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May 20, 2009
 Food for Thought
The American Ribeye
ribeye on the grillWith grilling season upon us I thought I would share a restauranteurs' perspective on what is arguably the favorite American cut of steak. How and why it became the favorite American steak is not really clear.
Someone in my position might even say the ribeye is a roast and not a steak. The marbling and the fat content that make it a great roast, do not necessarily lend this cut to be the best steak, although it does give great flavoring in either application.
In the roasting process (aka prime rib) the fat will melt and the end result is a tender and unique texture . The ribeye in it's whole loin form is very inconsistent. The two ends are completely different from each other, with one end typically having a roll of fat sometimes as much as an inch thick near the center of the loin. When the loin is cut into steaks this roll of fat cannot be removed without disfiguring the steak, hence it is a very flavorful, but fatty steak.
In the end it's all a matter of personal preference. I myself am a fan of the New York strip because of it's meaty texture and consistency of cut. -  Ray
 Around the UPtown
Vintage Posters
rita poster
Over fifteen years ago, while the "New" Uptown was under construction, Ray and Rita had a clear idea of where the "art" in the new dining rooms would come from.  On yearly visits to the National Restaurant Show in Chicago, they started to see more and more vintage posters from the Spencer Weisz Gallery in Chicago. They liked the vintage look and over the years have built a collection of these posters that reflect food and liquor products from Europe. Perfect for a "polished casual" restaurant, they are all original vintage posters.  Of course Rita fell in love with the poster above and it was the first one that was purchased.  Orignally the posters were used for marketing their products in Europe and you will see very little English in any of them.  We hope that you enjoy the Uptown Vintage Poster Collection. - Jimmy
 Playlist Theater
Bill Kirchen
"Titan of the Telecaster"
Bill Kirchen 1Grammy nominated guitarist, singer and songwriter Bill Kirchen is one of the fortunate few who can step on any stage, play those trademark licks which drove the seminal Commander Cody classic Hot Rod Lincoln into the Top Ten nationwide, and elicit instant recognition for a career that's spanned over 30 years. That career includes performances with names like Nick Lowe, Emmylou Harris, Doug Sahm, Elvis Costello and Danny Gatton. Named 'A Titan of the Telecaster' by Guitar Player Magazine, he celebrates an American musical tradition where country music draws upon its origins in blues and bluegrass, and in the Western swing of Texas and California honky tonks. An apt description of Bill's singing, songwriting and guitar playing skill is provided in this quote from Nick Lowe:  "He's like a devastating culmination of the elegant and funky... a really sensational musician, with enormous depth."
Now this is right off of Bill's website but I don't think it can be said any better. So I am going with it. I always pick the artists brains about who would be good to have here. Fred Eaglesmith could not have been more emphatic as to getting 'The Titan of Telecaster". Fred said "you know the guy who made Hot Rod Lincoln famous". While checking out his library I came across several versions of the immortal Hot Rod Lincoln. The song seems to have morphed in a fifteen minute guitar slinging exhibition where Bill imitates some of the most famous guitars of the last 50 years. Each one is instantly recognizable. In the video linked below I counted 37. When he plays this it could be one of the most memorable moments we have had to date. He is bringing the same trio that is in the video below. Thursday June 25th@7:30. Tickets are only $15.   Hope to see you.  -  Ray
Hot Rod Lincoln Video
 Uptown on the Road
Catering Trays
It's a busy weekend coming up, with both Graduation and Memorial Day parties. Enjoy the day just a little more when we do the work for you. From BBQ Meatballs to Shrimp Cocktail, you choose, we pack!

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In This Issue
Vintage Poster Collection
Playlist Theater, Bill Kirchen
Having a party?
UPtown's UPcoming Events
On Our Specials List
Broccolini
UPtown's UPcoming Events
Memorial Day Weekend
Saturday 11am to 11 pm
Sunday Noon to 10 pm
Monday 4pm to 10 pm

 
Playlist Theater

June 3rd, Terry Evans
June 25th, Bill Kirchen

Uptown's MySpace
 
 On Our Specials List
  • Malpaque Oysters
  • Curry Dusted Calamari
  • Scottish Eggs
  • Pancetta, White Bean and Romaine Salad
  • Pan Fried Filet of Sole
  • 3 Way Filet
  • Broccolini and Rainbow Carrots
  • Bowtie Pasta with Imported Italian Tuna and Capers
  • 4 Way Chocolate Cheesecake
Ingredient of the Week
Broccolini
broccolini

Broccolini was developed by Mann Produce Company as a hybrid vegetable between broccoli and Gai Lan (Chinese Chard). It literally looks like baby broccoli or even asparagus and it has a sweet flavor with a tender texture, reminding many of an asparagus/broccoli combination. The vegetable is high in vitamin C and potassium. We sautee the broccolini with the super sweet "rainbow crunch" carrots, shallots, white wine and butter to accompany a few select entrees on our menu or as a side dish. Eating healthy never tasted so good. -Ryan
 Open Every Day

Mon - Thur 11 am to 10pm  - Fri & Sat 11 am to 11 pm
Sun Noon to 10 pm  -  uptowngrill.com