http://www.elliebarczak.com Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:29:49 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This Thursday, the Minneapolis Institute of Art held a “Bike Night” were cycling was celebrated with music, drink and art. But first, before Warhol, Oldenberg and Lichtenstein teased my eyes in the modern wing, I had my very first Pimm’s Cup. Pimm’s is an odd thing, here in the US we ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/07/ellie-meet-mr-james-pimm/ Bluebarb equals rhubarb plus blueberries and it is quite possibly my favorite pie. Apple is also high on the list, and pumpkin...I just really like pie. And what better way to use the fruits of summer? A Little Bit About Rhubarb The sour, stalky rhubarb is actually a vegetable, though I have ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/07/bluebarb-pie/ Its been a long weekend of meat, grilling and more meat. I want to eat something as far away from barbecued ribs as possible. (Although the four our grill process produced a fantastic result, but I'll get to that later). Its time for a light summer dish, fresh and roasted ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/07/light-summer-pasta/ Donatella is in running about, brow sweating. She is everywhere, in the kitchen, in the front, pouring water, fetching glasses and cursing in Italian at Paolo, the round faced twenty-something in the kitchen. Its a loving scolding of course and always in pursuit of true Italy in heart of the ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/06/donatellas-opens-in-evanston/ This weekend, as part of my "Don't say no" last few months in Chicago, I dragged my tired self to a feast. "We are eating duck tonight Ellie," said Sandeep, my wine guru and dining buddy.  "This is not an option, sleepiness is not an excuse." And so I was off ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/04/tradition-chicago-and-duck-fat-dinner-at-sun-wah/ Why venture to Central Street (If you happen to live in Evanston, IL.) for your weekend BYO plans? For a little-known Thai restaurant that serves gingery tilapia and lets you tipple in peace. At Thai Pinto, it’s offbeat dishes that shine: the soft shell crab, the ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/04/eating-out-of-the-bentobox-at-thai-pinto/ Kibbeh, Baba ganoush, Ta'amiya and serious jet lag. About a week ago, I arrived back in Chicago after a truly humbling trip to Egypt.  The pyramids-- they are just so old, and big and...awe-inspiring. And of course, as is my wont, I was basically adopted into a bread maker’s family, ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/04/walk-like-an-egyptian-eat-like-an-egyptian/ I love a restaurant where I can draw on the tablecloth. Even better if the crayons (and toy dinosaurs!) are provided for me. And so it was last Saturday while I dined on casual Greek and American fare at Cross Rhodes, a family-filled bistro near the ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/03/cross-rhodes-diner-bugers-kebabs-and-fish-mousse/ I literally had to use both arms, up to the elbow, to mix the orzo and roasted vegetable pasta that I made last weekend. 4 lbs pasta, 2 lbs Bulgarian feta, 14 bell peppers, 7 zucchini and 5 onions. I could have fed Canadian army with this big bowl ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/02/the-walker-arts-center-recption-feeding-an-artsy-army/ A few weeks ago two of my friends,  Marshal and Justin came to visit me from Minneapolis.  In need of some really good food, we were ready to hit the town. The weekend, shall we say, set us all back a bit financially. But dipping into the "rainy-day fund" was ... http://www.elliebarczak.com/2010/02/eating-everthing-at-frontera-grill/