Showing posts with label participating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label participating. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 16

Restaurant Review: Top 10 Best Northside Nights 2014

Northside Nights 2014 will take place Sept. 15-28 bringing Indy's northernmost eateries into the
 limelight. The restaurant week, similar to Devour Downtown, is a foodie favorite with independents and chains sharing value-priced menus alike. The culinary fest includes 45 eateries for a peek at places you have been dying to try, check back on favorites and discover ones you have not heard of before the food event.

As it was so popular for Devour Downtown, I am noting the Top 10 Best menus by highlighting the "Top 10" restaurants in green. All restaurants will have links to the menus for the event. An asterisk marks new participating restaurants.

How did I decide? The criteria includes those that seem to be the best combination of good value, innovative menu and going above the others (ex. offering beer or wine also). And, so I give you the ...


Northside Nights
Top 10 Best Restaurants 2014

1881 Grille at Marten House Hotel

Bazbeaux

Bella Vita at the Marina

Champps Americana

Chef Mike's Charcoal Grill

Coalition Pizza*

Cobblestone Grill

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant

Divvy

Eddie Merlot's

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse

The Gathering Bistro & Pub at Geist

Hall's Castleton Grill

Harry & Izzy's North

Hellas Cafe

Hollyhock Hill*

J. Razzos (Carmel)

J. Razzos (Westfield)

Late Harvest Kitchen

The Local Eatery & Pub

The Loft at Traders Point Creamery

MacKenzie River Pizza Company (Carmel)

MacKenzie River Pizza Company (82nd Street)

Matt the Miller's Tavern

Mellow Mushroom*

Melting Pot

North End BBQ*

Oakley’s Bistro

Ocean Prime

Patrick's Kitchen and Drinks*

Peterson's

Pizzology

Rockstone Pizza & Pub

Sahm's Restaurant & Bar

Scarlet Whiskey & Wine Bar

Scotty's Brewhouse

Seasons 52

Stone Creek Dining (Noblesville)

Stone Creek Dining (Zionsville)

Sullivan's Steak House

Woody's Library

The list of participating restaurants and corresponding menus will be updated online at NorthsideNightsIndy.com. Additional information and special offers will also be posted on the Northside Nights Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave writes two magazine food and wine columns: Destination Dining and White Linen & Corks,and is a travel, features, food and wine writer, travel and food photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as the Travel & Leisure Adviser on FOX59 Morning News Show. She also is a speaker, consultant and trainer for hospitality, travel and luxury businesses, P.R., and tourism groups, as well as a radio and television guest and host. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Monday, September 1

Bon Appétit presents Chicago Gourmet 2014 Stage Schedule

The seventh annual Bon Appétit presents Chicago Gourmet takes place in Millennium Park Sept. 27-28. It offers a schedule of programming designed to showcase Chicago’s culinary talent, deliver the latest epicurean trends and to satisfy the hungry minds (and stomachs) of attendees.

In the beginning, I listed the restaurants, chefs, sommeliers, etcetera. This foodie event has grown too big for me to continue that practice and there are so many other details for you to check out so here is the link.
For a complete list of restuarants click here.

Two days of food from favorite and famous restaurants; wine and spirits tastings courtesy of Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois; beer sampling; celebrity chef demos; educational seminars; book signings, culinary competitions and more. Attendees have the chance to rub elbows with hundreds of culinary and beverage experts.  including Bon Appétit magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport and Restaurant and Drinks Editor Andrew Knowlton, more master sommeliers than ever before and renowned chefs like Carla Hall, Morimoto, Rick Bayless, Tony Mantuano, Stephanie Izard, Mindy Segal, Jeff Mauro, Takashi Yagihashi and Carlos Gaytan.

THE BON APPÉTIT MAIN STAGE LINEUP
 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

12-12:30 p.m.
Mexican Takeover
Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill/Topolobampo/XOCO), Carlos Gaytan (Mexique)

1-1:30 p.m.
Simple Meal Ideas from the Late Summer Farm Harvest
Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat/Little Goat Diner), Jamie Bissonnette (Coppa)

2-2:30 p.m.
The Whole Fish 
Masaharu Morimoto (Japonais by Morimoto)

3– 3:30 p.m.
Carla’s Comfort Foods: Favorite Dishes from Around the World 
Carla Hall (“The Chew”)

3:45- 4:15 p.m.
Chicago’s Classic Italians
Jeff Mauro (“Sandwich King”), Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno/Piccolo Sogno Due)

4:30-5 p.m.
James Beard Award Winners
Jimmy Bannos Jr. (The Purple Pig), Justin Aprahamian (Sanford Restaurant)

5:15-5:45 p.m.
A Classic Chicago Roast
Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia/Terzo Piano/Bar Toma/River Roast), John Hogan (River Roast), Jimmy Bannos (Heaven on Seven/The Purple Pig)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

12:30- 1 p.m.
Pastry Pillars
Michelle Gayer (Salty Tart), Della Gossett (Spago Beverly Hills)

1:30-2 p.m.
Chicago’s Top Restaurateurs
Donnie Madia (One Off Hospitality), Rohini Dey (Vermilion), RJ Melman (Lettuce Entertain You), Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm (BOKA Restaurant Group)
2:30-3 p.m.

Trans Atlantic Experiments
Sergi Arola (Arola), Homaro Cantu (Moto)   
3:30-4 p.m.

A Trotter-Inspired Dish
Graham Elliot (graham elliot/g.e.b.)
4:30-5 p.m.

Culinary Travel Inspiration
Bill Kim (bellyQ/urbanbelly/Belly Shack), Mindy Segal (Mindy’s Hot Chocolate)


WHAT’S NEW IN 2014

Primetime Pavilions
BBQ Pavilion, in partnership with the Illinois BBQ Alliance: Including Chicago q, Bub City, Old Crow Smokehouse, Sweet Baby Ray’s, Smoque BBQ and others.

Green City Market Pavilion: Featuring Farmhouse Craft Tavern, 2 Sparrows, CICCHETTI, Spritzburger, Karyn’s on Green and more.

Centennial Pavilion (in celebration of the Illinois Restaurant Association’s 100th Anniversary): Featuring Mike Ditka’s Chicago, Gibsons Restaurant Group, The Signature Room at the 95th, The Berghoff, Italian Village and others.

Neighborhood Pavilion: Featuring Hash House A Go-Go, Nana, Autre Monde Café and Spirits, Marion Street Market, The Chop Shop and more.

Mariano’s Pavilion: Featuring Trenchermen, Three Dots and a Dash, Piccolo Sogno Due, The Bristol, Three Aces, The Radler and others.

Street Eats. Travel the world at the newly added Global Street Food Market, developed in collaboration with Chicago’s Sister Cities, located in the South Promenade. Featuring internationally-loved foods from China, Ireland, Africa, Columbia, and 11 of Chicago’s sister cities, highlights include offerings from Bolat, K-Kitchen, Shokolad Pastry & Café, Vermilion, Red Butter, Spencer’s Jolly Posh Foods and several others. The Global Street Food vendors share the pavilion with breweries, a newly added entertainment stage and an artisan market presented by Artizone featuring Chicago vendors selling their wares.

Craft on Draft. Beer geeks can ‘hop’ their way through the festival, and enjoy a refreshing offering of craft brews. Stella Artois, Goose Island, Lagunitas Brewing Company and New Belgium will be on hand to present pairings, tastings and extensive beer knowledge to interested attendees.

Glittering Grand Cru. The ultimate food and wine experience, the Grand Cru, offers attendees the opportunity to taste more than 90 of the finest wines in the world, as chosen by the event’s impressive and largest line up of Master Sommeliers. During these select tastings, each day from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Harris Theater Rooftop, these leading wine experts will pour, present and discuss their picks.

Beard-Worthy Bites. Guests holding a golden ticket to the Grand Cru will also indulge in food pairings from the James Beard Foundation’s elite. Heralding from restaurants championed both locally and throughout the United States, the talent includes esteemed chefs recognized by the James Beard Foundation. Visiting chefs have been paired with a Chicago-based counterpart who will present a side-by-side showcase.

To follow: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave writes two magazine food and wine columns: Destination Dining and White Linen & Corks,and is a travel, features, food and wine writer, travel and food photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as the Travel & Leisure Adviser on FOX59 Morning News Show. She also is a speaker, consultant and trainer for hospitality, travel and luxury businesses, P.R., and tourism groups, as well as a radio and television guest and host. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Monday, August 18

Restaurant Review: Top 10 Best Devour Downtown Summer 2014

Tavern on South
Devour Downtown Summerfest 2014 has returned and the number of Indy restaurants participating has increased to more than 60 for the foodie event running August 18-31. Some will create special menus just for the event, while others simply offer their usual food items at a reduced price.

The Daily Gift Card Giveaway is precisely what it says. Every day you can enter your email address and have a chance to receive a giftcard for one of the restaurants in this year's events.
Daily Gift Card Giveaway (click to fill out the form)

Continuing are the various price ranges, 2-for-1, and special menu options, such as gluten-free and vegetarian. When looking for who is truly giving a great discount, check out their DD menu and compare the items to their regular menu's prices. Just add the items up and you will see whether you are getting a so-so deal or one worth the drive.What's New?
Several restaurants are new this time, including the much anticipated Plow & Anchor, equally anticipated Union 50, and new to the event P.F. Chang's, a downtown staple.

I love how so many of the restaurants are creating a drink and meal combination menu, adding special-priced cocktails and/or noting wine and beer pairings to complement the menu options. The restaurants are having with this and that, in turn, creates a more exciting venture for the restaurant patrons. With GenCon finished, the summer continues to sizzle with the offerings of the downtown eateries.

Again this DDrather than putting out a separate post for the Top 10 Best menus I am linking to their menus and highlighting the "Top 10" restaurants in green.

The criteria includes those that seem to be the best combination of good value, innovative menu and going above the others (ex. offering beer or wine also). And, so I give you the ...

Top 10 Devour Downtown List 
Summer 2014

120 West Bar & Grill

1913 Restaurant

Acapulco Joe's

Adobo Grill

BARcelona Tapas

Bazbeaux

Black Market

Bluebeard

B's Po Boy

Bu Da Lounge

Buca di Beppo

The Capital Grille

Cerulean 

Champions

Champps Americana 
Menu not available

Chef Joseph's

Circle City Bar & Grille 

Claddagh Irish Pub

Colts Grille 

Columbia Club

Dick's Last Resort

Dunaway's

Eagle's Nest

Elbow Room 

Ember Urban Eatery

End of the Line Public House

Fogo de Chao Churrascaria

Forty Five

Giorgio's Pizza

Granite City Food & Brewery

Greek Islands

The Grub House

Harry & Izzy's

High Velocity

Iaria's

Iozzo's

Libertine

Maxine's Chicken and Waffles

McCormick & Schmick's

Mesh on Mass

Milano Inn
Menu not available

Morton's

Mo's

Napolese Pizzeria

Nine Irish Brothers Irish Pub

Oceanaire

O'Reilly's Irish Bar

Osteria Pronto

Palomino

P. F. Chang's

Pearl Street Pizzeria

Pizzology

Plat 99

Plow & Anchor

Pure Eatery

Rathskeller

R Bistro

Rock Bottom

Ruth's Chris Steak House
Menus
Website

Santorini'sMenu not available
Website

Scotty's Brewhouse

Severin Bar at Omni Hotel

Shoefly Pub House

Shula's

Skyline Club

Slippery Noodle Inn

Smokehouse on Shelby

St. Elmo

Tavern on South
(image at top)

TGI Fridays
Union 50
Menu
Website

Weber GrillMenu
Website

Winner's CircleMenu
Website

For more details, visit DevourDowntown.org
Images: E.J.Musgrave
Elizabeth J. Musgrave writes two magazine food and wine columns: Destination Dining and White Linen & Corks,and is a travel, features, food and wine writer, travel and food photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as the Travel & Leisure Adviser on FOX59 Morning News Show. She also is a speaker, consultant and trainer for hospitality, travel and luxury businesses, P.R., and tourism groups, as well as a radio and television guest and host. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Monday, February 11

Northside Nights 2013: March 11-24

The Melting Pot
Northside Nights, the northern take on Devour Downtown, returns for foodies and occasional diners alike to enjoy the wondrous edible fare on Indy's upper end. Fourteen days worth of culinary offerings tempt the palate for a special price and menu at each location.

The third year includes 36 restaurants giving guests a prix fixe meal. Tech savvy folks can follow updates on Twitter by following @NorthsideNights. Below are participating restaurants and links for reviews which will be updated regularly.

Northside Nights 2013
Participating Restaurants
(GF) Gluten Free ~ (V) Vegetarian ~ (Ve) Vegan

Blu Martini (V) 
Hall's Castleton Grill (V) 
Peterson's (V) 
Stone Creek Dining-Noblesville 
Chef Mike's Charcoal Grill 
Daddy Jack's 
Pizzology (V) 
Dessert at Blu Martini
Sushi at Blu Martini
Late Harvest (V) 
Kincaid's (V) 
Ruth's Chris (V)
Nickel Plate 
Cobblestone Grill 
Kona Jack's Fish Market & Sushi Bar 
Sangiovese Ristorante 
Hellas Cafe (V) 
Eddie Merlot's 
Harry & Izzy's (V)-lunch or dinner 
Mitchell's Fish Market 
Michael's Southshore(V) 
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse 
Oakleys Bistro (V) 
Seasons 52
Arni's Restaurant (GF,V)-lunch or dinner 
Stone Creek Dining-Zionsville 
Sullivan's Steakhouse (V) 
The Melting Pot (GF,V) 
For a review of The Melting Pot chocolate martini, click here.
Grille 39 Restaurant
Belle Vita (V) 
J.Razzos (V) 
Shiraz (V)
Ocean Prime 
Scotty's Lakehouse (V) 
Scotty's Brewhouse (V)
MacKenzie River Pizza, Pub, Grill (GF,V)
Rusty Bucket Corner Tavern (V)
Images: E J Musgrave

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, an in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Monday, March 5

Northside Nights: March 8-18 Restaurant List

NORTHSIDE NIGHTS RESTAURANT WEEK
MARCH 8th – 18th 2012
If you are looking for Northside Nights 2013 Click HERE
Mini indulgences/Seasons 52                  Image/IzzyEvans
What: Northside Nights Restaurant Week
When: March 8-18
Who: 27 northside Indianapolis restaurants
Where: Various northside Indianapolis restaurants-see list below
Cost: 3 courses: $30 per person or $30 for two people

Website
For a complete list of menus, visit NorthsideNightsIndy.com

Participating Restaurants
Arni’s
Bonefish Grill
Chef Mike’s Charcoal Grill
Cobblestone Grill
Eddie Merlot’s
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
Hall’s Castleton Grill
Harry & Izzy’s
Hellas Café
Kincaid’s
Michael’s Southshore
Mitchell’s Fish Market
Oakley’s Bistro
Peterson’s
Pizzology
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Sahm’s Bar & Grill
Sahm’s Restaurant & Bar
Sangiovese Ristorante
Seasons 52
For a review of Seasons 52, click here.
Stone Creek Dining Noblesville
Stone Creek Dining Zionsville
Sullivan’s Steak House
The Melting Pot
For a review of The Melting Pot chocolate martini, click here.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @GottaGo and Facebook. Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.