Pads & Panels

Product: Star Trek Enterprise Pizza Cutter

Company: ThinkGeek

Price: $29.99

Review by: Matt Peters

Getting this out of the way first — yes, it does cut pizza. In fact, the blade is fairly hefty, which may have been either good design (as we Star Trek fans consume larger pizzas), or simply a necessity of accurately portraying the scale. Either way, it really gets the job done and belongs with your other kitchen utensils. Speaking of accuracy, it’s definitely the order of the day, as even the famous Starship registry is etched onto the wheel. (more…)

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Chicago Foodcast

Episode 6: The Fire Down Below

Interview with Jim Nichols of Crosstown Pub & Grill

Running Time: 60:22

Chicago Foodcast

Episode Description: Chicago Foodcast finally returns after a long-awaited break for Episode 6: “The Fire Down Below.” In the aptly-named installment, Bill and Archie – joined by third wheel Eric Stuckart – travel to Naperville to check out Crosstown Pub & Grill, in the process taking on the infamous ghost pepper in the form of a sauce that requires diners to sign a waiver, Devil’s Sweat. Luckily, the restaurant offers up some damn good wings, so the process isn’t all torture for the trio. The episode also garners its name from this edition of Happy Hour, when the guys try Jim Beam’s new Devil’s Cut whiskey. Tying things together nicely, they use that as an opportunity to give a set of whiskey stones from ThinkGeek a run for their money. This edition of Snack Break features Bacon Hot Sauce and a special PSA on ghost pepper flakes. In “Hey, Fatty! Whatcha been eatin?” Archie talks Skrine Chops, Eric makes his first trip to Chick-fil-A and Bill does some home cookin’.

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Music on the episode – Issac Graham’s “Heat Exhaustion” from Empty Vessels, courtesy of freemusicarchive.org. (more…)

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Chicago Foodcast

Episode 5: “The Best EFFEN Episode”

Interviews with Jim Beam Global Spirits Master Mixologist Bobby “G” Gleason and Chicago mixlogists

Running Time: 48:20

Chicago Foodcast

Episode Description: Episode 5 of Chicago Foodcast is “The Best EFFEN Episode,” as Archie and Bill head to the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago for a big EFFEN bash, EFFEN vodka that is. The episode features discussion on top Chicago mixologists competing to make the tastiest concoctions with EFFEN, EFFEN Black Cherry and EFFEN Cucumber. Bill also sits down for an interview with Jim Beam Global Spirits Master Mixologist Bobby “G” Gleason, as well as three of Chicago’s top mixologists and bartenders. Sarah Kumley joins the guys for the episode, and brings Mike’s Hard Strawberry Lemonade for “Happy Hour.” She also displays her cupcake enthusiasm by making a batch of cupcakes from ThinkGeek’s new Zombie Cupcakes recipe book. On “Hey Fatty! Whatcha been eatin?” the trio talks Bleeding Heart Bakery, Park Grill, Meatyballs Mobile, SkrineChops and Owen & Engine.

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Music on the episode – Al Duvall’s “The Day Bartender” (more…)

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Chicago Foodcast

Episode 4: “Buzzed!”

Interviews with Elliott Beier of Owen & Engine and Eric McCrory of Samuel Adams

Running Time: 58:56

Chicago Foodcast

Chocolate cake, poached cherries, ice wine gastrique, goat cheese mousse at Owen & Engine.

Episode Description: On the fourth episode of Chicago Foodcast, Archie and Bill drink a little too much at the top of the show when they decide to mix cocktails for “Snack Break” with syrups from Chicago’s Jo Snow, providing the episode with its title, “Buzzed!” They start by trying Jo Snow’s recipe recommendations of the Dutch 74 and Royal Chihuahua, but quickly branch out with their own recipes. Matt Peters stops by to create the Blue Bomber, while Archie’s drink idea seven years in the making makes its debut, and Bill creates something with Absolut Wild Tea and Plymouth Gin not appropriate for the episode description (parental advisory on this episode, folks!). Matt also takes Chicago Foodcast on vacation, discussing the meals he had a chance to have on his Hawaiian Honeymoon. Bill tells everyone to “got to hell” after fast food nightmares with Popeye’s and McDonald’s during “Hey Fatty! Whatcha been eatin?” The drinking continues when Bill and Archie visit Owen & Engine (2700 N. Western Ave.) during Chicago Craft Beer Week for the Sam Adams Beer Dinner. Before having dinner, they sit down for a chat with two certified cicerones, Elliott Beier of Owen & Engine and Eric McCrory of Samuel Adams for a great double interview to cap off the show. And yes, they remember recording this one, and stopping by Bleeding Heart Bakery for cupcakes and bacon-y things.

Music on the episode – Bloody Muffs’ “Fireworks and Beer” and Sea Monster’s “Gimme a Beer,” via freemusicarchive.org. (more…)

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Chicago Foodcast

Episode 3: “Two Girls, One Goat”

Interview with Chef Stephanie Izard (Girl and the Goat)

Running Time: 61:08

Chicago Foodcast

Episode Description: On the third episode of Chicago Foodcast, “Two Girls, One Goat,” Archie and Bill sit down for a lengthy interview with Girl and the Goat Executive Chef Stephanie Izard, to chat about her career after winning Top Chef Season 4, coming up on one year with her Chicago restaurant, finding the right farms, artwork, her philosophies on cooking, craft brews, a James Beard Foundation nomination, her favorite Chicago eats, drinking, celebrities, Taco Bell and porn. The duo also brings Bill’s fiancée, Sarah, along to Girl and the Goat for a sampling of 10 dishes, including fish, meats and veggies. In another segment of “Hey Fatty! Whatcha been eatin’?” Bill talks about Triple Crown in Chinatown, Archie makes trips to Cactus Bar & Grill and Paddy Long’s, and Sarah gets breakfast at Panini Xpresso and a burger at Five Guys. “Snack Break” thematically ties into the interview when the group gets Taco Bell Beefy Crunch Burritos, and then tries to get the taste out of their mouths with Newtons Fruit Thins. All of that, and Chicago Foodcast gets its first two pieces of fan mail.

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Music on the episode – Pierlo’s “King of the Kitchen” via FreeMusicArchive.org. (more…)

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Chicago Foodcast

Episode 2: “Baconius Festivus Maximus”

Special coverage of Baconfest 2011

Running Time: 60:10

Chicago Foodcast

Episode Description: The follow up to the greatest debut in podcast history (according to undisclosed sources), the second episode of Chicago Foodcast delves into one of the most wonderful festivals known to man, Baconfest. Bill and Archie run down interviews with the event’s organizers, as well as chefs from Signature Room, Wow Bao, Nana, Quince, Park Grill, Meatyballs Mobile, RB Grill, Paddy Longs, Chizakaya and The Bristol, not to mention the proprietors of Bacon fragrance, Salted Caramel Company and Nonna Santi’s Biscotti. Bill and Archie also discuss their extensive sampling at the event, adding La Madia, Naha and Red Canary to the mix. They also talk about recent meals at Caffe Baci, Chicken Planet and Lumes Pancake House. They also delve into the recent Goose Island purchase. The “Snack Break!” segment debuts with Pop Chips, as well as “Hey, Fatty! Whatcha been eatin?”

Music on this episode – Scomber’s “Poke in the Eye (Pig Flu That Way)” via ccmixter. (more…)

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Chicago Foodcast Launches First at Pads & Panels!

Bill and Archie have been working kind of quietly without talking to too many other people about this project, but now it is finally ready to be unveiled to the public, and they couldn’t be more excited. Spawned in a last-minute decision to go to Wingfest 2011, the lads decided it might be fun to talk about the food they tried there. They were going to do it anyways, so they decided they might as well let a larger audience in on the conversation, and the concept of “Talking with our mouths full!” was born, and Chicago Foodcast put into motion. The idea behind the show is that Archie and Bill get together to have conversations about their favorite (and least favorite) eats in the Chicagoland area, and bring awesome chefs and their restaurants on board for the action. They hope to keep this idea going on a regular basis, and serve as deeper look into Chicago’s food scene for residents of the area, and a great guide to dining for those just visiting. For everyone else, hopefully it proves to be an entertaining listen. They could go on about if for awhile, but decided instead just to let you listen. The debut episode is posted below. Enjoy! And please let us know what you think.  We can be found directly at chicagofoodcast.com, and can be reached at chicagofoodcast@gmail.com Over the course of the week, we’ll be unveiling the logo, the iTunes subscription stream and information about the next episode.  Also, enjoy the gallery from Wingfest 2011 below. Stay tuned for more. (more…)

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