Elizabeth's Wine Director Scott Noorman An Unsung Hero in the Restaurant Business

People like Scott Noorman send goosebumps down my back.

He's one of those guys who's in the restaurant business for the sheer love of it all. Not for the lights or the cameras. Not for the awards. And most certainly not for the $$$.

As wine director at the farm-to-table-focused Elizabeth, Noorman lights up as he describes the exciting beverage program he'll unveil when the Lincoln Square-based restaurant opens Sept. 19. During an exclusive sneak preview, he gleefully rolls out an impressive vintage champagne cart, which he and owner/chef Iliana Regan affectionately call the "drunk trunk."

"This will fit into what we're doing over here," he says, as he proudly points to the interior of the empty cart. "It'll mostly carry select wines and sparkling wines, but I will also leave room so I can focus on a few locally sourced spirits to make classic cocktails."

Noorman continues, going on and on about the possibility of using offbeat bitters and tinctures, seeking out stemwear, and the endless choices of vino. He then talks about how he can go to a tasting of more than 300 wines and effortlessly remember what he liked without taking notes.

His knowledge of spirits and wine is vast and impressive, so it's hard to imagine that he learned absolutely everything through experience and no formal training. Yet, after getting to know him, it's not hard to see why Alinea's Grant Achatz "to this day still calls me one of his generals; he mentions me in his book, Life on the Line."

Sun-Times Food Critic, Next Restaurant Owner Take Jabs At Rockit Owner Billy Dec on Twitter

This is ruthless and funny.

Oh, yeah. Here's Billy's dessert.

Chicago Gourmet's 'Dine Around' Program Returns With Opportunity To Earn Free Ticket To Event

Chow down on some of Tavernita's small-plate dishes during "Dine Around." (Photo: Tavernita)

Here's your chance to earn a free ticket to Bon Appétit's Chicago Gourmet, happening Sept. 29-30 in Millennium Park.

All you have to do to get one is chow down at some of the 70-plus participating Dine Around restaurants Sept. 1-30. They're encouraging diners to visit up to five spots, and spend a minimum of $35 at each. Keep those receipts (!!), and redeem them at Chicago Gourmet's registration table for a general admission ticket for one day.

Remember Boka's Upcoming Old Rip Van Winkle Bourbon/Three Floyds Brewing Dinner?!

It sold out in less than 40 minutes when tickets went on sale Tuesday.

Wow.

Moto Chef Wants To Grow $1,000 Truffles In-House

French Perigord Truffle.

This is kind of sweet and decadent, and if Moto can pull this off, it will take the West Loop restaurant to a different level.

From chef/owner Homaro Cantu:

How Uncle Julio's Handled What Could Have Been An Ugly Situation With Finesse

Props go out today to Uncle Julio's on North Avenue for the way the managers handled a situation that could have gone really bad.

Here's the account from my Facebook friend, Michelle, who details what happened to her party on a recent outing:

"Well....I had to do it. I wrote the corporate office of Uncle Julio's to complain about a waiter named Sam at the location on North Ave. here in Chicago. We have had him two times as a waiter and BOTH times, he completely ignored our table as if we were invisible. Had to keep flagging him down for everything, more chips, more salsa, drink refills. I sat for 10 minutes with a totally empty glass and finally got up, and took my glass directly to Sam and told him to give me some more ice tea! We did complain to the manager and got a new waiter, Ashley, who was GREAT. But for Sam to totally diss us twice was no accident. We asked Ashley if she would have to split her tip with Sam and she assured us that she didn't have to, so we left her a 50% tip on a $46 bill. Sorry, Sam, you missed out when you assumed that all black people don't tip and left us high and dry......... pathetic."

Yikes.

Here's the prompt response Michelle received from Uncle Julio's corporate office, which is located in Irving, Texas:

'Don't Seat Any Blacks, Jews Or Hispanics In The Window,' Instructs Restaurant Owner To Staff

Are we in 2012 or back in Jim Crow days?!

I was recently told that the owner of a popular Little Italy-based restaurant gave his staff these very specific instructions of who should sit in the windows.

UN-FREAKING-believable, but all I am going to say is there were recently some major shakeups at this spot because of this prejudiced policy . . .

Charlie Trotter's Last Hurrah . . .

Photo via the Inquisitr.

So. We finally arrive at the conclusion of Mark Caro's tremendous three-part story on Charlie Trotter in the Chicago Tribune.

The iconic Lincoln Park restaurant serves its last meal August 31, and this series was the perfect sendoff, offering in-depth and sometimes brutally honest perspectives on the behind-the-scenes action.

Here are the highlights of Part 3 (also read Part 1 and Part 2):