113891 Fri Oct 10 10:30:18 -0700 2003 9 7 Chicago Area 0 619400 While 98.6% of Chicagoans watched the Cubs on Wednesday night, the other 1.4% disgruntled Sox fans and Chowhounds! may have watched "Meals Under $40" ,which was filmed in Chicago a couple months ago...She visited Kitsch's on Roscoe, The Backstage Bistro at The Illinois Institute of Art Culinary School on Wabash in the Loop, and the obligatory Greek Islands......... I've Have had several great meals at the Backstage Bistro- fine dining at 1/2 the price since it's a student learning lab...always love the Greek Islands...never been to Kitsch's... It will be re-broadcast this Saturday at 5PM on tghe food Network (that's before the Cubs game!!!) Pauly Fri Oct 10 10:30:18 -0700 2003 0 Pauly 1 619404 that's Kitsch'n. Fri Oct 10 10:51:27 -0700 2003 619400 0 Paul Tyksins 1 619408 I attemped to watch the show strictly to see what she chose in Chicago. I got about halfway through before I started to get nauseous. After her third "Mmmmmm. WOW..." fake reaction to each bite I had to change it. I do like Greek Isles however. I'm amazed at the sheer size of some of the restaurants in Greektown (what are their kitchen's like?!?), and Greek Isles seem to really pound out quality dishes. I recently had the Moussaka and it was wonderful. Fri Oct 10 11:22:51 -0700 2003 619400 0 ab 2 619429 What I'd like to know is if they actually hit 10-15 places and then choose based on quality and meeting the dollar cutoff or do they simply pick a few "safe" bets based on dollar amount and then send Rachel in for the oohing and ahhing. Did anybody see the crew around town? I mean, she's not going to come on and go, "Hey! Tastes like crap! But it leaves $6.47 for dessert plus tip!" Fri Oct 10 14:07:17 -0700 2003 619408 0 Chrislrob 3 619431 Considering that on one episode she actually ate at the Nashville Public Library (ate a pre-packaged Turked Sandwich and chips, no joke) and proceded to ooh about "oh WOW, the bread is toasted, and it sets off the turkey just perfectly. What an amazing find, I mean, oh my god, like now I can leave 2-pence for tip!" I doubt they do anything but go to places recommended by any joe off the street. Fri Oct 10 14:16:33 -0700 2003 619429 0 ab 4 619435 My sister, visiting from Boston, and I happened to be at Kitsch'n the night before they taped Ray's segment, and were invited to come by if we "wanted to be on TV" -- the waitress had the complete schedule. So there was certainly a fair amount of prearranged detail. (But this doesn't bring us any closer to the question of how she chooses the spots she features, admittedly, just shines a bit of light.) Fri Oct 10 14:47:14 -0700 2003 619431 0 Bob S. 4 619449 My bf and I especially like the fact that she tips horrendously at the places she eats at... I don't think I have ever seen her tip more than $1 for lunch and $2 for dinner... Fri Oct 10 16:02:46 -0700 2003 619431 0 C 3 619473 David Hammond knows RR 'very' well, maybe he will give her a call and ask how the restaurants are chosen for the show. Regards, Gary Sat Oct 11 01:11:48 -0700 2003 619429 0 G Wiv 1 619416 "disgruntled Sox fans" Hehe, isn't that being redundant? On topic, thanks for the heads up I'll make sure to tell the TiVo to nab this one. While G.I. is probably my least fave on the Halsted strip I would like to see her take on Kitsch'n and Backstage Bistro. Fri Oct 10 12:25:56 -0700 2003 619400 0 Kman 1 619481 link below is to chowhound-dom as the Gettysburg Address is to the Yellow Pages... Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/112496#610881 Sat Oct 11 09:35:31 -0700 2003 619400 0 Steve Drucker