Something I've dreamed about, but could never have done without the space we have in our current kitchen - have our own organic garden. In March I started interviewing experienced gardeners, looking for someone who could help me plan, build, plant and maintain an organic garden. I found Katie, and we got right to work. We turned an ugly deserted lot into a beautiful outdoor space. We now have 10 large raised beds in our side lot, with radishes, arugula, spinach, mixed greens and peas already sprouting! The vegetables we grow in the garden will mainly be used for our Canteen and for our concert clients. Come check it out! Soon to have outdoor seating when the weather is a little warmer. - heidi
We opened the Canteen a year ago! In the past year we've learned so much about something completely different than we've been doing for 17 years. It's been wonderful having clients come to us, rather than us taking the food to clients. We appreciate all the loyal frequent customers, some who come in twice a day. We're still learning and trying to make the Canteen a nice neighborhood weekday breakfast or lunch spot. Thanks again for a great year!
We moved in August to 412 N. Wolcott Avenue, just south of Hubbard. We have a great new building, and have built out a beautiful new grab & go type of shop, with seating for 18. We'll offer daily specials, soups, prepared sandwiches and salads, desserts, bagels, muffins, coffee and cappuccino. Come on in!
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When will culinary schools begin teaching this class?
Today Big Delicious Planet celebrates our 15th Anniversary! Thanks to all our clients, old and new. A special shout out to Buddy Sokolick with Jam Productions who hired us for our first job 15 years ago, and is still a loyal client. We truly appreciate your business!
Been so busy for the last 10 months! Where did the time go?
Kudos to Sam Kass.Chicago Chef Sam Kass is going with the Obamas to the White House. Continuing his position as the Obama's personal chef in Hyde Park Chicago, he will be their personal chef in the White House.
Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market is the largest in the world. The market not only sells to the large number of sushi restaurants in Japan, but also to worldwide distributors. The fish market has become a popular tourist attraction for those wanting to see the fish brought in from the boats, inspected and auctioned. With the rise in popularity of seeing the market have also come rules including no flash photography, and no hugging or licking the fish. "Tuna is a very expensive fish," Takagi said. "One tuna can easily cost more than 1 million yen ($11,000). But some tourists touch them and even try to hug them." Just eat them!
Nobody will want to sneak your goat cheese & grilled vegetable sandwich from the office fridge anymore. Once you begin using Anti-Theft Lunch Bags people will wonder what the heck it is you are eating!
Love these! Rice Krispie Sushi! via BuzzFeed.
Food Blogger Carol Blymire has a copy of Chicago Chef Grant Achatz's Alinea at Home and is cooking one recipe at at time. Not as easy as it sounds reports the Washington Post. "Two months in, she still sees Achatz as an awe-inspiring, benevolent master. "I don't hate him yet," she jokes. "But when I get to the wild bass recipe that's six pages long, with 25 separate recipes -- yeah, totally." That would take a day to figure out.
"At close inspection, none of Alinea's recipes requires terribly advanced techniques. There are unfamiliar ingredients, such as soy lecithin, a commercial emulsifier, and tapioca maltodextrin, which helps transform liquids into powders. But the dishes are intricate, requiring patience, time -- and a lot of dishwashing. To make the liquefied popcorn, Blymire used 17 bowls, pots, strainers, utensils and glasses for weighing, cooking, blending and serving the tiny post-dessert shot. And that was one of the easy ones." 17 bowls used to make popcorn?
Iggy Pop discusses his life and music on The Morning News.
Beginning this week a large portion of meats, nuts, produce, fish, produce will need to be labeled with a Country of Origin Label or COOL. Many fruits and vegetables have always advertised the country of origin, but today's savvier, healthy and politically conscious demanded more. There is a long list of food items that will not require COOL, such as processed foods and fresh meat from a butcher shop. Pretty cool news.
Wilco, with Fleet Foxes, recorded Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" in Oregon. The download is available free if you pledge to vote in the 2008 election. Of course, do not tell you for which candidate you should vote. But, I'll just tell you, it's Obama.
For those waiting for The Smashing Pumpkins to return to Chicago, your wait is over. They have four dates booked in November. Two nights at The Chicago Theatre and two nights at The Auditorium.
Here's a cool map which shows what it's called in your part of the country.
At BDP, a few times a year we have a week or two which are totally insane, which we totally dread. It's like what tax season is to accountants. Within a period of fifteen days, we have twenty-three concerts. Many of the days have been a single show, last Sunday we had three, today we have four (ok, even though Chris Rock only has a dressing room, we still count it. We're still feeding 811 people today). In the week ahead we begin catering Jimmy Buffet's load-in to Toyota Park on Tuesday and Wednesday, shows are on Thursday and Saturday. On those same days we have top acts like John Mellencamp, the sold-out O.A.R., and 70's band Boston. We're half way through, and things must be going smoothly, or I'm just taking a break and writing this like a zombie.
One of the four shows BDP caterers today is Umphrey's at Charter 1 Pavilion. Let's hope this rain stops soon - 3 of the shows are outdoors. In yesterday's Chicago Tribune, Umphrey's discusses the importance of eating well on the road. I can't say exactly what we will stock in their dressing room this afternoon, but it is pretty "healthy food". I can tell you what we are cooking up for their meals: breakfast was at 8:00 with eggs cooked to order and the yummy sides; lunch they are getting a Mexican buffet; and dinner they are having BBQ Brisket, Grilled Mahi with a Mango Salsa, Tofu-Veggie Kebabs, a Baked Potato Bar, Corn Pudding and of course BDP's awesome Desserts made my Pastry Chef Melissa!
Big Delicious Planet began catering the three-day Pitchfork Musical Festival yesterday. Hot, muggy, rainy, sunny... I saw Mission of Burma's opening set - sounded good as the crowd was coming in to Union Park. Jim DeRogatis reviews day 1. Of Public Enemy he said "where Flavor Flav was once a welcome sidekick, he is now merely a joke..."
Big Delicious Planet
412 North Wolcott Avenue
Chicago IL 60622
312 455 1019
Today is BDP's 17th Anniversary! On this day in 1994, we catered Aerosmith's show at the newly opened United Center.
Posted on 12/06Sat 10/1 and Sun 10/2 we'll have a food tent at DESIGN HARVEST! Grand Avenue between Damen and Wood. 11:00-8:00. Come hang out with us!
Posted on 09/30We've had a crazy month with a few good concerts to boot: Fleet Foxes, The Avet Brothers, Il Volo, Cut Copy, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusement, Chris Tucker, Lupe Fiasco.
Posted on 09/29Hey Everyone, we've opened a cute little cafe in the front of our kitchen. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, desserts. Come on over!!!
Posted on 09/15Tuna Melts and Sloppy Joes. Soups: Veggie Barley and Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice.
Posted on 03/25Canteen Specials: Paninis (Italian Meat & Cheese, Turkey Cranberry & Gourmet Cheese). Soups: Tomato Basil and Chicken Noodle.
Posted on 03/24Canteen Specials: Eggplant Parmesan and Spaghetti w/ Meatballs. Soups: Minestrone (vegan) and Beef Chili. Ready at 11am. Get it while it lasts!
Posted on 03/23Today's Special: Emperor's Chicken with Cashews or Stir Fried Veggie & Tofu with Steamed Rice and a Veggie Egg Roll. Soups: Vegan Hot & Sour Soup and Italian Wedding Soup.
Posted on 03/21Stop by our Bagel Bar. Choose from Smoked Salmon, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Red Onion, Capers and Plain or Chive Cream Cheese. We carry New York Bagel & Bialy Bagels - the best in Chicago. We open at 8:00am.
Posted on 03/21Today's Canteen Special: Blacked Catfish or Chicken Etouffeé with Red Beans & Rice and Corn Pudding. Soup: Vegan Broccoli Soup and Chicken Noodle. We also have a couple other options for Lenten Friday.
Posted on 03/18Today's Canteen Special: Corned Beef & Cabbage with Red Potatoes. Soups: Split Pea with Ham and Vegan Potato-Leek Soup. Come on in!
Posted on 03/17BBQ Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Cole Slaw 7.99 Soups: Vegan Lentil and Clam Chowder 3.75 sm / 4.50 lg
Posted on 03/15