The Chicago Traveler

How can you go wrong with Wine and Chocolate?
The Perceptual Motion, Inc Dance Company is having a Taste of Wine and Chocolate on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Belle Plaine Studio.  Doors open at 6pm with the event lasting till 9:30pm.  Not only will you sample great Wine and Chocolate, but you will be able to see a wonderful mini dance performance.  There is even an opportunity to learn a dance yourself.
Shopping will be provided as there is a silent auction that will have jewelry, artwork and certificates from local restaurants and spas.  Some of the participating restaurants include Glenn’s …read more

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This coming weekend, you’ll likely be gobbling up the little candies at the door that you had meant to hand out to little ghouls and goblins. Instead of feasting on all those brightly-colored sweets, enjoy some grown-up desserts at Chocolate Grape.
With burgundy, faux-finished walls and a large wooden bar, this wine and chocolate place (a block west of Crust) specializes in delicate desserts like the basil and lime granita (tart and sweet gourmet ice); cappuccino crème brulee; and a fall soufflé flavored with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. All of these sweets, including an impressive list of truffles, can be paired …read more

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There was a bit of dispute over my last Best Pizzas list, as I expected there would be. It is a Chicagoan debate that has gone on for generations and will continue probably forever. So, just to add more fuel to the fire, here is another list of Chicago’s ten best ‘pies’ (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp).
Honorable Mention: Gino’s East. If you enjoy reading, the walls here provide plenty of material.

10. Pizzeria Uno. The one, the only, the original. Loosen your belts now.
9. Piece. These very non-Chicago-style slices are simply delicious.
8. Home Run Inn. This old neighborhood tavern offers the …read more

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Lots of little kids (and some full-grown adults) love to eat pizza but leave their crusts untouched. If you think a pizza’s crust is just as good as its toppings, check out the individual ‘pies’ at Coalfire.
The pizzas at Coalfire are made exactly as you would think: in a real coal-burning oven reaching temperatures of over 800 degrees Fahrenheit (427° C). The high heat chars the crust and traps the moisture inside, making it moist and bendable (a la New York). Quality toppings—goat cheese, gorgonzola, fresh basil, prosciutto, calabrese salami, and tons more—are available, though the restaurant suggests a “less …read more

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• The 44th Annual Chicago International Film Festival begins this weekend, featuring over 100 films from 46 countries. (ends Oct 29)
• More than five dozen vendors from Chicago will sell art, antiques, jewelry, and more at the Fall French Market. The fair also includes French cooking demonstrations and kids’ activities. (Oct 17-19)
• Sixty local and national chefs are featured at the 20th annual Celebrity Chef Ball, including Top Chef: Chicago winner Stephanie Izard, contestant Valerie Bonan, and Top Chef: New York contender Radhika Desai. (Oct 17)
• Oracle Productions holds their third installment of terrifying entertainment, Disturbed III. The audience stands …read more

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Oh Volo… where do I even begin? Your radiant décor? Your chic food? Your comfortable, social atmosphere?
Owner Jon Young (co-creator of Kitsch’n across the street) and chef Stephen Dunne are behind this Roscoe Village wine bar, which has been featured on The Food Channel. The restaurant bears striking design with dark brown walls, dim lighting, and a small open kitchen. Couples and small groups relax over granite tabletops, completing the modern yet warm vibe.
The weekly-rotating menu includes small tapas-like dishes that focus on organic and local produce. Past plates have featured heirloom tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella and basil vinaigrette; mussels …read more

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Can you name the seven key ingredients for a Chicago-style hot dog? Here are ten great places to conduct your research (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp).

10. The Wiener’s Circle. Love it or hate it, this greasy spoon has got a “charm” all its own.
9. Gold Coast Dogs. All ten locations follow the Chicago-style recipe to the ‘T’.
8. Superdawg Drive-In. The winking hot dogs on the roof will be a sight you won’t soon forget.
7. Huey’s Hot Dogs. While serving up great dogs and burgers, this eatery is also well-known for its vegetarian-friendly dishes.

6. Portillo’s Hot Dogs. Both the nostalgia and …read more

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Concluding my southwestern Michigan series, great American wines don’t just come from the coastlines. There are actually a few wineries just on the other side of Lake Michigan.
The Round Barn winery in Baroda is a family-owned and operated business that specializes in hand-crafted wines. The barn itself, built in 1911 in Indiana, was taken down and reassembled in Michigan by an Amish construction crew. It houses a café where you can munch on sandwiches, salads, or specialty pizzas, while sipping delicious wine. The Round Barn offers much more than estate wine, however; they also sell sparkling wines, cognac, brandy, beer, …read more

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Romance shouldn’t be reserved for just Valentine’s Day. As the temperatures begin to cool down, you can keep your relationship hot by visiting one or more of the ten best romantic date spots (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp).

10. Shanghai Terrace. With elegant art and a beautiful view, this Asian restaurant offers delicious sophistication.
9. Cyrano’s Bistrot and Wine Bar. The River North eatery serves French basics amidst casual, rustic surroundings.
8. Le Bouchon. Authentic and delicious French dishes at remarkable prices make this bistro one of Bucktown’s best.
7. Angelina Ristorante. In Lakeview, the popular date spot provides authentic Italian in a comfortable …read more

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At Juicy Wine Company in River West, wine lovers browse through the retail space and select their preferred combinations of vintages and complements (pate, olives, and cheese). You can take these purchases home or head upstairs to the lounge. Here, hipsters gab in semicircular booths and small tables while a DJ spins on an elevated stage. Exposed brick with light wood and cork details complete the contemporary space (southeast of Soulistic Studio).
If you choose to sit a spell, the wine list is categorized quite neatly, separated by color and body. A few are available by the glass, but most come …read more

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