Category Archives: food

The Scoop

Posted on July 17, 2016 by Ellen Ross

I feel like having a little fun today, Dear Readers. Let’s mix things up a little and start off with a clip. That sums up my feelings. Let’s have summer all the time. And ice cream. On these hot, humid … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Ice Cream, pop culture | 24 Comments

Check It Out!

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Ellen Ross

Wow! A LOT has happened since my last post, Dear Readers. On Monday, May 9, as my plane from Seattle was pushing back from the gate, my phone started ringing. I looked around for an angry stewardess and when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cooking, food, pop culture | 10 Comments

Where’s The Beef?

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Ellen Ross

I’m proud to be a Midwesterner. We’re friendly, honest and here in Chicago, boy do we know- and love- our steak. And our steakhouses. So forget your cholesterol count, pull up a chair and damn the expense. Today we’re going … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, food, Restaurants | 22 Comments

A Bottle of Red, A Bottle of White

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Ellen Ross

The woman pictured above putting the serious chop on some vegetables is the eminent personification of abbondanza herself- Mamma Leone. Founder and culinary genius of the eponymous- but now shuttered- restaurant in New York. Her first customer was Enrico Caruso. … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Memoir, Restaurants | 23 Comments

Salad Days

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Ellen Ross

At long last the temperature here in Chicago is forecast to hit 80 degrees today. Yeah! So my appestat automatically dials down to lighter fare. And that means only one thing. Salad. Whether it’s Caesar, chopped or spinning, I love … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Memoir, pop culture, Restaurants | 6 Comments

I Scream, You Scream

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Ellen Ross

If you’re not from Chicago’s North Shore, you might not immediately recognize this beloved institution. It’s Homer’s Ice Cream Parlor in Wilmette, Illinois. Home of famous, fabulous ice cream. Especially peach ice cream in season. Its eighty years has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, food, Nostalgia, pop culture, Winnetka | 10 Comments

Candyland

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Ellen Ross

In the latest issue of The Hollywood Reporter, actress Juliette Binoche spilled the cacao beans. During the filming of the 2000 film Chocolat, she discovered that her co-star, Johnny Depp “actually didn’t like chocolate.” “He was spitting it out after … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Memoir, Nostalgia, pop culture | 16 Comments

Sleepless in Seattle

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Ellen Ross

(Photograph by Kevin Gibson) I’m back, Dear Readers. And this post marks a milestone. It’s my 250th. First, I’d like to thank all of you. Some of you have been here from Day One. And some of you have just … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Restaurants, Seattle, Travel | 19 Comments

Hollywood Hunger

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Ellen Ross

It’s Oscar Night. And in honor of the Academy Awards, I thought I’d pay tribute to two things I love. Movies, natch. And food. To be specific, fab foodie moments in cinematic history. Is there anything more mouth-watering than watching … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Movies | 26 Comments

The Last Supper

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Ellen Ross

My heroine, the late great Nora Ephron once spoke about the importance of one’s last meal. She humorously – and rightly- pointed out that chances are one wouldn’t know that it was going to be the last meal, and it … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Memoir, pop culture, Restaurants | 27 Comments