Sep
30
Protected: Delicious DIRT Tackles Chicago Gourmet 2011
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Aug
14
Delicious DIRT Takes It Down At Wieners Circle
Filed Under #DeliciousDIRT, Chicago, Food Nerds, Food Porn, Go Local, Restaurant Recap | Leave a Comment
Delicious DIRT Takes It Down @ The Wieners Circle
Inside: Wieners Circle, Delicious DIRT, Restaurant Recap, Char Cheddar Burger, Cheese Fries.
CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Photo by MBK
Returning to our roots at Wieners Circle felt so damn good!! For those of you who are unfamiliar, this is the joint to hit up for supreme late night dining…open til 5am folks. We’d literally tackle those Wieners on the daily if we could. #OldSchool
CHEDDAR FRIES = PURE DELICIOUS DIRT by MBK
The Circle is a hot dog / hamburger stand in the heart of Lincoln Park that actually lives up to the hype. You’ll get yelled at by the lady we love behind the counter and, if you’re lucky, (#eyeofthebeholder), you’ll get flashed while sitting at the wood community table benches we love. You’ll laugh out loud while witnessing verbal abuse beyond belief, but you’ll soon be quickly calmed by the mouth watering char-dogs + char-burgers you’ll devour.
Counter Action by MBK
It’s all an experience you’ll savor because the food is pure Delicious DIRTyou won’t regret taking down. EVER. In fact, you’ll devour those calories and most definitely go back for more.
Fave We Crave = Char Cheddar Burger + Cheddar Fries by MBK
The char cheddar burger at Wieners Circle is our fave simply because it’s insanely delicious. The burger itself is always perfectly well done, hot, juicy, and loaded with that fake cheddar sauce we want to down by the gallon. #theworks
Char Cheddar Burger by MBK
The cheddar fries are to die for. The potatoes are not too small and not too large – just right in size and oh so smothered in fake cheddar + doused in ketchup. HEAVEN. You don’t even have to ask for extra cheddar if you’re a cheese addict like MBK, you actually get enough. Hot damn, we’re making ourselves hungry writing this. #HotTip: if you’re not into using your hands, bring a fork.
More Cheddar Fries by MBK
Sadly we forgot to swallow Wieners’ famous chocolate shake…
Coulda Woulda Shoulda. #NextTime.
Wieners Circle -> 2622 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
MBK
Molly Bett Kovler is a social worker turned social media strategist, editor, publicist, blogger and event executor. After graduating with a Master’s from The University of Chicago and working on the Obama ’08 campaign, MBK founded and runs Elevate Your Presence, LLC. EYP is a full service publicity, social media, editorial, management, and event execution firm defining excellence. MBK is highly connected & heavily embedded in the social web. Join EYP’s exclusive client list to Embrace. Evolve. Elevate – Elevate Your Presence. #DeliciousDIRT
Delicious DIRT
Elevate Your Presence on Facebook
Elevate Your Presence on Twitter
MBK on Twitter
Elevate Your Presence
MBK on Food Mafia
Aug
9
Mac On The Mac
Filed Under #DeliciousDIRT, Chefs, Chicago, Elevate Your Presence, Food Mafia, Food Nerds, Food Porn, Restaurant Recap, Restaurants | Leave a Comment
Delicious DIRT On Frontier Chicago
Inside: Updated, Restaurant Recap, Frontier Chicago, MBK’s Food Mafia Review, $2 Tuesdays, Mac + Cheese, Oysters, Lotties Pub, The Pony, Chef Brian Jupiter, Whole Animal Service.
Swoon over swine? Check Frontier’s 247 pound pig from Butcher + Larder at 2011 Chicago Food Film Festival’s pig roast here.
CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Poor Little Piggy @ Frontier
Delicious DIRT was among the lucky few to sample oysters galore + mac + cheese (5 cheese) at Frontier Chicago‘s opening night last winter. The boys, our friends, behind Lotties Pub and The Pony really brought it when they opened this newbie!
Frontier is a chill restaurant / sports bar (24 flat screens) with a SWEET menu + extensive drink list. The crowd is usually pretty low key and unpretentious. Atmosphere is casual, wooden, rustic and calming. Don’t forget to head upstairs as well…
Frontier's Mac by MBK
Frontier is an eatery that will most likely end up in your regular rotation – it’s def in ours – kitchen OPEN TIL 1AM FOLKS. On MBK’s palate most nights she’s there –> red wine, oysters and 5 cheese Mac & Cheese… all of which SHINE brightly!
Frontier's Oysters by MBK
Wanna PIG OUT? Get your swine on bc they do whole animal service too.. for the meat LOVER in you… Literally, hottie Chef Brian Jupiter will roast an entire pig, lamb, goat and or wild boar for you and your friends to PIG OUT on. Great idea for a party…
Smiling Piggy. Whole Animal Service @ Frontier
Faves: Frontier’s oyster sampler, 5 cheese Mac & Cheese, DELIGHTFUL.
Juice You Must Know:
Frontier’s 2$ Tuesdays! We love anything for 2$ especially when it comes from greatness. Frontier invites Chicagoans to enjoy their $2 Tuesdays, available every Tuesday from 4:00 PM to 1:30 AM. Tuesday specials will feature items such as select half-pints, oysters, deviled eggs and tacos, all for $2 each. 
Aug
2
Art Smith, Up Close & Personal
Filed Under #DeliciousDIRT, Charities, Chefs, Chicago, Exclusive, FEED, Food Mafia, Food Nerds, Food Porn, Interview | Leave a Comment
Delicious DIRT Gets Up Close & Personal With Chef Art Smith
Chef Art Smith
The executive chef and co-owner of Table Fifty-two + Art and Soul restaurants, Art Smith has received the culinary profession’s highest awards and has cooked for some of the world’s most famous celebrities. In 1997, Smith became the personal, day-to-day chef to Oprah Winfrey, a position that lasted ten years and has made regular television appearances on programs such as Iron Chef America, The Today Show, Nightline, Fox News, Extra, Dr. Oz and Oprah. In 2003 he founded Common Threads, a non-profit organization that teaches children about diversity and tolerance through the world’s great cultures. For his tireless Common Threads leadership, Smith was honored by Chicago magazine as a Chicagoan of the Year in 2007. That same year, the prestigious James Beard Foundation named him Humanitarian of the Year. All photos courtesy of Kipling Swehla. CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Chef Art Smith on Twitter
Chef Art Smith on Food Mafia
Table Fifty-two
Table Fifty-two on Facebook
Table Fifty-two on Twitter
Table Fifty-two on Food Mafia
MBK
Molly Bett Kovler is a social worker turned social media strategist, editor, publicist, blogger and event executor. After graduating with a Master’s from The University of Chicago and working on the Obama ’08 campaign, MBK founded and runs Elevate Your Presence, LLC. EYP is a full service publicity, social media, editorial, management, and event execution firm defining excellence. MBK is highly connected & heavily embedded in the social web. Join EYP’s exclusive client list to Embrace. Evolve. Elevate – Elevate Your Presence. #DeliciousDIRT
Elevate Your Presence
Delicious DIRT
Elevate Your Presence on Facebook
Elevate Your Presence on Twitter
MBK on Twitter
MBK on Food Mafia
Delicious DIRT. Art Smith Exclusive
“The Gov. of Florida, taught me that in order to get ahead you had to understand politics and diplomacy. Oprah taught me to honor your word and always give people your best. Life taught me to always have a parachute,” Art Smith. CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Deviled Eggs @ Table Fifty-two
Yes, Oprah gave her whole studio audience cars… However, the most meaningful gift she gave Chicago and food nerds across America was opening our eyes to the one and only wonderful Chef Art Smith. The TV star and head chef behind President Obama favorite Table Fifty-two and Art & Soul, (plus future restaurants in California and Atlanta) has a heart made of gold. What you may NOT know is this fantastic chef has become a recent marathoner and runs a remarkable charity, Common Threads.
None of the above should be surprising to anyone who has met Chef Art Smith. His Southern roots and upbringing shine not just in his cooking, but also in his overall demeanor. The way Art treats everyone he meets is with pure kindness. We are sincerely proud to call him our friend. Art cooks the food we love, the food we crave, and the food we devour!! Even better, he serves it with panache. We, at Delicious DIRT, adore Chef Art Smith – as a mentor, a chef and a friend. Below, get to know Art Smith, up close and personal. We hope you’ll enjoy reading his interview as much as we loved giving it.
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Aug
1
Protected: Delicious DIRT Goes Heeb
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Aug
1
Craving Action? Delicious DIRT’s Events Satiate
Filed Under #DeliciousDIRT, Chefs, Chicago, DIRT. Weekly, Elevate Your Presence, Events, Food Nerds, Food Porn, Fun, Go Local, Sweetness | Leave a Comment
Delicious DIRT. Action Jackson. Events
Inside: Lillie’s Q, MCA, Tuesday on Terrace, Wolfgang Puck, Nichols Farm, Green City Market, Fulton’s on the River, Ethyl Beer and Wine, Retro on Roscoe, Lollapalooza, Chow Down at Chow Town. CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Courtesy of Lillie's Q
8/1 Lillie’s Q 1 year anniversary is today. Stop by at 9 p.m. for free samples of their whole smoked hog and get $1 samples of their Lillie’s Q-Rita cocktail. BBQ + summer = perfection. Chef Charlie McKenna is phenomenal + award winning (winner Memphis-In-May World Championship Barbeque Cooking Contest). Chef Charlie McKenna, aka the Southern BBQ MASTER, is now whipping out Bacon infused moonshine aka “MoonSWINE”. Have you indulged? BBQ + Dry Rub Ribs so good you’ll literally wanna rub one out. We know we do. 1856 W. North Ave.
Courtesy of Lillie's Q
8/2 Feelin’ a sophisticated evening with jazz music and contemporary art? Tuesdays on the Terrace at the Museum of Contemporary Art is calling your name.
MCA Tuesdays by Nathan Keay
Every Tuesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. jazz musicians perform on the front terrace for free. If you’d like to dine and enjoy the music, take down their dinner buffet available for $23 catered by Puck. Call 312-397-4034 for dinner reservations as tables are limited. This Tuesday enjoy the sounds of Dee Alexander, hosted by Alice Brown. 220 E. Chicago Ave.
8/2 Fulton’s on the River will have their 3rd annual Clam Bake this Tuesday. From 5 to 8 p.m., stuff your heart’s desire with two Hoegaarden beers and all the clams you can tackle for $25. PLUS, $4 beers, $6 cocktails and $8 glasses of wine also available. 315 N. LaSalle Drive.
Courtesy of Nichols Farm
8/3 Heard about Green City Market Chef’s BBQ Benefit which took place on that stifling hot July 21 evening? This is a big one food nerds! Chefs annually come together to benefit the Green City Market’s educational programs and outreach initiatives. So… the question remains, have you had a chance to stop by the Green City Market? Hit it. They’re open every Wednesday (+Sat) from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. so stop by to pick up some Snookelfritz Ice Cream or fresh produce from Nichols Farm & Orchard.
8/4 DD FAVE = Trucking Thursdays. We mentioned Food Truck Tuesdays in the CB2 parking lot last week + here is another weekly opportunity to delve into Chicago’s food truck trend. Head to Ethyl Beer and Wine for Trucking Thursday which features a slew of Chicago’s favorite food trucks, Good Island Beer and music from 6 to 9 p.m. 324 S. Racine Ave.
EM + MBK @ Lolla Backstage
8/5 – 8/7 Friday is the first day of the 20th Lollapalooza music festival in Grant Park. Get down to Coldplay, Eminem, My Morning Jacket + so many more while you Chow Down at Chow Town. 500 S. Columbus Drive.
Too White Crew @ Retro On Roscoe by MBK
8/6 – 8/7 Head to our old haunt -> Retro on Roscoe from 12 to 10 pm to enjoy live music, food vendors and a 50 car antique car show. Some of our faves = 16 Candles (best 80′s tribute band), Two White Crew (best 90′s hip hop cover band) and more will help you let it all go while you literally dance your ass off. For you chili lovers, don’t miss the Windy City Chili Cook-Off 2000 W. Roscoe St.
Playful MBK + LS @ Retro
Aug
1
Chow Down in Chow Town Delicious DIRT Style. Lollapalooza 2011
Filed Under #DeliciousDIRT, Chefs, Chicago, DIRT. Weekly, Events, Exclusive, FEED, Festivals, Food Mafia, Food Nerds, Food Porn, Fun, Go Local, iPhone Application, JUICE, Menu, Sweetness | Leave a Comment
Chow Down in Chow Town Delicious DIRT Style. Lollapalooza 2011. Food Mafia Feed
MBK
Molly Bett Kovler is a social worker turned social media strategist, editor, publicist, blogger and event executor. After graduating with a Master’s from The University of Chicago and working on the Obama ’08 campaign, MBK founded and runs Elevate Your Presence, LLC. EYP is a full service publicity, social media, editorial, management, and event execution firm defining excellence. MBK is highly connected & heavily embedded in the social web. Join EYP’s exclusive client list to Embrace. Evolve. Elevate – Elevate Your Presence. #DeliciousDIRT
Delicious DIRT
Elevate Your Presence on Facebook
Elevate Your Presence on Twitter
MBK on Twitter
Elevate Your Presence
MBK on Food Mafia
Delicious DIRT. Chow Down in Chow Town @ Lollapalooza 2011.
Calling all food nerds, music freaks, and festival geeks, Lollapalooza is this weekend (as most of you know). It’s hard to believe Perry Farrell, of Delicious DIRT fave Jane’s Addiction, started Lolla 20 years ago as a farewell Jane’s concert. Oh, #howtimeflies. Not only is the music line up star studded (My Morning Jacket, Eminem, Deadmau5, Coldplay, Foo Fighters), but the FOOD line up, aka Chow Town, most definitely beats the Taste Of Chicago spread. #FoodPorn you’ll salivate over. CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Graham Elliot's #streetfood: Lobster Corn Dog by Will Rice
We’re #crossingourfingers the weather won’t be SWAMP LIKE in Grant Park (high hopes). Hint: check Tom Skilling‘s forecast – quite possibly the best weatherman ever. Craving action before Lolla? Check Delicious DIRT’s weekly event roundup and satiate yourself…
Q-Tip Courtesy of PDS
Don’t fret because Lolla is sold out. As always, you can get tickets on the scene if you’re smooth like butter. Speaking of the masters, checked out Michael Rapaport’s just released documentary in Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest yet? Add it to your To Do. Now.
Courtesy of Lolla
Other than the music at Lolla, slews of other distractions such as Green Street, Activities and Lounge Centers and of course, our favorite, Chow Town, are sure to keep you busy (and FULL). Green Street showcases Lollapalooza’s green initiatives with eco-friendly shopping from Green Streets Art Market, fresh produce from the Farmers Market, and notable charities and organizations at Lolla Cares.
Lolla's Chow Town
Lolla’s food line up surely tops Taste of Chicago‘s! We know you Delicious Dirt devotees are most definitely excited about Chow Town, Lollapalooza’s ridiculous food extravaganza which includes many of Chicago’s best restaurants. You’ll surely take down many Delicious DIRT FAVES – Lolla style (see below for full list and roundup).
2010 Lolla Delicious DIRT by Katherine Sacks
In case you haven’t heard, Graham Elliot heads Chow Town as Culinary Director for the second year in a row.
Graham Elliot @ Lolla w/ his signature lobster corn dog by Ashley Garmon via Eater
Elliot, along with Grahamwich + Graham Elliot Exec Chef Merlin Verrier, bring greatness for everyone.. no matter your diet. Merlin tells Delicious DIRT, “Chow Town will now be on Columbus going north and south. This will add a great new feel for the food: the road is wider, all restaurants will be on the same street, individualized signage for each restaurant and great seating areas. All that’s much better when eating some of the best festival food in the world.” He also told The Feast they plan to make 12,000 lobster corn dogs this year as last year’s 11,000 ran out too quickly and people were “freaking out.” We LOVE.
Merlin Verrier by Mark Kinan
Prepare to indulge food geeks. Life is short. Your Lolla palate is sure to be full full full of true Delicious DIRT. Look for Smoke Daddy, Franks ‘N Dawgs luscious hot dogs, Kuma’s Corner renowned scrumptious burgers and Blue 13‘s to die for cactus tostada.
Courtesy of Franks N' Dawgs
Newcomers to the festival include Graham Elliot’s Grahamwich, Sola, Bonsoiree, and The Gage/Henri. Embracing the vibe, Sola’s calling their Delicious DIRT, Solapalooza. #TheShoeFits. Sola’s Carol Wallack will rock your socks off in Chow Town with her edamame with hemp seed vinaigrette and kalua pork on banana bread. If you’re feeling the yearn for Chicago staples, there’s always Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza and or the Original Rainbow Cone= best bet to cool it down.
Delicious DIRT @ Kuma's by Sarah Collins
Thirsty? Quench it with non-alcoholic beverages once in a while. Grab an iced coffee from Chicago’s well known artisan coffee hot spot Metropolis Coffee Company or a flavored iced tea from Sweet Leaf Tea. You can’t go wrong with baos from Wow Bao, french toast from Jam, pulled pork sandwiches from Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs and or an Italian beef sandwich from Tuscany on Taylor St. Take it all down? #MadProps #BringThePepcid
Stay ahead of the curve with the Lollapalooza app -> we can not hit Lolla without! The app allows you to connect with your facebook page (obsessed), create your own custom schedule of musicians, and listen to free streaming tracks from artists at Lolla 2011 (plus past performers over the last 20 years). A must. Also, we suggest you plot your pig out with the Lollapalooza map.
Lolla Map by Lolla
Stuff your face, dance like no one’s watching and sing like no one’s listening. Feel it. #LifeIsShort
EM + MBK @ Lolla Backstage
Lolla @ Night by NY Daily News Staff
Don’t tell mom the babysitter’s dead – she isn’t. For all you rocker chic mamas and papas, your kids are in luck as they too can get down at Kidzapalooza. Get ready for hilarious rocker hair styles, fake tattoos, and jamming out rock band style! Play it up Griswald style… We know we know… no one can be Chevy cool.
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Jul
19
Get Dosed: Food and Fashion, One Sunday a Month
Filed Under #DeliciousDIRT, Chefs, Chicago, Events, FEED, Food Mafia, Food Nerds, Food Porn, Go Local, JUICE, Now Open, Restaurants, Sustainable, Upcoming | Leave a Comment
Delicious DIRT. Get Dosed: Food and Fashion, One Sunday a Month
Dose Courtesy of Aaron Becker
You’ve spent many a Sunday trekking from Bucktown to Chinatown, Andersonville to the Gold Coast, and back again, in order to soak up everything Chicago has to offer. Life would be easier if there were just one stop. CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
Fresh berries from Seedling Fruit
Dose Market is just that: The new food and fashion market takes place one Sunday a month at the River East Art Center. Heather Sperling (Chicago Editor, Tasting Table) and Emily Fiffer (DailyCandy Chicago Editor) helm the food end; April Francis (the Haute Closet) and Jessica Herman (Associate Shopping Editor, Time Out Chicago) add a healthy dose of fashion and design to the mix. The foursome’s goal is simple: to expose Chicagoans to the creativity that makes this city tick – and put Chicago on the map, once and for all.
Gluten-free salted peanut brownies from Defloured
At the July 10 market, Grant Achatz crafted complimentary cocktails for guests in the morning hours.
Grant Achatz concocted a custom Dose cocktail, based on his new Thai menu at Next.
Slightly sloshed, shoppers soaked up the booze with Fritz Pastry’s buttery croissants and smeared them with passion fruit lime curd from Rare Bird Preserves.
Fresh from the fryer doughnuts from Fritz Pastry.
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Jul
10
Delicious DIRT. Event Action
Filed Under #DeliciousDIRT, Chicago, DIRT. Weekly, Events, Festivals, Food Nerds, Food Porn | Leave a Comment
Delicious DIRT. Events This Week
Inside: Halsted Tastes Better, Cocktails4Causes, The Drake Hotel, City Swarm, The Southern, The Southern Mac, The Hunt Club, Chef Neil, Nutricia’s Low Protein Cooking Tour, The Chopping Block, Chefs and the City, PAWS Chicago, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Vital Bridges, Castaways, Rewster’s Cafe
7/11 – It’s North Halsted Taste without the wait. From 6-9 get the #DeliciousDIRT on all the great N Halsted restos at Halsted Tastes Better. Just $30 ($25 in advance) will get you all-you-can-DARE-eat from great local restaurants, live music and a server race. 3300 N Halsted 
7/12 Doing good by doing drinks? That’s #mykindofcharity. Give back at Cocktails4Causes starting at 5:30 at the Drake Hotel. Complimentary Hors D’oeuvres and half of all drink costs go to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 140 E Walton
The Drake Cocktail
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Jul
9
Kitchen Insider at Chicago Cut
Filed Under #DeliciousDIRT, Chefs, Chicago, Elevate Your Presence, Exclusive, FEED, Food Mafia, Food Nerds, Food Porn, Kitchen Insider, Restaurant Recap, Video | Leave a Comment
Delicious DIRT’s Kitchen Insider At Chicago Cut
MBK
Molly Bett Kovler is a social worker turned social media strategist, editor, publicist, blogger and event executor. After graduating with a Master’s from The University of Chicago and working on the Obama ’08 campaign, MBK founded and runs Elevate Your Presence, LLC. EYP is a full service publicity, social media, editorial, management, and event execution firm defining excellence. MBK is highly connected & heavily embedded in the social web. Join EYP’s exclusive client list to Embrace. Evolve. Elevate – Elevate Your Presence. #DeliciousDIRT
Delicious DIRT
Elevate Your Presence on Facebook
Elevate Your Presence on Twitter
MBK on Twitter
Elevate Your Presence
MBK on Food Mafia
Delicious DIRT Quickie Inside Chicago Cut’s Kitchen on Food Mafia’s Feed
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at some of the country’s sexiest, busiest and top notch restaurants? Wonder. No. More.
Delicious DIRT’s new series, Kitchen Insider, will answer all of your questions and then some. Like our elevated interviews? True food nerds like us simply can’t get enough food porn. They don’t call us food geeks for nothing folks. You’ll love going where all the action happens: inside premier kitchens like Chicago Cut, Girl & The Goat, Tiny Lounge, Frontier Chicago, Perennial Virant, Avenues, The Motel Bar, Table 52 and more. You’ll be so close you’ll feel it, you’ll almost taste it and either way, you’ll most definitely crave it. Watch it, read it, hear it, and eat it.
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