Purple Masthead

   

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The Controversial Tomato

Tomatoes are a botanically a fruit, but are often used as a vegetable in the culinary world, which causes some confusion. The Supreme Court even had to weigh in on the issue in Nix v. Hedden. No matter what it's classified as, the tomato is a versatile favorite.

Try these recipes at home and note there are a couple of different versions of the napoleon and green tomatoes. Links are provided within the recipes.

Tomato Chowder

Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini Napoleon with Mozzarella & Basil

Fried Green Tomatoes

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Do you Make Winning Chili?

 

If your chili is hot with family and friends, we want to hear from you! We're hosting an old fashioned chilli cook off with a new twist. Submit your recipes to our Facebook page. The recipe (along with two others selected by our chefs) with the most "likes" will be featured during our Trunk Show. The public will taste the top three chili recipes and decide on a winner, who will receive a grand prize featuring items from All Clad, Le Creuset, Lodge and more! Learn more.     

 

Trunk Show

Friday, October 11

11am-7pm

Merchandise Mart 
     
Intuit Contest

We're in the Red Zone

It's the final days of a contest that would be a game changer for us.

 

Intuit is giving one small business a commercial during next year's Superbowl. Voting ends Sunday, so please vote now by clicking this link.

 

Please help us spread the word by sharing with your friends and family. Your support is greatly appreciated! 
 
Join Our Mailing List

 

You Say Tomato, We Say Yes, Please      
 
If you aren't getting tired of the flavors of tomato and basil by now, you haven't been cooking right this summer. Soon, we'll be faced with pale, hard, flavorless varieties at grocery stores instead of the ripe, red, juiciness that is already starting to dwindle at local farmers' markets. Now is the time to stretch out tomato season!

Our staff constantly touts tomatoes in their blogs. So, we thought it would be a good time to review how to dice a tomato. Here's our latest video where Shelley shows two different methods:

How to Dice Tomatoes 
How to Dice Tomatoes
 

There's lots of tomato love still to come in September, so check out these classes while tomato season lingers on.  


We dedicate an entire class to tomatoes with You Say Tomato featuring recipes like Tomato Tart with Roasted Garlic and Goat Cheese with Arugula Salad. Farm to Table gives you a twist on the typical salad with Tomato and Cucumber Panzanella Salad. Meat 101 features Pork Milanese with Tomato, Lemon and Arugula Salad.


Of course, our Italian classes like Know your Gnocchi (Potato Gnocchi with Zucchini, Tomatoes and Basil) and Pasta Workshop (Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Lemon Herb Butter, Tomatoes and Parmesan) don't omit the tomato. 

Please Note: some classes are offered multiple times at both of our locations, so please search our class calendar for your options. 
The Chopping Block

Pie, Pie and More Pie       
 
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Patrick on Dough Day 
Our staff has been busy cranking out hundreds (300 to be exact!) of Apple Pies for today's Apple Fest. Stop by for a slice of homemade pie with whipped cream. Adults can wash it down with a glass of Virtue Cider. This family-friendly event is the official kick off of fall in Lincoln Square, featuring live music, activities for kids, vendors selling fresh apples, candy apples, hot apple cider, apple pizza and much more.

TODAY until 5pm 
Lincoln Square

Watch Chef Carrie Bradley's live interview on CBS 2 Chicago's morning show yesterday as she dishes about Apple Fest.


Pinterest Check out all of the pie production shots in our Team Pie Pinterest board.



It's also Pecan Pie time! Chef Shelley Young recently partnered with Fisher Nuts to create how to videos featuring their nuts in easy, tasty recipes. Here's the recipe for Fisher Nuts Pecan Pie:

Fisher Nuts Pecan Pie 
Fisher Nuts Pecan Pie
 

Stay tuned for more videos with Shelley featuring Fisher Nuts right here in our newsletter.  

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