FOODIE FUN: RUSSIAN TEA TIME CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL PRIX FIXE DINNER MENU THROUGHOUT MONTH OF MARCH

CHICAGO LANDMARK RUSSIAN TEA TIME CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL PRIX FIXE DINNER MENU THROUGHOUT MONTH OF MARCH

Celebrating 25 years of bringing authentic Russian flavors to Chicago’s Downtown neighborhood, locals and out-of-towners alike will enjoy an exclusive $25 prix fixe dinner menu

Chicago’s iconic culinary treasure, Russian Tea Time, perfectly nestled in the heart of Chicago’s Downtown at 77 E. Adams St., is proud to kick off its 25th year of bringing authentic Russian cuisine to the heart of the city. To celebrate, this classic staple will offer an exclusive $25 three-course prix fixe dinner menu, available for one month only beginning Friday, March 1 through Sunday, March 31 from 4 to 8 pm.



For over two decades, owner and chef Klara Muchnik, along with son Vadim, have brought authentic Eastern European cuisine to all palates looking for something unique to try in Downtown Chicago. Klara Muchnik first immigrated to the United States with her family back in 1990, where they decided to make Chicago their second home. It was always Klara’s dream to open a restaurant that would introduce flavors and fares of her beloved Russian heritage. Klara’s son, Vadim Muchnik, made this dream possible, applying his background in business to his mother’s vision, thus creating Russian Tea Time.

Known for hosting long-time regulars, tourists, dignitaries, celebrities and fellow Chicagoans, Russian Team Time combines a warm ambiance, exceptional food, and house-blended tea for an unforgettable experience all can enjoy. To commence this significant 25th anniversary, the team has created an exclusive anniversary prix fixe dinner menu of family favorites. The three-course prix fixe dinner menu begins with an alcoholic beverage of choice that includes either House-Flavored Vodkas, along with vodka selections imported from Russia, Poland, and Ukraine, Scandinavia, Western Europe, and U.S.A., or choice of red or white wine. For the first course, patrons can select a hearty Mushroom Barley Soup; Ukrainian Borscht, a sweet and sour soup of beets, with cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes, served hot with sour cream; a classic Russian Garden Salad, or Green Salad. For the main course, guests can enjoy the signature Vegetarian or Meat-filled Dumplings, with fillings of the day; a Grilled Chicken Breast Florentine, with skin on chicken breast grilled to perfection with spinach, garlic, lemon juice and a savory mushroom sauce; Moldavian Meatballs, ground chicken and onion filled meatballs, simmered in a sweet and sour tomato sauce; or the Uzbek “Layer” Stew Domlama, a delightful stew of potatoes, carrots, beets, cabbage, tomatoes, garlic, red peppers, and onions.





“We are ecstatic to celebrate this huge milestone in 2019,” says owner Vadim Muchnik. “To see my mother’s vision come to life and withstand over two decades has been immeasurable, and we want to thank each and every one of our customers that dined with us over the years. With this anniversary, we are beginning to transition ownership to the next generation with our new partners Enesh and Altyn Mantyyeva. We wholeheartedly believe Russian Tea Time is in great hands, and we look forward to the next twenty-five years.”



For more information or to make a reservation, please visit online or call (312) 360-0000. This exclusive prix fixe menu will be available Sundays through Thursdays from 4 to 8pm.



About Russian Tea Time
Known as “the restaurant where everyone feels at home and everyone is welcome,” Russian Tea Time has earned the distinction of being one of Chicago’s landmarks serving Chicago residents and out-of-towners alike with a taste of Russian fare since its inception in 1993. Perfectly nestled in the heart of the city at 77 E. Adams St., this space has since become one of the city’s greatest staples, located just steps away from the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and more.

Russian Tea Time reinterprets the nostalgic cuisine of the former Soviet Union, with an elaborate and descriptive menu with excellent vegetarian fare, along with wild game, poultry, and specialty meat dishes. A mix of “hearty” and “comfort” Russian, Slavic, and Jewish classics are well-complemented by upscale dishes of Imperial Russian Courts. Their signature Afternoon Tea Service is offered daily from 2 - 4:30 p.m, with an extensive tea menu that includes options such as Oolong, Green, White, Black, and Caffeine Tea, as well as a selection of savories and sweets to complete any dining experience.

Follow on social:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RussianTeaTime
Instagram: www.instagram.com/russianteatimerestaurant/

Hard Rock Cafe Giveaway and World Burger Tour

It's burger season, ya know, and warm weather rocks, so kick off your spring and summer beef eating with a trip to your local Hard Rock Cafe for this year’s World Burger Tour! ChiIL Mama loves to ChiIL out with some foodie fun in Chi, IL and beyond. 

We're thrilled to be partnering up with Hard Rock Cafe to offer our readers a fun giveaway for your home grilling enjoyment. We have been compensated for sharing this information with our readers.

ChiIL Mama will be heading out to our iconic Hard Rock Cafe in Chicago with the family soon, to join in on the Hard Rock Cafe World Burger Tour! So check back for our photo filled recap and food review.

GET SOCIAL: 

Follow along on our adventures and add a few of your own with the hashtag #worldburgertour on ChiIL Live Shows' Twitter (Chi, IL entertainment & more), ChiIL Mama's Twitter (Family Friendly Fun in Chi, IL and beyond) and 

Hard Rock Cafe's Twitter (rockin' food with attitude).

Don't wait! Like all great tours, this one will come to an end, so get to a Hard Rock Cafe from now through June 30th and make some tasty memories. Mouth watering details are below.

Giveaway:

Want this sweet set for the frontman or woman who steals the show at your grill outs? One of our lucky readers will win this star worthy Hard Rock Cafe branded merch grill set including:

    One (1) oven mitt
    One (1) apron
    One (1) spatula

ENTER HERE, early and often through midnight, June 8th for your chance to WIN! Open to US residents nationwide.

Hard Rock World Burger Tour

VIRTUAL WORLD TOUR: Hard Rock Cafe locations in North America are celebrating the start of burger season with a menu showcasing international Local Legendary™ Burgers. Travel the culinary world without leaving town. The limited-time *World Burger Tour menu is available now through Thursday, June 30, 2016.

*World Burger Tour menus may vary by location; guests should consult their local cafe for a full list of featured burgers

Backstage Burger Pass

Hard Rock gives chefs at their cafes the freedom to create a unique Local Legendary Burger that captures the flavors of their city. This year more than 160 local burgers were evaluated by Hard Rock’s culinary team with fan favorites selected to headline the World Burger Tour menu. Throughout May and June, Hard Rock Cafe menus* will feature the following World Burger Tour offerings:

English Breakfast Burger (London, England) – a Certified Angus Beef® patty topped with sliced ham, a sausage patty, a fried egg, a portobello mushroom, arugula and garlic aioli and served with a side of baked beans

Java Lava Burger (Seattle, United States) – a Certified Angus Beef patty grilled and dressed in a house-made espresso rub and topped with lava sauce, crunchy java onions, bacon, melted Cheddar cheese and garnished with a fried jalapeño

Tandoori Chicken Burger (Mumbai, India) – a dark meat chicken patty seasoned with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, topped with mint mayonnaise and served with a side of cucumber

Jamaican Jerk Burger (Montego Bay, Jamaica) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with banana pepper rings, mango jalapeño cream cheese and jerk mayonnaise

ATOMIC! Burger (Las Vegas, United States) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with Atomic beer-battered peppers, pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, garlic chipotle ketchup and chipotle mayonnaise

Tango Salsa Burger (Buenos Aires, Argentina) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with andouille sausage, Monterey Jack cheese, chips de batata, a fried egg, salsa criolla and garlic aioli

Greek Burger (Athens, Greece) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with arugula, feta cheese and a tomato slice

Aloha Burger (Honolulu, United States) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with SPAM, Monterey Jack cheese, a grilled pineapple ring with sweet soy glaze, guacamole and pico de gallo

Hard Rock Cafe has created cocktails that perfectly complement World Burger Tour offerings. Served in Hard Rock’s iconic mason jars, adult guests can order with the suggested pairing or mix it up with any other burger from the limited-time menu. New cocktails include: 

All Jacked Up – created to balance the Jamaican Jerk Burger’s spicy flair, this cocktail features a mix of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, PJ, Orgeat and lime juice, garnished with orange and pineapple wedges and a cherry

Crisp Sipper – inspired by the Aloha Burger’s sweet and savory taste, this cocktail features a mix of Hendrick’s gin, Monin Cucumber, lemon, orange and raspberry, topped with tonic and garnished with rosemary and thyme

MelonPalooza – designed to complement the fresh flavors of the Greek Burger, this cocktail features a mix of Midori Melon Liqueur, Malibu Rum, Hard Rock’s house-made sour mix and PJ, garnished with slices of pineapple and strawberry

Sweet & Fiery – inspired by the ATOMIC! Burger’s spicy flavor, this cocktail features a mix of Absolut Peppar Vodka, Canton Ginger Liquor, Blue Curacao, lemonade and ginger beer, garnished with a red pepper

Black Cherry Melonade (non-alcoholic) – created to complement the rich espresso of the Java Lava Burger, this mocktail features a mix of Black Cherry Real and Monin Cucumber, topped with ginger beer, garnished with a cucumber slice and a cherry

ACTUAL WORLD TOUR: This year, Hard Rock is also offering a literal World Burger Tour, a travel package that takes the most adventurous burger enthusiasts on the road (and the skies) to sample offerings from the World Burger Tour menu at Hard Rock Cafe locations in London, Athens, Buenos Aires and Seattle! Ready to book your ticket? Click here: Hard Rock World Burger Tour.

Burger Tour for the Roadie

For those a little more hungry, Hard Rock will bring its menu to life and offer a unique burger experience that takes guests’ taste buds on an international journey.

Hard Rock, in conjunction with global experience agency RPMC, is offering a World Burger Tour travel package that includes stops at iconic cities including London, England; Athens, Greece; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Seattle, United States. This four-stop, once-in-a-lifetime excursion celebrates the cities that inspired Hard Rock’s World Burger Tour.

The World Burger Tour travel package is a private, 10-night trip that includes flights, first class hotel accommodations, ground transportation and exclusive dining and music experiences at Hard Rock Cafe locations in each city not typically available to the public.

Disclosure: It's our pleasure here at ChiIL Mama to partner up with Hard Rock Cafe on this giveaway and sponsored post. The information, gift card, gift pack and giveaway have been provided to me by Hard Rock International. As always, all opinions, photos and experiences are my own.

Creepy Killer or Peace Sign? Life Lessons in Coffee Cake.

Mmmm Swedish Kringle, AKA:  Aunt Jan Coffee Cake. 

This tasty treat is a fond memory from my childhood.   Every birthday, my Mom would shape the coffee cake into our age and bring us breakfast in bed.   Every Christmas, she would make a forest of Kringle trees and give them to friends and neighbors.   We'd always have several for Christmas breakfast.

This year, we decided to make our own, but left the design particulars to each member of the family.   Du-Jay made an awesome, anatomically correct snow boy.

Sagezilla made a Christmas tree, more candy than coffee cake.

 

Old school punk/hardcore Daddy made a scary face that was originally going to be a killer in a hockey mask, but mutated into more of a monster.   He also re-dubbed the confection "heart attack cake", due to the copious amounts of butter.

Hippie/punk Mama made a tie dyed peace sign.

When Dad pulled the baked cakes out of the oven, he laughed and exclaimed, "See, we're really not so different!" 

I have always thought that punks and hippies are a yin/yang type of balance, with more similarities than differences.   Punks are cynical hippies with similar political and world views.   Both are often vegetarian or vegan.   They just dress differently on the surface and like to rock out to different tunes.   

Despite the fact, some of our punk friends say "Blah, blah,blah....boring, lame jam bands and the great unwashed."   And some of our hippie friends are freaked out by and avoid the punks, a good sized segment of us enjoy both worlds.

We're really not so different, indeed.

DIY Life lessons in coffee cake:   

 Aunt Jan Coffee Cake from Mom

1 stick butter & 1 cup flour—work by hand

Add 1 T cold water

Form ball and divide in two.

Make 2—12 inch rolls and flatten into desired

shapes on cookie sheet with palm of hand.

In pan together 1 cup water & 1 stick butter.

Bring to boil. Remove from heat and add 1 cup flour

And 1 T almond extract.

Beat in 3 eggs one at a  time by spoon.

Spread on above mixture.

Bake about 1 hour at 350 degrees. Cool. Frost. Decorate.

Frosting

1 cup powdered sugar

2 T softened butter or margarine

¼ teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

Add 2-3 teaspoons milk.

Mix and add coloring.

ENJOY!