Blog Archives
I recently had the opportunity to dine at the hard Rock Café in Station Square with a friend. The large restaurant had pictures of famous musicians were all over the place- old faded leather jackets from famous rockers, electric guitars, and other musical instruments hung on the wall. Music was blaring over the loud speakers (80’s tunes!) but my dinner companion and I had no problems having a conversation.
I grew up in a big extended family. We lived in my Grandmother’s house along with several sets of aunts, uncles and cousins galore. The kitchen was our common room. During the week we did our homework on the kitchen table. That’s where we had every meal and it was the site for about 6 hours of prep work leading up to the communal Sunday meal.
“Where are some of the safest places to eat?”
Before I go into the particulars of what food safety inspectors look for, I’m happy to report that all of the dining establishments in Regent Square have received excellent food safety reports! Besides a small infraction here or there, I’ve never heard of anyone becoming sick after eating at one of the local eateries.
Are you pleased with your progress toward healthful nutrition and fitness habits, but frustrated with that of your children?
Do you suspect that the lunches you send to school are traded or thrown away? Do you shudder at the sight of your pantry shelves displaying high-fat snacks and sugary cereals that you vowed you would never buy? Can you really win the battle against advertising, peer pressure and kids’ love affairs with sugar and fat?
One day you may find yourself slightly tipsy, yet trying to avoid drowning in the greasy quagmire that is typical South Side fare. Fear not, for there’s an escape located at 1107 E Carson St. If you don’t stumble by the unassuming storefront, you’ll find Chef Paul Krawiec preparing rustic French cuisine with the kind of care and confidence that compels one to make their next reservation on the way out.
What does it take to become a chef? These days, it doesn’t seem like much. Every day I run into people that say they’re chefs, but I become skeptical when they tell me about their lack of experience. I’m continually hiring people that assure me that they can cook, but end up being skilled at only one thing; complaining. Not only do these fresh-out-of school kids expect the world, they don’t want to have to work their way up the ladder, putting in the necessary time and effort to truly learn their profession. I hope I’m not dating myself by saying, “When I graduated from cooking school, things were different…you really had to prove yourself before you got promoted…” The truth is things are different. With the gaining popularity of The Food Newtwork, and other food-related shows, everyone wants to become a chef.
