https://www.eater.com/24084686/james-beard-americas-classics-award-winners-2024
Category: Restaurants
Yelp’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants for Valentine’s Day Dinner in 2024 – Last Updated January 2024 – Yelp
It’s Not too Late: Chicago Restaurant Week
Chicago Restaurant Week, which ends February 3rd, features over 350 participating restaurants offering unbeatable prix fixe menus for a set price of just $25 for brunch/lunch and $42 or $59 for dinner.
Additionally, there are dozens of acclaimed Michelin- and James Beard Award-winning spots on the list this year, an affordable way to experience more of Chicago’s creative, fine-dining scene: https://www.choosechicago.com/blog/dining/fine-dining-chicago-restaurant-week/Search the Participating Restaurants Guide to reserve your place; the website enables you to search via cuisine or neighborhood, indicate dietary preferences (gluten-free, vegetarian/vegan), and support women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
- After, the companion cocktail lounge of Ever which is the stand-in for the Copenhagen restaurant where Chef Marcus perfects his dessert skills, is offering a 3-course dinner for $59 (*beverage tax and gratuity not included). Photo courtesy
- Avec, where Chef Syd gets a pre-service sneak peek and gets advice from famed Chicago restaurateur Donnie Madia is offering a 2-course brunch at $25 per guest, 3-course lunch at $25 per guest or 4-course dinner at $59 per guest (*beverage tax and gratuity not included).
- Publican Quality Meats, where Chef Syd gets a butcher lesson from PQM’s very own Rob Levitt, is serving up a dinner menu for $59 (*beverage tax and gratuity not included).
There are dozens of acclaimed Michelin- and James Beard Award-winning spots on the list this year, an affordable way to experience more of Chicago’s creative, fine-dining scene.
For more information, https://www.choosechicago.com/blog/dining/fine-dining-chicago-restaurant-week/Search the Participating Restaurants Guide to reserve your place; the website enables you to search via cuisine or neighborhood, indicate dietary preferences (gluten-free, vegetarian/vegan), and support women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
For more information, visit Choose Chicago.
Photo credits:
After photos: Michael Muser
Avec photos: Karla Villegas Pineda
Publican Quality Meats interior/exterior photos: One Off Hospitality
Latest Venture from Restaurateur Mitsuo Endo, Creator of Raku and Sweets Raku Debuts
CASA DE RAKU BRINGS TRADITIONAL EUROPEAN TAPAS & WINE TO LAS VEGAS
Casa de Raku, a traditional European tapas and wine bar, is now open in Chinatown, Las Vegas. Created by Restaurateur Mistuo Endo, culinary mind behind Raku and Sweets Raku, Casa de Raku is inspired by the extraordinary flavors and variety Spanish cuisine offers.
Open for dinner and late-night, Casa de Raku showcases characteristically bold flavors, premium ingredients, and lively aesthetics punctuated by curated pieces directly from Spain. Completely renovating the space that was previously Sweets Raku, the team has created a dining experience designed to transport guests to an intimate tapas bar.
“We’re excited to welcome guests into Casa de Raku so they can immerse themselves in the tastes, smells, and sights you normally have to travel halfway around the globe to experience,” said Cameron Mackintosh-Stewart, General Manager of Casa de Raku. “We’ve worked tirelessly to execute a sophisticated tapas bar while also wanting guests to have fun and feel at home.”
A GLIMPSE INTO CASA DE RAKU’S MENU:
The menu was curated by Chef Mistuo Endo and his culinary team with recipes inspired by the group’s extensive travels throughout Madrid, San Sebastian, León, and Segovia, amongst others. From seafood, meats, pastries, and drinks, Casa de Raku is dedicated to bringing the heart and taste of European cooking to Las Vegas.
Drinks: Casa de Raku offers a curated wine program, three beer options on tap, and traditional wine cocktails. Whether guests are in search of a refreshing spritz or glass of wine to accompany a tapas dish, Casa de Raku’s selection of drinks are sure to please a range of palates and preferences.
Drink highlights include:
- Tinto de Verano: A refreshing, wine-based drink popular in Spain. Comprised of Spanish red wine, Spanish sweet vermouth, and sweet soda, Tinto de Verano is served with lots of ice cubes and orange slice.
- Black & Tan: Beer cocktail made by layering lager and Guinness.
- Cava: Delicious Spanish sparkling wine made in Catalonia, located in Northeastern Spain. Casa de Raku offers two cava options by the glass or bottle.
- Vino Blanco: Casa de Raku showcases a wide selection of European white wines available by the glass or bottle. A notable white wine variety available at Casa de Raku is Txakoli, a slightly sparkling, very dry white wine produced in the Spanish Basque County.
- Vino Tinto: Casa de Raku offers a variety of red wines including Riojas, indigenous Spanish wine varietal, as well as limited edition Cabernets from Napa Valley.
Tapas: Casa de Raku offers a selection of pintxos, charcuteries, salads, seafood, and meat dishes.
Menu highlights include:
- Jamón Iberico: One of the most celebrated Spanish food products, Casa de Raku serves 5-Year-Aged, 100% Bellota Jamon Iberico, sliced from the bone per-order.
- Iberico Katsu: A unique twist on a classic Spanish ingredient, this dish showcases premium Iberico ham with a classic Japanese preparation.
- Croquetas: A quintessential Spanish dish, Casa de Raku’s take on croquetas are made by combining potato puree, French cream, and premium imported sliced meats, all breaded in panko breadcrumbs and fried.
- Pulpos: Flambeed octopus prepared with a white wine garlic sauce and fried brussel sprouts.
Desserts: Sweets are an important part of Spanish culture and cuisine. Paying homage to classic Spanish desserts, Casa de Raku’s desserts are the perfect end of meal treat, crafted to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Dessert highlights include:
- Basque-Style Cheesecake: Inspired by San Sebastian’s burnt Basque cheesecake, this dessert is light and creamy with a strong cheese flavor paired with an almond and walnut crust and served with grated Manchego cheese and raspberry jam.
- Churros: One of the most beloved Spanish pastries, Casa de Raku’s baked churros are dusted with sugar and served with freshly melted chocolate sauce.
Casa de Raku is open Tuesday – Saturday from 6 p.m. – 2 a.m., with last call at 1:30 a.m. Casa de Raku is located in Chinatown at 5040 W Spring Mountain Rd Suite #3, Las Vegas, NV 89146. For more information, view Casa de Raku on Instagram.
About Chef Mitsuo Endo:
Chef Mitsuo Endo, owner and founder of the Raku restaurant group, has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his commitment to traditional Kaiseki cuisine and integration of top-quality Japanese and Western ingredients.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Endo became an apprentice chef at 18, working at prestigious Kaiseki restaurants across the city. After 12 years working as a chef in Japan, Endo decided to move to the United States to chase his dream of becoming a restaurateur in America. Moving to Seattle in 2001, Endo became head chef and opened his first restaurant. Desiring to be continually challenged, Endo moved to New York the following year and met his mentor Koji Imani. The pair joined forces for the opening of MEGU Tribeca and Midtown, where Endo was the executive chef for five years. With nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Endo moved to Las Vegas where he opened his own restaurant, Aburiya Raku. Since opening in 2008, Aburiya Raku has been nominated for awards such as James Beard Award Best New Restaurant (2009), James Beard Award Best Chef Southwest (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), and more. For additional information, visit raku-grill.com or follow Aburiya Raku on Instagram.
Chicago Restaurant Week Kicks Off with First Bites Bash and 13 EMMY Nominations for “The Bear”
If you are a fan of the FX/Hulu series “The Bear“, you may be excited to hear that the show is currently up for 13 EMMY nominations including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Jeremy Allen White), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Sydney Adamu), Outstanding Directing, and more! (Tune in on January 15, 2024, for the live telecast on FOX or stream it the next day on HULU.)
Chicago is often a backdrop for hit TV shows but Season 2 of “The Bear” has brought greater awareness to Chicago’s dynamic food scene. Extending beyond the famous Mr. Beef in Season 1, the second season highlights a range of Chicago hot spots from Michelin-star restaurants to casual pizza joints. It’s become so popular in fact that it’s even inspired a local operator to create Yes, Chef! Chicago: A Bear-Inspired Food Tour.
Setting the scene for a month of culinary excellence, the EMMY buzz surrounding “The Bear” is the perfect kick-off to Chicago Restaurant Week (January 19 – February 4, 2024) which officially begins Thursday, January 18 (6:00 – 9:00 p.m.) with First Bites Bash, an all-inclusive tasting event at the iconic Field Museum where guests can enjoy gourmet bites from local restaurants, sip wine, beer and spirits from top brands and explore select Field Museum exhibits after hour.
Chicago Restaurant Week will feature over 350 participating restaurants offering unbeatable prix fixe menus for a set price of just $25 for brunch/lunch and $42 or $59 for dinner.
Fans of “The Bear” might recognize the below restaurants and be interested in taking advantage of the following specials:
- After, the companion cocktail lounge of Ever which is the stand-in for the Copenhagen restaurant where Chef Marcus perfects his dessert skills, is offering a 3-course dinner for $59 (*beverage tax and gratuity not included).
- Avec, where Chef Syd gets a pre-service sneak peek and gets advice from famed Chicago restaurateur Donnie Madia is offering a 2-course brunch at $25 per guest, 3-course lunch at $25 per guest or 4-course dinner at $59 per guest (*beverage tax and gratuity not included).
- Publican Quality Meats, where Chef Syd gets a butcher lesson from PQM’s very own Rob Levitt, is serving up a dinner menu for $59 (*beverage tax and gratuity not included).
Chicago’s own Michelin ‘Green Star’ recipient Daisies is offering 4-course dinner menus starting at $59. The Green Star is designed to recognize environmental sustainability, and Daisies is one of only 28 restaurants in North America, and the only one in Chicago, that can boast this accolade.
Additionally, there are dozens of acclaimed Michelin- and James Beard Award-winning spots on the list this year, an affordable way to experience more of Chicago’s creative, fine-dining scene: https://www.choosechicago.com/blog/dining/fine-dining-chicago-restaurant-week/Search the Participating Restaurants Guide to reserve your place; the website enables you to search via cuisine or neighborhood, indicate dietary preferences (gluten-free, vegetarian/vegan), and support women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
For more information, visit Choose Chicago.
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa Sets the Scene for a Grand Holiday Season
The Midwest is the setting for some of the most iconic holiday movies of all time, such as A Christmas Story, Home Alone, and even National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and when it comes to the holidays, there is a resort in Lake Geneva, WI that offers one of the grandest celebrations in the Midwest. Grand enough for any holiday movie buff.
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is one of the Midwest’s top vacation destinations for holiday fun with its annual Christmas in the Country experience. A six week celebration, this cherished holiday resort tradition features over-the-top holiday décor, private igloo dining, breakfasts with Santa, a heated Trolley Tour of Lights, the option to have a decorated Christmas tree in your hotel room, and new this year, a jumbo gingerbread display of its beautiful ski hill. In addition, the city of Lake Geneva is full of holiday charm and programming, with wonderful Midwest holiday hospitality.
Here is a rundown of what is on Santa’s list at Grand Geneva this year (and yes, you can catch him swimming and skiing if you’re lucky):
- Grand Geneva officially kicks off the season with its annual Illumination Ceremony taking place on November 19, 2023, where the resort literally flips the switch to start the season, with over-the-top holiday displays, lights, animated designs, grand Christmas trees, and plenty of photo opportunities to capture the holiday cheer. Now in its 29th year, the Illumination Ceremony will feature activities for kids, holiday cookies, hot apple cider, a dazzling fireworks display, and an appearance from the big guy himself, Santa Claus! Guests are asked to bring an unwrapped, new toy for local children. The event will support Walworth County Deputy Sheriff Department and its Toys for Kids program.
- There’s a tree in the grand hotel, and one in your room as well. For a modest extra charge, guests can have the resort’s holiday elves add a little magic to their stay at Grand Geneva or its on-site sister property, Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark, by adding a holiday tree to their room. Travelers will enjoy a fully decorated tree in their guestroom upon arrival, complete with ornaments, ribbon topper and an ornament to cherish at home (take-home ornament available at Grand Geneva only). It’s all the Christmas cheer with none of the cleanup!
- Trolley Tour of Lights: For some traditional holiday fun, visitors can hop aboard the heated and enclosed Grand Geneva trolley for a tour around the resort’s dazzling light displays and decorations, including the beloved 12 Days of Christmas animated display. For those who miss the trolley, visitors can take their own car down Grand Geneva Way, starting at Hwy 50.
- An Igloo Experience. Baby, it’s cold outside but cozy inside one of Grand Geneva’s igloos. Offered at the resort’s Embers Terrace, visitors can reserve a private igloo for festive dining, holiday drinks, and gathering with friends and family. This fun winter experience is available for up to 6 guests for a 90-min reservation.
- Brunch with the Big Guy. Grand Geneva’s Brunch with Santa will take place on select dates in November and December. Designed for children, families enjoy brunch served tableside.
- Santa Mail: Speaking of the big guy, guests and visitors may take advantage of Grand Geneva’s magical mailbox and drop off letters to Santa Claus. Located in the resort’s main lobby, Santa’s helpers collect the mail daily at 3pm to mail it to the North Pole. The best part? Santa takes time out of his busy schedule to send a message back.
- Gingerbread House Walk: Area residents, in amateur, professional, adult and child categories, display their sugary masterpieces beginning November 19 through the holidays, creating a Gingerbread House Walk on the upper level in the resort’s Ristorante Brissago foyer. Judges from United Way of Walworth County and Grand Geneva will award cash prizes for the top three overall winners in five different age groups. New this year: The resort will feature its very own over-the-top Gingerbread display of its Ski Chalet on a 3×3 ft board. The sugary sweet ski display is made with 50+ lbs. of flour, 3 gallons of molasses, 6 dozen eggs, 12 lbs. of butter, 20 lbs. of brown sugar, and lots of colorful candy.
Where Santa Goes to Splash & Swim: Grand Geneva’s resort campus is also home to sister-property Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark. This all-suite resort features rooms with kitchens and extra space, plus its very own indoor waterpark where it is always a warm 86 degrees. A perfect holiday escape for families, the resort also offers Breakfast with Santa, plus holiday hotel package deals. Santa has previously been spotted taking a swim at Timber Ridge, and on December 22 and 23, he will be taking a relaxing break and greeting guests in his very own Santa cabana in Timber Ridge’s Moose Mountain Falls.
- Grand Geneva’s The Mountain Top is one of the country’s top family-friendly ski hills. The perfect ski and snowboard hill for beginners, The Mountain Top is slated to open for the season on December 16. It is also one of Santa’s favorite slopes, and he is slated to make an appearance at the ski chalet a few times this holiday season!
- In case the weather outside is frightful, there are plenty of other delightful family-friendly activities to enjoy, including holiday movie nights, ornament painting, gingerbread house decorating, and other fun holiday crafting and games.
- Grand Geneva’s Midwest Holiday Hospitality by the Numbers
- 2 million twinkling lights
- 6 weeks of celebration
- 50lbs of flour for an oversized ski chalet gingerbread display
- 1 set of skis for Santa
- 7 igloos
- 32ft outdoor Christmas tree with 24,500+ lights
- 1 Santa cabana
- 50+ gingerbread houses on display
- 70 holiday light displays, including 14 animated
- 66 indoor holiday trees
For additional information on holidays at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, please visit grandgeneva.com
Explore the World’s Culinary Flare a the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival
NOV 16 – 18, 2023
Travel the world, one bite at a time, at the 16th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival with its focus this year on the best of global cuisine.
MEIJER FOOD STAGE
Middle Eastern fare is known to be fresh, flavorful and distinctively delectable. Fifth generation Lebanese American Hannah Awada, owner of Hummus Goodness, is teaming up with Karen Akouri, founder of drench Dressing in offering three 30-minute presentations of “Deconstructed Fattoush + Hummus Appetizer” on the Meijer Food Stage. Both women are focused on using clean ingredients in their products, free of chemicals, artificial colors and preservatives. Hannah learned the art of hummus making from her mother, and her recipe draws inspiration from that family recipe with olive oil, fresh lemon juice and garlic cloves. Karen was looking for healthy salad dressing and marinade options for her family and began to play around with premium olive and avocado oils, herbs and spices to come up with her award-winning recipes. Both Hummus Goodness and drench are available at Meijer stores (and beyond) and will be available for sampling in the Meijer Marketplace at the Festival.
Common in Spanish, Latin American and Iberian-influenced cultures, empanadas are a baked or fried turnover consisting of filling in a breaded pastry. This tasty handheld appetizer is the focus of a Meijer Food Stage Demonstration by Paola Carlson of Pochis Colombian Restaurant & Café—the first authentic Colombian restaurant in Grand Rapids and Jorge Gonzalez, director of Start Garden—an organization that provides resources and opportunities to small business owners in Grand Rapids. Born and raised in Colombia, Paola moved to the United States with her husband in 2018 not knowing a word of English. She was soon making customized gift packages and specialty sweets like macarons and decadent chocolate-covered strawberries for her friends as a hobby, and before long she launched Pochis which also imports and sells coffee goods and coffee candy from her homeland offered up from her small café location in downtown Grand Rapids. Pochis will also have a Small Plate booth in The Vineyard featuring a variety of empanadas and arepas (handheld pockets made with ground maize dough stuffed with a filling)—all of which are gluten free.
A Vietnam War refugee from Thailand, Genevieve Vang is an accomplished expert in Thai and Hmong cuisine and even prepared a traditional meal for Hollywood actor and director Clint Eastwood when he was in Detroit filming Gran Torino in 2008. Her award-winning metro Detroit restaurants (Bangkok 96 and Bangkok 96 Street Food) garnered her recognition as a James Beard Award semi-finalist nominee in 2019. In her spare time, Chef Genevieve has developed a gluten free frozen food line called Thai Feast, as well as a new vegan, allergen-free Asian broth and easy to use sauce powders available at southeast Michigan Meijer locations.
On Saturday afternoon, she’ll welcome the passionate anentertaining Jessican Ann Tyson, owner of The Candied Yam-Delightful Southern Cuisine, for a presentation of “Vegan Pad Thai & Pho with Thai Feast” on the Meijer Food Stage.
Jessica Ann is well known in the Grand Rapids community for her ancestorial from scratch soul food cuisine and her perpetual smile, positive attitude and collaborative spirit. The Candied Yam is recognized as one of the Top 50 Restaurants to eat at in Grand Rapids and was recently awarded The Retail Business of the Year.
MEIJER FOOD STAGE SCHEDULE: https://showspan.com/GRW/home/presentations-and-stages/
PRESENTER BIOS: Speakers, Experts & Headliners.
MEIJER MARKETPLACE (Secchia Lobby / River Overlook)
- Aurora International+
- Bailey’s Farms+
- Burl & Sprig
- Burzurk Brewing+
- DelGrosso Foods
- drench Dressing+
- Duke & Dame+
- El Caribe+
- Emme’s Plaintain Chips
- Feel Bar+
- Field & Fire Bakery+
- Fusion Epicure+
- Grady’s Garden+
- Hummus Goodness+
- Jambalaya Girl+
- Lola’s Fine Sauce
- Lorraine’s Premium BBQ Sauce+
- Milford Spice Company+
- Momma D’s Kitchen
- Mud Penny+
- Mushroom Angel Company+
- Neilly’s+
- Papa’s Kitchen+
- Rad Bagels+
- Rani Foods+
- Relos Dry Rubs+
- Reyna’s Michelada Mix+
- Senor Sangria
- Stock Da’ Bar Premium Vodka
- Stone House Bread
- Thai Feast
- Tito’s Handmade Vodka
- Tor’s Tonics+
- Zing Zang+
- Zini Vodka
+Denotes new to the Festival in 2023
Shopping bags will be available (with first purchase) in the Marketplace that can be filled with purchase and then left at Coat Check so patrons can continue to enjoy the Festival without having to carry their goodies for the entire visit.
Another featured vendor not to miss is Wine Chips, sponsors of The Vineyard area where they’ll be set up offering samples of their distinct and flavorful chips like Manchego, Blue Cheese, Smoked Gouda and more. The team at Wine Chips will even share pairing suggestions with you and have packages available for purchase! Be sure to ask them about their recent relocation to Pure Michigan (Paw Paw – in the heart of one of the state’s federally-recognized wine regions), where they have better access to locally-grown potatoes for their deliciously crafted chips.
SMALL PLATE RESTAURANTS
A record 20+ area restaurants and specialty food producers will grace DeVos Place serving up a variety of small plates collectively offering a strolling progressive dinner experience – including nightcaps and desserts.
Among the new restaurants to check out:
The Marasigans (Jackie, Ace and Redd) are proud members of the local Filipino community and their Adobo Boy is a celebration of their rich, flavorful and colorful food culture. While we anxiously await their restaurant opening in early 2024, we invite you to stop by The Vineyard to try their Filipino Pork Adobo Bowl – a traditional dish featuring pork stewed in vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, bay leaves and peppercorns.
Beer City Bread Company may be relatively new (2020), but its roots are legendary. Brothers Stefan, Arne and Jimmy Fahlen are descendants of Arne Fahlen—founder of Arnie’s bakery and restaurants. The company craft its various artisan baked goods from local craft beer and natural European sourdough starters that are cultivated daily in their bakery, aged over 24 hours and processed using a “stress-free” handling line before baking. During the Festival, they’ll be serving up hearty handhelds including Italian Herbs and Cheese French Dip, Beer Braised Mojo Pork Sandwich and Beer Infused Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese, from their Beer City Station booth.
In Jamaican, the phrase Irie means “everything is alright and fine” and that is just the positive vibe that Vince McIntosh, founder of Irie Kitchen, hopes to evoke to his customers. His Jamaican parents immigrated to the United States in the 1980s with a load of family recipes and passion for food that has spread to Vince and his twin sister. Savor their organic Caribbean street food in The Vineyard, where they’re serving up Jerk Wings, Jamaican Patties, Rice & Peas & Curry Garbanzo and Irie Juice.
Father and son due, Jose and Justin del Castillo, have been slinging their Dominican Latin style open pit BBQ for nearly 10 years. Their Shepherd-based hobby turned into something bigger and now Jose & Justin’s Pig Gig takes its food truck to the best Festivals and events around the state. Located in The Vineyard, they’re serving up Chicken and Rice Bowl, Pork and Rice Bowl, Rice Bowl and Plaintains.
A “pocha” is a Korean term that refers to a type of outdoor food and drink stall—an abbreviation of the phrase “pojangmacha” which translates to “covered wagon”—known for their vibrant atmosphere, friendly ambiance and delicious food. K-Pocha, the brainchild of Lam To, ThienHa Phan and Phong Nguyen (owner and executive chef of Monsoon, a Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids and a Festival participant) specializes in distinctive Koren street-style dishes. Stop by their booth in Beer City Station and try the Potato Corn Dog, Hot Cheeto Corn Dog, Lobster/Shrimp Skewer Combo and Mini Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes).
Participating restaurants include:
The Vineyard (Steelcase Ballroom)
- Adobe Boy+
- Beacon Hill at Eastgate+
- Big O’ Smoke House
- Farm Country Cheese House
- Irie Kitchen+
- Jose & Justin’s Pig Gig
- MDRD
- Pochis Colombian Restaurant & Café
- Melting Pot
- Two Scotts Barbecue
- Yo Chef’s
Beer City Station / Cider Row (Hall C)
- Beer City Bread Co.+
- Jedi Chili+
- K Pocha+
- Olly’s Donuts+
- Trinity Health+
- Tacos El Cunado
- Tamales Mary
Barrel Room (Welsh Lobby)
- Michigan Moonshine
RendezBREW (Grand Gallery)
- 24K Gold Coffee+
- Ambrosia
- Cakes by the Jar+
- Dolce Mini Cakes+
- Frederik’s
- Frick’n Good Cookie+
- Fusion Epicure+
- Honey Tea+
- Rethink Nutrition+
- Koeze+
- Las Rocas
- Mosby’s Popcorn
- Nothing Bundt Cake
- Roast Umber
- Rossy’s Postres+
- Rowsters Coffee
- Sunshine Punch+
+Denotes new to the Festival in 2023
PAIRING DINNERS
An elevated and intimate multi-course dining experience at one of six featured restaurants, for an added cost (advanced reservations required).
Opened in Plainwell on June 1, 2011, Four Roses is making its Festival debut in a big way with a four-course Pairing dinner prepared by owner/chef Tom Rose. Tom spent his entire career working in the culinary field, starting at a small farm-to-table restaurant in the 1980s called Arie’s Café (no longer in operation) as a dishwasher at the age of 15. He moved his way up to executive chef, learning the value of sourcing local and building relationships with farmers. His mentor, Arie’s owner Bob VanRavensway, inspired and encouraged Tom to create stocks, sauces and dishes from scratch. After leaving Arie’s in 1998, Tom spent many years running corporate kitchens for Kellogg and Eaton Corp, and in 2011, he and his wife, Jan, were given the opportunity open their own restaurant: Four Roses. With a menu that changes each day—along with time-honored favorites—Four Roses focuses on what is fresh and available from local and established suppliers to create interesting and delicious foods paired with excellent customer service with a hometown feel.
Featured Pairing restaurants include:
- Archival Brewing+ (Beer Pairing)
- Four Roses*+ (Wine & Spirits Pairing)
- The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck (Wine Pairing)
- Monsoon* (Wine & Spirits Pairing)
- Twenty.Three* (Wine & Spirits Pairing)
- Redwater Restaurants (Wine Pairing)
*Denotes a Thursday VIP Preview Night offering, in addition to Friday and Saturday seatings.
+Denotes new restaurant to the Festival.
The complete menu with beverage pairings, seating times and costs can be found online: Pairing Dinners.
Beginning on Friday, November 17, General Admission tickets are $20 per person, per day with festival hours running from 4-9pm and Saturday, November 18, 2-9pm. Tasting tickets will be available for purchase online and at the event for 50 cents each to be used primarily for beverages tastings. Food samples can be purchased with cash, credit or tasting tickets.
A VIP Preview experience will be offered on Thursday, November 16 from 6-9pm, with just 500 tickets available for purchase for $150 per person. Admission includes specialties from a dozen small plate restaurants, wine, beer and distilled beverage tasting sessions; Meijer Food Stage and Meet the Maker presentations; tasting tickets to sample select new releases, special vintage wines and exclusive beverages served only on Thursday; a VIP Festival sampling glass and live music. For another $75 per person, an intimate multi-course Pairing dinner is added to the ticket.
As always, the Festival offers an unparalleled diversity of beverages available for sampling – from beer and cider to wine and spirts, as well as signature coffees and teas – with over 1,200 offerings from around the world, under one roof in featured areas:
- Wines (including The Elite Collection) in The Vineyard (Steelcase Ballroom)
- Beer (local, domestic and international) in Beer City Station (Hall C)
- Cider (local and national) in Cider Row (Hall C)
- Michigan Craft spirits in The Barrel Room (Welsh Lobby)
- Coffees & Cordials (along with decadent desserts) in RendezBREW (Grand Gallery)
- Non-alcoholic options in The Vineyard, Beer City Station an RendezBREW.
Since its inception in 2008, this Festival – named by Forbes.com in 2019 as one of a dozen “Fall Wine Festivals In North America You Don’t Want to Miss” and 8 Best Fall Festivals in Michigan by BestThingsMI.com – has grown into the largest and most popular of its kind in the Midwest. Admission tickets, pairing reservations, tasting sessions and other details will be posted in early fall at GRWineFestival.com
Halloween Monster Mash at the Egyptian Motor Hotel
Not to be missed this Saturday, October 28th, is the Halloween Monster Mash at the 250-seat outdoor entertainment venue and cocktail garden at the Egyptian Motor Hotel in downtown Phoenix’s historic Grand Avenue, a cool and contemporary remix of what is one of the city’s oldest streets and once a thoroughfare dating back to the city’s founding in 1872. Back in the day, Grand Avenue connected Phoenix to Wickenburg and the mines in that area but now it’s now a hip strip of urban re-imagination.
And the Egyptian Motor Hotel is one of the stars here. Established over 70 years ago, it was recently written up in Sunset Magazine as “resurrected as one of the coolest boutique hotels that Arizona has to offer” and in its first brick-and-motor location, the motor lodge’s restaurant Chilte, long a favorite pop-up recently ranked on Bon Appetit’s “Best Restaurant Openings of 2023” list. To make it even more impressive it was the only Arizona restaurant to make the list and that one of the chef/owners, Lawrence Smith recently competed on “Chopped.”
Here’s what Bon Appetit’s writer, Serena Dai, said about the restaurant:
“The lively pastel interior at Chilte may match the renovation of its ’50s-era home, the Egyptian Motor Hotel, but the menu doesn’t offer the kind of reliably lovable (but sometimes a little boring) food typical of a hotel restaurant. Instead, owners Lawrence Smith (a former NFL player and Aseret Arroyo serve an impressive, constantly changing roster of ambitious Mexican dishes. Hefty tacos arrive cradling fillings like butternut-stuffed chile capped with a rustic red chimayó mole or a thick slab of tender beef tongue on a lacy, crisp layer of cheese. Even more impressive is the mole flight, a trio of sauces accompanied by charred lamb ribs. Yes, you’d be happy dipping the lamb in each sauce, but the true joy comes from trying each one with chewy, colorful, fresh-made corn tortillas. Best among the moles is perhaps the Amarillo, husky and smooth, finished with crunchy crickets imported from Oaxaca. The menu’s brevity means you could—and should—bring a few friends and order every dish.”
That’s just one more reason to don a costume and attend the Monster Mash.
The spooky extravaganza kicks off with live music from a rotation of SIX local bands, including Hookworm, Birds + Arrows, Survival Guide, and more.
Costumes are HIGHLY encouraged at the Monster Mash as there’s a costume contest with a chance to win an array of prizes. The Egyptian offers a huge lineup of artisanal cocktails, beers on tap and draft, wine, and delicious fare from Chilte To-Go, which just ranked on Bon Appetit’s “Best Restaurant Openings of 2023” list.
Read what Sunset magazine had to say:
“The Egyptian Motor Hotel has been in Phoenix’s vibrant Arts District for over 70 years, and has recently been resurrected as one of the coolest boutique hotels that Arizona has to offer. Now, the property has 49 retro modern rooms with bunk beds (aka “stacked”) and King bed offerings, as well as an Airstream guest room stocked with throwback amenities like Marshall Bluetooth speakers and retro refrigerators. Outside, you’ll find firepits, where you can strum the complimentary acoustic guitars that come in each guest room. There’s also a 250-seat entertainment venue (pro tip: You can actually watch performances from your balcony).”
ifyougo:
Date: Saturday, October 28
Doors Open: 6:30 PM
Cost: $8 presale, $10 at the door
Location: , 765 Grand Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Where to Celebrate Fun Food Holidays This September in Phoenix
Food days–and food months–celebrate our favorite foods so don’t miss out on what’s going on this month in Phoenix.
National Chicken Month (September)
Just in time for National Chicken Month, Bar Louie unveiled five new dinner items including two new chicken dishes. Guests can try the Monterey Chicken made with two grilled chicken breasts, roasted cremini mushrooms, artichoke hearts, roasted tomatoes, lemon herb sauce, roasted baby potatoes and asparagus. Guests can also indulge in New Orleans Chicken and Shrimp Pasta made with blackened chicken, jumbo shrimp, andouille sausage, red and green bell peppers and house-made Cajun cream sauce.
International Bacon Day
Actually International Bacon Day was September 2nd but I’m a firm believer that every day is a great day to celelbrate bacon. So check out Twisted by Wetzel’s where guests can indulge in the Everything Bacon Twisted Signature Dog, featuring Wetzel’s signature hot dog and pretzel bun, topped with twisted sauce, wetz cheese sauce, bacon bits, slaw, and green onion. Not to be missed either is their unique Bacon Ranch Twistz, a tasty Wetzel’s garlic pretzel dough twisted and filled with bacon, mozzarella, parmesan, sun-dried tomato pesto, ranch, and green onions. Their Maple Bacon Topped Pretzel is a sweet-and-savory must-try–an original Wetzel’s pretzel topped with a drizzle of maple glaze and a generous sprinkle of crispy bacon bits, linked HERE.
National Beer Lover’s Day (Sept. 7)
Celebrate National Beer Lover’s Day on September 7th at Bar Louie. That’s when guests can enjoy a wide range of local, rotating, and seasonal beers, along with various tapped options including IPAs and imports. Happy hour is from 4-7 p.m. (Monday-Friday) with 16 oz domestic drafts at $4 and craft drafts at $5. Late night happy hour (Sunday-Thursday, 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.) offers $4 beers, $5 shots, and $6 liquor. Location-specific offers and times apply.
National Guacamole Day (Sept. 16)
On National Guacamole Day, guests can indulge in the delicious flavors of Tocaya’s signature guacamole! For one day only, with every order of $15 or more, restaurant goers will receive a complimentary serving of freshly made chips and guac.
National Cheeseburger Day (Sept. 18)
National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18 at Bar Louie includes the sweet but smoky Bourbon BBQ Burger! Guests can enjoy a juicy patty layered with applewood smoked bacon, cream cheese, Tillamook white cheddar, crispy onion strings and house-made bourbon BBQ sauce. Keep the celebration going the following day and satisfy your craving for juicy cheesy burgers stacked high with 50% off all burgers on Burger Tuesday. Prices and offers vary by location.
National Cheeseburger Day (Sept. 18)
September 18th is National Cheeseburger Day! Dog Haus, a biergarten that specializes in gourmet hotdogs and sausages is highlighting its cheeseburgers on this day. Guests can enjoy a cheeseburger for only $5.99 by texting “cheeseburger” to 833-440-1110 to claim a coupon. See the official graphic HERE.
National Coffee Day (Sept. 29)
Bar Louie invites guests to try its Mean Bean Martini in celebration of National Coffee Day. A mix of morning fuel and evening thrill – the Mean Bean Martini is made with Smirnoff Vanilla, Kahlua, brown sugar espresso syrup and a shot of espresso. Additionally, all signature martinis are available for just $7 during happy hour from 4 to 7 pm Monday – Friday. Pricing and participation may vary.
Peru: An International Culinary Star
With Lima’s Central winning the coveted Best Restaurant in the World Award for 2023, the culinary spotlight is shining brighter than ever on Peru. But the Peruvian capital isn’t the only city to boast extraordinary dining.
Cusco and Arequipa also offer standout opportunities to savor Peru’s unique and distinctive gastronomy. It features traditional Peruvian dishes; chifa and Nikkei cooking influenced by a 19th-century influx of Chinese and Japanese immigrants, respectively; and Peruvian cooks who trained and apprenticed abroad before coming home to Peru as seasoned chefs ready to succeed at running their own kitchens.
Here’s a guide to where to sample the best of Peruvian cuisine in Lima, Cusco, and Arequipa.
Lima
Since first opening in the Miraflores district in 2012, Central has been a hotspot, making the Fifty Best Restaurants list every year since 2013. Virgilio Martínez has long been known for his impressive tasting menus but also for constantly experimenting, researching native ingredients, and raising the bar with his partner and co-chef Pía León, who happens to be his wife.
With their 2018 move to a culinary complex they built in Barranco to house Central, León’s first solo restaurant Kjolle upstairs, and their research lab Mater Iniciativa, the couple unveiled a new concept that altitude dictates the way an ingredient should be used. Central’s 17-course tasting menu whose dishes each feature ingredients that are all grown at the same elevation — from sea level at the Pacific coast to the Amazon rainforest and higher elevations in the Andes. It’s about more than exceptional food.
Relying on ingredients sourced only from Peru — such as tubers including yucca, olluco, and local potatoes — Kjolle has also racked up accolades. This year León’s restaurant made the Fifty Best Restaurants in the World list at No. 28 after earning the No. 1 spot on the Fifty Best Restaurants in Latin America in 2019, and León being named best female chef in Latin America in 2021.
Two additional Lima restaurants made the Fifty Best list this year, Maido at No. 6 and . Lima-born Japanese chef Mitsuhara Tsumara studied culinary arts in the U.S. before moving to Japan to train in sushi-making and izakaya (Japanese tapas) in kitchens all over the country. In 2009, he came home to Lima and opened Maido to showcase a fusion of Peruvian ingredients prepared with Japanese techniques. That’s how Tsumara became Peru’s Nikkei master chef.
Another Peruvian chef among the best, Jaime Pesaque apprenticed in Michelin-star kitchens in Italy and Spain before opening his contemporary Peruvian restaurant and pisco bar Mayta that relies on produce grown at his family’s pisco vineyard two hours south of Lima.
Le Cordon Bleu-trained Rafael Osterling chose an old Art Deco townhouse in Miraflores for his first restaurant, Rafael, opened in 2000. Elegant meals ranging from pasta and pizza to ceviche, sashimi, and carpaccio served in intimate art-filled dining rooms have made Osterling a favorite. It’s the kind of place that calls for savoring every bite and lingering.
Dining choices in Lima would have a big hole without Gastón Acurio. The influential chef led the way for the next culinary generation by rejecting law school in Spain for training at the Cordon Bleu in Paris and returning to his homeland with his German pastry chef wife Astrid. Once in Lima, the couple focused their elegant menu at their flagship restaurant Astrid y Gastón on the beloved traditional Peruvian dishes Acurio grew up on, honed to perfection with his refined training and French cooking techniques.
Located in a restored 17th-century mansion in the San Isidro neighborhood, Astrid y Gastón serves an ambitious 45-course tasting menu. Acurio has received a score of honors and worldwide credit as an ambassador who popularized Peruvian cuisine abroad. He also created a handful of other restaurant brands including Tanta and La Mar, his Miraflores cevichería (an eatery that specializes in ceviche). In a historical home on a corner near the plaza in Barranco, José del Castillo found the perfect spot for his restaurant named after his mother, Isolina, whose Lima cevichería La Red was an early training ground for him. There always seems to be a line for Peruvian comfort food at Isolina with a menu designed for sharing generously sized stews, saltados, and other traditional dishes.
Arequipa
Due to roadless isolation from the rest of the country during its first few centuries, Arequipa developed an independent character and unique spicy cuisine. Known for a wide selection of original dishes such as rocoto relleno, a spicy rocoto pepper stuffed with minced meat, cheese, eggs, raisins, peas, and carrots typically served with pastel de papa, layers of thin-sliced potatoes with eggs and cheese; and adobo, a pork chop stew cooked in a clay pot on an open fire. Arequipa is a happy place for those who enjoy spicy food and rich flavors.
With a barrel-vaulted stone ceiling and circular iron staircase said to be designed by Gustav Eiffel, Zig Zag rates as a cool place for Swiss and Peruvian fusion — small plates, fondue, plus fish, alpaca, ostrich, and beef cooked and served on a sizzling volcanic slab.
Near Mirador de Carmen with an impressive view of three towering volcanoes (Chachani, Misti, and Pichu Pichu), Salamanto serves contemporary Peruvian food cooked with modern techniques, imaginative style, and ingredients sourced from the Arequipa region, such as
octopus slow-cooked in olive oil with native potatoes. Integrated into the massive Santa Catalina Monastery, La Trattoria del Monasterio has three dining rooms with views into the interior of Arequipa’s oldest cloister. The menu offers a mix of traditional Italian and Arequipa cuisine: pastas, lasagna, pizza, risottos, and Arequipa-style soups and stews; Old World wines from Italy and Spain; and New World wines from Peru, Chile, and Argentina.
Another restaurant with a mix of Italian and Peruvian specialties and fine wines, upscale Sambambaias has been a favorite in Arequipa for 30 years with live music in the garden on weekends. Off the courtyard of an old mansion, Chicha puts an inventive spin on regional cuisine by star chef Gastón Acurio, whose menu here focuses on regional dishes, seasonal products, and corn-based breads.
For hearty home-style cooking and the most authentic local specialties, dine at picanterías, which are typically open only for lunch, especially in the countryside and Arequipa’s Yanahuara district. Here are three standouts: For regional dishes such as grilled alpaca, shrimp soup, and stuffed ricoto, try La Nueva Picantería. Named for the owner’s mother, Laurita Cau Cau serves family recipes handed down for 50 years. In the cloisters of the Church of La Compañia, La Benita de Characato has been passed down from mother to daughter for eight generations of picanteros.
Cusco
There are two reasons for great dining in Cusco: a wide variety of cuisine you wouldn’t expect to find here, such as chifa (Peruvian/Chinese fusion), Indian, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and vegetarian, and restaurants close enough to organic farms in the Sacred Valley to receive just-picked produce every morning. Almost any ingredient chefs want is grown or raised in the area. Several Cusco restaurants even operate their own farms. Anywhere you eat you’ll probably notice that produce has so much more flavor than it does at home.
One of the best restaurants in town, Cicciolina is a fine-dining spot near Plaza Nazarenas and the Plaza de Armas. It’s a swanky tapas and wine bar that serves Italian-style dishes and Peruvian favorites. The chef is a biochemist who understands the science behind adapting recipes that are cooked at high elevation, such as different methods for making light croissants, al dente pasta, and crisp baguettes than at sea level. Cicciolina Café, two blocks downhill, is a wonderful casual spot for breakfast, lunch, and delicious baked goods.
On the West side of the Plaza de Armas, dine on the balcony at Calle Del Medio and be mesmerized by the magical lights around the cathedral and the hillside San Blas neighborhood while savoring classic Peruvian dishes or international fare. Two favorites are the 24-hour lamb shank and pumpkin risotto.
On the north side of Plaza de Armas, Inka Grill serves flavorful modern versions of Peruvian dishes inspired by the Inkas with a vibe to match — high ceilings, large windows, stone walls, and spicy scents wafting from an open kitchen. Also on the north side of the square, Morena sticks to classic Peruvian fare but also offers vegetarian options that include some pastas and risottos and excels at appetizers and sauces such as uchucuta, a creamy spicy sauce made from hot rocoto peppers served on sauteed pork belly, and creamy huancaina sauce made from mild yellow chiles.
In San Blas near the church, Pachapapa occupies an old colonial house with small dining rooms and courtyard tables. Expect classic Peruvian dishes such as lomo saltado and rocoto relleno, plus pizzas, calzones, and dinner rolls cooked in a wood-burning oven on the terrace.
Just below Plaza Nazarenas, Uchu Peruvian Steakhouse may specialize in steak but it’s not a classic chophouse. Uchu’s sophisticated, whimsical design sets the mood for enjoying alpaca, beef, chicken, fish, and shrimp that are still cooking/sizzling on a volcanic stone when brought to the table.
Gastón Acurio has two restaurants in town, Chicha for a modern twist on Peruvian classics, and Papacho’s, which specializes in huge, juicy burgers.
Yearning for Chinese? Go to Kion for chifa cuisine (a fusion of Cantonese techniques and Peruvian ingredients) whose colorful Chinese décor sets the mood for ordering off a menu with 43 dishes.
