How is this accomplished though?  Is it too much to ask?

Frankly, so many restaurants feverishly try to gain attention, acclaim and press, yet the majority just fall flat on their faces.  Why?

I am here to share the secret - or at least what I seem to think is the secret.  I believe it is all in the details - the 4 S's.  Service. Smile.  Sophistication. Savvy and Savor.

Service - Be there when I need you.  Be attentive - but not too attentive - rather, be available.  See my empty water glass. Notice my dissatisfaction with my meal.  Understand my needs before I vocalize them.   Just watch me!  Offer the "serve" in service.

Smile - Simple, heartfelt smile.  That is all I ask.  Just deeply care. Have a passion for what you do.

Sophistication- Take pride in your restaurant.  Think of how to create an experience that will make the patron feel as if they have been transported to a unique, innovative and exemplary locale.  Take them outside of their comfort zone and into your restaurant.

Savvy-  Be smart.  Menu smart.  What is local?  What is fresh?  What is hot?  Think about what your customers really want to eat - and then be flexible.  Adapt.  Don't be that rigid restaurant that can't take any adaptations or special requests in terms of the menu.  Please.  People appreciate that, especially with all of the unique dietary requirements these days.

Savor - Dang it!  Present some good looking and good tasting food. If you do this they will come.  And if they come, you will have your praises sung.

Just my two cents - if it is worth anything.  Two cents I would willingly spend for true dining "pleasure return".

Yes, it did all of the above - and more.  Borough Market is a must-stop place if you do cross the Atlantic to London.  This market goes beyond fresh produce, cheese, honey and the like and instead offers you prepared succulent dishes of goodness.  It offers an array of chocolate and other candies, cookies, with smells of paella emanating from a huge pan. It even has adjacent pubs for people who decide to wash it all down.  

While I opted for an Italian Parma of sorts, I realized quickly that I really missed the mark.  While walking, I nearly bumped right into "the line".   When you see a line, you know that is where you need to be.  I was so bummed as I got closer to the pot of gold - Mediterranean Fish Stew.   If you saw it, you would agree that it just appeared scrumptious.  I dropped the ball, by not whipping out my camera, but there were too many onlookers.

I highly recommend checking Borough Market out.

Below is the entrance to the market.  This market encompasses many streets and offers hundreds of food stalls.

For some reason I love this tomato cornucopia picture (below).  I just wanted to eat them all like apples, they looked so good!

This pic is for you fish fans!

My husband and I often stroll by Osteria Via Stato and do our normal routine. We gaze through the windows to see what Italian delights are being enjoyed within. I can't even tell you how many times we have said, "you know, we really need to check that place out".

Finally the occasion presented itself, when some out of town business visitors came toChicago. We wanted them to experience a warm, welcoming Chicago restaurant with top notch food. And, I will say that Osteria Via Stato met this match. With a warm interior, somehow reminding me of a Italian Chalet of sorts, and very cozy wood beams above us, I immediately felt comfortable!

We decided to order a few appetizers, which included a selection of fine cheeses, a smoked prosciutto bruschetta and a caprese salad. The caprese salad was made with fresh mozzarella, but it was the flavor of the roasted tomatoes that really stood out. Most restaurants serve a caprese salad with raw tomatoes, but the flavor of the tomato was brought out by the fact that it was roasted. We later had a chance to speak to Chef David DiGregorio and we found out that the restaurant has a strong relationship with local farmers. My theory is that when food is fresh, it is clearly reflected - and enjoyed - from plate to mouth. This was the case with our dining experience at Osteria Via Stato.

Before we ordered our entrees, we all had a chance to sample the handmade Ravioli with Sheeps Milk Ricotta, Brown Butter and Fried Sage. I am crazy about fresh pasta...and the Ravioli reminded me why this is the case. Lifting the ravioli from the plate to my mouth was most difficult part...because once in my mouth, it seemed to melt upon impact. The brown butter sauce also added a unique dimension to your typical ravioli dish.

I ordered the special of the day, which was basically seafood in a broth. To me, the dish seemed that it was missing something and I quickly regretted ordering it. It didn't have the pizzazz I was so truly seeking.

Now let me tell you...my husband could not stop raving about his dish, the Pan Roasted Diver Sea Scallops. The scallops were served with a Mushroom Risotto that loaded with mushrooms. If you are a risotto and mushroom fan - this dish is for you. In addition to the abundance of mushrooms, the amount of scallops on the dish surprised me. My husband was also impressed with the execution of the risotto dish - which, if you watch Gordon Ramsay's Hells Kitchen - you know that this is not an easy feat to execute. With that said, another person at our table who also ordered the risotto mentioned that he preferred his more al dente. But he still cleaned his plate...

The gelato we ordered for desert tied this whole dinner with a bow. Fresh and full of flavor. All in all, I think this is a great business dinner location. Food that is savory, filling and relaxed, coupled with a welcoming, yet sophisticated ambiance. I will go back. Another note, you can opt for the family-style dinner, instead of the ala carte menu if you truly want a laid back experience.

So, when I first got wind of the Epicurean Classic, in St. Joseph, MI, I just knew this event was calling my name, just luring me in. Being only a couple hours away from Chicago, it is a super easy commute.  Not only this, but I have been to St. Joseph before and I thought it was cute as all heck!  It really has that small town feel with an adorable downtown area, an awesome pier and it sure offered me a killer sunset over the beach.  That is my kind of place.

And, if you add in some of my all time favorite chefs like Gale Gand (Tru), Curtis Stone  (Take Home Chef) and Jean Joho (nominated for Best Outstanding Restaurant by James Beard Foundation & Bon Appetit's Chef of the Year) there is no way to go wrong.    

I have about a month to go until August 28-30, when this event takes place, and I am most certainly counting down the days.  Why?  Well, The Epicurean Classic is offering over 45 cooking demonstrations, 16 wine, cheese and beer demos and 6 guest chef dinners.  I know, I know, I won't be able to do it all.  But, a girl can try, can't she? 

Needless to say, I may not get as much rest, relaxation and R&R as I have planned.  With activities and classes galore, I can almost imagine myself hustling and bustling all over the place.

Hope you can make it too!  Now really, don't you need a little break? 

So, it being a Friday afternoon after work, my husband and I figured it the perfect time to take advantage of the warm Chicago weather.  So, we headed out for a evening cocktail.  We chose District Bar, located in the River North area, much for the reason that it virtually has outdoor seating due to  large windows that can be pulled wide open.  Also, their Mojito special was another enticement - half price on Fridays.  Sounds good, huh?

But, while the price may sound sweet, this Mojito was anything but.  In fact, it was plain horrible, repugnant, tasting hardly like any Mojito I have ever had.  One could seriously describe it as a canned or bottled Mojito remake, but 10x worse than this.  I would be shocked if this was freshly made.  And, if it was, I would certainly want to know who could concoct something like this.  I, nor my husband, could even finish this "wanna be" drink.  I think it was actually 3 to 4 sips, before we headed for the door.

Moreover, the bartender never even asked us if we liked the drink, even though he seemed to take notice that we weren't drinking it.  And, when we asked for the bill with full glasses and having only been there for a couple of minutes, he still offered no comment.

So off we went, with a truly sour taste in our mouth.  Now, we didn't try food or other drinks on this menu.  So really, all I can tell you with complete certainty is DO NOT ORDER THE "WANNA BE" MOJITO, whatever you do.  

Time: 5-7 PM 

Where: Brasserie Jo

Why: Hot Dogs.  -  I know you may be thinking that this is not very "Epicurista".  Does the fact that they are in a baguette of freshly baked moist and succulent bread make any more sense to you?  Hey, and these are some good quality dogs that we are talking about - from Paulina Meat Market.

The absolute best part is yet to come...

Price: 1 stinkin dollar.  Now that is what I am talkin about!!!

mmm...

By the way, although not the same price, I also went for the Chicken Liver Mousse and Country Pate. Tasty, I promise.

Overall, I am impressed with the concept behind e.leaven Food Company.  It is a back to the basics approach, which needless to say, deserves appreciation.

Really, it is what we all want these days.  Fresh food, house baked bread/bagels, and an unassuming atmosphere.   For instance, when you arrive at e.Leaven, you just walk yourself up to the counter, choose from a wide selection of breakfast options, order and then sit down.  It is a solid step up from Panera or Corner Bakery. e. leaven feels like a trendy breakfast spot.  You will see what I mean when you check out the zebra wood chairs.   I want some of those.

Maybe it is all this talk about the economic downturn and how it is impacting main street and all that jazz, but embarrassingly enough I felt a little sense of achievement when I didn't have to pay a tip.  Hey - call me a cheapskate, but every dollar counts, my friend.    A little fiscal breakfast responsibility has hurt no one.  

 e. leaven does offer lunch items, however I haven't tried these, so I will talk with you a bit about the breakfast fare I have tried.  I had the lox with a bagel and cream cheese.  It was good and seemed to transport me back to the east coast.  I miss my bagels.  I appreciate their unique cooking technique where they first boil and then bake the bagels - in house and daily too!  Thank you for that e. leaven.

My handsome husband went for the Southwestern Omelette.  Good stuff.  I am happy that the potatoes were not deep fried, as some breakfast joints around the city often present on my plate.  The jalapeno bacon on the omelette was a good idea.  An idea that I never really knew of until I came here.

A little bonus was experiencing the family feel.  We happened to be sitting next to the owners family.  Or, at least I figure this since he was kissing babies and such.  Cute.  It warmed the place right up.

Oh, and I nearly forgot about the icing on the cake.  I know this is breakfast that we are talking about here, but I did splurge a bit during breakfast.   I am talking about a macaroon that could sweeten anyone's day.  One that bursts forth with sweet goodness, that has just the right amount of moisture, of texture and - to top it all off - chocolate surrounding it.  It was the best macaroon I have ever tasted.  There you go - an excellent reason for you to also indulgently splurge - although not from your checking account - at e. leaven.  

See you there!

You know what "they" say - great company often makes an ordinary meal, extraordinary. And it is often true, but not at this dinner (friends, don't get offended quite yet). Don't get me wrong, my friends are fabulous and they did offer thriving conversation, but I offer the real credit for this delicious culinary voyage to The Bristol, a restaurant who offers unique, flavorful and fun delights.

We started off with a few select appetizers. First, can anyone go wrong with "Monkey Pull Apart Bread" served with Dill Butter and Sea Salt? This piping hot bread was incredible. I felt like I was a kid again, when I pulled away at this fresh baked bread with a frenzy. Really, we were all mesmerized by it's moist, doughy, subtle dill characteristics. Add the sea salt, and it was a complete success.

We also ordered the duck fat fries, which we all had read about from online reviews. While we did enjoy the fries ( my husband especially), I couldn't stop wondering if duck fat is proven to immediately impact the thighs? One thing is for sure, duck fat definitely adds flavor to your "typical" french fry. The duck fat fries also came with homemade ketchup and a to-die-for garlic aioli.

As for our entrees, my husband and I both shared the Skirt Steak and the Pan Roasted Halibut. Both were well prepared, full of flavor, fresh and simple. Basically, just the way I like all my dishes. After I was done, though, I felt like I wanted more. I guess that is never a bad thing and with menu prices around $18 bucks, I don't think I can complain. However, I would recommend that you order a few more appetizers or another small plate to share. And of course, there is also desert. Unfortunately, we skipped that round....

Speaking of skipping food...we also failed to order the "Half Acre Beer Cheese" appetizer, which our dinner companion so diligently worked to promote - with no success. Sorry dear friend, next time!

Lastly, I want to commend the Bristol for their focus on organically and locally produced food. Walking into the restaurant, you will quickly notice a chalkboard that mentions exactly ( the farms) where they purchased their goods. Not only do they support their local growers, but it also guarantees that the food is fresh. And, as I mentioned earlier...that is exactly how I like my food!

You see, back on that adventurous evening - when I wrote the "review" and when I first ventured to the new Berry Chill in my area - I made a sudden and a seemingly rash conclusion.  I just didn't give Berry Chill the fair chance it so deserved.  You know, in retrospect, with perfect 20/20 vision, I realize  I should have waited - waited until I was completely sure of my dislike for this so-called " sour" yogurt.  But, instead, I as your Epicurista, made a split second impulsive decision to blog, claiming Berry Chill the locale for those lovers of "sour yogurt".    Dang it, I screwed up!

Yes, and I wish I could say that I left it at that.  But, I fell prey.  I don't know what it was -the long line out the door, the Purell Hand Sanitizer greeting me at the doorway, or the people who seemed to be so happy carrying their bitter yogurt as I passed them on the street- but I returned.  I did. 

I know- I said I didn't like it.  I lied.  The stuff is amazing.  Long story short, I am addicted to this stuff.    Here is my advice to the faint of heart:  If you try it and feel discouraged by the somewhat sour flavor, just get over it.  Go back, the stuff grows on you.  Who in the world is not a tremendous fan of flavorslike Peach Mango, Strawberry Banana, and  Pink Guava.   And - oh my gosh - they have Girl Scout Cookie options as toppings year round. WOW!!! MMMM....  Samoas...Tagalongs...Thin Mints.   And, adding strawberries as an additional topping takes away a lot of the Girl Scout guilt.  Love that too.

So, with all of this said, I will promise with all of my heart, to truly process thoughts before writing a review so as to not lead you astray.  And, if I threw you off the BC track, please accept my so berry heartfelt apology and return for an amazingly yummy frozen yogurt treat!

Sincerely,

Epicurista

TIP:  Go for the 2 flavors in a cup.  I am convinced, after visiting this shop 3 times weekly (so sorry!) that you get at least 10-20% more yogurt in a cup.   For some reason there is not a gaping hole in the middle of the yogurt.  Hopefully, this little tip will make up for my slight imperfection.

Of course, I am pretty biased. Spain has an extra special place in my heart! I spent a semester living in Seville, Spain. And let me tell you...I fell in love with the cuisine and the culture. I remember fondly my Spanish Madre, Lola, taking extra special care of me. She would often cook these simple- yet elegant dishes. Some of my favorite dishes and ingredients included Spanish olive oil, paella, tortilla de patata, sangria and jamon iberico! Let me tell you- she fed me better than my own mother!

Recently, I have longed for Spanish food more than ever. Perhaps its because I have been watching he show"Spain- On The Road Again". The show- which airs on PBS- is a culinary tour de Espana with Gwyneth Paltrow, Mario Batali, Mark Bittman and Claudia Bassols. These lucky individuals get to travel across the different regions of Spain and taste the different dishes from the specific regions. As you can imagine, watching this makes me want to get on a plane and fly to Spain. Unfortunately, this is not a reality.

So, when I heard that Carnivale, located at 702 W. Fulton Market, was doing a "Tour of Spain", I nearly jumped out of my seat to make a reservation. Now, let me just reiterate, as mentioned above, there is almost no food as decadent, as savory and as delicious as Spanish cuisine. So, rather than being too jealous of Paltrow, Batalia and crew, I decided to head to Carnivale for my own Spanish food fix.

Now I know what you are thinking- Carnivale is known from its "Latin-inspired cuisine"...how can Chef Mark Mendez possibly deliver on Spanish cuisine? Well let me tell you...he delivered. Instead of just offering some of the most common Spanish dishes, Chef Mendez had a few choice ingredients on this menu.

I would recommend ordering the Pata Negra, which is a thinly sliced 36-month cured ham. If you like Jamon Iberico you will like this ham. These acorn-fed, free-range pigs stick to a strict diet,with proper excercise, to ensure an extremely delicious cut of meat. You can enjoy this ham, along with cranberries and marcona almonds as Carnivale tours the Extramadura region.

For one of the few times in my life...I actually skipped the dessert so that I could try some spanish artisinal cheeses. They were absolutely amazing! They come on a wooden platter, as pictured below, and offer a great mix of popular - Spanish Manchego- and somewhat unique -Blue Goat- cheeses.

If you are interested in some of the more traditional Spanish dishes, Carnivale offers those as well. In addition, we also had an opportunity to sample some of their Latin inspired appetizers. My husband's favorite bite of the night was the Ropa Vieja, which was a braised beef appetizer with sweet plantains, spicy mayo, and queso fresco.  It was so tender.

If you are interested in checking out the "Tour of Spain" at Carnivale, here is information on the culinary tour and the remaining dates:

Cataluna & Valencia - Week of 12/15/08

Madrid & Castilla La Mancha- Week of 1/12/09

Extramadura & Andalucia- Week of 2/19/09

Buen Provecho!