Suggestions..
 

My mom & I will be in Chicago Feb 20-24. If you had to pick one restaurant for each basic cuisine (italian, mexican, pizza...), which would it be? Breakfast, lunch or dinner? We would also like to visit any wine bars, especially any serving 'local' wine. We're staying at the Palmer House Hilton. Thanks!

Jodi

"Local" wine? Probably not a good idea in Chicago!

For steak, I like Ditka's place in the Tremont Hotel, on Chestnut just off Michigan. Iron Mike himself is often there.

I thought I read there were like 30 wineries in Illinois.....

Jodi

Oh that's true ...

www.illinoiswine.org (or .com) ...

you just don't want to drink 99% of them.

Even Virginia wines are better (in my opinion, of course).

just a thought for you - some people extremely familiar with Chicago restaurants and wine may not open this post, since it only says 'suggestions' - you might want to post one that says 'Chicago restaurant and wine recs " which might attract people who would also like to help you, not that the previous posters haven't helped, but you might attract more answers with a clearer post title.

For Italian - Rosebud on Rush would be my pick. For a wine bar I would say BIN 36.

Suggestion that next posting has a better title for getting the people you want on the answer afterward. When a person clicks on the tittle "suggestions" He does not know if you giving advice or wanting advice.

Gekko...your post made me laugh. I live in VA. To say that wines in VA are more drinkable than wines in IL is not saying much! :)

Who are you pretentious would-be wine critics trying to impress? Virginia produces many delightful wines and has done so since the days of Jefferson. I've never tried any from Illinois, but if they're anything like NY State's and Michigan's, they're probably quite nice too on the whole. Pseudo-sophisticates who like to make fun of small regional wineries are not fooling anyone who really cares about wine and enjoys a variety of taste experiences.

Easy there, big fella .. no need to get defensive ... reality is what it is. Pick up any wine publication (<i>Spectator</i>) and check out the ratings for yourself.

It ain't about snobbery, it's about reality.

That being said, VA's Barboursville has made a few nice vintages, the best of which are available at the Regency Dining Room at the Williamsburg Inn.

hop_along -

Something clearly pushed your button. There's no reason to make personal attacks or character judgments based on 2 sentences.

I'm an equal opportunity drinker (both wine and beer) who consciously goes out of my way to frequent small producers versus the big guys. I just know what tastes good (or not) to me. And the VA wines I've had so far don't taste good to me (even though I've had very pleasant tastings, especially at Breaux which like a little Tuscany right here in VA).

Which is why I thought Gekko's statement was funny (and also note Gekko's *opinion* of personal taste).

[end self defense] :)

OK, sorry for the over-reaction (but I don't really think it was an over-reaction.) .... I read Wine Spectator for years and generally enjoyed it but found its ratings irrelevant to the point of being meaningless. Besides, even WS says its own low ratings of 70s signify good wine, if not what it calls great wine. Perhaps the harsh critics of the so-called lesser efforts should consider that. (It wasn't that many years ago when snobs the world over, including in the U.S., made fun of California wines.) Peace.

&quot;I read Wine Spectator for years and generally enjoyed it but found its ratings irrelevant to the point of being meaningless.&quot;

YIKES !!! You dareth speak blasphemy on the vinters bible!!! Thou's loins must lust for vinegret!

Ha ha :&gt;

It did take a while for California wines to achieve greatness...to the chegrin of the French....but that process was a steadily improving cultivation and maturing of vines, through the miracles of science and horticulture.

This is quite simple.....soil, humidity, temperature deviations/climate conditions and finally the skill of the vinter, determine the flavor of wine.

There is no substitute for mother nature, and Virginia simply does not have the conditions to make a great wine. I'm sure they do make a decent ice wine....like those crazy cannucks do at Inniskillin wines in Ontario....but I would never have a great desire to purchase an Ontario CA wine either.

Just like a good Cohiba...and I am talking about the REAL thing from Cuba....cannot be compared to the legally imported Cohiba grown by the same family, with seeds from the cuban version grown in the Dominican Republic.

Anyone who knows their cigars will instantly know the difference when they light one up....ahh not that I would know anything about that !!! oh no ...not me.. ;&gt;

And just to defend the &quot;bible&quot;, I find it a great guide picking up wines of all price ranges.

The only thing that I found better than that was a girl I used to date who was a wine buyer....ohh I was so in love back then....and she was cool too!