What’s Brewing

Local Oktoberfest celebrations have fun for the whole family on tap this fall   When September hits, Oktoberfest isn’t far behind. The famed fall festival originated in Munich, Germany, in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Ludwig, the Crown Prince of Bavaria, to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The celebration, open to the entire city, included…

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Labriola Restaurant An Elevated Dining Experience

By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff| Photo by Laura Meyers In an exciting move that promises to elevate the culinary scene, Rich Labriola, the visionary behind Labriola Café and LaBarra, is merging his eateries to create a new, enhanced Labriola experience. Facing an expiring lease on his Labriola Bakery Café, located next to his LaBarra Ristorante…

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The Perfect Taste of Summer

A hot summer day, time by the pool or beach, or an evening at home means you need something to sip on. Try out one of these drink recipes for the summertime. By Mia Jones The Salty Dog Cocktail A zesty and refreshing summer drink Ingredients: 1 ½ ounces of gin or vodka 3 ounces…

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Oak Brook: A True Dining Mecca

Oak Brook offers residents and visitors an array of nearly 80 dining destinations, from fine dining to quick-serve restaurants. It has evolved into a dining mecca over several decades. According to former Chicago Tribune Dining Critic Phil Vettel, a major reason is the proximity to downtown Chicago. “I had a ringside seat over 30 years…

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Neat Kitchen and Bar

neatkitchenandbar.com 246 North Cass Avenue downtown Westmont Lifelong friends John Taylor and Matt Verde, owners of Neat Kitchen and Bar in Westmont, met in sixth grade at Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst. After graduating together from high school, their careers took them separate ways, but both pursued careers in the restaurant industry. Between John’s…

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Taurasi

taurasirestaurant.com 14 North Cass Avenue downtown Westmont Raffaele Cirillo, the owner of Taurasi, was born in Gragnano, Italy – two miles from the Sorrento coast – into an entrepreneurial family with a passion for hospitality and cooking. Born into the hospitality business, his father began Raffaele’s cooking lessons at the age of nine and declared,…

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Snapshot: Vasili’s

VASILISMEDITERRANEAN.COM 135 WATER STREET DOWNTOWN NAPERVILLE Authentic. This word aptly describes Scott Harris Hospitality’s Vasili’s Mediterranean restaurant, nestled in Naperville’s downtown riverwalk. Named after the father-in-law of the renowned restauranteur Scott Harris (Papou is Greek for grandfather), the restaurant pays homage to the warmth and charm of Papou, whose legacy inspires Vasili’s hearth-fired Mediterranean fare.…

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Food & Wine: The Perfect Pair

BY VALERIE HARDY Spring is in the air, and it is time to shift from comfort foods to lighter fare. Give this guide a glance to find the best fork + cork combos. Scott Harris Hospitality’s Davanti Enoteca’s Wine Expert, Kristen Jackson, shares the best wines to pair with some favorite dishes.

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Dishing Out

Inside Chef Beau’s Klean Kitchen By Abbey Hayes Chef Beau’s Klean Kitchen offers a weekly meal service unlike any other. The emphasis isn’t solely on convenience, it’s also about how the food makes you feel. Chef Beau prepares meals with, allergy-friendly ingredients. Meals are also prepared without wheat (gluten) and American cow’s milk (lactose). Chef…

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Coffee Talk

with Cafe LaFortuna By Larry Atseff Your coffee is famous for its aroma. What are your secrets? It starts with the beans. Our beans are of single-origin and come from small plantations in Mexico. Our small-batch coffee-roasting process, on-premise, takes the just-picked green beans and turns them into dark brown beans. High temperatures vary, depending…

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