Fleming's is the New Downtown Chicago Steakhouse Destination

Monday, December 1, 2008

Downtown Chicago is loaded with great steakhouses, such as Gibson's, David Burke's Primehouse, Capital Grill, Keefer's and Kinzie Chop House. Now we can add another restaurant to list that is located in the heart of the Windy City. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar made its debut a few months a go and is certainly a destination that folks are flocking to. Although Fleming's is nationally renowned for its Prime beef and steakhouse fare, their seafood selections, such as Tuna Mignon, Seared Scallops and Barbecue Scottish Salmon Filet are also very popular. Their dining room ambiance is elegant, but not pretentious. Their premise is to be sophisticated and comfortable without being overpriced.

Fleming's is critically acclaimed for its simple fare. They serve tantalizing side dishes family-style and have five different potato preparations. Their appetizers and salads complement the menu and the calamari is a must try. Scrumptious desserts such as Chocolate Lava Cake, Baked Peach Cobbler, and Creme Brulee are made from scratch daily.

The Fleming's 100 is their award-winning wine program that features 100 wines-by-the-glass. The wine list features boutique wines and other well known labels from around the world. Special 2-ounce wine tasting pours allows diners to select the perfect wine with their meal. The Reserve List offers more that 80 limited-availability wines by the bottle from internationally renowned wineries.

Fleming's is located at 25 East Ohio St. just two blocks from the Magnificent Mile. They are open seven days a week and are currently offering a special prix fixe menu. Their four private rooms are reserved for meetings or private dining. For more information visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com.

Labels: chicago dining, chicago restaurants, chicago seafood restaurants, dc crenshaw, fete select tv, fleming's prime steakhouse and wine bar, nbc 5 chicago, nbc chicago street team, wines by the glass

A Little Taste of Italian in Lakeview

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Chicago has some great neighborhoods with excellent restaurants. The major "hoods" that I frequent are Bucktown, Wicker Park, Gold Coast, River West, River North and the South Loop. My neighborhood in Lakeview has some pretty darn good restaurants as well. Recently I had the pleasure of dining at another Lakeview standout on North Broadway, Angelina Ristorante.

Arguably one of the best Italian meals that I had in the city, Angelina Ristorante has an intimate vibe with a small authentic Italian restaurant feel. What most surprised me most about the restaurant was their small kitchen, after Executive Chef Fred Ramos gave me a quick peek inside. However, the tight space allows the former Gioco and Room 21 Chef to create tasty dishes from the fall menu that will leave you salivating.

I was fortunate to have Chef Ramos provide a tasting for us, as we started with antipasti dishes like "Antipasti Freddo", a selection of assorted cured meats, pates and cheese, and "Ripieno di Funghi", consisting of jumbo mushroom caps stuffed with baby spinach and crabmeat. Our insalte choices were "Carpaccio di Barbaietole" and "Caprese Autunno". My favorite pasta dish was their "Garganelli con Piselli & Pancetta", a hand rolled penne, crispy pancetta, peas and parmesan cream sauce. You would think that I had enough, but I had to try their signature dish "Brasati di Carne", braised short ribs on creamy polenta. All of my dishes were delectable and provided me flashbacks of my trip to Italy.

Their wine list is extensive and the tiramasu was a treat. The house made limoncello is a guest favorite and and a must try. Ristorante Angelina also has a $20 champagne brunch and a few special dinner specials during the week, which are:

Monday - Half of Bottle of Wine Night

Tuesday - Prixe Fixe (any three courses for $27)

Wednesday - Neighborhood Night (20% off Lakeview Residents)

The restaurant is also available for private parties from 10 - 100 guests.

The next time you're in my "hood" (Lakeview), you might want to stop by Angelina Ristorante to get a little taste of Italy.

Angelina Ristorante, 3561 N. Broadway Chicago, (773) 935-5933. www.angelinaristorante.com

As always, check out Fete Select TV to get an inside look at the newest and best restaurants around the globe.

Labels: angelina ristorante, chicago dining, chicago restaurants, dc crenshaw, fete select tv, fred ramos, italian food, lakeview, nbc 5 chicago

Coca - Cola Sponsors Fete Select TV and Hispanic Heritage Month

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Sept. 16th marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month which is celebrated in the US - a national holiday that began under President Lyndon B. Johnson and highlights the significant contributions Latinos have made on US culture.

Coca-Cola and Fete Select TV celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with an inside look at Mercat a la Planxa.

Inspired by Catalan cuisine, acclaimed Executive Chef Jose Garces' new restaurant shows us of why Latino chefs are making a huge impact on fine dining.

Mercat a la Planxa on Fete Select TV.
Mercat a la Planxa
638 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL
www.mercatchicago.com

Check out Fete Select TV's new segment on Mercat a la Planxa.

Labels: chicago dining, chicago restaurants, dc crenshaw, dinner, fete chicago, fete select tv, hispanic heritage month, mercat a la planxa, nbc 5 chicago, nbc 5 street team, new restaurants

Cheers For Heroes!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Join NBC 5's Anna Davlantes, Chicago Bears Robbie Gould, Richard Roeper and other local celebrities, as we honor our wounded Veterans.

Wounded Heroes Foundation provides care packages to our injured men and women of the armed forces. In addition, Wounded Heroes Foundation, through charitable contributions, provides financial and other assistance in situations where the military is not equipped or unable to assist.

Thursday September 11th, 2008
Cheers For Heroes!
Boss Bar 420 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL
5 pm to 12 am

Free food provided by the Anti-Hunger Federation and The Cooking & Hospitality Institute of Chicago.

$25 donation at the door.

100% of proceeds will go directly to our wounded Veterans.

Donate at www.woundedheroesfund.net/donations.

Labels: anna davlantes, charitable events, cheers for heroes, nbc 5 chicago, Richard Roeper, robbie gould, veterans, wounded heroes foundation

Chicago Chocolate Tours

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Check out Chicago native Valerie Beck's creation of Chicago Chocolate Tours. Choose one of our four routes in different neighborhoods - the Magnificent Mile, Gold Coast, Downtown Loop, or Andersonville - and experience six wonderful chocolate shops or bakeries on each route. Depending on the route, you'll experience chocolate shops from famous favorites to hidden treasures, and from big brands to small often women-owned chocolate boutiques.

You'll be escorted by a lively and knowledgeable tourguide on a fun and fascinating walking tour to a variety of chocolate shops, where you'll sample the specialties of the house and meet the chocolatier, owner, or manager, for a behind-the-scenes talk about what makes the chocolate unique.

You'll sample more chocolate than you can finish. From truffles to tortes to tasty cocoa beverages, experience it all!

The tour is $40 person and when you take a Chicago Chocolate Tour, you will help save the world. In addition Chicago Chocolate Tours donates a portion of proceeds to CARE ( www.care.org ), an international humanitarian organization that helps women around the world exit poverty through entrepreneurship.

Sign up at www.chicagochocolatetours.com

Labels: chicago, chicago chocolate tours, chicago events, chocolate, D.C. Crenshaw, fete, fete chicago, fete select, fete select tv, food, mag mile, michigan ave, nbc 5 chicago, nbc 5 street team, truffles

D.C. Joins Chicago's NBC 5 Street Team

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

I am excited to announce that I am now a member of Chicago's NBC 5 Street Team. Led by Marcus Riley, the Street Team is exploring Chicagoland one event at a time.

Be sure to visit www.nbc5.com/streetteam daily to check out Chicagoland's latest events and other happenings. Also check our Fete Select TV segments on the web site, featuring the newest and hottest restaurants around the globe.

Labels: chicago events, dc crenshaw, fine dining, nbc 5 chicago, nbc 5 street team