Elizabeth Ginter – In Good Taste

The Boozy Baker Cookbook [Recipe: Southern Comfort Red Velvet Cake]

Elizabeth Ginter — Wed, 21 May 2014 05:00:01 +0000

With the designer cupcake craze finally winding down and Cronuts getting a dirty reputation, the world is ripe for its next dessert phenomenon. Luckily author Lucy Baker is at the ready with 75 recipes for spirited sweets in her cookbook, The Boozy Baker. While the bakers of the world decide what the next big phenomenon in desserts will be, feed those sweet cravings with some delectable desserts that you can whip up at home. Oh and did I mention they all contain booze? That’s right, your new favorite cookbook contains 100 recipes for spirited sweets and cocktails. I had the pleasure of throwing some questions at the author, a girl that has professed such a love of champagne that she says she would put it on her cereal. I think we are in good hands here. IGT: How did you learn how to bake? LB: I have always loved to bake. I have fond memories of preparing boxed cake mixes and slathering them with store-bought chocolate frosting when I was a little girl. I started baking more and more after college, when I moved to New York City. It was a way to relax and unwind after a hectic day. IGT: What inspires […]

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Chicago: Leghorn Fried Chicken

Elizabeth Ginter — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:00:57 +0000

These days it seems that a new fried chicken place is popping up every week, proving the new adage “Fried Chicken is the new Black.” Trust me people are saying that. Or maybe it’s just me. I sampled the goods at the newest chicken darling, Leghorn Chicken on opening day, before the crowd settled in. Trust me, this is one chicken joint that has been drawing serious crowds since opening. Within hours of its 11:00 a.m. opening bell, the chicken is gone — lasting only 90 minutes on opening day. Leghorn has a simple menu with 3 basic choices to make: 1) if you want your chicken pickle brined or Nashville hot 2) if you want a chicken breast or chicken thigh and 3) if you want your sandwich on a bun or biscuit. Pro Tip: opt for the Nashville hot since both versions are actually pickle brined. We all know that brining chicken ensures that it comes out deliciously juicy but the addition of dill in the ‘pickle brine’ adds an extra layer of flavor. The ‘Nashville hot’ adds a dab of spice to your sandwich. After you decide on your cut of meat and bun (I also chose with breast and house made […]

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The Public Burger at The Pump Room

Elizabeth Ginter — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 05:00:17 +0000

There are plenty of places to get “the best burger in Chicago. Bavette’s and RockIt Burger Bar, we’re looking at you. In fact we have probably featured enough of Chicago’s burgers that we could turn it into a regular column (dibs on that assignment). Last week, I encountered another burger that deserves its moment in the sun: the Public Burger at Pump Room. Located in the Public Hotel, Pump Room is a great place to grab a drink or meet for a lunch meeting. If said lunch meeting happens to follow an epic night of cocktails, a big juicy burger is just what your hangover needs. The burger breakdown: high-quality beef cooked to perfection on a sesame bun that somehow absorbs all the juices but never gets soggy. Fresh herbed mayonnaise and a pillow of dry aged cheddar cheese layers the bun. You’ll also bite into thinly sliced cucumbers and some pickled jalapeños, that add a hint of spice and cut some of the richness. Take another bite and while you savor the flavors, what’s that standing out? A touch of mint in the mayonnaise adds an unexpected air of refreshment. You may or may not believe us and think […]

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Chicago: The GabiTini at Mon Ami Gabi

Elizabeth Ginter — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:00:07 +0000

Martini, anyone? James Bond preferred his martini shaken, not stirred, Hemingway opted for a martini with equal parts gin and vermouth. I prefer mine a little more modern, with vodka instead of gin. After careful consideration, I have found a favorite martini in Chicago in the Gabitini at Mon Ami Gabi in Lincoln Park. Mon Ami Gabi is a classic French restaurant located in the historic Belden-Stratford building overlooking the Lincoln Park Zoo. The Belden-Stratford houses two restaurants, a hotel and private residences. Through the main door you are swept into a past Chicago where you could envision flapper dresses, pearls, Gatsby and of course martinis. I have a plan to live there in my later years and wear lots of furs (vegan and vintage of course). Step into the restaurant and if you’re lucky, grab one of the six seats at the bar. The intimate bar is a great way to get introduced to Mon Ami without the need for a reservation. Order a Gabitini – made with few ingredients but ones that play together harmoniously. The richness of the stuffed blue cheese olives cuts the crisp vodka and makes you forget all about your tough day at work. […]

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