WTTW - Check, Please! Blog

World of Chicago Restaurants

By Carmen Schmidt | Published February 17, 2012 | Comments Off

We’ve reached the end of another season of Check, Please! Our last show is always a compilation of restaurants and discussions from the past, and this year’s theme is the “World of Chicago Restaurants.”

Chicago is a melting pot of flavors and tastes. Over the past 11 years, we have treated our viewers to a whole world of cuisines. In this week’s episode, we will revisit some of our favorites. From the spicy Indian dishes of Hema’s Kitchen to the festive China Town favorite Lao Sze Chaun to the exotic Middle Eastern evening dinner shows with belly dancers at Juliana. We’ll show you how easy it is to be transported to another land when you go out to eat right here in Chicago.

Aside from learning about the great eateries our city has to offer, this episode is also like a World history class. In describing the dishes they have to offer, the chefs and owners often share some of their country’s political history. As countries were occupied and later gained their independence, the cultural influences of their occupiers were left behind in their recipes. Almost every culture has some form of dumpling or noodle that could easily have come from a neighboring country. Ultimately, each country makes a dish their own using a different technique in the preparation and seasoning.

After watching this week’s show, explore the world…try a new cuisine…in essence, go out to eat in Chicago!

Happy eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

Posted in Carmen Schmidt, Season 11 | Comments Off

Bartender vs. Mixologist

By Carmen Schmidt | Published February 10, 2012 | Comments Off

The rattle of a cocktail shaker has made it to almost every episode of this season’s Check, Please! While the food is usually the main event at most restaurants, cocktails are often the icing on the cake.

On this weeks show, guest reviewer Jessica takes us to Bridgeportfor a family-owned restaurant called Nana. At Nana’s, the seasonal menu of breakfast and brunch classics are made using fresh organic ingredients from local growers and farmers. Our guest reviewers raved about their fresh and delicious dishes that have wonderful Mexican flavors. The star of the show was the Baked Chilaquiles which is a corn tortilla casserole, filled with poblano cream and accompanied with black beans. But guest reviewers Marcus and Susan were blown away by the amazing Bloody Mary cocktails. Nana’s makes a roasted poblano Bloody Mary with crop organic vodka, house-made pickles and vegetables, and wild ricegouda that guest reviewer Marcus says was simply the best!

When I think of brunch, I don’t usually think of cocktails. My immediate thought is of fresh squeezed orange juice. However, brunch cocktails are some of the most innovative delights, using unexpected ingredients that enhance your meal. These creations, along with the cocktails you’d expect to find in the evening, are typically the work of mixologists.

Mixology, as defined by the fourth edition of the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, is the study of preparing mixed drinks. A Mixologist is a bartender, but a bartender is not always a mixologist. According to the Professional Bartending School of America, the difference between a bartender and a mixologist is that the mixologist has more extensive training, has greater industry knowledge, and usually works in more upscale food and beverage establishments. However, many people say a good bartender keeps a lively, happy bar – serving drinks quickly and occasionally creating his or her own drink concoctions. A mixologist uses fresh ingredients, like fruits and vegetables, and unique techniques to conjure up intricately flavored cocktails. While getting just the right pour from a beer tap is a skill, creating cocktails takes a little longer, involves several “tools” of the trade, and like the bar scene at The Drawing Room, includes some theatrical flare.

Guest reviewer Susan introduced us to the “sex-in-the-city” vibe at The Drawing Room. Here the bar is where the action is. Mixologist Charles Joly, a cocktail competitor, is responsible for developing the beverage program at The Drawing Room. His drinks call for house-made syrups and juices along with herbs, bitters, fruits, vegetables, and sometimes obscure liquors that are a sheer delight to the crowd at his bar. He pairs the flavors of his creations with the dishes served in the dining room to create a complete upscale dining experience. You can even get your drinks prepared tableside as they come around with a custom-built cart. Like guest reviewer Jessica suggests, this is the perfect place to take anyone who wants to experience “fancy” drinks in the big city!

Happy eating and drink responsibly!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

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“Burt says you’re pushing it.”

By Carmen Schmidt | Published February 3, 2012 | Comments Off

This week on Check, Please! service with a smile is on the menu. Regardless of where you go to eat, the service can really make a difference.

At Restaurant Sarajevo, charming Chef/Owner Enes Hubjer greets his guests with a big smile and puts on a great show with a flambé fruit dessert that is sure to please. Guest reviewer Sanja introduced us to this little known old-world restaurant serving Bosnian cuisine on Chicago’s North Side. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but when you enter and experience the rosewood covered walls, drapery lined windows, and are greeted with hearty welcomes and warm Lepia (Bosnian bread), you feel like you’re right at home. Bosnian herself, Sanja tells us this is truly authentic and delicious Bosnian cuisine. From the chorba (beef and vegetable soup) and cevapcci (beef and lamb sausage) to the warm and friendly service, this place is certainly one to try.

Guest reviewer Eric took us to a restaurant that has been around for over 18 years. The first thing that strikes you as you walk into Zealous is the spacious dining room that is in a converted warehouse with live bamboo dividers reaching up towards the vaulted ceilings. The muted colors, modern curves, and accents of green are meant to provide a Zen feeling. Along one wall is a 15-foot wine cellar in which they keep their vast collection of wines that knowledgeable staff will help pair with your meal. Ambiance aside, our reviewers tell us that the food is the thing at Zealous. Chef/Owner Michael Taus has created a global menu of dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. The attentive wait staff serve dishes such as a short stack of mango pancakes with Hudson Valley foie gras with a sunny-side-up quail egg in a savory caramel sauce or Chilean sea bass with pan-fried noodles in a coconut curry sauce. Yum.

And then we get to Burt. Burt’s Place, as guest reviewer Mike tells us, offers some of the best Chicago-style deep-dish pizza in town. But, you have to follow a few rules to ensure your visit is a good one. We told our reviewers to be sure they made their reservations early for Burt’s Place. This means calling at least a day in advance or, as Sanja did, two days in advance and placing your order. Burt is the only one in this small restaurant’s tiny kitchen. He gets all of his ingredients fresh daily and cooks based on the reservations taken so, if you just show up, you probably won’t get served. If you want sides, order those in advance as well because Burt may just not have the time or the space in the oven. Reviewer Eric did not know this. Upon ordering cheesy garlic bread his waitress came back from the kitchen to say “Burt says you’re pushing it.” This may all sound like too much just for pizza, but each of our reviewers had to admit that it was totally worth it! Burt takes great pride in the pizzas and other foods he prepares. He purchases fresh meat and makes his sausage daily. He cuts all of the vegetables himself, never using frozen or packaged, and reviewer Eric tells us the pizza sauce tastes garden fresh. If you can get past the strict rules for ordering, you’ll love the smiling, friendly service, neighborhood feel, and the unique décor. This is definitely not a fine dining experience, but – according to our reviewers – some darn delicious pizza

And here’s my behind-the-scenes nugget for this week… You may notice when watching this week’s episode that guest reviewer Mike had a very strained voice. We noticed this as well when he arrived at the studio to tape this episode. We later learned that Mike was at the Bears game the day before and no matter how much he shouted the Bears still lost. Needless to say, we were all concerned about whether his voice would hold out for the show. Associate Producer Jacqui made sure he stayed hydrated and used his voice sparingly before we started taping. He sounded pretty rough, but he made it through the taping. Rest assured this was not his actual voice, and since the Bears are not in the Super Bowl this weekend, he probably sounds much better now.

Happy Eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

Posted in Carmen Schmidt, Season 11, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Burgers, Pasta, and Coq au Vin

By Carmen Schmidt | Published January 27, 2012 | 1 Comment »

Our culinary tour of Chicagoland continues on this week’s Check, Please! A great burger, classically prepared pasta dishes, and coq au vin are on the menu.

The tour begins in Evanston, where student and guest reviewer Amber introduces us to a campus favorite, Edzo’s Burger Shop. This is not a low-calorie experience, so save room! At Edzo’s you can build a burger that is the envy of all other burgers. It starts with a fresh (never frozen) choice chuck. Aside from a selection of locally-raised beef options, you can also choose to have a “Griddled” burger, which is pressed down thin on the grill making it crispy or the “Char” burger, which is left thick and juicy. Finish your burger with a selection of cheeses and toppings. For a side, they are hand-cut, twice-cooked potatoes that can be made plain, with garlic, gravies, sauces, and more. And Amber tells us your meal is not complete without a milkshake. They use an old-fashioned Multimixer spindle machine which blends the shakes at a slower speed than modern mixers. According to the Edzo’s website, this older machine whips in less air, so the shake is creamier. During our visit to Edzo’s, our crew raved about these shakes, specifically the addictive Nutella shake. Edzo’s owner and Chef Eddie Lakin is not your average burger-joint cook. After culinary school he worked in European kitchens and many fine dining restaurants in Chicago, but his desire was for something a little different life. He wanted to prepare delicious food at his restaurant and still be home in time to have dinner with his family. So, if you’re going to try Edzo’s, get there before 4:00 pm because they’re only open for lunch (and late lunch).

Next, we visit Chicago’s latest restaurant hot spot, Logan Square. Over the past few years many high quality restaurants have popped up in Logan Square, like Hachi’s Kitchen, Lula, and El Nandu. I actually grew up in Logan Square… it wasn’t such a young and hip place to be back then. It is such a pleasure to visit and see such businesses thriving. On this week’s show, guest reviewer Adam shared his favorite Italian eatery in Logan Square, Buona Terra Ristorante. The cuisine is classic Italian and Chef Jose Garcia adds a special flair to each of his signature dishes. The farm-to-table fresh ingredients were a hit with our reviewers, as well as the crew who took home extras to share with their families on the day of the shoot. This vibrant restaurant is intimate, warm, and relaxing – and definitely a great place for a date night. Amber says it’s her new favorite place in Logan Square, and all of the reviewers agreed it was a delicious experience that is priced right. Check them out on Thursdays when they have a fantastic prix fixe menu for $21.95.

Finally, this week’s culinary tour ends with a relaxed, French dining experience in Oak Park at Hemmingway’s Bistro. Guest reviewer Reggie and his wife enjoy finding a nice, relaxed place to have a great meal and he says Hemmingway’s is one of their favorites. This restaurant has a classy, elegant feel. The owner and Chef Christopher Ala has worked in kitchens all over the world and brings that experience to his French menu. The dishes are delicious and elegantly presented. However, there is a price to this elegance, so our guest reviewers all agree that Hemmingway’s is more of a special occasion restaurant.

Here’s a little insider information on the production of this episode: our bartender did not show up for the taping of this episode but, as they say, the “show must go on” and we needed to have a bartender. Executive Producer David Manilow grabbed a dish towel and slid right into the role! Watch closely during the discussion segments and you might see him pouring wine and busily maintaining the bar in the background. Hitchcock would be proud.

Happy Eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW

Posted in Carmen Schmidt, Season 11 | 1 Comment

Memorable Experiences!

By Carmen Schmidt | Published January 20, 2012 | 1 Comment »

I am so excited about this week’s show! The restaurants are all so different and so delicious! Each restaurant provides a very unique culinary experience, some more unexpected than others.

Tattoo shop owner/guest reviewer Paul introduces us to Three Aces, a “gastropunk” bar as described by co-owners Anthony Potenzo and Lyle Aker. Our guest reviewers had to see past the dark beer bar, tattoos, and rock n’ roll vibe to discover the deliciously modern Italian menu, but secretly I think they really loved it. This is one of those “don’t judge a book by its cover” situations. Five-star chefs are not always found in white table-clothed restaurants. Under this restaurant’s tough exterior you will find perfectly prepared food. Traditional Italian dishes like mussels and braised pork shank are served along with a selection of gourmet pizzas and, a fan favorite, the Ace burger. What makes the Ace burger so good? Well maybe it’s the perfectly cooked beef or the aged chedder, bacon jam, aioli, and other trimmings all served on a hearty pretzel roll. I’m making myself hungry just writing this!

Then, the Check, Please! train pulls into the station…Sushi Station to be precise. I was so excited to see this restaurant on the list for this season. My family and I love going to Sushi Station so it’s a personal favorite. The sushi is served on small plates, usually four pieces each, and goes around the restaurant on an enclosed, refrigerated conveyor belt. When you see a sushi you like, you lift the little glass door and grab it before it gets away. Sounds very gimmicky, right? But this routine is actually quite popular in Japan. As guest reviewer and former resident of Tokyo John Paul tells us, this is called kaitan zushi. It’s a buffet that comes to you! This might seem like the fast food of sushi, but the freshness, quality, and variety offered are undeniable. The service is great too. If you don’t see something you like on the belt or you’re looking for something hot with your meal, just tell the wait staff and it’s there before you know it. My favorite rolls are the Carribbean Roll (slices of avocado, masago, and shrimp over crab salad topped with mayo and plum sauce) and the simple Bostation Roll (tuna, avocado, masago, and crab salad). The best part about this place are the small plates, priced right, so you can be daring without spending an obscene amount of money to try something new. My kids don’t like sushi, but there’s always something on the hot menu they enjoy. They love to sit along the conveyor belt and wait for my husband and me to spot our favorites so that they can quickly grab it for us. It’s a great family night out! I’m afraid I must disagree with guest reviewer Paul on only thing; I think it’s a great date night place as well. I actually think it would also be a great place for a first date, because it’s so unique and fun that it wipes away those jitters!

In keeping with unique culinary experiences, guest reviewer Meredith revealed her favorite little hot spot, Ruxbin. Chef Edward Kim is definitely in touch with what is pleasing to the taste buds. His cuisine is an eclectic mix of Pan Asian, French, Latin American, and other international flavors. Our guest reviewers raved about the flavor he pulls from unexpected ingredients. Chef Kim is spot-on when he describes a typical American pantry as being a little bit of everything. I have Italian pastas and sauces, Puerto Rican spices and vegetables, Chinese noodles, and so much more in my pantry. He’s right…modern American cuisine is actually a “fusion” cuisine. While the food steals the show at Ruxbin, the service and ambiance are icing on the cake. Be prepared, though. It’s very small. We affectionately call this “intimate” on our show. There are only 32 seats and they don’t take reservations. As guest reviewer Paul discovered, it fills up quickly. The secret is out, people love this place, and if you’re lucky you may be asked to wait to be seated. It’s that good.

Well there you have it. Three memorable culinary experiences that you must try. I hope you will. Write to us and to tell us about it!

Happy Eating!

Carmen M. Schmidt
Associate Producer, Check, Please!
WTTW