Blackhawk (restaurant)

Last updated

Blackhawk
Blackhawk (restaurant)
Restaurant information
EstablishedDecember 27, 1920
ClosedDecember 31, 2009
City Chicago
StateIllinois
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 41°53′03″N87°37′34″W / 41.8843°N 87.6260°W / 41.8843; -87.6260

The Blackhawk was a restaurant in the Chicago Loop from 1920 to 1984. It served a menu of American cuisine, notably prime rib and a signature "spinning salad bowl", and was, in the early part of its history a nationally known entertainment venue for Big Band music. Its legacy continued until 2009 at Don Roth's Blackhawk in Wheeling, Illinois.

Contents

History

Otto Roth [1] opened The Blackhawk on December 27, 1920 at 139 N. Wabash. [2] In September 1926, The Blackhawk began featuring a dance orchestra, Carlton Coon-Joe Sanders and their Kansas City Nighthawks. In addition to providing dance music for the local diners, the music from the Blackhawk was broadcast nationally as "Live! From the Blackhawk!" [3] over WGN Radio and the Mutual Network.

By the time Coon-Sanders moved on from the Blackhawk in 1931, the broadcasts from the Blackhawk were so popular that a telegraph machine was installed so they could take remote requests. The Coon-Sanders band was followed by a rotating crop of musicians which, over the years, included Kay Kyser, Chico Marx, Louis Prima, Ish Kabibble and many more. Mel Torme, whose first paying performance occurred at the Blackhawk in 1929, became a frequent performer there. [2] In 1938, Bob Haggart of Bob Crosby and the Bobcats composed "Big Noise from Winnetka" at the Blackhawk. [3] Doris Day made her first appearance with the Crosby band at the Blackhawk in the spring of 1940.

In 1944, Don Roth (1913-2003) inherited the Blackhawk upon the death of his father. [4] Roth used his experience as a theatrical booker to increase the restaurant's reputation in and outside Chicago.

When the Blackhawk stopped featuring orchestras in 1952 and removed the bandstand and the dance floor, Don Roth declared the restaurant's theme was "The Food's the Show" and focused on the house specialty of prime rib served from carts brought to the tables and its "spinning salad bowl". [3] Waiters would bring a large bowl of greens set into a larger bowl of ice. As they spun it, the waiters would add ingredients and describe what they were doing to the diners. Roth borrowed these concepts from Lawry's in Beverly Hills, California. [5]

The Blackhawk remained open until August 31, 1984. [2]

Don Roth's Blackhawk

In 1969, Don Roth opened a second restaurant, Don Roth's Blackhawk, in the northwest Chicago suburb of Wheeling, Illinois. This location, which was later decorated with photos and memorabilia from the original Blackhawk, remained in business until December 31, 2009, when Roth's widow, Ann, nearing 90, elected to close the restaurant. The building was demolished in March 2014. [6] Don Roth's Blackhawk continued to feature the "Spinning Salad Bowl" and prime rib. [1] [3]

Spinning Bowl Dressing

The signature spinning salad featured two kinds of dressing, one of which the restaurant had specially bottled. The bottled dressing continues to be manufactured and sold in the Chicago area. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farofa</span> Toasted cassava flour

Farofa is a type of meal made from toasted cassava. It is eaten mainly in Brazil. It can be found commercially produced and packaged but can also be prepared at home based on family recipes. Most recipes will also contain varying amounts of salt, smoked meat, and spices. The consistency of the mixture ranges from large grains the size of cracked bulgur wheat or couscous down to a table-salt-sized powder. Most farofas have a very smoky and slightly salty taste, by and large used to accentuate the taste of meat, particularly barbecued meat and hearty stews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobb salad</span> American garden salad

The Cobb salad is an American garden salad typically made with chopped salad greens, tomato, bacon, chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, chives, blue cheese and red wine vinaigrette. The ingredients are laid out on a plate in neat rows. It is served as a main course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supper club</span> Type of dining establishment

A supper club is a traditional dining establishment that also functions as a social club. The term may describe different establishments depending on the region, but in general, supper clubs tend to present themselves as having a high-class image, even if the price is affordable to all. In the 2010s, a newer usage of the term supper club emerged, referring to underground restaurants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago-style hot dog</span> Beef frankfurter in a poppy seed bun

A Chicago-style hot dog, Chicago Dog, or Chicago Red Hot is an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, originating from the city of Chicago, Illinois. The hot dog is topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. The complete assembly of a Chicago hot dog is said to be "dragged through the garden" due to the many toppings. The method for cooking the hot dog itself varies depending on the vendor's preference. Most often they are steamed, water-simmered, or less often grilled over charcoal.

The maître d'hôtel, head waiter, host, waiter captain, or maître d' manages the public part, or "front of the house", of a formal restaurant. The responsibilities of a maître d'hôtel generally include supervising the waiting staff, welcoming guests and assigning tables to them, taking reservations, and ensuring that guests are satisfied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miracle Whip</span> Salad dressing and mayonnaise substitute

Miracle Whip is a condiment manufactured by Kraft Heinz and sold throughout the United States and Canada. It is also sold by Mondelēz International as "Miracel Whip" throughout Germany. It was developed as a less expensive alternative to mayonnaise in 1933.

A side dish, sometimes referred to as a side order, side item, or simply a side, is a food item that accompanies the entrée or main course at a meal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawry's The Prime Rib</span> Restaurant chain

Lawry's is an upscale gourmet restaurant chain specializing in prime rib and the brand name of a seasoned salt blend spun off by the restaurant founders that evolved into a food products company today owned by McCormick & Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coon Chicken Inn</span> American restaurant chain

Coon Chicken Inn was an American chain of three restaurants that was founded by Maxon Lester Graham and Adelaide Burt in 1925, which prospered until the late 1950s. The restaurant's name contained the word Coon, considered a racial slur, and the trademarks and entrances of the restaurants were designed to look like a smiling caricature of an African-American porter. The smiling capped porter head also appeared on menus, dishes, and promotional items. Due to changes in popular culture and the general consideration of being culturally and racially offensive, the chain was closed by 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Chicago</span> Culture surrounding the American city of Chicago, Illinois

The culture of Chicago, Illinois is known for the invention or significant advancement of several performing arts, including improvisational comedy, house music, industrial music, blues, hip hop, gospel, jazz and soul.

<i>Panzanella</i> Italian bread salad

Panzanella or panmolle is a Tuscan and Umbrian chopped salad of soaked stale bread, onions and tomatoes that is popular in the summer. It often includes cucumbers, sometimes basil and is dressed with olive oil and vinegar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coon-Sanders Original Nighthawk Orchestra</span> American jazz band

Coon-Sanders Original Nighthawk Orchestra was the first Kansas City jazz band to achieve national recognition, which it acquired through national radio broadcasts. It was founded in 1918, as the Coon-Sanders Novelty Orchestra, by drummer Carleton Coon and pianist Joe Sanders.

Restaurants fall into several industry classifications, based upon menu style, preparation methods and pricing, as well as the means by which the food is served to the customer. This article mainly describes the situation in the US, while categorisation differs widely around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises</span> Hospitality group based in Chicago

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) is a restaurant group currently comprising 120 or more restaurants mainly located in the Chicago metropolitan area. It was founded by Rich Melman and Jerry A. Orzoff in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big band remote</span>

A big band remote was a remote broadcast, common on radio during the 1930s and 1940s, involving a coast-to-coast live transmission of a big band.

"Big Noise from Winnetka" is a jazz song co-written by composer and bass player Bob Haggart and drummer Ray Bauduc, who were members of a sub-group of the Bob Crosby Orchestra called "The Bobcats". They also were the first to record it, in 1938. That recording is remarkable for being an unusual kind of duet: at first Haggart whistles the melody and plays the bass, accompanied only by Bauduc on the drums; however, halfway through the drum solo, Bauduc starts drumming on the strings of the bass while Haggart performs the left-hand fingering, combining to create a percussive bass solo. Though the original version has only bass and drums, many other arrangements have been performed, including one by the Bob Crosby big band with the band's vocal group, for which Gil Rodin and Bob Crosby added lyrics to the instrumental original.

<i>HaMisada HaGdola</i> Israeli TV series or program

HaMis'ada HaGdola was an Israeli sitcom, produced by the Arabic department of Channel 1, running between 1985–1988, every Shabbat evening. The series had great success both in Israel and in neighbouring countries like Cyprus, Turkey and in the Arab World. During its original run, it was considered the most popular Israeli TV show, both in Israel and the Arab World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salad spinner</span>

A salad spinner, also known as a salad tosser, is a kitchen tool used to wash and remove excess water from salad greens. It uses centrifugal force to separate the water from the leaves, enabling salad dressing to stick to the leaves without dilution.

Charlie's Cafe Exceptionale was a large and successful restaurant in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1933 to its closing on July 21, 1982. It was located at 7th Street and 4th Avenue South and has been called Minneapolis's "most talked-about dining establishment" during its existence. It was owned and run by Charles Saunders until his death in 1964, and after that by his widow Louise Saunders until 1982.(Saunders' original partner was Charles "the Finn" Herlin, who died shortly after the restaurant opened.) Among the notable diners at the restaurant were Bob Hope, Jack Dempsey, and President Richard Nixon. The annual "Charlie Awards", honoring restaurants, restaurant dishes, and restaurant staff in the Twin Cities Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota are named after the restaurant.

References

  1. 1 2 Vettel, Phil (November 2, 2009). "Don Roth's Blackhawk in Wheeling to call it quits after 40 years". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 Knack, Bob (2002). "Bringing Down The Blackhawk". Jazz Institute of Chicago. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Zeldes, Leah A. (November 5, 2009). "So long, spinning salad bowl! Don Roth's Blackhawk to close". Dining Chicago. Chicago's Restaurant & Entertainment Guide. Archived from the original on November 9, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  4. "Blackhawk Restaurant owner Roth dies at 90". Nation's Restaurant News. December 8, 2003. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  5. 1 2 Zeldes, Leah A. (December 9, 2009). "Eat this! Don Roth's Blackhawk salad dressing to go on spinning". Dining Chicago. Chicago's Restaurant & Entertainment Guide. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  6. "Historic Wheeling restaurant demolished". Daily Herald . Arlington Heights, IL. March 23, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2015.