This week’s Quickfire Challenge required each chef to create an entrée in only 15 minutes, using Uncle Ben’s Rice as a primary ingredient. (Product placement, anyone?) As you can probably figure out, trying to cook anything in that short amount of time is very difficult, especially when the contestants are trying to impress guest judge Art Smith. I can’t even decide what I want to eat in less than 15 minutes!

Art Smith is a talented chef and author originally from Florida. He was personal chef to Oprah Winfrey for ten years and is co-owner of the prestigious restaurant, Table Fifty-Two.

While I would hope that you have more than 15 minutes at a time for a meal, sometimes you need to just pick up your food and keep on movin’. There are hundreds of restaurants in Chicago that allow you to call ahead and/or pick up your food “to go.” Here are just a few:

Ann Sather Buona Beef Caponie’s Trattoria Cuatro Cupcakes Hot Chocolate Hot Doug’s

Johnnie’s Beef Lou Mitchell’s Luke’s Italian Beef Mr. Beef Palermo’s Italian Cuisine Pete’s Pizza Portillo’s Hot Dogs

Santorini Tavern on Rush Terragusto Viand Vito & Nick’s Wholly Frijoles Wiener and Still Champion

In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs had to make a healthy, simple, and tasty meal for a family of four using only $10 worth of groceries. Each contestant was then paired with a child from the Common Threads Program, who helped prepare the dish and presented it to fellow kids from the program.

Common Threads was founded in 2004 by Art Smith and his partner, Jesus Salgueiro. (The couple was declared “Chicagoans of the Year” in 2006 by ChicagoMag.com.)The after-school program educates kids on health, nutrition, and culture through food. Instead of a classroom, children between 8 and 12 years old learn about our world via the kitchen. Along with cooking healthy ethnic cuisine, they plant and harvest vegetables in the garden and practice things like yoga, capoeira, and tai chi. For information on how you can participate, either by volunteering or donating, check out their website: http://www.commonthreads.org/.

Photo credit: (c/o SXC) Willi Heidelbach, (c/o Flickr) jana christy

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Soulistic Studio & Spa offers services like massage and reflexology treatments, but also provides classes in boxing, Pilates, yoga, and capoeira. The fight-like dancing was popular among African slaves who used it as a form of artistic expression as well as self-defense. Music, history, culture, and movements all combine to help participants of all different ethnic backgrounds exercise and express themselves. With swinging arms and swift kicks, the energy and mobility required to perform the dance provide a unique workout. The smooth movements can be performed as a group or one-on-one. Don’t be intimidated by the handstands and seemingly impossible high kicks! Just a little bit of practice goes a long way.

Soulistic Studio & Spa: 805 N Milwaukee Ave (Suite 200); 312-226-7685
Hours and class times vary by season
Street parking available
Public Trans: Bus #56, 66 or Blue Line train (Chicago)
http://www.soulisticstudiospa.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler