Monday, November 26, 2012
JT's, Koco Table and Leonie's Delice Bakery offer new options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.
Hungry for something new? Evanston's restaurant scene has gotten a boost with the recent openings of a family-friendly all-day spot, a Korean restaurant and a Haitian bakery. Downtown, JT's Bar & Grill opened in October at 1639 Orrington Ave., a space that has been vacant for years since the closing of Omaggio. Owner Sherrie Vidinich lives in Chicago but is looking into moving to Evanston. “We love Evanston," she said. "I grew up in Rogers Park so we used to venture here all the time as teenagers.” Related: 5 New Eateries Opening Downtown, On Howard Street Her restaurant, which is open from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, serves American fare with a splash of Mexican in the form of burritos and tacos. The space has about 15 TVs to show sports, …
Friday, November 23, 2012
Why order a hot dog when you can have a fowler?
There are two menus at Little Louie's at 1342 Shermer Rd. in Northbrook — one with standard burgers and hot dogs and everything else you would expect from a fast food joint. The other menu is less typical, offering items called McLovin, Ace Ventura and La Bubba Rosa. The weird wall of sandwiches at Little Louie's has about 20 different items inspired by flavors, movies and whatever else might be on owner Peter Weiss's mind at the time. "Everything that up there is good and it sells," Weiss said. "Some people come in and just order off the wall." The 45-year-old business hasn't always offered quirky, movie-inspired sandwiches. Weiss came up with the idea after he bought the restaurant 15 years ago. "I'm all about flavors," Weiss said. "…
Monday, November 19, 2012
Kurt Saphir Pianos has hit the right notes for over a century.
Forty years spent serving musicians on the North Shore is nothing to sneeze at. Yet it’s just a few pages in the extensive history of Kurt Saphir Pianos. The Wilmette business, which sells and services pianos, has been family owned and operated for six generations since it was founded in Vienna, Austria sometime during the early 1800s. Current President Dennis Saphir, son of the business’s namesake, Kurt Saphir, said his father dedicated his life to running the business. “He was here until the day he died,” Dennis said of his father, who passed away on Memorial Day, 2011. Though the piano company was founded in Europe, Kurt Saphir brought his knowledge of musical instruments to the U.S. during World War II, when he took his piano business…
Friday, November 16, 2012
From Star Wars to iPhones, you've never seen cookies like the ones from this Wilmette bakery.
What do scarecrows, iPhones, the Mona Lisa and the Millennium Falcon all have in common? All these things and many more have been shrunk down into cookie form by Vicky Blanas, co-owner of Wilmette’s Lawrence Deans Bake Shop, 637 Green Bay Rd. Vicky has run the bakery with her husband Lawrence Blanas (for whom the shop is named) since it opened in July 2011. Many of the confections to come out of the storefront are true collaborative efforts. He bakes, she decorates. Vicky said she started designing cookies as a way to relieve stress from her fulltime job as a high school teacher. “We started in the Northfield farmers’ market about six years ago,” said Vicky, who lives in Wilmette with her husband, a native. “I was working fulltime at …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
The Happy Holidays Open House will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Wilmette Village Center Merchants Group is hosting its annually Happy Holidays Open House tonight in downtown Wilmette. People are invited to stroll the downtown area during this late night shopping event, sampling, perusing and buying from businesses. The official event hours are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. “Wine, sweets, cooking and grilling demos, and lots of other goodies will be available as you stroll,” a merchants group press release reads. “Eat and shop along the area surrounding the Village Hall at Central, Greenleaf, [and] Wilmette Avenues and Green Bay Road in downtown Wilmette.” Some of the participating businesses include: Stay up to date on the latest news in Wilmette and Kenilworth! Sign up for our newsletter and "like" us on …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The Wilmette eatery features an extensive beer list, a large menu, flat screen TVs, an internet jukebox and many pictures of big black dogs.
Looking to chow down on some barbeque, knock back a cold one, eat out with the family or watch Sunday’s game? Wilmette’s newest eatery, The Big Black Dog Tavern & Grill, which opened its doors Oct. 24, has a little bit of something for everyone. Want more business news from Wilmette and Kenilworth? Sign up for our newsletter and"like" us on Facebook! Located at 1141 Central Ave., in the spot formerly occupied by The Crystal Cave, the tavern is operated by Gilson’s co-owner Chuck Rometty. “[Patrons] can expect a fun family atmosphere,” Rometty said, “with a great barbeque selection, all smoked in house, with three custom sauces, 54 bottled beers, four rotating beers on tap and a great wine selection. We also have a hint of Mexican food with…
Moe @ the Buck
8:39 am on Saturday, November 24, 2012
My favorite is the dirty Sanchez, Inspired by Mr Sanchez himself. more ›