immediately ordered a half-dozen. more ›

Longtime "BotW" readers might remember that we reviewed a barley wine last spring from Louisville's Browning's Brewery. We bought it retail in town but, after making a phone call to the brewmaster in Louisville, didn't disclose where we made the purchase for fear of outing the store in question for selling booze outside the three-tier distribution system. more ›

Sharp eyes around these parts may have noticed a lack of restaurant reviews lately. That's because it's been cold, y'all. This recent spate of bad weather has reacquainted us with the simplicity of making pancakes. It's even easier when you're working from a pre-made mix. During our weekly visit to Lush Wine & Spirits this weekend, we picked up a twenty-ounce bag of pancake mix from the Sour Mash Bourbon Bread Company, a company co-founded... more ›

"Your Friday Food Buffet" is a new feature where we combine business-related news concerning food and drink with tastings and fixed-price dinners happening around town this weekend. Pretty cut-and-dried, don'cha think? Anyway, we hope you like it. Starbucks finally drops act, admits inspiration for business model: After test-marketing in Chicago and other markets throughout the country, Starbucks rolled out their breakfast sandwiches and drive-thru service in Boston and select Los Angeles locations. No information... more ›

Tom Curtis, a former bartender at the Empty Bottle and current Twisted Spoke employee, was the victim of a senseless attack on December 8th. Walking home from a friend's house through an alley near the epicenter of Wicker Park, he was robbed by a group of young adults, beaten with a shovel about the face, neck, and head, and left for dead. Tom was found and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he received several transfusions for massive blood loss, and treatment to repair a crushed skull, a broken nose, jaw, teeth, and cheekbones. His neck was so swollen that intubation was required to allow him to breathe. The crushed skull also led to swelling and infections on the brain. Doctors gave little hope for Tom's survival. But he's fought back and is recovering better than the experts thought, although he still has a long way to go, including a couple more surgeries. And those are going to cost money; like many members of the service industry, Tom doesn't have health insurance. more ›

Think of a wine store in this this city. Usually the first thing that comes to mind is a superstore like Sam's or Binny's. You've also got Randolph Wine Cellars and the Wine Discount Center if don't want to get lost in a warehouse; or smaller boutique shops like Que Syrah on Southport if you don't want to immerse yourself in the cultivated haughtiness of a wine bar. Now you can add Lush Wine... more ›

If 2004 was the year of tapas, or small-plate dining, then 2005 will be the year of the Comfort Food. Comfort food — think hearty, filling — has been making its way onto menus for some time now. After 9/11, the school of thought was that restaurant patrons wanted something that would soothe the mind as well as sate the belly. Meatloaf, for instance, has popped up in some unexpected places such as Bar Louie,... more ›