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A Taste of Tomate
Evanston restaurant owner describes beginnings BY LIZZEY JOHNSON
Open the door of Tomate Fresh Kitchen, and wrap yourself in the warm scent of sizzling tortillas being fried to perfection. The restaurant has already formed a line of loyal patrons longer than its short entryway can accommodate. Still, the prospect of having to wait outside in frigid temperatures doesn’t taint the allure of made-toorder Latin meals. The staggering success of Tomate means chef and owner Tania Merlos-Ruiz deserves high praise, yet she deflects the divine accomplishment of selling out of food in their first week. “We didn’t expect the turnout we’ve been getting,” Merlos-Ruiz said. Her dear friend and co-worker, Mary Lewis, recalls how frazzled the restaurant was by the crazed crowd of customers. “You all looked like a pinball machine,” Lewis said. Merlos-Ruiz echoes her sentiment, “I wanted to close the door!” Much attributed to her vast background in the culinary world, Merlos-Ruiz’s tastes don’t merely subscribe to the Latin standard. Instead, she incorporates seasonal fare into traditional favorites. Her favorite dish on the menu may be the tilapia fish taco, but she contends that her salads are a top
competitor. “If you’re going to have a salad, you may as well have a good salad!” Merlos-Ruiz said. And let’s not forget the most important part of the meal: dessert. “When I worked at restaurants, desserts weren’t a big thing,” Merlos-Ruiz said. “A cake would last a week — but here, two days.” Merlos-Ruiz said she enjoys bringing some of Latin America’s less mainstream produce to Evanston, such as Guatemalan chipilin and yucca from Mexico. She complements these foreign flavors with nearby products, deriving a significant portion of the restaurant’s ingredients from local farms. Her ability to transcend traditional Latin food norms, while preserving the authenticity of the dish, is nothing short of wonderful. But what exactly makes her fare so fantastic? A collection of secret recipes and a dough worth dreaming about … literally. Merlos-Ruiz’s concept for her empanada dough came calling in the middle of the night. “The dough (when I first started making empanadas) was a little thick,” Merlos-Ruiz said. By the grace of a dream, she remembered rolling pasta during her stint at an Italian restaurant and realized this could be the fateful resolution to her dough dilemma. Once she had streamlined her empanada, she » See TASTE OF TOMATE, page 2
Source: Tomate Fresh Kitchen and Sarah Nelson/Daily Senior Staffer
@thecurrentnu
INSIDE: Odds & Ends 2 | Columns 3 | Reviews 4
Page 2 | The Current
TASTE OF TOMATE From page 1
set up shop at outdoor farmers’ markets, where she would eagerly watch customers’ faces to gauge their enjoyment. Word of the “Empanada Lady” took to the North Shore, and soon, numerous town farmers’ markets were inviting her to move her Latin delicacies indoors. She gathered a regular customer base and, in quintessential MerlosRuiz fashion, garnered great friends from her food. Lewis was one of these farmers’ market
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Odds & Ends followers. “I met her just over a year ago,” Lewis said. “But I feel like I’ve known her for years because I love her to pieces.” She watched as Merlos-Ruiz’s simple dream blossomed into a quaint Noyes storefront lacking in seating but overflowing with great service. Lewis admires how Merlos-Ruiz and her employees — all of whom possess a unique story about their employment — work tirelessly to produce custom products. After all, “This isn’t Chipotle!” Lewis said. Though her employee base has grown steadily, Merlos-Ruiz maintains an intimate network of a
few men who she oversees all-day, everyday. Yet still, she maintains that her favorite employee is her husband. Why? “He’s free, and he works hard,” Merlos-Ruiz said. This family, as fate would have it, is what led Merlos-Ruiz to her culinary induction. When her mother was battling stomach cancer in 2005, the doctors told her that their diets needed to be richer in vegetables and fresher foods. “As Latinos, we come from a country with lots of agriculture,” Merlos-Ruiz said. “When we come here, we don’t eat as many vegetables as we should, and I thought we could do different things. It’s a
matter of getting your creativity out there.” Her mother’s passing was the chief catalyst for her culinary movement, and her influence remains the central force that propels her work. “She is looking out for you,” Lewis said to Merlos-Ruiz. “There are lucky stars over this one.” “She really is,” Merlos-Ruiz echoed pensively. Leave Tomate, and carry with you a deliciously fresh pumpkin empanada, a piece of homemade flan, Merlos-Ruiz’s warm smile and the trademark scent you inhaled when you first walked in. After all, as Merlos-Ruiz said, “It’s my new perfume!” elizabethjohnson2017@u.northwestern.edu
Q -and-A w/ Dance Marathon emcees
Ethan & Kelsey When The Current sat down with the 2014 Northwestern Dance Marathon emcees Kelsey Adams and Ethan Levine-Weinberg, they were the calmest they’ve been all week, they said, due to wet weather and sleep deprivation. Under regular circumstances, their combined energy and quirkiness is too much for some people to handle. But we’re convinced the duo has just the right amount of spark to ignite spirits in the DM tent this year. For 30 straight hours, these two students will be responsible for keeping more than 1,000 Wildcats in motion as they raise money for Team Joseph, a nonprofit that funds research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Levine-Weinberg, a Communication senior and personal trainer, joins Adams, a Medill sophomore and amateur psychologist, to keep minds alert and pulses racing through the 40th annual Dance Marathon. THE CURRENT: How are you physically preparing for the 30-hour feat that is Dance Marathon? Are you worried?
ETHAN LEVINE-WEINBERG:
Source: Ethan Levine-Weinberg and Kelsey Adams
UP ALL NIGHT Ethan Levine-Weinberg and Kelsey Adams dress up as Kesha and Justin Bieber for a Dance Marathon trivia night.
Not at all. Last year I wasn’t even tired. It was the weirdest thing. I’m just going to train and get good sleep the week of. KELSEY ADAMS: 4 a.m. is my moment. That is my prime hour. Last year after NUDM I slept four hours and then pulled another 24 for a Medill project. I
do very well with little sleep. It makes me even crazier. I just go into hyperdrive — it’s insane. THE CURRENT: What’s your most successful tactic for convincing people to do DM this year? KA: I like to use psych principles in day-to-day conversation. It’s kind of weird. I have this theory that once you get initially involved with something, you’re not going to stop. I told people, “You should at least sign up just so you have the option.” I find that once somebody commits to something, they’re most likely not going to drop it. ELW: For me, I was just at The Rock, skipping over to people and at least getting smiles out of them. I was really happy that most of the people were already signed up. Just the energy and excitement is enough to get people interested. THE CURRENT: Do you have any special skills that you think might come out during DM? ELW: I’m really good at catching things in my mouth, so that could come in handy. KA: I’m really, really good at embarrassing myself. I may trip onstage. I’m also really good at egg tosses, if that could happen. THE CURRENT: Before DM was a thing that existed in your life, what was the longest you’d ever danced in one stretch? ELW: I’ve been dancing my whole life.
By SAMMY CAIOLA the current
I’m dancing right now. When I was younger I’d dance at family occasions, and I always wanted to be one of those party motivators. Being an emcee is like a party motivator on steroids. KA: Probably at a bar mitzvah. THE CURRENT: Is there a pop icon or other inspirational figure who you’ll channel on stage in moments of weakness? KA: I channel the purest part of myself. I don’t want to come off as trying to be something I’m not, as cheesy as that sounds. ELW: Bruce Springsteen. I just keep trying to think of NUDM as seven-and-a-half Bruce Springsteen concerts back to back. THE CURRENT: What words of wisdom do you have for new dancers and returnees? KA: For seniors, savor every moment of it. If you stuck with something for four years, there’s a reason you’ve done that. This is your victory lap – make the most of it. When’s the next time you’ll be in a tent with this many people? ELW: And for the freshmen who have three more opportunities: You’ll get to do this again — but not with this group of people for this cause. Just knowing the uniqueness of the situation and being there, in the moment, that’s what makes it special. samanthacaiola2014@u.northwestern.edu
HERE WE GO AGAIN “My number one choice is Simon because I like the name.” — Simon Cowell on what he would name his son. “Wow. You guys are awesome. So kind. Thank you thank you thank you! PS. Babies eat mostly salsa right?” — Actress Olivia Wilde to her Twitter followers, after revealing she is pregnant with her first baby.
“I was always a very much naked person. I loved to always get naked. I was very free, so I thought I may as well get paid.” — Actor Chris Pratt on his past as a stripper.
“Is it wrong to drive out to a farm 3 weeks early just to taunt your Thanksgiving turkey?” — Conan O’Brien to his Twitter followers.
— Chanel Vargas
5 WORDS
Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook
The tragic news of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines has devastated people around the globe. This disaster has claimed thousands of lives and has left thousands more homeless and without resources. Though several countries have offered support for the victims of this tragic event, supplies can only arrive so quickly. This catastrophe has left a number of families and children to forage through the debris of what was once their home in search of anything that may help them through this terrible time. Northwestern students give their input: — Chanel Vargas
“NU, what are we doing?” — Becca Ehlers
“Typhoons can’t stop Filipino perseverance.” — Manuel Rapada
“Please take climate change seriously.” — Scott Brown
“My heart breaks for them.” Source: Facebook and Creative Commons
— Chelsea Sherlock
Thursday, November 14, 2013
The Current | Page 3
Columns
Who’s your TV character style inspiration? Plugged In: No more anonymous YouTube comments MORGAN KINNEY
KENDALL SIEWERT
FASHION COLUMNIST @KESIEWERT
If you answered mostly A’s you’re most like: Aria from “Pretty Little Liars”
Admit it: There are some shows you watch just for the fashion. I mean, by the sixth season of Gossip Girl, did anyone really care what Serena van der Woodsen was doing as much as what she was wearing? Looking like your favorite TV show celebs isn’t hard to do. Take this quick quiz and see whose style you should try out and how!
Aria’s style is always changing, but she keeps core elements of her look. In order to copy her outfits, accessorizing is key. Quirky necklaces, belts and shoes all contribute to her stylish look. Her structured dresses with bold prints are the perfect way to showcase individual attitude. Finally, ignore all practicality. How did she even walk around school in her towering heels? Not that anyone cares because she got Ezra, so the girl must be doing something right.
TECH COLUMNIST
Your ideal outfit would include: Ignoring the depths of Reddit and 4chan, YouTube comments are perhaps the cesspool of the Internet. Below every Rickroll, Khan Academy tutorial and flashmob wedding proposal lie a string of inane word vomit. Contrived combinations of letters and numbers, racial slurs and misinformation are common fare. To put it simply, you don’t scroll through YouTube comments expecting intelligent discourse among Internet peers. Google, YouTube’s parent company, announced recently that Google+ accounts will be required in order to comment on videos. Of course, this is probably a ploy to get people to actually use the ghost town that is Google+, but it has the secondary effect of forcing commenters to identify themselves. Under conditions of anonymity, Internet trolls had infiltrated the fabric of YouTube society, poking fun and inciting controversy wherever it was most unwelcome. These folks made YouTube a hostile environment and encouraged users to never scroll down or face the consequences. Borrowing from the immense wisdom of “Mean Girls,” if you were to ask a random group of people “How many of you have ever felt personally victimized by Internet commenters?” more than a few hands would shoot up. This new policy is a boon for anyone who prefers not to lose brain cells reading Internet comments. From now on, the mean-spirited few will have a harder time ruining the fun for the rest of us. Google’s decision is the first of many required to tame and civilize the Wild West that is the Internet, where anything goes and users abandon societal standards. And it’s not just a method of verification; the new comment system has legitimate improvements. Comments will be prioritized based on whether the commenter is in one of your Google+ circles, a celebrity or the original poster. You will now be able to sort based on “Top Comments” or “Newest first.” It is an optimized system, not just a more civilized one. But, as with any change, there are a number of people up in arms that Google is forcing them to disclose their identity and jump through hoops just to comment on a video. There is even an online petition with nearly 90,000 signatures protesting the new comment policy. My view on these roughly 90,000 people: They’re probably the ones who tell you how to lose 20 pounds in 30 days. morgankinney2017@u.northwestern.edu
Source: Creative Commons
a) A patterned ensemble with a cropped leather jacket b) Short hemlines and sparkles c) A sweet dress and cardigan
When going out, you tend to: a) Accessorize early and often. b) Go glam. Red lipstick is always appropriate.
Assistant Editor Laken Howard Design Editor Jessica Fang Assistant Design Editor Rosalie Chan
You probably peeked at the answers beforehand and then skewed your choices so you could get Serena, because let’s face it, she pretty much has the best wardrobe ever. Serena’s look depends on fashion forward pieces with a subtle bohemian flair. Imitate her famous train station outfit with a striped boat neck tee, open trench coat and a silk neck scarf. When going out, be sure that all eyes are on you à la Serena with short hemlines and understated sparkles.
c) Style your hair the same way every time. Hey, you know what works, so why change it?
If you could describe your style in two words, they would be: a) Constantly changing b) Fashion forward c) Cute and preppy
If you answered mostly C’s you’re most like: Jess from “New Girl” Jess is the most adorable character on television with her unabashed cuteness. Getting her look is a cinch, just search for a prim dress with an A-line shape and top it off with a colorful cardigan. Keep accessories simple and invest in quilted flats or small heels. Bonus points if you can get your hair to look as good as hers always does. (But really, how does it always look so perfect?) kendallsiewert2017@u.northwestern.edu Source: Facebook
Living for the City: Unique coffee shops in Chicago MIRANDA LEON ON-THE-TOWN COLUMNIST
Coffee is more than a drink. It’s basically a way of life. When you order a cup of coffee, you lose all of your spare change, yet still come out feeling as rich as the coffee beans ground into your cup. Why is that? It is the coffee culture experience. The jazz-with-anindie-twist tunes play as you absorb the comfort of the couches, artistry of the decor and peaceful company of others. The barista greets you by
THE CURRENT Editor in Chief Annie Bruce
If you answered mostly B’s you’re most like: Serena from “Gossip Girl”
Writers Devan Coggan Chanel Vargas Miranda Leon Mackenzie Broderick Kendall Siewert Morgan Kinney Sammy Caiola Lizzey Johnson
name and begins preparing your coffee just the way you like. Coffeehouses provide the perfect setting for intellectual conversation, catching up with an old friend or even meeting a complete stranger. Visiting a cafe is truly an immeasurable experience, however routine it may seem, and it is also one of the best ways to taste the flavor of Chicago. Next time you grab a cup, make sure it is in the city. Here are some coffeehouses in Chicago that I recommend since there is more to life than Starbucks. 1. Wormhole Coffee Time travel back to the ‘80s at Wormhole Coffee, located in Chicago’s famous Wicker Park neighborhood. From Ronald Reagan cutouts to “Back to the Future” movie posters, this shop knows its 1980s memorabilia. And it knows how to brew coffee even better. Try the seasonal Cosby Classic, a banana-pudding latte with vanilla wafers. 1462 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
2. Star Lounge Coffee Bar Food and Wine magazine named Star Lounge, in Humboldt Park, one of America’s Best Coffee Bars. The long wooden bar makes Star Lounge a hub for social activity, and the trendy burnt orange walls reflect the creativity of each uniquely crafted coffee. Be sure to try the Gingersnap Trainwreck, a beverage made of espresso, cinnamon, cayenne, honey and more delicious ingredients. 2521 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago Open Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 3. Bad Wolf Coffee Bad Wolf Coffee is not your average cup of joe. Inspired by “Doctor Who,” Bad Wolf Coffee opened this past summer. Bad Wolf takes an unconventional approach to coffee houses; there are no chairs or couches, so you really get to know your barista. 3422 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago Open Wednesday-Monday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Tuesdays 4. Senem’s Coffee House Ever had Turkish coffee? Try it for the first time at Senem’s Coffee House in Lakeview. Make sure to drink your coffee with an order of baklava. 3508 N. Broadway St., Chicago Open Thursday-Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. mirandaleon2017@u.northwestern.edu
Source: Creative Commons
Page 4 | The Current
Reviews
Thursday, November 14, 2013
#Gladiators and #Olitz: ‘Scandal’ takes over Twitter DEVAN COGGAN
TV COLUMNIST @devancoggan
If you’re on Twitter, you may have noticed that on Thursday nights, your feed devolves into a lot of nonsense about gladiators in suits and white hats. The normally articulate people you follow may begin tweeting with bizarre hashtags like #Olitz and the occasional incoherent keyboard smashing. Welcome to the world of “Scandal,” the biggest show on Twitter. Now in its third season, “Scandal” follows crisis management queen Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) as she tries to navigate the dark and dangerous world of Washington, D.C. As a political fixer, Pope pays her bills by fixing the dirty secrets of Washington’s political elite, but she’s got plenty of problems of her own (most notably her torrid love affair with the president of the United States, who happens to be married). Based partially on the life of George H.W. Bush’s deputy press secretary Judy Smith, “Scandal” feels like a soapier, more sordid “House of Cards.” The writing is sharp but believable, and each character feels like a living, breathing human being focused on only one thing: self-preservation. The show does extremely well in the ratings each week and has inspired a practically rabid base of fans who have dubbed themselves “Gladiators,” the nickname for Pope’s team of fixers on the show. And each week, the Gladiators take to Twitter and offer their thoughts on everything from major plot developments to Pope’s
wardrobe. Impressively, ABC has embraced the show’s role on Twitter. The network even schedules the stars’ appearances so they will be available to tweet during live broadcasts, and when Washington (@kerrywashington) had to fly from New York to LA last month, ABC made sure she was on a flight with Wi-Fi. Even the writers (@scandalwriters), the makeup department (@scandalmakeup) and the props guy (@ scandalprops) chime in when the show airs, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the show tick. Thanks to hashtags like #AskScandal, fans, cast and crew can interact and geek out together over every detail. And the live tweeting experience extends beyond the actual broadcast of the show. If you choose to catch an episode the next day on Hulu, tweets pop up on screen as you’re watching. Sometimes a character you haven’t seen in two seasons unexpectedly reappears, and an on-screen message gently reminds you who they are and why they’re important. This could feel condescending from any other show, but in a series with this much backstabbing and drama, you’re going to need the occasional refresher. “Scandal” is a show made for Twitter, and every episode has multiple one-liners, each one conveniently less than 140 characters. Plus, a show with this many plot twists lends itself perfectly not to lengthy commentary but to gut reactions and all-caps tweets of disbelief. So if next Thursday night your Twitter feed fills up with talk of rigged elections and white hats, think about tuning your TV to ABC and joining the world of #Scandal. devancoggan2015@u.northwestern.edu
Source: Facebook
IT’S HANDLED “Scandal” airs on Thursday nights on ABC. To make the experience interactive, the cast and crew often use Twitter throughout the night.
The
Rundown
Miley Cyrus apparently smokes joint onstage at EMAs Miley Cyrus brought her love for awards show drama to the MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday, twerking onstage with a female dwarf performer and, after accepting the award for “best video,” lighting what appeared to be a joint. All this came after she walked the red carpet in a dress that featured pictures of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur and the words “Please stop” across her rear end. Miley, maybe it’s time to take some advice from your wardrobe.
‘Star Wars’ launches search for new cast members The search is on for two major roles in the upcoming “Star Wars” movie. In addition to in-person casting calls, potential “Star Wars” stars can submit a video audition online. Hey casting agents, call me. Those other actors aren’t the droids you’re looking for. Disney developing ‘Princess Bride’ adaptation for the stage Looks like seeing “The Princess Bride” on stage isn’t so inconceivable after all. Disney announced Monday it will adapt the beloved ‘80s adventure comedy for the stage. A previous musical adaptation failed to get off the ground in 2007, but as it just so happens, that version was only mostly dead. There’s a big difference between being mostly dead and all dead. And as Miracle Max will tell you, mostly dead is slightly alive. Stevie Nicks to guest star in upcoming ‘AHS’ episode “American Horror Story: Coven” creator Ryan Murphy tweeted Tuesday that Stevie Nicks will appear in an upcoming episode of the series. No word yet on what kind of role Nicks will play, but rumors of real witchcraft have plagued the singer for years. She has denied these rumors adamantly, saying, “I’m not a witch. I’m your wife!” Wait, no. That’s not right. Sorry, I’m still geeking out over “The Princess Bride.” — Devan Coggan
The Steam Press: JaneAustenpalooza MACKENZIE BRODERICK BOOK COLUMNIST @BADBRODERICK
Greetings, culture lovers! Now it feels as if our lives are overrun with technology, while the works of Jane Austen offer a return to a simpler time. But what if Austen had access to Twitter, Facebook and cellphones? We at the Steam Press, as part of JaneAustenpalooza, imagine this alternate universe and present you with “Pride and Prejudice in Texts.”
Mrs. Bennet To: Mr. Bennet 15/8/1813 9:23 a.m. OMG get on ur good neighbor skillz for Mr. Bingley! 5000 a year! $$$ for our poor gurls!!
F. Darcy To: C. Bingley 25/8/1813 7:20 p.m. So, I don’t *actually* have to go tonight, do I? 25/8/1813 11:46 p.m. So many hot gurls why u no talk to anybody???
31/8/1813 8:50 a.m. Make sure u give Jane a horse. It’s gonna rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!
25/8/1813 11:46 p.m. Sod off.
16/10/1813 9:43 a.m. Those conniving Lucases! They’ll evict us from our home!! Oh, this is all Lizzie’s fault! And now Bingley has left Jane & we’ll die in the poorhouse! Ugh FML
31/8/1813 5:02 p.m. Will the B sisters be staying then? BTW Elizabeth Bennet looked real fine today, just saying.
15/09/1814 6:28 p.m. 10,000 a year!! I always liked him you know!! Our own Lizzie!!! 3 daughters married!!
03/10/1813 12:55 a.m. U alright? Jane looked so amazing this morning! But srsly, you ok? Im inviting her and the family to the ball…Man you alright?
Lizzie B. To: Mum
03/10/1813 12:55 a.m. Fine. Why is there even a militia here? There’s no war! No wonder Napoleon is pillaging Europe. Need 2 text my sister.
31/8/1813 4:22 p.m. @ Netherfield, Jane sick, I blame you
05/09/1814 10:12 a.m. Get upstairs NOW!! Leave Jane & Bingley alone!!
For more, find The Stream Press at www.dailynorthwestern.com/current
23/08/1814 9:27 a.m. Settled in Netherfield! It’s good 2 b back!! Call on Bennets 2nite? Or 2morrow?
05/09/1814 5:25 p.m. Congrats! But before I leave 4 London I have to tell you something …