It's not worth the time to write another review of a place that has made little headway on improving a Friday Fish Fry, even after hiring a new chef who, by the way, will be parting company at the end of April after only two months on the job... hmmmmmmm. I think that this season's fry is even a notch down from last. Has anyone even bothered to look for fresh fish? Or is it just that dropping frozen portions of anything into a deep-fryer is preferable; are real cooking skills that hard to come by??

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I apologize for the tease. You see, this wine dinner is going to take place in California - at the Monterey Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa. Although I have to tell you, my guess is that it would be worth the cost of the airfare to attend this dinner... Even in these tough economic times when I can't really afford the airfare, I must admit that I was truly tempted. And here are the reasons: first of all the wine vintner is Joullian Vineyards. Unfortunately, you can't get their wines in retail stores around here. And that is really a shame, because the wines are outstanding. I know this because I have not only visited their winery, I have been a long-time member of their wine club (and I wouldn't pay for something like that unless the wine was really good!). Secondly, if you follow this link: Taste of TusCA, you will see an incredible four-course meal served at a marvelous restaurant in a top-notch hotel on Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey, CA. Lastly - and very importantly - is the price. When was the last time you saw a wine dinner of this caliber anywhere around here for less than $85 -$95?

If the menu and wine pairings don't get your taste buds going, I'd be surprised. I'd also be surprised if the prices charged around here wouldn't make you do some head-scratching about the prices you have been paying. Do you think that our local restaurants are really that much better? I don't. And I challenge any one of them to try to produce the same results for the same price! I bet they won't be able to do it.

rp

Well, it's finally finished and I have just published the list of the top ten restaurants for 2009... they do include four selections from the local area. Here's a link to the complete article - enjoy!!

rp

From Kurman Communications... If you're looking for some great places to go in 2010, whether to watch the Super Bowl, enjoy a sweetheart deal for Valentines Day or to just relax and enjoy dinner, check out this Press Release regarding
New Specials and Events!

Just a heads up on a new review -- the first of 2010 -- of a local restaurant: Niko's Lodge in Wasco, IL. Here's a snippet:

"Lauren had been wanting to try a place that she had seen advertised many times in a local coupon magazine. Described on their website as 'A comfortably unique wilderness lodge setting... nestled into the edge of Campton Forest Preserve', Niko's sounded like a pretty good choice for diner on a cold January night, so we warmed up the car and headed to Wasco.

Although the parking lot was mostly empty, two giant iron caldrons were piled with oak and burning warmly -- a bit of the wood smoke added to the 'wilderness lodge' theme -- and the thoughts I usually have when I notice such things as a marked lack of cars, were pushed aside."

You can read the entire review on my website.

rp

Historic Rogers Park entertainment venue and restaurant to open this spring.

CHICAGO (January 5, 2010)-The management team of Mayne Stage and Act One Café (1328-30 W. Morse Ave.) announces its plans for a much-anticipated Spring 2010 grand opening of the historic theater in the Rogers Park neighborhood.

See full Press Release here

Two restaurants have previously occupied the space at 65 N. River Street in Geneva, the most recent tenant closing its doors last September. A third has just been announced as having opened: Dam Bar and Grill. I refuse to comment further on the previous two, but I do wish the owners and their new business -- I assume a pub-style venue -- much success.

Another new restaurant, Geneva Ale House (another pub-style venue?) has apparently moved in to 319 West State Street, previous home to Citizen Kane, which has moved across the street (to the south side) to the former location of the now defunct Isabella's.

To complete a trio of new Geneva eateries, enter Fiora's, an apparently high-end/upscale dining environment, "in the heart of Geneva's Historic district". Located at 317 S. Third Street, the restaurant opened in late November.

Rounding out the new arrivals is Foxes on the River, located at 35 N. River Street and claiming the location of what was once the home of Venice Tavern (a very forgetable restaurant that I once reviewed), and also Fox Grill and Outpost.

I have not yet visited any of the abovementioned venues and know little about them. But I will, as I plan to visit them soon, in this the first year of a new decade. My fervent hope is that I will have good things to say, as I -- like many of you -- am patiently awaiting better things in 2010...

rp