A City Wish for Prasino...by D.C. Crenshaw

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

It's rare to find a restaurant in the burbs that I really like which is not in the city. I found such a gem in the western suburbs a couple of weeks a go. Prasino, the new eco-friendly restaurant in LaGrange, promotes "green" and is doing it very well.

Prasino (means “green” in Greek) is the first eco-friendly restaurant for Chicago’s western suburbs. With an eco-chic design, and family friendly environment, this 200-seat restaurant is committed to promoting organic agriculture and supporting local growers & artisanal food producers whenever possible. General Manager Peggy Maglaris Kopley was inspired to start the concept after her husband was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2007, that brought the family’s attention back to the importance of “all things fresh.” She soon started buying organic products from the grocery store and attributes her husbands recovery to his organic diet.

Prasino's menu appears to have similar menu items that you can find at other restaurants, but the key is that they're organic and healthy. For example, their "Blue Crab Nachos" appetizer are served on baked yukon gold crisp with steamed blue crab, mango salsa, and cilantro bearnaise. The "Grilled Fresh Monterey Calamari" features blistered cherry tomato, braised cannellini beans, baby spinach, sea salt crustini, and a truffle mustard vinaigrette. Prasino has an attractive list of meat and seafood entrees, but I chose to sample the "Miso Chili Glazed Alaskan Black Cod" and the "Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna". Both dishes were extremely fresh, delicate and complemented by steamed basmati rice and baby bok choy. The flavors were light but present and the wasbai cream added a pleasant touch to the tuna. Side dishes range from "Grilled Asparagus" to "Roasted Cauliflower Gratin". I thought the "Asparagus & Corn Risotto" made with truffle oil and lemon butter would be a dream, but it turned out to be a little too salty.

Prasino has a drink menu that works for everyone. Besides the standards of specialty coffees and teas, other organic highlights include fruit and veggie blended juices, sodas, smoothies, bottled beers and ciders, and sparkling wines. They have nice red and white wine selections, but Prasino's specialty alcoholic cocktails take the blue ribbon. Be sure to order my two favorites, the "La Grange Manhattan" and the "Rose Hipster". Top off your dinner with the apple waffles or bread pudding, although the latter of the desserts was very average.

Prasino is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has affordable prices. The atmosphere has a friendly family feel and the service was good. It's a great place to dine with kids and is located steps from the Metra station in downtown LaGrange enabling easy access from the city and other suburban areas. My wish is for Prasino to bring their concept to the city. Check out Prasino at www.eatgreenlivewell.com. My "Tru" ratings are below.

Our rating system is named after my son Tru. Tru means “loyal” and “honest” and I wanted our ratings reflect that. I hope that our “Tru” ratings connect with foodies by being clear, unique and different. The six “Tru” rating categories are denoted by a full upper case “T ”. They are rated on a scale of 1 to 4 “T’s” with 1 being the lowest and 4 being the highest.

1.) Palate – Cuisine quality.

2.) Assist Me – Refers to the level of service at the restaurant.

3.) Buzz Factor – Relates to drinks and the cocktail menu.

4.) Pretty People – Determines the ambiance and vibe of the restaurant.

5.) Pocket Change, Checking or Savings – Indicates the cost of an average dinner. Pocket Change ($10 - $15 per entrée) Checking ($15 - $25 per entrée) Savings ($25 - $35 per entrée)

6.) I’ll Be Back – Our overall dining experience at the restaurant


Tru Rating for Prasino

Palate– TTT

Assist Me – TT

Buzz Factor – TTT

Pretty People Alert – Tt

Pocket Change, Checking or Savings – Checking

I’ll Be Back – TTT

(**note: a lower case “t” denotes a half rating.)

Labels: bloomingdales chicago dining, dc crenshaw, eco friendly, family dining, fete select tv, green dining, lagrange, organic, organic products, prasino, restaurants, western suburbs

To Market With Mo

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

My favorite season in Chicago is almost here: outdoor Farmers Market season! I love to wine and dine out as much as anyone but, getting to the source and seeing produce fresh from the farm? Inspirational. For me that beats a plated dish anyday (ok, almost)...Farmers Market season is mood altering for me....mopey and sad when the season ends....and beyond giddy when the season starts in May.

I love to cook. More precisely, cooking when inspired by visits to the Farmers Market. I can barely sleep on Friday evenings (yes, I go to the a Saturday morning market, bright and early) just waiting to get up and go to the Farmers Market for the first pick of farm fresh produce. Everything beautifully displayed by the farmers that grew them - gorgeous.

So as someone who prefers to get your meals served to you, and not from your kitchen, you are asking, “why the heck would I go to the Farmers Market?” Let me tell you...for the opportunity to experience what fresh picked produce actually tastes like. So many things to enjoy without having to turn on the stove or the oven - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, apples and a tomato that wasn’t grown in a hothouse. Ah, but I digress...if nothing else go to spy your favorite chef shopping for the meal you have a reservation for.

We can’t always dine out. We still want to eat healthy and delicious food. And we want to eat ‘green’. Come join me every week as I find inspiration at the Chicago area Farmers Markets: meeting the farmers, sharing my finds and tasty executable recipes.

The Green City Market kicks off the outdoor Chicago Farmers Market season this Wed, May 6th (http://www.chicagogreencitymarket.org).

See you at the Market!

Moira

Labels: Chicago Farmers Market, cooking w/herbs, cooking with herbs, efete recipes, fresh food sources, Green City Market, localvore, Moira's Blog, organic, seasonal organic produce, To Market with Moira

City Provisions Farm Dinner

Thursday, July 24, 2008

City Provisions Farm Dinner
July 26th - Reserve Now!


SPACE IS LIMITED, CALL TODAY
Featuring Two Brothers Brewery, Dupage County and Faith'sFarm, Bonfield, Illinois

Saturday July 26, 2008
The day will begin at noon by meeting at City Provisions, where you will board a chartered bus, furnished with "educational props," as you learn about the Two Brothers' brewing process. They will also discuss their Process, Mission, and transition into their belief in supporting local farms.

Upon arrival at Faith's Farm, Kim Snyder will give a history of the farm, along with a tour of her sustainable wonderland. They will end the day with an educational dinner and beer pairings.

Dinner will feature Two Brothers beers - with history and descriptions by Jim Ebel - while the menu will celebrate different regions of BBQ throughout our country, utilizing the provisions from Faith's Farm - a pork-heavy tasting, mind you.

Artist, Melissa Monore, will be making plates and serving platters specifically for the event. You will have the option of purchasing her work at the end of the dinner.

This is an extremely casual event. In fact, you will be walking around on a farm, so prepare accordingly. You may want to bring bug spray, a hoodie, and a camera - along with a tremendous appetite.

The Farm Dinner includes round trip transportation from City Provisions to Faith's Farm, the farm tour, dinner with beer pairings, and other bonuses. Cost is $125 per person. Reservations are required as they are limited to the amount of seats on the bus. Cancellations within 72 hours of the event will be charged in full.

Beer will be donated by Two Brothers Brewery.

Reservations are being accepted today at 773.235.CITY (2489) or email at info(at) www.cityprovisions.com.

Join us for Chicago's Greatest Supper Club

Labels: catering, chicago, city provisions, dc crenshaw, farm food, fete, fete select, fete select tv, fine dining, fresh, organic