Here are some recent items from the Stew, our food and dining blog.
Check it out at chicagotribune.com/stew.
Spiaggia hosts benefit for Bishop
Chicago’s food and wine community will converge on Spiaggia March 3 to honor Henry Bishop, the restaurant’s legendary and popular founding sommelier.
Bishop is battling throat cancer. This all-star event will help him defray the costs.
The night is billed as “una notte speciale per il sommelier piu pazzo del mondo,” or a “special night for the craziest sommelier in the world.” A group of family and friends, called Henry’s Posse, is sponsoring the evening, which will take place in Spiaggia’s private dining rooms.
Tony Mantuano, Spiaggia’s executive chef, is host. Assisting him will be some of the city’s most well-known restaurateurs: Rick Bayless, Erwin Drechsler, Paul Kahan and Priscila Satkoff. Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyard will present wine, while Ben Ferdinand of Hart Davis Hart will conduct a live auction of wines. A suggested donation is $100 per attendee. For reservations, visit the Web page at henrybishop.net or call 708-386-5994.
— Bill Daley
Culinary student on way to nationals
Another young Chicago food star is born! Almost. His name is Jerome Rejano, Kendall College culinary student and teaching assistant, who won first place in the S.Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef North Central Regional Competition.
His winning dish, which beat the clock and his fellow competitors in an “Iron Chef”-style contest, was an Asian-inspired grilled flat-iron steak. The lime-ginger marinated steak was served with miso-potato puree, sauteed shimeji mushrooms, tempura enoki mushrooms, miso-mirin glaze and pickled cucumber, ginger and radish. Rejano will go on to compete in the finals in Napa Valley, to be held from March 6 to 9.
In the meantime, we’ll probably make that steak to show our support.
— Emily Nunn
