Media Digest for the week of December 22, 2011

From this week's Chicago Sun Times and Food section:

Food Detective: Taking the bub out of bubbly...LTH David Hammond chats with a couple local sommeliers about the potential benefits of decanting sparkling wines.

Offer those houseguests homemade cooking — but make it easy on yourself...Carol Hilker checks with a few writers to get tips for easy, make-ahead holiday food prep. A couple of applicable recipes are included.

Yule log for today’s busy times...Judith Dunbar Hines shares her updated recipe and method for Buche de Noel.
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From this week's Time Out Chicago - Restaurants & Bars section:

TOC is off this week.
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From Chicago Magazine's on-line Dining section:

In this week's serving of Dish, Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer and Carly Boers report that Cody Butler (Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Boiler Room) has begun his work as the chef at Fishguy's soon-to-reopen Wellfleet.
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From this week's Daily Herald - Food section:

Mom keeps favorite pie recipe in the family...Abby Scalf profiles Arlington Heights mom Erin Walsh, who sees from-scratch home cooking as a way to mitigate homesickness at holiday time and bring her family closer together.
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Updates from some Chicago media outlets, which do not fully 'go to press' by Thursday morning, will be added to this thread as they become available.
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Media Digest Addenda for the week of December 22, 2011

This week in the Chicago Reader's Food & Drink section:

It's the Reader's first annual People Issue and accordingly, the following food-focused profiles are provided:

Iliana Regan, the forager, as told to Kate Schmidt

Lynn House, the mixologist, as told to Julia Thiel

Victor Mejia, the vendor, as told to LTH contributor Mike Sula
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From this week's Chicago Tribune and Food/Good Eating section:

All done!...Phil Vettel, Christopher Borrelli and Kevin Pang recap Chicago's year in food, including the mid-year transition at LTHForum.com.

Christmas at Svea: Lutefisk and a song...Kevin Pang visits this venerable Andersonville eatery and profiles Tom Martin, its 79-year-old owner.

Chinatown Christmas: Open for business...Kevin Pang provides some guidance for ordering some favored dishes in Chinatown on Christmas day.

Phil Vettel recommends some Chicago restaurants that are open on Christmas day.

Sugar mice for a British Christmas...Bill Daley provides a link to a recipe for these British confections -- and some background information -- to an inquisitive reader.

Cafe des Architectes: Deconstructing the menu by Phil Vettel...Mr. Vettel breaks down the menu in graphic detail.
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Posted this week at Dining Chicago.com:

Eat this! Latkes, crispy symbols of Hanukkah...LTH contributor Leah A. Zeldes links to the latke recipe from Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen.
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Media Digest for the week of December 29, 2011

From this week's Chicago Sun Times and Food section:

The 10 best recipes of 2011: Make these, then make them yours...Janet Rausa Fuller rounds up the Sun Times' top 10 recipes of 2011.

Food Detective: At Big Jones, it’s Southern food with side of history...LTHer David Hammond chats with chef/owner Paul Fehribach about the origins and cultural importance of of Southern cooking.

Pour Man: Israel grows as winemaker...Michael Austin reports on Israel's burgeoning wine industry, and makes a few recommendations, as well.
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From this week's Time Out Chicago - Restaurants & Bars section:

Illinois Sparkling Co. debuts...Julia Kramer checks out this newly unveiled sparkling wine producer, located in Utica, IL.

Tasting notes | The boarding house lunch at Big Jones...David Tamarkin sings the praises of this deluxe fried chicken offering at Big Jones in Andersonville.

Cheap Thrills | Patel’s Café...Heather Shouse visits this snack shop from the second generation of the Patel Brothers empire, which opened this past summer.
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From Chicago Magazine's on-line Dining section:

Dish is on holiday hiatus this week.
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From this week's Daily Herald - Food section:

Winter cocktails so hot they're cool...food editor Deborah Pankey provides several recipes for seasonally satisfying beverages.
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Updates from some Chicago media outlets, which do not fully 'go to press' by Thursday morning, will be added to this thread as they become available.
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Media Digest Addenda for the week of December 29, 2011

This week in the Chicago Reader's Food & Drink section:

Our favorite restaurants of 2011...LTH contributor Mike Sula -- with the help of Martha Bayne and LTHer Kristina Meyer -- deploys the CriticKiller2012 to assess the best restaurants of 2011. And on the Bleader, Sula lists an additional 133 tasty things from 2011.

Key Ingredient: ash...Julia Thiel documents what John Anderes of Telegraph Wine Bar cooked with the ash he was assigned by Jason Hammel of Lula Cafe. Video is provided by Mike Gebert.
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From this week's Chicago Tribune and Food/Good Eating section:

Sizzling holiday kickoff...Bill Daley provides a primer, including recipes and references, on making sizzling holiday appetizers.

Please be seated...Phil Vettel files his "annual save-the-tables list, which provides dozens of last-minute, primo New Year's Eve reservations for procrastinating readers."

Out to lunch: Topolobampo, 445 N. Clark St....Phil Vettel's brief, bulleted dossier on this River North stalwart.

Scotch redux...in this special, Zak Stambor touts the recent re-release of The Dalmore's Cigar Malt, this time as a limited-edition reserve.
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Posted this week at Dining Chicago.com:

Eat this! Chicken Vesuvio, Chicago’s native bird...LTH contributor Leah A. Zeldes provides some background on this iconic Chicago dish and gets the recipe for Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse's version of it.
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Media Digest for the week of January 5, 2012

From this week's Chicago Sun Times and Food section:

Food Detective: Move beyond lettuce when creating salad...with the input of several food-industry professionals, LTHer David Hammond briefly re-examines the definition of salad.

Forget dieting; learn how to eat healthy instead...as the new year begins, Sandy Thorn Clark advocates learning to eat healthfully over dieting. Several applicable recipes are included.

Let’s get in the kitchen and cook together...Sue Ontiveros reintroduces herself as the Sun Times Food Editor, taking over the position she previously held, as Janet Rausa Fuller steps aside.

Low Mileage Kitchen: Odds and ends make soothing soup...Judith Dunbar Hines cooks from Martha Bayne's Soup and Bread Cookbook — Building Community One Pot At a Time, and provides an excerpted recipe for Peanuts O'Toole Soup.

Guide helps shoppers navigate supermarket aisles better...the aforementioned Ms. Ontiveros favorably reviews the Eat This, Not That, by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding.
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From this week's Time Out Chicago - Restaurants & Bars section:

This week's TOC content is covered in last week's Digest entry.
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From Chicago Magazine's on-line Dining section:

In this week's installment of Dish, Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer and Carly Boers take a look back at Chicago Magazine's reviews over the past 25 years of Charlie Trotter's, which will close in August, as was reported earlier this week.
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From this week's Daily Herald - Food section:

Expert predicts how you’ll eat in 2012...food editor Deborah Pankey reports what food trends 'Supermarket Guru' Phil Lempert foresees for 2012.
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Updates from some Chicago media outlets, which do not fully 'go to press' by Thursday morning, will be added to this thread as they become available.
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Media Digest Addenda for the week of January 5, 2012

This week in the Chicago Reader's Food & Drink section:

What's New: Barrelhouse Flat...Mara Shalhoup checks out the new, Lincoln Park cocktail hotspot from Violet Hour alum Stephen Cole, and the Chicago outpost of chain Cantina Laredo in River North. Kate Schmidt declares Barbari in West Town her favorite restaurant of 2011. Ms. Schmidt also lists More best bites and sips of 2011.
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From this week's Chicago Tribune and Food/Good Eating section:

Pizza pot pie plays with expectations...in this special, Jennifer Day profiles the unusual Chicago-style pizza derivation at Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co. in Lincoln Park.

Ice cream -- It's what's for winter...in this special, Nancy Maes reports on some winter-oriented takes on ice cream that are being served around town.

Chi-town and chorizo...Phil Vettel awards Mark Mendez's Vera 2 stars.

Charlie Trotter announces restaurant closing in August...Phi Vettel reports some details and provides some background.

2 Sparrows: Deconstructing the menu by Phil Vettel...Mr. Vettel breaks down the menu of this relative newcomer in graphic detail.

The Daley Question: Using your noodle with noodles...Bill Daley answers a reader's questions about fresh pasta.

A peek inside...Judy Hevrdejs cites a couple of relatively new books that document restaurant staff meals, and excerpts a recipe from one of them.

Reds for under $15...in this special, Bill St. John identifies a diverse roster of bargain bottles.
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Posted this week at Dining Chicago.com:

Top 10 Chicago chefs’ recipes for 2011...LTH contributor Leah A. Zeldes recaps her most popular posted chef's recipes of 2011.
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Media Digest for the week of January 12, 2012

From this week's Chicago Sun Times and Food section:

Eating locally grown food this time of year takes creativity...LTH contributor Leah A. Zeldes checks in with several local culinary professionals to get input on how to eat locally during winter months. LTH contributor Rob Gardner -- editor of The Local Beet -- is quoted in the piece and a couple of applicable recipes are included.

Beware; there’s a lot of honey being sold that really isn’t...LTHer David Hammond warns that there are many products on the shelves that resemble honey, which aren't really honey at all.

At the Chef’s Table: Discovering parallel between baking, career...Rich Labriola of Labriola Bakery shares his recipe for Almond Croissants.

Pour Man: Unibroue beers live up to legend(s)...Michael Austin touts a couple of seasonal brews from this popular Canadian brewery.

Food Detective: Exploring world of Taiwanese food...LTHer David Hammond checks into the local Taiwanese cuisine scene.
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From this week's Time Out Chicago - Restaurants & Bars section:

As part of the Cheap issue, recommendations are made for places to find Cheap seafood (David Tamarkin), Cheap lunch in the Loop (Julia Kramer) and Cheap date restaurants (Julia Kramer).

Front-runners: The best servers in Chicago...TOC readers -- along with Tamarkin and Kramer -- chime in on their favorites.

Big Shoulders Coffee Works...David Tamarkin checks out this roaster that curently has product available in a few retail outlets but will open their own West Town storefront this spring.

Ask the critics | Baby-friendly restaurants and bossy waiters...Kramer and Tamarkin answer readers' questions.
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From Chicago Magazine's on-line Dining section:

In this week's installment of Dish, Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer and Carly Boers report on what's coming next from chef John Manion.
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From this week's Daily Herald - Food section:

Bob Chinn’s reopens day after diner illnesses force closing...Madhu Krishnamurthy reports the details on the brief, voluntary closure at the venerable Wheeling eatery.
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Updates from some Chicago media outlets, which do not fully 'go to press' by Thursday morning, will be added to this thread as they become available.
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Media Digest Addenda for the week of January 12, 2012

This week in the Chicago Reader's Food & Drink section:

Never mind the noodles...LTH contributor Mike Sula says that while the mission is muddy at Takashi Yagihashi's recently-opened Slurping Turtle, there's plenty to like among the non-noodle options.

This week's Key Ingredient: a chef-to-chef challenge to cook with gold leaf...Julia Thiel chronicles how Erling Wu-Bower of the Publican used the gold leaf he was assigned by John Anderes of Telegraph Wine Bar.
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From this week's Chicago Tribune and Food/Good Eating section:

Big, bold breakfast stout...Zak Stambor touts the elusive and hard-to-define Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout.

Standouts...Phil Vettel posts the Tribune's 2011 Dining Awards.

Meet the new chicken...in this special, Jennifer Day consults cookbook authors Cree LeFavour and Mindy Fox, who provide tips and recipes for the "new" age of chicken.

Drink this!...in this featurette, Phil Vettel recommends the BLT Negroni at BLT American Brasserie.

Great whites under $15...in a follow-up to his piece last week, Bill St. John makes recommendations for several low-cost white wines.

The Daley Question: Lettuce blooms...Bill Daley addresses a reader's inquiry about creating a decorative serving vessel from a head of iceberg lettuce.
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Posted this week at Dining Chicago.com:

Eat this! Braised beef short ribs, satisfying winter fare...LTH contributor Leah A. Zeldes gets the recipe for Carnivale’s Braised Short Ribs, from chef David Dworshak.
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Media Digest for the week of January 19, 2012

From this week's Chicago Sun Times and Food section:

Meatless for a day: Explore the bounty produce, legumes and grains offer...Jennifer Olvera chats with several local chefs to get their takes on Meatless Mondays. A couple of applicable recipes are included.

Low Mileage Kitchen: Chinese New Year dish has French influence...Judith Dunbar Hines shares a recipe from Jacques Pepin’s Essential Pepin for Peking-Style Chicken.

Shopping Smart: Search out wonderful greens of winter...Phil Lempert explains why winter is such a great time of year for certain greens in Chicago.
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From this week's Time Out Chicago - Restaurants & Bars section:

Interview | Chef Didier Durand...David Tamarkin interviews the proprietor of Cyrano’s Farm Kitchen, which is scheduled to open later this week.

That's so dated!...Julia Kramer chats chefs from a trio of local restaurants about dishes they're preparing that have historical significance.
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From Chicago Magazine's on-line Dining section:

In this week's Dish, Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer and Carly Boers interview Grant Achatz about his future plans, which may include another Aviary.

The Drinker's Guide to Chicago: Best Wines, Cocktails, Beers, and More...Barri Leiner Grant, Nora O'Donnell, Jeff Ruby, Lena Singer, Jennifer Tanaka, Lauren Viera and Jennifer Wehunt provide a comprehensive primer to imbibing in Chicago.
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Updates from some Chicago media outlets, which do not fully 'go to press' by Thursday morning, will be added to this thread as they become available.
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Media Digest Addenda for the week of January 19, 2012

This week in the Chicago Reader's Food & Drink section:

A wine bar for everyone...LTH contributor Mike Sula says that Tony Mantuano's Bar Toma reflects its concept and location more than its pedigree.

This week's Cocktail Challenge: Manischewitz or "dude vodka"...Kate Schmidt reports on the cocktail Brad Bolt of Bar DeVille made with the Manischewitz Cherry he was assigned by Luke LeFiles of Hot Chocolate.
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From this week's Chicago Tribune and Food/Good Eating section:

Disappearing act...Kevin Pang profiles magician Al James, who's a throwback to an era that seems to have almost entirely passed.

Burgers the lure, but stay for the camaraderie...in this special, Jennifer Day visits Jury's Food & Drink North Center, which changed hands in 2011, after 30 years under its original ownership.

Culinary tool kit...Judy Hervdejs offers up some simple solutions for enhancing home cooking.

Tourondel menu has complex surprises...Phil Vettel awards BLT American Brasserie 2 stars.

Dining, indulgently, in the Big Easy...Mr. Vettel makes some recommendations for indulgent dining in New Orleans.

The Daley Question: Taking a bite out of apple slices...Bill Daley gets the assistance of Judy Hevrdejs in answering a reader's question about a long-lost, favorite dessert.

A home cellar stocked for any occasion...in this special, Bill St. John provides guidance for starting a wine cellar at home.
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Posted this week at Dining Chicago.com:

Eat this! Five rib-sticking recipes for Chicago winter...now that winter has actually arrived, LTH contributor Leah A. Zeldes shares a few seasonally-appropriate recipes from 5 local eateries.
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Media Digest for the week of January 26, 2012

From this week's Chicago Sun Times and Food section:

The Sun Times recently changed to a paid subscription model and, until further notice, will no longer be included in the Digest.
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From this week's Time Out Chicago - Restaurants & Bars section:

Your year of brunches...It's The Bruch Issue and to kick it off, the TOC staff identifies "52 restaurants that serve a mean brunch."

The case for a better brunch...Julia Kramer states it while she and her comrades Laura Baginski, Marissa Conrad, and David Tamarkin provide a list of "where you should be brunching now."

The brunch-wait project...David Tamarkin leads a team that charts the Sundaywait times at 8 well-known brunch spots.

Beyond the mimosa...Marissa Conrad pegs seven untraditional brunch cocktails that are worth a try.

How to navigate a Bloody Mary bar...Heather Shouse gets the help of the Aviary's Craig Schoettler in navigating the myriad ingredients at Bloody Mary bars.

Sweet and savory brunch options...David Tamarkin provides guidance on pairing sweet and savory items from the menus at several local eateries.

Unusual brunch dishes...Laura Baginski assesses the brunch-worthiness of several offbeat brunchtime offerings.

Several "5 Great" lists are offered: quiches, eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros, breakfast sandwiches and French toasts

Where to find the best brunches...an interactive map is provided.

In the rest of the section:

Drink trend | Cocktails on tap...David Tamarkin checks out three local spots where tap cocktails are available.

Cheap thrills | Den Den...Heather Shouse highlights Den Den, Chicago's lone Eritrean restaurant, which is in Rogers Park.
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From Chicago Magazine's on-line Dining section:

In this week's Dish, Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer and Carly Boers interview chef Andrew Brochu, who just signed on at Graham Elliot.
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Updates from some Chicago media outlets, which do not fully 'go to press' by Thursday morning, will be added to this thread as they become available.
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Media Digest Addenda for the week of January 26, 2012

This week in the Chicago Reader's Food & Drink section:

A new high at Yusho...LTH contributor Mike Sula says there's a lot to like at this new, Avondale eatery, which is helmed by Matthias Merges, a 14-year veteran of Charlie Trotter.

This week's Key Ingredient: a chef-to-chef challenge to cook with Asian carp...Julia Thiel chronicles what Bryce Caron of Blackbird and Avec cooked with the Asian carp he was assigned by Erling Wu-Bower of the Publican.
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From this week's Chicago Tribune and Food/Good Eating section:

Beer nuts...Josh Noel reports on the intensely competitive fanatacism of craft beer lovers, especially as it pertains to limited releases

The artiste...Christopher Borrelli profiles artist Davide Nanni, whose distinctive aesthetic and extensive use of repurposed materials, have made him popular as a restaurant designer.

Soup only the beginning for a Loop institution...with the assistance of an unnamed soup maven, Kevin Pang checks out the Wednesday soup at Ceres Cafe in the Board of Trade -- chicken tortilla -- and details the rich history behind it, the restaurant and its owner Lou Bournakis.

Taste vendors feel bigger bite...Phil Vettel reports that participating vendors are generally unfazed by the fact that the City will take an even bigger cut from them at this year's Taste of Chicago.

The Daley Question: Broth vs. stock: What's the difference?...Bill Daley answers a reader's question.

Great Scot!...Lauren Viera provides a brief primer on regional Scotch whisky.

6 essentials to make you a better cook...in this installment of Prep School, James P. DeWan recaps 6 previously-covered kitchen essentials that will make you a better cook.
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Posted this week at Dining Chicago.com:

Eat this! Sweet potatoes, naturally sweet and fun to eat...LTH contributor Leah A. Zeldes gets the recipe for the "Especially Good" Sweet Potatoes from Whole Foods Market.
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Media Digest for the week of February 2, 2012

From this week's Time Out Chicago - Restaurants & Bars section:

Last week's TOC content was a "double issue," as such there's no new content posted this week.
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From Chicago Magazine's on-line Dining section:

In this week's Dish, Penny Pollack, Graham Meyer and Carly Boers report that the team behind Algonquin’s Montarra will open Terra later this month, in the former Cafe Luciano space on Green Bay Road in Evanston.
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Updates from some Chicago media outlets, which do not fully 'go to press' by Thursday morning, will be added to this thread as they become available.
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Media Digest Addenda for the week of February 2, 2012

This week in the Chicago Reader's Food & Drink section:

Goosefoot: Occupy Lawrence Avenue...LTH contributor says that the food is delicious at chef Chris Nugent's new Lincoln Square byo but that the dining experience is a bit stuffy.
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From this week's Chicago Tribune and Food/Good Eating section:

Citizen Kahan...with the opening of Publican Quality Meats just days away, Kevin Pang profiles and interviews its frontman, chef Paul Kahan.

Tasteful eye candy...Phil Vettel awards Filini in Lakeshore East 2 stars.

The Daley Question: Considering corn syrups...this week, Bill Daley answers a reader's question about corn syrup.

Appealing vegan food is just how Handlebar rolls...in this special, Kay Stepkin says to expect the unexpected at this West Wicker Park eatery.

Uncorked: Wine tasting...in this special, Bill St. John provides some tips on wine-tasting etiquette.
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Posted this week at Dining Chicago.com:

Eat this! Glucose, an essential sugar...LTH contributor Leah A. Zeldes gets the recipe for LM’s Milk Chocolate Soup, from chef Justin Perdue.
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Hi all,

The Media Digest is on hiatus. We hope to bring it back soon, in an enhanced format, but we don't know exactly what form it will take or when it will happen. In the interim, if you have questions, comments or suggestions, please shoot me a PM.

Thanks,

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