Negroni: 'A Top Food Trend of 2011!'

Barrel-aged Negroni photo via starchefs.com.

One of the cocktails I've been immensely obsessed with for the past two years is the classic Italian Negroni, so I was thrilled to find out it was named one of HuffPo's Top Food Trends of 2011:

"Campari declared 2011 to be the Year of the Negroni and it looks like its marketing actually worked. This simple cocktail only has three ingredients—Campari, gin and sweet vermouth—and was everyone's drink-of-choice this year. As is the case with many classic cocktails, there are always twists, which explains why restaurants have secret Negroni menus. The website Food Republic devoted a full week of coverage to pay homage to the cocktail."

Yay! Long live the Negroni! But . . . don't trust just anyone's, which I learned the hard way this year venturing out to many restaurants and bars in the city. Some were not balanced (It's imperative that all three components flow smoother than an ocean). Others were shaken, not stirred (That is blasphemy, according to bartenders). And a few tried way too hard by adding ingredients that had no place in this cocktail (olives, chocolate, vodka, cranberries, WTF).

Overall, I've had some great Negroni experiences, and here are my favorite places to sip them in the city:

Be Merry & Munch at These Holiday Brunches

Power shopping is serious business during the holiday season, but before you head out on your mission make sure you fill up with a nourishing good meal.

And if you're braving the weekend crowds, you'll want to check out one of these great brunches. From $15 bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas at 25 Degrees to Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club's annual Jingle Bell Brunch, here's what is going down:

Savor These Seasonal Sippers . . .

Nolet's Silver Raspberry Mint Fizz is a great cocktail to make for guests during the holiday season. (Photo: Nolet's Silver Gin)

Let's be real. One of the best things about the holiday season is hanging out with friends and family for cocktails you'd only drink this time of year.

Hot Toddies. Champagne Cocktails. Hot Buttered Rum. And, of course, there’s the infamous Spiked Eggnog.

But how about some new twists to these traditional elixirs? This month on DiningChicago.com, I check out some sensational seasonal sippers you can make at home or order at the likes of Balsan, one sixty-blue or Roka Akor.

Cheers!

Cheers To 'Repeal Day!'

Just in case you were unsure about where you're partying for Repeal Day on Monday, a handful of some of Chicago's most colorful mixologists are throwing a party at Salud that you don't want to miss.

The event starts with welcome punches by Bols Genever and Plantation Rum, and then it gets really decadent.

Chefs Continue 'Downscale' Dining Trend

Spiaggia Executive Chef Sarah Grueneberg and her Italian-accented falafel at Falafill. (Photos: jamco)

Last week was a big one for three very prominent chefs who opened some of this season's most highly anticipated restaurants.

Spiaggia's Tony Mantuano's casual Italian eatery Bar Toma opened on the Mag Mile. Takashi Yagihashi of Takashi fame debuted Japanese noodle shop Slurping Turtle in River North. And Bon Appetit's Restaurateur of the Year 2007 Laurent Tourondel swung open the doors to BLT American Brasserie in River North over the weekend.

What the three chefs have in common is a break from their more pricier ventures for more budget-conscious restaurants that most people can afford. Prices range $7-$30 at each spot.

Even Spiaggia's Executive Chef Sarah Grueneberg (who's competing on the current season of Top Chef) is getting in on the trend by teaming up with Falafill in Lakeview.

And Her Favorite Cocktail Is . . .

(Photo: Stephanie Izard)

"When I first sipped it, I thought I was drinking an 'old lady' drink, but now I know I was just getting exposed to what a great cocktail is supposed to be—and moving past my vodka-tonic phase," says Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat) about her favorite cocktail.

Find out what it is and where she likes to drink it in this interview I had with her in Michigan Avenue magazine.

West Town's 'Dining Around' Coming Soon

Arami interior photo via metromix.com.

The deadest time of the year for restaurants is in January, so Leopold owner Christy Agee came up with a great idea to generate extra $$$ for the spots in West Town.

She's partnered with West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce to launch the area's first-ever Dining Around event, which will spotlight chef-driven destinations such as Arami, Branch 27, Ruxbin and West Town Tavern. The restaurant that I'm also hoping will get onboard for this project is long-time Italian favorite, A Tavola, which is owned by chef Dan Bocik. It's been around since 1995.

Chicago's Most Elite Lounges and Bars

Curio photo via Michigan Avenue magazine.

From Brendan Sodikoff's Inglorious Basterds-inspired lounge on the lower-level of Gilt Bar to The Office—Chicago's most impossible bar to gain access to—I check out the absolute best hidden bars in the city for Michigan Avenue magazine.