The Hit List

The following steakhouses will be targeted to find out 3 main points (questions):

1. What percentage of fruits, veggies and other products are purchased by local farmers and/or vendors?
2. Do you purchase organic grass-fed beef? If not, will you consider it in the future? When do you see this happening?
3. Do you purchase anything else organic such as eggs, chicken or pork?

And when you think about it, what makes a restaurant "5 star", "Zagat rated" or even "Michelin star"? Do we ever think about the conditions these animals are living in, what they're fed and just as important how are the people treated who work in these industries? Have we become this detached that we don't care anymore until something happens to us?

Below you will see the following restaurants I've chosen to go after and this should help me figure out whom to support. Always remember we get to vote three times a day: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner so choose wisely:

• Gibson's Steakhouse: (312) 266-8999‎
• Morton's Steakhouse: (312) 266-4820 (UPDATE ON MORTON'S: 7/22/09: I spoke with Capri Kinney, Guest Relations Coordinator at Morton's Steakhouse in Chicago, her response, " We do purchase a variety of vegetables from local vendors however not at farmers markets or organic grocery stores. Our beef is grain fed which produces better marbling and flavor."

SIDE NOTE: Whenever you hear someone say "grain-fed" it really means corn-fed; I did respond to this initial email and request she be specific on what grain-fed means and she replied "yes - it is predominantly corn"

• Sullivan's: I met the General Manager at the Taste of River North festival and got the chance to ask the questions and his response, "produce is bought locally (i.e. fruits and vegetables) but Meat and Poultry is corn fed"
• Capital Grille: (#4 Best of CitySearch 2008) (312) 337-9400‎
• Rosebud: (312) 942-1117‎
• ZED451: (312) 266-6691(UPDATE: Got an email back from the general manager said they purchase from local farmers markets BUT yet again buys corn-fed meats)
• Ruth Chris: (312) 321-2725
• Myron and Phil's Steak Seafood: (#1 Best of CitySearch 2008) (847) 677-6663
• Saloon Steak House: (#2 Best of CitySearch 2008) (312) 280-5454‎
• Chicago Chop House Inc: (#3 Best of CitySearch 2008) (312) 787-7100‎
• Joe's Seafood & Steak: (312) 379-5637‎
• Keefer's: (312) 467-9525‎
• Gene and Georgetti's Restaurant: (312) 527-3718‎
• Kinzie Chophouse: (312) 822-0191‎
• Smith & Wolinsky: (312) 670-9900‎