Author: admin

Mellow Monk Green Tea: Paul Kotta

Mellow Monk Green Tea: Paul Kotta

Paul Kotta is a co-founder of MellowMonk.com, an eco-friendly purveyor of natural green tea. The company imports their tea directly from family-owned and -operated tea farms in the Aso region of Japan. The region is...

Ask Chef: Cutting Boards

Ask Chef: Cutting Boards

Q: Chef. I’m looking for a new chopping board, and when I started looking around, I was overwhelmed by the selection. Could you please explain the difference between wood and plastic cutting boards? A:...

Ask Chef: Herbs

Q: Chef, what’s the rule of thumb when it comes to using fresh or dried herbs? A: In the majority of cases, one tablespoon of fresh herbs equals one teaspoon of dry herbs. However,...

Ask Chef: Salt

Ask Chef: Salt

Q: Chef. Just how many different types of salt are out there, and which one is best for cooking? A: Salt basically comes from two sources, land deposits and the ocean. It is harvested...

Ask Chef: Brown Sugar

Ask Chef: Brown Sugar

Q: Chef. My brown sugar constantly hardens into unusable chunks. What’s going on? A: Brown sugar is composed of sugar crystals combined with specially prepared molasses syrup. The molasses not only contributes color, but...

Eno: Michael Bottigliero

Eno: Michael Bottigliero

Michael Bottigliero is a wine sommalier at Eno in Chicago, a 42-seat urban oasis that features a 5,000-bottle cellar and a world-class selection of cheese and chocolate to compliment your beverage of choice. He is...

Capriole Goat Cheese: Judith Schad

Capriole Goat Cheese: Judith Schad

Judith Schad is the owner of Capriole, an Indiana- based maker of artisanal goat cheeses. Capriole has been making their chevre by hand for over 30 years, using milk from their own herd of Alpine,...

Alliance Bakery: Peter Rios

Alliance Bakery: Peter Rios

Chef Peter Rios is the mastermind behind Chicago-based Alliance Bakery & CafĂ©, a haven of fine European pastries and desserts created using only the best ingredients, 82% butter, cream, seasonal fruits and premium chocolates. Alliance...

Foodie Street Cred

Foodie Street Cred

My earliest memory of street food was pushing through a crowded night market in Hong Kong, holding tightly onto my dad’s hand. The sensation was one of being 100% enveloped in the sweet-salty smell...

A Farewell Cup of Tea

A Farewell Cup of Tea

A good friend of mine unexpectedly passed away right before Christmas. He was my circumstantial confidante, my philosophical friend and perhaps even, my alter ego. Dealing with his death remains one of the greatest...