See what Israel Idonije says about dining in Chicago

January 20, 2014

Huffington Post asked NFL player Israel Idonije, “Where is your favorite place to start the evening?”

See what he says...

Benny’s Chop House on Check, Please!

October 19, 2013

Benny’s Chop House was featured on the season premier of Check, Please! on October 18, 2013.

Watch the video

Benny’s Welcomes Chicago Marathon Runners

October 9, 2013

Benny’s Chop House will be offering Marathon runners the opportunity to take advantage of a celebratory 26.2% discount on Sunday evening, October 13, 2013.

To take advantage of this offer, runners need only present their 2013 marathon medal.

With this, they and their table guests will enjoy access to the discount.
(Please note: this discount applies only to food.)

ChicagoTraveler.com picked Benny’s Chop House for Best Restaurant Choice!

October 1, 2013

Visit ChicagoTraveler.com

Benny’s among in Best Children’s Dining Options in Chicago Beyond Burgers & Pizza

August 28, 2013

Read more at About.com

Benny’s Executive Chef Carlo Lamagna on DNAInfo.com

July 2, 2013

Benny’s Chop House is excited to welcome Executive Chef Carlo Lamagna! Read about his career, accomplishments, and goals on DNAInfo.com Chicago and check back soon for his full bio.

Executive Chef Carlo Lamagna on DNAInfo Chicago

Benny’s Sommeliers Featured in The Tasting Panel Magazine

May 14, 2013

The Tasting Panel Magazine features our sommeliers, Ervin Sandoval and Charles Schneider, in their May 2013 issue.

Click here to read more.

Benny’s One of the Best Places in Chicago for a Graduation Party

May 7, 2013

See what Benny’s has to offer for a fantastic graduation party.

Read more at Chicago.CBSlocal.com.

Plenty of Bacon to be Had — Benny’s in Chicago Sun-Times Article

April 18, 2013

In a town that poet Carl Sandburg famously dubbed “hog butcher for the world” and that used to be home to meat-packing giants Armour & Company and Oscar Mayer, it’s no surprise that an event called “Baconfest” sold out in 41 minutes, as this year’s event did.

So unless you bought tickets weeks ago for the April 20 shindig — or have the means to overpay a scalper — you’re likely out of luck. The pricier VIP spots are gone, too.

Fortunately, several eateries around town are offering bacon-inspired dishes to sate the ticketless, pork-craving masses. Visit them soon, though, since most of the items are available only for a limited time.

Benny’s Chop House,444 N. Wabash, (312) 626-2444; www.bennyschophouse.com. Strawberry rhubarb “pie” with applewood-smoked bacon streusel (available through April 30).

Read more at Chicago Sun-Times.

Benny’s Pudding Cake One of Israel Idonije’s “Bear Essentials”

April 2, 2013

The Chicago Bears’ Defensive Lineman Israel Idonije shares some of his Chicago must-haves, which include Benny’s chocolate pudding cake as one of his favorite desserts. See what else made the list.

Read more at Chicago Sun-Times.

Concierges’ Favorite 50 Restaurants of 2013

March 7, 2013

Benny’s is once again named a Concierge Favorite! See the full list of Chicago Concierges’ Top 50 Dining Spots.

Read more.

National Crabmeat Day at Benny’s Chop House

Benny’s celebrates National Crabmeat Day this Saturday, March 9 and shares the recipe for Benny’s Crab Cakes.

Read more.

Benny’s Celebrates National Clam Chowder Day

February 26, 2013

Read more.

Benny’s Selected Best Hot Chocolate in Chicago by Chicago Magazine

January 24, 2013

Read more.

Have a hunk on National Cake Day, Nov. 26

November 28, 2012

Read more at Examiner.com

RalphPancetta.com - National Filet Mignon Day, August 13 at Benny’s Chop House Chicago

August 13, 2012

Read article

Dining Chicago - Friday food porn: O Oysters, come and walk with us

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National Hamburger Day Celebrated at Benny’s

July 30, 2012

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Monday, July 30: Eat. Drink. Do. - redeyechicago.com

Benny’s Chop House, 444 N. Wabash Ave. 312-626-2444. Rumor has it that in ancient times, cheesecake was served to Olympic athletes as a source of energy.
Read article

Concierges’ Favorite 50 Restaurants - 2012 Featured

April 25, 2012

What would Concierge Preferred be without our beloved concierges? We, as Chicagoans, rely on these seemingly omniscient professionals who help us find the best spots, the best food, and the best of the city. There’s no shortage of options in the windy city, so we polled over 700 of the areas concierge pros in order to compile a list of their Top 50 Favorite Restaurants for your culinary pleasure.

A Cut Above
What would Chicago be without steakhouses? If you’re a fan of FX’s The League, then you simply have to stop by the character’s favorite hangout, Gibson’s. For an intimate or romantic dining experience, try the Kinzie Chophouse. For the full Mad Men experience, take a trip to Benny’s Chop House, with great music and a killer lounge. You’ll be in heaven!

Makin’ Bacon: Benny’s Featured on GoPride.com

April 24, 2012

Read the Article on GoPride.com

Benny’s Chop House on the WGN-TV Midday News

April 19, 2012

Chef Aaron Lindgren, Benny’s Chop House Pastry Chef, makes Banana Cream Pie on the WGN-TV Midday News Lunchbreak. Read more.

Gayot Selects Benny’s Chop House as One of the 2012 Top 10 Chicago Steakhouse Restaurants

January 31, 2012

Read more at Gayot

Cécile Savage and Calvin “Koco” Brunson perform at Benny’s Chop House

Cécile Savage (bass and vocals) and Calvin “Koco” Brunson (piano and vocals), who co-lead the jazz group “Komango,” perform at Benny’s on Wednesday, December 7 and Wednesday, December 21 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. They offer a culturally diverse repertoire steeped in the African American, French and Brazilian traditions.

Read more at Do312

Add a touch of seasonal elegance to your Thanksgiving Dinner with these unique Spiced Pumpkin Soufflés

November 15, 2011

From RedEye Chicago

This year’s Thanksgiving menu at Benny’s Chop House (444 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago; 312-626-2444) brings forth an especially elegant and delicious pumpkin dessert that will add more than a touch of taste delight to your Thanksgiving meal. The Spiced Pumpkin Soufflés, created by Benny’s pastry chef Aaron Lindgren, are a delicate and creative way to transform the traditional pumpkin dessert experience into something truly memorable.

You can enjoy this dessert at Benny’s Chop House on Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving dinner is served from noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 24) or, if you’re planning to enjoy Thanksgiving at home, you’ll be thrilled with the accolades you’ll get from your friends and family when you serve this sophisticated dessert creation, made with spiced rum. This year, let the kids enjoy the pumpkin pie while the grownups marvel at your dessert-making prowess. Here is the recipe and preparation from Chef Lindgren:

Spiced Pumpkin Soufflés
Serves four (4)

Ingredients
4 Tablespoons (2 ounces) butter, plus 3 oz. of butter for ramekins
½  cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar for ramekins½ cup spiced rum
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons canned, unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
¼ teaspoon clove
¼ cup of milk
¼ teaspoon allspice
Pinch of nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
8 eggs
6 Tablespoons Pumpkin Powder
3 Tablespoons of flour
Pinch of cream of tartar
4 soufflé ramekins, 4 inches OR 16 ounces in diameter

Directions

How to prepare the soufflé molds:
Generously grease your soufflé ramekins with 3 tablespoons of melted butter and. Refrigerate the buttered ramekins and then butter them again. Dust the insides of the ramekins with 3 tablespoons of the sugar and return them to the refrigerator. Keep the remaining butter at room temperature.

How to make the pumpkin pastry cream:
Separate the eggs, reserving the whites in the bowl of a stand mixer. In a small bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, egg yolks, 1/4C or 2oz. sugar, spices, salt, flour, and pumpkin powder. Gradually add milk and whisk until lumps are removed. Heat the mixture on low, stirring with a whisk, until it begins to thicken. Cook over medium heat stirring vigorously until you can see the bottom of the pan. Cool slightly and stir in the butter and rum, set aside to cool.

Make the meringue:
Combine all but 2 tablespoons of the remaining sugar and 4 tablespoons water in a small saucepan over medium heat and attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Simultaneously place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk on medium high speed. Once the egg whites begin to foam up, add the cream of tartar .When the egg whites are completely foamy, shiny and begin to hold the lines of a whisk, add the sugar. The whites should become shiny and gain volume. If you see the whites beading (small lumps of egg whites forming on the side of the bowl), you have whipped them too dry; slow the machine down and add the remaining sugar.

Prepare Soufflé Mixture:
Add about a quarter of the meringue to the pumpkin custard to lighten it and then add the remaining meringue by  placing a spatula in the center of the bowl, scrape the bottom, and bring the bottom over the top. Rotate the bowl 45 degrees and continue folding until all the egg whites are incorporated.

Fill the prepared ramekins:
Using a rubber or plastic spatula, fill the prepared ramekins with the mixture, avoiding leaving any air pockets under the mixture in the ramekins. Flatten the tops of the ramekins with a metal spatula, scraping any excess mixture back into the bowl. Clean off any bits of mousse that might have dropped onto the sides of the ramekins.

Bake the soufflé:
You can now either bake your soufflés or place them in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 hours or in the freezer for up to 24 hours. Before baking frozen soufflés, allow them to sit out at room temperature for 1 hour. When you are ready to bake the soufflés, preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake the soufflés until they are raised over the rims by about ½ their original volume, 9 to 12 minutes in a convection oven or 15 to 20 minutes in a regular oven without a fan.

Egg Nog Crème Anglaise
1qt heavy cream
1 cup sugar
6 egg yolks
1T vanilla extract or 1 Vanilla pod
1t Cinnamon
1t Allspice
1t Nutmeg

Directions:

Heat cream in sauce pot but do not boil. In mixing bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Gradually pour heated cream into bowl with yolks. Mix well with whip. Pour mixture back into pot. On low heat, stir constantly. When sauce coats spoon, remove from heat. Pour through a fine strainer and chill.

315.wk.bearsbennyschophouse

Israel Idonije partners with Benny’s Chop House

April 15, 2011

The Bears’ defensive end hosted a private reception and dinner benefit for his nonprofit Israel Idonije Foundation, which economically provides programming and opportunities for deserving children and their families in Chicago, Canada and Idonije’s native Nigeria. Donors, fans and a few local celebs including Pursuit of Happyness film inspiration and brokerage firm owner Chris Gardner, Bears defensive tackle Anthony Adams and ABC sports reporter Ryan Chiaverini were in attendance.

Read more at TimeOut: Chicago

WCIU: Chicken Under the Brick at Benny’s

August 4, 2010

Imagine deboned chicken pressed, seared and baked – Benny’s Chop House’s “chicken under the brick” is literally flattened under a brick for an extra-crispy bird!
Watch the video on WCIU.com