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prasino in the media

Fox 2- St. Louis - New Restaurant Brings Local-Source Cuisine To St. Charles

May 11, 2013 - There is a new restaurant bringing a locally sourced contemporary American menu to St. Charles. prasino opened on April 22 and is located in the Streets of St. Charles development, at the former site of Noah’s Ark restaurant. prasino, which is Greek for “green”, is a sophisticated, sustainable minded, eco-friendly restaurant. The varied menu created by Executive Chef Jared Case covers breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner and late night. Menu items accommodate diverse dietary preferences including gluten free and vegan dishes.

Sauce Magazine - The Scoop: “Green” restaurant prasino opens in St. Charles

April 23, 2013 - St. Charles welcomes yet another restaurant. Prasino opened its doors yesterday at 1520 S. Fifth St., next to recently opened churrascaria chain Tucanos Brazilian Grill. Prasino, which means “green” in Greek, is based on a concept of sustainable dining, which encompasses local sourcing, green design and eco-friendly kitchen practices. This is the fourth Prasino location; the others are all located in Illinois, including Chicago, La Grange and Rosemont. The restaurant offers a contemporary, farm-to-table American menu created by the company’s executive chef Jared Case. However, Case explained that Tony Marchetto, executive chef at the St. Charles location, will have many opportunities to put his own mark on the menu. For instance, today’s soup special of ginger sweet potato with a five-spice scented pork dumpling (pictured) is Marchetto’s brainchild. Marchetto hails from BC’s Kitchen; prior to that, he worked in the kitchen at sister restaurant Cardwell’s at the Plaza.

Riverfront Times - First Look: prasino Brings Self-Proclaimed "Eco-Chic" Contemporary American Cuisine to St. Charles [Photos]

April 26, 2013 - What exactly is "eco chic?" Walk into the newly opened prasino (1520 South Fifth Street, St. Charles; 636-277-0202), an upscale, Chicago-based chain of restaurants that just opened its first location outside of Illinois in St. Charles, and your well-informed wait staff will begin to tell you all about it. We sit down in the vast dining room for dinner, and our friendly server Mark tells us that every piece of wood in the 9,000 square foot space has been reclaimed from Northern Missouri. He also points out the recycled seat belts that make up the upholstery of some of the 280 seats available in the dining room and bar. Those cool looking neutral toned light fixtures that go with the overall natural-colored theme? They're made of recycled, laser-cut cardboard.

Feast - Sneak Preview: prasino - St. Charles, Mo

April 2013 - On the heels of two successful locations of prasino in Chicago, owner/founder Ted Maglaris and his team are opening a third location this week, this one in the St. Louis area. The eco-chic, sustainable restaurant-- located in the burgeoning Streets of St. Charles complex near Interstate 70 and Fifth Street -- will offer a locally sourced, contemporary American menu created by executive chef Jared Case. Doors open at 11am on Mon., April 22

The Doings La Grange - Called to the table by Mother Earth

April 2013 - At prasino in La Grange, chefs Riley Huddleston and Todd Feitl have planned a four-course dinner event for Earth Day, April 22. Each course will be paired with wine. In true farm-to-table fashion, the food will be sourced from Knutson’s County Harvest and Prairie Fruits Farm, both located in Illinois. “The menu was inspired by what is in season locally and reflects a sense of place,” said Prasino Director of Marketing Ephi Maglaris. “Earth Day is all about recognizing the source of our food and connecting with it.”

St. Louis Magazine - Kitchen Q&A: Jared Case - An executive chef brings St. Louis a timely, bold new concept

April 2013 - The tag lines “Sustainable dining in style” and “Eat green, live well” will surely grab the attention of the beard-and-beanie generation. But are such ideals sustainable for future generations—especially in 280-seat restaurants with big expansion plans? Jared Case, executive chef of Chicago-based prasino (1520 S. Fifth, St. Charles, 636-277-0202, prasino.com), scheduled to open its third space in April in the Streets of St. Charles development, believes they are. Most restaurants that espouse such goals don’t deliver the goods, but Case convinced us that the “eco-chic” prasino has and will continue to do so. Herewith, a glass of Case’s Kool-Aid.

West Suburban Living - prasino - Best Spot for Vegetarians

April 2013 - Best: prasino in La Grange

Groupon - Finally! A Brain That’s Acceptable to Eat

March 30 2013 - Some people think cauliflower resembles a brain. Others liken the cruciferous vegetable to a piece of coral. But pretty much everyone agrees that dumping the head into a pot of boiling water results in quite a shock to the nasal cavity—a repeated childhood experience Riley Huddleston remembers with a shudder. “As a kid, my mom would boil it, and it just stinks,” the executive chef at prasino in Wicker Park laments. “It makes the whole kitchen smell.”

Eater Chicago - The Green City Market With prasino

March 14, 2013 - In Chicago, farmers markets only run from May through September. But that doesn't mean that chefs can't source locally grown produce year-round. At Green City Market in Lincoln Park, held indoors throughout the winter, chefs and home chefs alike flock throughout the entire year to browse fruits and vegetables, local baked goods, and other Midwestern foodstuffs. prasino, meaning "green" in Greek, is at the forefront of the locally-sourced "farm-to-table" movement. On one late-winter day, Eater journeyed to the market with Prasino executive chefs Riley Huddleston and Jared Case to find out what they're buying, what they cook with it, and the importance of local farm-raised fruits and vegetables.

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Chicago Sun-Times - Seen on the Scene

March 11, 2013 - Music man Richard Marx’s fans loved seeing him dining at prasino.

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Feast - Art Institute Cook-Off Champion Wins Job at prasino, Potential Dish on Menu

March 11, 2013 - A student cook-off challenge hosted on Fri., March 8, at The Art Institute of St. Louis' culinary school gave budding chefs a shot at much more than bragging rights and a little extra spending money. The school partnered with prasino, an eco-conscious restaurant slated to open in April at the new Streets of St. Charles complex (the former site of Noah’s Ark, which is also home to the institute), on the event, designed to marry classroom and real-world experiences. The winner – Jazzmine Hornaday – landed a cooking position at prasino and a chance to have her dish featured on prasino’s menu.

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Food Talks St. Louis - Interview with Chef Jared Case

March 9, 2013 - Audio interview with prasino Executive Chef Jared Case.

Chicago Tribune - Richard Marx sighting at prasino Wicker Park

March 11, 2013 - "Right Here Waiting" singer Richard Marx dined Thursday at Prasino in Wicker Park.

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St. Charles Patch - Culinary Students Compete in Cooking Contest for Job at prasino

March 11, 2013 - Eight teams of culinary students from the Art Institute of St. Louis went head-to-head in a cooking competition Friday. All were vying for the opportunity to put a dish on the menu of Prasino, the new eco-friendly restaurant going in the Streets of St. Charles development at Fifth Street and Interstate 70. Prasino teamed with the Art Institute of St. Louis on the cooking contest to offer students a way to integrate their classroom experience into the real world.

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WCIU - You & Me in the Morning

February 18, 2013 - prasino is discussed around the 3:50 mark.

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St. Charles Patch - prasino Chef Plans 'Approachable' Menu Focused on Local Foods

February 14, 2013 - The design for a new eco-friendly restaurant coming to St. Charles was inspired by the Soulard Farmers Market. prasino will open in April in the Streets of St. Charles development, at the corner of Fifth Street and Interstate 70 in St. Charles. The St. Charles location will be the third Prasino restaurant in the country, with the other two in Chicago. A fourth location in Rosemont, IL, is slated to open in August.

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St. Louis Post Dispatch - Restaurants open in Ferguson, Southampton, south St. Louis County

February 11, 2013 - prasino, a small Chicago-based chain, will open a restaurant with seating for almost 400 people in the Streets of St. Charles complex at 1520 South Fifth Street. prasino is planning an April debut and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. The concept boasts of using organic eggs, hormone- and antibiotic-free meat, and sustainable seafood.

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Chicago Reader - Valentine's Day at prasino

February 7, 2013 - A four-course prix fixe, available through the weekend in a dining room "transformed into an eco-friendly love shack" featuring strolling musicians; pairings are $35, $55 for a "luxe" option.

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Riverfront Times - prasino Sets Opening

February 6, 2013 - prasino will open at 1520 South Fifth Street in St. Charles this April. The restaurant, which already has locations in Chicago and LaGrange, Illinois, calls itself an "eco-friendly family of restaurants." (prasino is a transliteration of the Greek word for green.) As you might expect, given the name and the mission, the menu features many organic, local, hormone- and antibiotic-free ingredients. Gut Check will have more on this restaurant, including a First Look, in coming months.

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refinery29 - 14 Top Chicago Restaurant Week Picks Worth The Food Coma

February 5, 2013 - If you're looking for a healthy and satisfying lunch, this green eatery is offering dishes such as a roasted beet and goat cheese salad and grilled fish with a robust mixture of cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, avocado, poblano cream, tortilla, and charred salsa. It's a good thing your mains were on the lighter side because you're going to need the calorie reserve for desserts like the organic molten chocolate cake — a sinful concoction made with white coffee gelato, candied hazelnuts, and caramel.

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Eater - prasino St. Louis Opening in April

February 1, 2013 - ST. LOUIS—The prasino expansion if official. The first out-of-state edition of the green Chicago restaurant will open in St. Charles, Missouri in April. Many of the items from the local locations will also be at the St. Charles one, plus some new dishes.

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Check, Please! - prasino featured on Check, Please!

January 25, 2013 - prasino offers local food with a global influence. Ingredients are organic, locally sourced, and restaurant creatively reflects a sustainable lifestyle. Many vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are available along with a wide selection of deliciously prepared meats. The environment is modern, elegant and relaxing.

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St. Louis Magazine - Eco Friendly prasino sets opening date of April 1.

January 31, 2013 - Chicago-based, eco-friendly restaurant prasino will celebrate its grand opening April 1 on the new Streets of St. Charles. Prasino will focus on what's local and what's natural. Even its name can be considered natural. The word, "prasino" means "green" in Greek. Owner Ted Maglaris is Greek and wanted to name the restaurant "prasino" to be consistent with his family's background. Prasino will offer produce, dairy, meat and even its supplies from St. Louis-based vendors.

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St. Louis Magazine - "Buzzworthy"

February, 2013 - Opening in early 2013 at Streets of St. Charles in metro St. Louis - prasino, meaning "green" in Greek, brings local flare with sustainably minded, eco-friendly practices.

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Stephanie Eats Chicago - prasino - A Trendy Restaurant in Wicker Park

January 28, 2013 - The other week as Taste Tester #1 and I walked into prasino in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago he couldn't help but exclaim "I feel like we've been transported to River North." I felt the same way with prasino's clean and elegant décor and slightly swanky atmosphere. On a Tuesday evening the restaurant was a little bit empty when we arrived around 7:00pm but continued to fill up as our evening went on.

inTouch Weekly - Ashton and Mila nesting in Chicago.

January 21, 2013 - Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis dine at prasino.

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WGN - TV - Lunchbreak: Mushroom bruschetta with tomato jam and arugula

January 4, 2013 - prasino Executive Chef Jared Case on WGN TV cooks Mushroom bruschetta with tomato jam and arugula.

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New York Post - Sightings - Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis dine at prasino

December 28, 2012 - Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis having lunch at "farm-totable" restaurant prasino in Chicago

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E! - Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Get Flirty at Brunch in Chicago

December 27, 2012 - Looks like Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis had a very merry Christmas! The coy and casual couple was spotted today having brunch together at prasino Restaurant in Chicago in the early afternoon. A source tells E! News that the precious pair—who have been dating since the spring—were very flirty as they enjoyed each other's company.

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People - Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis Share 'Flirtatious' Lunch in Chicago

December 27, 2012 - After spending some quality time in Iowa over the holidays, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis visited Chicago on Thursday. Around noon, the couple stopped into eco-friendly restaurant prasino. "They were both very courteous to the staff and flirtatious with each other," an onlooker tells PEOPLE.

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Time Out Chicago - The bar chart

November 1, 2012 - This green-minded spot now hosts live jazz and late-night bites starting at 9:30pm on weekends. file under: live music, neighborhoodie.

Windy City Media Group

October 31, 2012 - prasino has announced a new late-night lounge party and menu to complement its farm-to-bar cocktails, craft beers and wines. The party starts at 9:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night. The late-night menu includes hummus, chicken and steak satays, turffle potatoes and sushi rolls, among other items. Call 312-878-1212 to reserve.

WTTW - Check, Please! - Bloody Burgers and Spice Goblins

October 29, 2012 - prasino is holding a trick-or-treat family dinner at 6:00 pm at their Wicket Park location. For $10, kids will get Halloween macaroni and cheese and a kiddie cocktail. Parents can sip a specialty cocktail garnished with raspberry candy corn, and everyone can paint pumpkins.

Gaper's Block - If You Don't Want To Wait in Line at Lula's on Halloween...

October 26, 2012 - prasino's Wicker Park location is hosting at Trick-or-Treat Family Dinner at 6pm. prasino is preparing a special cocktail, El Vuerto Viviente (the living dead), for adults, and serving nonalcoholic cocktails for children in goblets. The best thing: kids get to paint pumpkins.

Eater Chicago - prasino Late Night

October 25, 2012 - Every Friday and Saturday night starting at 9:30, Prasino (1846 W. Division) hosts its late-night lounge with live entertainment (bands, DJs), cocktails and bites.

Finishboard - prasino Restaurant designed by Simeone Deary Design Group

October 24, 2012 - prasino is an eco friendly family of restaurants. They believe in and respect a sustainable environment and practices. The prasino Group and Simeone Deary Design Group worked together from the start to design a space that captured their philosophy while providing excellent dining experience.

Dining Chicago - prasino Launches Best Late Night in Wicker Park

October 18, 2012 - prasino – Chicago's eco-chic dining destination renowned for its delicious, locally-grown and mindfully sourced American cuisine – has announced a new late night lounge party and menu to complement its quality, farm-to-bar cocktails, craft beers and selection of bio-dynamic wines at its bustling Wicker Park location. The party starts at 9:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night. Late night revelers are invited to nosh, sip and be seen at prasino's stunning, sustainably designed lounge. Along with Mixologist Todd Ekis' artisan, Green Bar Collective libations to ignite the senses, prasino will feature weekly entertainment including musical artists, tastings and more, to enhance the already lively nightlife scene.

Zagat - The Best Thing We Ate Last Night: Parsnip Puree at prasino

October 12, 2012 - Things we love about fall: apples, braised meat, dark spirits and, of course, lots of soup. A fall menu preview at Prasino provided all of the above. Our tasting included several new cocktails, including one made with North Shore #6, pear syrup, apple pie Kentucky shine, lemon and allspice dram. In addition to the cocktails a four-course meal included duck confit, short rib pappardelle, Moroccan spiced lamb and red wine poached pears with pumpkin spice cake.

Western Springs Patch - TV Show Filming at prasino Draws a Crowd

October 2, 2012 - Nearly 300 people flooded La Grange's prasino restaurant on Friday evening for the filming of WWTW's restaurant-spotlight show Check, Please!, The Doings La Grange reports. Check, Please! spotlights Chicago and Chicagoland restaurants with a focus on "real-people" reviews provided by guest reviewers. After a Check, Please! guest reviewer visits a restaurant, the show visits the location to interview chefs and staff and get interior shots of the location.

The Doings La Grange - 'Check, Please' highlights growth of fine dining in La Grange

October 1, 2012 - In a culture that has been driven for decades by the power of televised images, it's not surprising that a local TV show taping drew hundreds of people to downtown La Grange last week. Never one to miss out on a story, photo op, or fine dining experience, I was SO there at prasino on Friday for the filming of background scenes for WTTW's "Check, Please." prasino will be featured in an upcoming episode of the popular Channel 11 show in which Chicagoans talk about their favorite restaurants and review the fare on air.

refinery29 - 10 Delish Restaurant Dishes That Won't Sabotage Your Diet

August 28, 2012 - Chef Jack says this dish is surprisingly healthy because pork is an excellent source of protein and essential amino acids and is naturally low in sodium; the entire dish is gluten-free; brown rice is swapped for white; and, kimchi slaw is known to promote digestion, weight loss, and lower cholesterol.

Eater Chicago - Owner Ted Maglaris Talks About prasino's First Year

August 23, 2012 - Despite wanting to have it be the first of his restaurants to open, prasino in Wicker Park was actually the third. Owner Ted Maglaris explained that his family's healthy-focused, organic-leaning restaurant was set to go into its current space, but between landlord changes, city backups and other issues resulting from the economy, the city location was pushed back.

Grub Street Chicago - prasino Turns One

August 15, 2012 - A one year anniversary in the hospitality industry is like seven years in the real world — and given the high failure rate of restaurants, 365 days in business is something to celebrate.

CS Magazine - prasino 1-year Celebration

August, 2012 - prasino invited guests to a private 1-year celebration at the premiere eco-friendly restaurant offering delicious bites, organic wines from Tiamo, Goose Island brews, TRU organic vodka with Greenbar Collective, and Tanteo tequilas. Also sponsored by City Escape and CS magazine, guests sipped, tasted and enjoyed live music in celebrating 1 year of prasino.

Trendy Magazine - prasino 1-Year Celebration

August, 2012 - prasino hosted a private 1-year celebration of its premiere eco-friendly restaurant in Wicker Park with CS magazine. Guests enjoyed delicious bites and sipped organic wines from Tiamo, Goose Island brews, TRU organic vodka with Greenbar Collective, and Tanteo tequilas. At prasino, they believe dining well means living well, its their mission to serve only the highest quality, farm-to-table ingredients for their guests to savor.

Marquardt Plus Blog - Chef's Night Out

August, 2012 - Tom met with Chef Jack Funderburg and his team from Prasino, and we decided to go for unabashed self promotion, and did a joint branding exercise, right down to the food design, as well as presentation.

MSN Postbox - Thyme to Party

July, 2012 - Farmers markets are in full swing, and we've got a weekend of 80 degree days on deck. It's perfect time for a crisp, clean cocktail, no? For some herbaceous inspiration, we turned to Prasino mixologist Todd Ekis to help us craft a drink fit for any fete

Food Arts - Chicago Buzz

May, 2012 - prasino (très green) in Wicker Park offers shredded carrot pancakes for breakfast, grilled fish tacos for lunch, and soy glazed black cod for dinner.

Dining Out Magazine - A Foundation of Freshness at prasino

May, 2012 - The Epitome of Green, prasino puts sustainability in a delicious new light.

Chicago Tribune - Spring brings new crop of salad offerings

May 24, 2012 - Scott Halverson is intent on using local ingredients. He counts on five Illinois farms for the vegetables, cheese, honey and nuts in his roasted beet salad. He combines pink and white candy stripe beets and golden ones in the salad not so much for the slight flavor differences, but to give some vibrant colors to the dish. He adds field greens and crumbled goat cheese and uses honey in the citrus vinaigrette. "The sweetness goes well with the goat cheese and offsets the acid of the vinaigrette," he says.

Food Mafia - prasino Patio Launch Party

May 17, 2012 - It's hard to miss the beautiful patio outside of prasino. The large, white umbrellas may be the dominant feature of the Wicker Park restaurant, but one can't overlook the charming detail of the rest of the patio. There are plenty of tables where guests can sit down and enjoy a full meal, as well as matching couches and other casual lounge furniture. Prasino's overall sustainability theme reaches the outdoor dining area, with plenty of plants and an earthy vibe. This relaxed décor went flawlessly with the laid-back air of the event.

Food Mafia - Powerful Flavors

May 17, 2012 - prasino is the ideal place for lovers of strong flavors. As I would consider myself among them, I greatly enjoyed my experience there. The bartenders were serving a signature tropical drink made with coconut and pineapple juice and tropical flavored tequilla. Enjoying the festive drink on the patio had me thinking I was in Miami or LA instead of Wicker Park for a few seconds.

Racked - Whose Shoes did it Better?

May 17, 2012 - Last night, many stylish foodie folk and some fashionable femmes crowded the prasino patio to celebrate its opening. There were hors d'oeuvres, North Shore drinks and some tasty delights from prasino's kitchen. But who was looking at the shoes when there were so many beautiful faces in the crowd? We were. And now we want to know whose shoes did it better?

YourTrendy.com - prasino Wicker Park's Patio Launch Party

May 17, 2012 - prasino's 100-seat outdoor patio/lounge is a great place to enjoy nice summer days and executive chef Scott Halverson's tasty creations. At prasino, they believe dining well means living well. As a premiere eco-friendly family of restaurants, they have made it their mission to serve only the highest quality, farm-to-table ingredients for our guests to savor.

Capes Chairs and Cows Max's Media Party

May 17, 2012 - Yesterday Baby Maxwell attended his first media party for Dining Out Chicago magazine. It was held at the sidewalk patio of prasino, among the newest on the scene in sustainable dining in Wicker Park. We've spent a lot of time on Division Street recently, I like it because it's trendy without the overbearing Gold Coast feel. We enjoyed passed nibbles, summer cocktails, and early evening sunshine just before bedtime!

The Doings La Grange - Cossit students give garden a green thumb's up

May 15, 2012 - Students kicked off the club's spring season with a field trip to prasino restaurant, a partnership Reilly said she hopes will continue. "They took us into the kitchen, and we talked about the garden-to-table concept," she said. "They made fresh fruit smoothies, and we learned about organic and sustainable practices."

Thrillist - Hamachi Crudo at prasino

May 11, 2012 - Right in the thick of the Division St. action, nab a table in prasino's shaded 100-seat patio and refresh your palate with thin-sliced hamachi gussied up with kumquat salad, chive oil, and a puree of chickpeas, which totally think the chive oil makes them look fat.

Dining Chicago - Eat this! Quinoa is a drink, too

May 2, 2012 - At prasino in Wicker Park and La Grange bartender Todd Ekis creates a "green" cocktail with Fair Quinoa Vodka and strawberries.

Chicago Sun-Times - Tastings Around Town

May 1, 2012 - Michael Weiner of the Enye Group joins Chef Scott Halverson for a five-course Spanish wine dinner built around his brand at 6:30 p.m. May 3; $85. Courses include seafood paella served with Blanc Planell (Sauv Blanc/Macabeo).

WGN TV - Lunch Break - prasino Beet Salad

April 30, 2012 - prasino Executive Chef Scott Halverson on WGN's Lunch Break

Chicago Now - News & Nibbles: The Breakfast Club

April 30, 2012 - prasino in Wicker Park and LaGrange are two great options. I dined at prasino for dinner recently and had an amazing experience. I am looking forward to trying them for brunch. Word has it is a favorite spot for Jane Lynch (Glee fame).

Zagat - Premature Patios in Chicago

April 24, 2012 - Relax Chicago - just because it hit 70 degrees in early March doesn't mean everyone can burn their jackets and hit the deck with a cold beer. Even today, despite temperatures hovering around the low 60s, the patio outside prasino in Wicker Park was packed with outdoor lunch eaters.

Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber - Beautiful, Bountiful Brunch Spots -

April 15, 2012 - For the design, health and eco-conscious, you would be hard pressed to find a better option than prasino. It's a modern, chic spot that prides itself on sustainable dining options. Everything is done here with style, even the tea service. The menu is quite comprehensive and it's one of the rare Chicago places that will include pancakes with your omelette (that's a huge plus in my book).

Chicago Tribune - 'Mob Wives Chicago' films at prasino

March 16, 2012 - Sightings: VH1's "Mob Wives Chicago" filmed at Prasino in Ukrainian Village Thursday. From what I could tell, the scene involved co-stars Leah DeSimone and Christina Scoleri.

Crain's Chicago – Outdoor dining? In Chicago in mid-March? Yes, thank you very much

March 15, 2012 - Chicagoans also are tweeting with glee about the early outdoor dining, including open patio at prasino.

RedEye Chicago – 30 early patio openings

March 14, 2012 - prasino - This Wicker Park restaurant's massive sidewalk cafe is now open for the season.

La Grange Patch – Restaurant Week Review: Will it Become a Yearly Feature?

March 14, 2012 - We loved Restaurant Week in La Grange! What did you think about it?

Time Out Chicago - The contrarian | Vegetarianism is passé

March 8, 2012 - With ethically raised meat so ubiquitous, there's no reason to be a vegetarian

My Suburban Life - Whiskey week special at prasino in La Grange

March 8, 2012 - prasino Chef de Cuisine Jack Funderburg and Highland Park Scotch Whiskey Ambassador Stephanie Ridgway will guide participants through a pairing of whiskey-inspired cuisine and select expressions from the Highland Park Single Malt Scotch portfolio.

Chicago Sun-Times - Shake the salt habit, but don't give up flavor

March 7, 2012 - And speaking of veggies, several Chicago area chefs, including Scott Halverson, executive chef of Prasino in Wicker Park and La Grange, and Sarah Stegner, chef/co-owner of Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook, say for maximum natural flavor start with organic, local, seasonal produce.

CS Magazine - Celeb Spotting

March 2012 - Glee's Jane Lynch dining at prasino in La Grange, where she was spotted two weeks prior.

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Equinox Blog – Kombucha, Straight Up

February 28, 2012 -At Chicago's eco-chic restaurant prasino, it's a kombucha program — a nonalcoholic cocktail menu that takes the fizzy, fermented health-food staple to new heights.

RedEye Chicago – Eat | Drink | Do

February 23, 2012 - prasino's Spirit Education Program.

Chicago Sun-Times - Seen on the Scene

January 31, 2012 - "Glee" mainstay Jane Lynch, one of Dolton's fave daughters, made a return trip Tuesday to Prasino LaGrange — only two weeks after her last visit.

ChicagoNow - Spotted: Jane Lynch at Prasino in La Grange

December 31, 2011 - "Glee" actress Jane Lynch was just spotted lunching at Prasino in La Grange again today, making this the second time in 2 weeks! Returning to the Chicago area after the SAG Awards, sources say Jane requested her favorite server for the meal. And, what did she order at this eco-friendly restaurant? Soup!

MySuburbanLife.com - New Year's Eve at prasino

December 31, 2011 - You can get festive with special menus at prasino locations, coordinated by Executive Chef Scott Halverson. In St. Charles at 51 S. First St., he and Chef de Cuisine Jack Funderburg present an exclusive New Year's Eve menu.

Chicago Magazine - Where to Get Non-Alcoholic Drinks in Chicago

December 22, 2011 - BEST Kombucha with apple, mint, and agave. Served with a foamy head in a Champagne flute, this drink lets the fermented funk of the kombucha peek through but wraps it in the sweetness of the apple and the brightness of the mint. And it has foam. Who doesn't like foam?

Chicago Sun-Times - Seen on the Scene

December 22, 2011 - SEEN ON THE SCENE: "Glee" star and Dolton native Jane Lynch — back home for the holidays — lunched at Prasino in La Grange, an eatery that's become something of a favorite for the actress when she's in the area.

Metromix Chicago Hot in 2011 - The year's notable new restaurants, bars and clubs

December, 2011 - Best outdoor spaces - prasino in wicker park.

msn.com - prasino

December, 2011 - When your restaurant's slogan is "eat green, live well" like Wicker Park's super-sustainable prasino, it's easy to get stereotyped as a goody-two-shoes. And just like all of the "good girls" gone bad before, prasino is putting its squeaky clean reputation to bed with whiskey.

Eater Chicago - prasino's Mexican Brunch

December, 2011 - On Dec. 3, prasino chef Scott Halverson will introduce a $30 three-course Mexican-inspired breakfast at 9 a.m. with Tanteo tequila cocktails.

Tequila pairing Saturday breakfast at prasino Wicker Park

December 2, 2011 - I spent a lot of time in Wicker Park as a kid: my mother grew up there and I was raised in pre-hipster Bucktown when old guys slugged down PBRs because they were cheap, not campy. I had my first taco on Western Ave. but we never saw anything like what will ensue tomorrow in the old neighborhood. It'll be a tequila sunrise this holiday season as Chef Scott Halverson of prasino introduces an enticing south of the border fiesta breakfast.

Katie Soo's Blog A Foodie's Dream – Chicago's 'prasino'

November 30, 2011 - No matter if you're vegetarian, vegan, a full fledged carnivore, or prefer gluten-free, Prasino will definitely have something tasty for you to nibble on. When I came across them in Wicker Park, Chicago – I was sold. I prepared myself as I embarked on a tasty food tour that has me missing them from LA!

Chicago Tribune - prasino: Deconstructing the menu by Phil Vettel

November 10, 2011 - Tribune Food Critic Phil Vettel deconstructs prasino's menu.

Clean Eating Magazine - Good and Green

November/December, 2011 - Scott Halverson keeps it clean with Chicago's eco-conscious prasino restaurants.

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Food Mafia - Rise and Shine with prasino Wicker Park

November, 2011 - The Eco-Friendly Restaurant Launches Complimentary Coffee for the Month of November Accompanied by New On-The-Go Breakfast Items.

Chicago Magazine - Best Breakfasts in Chicago and the Suburbs: Great Restaurants to Try Now

October, 2011 - Not your mother's hippie-dippie veggie restaurant. This sophisticated spot is all about eco-friendly practices and organics, but the tofu scrambles, fresh juices (honeydew, celery, cucumber, ginger), and soy sausage need not bother carnivores and Bloody Mary drinkers, who will also be satisfied. Bonus: Pancakes (blueberry graham cracker, anyone?) can be made with gluten-free, buttermilk, whole-grain, or vegan batter.

The Doings Clarendon Hills Chefs get cooking for a good cause

October 13, 2011 - The Event: It may not have been in a box, in a car or with a goat, but chefs and bakers at the first-ever Common Threads Cook-Off were charged with serving up their haute cuisine-inspired creations in one of four specialized categories: in a glass, on a bun, in a shell or on a stick.

ChicagoFoodies.com Snag a Seat for Something Sweet at prasino

October 5, 2011 - Lucky for us Midwesterners, temperatures are supposed to climb into the 70's this week and near the 80's this weekend, which can mean only one thing: outdoor brunch. It's the perfect meal to catch up on your Vitamin D and eat an incredible amount of food all at once. There are few better patios in the city than Wicker Park's new organic eatery prasino.

Chicago Sun-Times - Pat Bruno: prasino ups the ante on local scene with fine fare, savvy operation

September 15, 2011 - One restaurant at a time, prasino is becoming a player in the high-stakes restaurant game. Locally owned by the Maglaris family, Prasino started with locations in La Grange and St. Charles. And now with its newest location on West Division Street in Wicker Park, it has thrown itself into the mouth of the feast. Wicker Park, Bucktown and Logan Square have more restaurants and cafes per square block than just about any other Chicago neighborhood. Reason for that? Available space, lower rents, high-income demographic.

Fine Design Dine & Wine - prasino: A designer brings a taste of the farmers' market to an urban green eatery

September 12, 2011 - prasino, a suburban group of contemporary health-conscious eateries, wanted to bloom and grow. So it recently opened its first urban venture in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. And the restaurant's longtime designer, Caren Crangle of Chicago's Simeone Deary Design Group, was once again asked to tend to the restaurant's design.

Tasting Table - Liquid Culture A new source for local kombucha

September 12, 2011 - On a recent visit to Wicker Park's new prasino, we grabbed a seat on the sprawling sidewalk patio and sipped flutes filled with an effervescent golden brew. It was lightly sweet and sour on the palate, dry on the finish, with a distinct yeasty funk. The glasses were filled not with Blanc de Blancs, though, but with kombucha.

Metromix Chicago: Brunch at pasino

August 26, 2011 - We try the kombucha drinks and pretzel croissant French toast at this Wicker Park newcomer. The direction of dining expansion typically goes like this: Launch a successful restaurant in the city, then colonize the suburbs. But Prasino, an eco-conscious eatery with a name that means "green" in Greek, first grew its fan base with restaurants in suburban St. Charles and La Grange before opening its third location in Wicker Park. After a delicious dinner charmed the hell out of me, I was looking forward to returning for breakfast, which features a massive menu served every day of the week.

Metromix Chicago: Good Stuff We Ate - Lobster-stuffed avocado at prasino

August 2011 - I love avocado. And I love lobster. Yet I still wasn't quite prepared for the deliciousness that is the lobster-stuffed avocado ($16), one of the signature small plates at prasino, a suburban favorite that just opened a city location in Wicker Park. The generous heap of butter-poached lobster is only made addictive by a sprinkling of mango salsa and drizzle of chili beurre fondue so tasty a tablemate wasn't ashamed to lick it off the plate. Next time I'll ignore the shared tradition of small plates and order one all to myself.

Red Eye - How's Your Summer Going? / Easy Being Green - prasino news clips

August 2011 - Wicker Park restaurant prasino opened in early August with decadent small plates such as lobster-stuffed avocado and quite possibly one of the prettiest sidewalk cafes along Division Street.

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Bravo TV - prasino

August 2011 - The brunch menu is extensive–including a butter-poached lobster omelet with caviar and truffle hollandaise–and lunch and dinner features everything from whole wheat flat breads to chorizo seitan tacos. As spacious as it is inside, take a load off at the wide cush Miami-style lounge on the sidewalk in the summertime.

CBS Chicago - New Restaurant Roundup: prasino La Grange

August 23, 2011 - Located in a spot that once was an IHOP and before that a Pizza Hut, La Grange has classed up the corner with prasino, a restaurant that is eco-friendly, promotes organic agriculture and supports local growers. For breakfast, you can choose from favorites like French toast and pancakes or crepes and frittatas. For dinner, you can try their environmentally friendly seafood or choose one of the seven salads for lunch.

BlackBook Magazine: Chicago Opening - prasino

August 2011 - You can feel good about the dough you'll drop on a meal at Wicker Park's eco-friendly restaurant. Not only are the environs sustainably designed with reclaimed wood and recycled light fixtures, but the menu touts local, organic agriculture. Sip on micro-brewed kombucha or a fresh-squeezed juice or smoothie from the juice bar.

Food Mafia - prasino

August 2011 - prasino, a sustainably-minded eco-friendly American fare restaurant with an emphasis on seasonal, locally-grown organic ingredients will be opening a third location in the heart of the hipster scene in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood in early August 2011.

Ask Men - WHY? Because healthy, eco-friendly fare doesn't have to be bland.

August 2011 - Wicker Park may not be short on eco-friendly dining options, but few prepare dishes with the contemporary American flair that Prasino is known for. Utilizing seasonal, locally-grown organic ingredients, the third location of this sustainability-focused mini-chain prides itself on preparing healthy, clean food that doesn't sacrifice flavor. Stop in to sample the lobster stuffed avocado and braised beef short ribs after work, or swing by in the morning and order the caprese eggs Benedict. An 100-seat patio is also perfect for people-watching.

Our Urban Times - prasino to be a life style not a destination

August 19, 2011 - Third generation Greek restaurateur Ted Maglaris at the Wicker Park opening of his newest prasino said, "I came to Wicker Park because of the community feel. I want this to be a life style not a once a month destination. We are organic and local (sourced)." Hours at 1846 W. Division are 7 a.m. to midnight. A 100 seat patio makes for spacious outdoor dining in good weather.

Chicago Scene Magazine - prasino opening

August 2011 - A new addition to the Wicker Park dining scene, Prasino opened its doors for the first time on Thursday, August 11, for an exclusive restaurant premiere. Introducing Prasino's sustainable dining style to Chicago, the restaurant flooded guests with berry cocktails and delectable bites from Chef Scott Halverson, featuring Prasino's "Eat Green Live Well" mission.

Gapers Block - prasino coming to Wicker Park

August 11, 2011 - When I lived in Athens for a bit, I always got a kick out of asking for skim milk at the kiosk down the street from my apartment building -- since the label for skim was green, you'd ask for "green" milk. It sounded a lot better in Greek: "To prasino gala, parakalo." So I smiled inwardly when I saw the sustainable semi-chain (they already have two suburban locations) Prasino is set to open in Wicker Park.

Pop Sugar Chicago - prasino Opens on Division Street in Wicker Park Eco-Design Meets Sustainable Eating at Prasino

August 15, 2011 - Walk into brand-new restaurant Prasino (1846 W. Division St., 312-878-1212), and you'll probably find it hard to believe that the sleek, totally urban Wicker Park spot is actually the restaurant's third location — and the first two are located in the 'burbs. Everything about Prasino (Greek for "green") screams city, from the 100-seat outdoor patio's low-slung couches to the industrial-chic light fixtures; polished concrete floors, and wood, chrome, and leather features. While the space is undoubtedly beautiful — and the perfect place to enjoy an agave-sweetened cocktail or a glass of biodynamic wine — Prasino is first and foremost a sustainably sourced restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, when I decided to make my first visit.

Grub Street Chicago - What to Eat at prasino, Now Open in Wicker Park

August 15, 2011 - ...And let's add another one to the list, as Prasino just opened up on W. Division this weekend. Unlike Native Foods, Prasino is a "sustainably-minded, eco-friendly restaurant." That ultimately means that you'll be able to order miso glazed tofu or a vegetable whole wheat flat bread if you're feeling like keeping things light, or a beefy burger if you don't want to. We have the menu below.

Vital Juice - This new restaurant is a brunch lover's dream come true.

August 15, 2011 - WICKER PARK—The organic-leaning, environmentally friendly 200-seat cleanly designed Prasino opened on Friday—did you take advantage of its 100-seat sidewalk patio over the weekend? If not, pop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner daily and a late-night lounge menu every night. And yes, those lampshades are made from recycled cardboard boxes.

Metromix Chicago - 9 late-breaking patios: Check out these new outdoor spaces before the summer ends.

August 12, 2011 - prasino in Wicker Park plans to debut its sidewalk cafe and lounge.

Vital Juice - This new restaurant is a brunch lover's dream come true.

August 15, 2011 - For healthy eaters, brunch can be the ultimate challenge. It's usually the meal where we wave our white flags and give in to decadent eats we wouldn't think of touching during the week. But at new eco-conscious Wicker Park restaurant prasino, we don't have to compromise. We really can have it all.

The Feast - New Restaurant to Check Out: prasino - wicker park

August 12, 2011 - Click through the gallery for a look at the newcomers you should check out this weekend, from prasino, a health-forward restaurant in Wicker Park

Red Eye - Green on the Scene

August 12, 2011 - This contemporary American restaurant, which has garnered quite the following in the 'burbs for its upscale seasonal fare, has opened a third location in Wicker Park with an eco-friendly mindset and a massive sidewalk patio. True to the restaurant's name, which means "green" in Greek, the dining room features reclaimed wood tables and lighting made from wine bottles. The menu revolves around ingredients from farmers and ranchers that use sustainable and pesticide/hormone-free practices. Local produce is featured when possible, but it's not so Midwest-centric that you won't see signature dishes such as lobster-stuffed avocado and soy-glazed Alaskan black cod.

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Chicago Scene Magazine - Now and When Go Now!

August 2011 - prasino (early August) This eco-friendly restaurant focusing on organic ingredients has already earned plenty of buzz for its two suburban locations.

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TimeOut Chicago - Restaurants + Bars

August 12, 2011 - prasino wicker park photo slide show

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Yahoo! - prasino Opens in Wicker Park with Plenty of Organic and Green Fare

August 12, 2011 -There are foods and drink for every mood you are in. Feeling naughty? Have a cocktail. Feeling nice? How about tea, fresh juice, or even a smoothie? All while surrounded by eco-friendly elegance--recycled glass, reclaimed wood, handmade light fixtures that hardly have an impact on the environment. This restaurant definitely makes a green statement in Chi-town!

Metromix Chicago - The buzz on new Chicago restaurant openings

August 12, 2011 - New on the scene: prasino wicker park photo slide show

Daily Candy - prasino Restaurant Serves Healthy Hipster Fare

August 12, 2011 - Chicago is as fatty as it is foodie (see: Baconfest, Ribfest, SausageFest). Lighten up with guilt-free fare at prasino, opening Monday in Wicker Park. The infamous suburban health haunt's first city location doesn't skimp on sustainability (prasino means green in Greek), from the interior (recycled corrugated boxes double as light fixtures; there's a bar made of sustainable mesquite wood) to liquor variety (Fair quinoa vodka, the world's first spirit made with fair trade-certified ingredients) to, of course, the food.

Huffington Post - Chicago Day Trips: Quick Late Summer Getaways

August 10, 2011 - Follow the Fox River: The Chicago 'burbs harbor two picturesque cities -- St. Charles and Geneva -- try prasino, with its emphasis on local and organic ingredients

Chicago Magazine

August 10, 2011 - West suburban star prasino will expand into the city with the unveiling of its eco-chic Wicker Park café on Friday at 7 a.m. . . .

Chicagoist: Restaurant News: prasino Opening

August 10, 2011 - prasino, an organic, sustainable restaurant with outposts in La Grange and St. Charles, opens tomorrow in Wicker Park. We're most excited for their breakfast (not just brunch) menu, including carrot cake pancakes with fresh grated carrot, cinnamon, nutmeg, golden raisins,whipped sweet cream cheese and candied pecans. We'll be back with more details after the opening. 1846 West Division

Urban Daddy: Green Revolution Wicker Park's New All-Day Hangout

August 9, 2011 - Sure, you're busy. But you make time for what's really important: family. Friends. The planet. Cold martinis. Thick pork chops. Sushi. Chocolate ganache pancakes... Just not necessarily in that order. So introducing Prasino, a swanky new Wicker Park sanctuary of big tables, snug booths, romantic dinners—and the occasional romantic breakfast and lunch.

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Pop Sugar Chicago Hot Plate: Eco-Friendly Prasino Coming to Wicker Park in August

July 14, 2011 - Normally, restaurants open in the city before moving out to the 'burbs. But prasino did the opposite, opening two successful operations in LaGrange and St. Charles before venturing in our direction. The eco-friendly resto (prasino means "green" in Greek) opens in Wicker Park (1846 W. Division St.) in early August, and, for once, we can't wait to see what we've been missing outside the city.

Grub Street Chicago - prasino Coming Soon to Wicker Park

July 12, 2011 - prasino is getting ready to make the transition from the suburbs to the city, as it plans to open a third outlet this fall in Wicker Park. The restaurant's name means "green" in Greek, and you better believe the restaurant is touting that it is "sustainably-minded" and "eco-friendly." It won't officially be open until at least August, but will eventually be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.