(This is the first installment of a column we’re writing on the ins and outs of restaurant and food design, where we’ll be exploring topics like food trucks, building conversions and energy efficient kitchens. In this installment, two of Chicago’s finest food trucks weigh in on what you need to know before you start a restaurant […]
Food
The heritage of heritage Turkeys, and how to get one
We’ve all heard a lot about the benefits of biodiversity when it comes to purchasing fruits and vegetables. Think purple carrots, black radishes, russian blue potatoes, and other varietals that you encounter at your local farmers market, but can be hard to find elsewhere. Growing and enjoying many varieties of fruits and vegetables, not just […]
Hyper-local with global influences: Is Noma the future of dining?
In the grocery stores of Chicago the leafy green, Escarole, a less bitter member of the Endive family, still sounds foreign. The lemony, berry tones of Sorrel is only to be found at relatively expensive, grassroots farmer’s markets, and it’s sold in small quantities. On the other side of the Atlantic, Rene Redzepi, owner of […]
Can Chipotle practice what it preaches? On consumer expectations, production and waste in the current Fast Food industry
Yesterday I had a mean craving for some Spaghetti Carbonara, the bedrock of which is pancetta, eggs and cheese. I give a lot of thought to my food and where it comes from, so all sorts of dilemmas and decisions were issued forth. I went to my local deli, where the prices are high, but […]
The Slow Food movement illustrated via Southern Italy (Pt.1)
At the Pugliese McDonalds in Bari, Italy, the first hint we weren’t in America anymore was the clientele: suit-clad, they sat at windows, sipping beers and reading newspapers. Food was served on porcelain and beers in elegant glasses. And then it was the prices: seven Euros (about $9 USD) for a hamburger? Eight for a […]
Our first CSA of the year from Peasant's Plot
One more reason to anticipate the sweet, ever too brief, arrival of a Chicago summer is the start of CSAs in earnest: weekly batches of organic vegetables delivered to your house or farmers market, all set aside for you and ready to yield to creative culinary magic. Our CSA is Peasant’s Plot, run by former […]
Craft Beer Week Chicago: Solemn Oath Brewery Dinner at Fountainhead
We attended a dinner in honor of Chicago Craft Beer Week a couple weeks ago, where the five course meal was accompanied by perfect beer pairings from local craft brewers Solemn Oath Brewery. The dinner was held in the “Barrel Room” at Lincoln Square gastropub The Fountainhead, where Cleetus Friedman recently stepped in as Executive […]
Your Kitchen is Good for Your Health
Kitchens are not just holding pens for packaged food-like stuffs, but should be places for us to enjoy the company of family and friends and engage with the act of preparing and eating real food. In a New York Times Op-Ed, KidsHealth.org founder Neil Izenberg worries about the merging of his newly remodeled kitchen with […]
Veg Out Chicago: restaurants, recipes and cooking
image source: http://www.adashofcinnamon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/heirloom-tomatoesS.jpg April 22-28 is Veg Week, where people are invited to take a vegetarian challenge and eschew meat for seven days. We wanted to take this opportunity to talk about some great places to get vegetarian and vegan meals in the city, as well as share some recipes. As a former vegetarian, I also […]
How to start an urban garden in Chicago: a round-up
After the threat of winter frosts are well and truly behind us (anyday now), it is time to begin Spring planting, then eagerly anticipating blooms and produce throughout the summer. Participating in the local food movement via an edible garden of your own is a great way to enjoy organic, non-GMO crops, have fun experiencing the rainbow of […]
Link-asaurus #7: Driverless Cars and Artificial Islands
source: “Blue Plan” in Copenhagen, from PK3 and Tredje Natur, from Dezeen.com Audi got blessings from the forces that be to begin test driving its driverless cars on public streets. There are many implications of the entry of driverless cars into our daily commutes. More texting with less accidents is one. Perhaps decreased emissions from […]
Local Illinois Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is soon and we can already feel the city slowing down, preparing to curl up for a gloriously languid nap – after partaking in the iconic meal of course. Thanksgiving is a treasured American holiday, we suspect because it involves two things everyone can agree on: the benefits of a heartfelt “thanks” and the […]
moss Begins Construction on Bar Pastoral
moss started construction on Bar Pastoral today, the latest addition to the Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine family, an intimate 45-seat cheese and wine bar flanking their original Lakeview retail location.
Green nutrition labels: our concept
A few weeks ago, we posted about the idea of a nutrition label that focuses less on calories and carbs, and more on the journey of the food within. Below our concept, done in collaboration with UK artist narayan. Details inside.
Link-asaurus
Our first round-up of where the moss team has been on the web this week: First, blazingly hot weather in Chicago had us dreaming of swimming pools, but without the eye-stinging, hair-slicking addition of Chlorine. Enter natural pools, mini-ecosystems designed for swimming that self-purify via water circulation. Via The Daily Green. Another pool in the […]