Nasi Goreng at de Quay

Hey Chicago! What an exciting week it has been for us. Go Cubbies! In this week’s episode, we visit de Quay in Lincoln Park – on the only Dutch-Indonesian restaurant in Chicago. I spoke to David de Quay, executive chef and owner of de Quay, to learn more about what he’s cooking up at his spot and some tips for navigating the menu. And General Manager and Wine director Terry McNeese and Beverage Director Noel Catrambone chime in with some must-try beverage recommendations.

Argentina’s delicious cuisine is as varied as its topography, but it’s safe to say that one food is very much a big part of everyday life: beef, beef, and more beef, cooked on a grill (a method, and a dish, known as asado).

Chef de Cuisine Erling Wu Bower, Nico Osteria

Hello! This week, I’m talking seafood with Nico Osteria’s Chef de Cuisine Bower (and 2 time James Beard nominee) Erling Wu-Bower, who gives us some tips on sourcing, purchasing, and preparing seafood. And since wine is one of the most important elements of a great meal, I asked Wine Director Bret Heiar to provide some guidance on pairing vino and seafood.

Ask any random tourist to come up with some of Chicago’s most notable attributes, and “brewing” might not be near the top of the list. But perhaps it should be.

Wine and Cheese Pairings, Bar Pastoral

Hello everyone!

Are you ready to start the 16^th season of Check, Please!? I am! This is an exciting season – jam-packed with more amazing finds recommended by all of you – as well as a few new elements. This season, right here on our website at wttw.com/checkplease, our guests will give confessional-style interviews before and after shooting their episode. How fun will this be to peek behind the curtains!

This French term (pronounced shar-KOO-tuh-ree), despite its distinctly unappetizing English translation of “cooked flesh,” conjures up the pleasures of an upscale picnic spread, perhaps to be enjoyed with good friends at an outdoor symphony concert under the stars.

Amanda Puck and Catherine De Orio at James Beard Taste America

Hello everyone! As we wrapped up our 15th season, we asked top chefs from around the city to pick their favorite places to dine out in Chicago – and who doesn’t want to know that? Watch the episode if you haven’t already!

Chef Kevin Hickey, The Duck Inn

Hello everyone! This week we visited The Duck Inn in Bridgeport, Found Kitchen and Social House in Evanston and Café Orchid in Wrigleyville. Chicago is filled with so many culturally rich, vibrant neighborhoods, yet we often find ourselves staying close to home, wherever that may be, instead of exploring everything our beautiful city has to offer. Nearly every neighborhood has a great place to eat, and so with the burst of spring weather we have this weekend, let’s get out of our neighborhoods and try something different. After all, this is what Check, Please! is all about!

Chef Jimmy Papadopoulos, Bohemian House

Hello everyone! This week we visited Bohemian House in River North, Bistro Dre in Lakeview, and Uru Swati on Devon. I am half Eastern European – Lithuanian – and grew up with my maternal grandmother making pierogies from scratch, wurst and sauerkraut, and decadent potato pudding known as kugelis. Rich, hearty cooking has a special place in my heart. Despite a large Eastern European population in Chicago, it is not easy to find restaurants that focus on this type of cuisine. So I was thrilled when Bohemian House opened.

Chef Kee Chan, Strings Ramen

Hello everyone! This week we visited Strings Ramen in Chinatown, Milt’s BBQ for the Perplexed, and Pete Miller’s Seafood & Prime Steakhouse in Evanston. This winter has been mild for Chicago, but the forecast this week has been chilly! And when the temps dip, my favorite comfort food is a steaming bowl of ramen accompanied by a cold beer. So, this week I spoke with Chef Kee Chan of Strings Ramen and their director of marketing Gabriela Fernandez. Want to know what “hell ramen” is? Keep reading…