No, it's not what you are thinking. Big Delicious Planet has joined an organic Wisconsin farm cooperative. HGW is a co-op of a couple dozen organic family farms, which delivers produce twice weekly (May-Oct) to top Chicago and Milwaukee restaurants and retailers. Each week we will receive a list of fruits, vegetables & herbs which will be available for delivery the following week. This week we are getting in many items, including ramps, a variety of fingerling potatoes, onions, apples, radishes, arugula, lots of mico greens and raw cheddar. The temperature dropped a little last week pushing asparagus delivery back another week. Look for new items on our menus each week. Will only get better in the summer.
BDP is switching over to environmentally friendly goods. Unless our clients have requested rental china plates, flatware and glassware, our "disposables" will now be compostable food service containers made from cornstarch or sugar cane fibers. Forks, knives, spoons, bowls, cups, plates. Our napkins and box lunch containers will be natural 100% post-recycled napkins. We buried some forks in a plant and will check if they have begun to compost in month.
Los Angeles is having another clash with the popular taco trucks. Under next week's new ordinance, taco vendors will need to roll on to another location after sitting for an hour, or face fines or even jail time. Many Los Angelenos are signing petitions in support of the truck vendors, while others think the ugly "roach coaches" need to go. So don't get to comfy in your folding chair, the truck may pull away just as you sit down to eat your tacos.
Looking for a great Italian Beef or Hot Dog in Chicago? Let GreaseFreak help you decide. Great food shots of Turkey Clubs, Chili Bowls, Burgers and other Chicago-style fast-food. Each photo is accompanied by three simple ratings for Taste, Presentation and Ambience. Pizza next?
Not that kind. These are cute. A photo series of food that takes on the shape of the container. via kottke.
"A Special Citation to Bob Dylan for his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power" reads the website of 2008 Pulitzer Awards.
Portishead has a new album coming out at the end of the month, entitled Third, the first in 10 years. Pitchfork interviews the two guys in the band; discussing what they've been up to for the last decade and whether they should be worried about Beth Gibbons on account of her depressing lyrics.
Desolate for many, many years, Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis examines the fight for the 4,000 seat theater in Uptown.
My kids love these fun cupcakes. via Coudal.
Last autumn, Big Delicious Planet had the honor of catering the film shoot of the 6th season of television series, Mexico- One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless. Rick and Deann Bayless' Frontera Grill was winner of the 2007 "Outstanding Restaurant" award by the James Beard Foundation, about as good as you can get in the restaurant awards. We catered the shoot for a couple weeks at the Bayless' home in Bucktown. They live in an unassuming, old tavern that used to have a large, old-fashion beer sign out front. Their organic garden, outdoor kitchen and beautifully landscaped yard are absolutely stunning, especially for a city home. Look for me and my husband in the episode about "Ice Cream and Champagne." If I look like a dork, it's because I'm probably drunk or doing the "tv smile" after tasting something. Look for my two daughters making tamales with Rick in the tamale episode. My family and I had a great time and enjoyed working with Rick and Deann.
Jay-Z partners with Live Nation for $150 million. "I've turned into the Rolling Stones of hip-hop," he said. Honestly, is he that good?
Will the rising cost of fossil fuels and commodities eventually make local and organic food more accessable? Kim Severson's NY Times piece "The Good News on Food Prices" looks into it.
GOOD Magazine interviews Erika Lesser, Executive Director of Slow Food, a great international organization of which BDP is a new member. Think the opposite of fast food, and you'll understand their mission. By the way, GOOD Magazine is good. Read the blog.
Very funny GQ interview Warning: Fifty years of smoking, boozing, snorting, touring and screwing will kill you. Unless you're Keith Richards.
After spending $58,000 on bottled water last year, the city of Seattle has put a ban on buying bottled water for city facilities and events, reports TreeHugger. The city is hoping that their efforts will get more citizens of Seattle to do the same.
You could waste so much time looking at things like Condiment Pack Designs, Generic Macaroni & Cheese Boxes and photos of International Restroom Hand Dryers at CP's MoOM, the Museum of Online Museums. If you are in Austin, TX this weekend for SXSW Interactive, check out my hubby, Jim, speak about A General Theory of Creative Relativity. He has a lot to say about it.
Here in Chicago, we are big fans and supporters of Senator Barack Obama's campaign for the Presidency. Big or Small, show your Obama support by wearing one of these fun t-shirts I created for lowercasetee.com The "Mommy Wants a New President" shirts are still meaningful and continue to be popular! (Sorry, Dad!)
Looking for some great, reasonably priced art? Come out to Ox-Bow's Winter Benefit Thursday, February 21st at 5:30. Gallery 2 at 847 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago. Ox-Bow is a summer retreat of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Great buys, great food from BDP and cocktails.
Grammy Winners the Foo Fighters are coming to the Allstate Arena on Monday. As a backstage caterer, reading band riders are really not too interesting, a cheese platter here, 20 cases of water there, but we always look forward to receiving their rider. I'm not sure who writes it, but they have a little fun and get my crew in good spirits, happy to work for them. Of course, everything backstage caterers do and see is confidential, but check out The Smoking Gun to see what I mean.
I think I've officially become a groupie. One of my favorite bands happens to be from Chicago, and they happen to play at many of the venues we cater backstage. I saw the second of the five Wilco shows at the Riviera last night. Despite the freezing weather outside, the Riviera was as hot as a sauna. The band has never sounded better. They are aging like a great bottle of wine. They played every favorite song of mine, then I realized they still had 3 nights left to play the entire Wilco catalog. I loved seeing John Stirratt have the spotlight, singing the beautiful "It's Just That Simple." He got a well deserved ovation. Watching Nels Cline convulse, playing the guitar is mind-blowing. Glenn is the real heavy metal drummer, one of best drummers to watch. Pat, with his perfect head of hair, has been a great addition; he's great on stage. Jeff just cracks me up in banter between his beautiful songs. The crowd went crazy when special guest and Chicagoan Andrew Bird made an appearance halfway through the show for "Jesus, etc." He played a few more songs with the band, then came out again later. Live on XRT Tuesday.
Big Delicious Planet
451 North Elizabeth Street
Chicago IL 60622
312 455 1019
It seems like this winter will never end. Slow month for our concert catering: The Pogues, Gipsy Kings, Pink Martini, Justice, Patti LaBelle.
Jimmy Buffett comes to Chicago's Toyota Park on July 24th & 26th.
Posted on 03/01In February we cater backstage to Marilyn Manson, Wilco (5 nights!), Foo Fighters, G. Love, Hives, Phil Vassar, Chris Botti
Posted on 02/10Catering gigs of interest this month: Lenny Kravitz, Velvet Revolver, Dancing with the Stars, moe, Lisa Lampanelli
Posted on 01/10How are we celebrating today? By making appetizers and desserts for two big holiday parties, catering Michael McDonald's show at the Chicago Theatre, and many corporate lunches. Thanks for another great year!
Posted on 12/06Our last concert catering gigs for the year - Anita Baker, The Old Town School of Folk Music's 50th Anniversary Concert, Michael McDonald, Dave Koz & Friends, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie, Jeff Tweedy, Duran Duran, and 3 nights of Umphrey's McGee with Tortoise and The Wailers.
Posted on 12/01We still have some availability for Holiday Parties. Email us or Call 312-455-1019 with your date and info.
Posted on 11/27Every Tuesday before Thanksgiving we deliver pies to clients all over Chicago. It's our way of thanking them for their business and giving us another great year. Special thanks to BDP Pastry Chef Melissa Humphrey and Assistant Lizzy for making the 200 pies!
Posted on 11/20Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Feist, Neil Young, Sammy Hagar, Kid Rock, Hall & Oates, Brian Culbertson, John Butler Trio, Jimmy Eat World, Frankie Valli, John Fogerty
Posted on 10/31Tonight we are catering a very imitate dinner party in the Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. Located at the SW corner of Michigan Ave & Wacker Drive, this very tiny museum barely seats eight guests.
Posted on 10/25The holiday season is coming quickly. Call Big Delicious Planet for hip holiday menus.
Posted on 10/02A killer month for catering concerts at BDP: Phil Lesh & Friends (3 nights), Live, Interpol, Spoon, The Black Crowes, Bright Eyes, Under Oath, Ween, Kathy Griffin, Queens of the Stone Age, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Girl Band, Annie Lennox, Gov't Mule and... 3 nights with Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello!
Posted on 10/01