Chicago.com
Chicago native Robert Warren puts the go in Chica-GO. This bright minded entrepreneur is an example of how integrity, hard work, and motivation can make your dreams come true. I’ve known this guy since high school when he used to tinker with my beautiful ‘96 pearl white Lincoln Continental. We used to sit in his garage on cold Chicago winters with his tube heater cranked and Metallica blaring in the background. I could always trust Rob to give me a great deal for really top notch work. I’ve kept in touch with him over the years and his garage at his Ma’s eventually became too small. A couple years ago, Rob opened up R/S Automotive in Oak Forest. It’s a beautiful joint with 3 bays and complete auto repair capabilities. I think it’s great to help your friends out, so if your car is sputtering or you need your oil changed, these are some really stand up guys who will take great care of you. You don’t see high standards like this that often these days, and I give credit where credit is due. Check R/S Automotive out and tell your friends. Also, you can catch Rob and his band SOMBER performing all over Chicago. These guys rock.
If you know of any other great local heroes or entrepreneurs that need a shout out, let Cousin Vinnie know. Chicago.com supports Chicago’s workers.
R/S AUTOMOTIVE INC. We are a Complete Auto Repair facility. We can handle any job big or small from a tire repair to engine replacement and anything in between. Please call for an appointment today!!! 708-687-1100…..
The headlines these days seem to be filled with endless commentary about health care and budget cuts. And if you’re like me you can only take so much of that news before it begins driving you crazy. Don’t get me wrong, these issues are of the utmost importance, but sometimes it’s nice to sit back and enjoy the more ludicrous things that are happening around Chicago.
We’ve all had to cancel a gym membership at one point in our lives, and it usually goes something like this. I remember one gym in particular made me show them my proof of residency in Italy to cancel my membership, and I have refused to join another one since then. But when local artist Lucy Knisley attempted to quit her gym a couple weeks ago, she discovered that a written letter stating her intent to cancel her membership was required. While most of us would have typed up “Please cancel my membership,” signed it, and sent it off, Lucy took a slightly different approach.
Just in case you couldn’t muster up the will to walk down the block to the nearest McDonald’s, the downtown “restaurant” at 233 N. Michigan has begun delivering and catering. The catering manager said, “It’s not like a lot of the fast-food restaurants in the building that say they cater.” So it really is a nice opportunity for them. The only questions that remains unanswered is whether or not there’s actually a demand for McDonald’s to cater your company’s meetings.
Yeah, he’s still on television. This week our former governor asked a professional chef if he knew how to turn on a computer. Apparently the guy that we elected (twice) was never taught or took the initiative to learn how to use a computer. Oh, and he didn’t get fired. So stay tuned next week for more electoral regret.
Call me Nostradamus, because I saw this coming a Magnificent Mile away.
Listen Mrs. First Lady. Back off. First Chicago loses the Olympics. Then our unemployment goes up. And then Forbes thinks we’re miserable. Give us our dignity. Where is your loyalty? In a recent visit to a New York pizzeria (that will remain unnamed in my blog, but if you really want to know – like it matters – check out this link) Michelle Obama stated, in what must have been a momentary lapse in some serious judgment, that “It’s the best pizza, and I’m from Chicago.” Michelle, I think your husband may have lost a few voters.
Two days ago, I told my LOYAL readers that Chicago.com is in pre-production for a Best Pizza in Chicago video. Plans are still a go. But now, I think we have a little more incentive. Please send me the names of your favorite pizzerias. If someone has already posted it, post it again. We’re looking for the best in a few categories: taste, value, and tradition, with a separate category looking for most original.
Bring it on Chicago. Let’s show D.C. and N.Y.C. what we’re really made of. When our panel of pizza-pie-tastic experts have made their decisions and the winners have been chosen, we will invite you to partake in their cheesy Chicago.com debut. That’s right, everyone who leaves a pizza related comment will able to be in the video we produce. So send is your comments Chicago and remind the First Lady where she came from.
Like you, I am a workaholic. I can’t help myself. I find the geodomain industry oddly addictive. However, after spending five days cooped up in the office, I need a break from the corporate world just as much as you do. Weekends in Chicago are for letting loose and — believe me — there is never a shortage of things to do.
The weather finally started cooperating this week. In fact I’ve began walking to the office instead of driving. It’s better for the environment, I save money, and it keeps me in shape. That even more of a reason to celebrate this weekend! I have managed to find the coolest things to do in Chicago, and here are my top picks for March 26-28.
Critical Mass
I am taking off a bit early on Friday and riding my bike down to Daley Plaza at Dearborn St. & Washington St. for an extensive bike ride through the city. For those of you who have not participated in Critical Mass, it’s a meetup of Chicagoans who enjoy riding bikes. Each week they choose a new route and spend Friday night biking through the city. It’s not only fun, but you get to meet a bunch of great people. They take off at 5:30pm, so be on time!
Read More »
Mac Madness
After all of that riding, I’m going to need two things: beer and food. All week I have been hearing about Rockit Pub & Grill’s Mac Madness week at 22 W. Hubbard St. Each day they’re featuring a new entree using mac and cheese and serving it for only $12! Friday’s special is crawfish-and-andouille macaroni. Top that off with some great drink specials, and I’m ready to call it a night. A portion of the proceeds from Mac Madness go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, so eat up!
Read More »
Matisse is in Town
The Art Institute is really keeping me busy this year. Last month was admission free, and this month they have a Henri Matisse exhibit. So first thing Saturday morning I am headed down to 111 S. Michigan Ave. to see this for myself. This exhibit focuses on his art between 1913-1917, with the selected works representing his experimentation with the cubist era of the avant-garde movement. This exhibit only runs through June, so get there while you still can.
Read More »
Chicago Eats TV Launch Party
After getting my cultural fix at the Art Institute, I’ll be ready to drink some good beer with some good people. Luckily, there’s just a place for that this Saturday over at Empire Liquors at 1566 Milwaukee Ave. My buddy Jeff over at ChicagoEatsTV.com is holding a launch party for his website. Jeff travels around Chicago and shows you some of the best restaurants the city has to offer. And he films the whole experience, so you get all of his wacky humor as he tells you what spots you need to hit up next.
Read More »
Rush Limbaugh! The Musical
It’s been a while since I’ve been to Second City, but I quickly found the show just for me over at Piper’s Alley at 1608 N. Wells St: Rush Limbaugh! The Musical. What better way to celebrate the long overdue healthcare reform than laughing your socks off at this satirical portrayal of America’s most boisterous pundit? This musical comes from the same team who created Rod Blagojevich Superstar!, so I know what kind of comedic quality to expect from this show.
Read More »
Prohibition Style Eats
After the show I’m headed down the block to 1419 N. Wells St. to eat dinner at the 33 Club. Named for 1933, the year that darn eighteenth amendment was abolished, the 33 Club’s interior brings you back to the days of lindy hopping and raccoon coats. The moderately priced menu features something for everyone and the comprehensive wine list will let you perfectly pair your booze and your food.
Read More »
Pizza from the heart
Chicago.com’s Cousin Vinnie is looking for the best Chicago pizzeria to be in their new video “pizza in Chicago”. If you want to leave a comment and tell me who you think has the best Chicago pie please do so. Also if you know someone that owns a Chicago pizza joint and wants some exposure tell them to contact me at Vinnie@chicago.com or tell them to leave a comment.
Since the first hungry Italian put cheese and tomatoes on dough, there’s been a debate heard round the country on who’s got the best pizza: New York City or Sweet Home Chicago.
Now I am not here to bash New York’s pies, but I sure as hell am going to defend my hometown.
My Dad, the Original Cousin Vinnie, has been in the pizzeria business all of his life. At the ripe young age of 8yrs old he used to sit on top of the cheese grinder at Connie’s pizzeria in the south side of Chicago and grind cheese for the pies. He has owned places in Chicago like D’Anardo’s Pizza as well as Cousin Vinnie’s in Arizona. Believe you me, we know pizzas. Pizza sauce runs through my family’s veins. Here you can get deep dish or thin crust, hand tossed or rolled. And lucky for us, Chicago specializes in deep-dish (also known as stuffed) pizza. It’s more than a meal, it’s an event. Layers of thick, gooey mozzarella, mild Italian sausage, herbs, and my poppa’s homemade sauce are what I crave when I’m looking to satisfy my picky Chicagoan palate. Deep-dish pizza is as much Chicago as the cheese steak is to Philly, chowder is to Boston, and the California roll is to well, California. Here is one of my papa’s recipes for a “Chicago style pizza” for those of you that do not live here and for those of you that do.
That’s that! Now enjoy the pizza recipe and let me know how it turns out.
| Chicago Deep dish dough:
2 cups warm water 1/2 cup vegetable oil 4 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup cornmeal 5 1/2 cups flour 2 packages of rapid rise yeast 1/4 stick of melted butter |
Use a mixer bowl and dissolve rapid rise yeast in warm water. Then add olive oil and vegetable oil, butter, corn meal and1/2 the flour. Mix all contents with a dough hook (you can do it by hand, but it is very difficult) and mix in the rest of the flour. Remove dough and place on a clean countertop. Cover with a damp towel in a large bowl and allow to rise until double in bulk. Knuckle it down and allow to rise again.
It is very important to oil your deep-dish pizza pan or else your pie will stick to the pan. Place some dough in the pan and push it out to the edges using your fingers. Put in enough dough so that you can run the crust up the side of the pan. Make it about 1/8-inch thick throughout the pan.
Every great “Chicago style pizza” starts out with a great filling:
2 cups of peeled tomatoes, and make sure you drain em
1/3 lb of sliced Mozzarella
11 basil leaves
2 1/2tbl spoons of extra virgin olive oil (first cold press makes all the difference)
1 big handful of Parmesan Reggiano
3 good size cloves of garlic (minced)
Place mozzarella in layers on the bottom of the pie. If you want to add other ingredients, add other ingredients such as bulk Italian sausage, pepperoni or fungi (mushrooms). Place them directly on the cheese and under the tomatoes. Then layer the basil, garlic, oregano and salt. Next put in the tomatoes. The parmesan cheese will be used for the top of the pizza. Drizzle olive oil all over the top of the pizza.
Bake the pie in a 475°F oven until the crust is light golden brown and the top is bubbly, in about 35 to 45 minutes.