If you are looking for something to do during your lunch hour today, try some Twister! Make your way to the Park Grill in Millenium Park. Always a good spot for some food, but today, there will be a rather large Twister mat set up under a tent in the south patio from 11am to 3pm. Almost 1000 sq. ft. of Twister mat, expecting over 1000 contestants on a beautiful sunny Chicago day.
Filed under: Events | Tagged: Millenium Park, Park Grill, Seven Daughters, Twister | Leave a Comment »
On my quest to find more places in Chicago that can help the average person make wine, I stumbled upon Chiarugi (KEY-AH-RU-GEE for those of you who have a hard time with Italian pronunciation) Hardware in Little Italy at 1412 W. Taylor Street. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by the owner, Paul Rinaldi. Read more »
Filed under: Misc | Tagged: Chiarugi Hardware, Homemade Wine, Little Italy | Leave a Comment »
Independance Day 2009 is here, and the Windy City Wine Guy and family decided to head out to Naperville for Ribfest. If you like smokey BBQ, rock and roll, and good suburban family fun, you should make your way out there. Many tips on how to get there, best plans, and food and beverage for this yearly event are up for grabs in this article. Read more »
Filed under: Events | Tagged: 4th of July, Naperville, Ribfest | Leave a Comment »
![81936274_6280107713[1]](http://windycitywineguy.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/81936274_62801077131.jpg?w=300&h=199 "Fireworks NYE2005")
So the 4th of July weekend is upon us and now it’s time to add the finishing touches to your shopping list. Whether you are grilling, BBQ-ing, cooking in, or ordering out, these are some sure-fire picks to please all palates. Read more »
Filed under: Pairings | Tagged: 4th of July, BBQ, Beer, Grill, Wine | Leave a Comment »
![2179FG2G8XL._SL160_AA115_[1]](http://windycitywineguy.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/2179fg2g8xl-_sl160_aa115_1.jpg?w=115&h=115 "Mexican Coca-Cola Bottle 355ML")
During a visit to one of my new favorite Printer’s Row eateries, Flaco’s Tacos, I noticed they sold![m[1]](http://windycitywineguy.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/m11.jpg?w=59&h=100 "Flacos Tacos")
Mexican Coke. Now, I have had it before, and know much about it. But I am very sure that many of us in this country have no clue what the exact difference is. Read more »
Filed under: Food, Misc | Tagged: Flaco's Tacos, Mexican Coke, Panozzo's, San Pellegrino Aranciata | 2 Comments »
![m_f419a51a8c51453c9f7ca5adc5c80e97[1]](http://windycitywineguy.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/m_f419a51a8c51453c9f7ca5adc5c80e9711.jpg?w=170&h=220 "The Grocery Bistro")
A few weeks ago, after hearing so many good things about The Grocery Bistro, I made a reservation with my wife, and headed out to 804 W. Washington. It is just west of Halsted, in the vicinity of both Greektown and Randolph Street. After easily finding street parking just in front, we walked past their outdoor patio and inside.
Filed under: BYOB, Restaurants | Tagged: Little Bucharest Bistro, Staete Landt Pinot Noir, The Grocery Bistro | Leave a Comment »
There is not much I like better than to see a success story come from an immigrant family, especially an Italian one. After all, that’s what the USA is all about! It is also great to see that success flourish into a family business, run by a father and his children. That is what I am featuring this Father’s Day with the Terlato family. Read more »
Filed under: Misc | Tagged: Anthony Terlato, Father's Day | Leave a Comment »
![2401879447_c719759cef[1]](http://windycitywineguy.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/2401879447_c719759cef1.jpg?w=300&h=199 "2401879447_c719759cef[1]")
If used, oak can have a profound effect on wine. Not only can it affect the color and flavor, but it also adds tannin and complexity. Now, wines fermented and/or aged in stainless steel give a more natural, crisp, and clean taste to a wine, but wines vinified with oak can be just as good, if not better. Oak barrels allow a small amount of air in, which not only softens harsh wine tannins, but also evaporates alcohol and water. This leaves behind a concentrated evolving wine, with more flavors and tannins added from the oak. But the kind of oak and how it is charred will determine the additional flavors of the wine. What kind of oaks and char levels are used? Read more »
Filed under: Misc | Tagged: American Oak, French Oak, Slovenian Oak, Wine | Leave a Comment »
![3599085565_c99c835ba9[1]](http://windycitywineguy.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/3599085565_c99c835ba91.jpg?w=300&h=169 "3599085565_c99c835ba9[1]")
To kick off the impending Cubs vs. Sox series, Bill Daley of the Chicago Tribune tasted a couple of recently unveiled wines named after two of Chicago’s favorite players. The Mark Buerhle Merlot, called “Buerhlot“, and the Derrek Lee Cabernet Sauvignon, called “Caberlee“, are two wines made by Longball Cellars in California. I love the fact that many of these “celebrity wines” offer proceeds to charity, but many of them offer extremely pedestrian wines. Check out the review, and see who wins!
Filed under: Wine Reviews | Tagged: Buerhlot, Caberlee, Cubs, Longball Cellars, Sox | Leave a Comment »
![2809066322_5e06e9f968[1]](http://windycitywineguy.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/2809066322_5e06e9f9681.jpg?w=300&h=214 "2809066322_5e06e9f968[1]")
I know all of us have heard the term “body” used to describe a wine, but what exactly is that referring to? Certainly not the muscular nature of Michelangelo’s David, but wine does have it. Read more »
Filed under: Misc, Wine:Types and Styles | Tagged: Body, Wine | Leave a Comment »
