"illinois" news and stories

Chicago's ban against the sale of foie gras has been in effect for just one week, and one chef has already been given a warning for a violation of the ban. Chef Rick Spiros, from the restaurant Block 44, served eight orders of foie gras on Friday night simply to use up several "leftover" pieces of the expensive stuff. The violation was discovered when an anonymous caller tipped off city officials, but Spiros says that it was a "one-time thing" - unless the injunction seeking to stop enforcement of the law takes effect and restaurants are permitted to serve the delicacy again.

If the restaurant receives a second violation, they will be forced to pay a fine.

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Legislators in Illinois have voted against a proposed junk food ban. The bill would have eliminated all junk foods from vending machines in elementary and middles schools, grades K-8, in the state.

Though the governor supported it, the rest of the law makers said that it was not enough to look only at the foods offered in vending machines. A bill that was to support good nutrition in schools should require that the nutritional content of cafeteria food be examined as well. Not only would the bill have to be more balanced, it would have to apply equally to all children. Some of the original drafts contained rules that varied by age and were full of product exceptions. For example, children through grade 5 "would be limited to beverages containing 100 percent fruit juice, while drinks for middle school students could contain as little as 50 percent juice" and pretzels would be allowed, though almost no other "chips" would be.

It sounds as though the school board, which is collaborating with the law makers, and the government are on the right track in their desire to have healthier kids. Once a balance is reached, the legislature is sure to push a bill through.

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How on earth could we have been ignoring our family in the Midwest this whole time?!?! Forty whippings with a wet noodle for us! And now, the Chicago Tribune's Good Eating in 60 seconds.

In drinking, it's one of the best German-style lagers in a bottle, it's golden amber in color, maltier and hoppier than most, and best of all, it's from Cleveland: Great Lakes Brewing Co.'s Dortmunder Gold. Proposed shipping laws for wine in Illinois are causing a headache worse than cheap red wine. New Sam's Wine and Spirits in Highland Park has a lounge and classroom and a lot more space.

In the kitchen, are you whipping potatoes, or mashing them? Who cares, it still tastes good. Star fruit and star anise are paired with shrimp, Ina Garten's new line gets a nod, be brave with a deep fryer, and make that Hungarian delight, ghoulash.

Canned food sounds mundane, but not when they've been the foundation of Spain's tapas for years.

Cooking Light magazine has paired up with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises to open a food kiosk at a gourmet food court in downtown Chicago. The food court is located in the Water Tower and the kiosk will sell foods based on recipes in Cooking Light, including a line of take-home entrees and side dishes intended as ready-made dinners. According to the New York Times, editors at the magazine see a lot of possibility in the kiosk as a potential column or test market for new ideas, while Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is hoping to capitalize on some of the name recognition of the magazine to sell healthier options, though some would not be surprised to see advertiser-sponsored events appearing in-store to help make it a financial success. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises owns and operates over 70 restaurants around the country, including the Eiffel Tower restaurant, in Las Vegas, and Tru, in Chicago.

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