A great restaurant to enjoy the holidays, Sullivan's Steakhouse in Naperville

Restaurant Review

Sullivan's Steakhouse in Naperville is part of a national chain in 14 cities and features a Holiday Menu with quality care in preparing their expansive menu of fresh meats, seafood, and appetizers. The restaurant offers a combination of great food, presentation, freshness, and preparation, and the way the food is served makes this restaurant a top destination for family enjoyment and business atmosphere

By Ray Hanania

Naperville, IL – A favorite holiday tradition for families and friends is to come together at a restaurant to share and enjoy a great meal to celebrate the holidays.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse in Naperville does all that and more, turning every day into a holiday and every bite into a delight, offering a wide variety of menu options for everyone's pleasure.

Sullivan’s, part of a national chain of top-tier steakhouses, offers a spectacular menu with top-tier steak cuts, along with an extensive menu of the most popular seafoods, and great options for vegetarians, too.

Not only is the menu delicious and enjoyable, but the staff is friendly and attentive. Even more appealing is the presentation of the food by the chef, and the professional effort staff add when they bring the food to the table. It really makes the food even more appealing and turns on your taste buds.

Sullivan's Steakhouse entrance

This week, I went to Sullivan’s Steakhouse to enjoy a mix of steak and seafood from their extensive menu. I felt so comfortable there, as each serving arrived with the knowledgeable help of our server, Jairo.

Jairo’s descriptions of each food serving, from the appetizers to the main dishes, and to the desserts, made each one that much more palatable. Sullivan’s definitely brings a taste that goes beyond great food.

The restaurant has a large dining room, and the seating was very comfortable, not crowded. Service was paced and not rushed, allowing me to thoroughly enjoy each course.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse General Manager Sarah Stees emphasizes that the goal is not only to prepare and present the best quality food menu to customers, but to do so in a way that they can enjoy themselves during the meal.

“We are a steakhouse. My personal favorite is the short rib and the beef bordelaise. Everything in our kitchen is made from scratch, all of the sauces, all of the sides. Everything is just made with love. All of our steaks are butchered in-house. Our chefs take meticulous care to trim all of our filets, to trim our short ribs, and to just make sure everything is as perfect as possible for our guests,” Stees explained.

“Along with steaks, seafood is a very popular choice for the holidays. We want to be able to give people who may not be looking for a heavy steak a strong choice as well, and that's where our lobster comes in, where our shrimp comes in. It complements perfectly. If someone gets the bordelaise, you can enjoy the shrimp. If someone gets the short rib, you can enjoy the lobster. It really is just meant to be kind of a community event, a community dinner.”

In addition to great food, you can’t say enough about the informative and friendly staff. Our waiter, Jiaro, was there when he needed to be and provided intimate menu details to help diners truly enjoy their meal.

Assistant General Manager Michael Kosobucki said that Sullivan’s puts its staff through a rigorous training process, which explained how Jairo knew every detail of every item on Sullivan’s extensive menu as we ordered.

“That’s what makes a difference for our servers. The servers care a lot about your experience as a diner, and they are prepared to give you as much information about each menu item as you want,” Kosobucki said.

“You are not just a table to us. We want to ensure that you get the best experience and that you enjoy your meal. It is really important to all of us here.”

Kosobucki said all the food in the restaurant is fresh, not frozen. “We have a very small freezer that is used for ice cream and our freshly made whipped cream,” he said. “Everything is fresh.”

He is correct. The freshness of the food served came through and made the meal that much more enjoyable.

Jairo and Stees both offered details about menu selections we enjoyed at Sullivan’s Steakhouse, a national premier chain with restaurants in 14 locations around the country including in Naperville, Anchorage, Baton Rouge, Charlotte, Detroit (Lunch), Indianapolis, King of Prussia Pennsylvania, Leawood Kansas, Little Rock, Omaha, Palm Desert California, Raleigh, Tucson, and Wilmington Delaware.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse strives to live up to its motto, “Prime Flavor with a Local Flair,” Stees said.

“I think steakhouses get a bad rap for only being there for diners who are steak and potatoes kind of people, somebody who is going for a huge steak. The truth is, we are just as much a seafood restaurant as we are a steak restaurant. We have a ton of seafood options. We have plenty of options,” Stees said, noting that Sullivan’s will also do everything to meet the needs of vegetarians, too.

“The one thing I will say is that even if it's not on the menu, we do everything we possibly can to accommodate any dietary restrictions. Because everything is made in-house, we have the flexibility to do that. Nothing is pre-made. Everything that we do is cooked and prepared in-house, so we know our food inside and out. All that we want to do is to make people happy, so we'll do everything that we possibly can to make that happen.”

A priority, Stees said, is to ensure that customers don’t experience long wait times.

You know the meal is going to be great when the bread is hot, crispy, and fresh, and that’s exactly what we enjoyed during our dinner there this week.

We started out with the “Crispy Shanghai Calamari,” which features a phenomenal tasting sweet chili sauce.

Sullivan's Steakhouse Calamari

“The sweet and spicy chili sauce adds a little bit of an Asian zing to it. You have the sweet chilis in there, but it also has that really nice texture, so it elevates the calamari to something that you wouldn't normally get somewhere else,” Stees described.

“There's a spin on it. It's not just fried calamari that you may get in an Italian restaurant. It really does have this beautiful, tangy elevation to it. The cherry peppers are perfect for people who enjoy a little kick.”

The menu also included a tasty, specially prepared salad.

 

Sullivan's Steakhouse salad

“We cook everything in-house. So, we roasted beautiful golden and red beets, and we had a beautiful bed of spinach, and then we make a fresh vinaigrette that is served alongside. It's really a nice, hearty starter. Beets, especially during the winter, just seem to be comforting for a lot of people. It just adds another depth of flavor to that salad,” Stees said.

Next among the appetizers was the Dual Fried Lobster Tempura, which I really enjoyed.

 

Sullivan's Steakhouse Lobster Tempura

“The lobster is actually drenched in a tempura batter, so it creates this really gorgeous and great tasting crust,” Stees explained. “It's not a really heavy breading over a lobster tail. You're just getting a really beautiful, meaty lobster tail with a crispy exterior.”

Sullivan’s Steakhouse offers a wide range of steak selections including bone-in Ribeye Cowboy Cut, 14 oz Bone-In Filet Mignon, Bone-In Wagyu Strip from Snake River Farms Idaho, the rarest A5 Japanese Wagyu Strip served with Yakiniku Sauce, 24 oz Porterhouse, 35-day Dry-Aged Tomahawk Ribeye, Cajun Ribeye, and for those with a Mediterranean appeal, Roasted Rack of Lamb from Thomas Farms, Australia.

 

Sullivan's Steakhouse server Jairo with a plate of steak options

“Our steaks are all curated very heavily. We are very particular about the style and the quality of meat that we offer. That's why we feel comfortable bringing out the steak tray. We're not afraid to bring our steaks out and show you them raw, because they are gorgeous steaks," Stees said.

"We also like to feature our really beautiful, gorgeously marbled A5 Wagyu, the rarest of all beef. We have our Wagyu certification. It is very uncommon in a lot of steakhouses these days. We offer a four-ounce portion, and you can add specific ounces. Wagyu is an experience in itself. It's not just about volume. You're not getting a 24-ounce Porterhouse. You're getting this absolutely gorgeous, thin-sliced Japanese Wagyu that's been seared on the outside. It's served with a really beautiful and tasty sauce.”

For the main serving, we enjoyed the North Atlantic whole 8-ounce Lobster, with claws and crispy spinach, and a Beef Bordelaise, Australian Filet Mignon with crispy Pommes Darphin.

Sullivan's Steakhouse North Atlantic whole lobster and claws

“We make our Bordelaise sauce fresh in-house; it's this really beautiful red wine reduction. We caramelize all of the vegetables, the shallots, and the mixed mushrooms. The Beef Bordelaise is served on a potato pancake base,” Stees said.

 

Sullivan's Steakhouse Beef Bordelaise Australian Filet Mignon

Additionally, the dinner experience included a Lobster Risotto on the side that was very tasty, too.

“The Lobster Risotto is very popular. It is slow-cooked Arborio rice, served in a really beautiful cheese mixture, a Parmigiano-Reggiano, and some Pecorino, heavy cream,” Stees said.

 

Lobster Risotto

Additionally, Sullivan’s Steakhouse has a large, attractive dining room area with separate private dining areas for special events and a large wine wall.

The meal was delicious and elevated by attentive staff and excellent service.

We enjoyed a specialty dessert that Sullivan's Steakhouse makes, Carrot Cake.

 

Sullivan's Steakhouse Carrot Cake Dessert

It’s not too late to enjoy a meal for Hanukkah, Christmas, or the New Year. Sullivan’s "Holiday Menu" is extraordinary when it comes to taste and enjoyment.

They offer a wide range of desserts, too.

Sullivan's Steakhouse server Jairo with desserts

You can make every day a holiday at a Sullivan’s Steakhouse dining table with their spectacular menu.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse,
244 S Main Street, Naperville, IL 60540

There is parking nearby, but Sullivan’s Steakhouse provides exclusive Valet service at the front entrance.

For more information on Sullivan’s Steakhouse and its dinner, lunch, or specialty menus, visit their website online at:

www.Sullivanssteakhouse.com

For more on Ray Hanania, visit https://www.Hanania.com

Patch activist joins up with Bellar to oppose popular Gorman in March primary

Bellar & Patch activist join in vicious attack against popular Gorman in March primary

By Ray Hanania

I was reading the slop that passes for "journalism" these days on the Patch, a web-based platform that just as often reports news as it engages in partisan political activity.

English: Chicagoland map (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The most recent attack is from Barbara Bellar, the Tea Party nut-job whose friend happens to be an editor at the Tinley Park Patch. Bellar is challenging Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth "Liz" Gorman in the March 18 Republican Primary.

The Patch gave Bellar a self-serving bully pulpit to repeat a litany of distorted accusations against Gorman, who is by far one of the most responsible leaders of the Republican Party and a champion of the taxpayers.

Bellar's invective drips with anger, hatred and lies against Gorman because, frankly, she has no idea about what the taxpayers of Cook County need or want. It's all about getting herself into a position of authority.

Never mind for a moment that the Patch should be ashamed of itself for allowing Bellar to use the Patch as her own campaign platform. But worse is that Bellar, in her rundown of some of the most vicious and ignorant accusations ever published in Chicagoland regional politics, doesn't have one idea on how to make Republicans and taxpayers stronger.

Professionally, the Patch should be ashamed of itself for throwing away its credibility and being used for a selfish political agenda.

Elizabeth Ann Doody Gorman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

She'll attack me, I'm sure, but at least I am upfront. I am a former journalist (many awards -- some the editor probably never heard of or will ever hope to win) and today I work as a media and political consultant, always upfront about who I work for. I don't work for Gorman, though. I just happen to be believe she is one of the best elected officials in the Chicagoland suburbs, and a role model for what Republicans can be if they turned away from the fanatics and started to listen to what voters want, instead of to themselves.

Yet, I'd rather be aligned with Liz Gorman as a friend, than to be so tackily associated with a pathetic activist like Bellar, who based on her attack against Gorman doesn't have one intelligent idea to help make the situation of taxpayers better. Not one idea in her rant that includes 16 of the most obnoxious, ridiculous assertions any political candidate can make about another candidate. Not one idea.

Gorman has fought for taxpayers. Her battle to stop and then rescind the Todd Stroger Sales Tax hike is legendary. Neither Bellar nor her Patch pal would know what the taxpayers need.

Bellar's most obnoxious accusation is to falsely claim she was assaulted by Gerry Gorman, Liz Gorman's husband. No, Bellar, a nut case who claims to have been a "Nun,"is lying because she has nothing else to say. Yes, Bellar filed a complaint that police totally ignored because it was so clear that it is untrue. It was so politically motivated, it was a waste of police manpower.

Bellar claims to be pro-Choice. For a self-proclaimed "Nun?" Wow. Bellar is a political activist from the lowest rungs of the political ladder, and only with the help of her whacky friends, she is trying to distract voters from her own past.

Click here to read Phil Kadner's column on Bellar, which should pretty much tell you everything about Bellar. Kadner wrote:

"I wrote a column about Bellar during last fall’s election season because on her campaign literature and website she used the slogan there’s “Nun Better,” a reference to claims she made repeatedly in pubic that she had been a Catholic nun. 

"But when I checked into her background, I discovered that Bellar had only been a postulant in the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago and could find no evidence that she ever took vows of fidelity and obedience. 

"Bellar refused to answer my repeated inquiries about the discrepancy between her campaign claims and information provided by the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago."

The real issue is why would the Patch run this false slop without checking it?

Most voters are smart enough to see past these kinds of cheap lies. For a Nun, Bellar can't even come up with one positive thing to say that she would do if she were ever elected to public office. But she can't because she has no ideas. All she can do is throw mud.

No one cares about Bellar's religion. No one cares about Bellar's vicious attacks. All the people care about is what will their elected officials do to ease the burden of taxes on their families. Gorman has done more for the taxpayers and suburbs than anyone.

Bellar says she wants to debate Gorman, but I would urge Gorman to ignore this nut job and continue to do what you are doing, working hard to champion the needs of the taxpayers. Bellar is a goof who has shamed the Tinley Patch. There's nothing to debate. Bellar wants a debate obviously so she can repeat all of her stupid claims. And they are stupid.

Bellar proves that there is no contest in the race for the Cook County Board in the 17th District. Liz Gorman is the best candidate for the job and there is no doubt, based on the overwhelming support she has already received from voters, that she will earn another term.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter and president is his own media and political consulting firm.)Related articles

• Gorman gives Rauner some added 'Big Mo'
• Cook County Candidates Face Ballot Position Lottery Tuesday

Newest episode of Star Chef Chicagoland scheduled for viewing

Newest episode of Star Chef Chicagoland scheduled for viewing

The second episode of the locally produced “Star Chef Chicagoland”reality show is scheduled for broadcast on Fridays on Comcast Cable TV Channel 19 in 145 suburban communities each week. The show features celebrity chefs making their favorite recipes for a panel of celebrity judges and is hosted by Ray Hanania, a columnist with Creators Syndicate and host of a weekday morning radio show on WJJG 1530 AM Radio.

Episode 2 features Second City comedian Aaron Freeman and his wife Sharon Rosenzweig making Challah Shabbat Jewish Bread and garlic pole beans. The celebrity judges include Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman (R-17th District), former White Sox Pitcher Billy Pierce, Les Aims Escoiffier member Nemer Ziyad and Bryan Sord the owner of 94 West Steak & Seafood Restaurant where the show is taped each month. Ziyad is the vice president of Ziyad Brothers Importing, one of the nation’s largest distributors of Mediterranean Foods and also Wild Garden Hummus Dip.

All episodes are also available for viewing online at www.StarChefChicagoland.com. The show airs in Palos Park, Palos Hills and Orland Park at 8:30 PM. It airs in Palos Heights at 7 PM. More listings are available online.

[Picture attached includes: From left, former White Sox Pitcher Billy and Gloria Pierce, Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman (R-17th) and 94 West Steak & Seafood Restaurant owner Bryan Sord. Photo courtesy Glenn Kaupert.]

2nd Episode of Star Search Chicagoland taped for broadcast in August

Former White Sox Pitcher Bill Pierce poses with his wife Gloria, Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman (R-17) and 94 West Steak & Seafood Restaurant owner Bryan Sord. Pierce and Gorman were two of the celebrity judges appearing in the latest episode of Star Chef Chicagoland, a food reality show produced for Comcast Cable TV Channel 19 by Orland Park’s Ray Hanania. The show features celebrity chefs preparing meals for a panel of judges that also includes Nemer Ziyad, owner of Ziyad Brothers Importing and member of the Les Ames Escoiffier Society, and Sord. 

The second episode, to be broadcast in August on Friday nights at 7 pm or 8:30 pm (depending on your suburb) on Channel 19 Comcast Cable, features 2^nd City Comedian Aaron Freeman and his wife Sharon cooking a traditional Jewish Shabbat entre, Challah Bread and garlic string beans. 

For more information on the TV show you can visit www.StarChefChicagoland.com. The show is broadcast in 145 suburban Chicagoland communities. (Photo courtesy of Glenn Kaupert).

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Chicago Reader profiles Ray Hanania's media network

Check out the Chicago Reader's profile of Ray Hanania's media network ...

Click HERE to read the feature by columnist Michael Miner

New reality TV Show launched: Star Chef Chicagoland

New reality TV show launched, Star Chef Chicagoland

Columnist and media consultant Ray Hanania launched a new reality show this week called "Star Chef Chicagoland."

The program will feature celebrity judges and chefs. The chefs will bring int heir favorite recipes and serve them to the judges for review and commentary.

Star Chef Chicagoland is filmed in the kitchens and dining rooms of 94 West Steak & Seafood Restaurant, 154th and 94th Avenue in Orland Park, one of Chicagoland's top restaurants.

Celebrity Judges include regulars Bryan Sord, owner of 94 West Steak & Seafood Restaurant and also owner of the Charley Horse Restaurants in Hammond, Indiana, Tinley Park and New Lenox. Also judging is Nemer Ziyad, a member of the Les Ames Escoiffier Society of chefs and the Vice President of Ziyad Brothers Importing one of the largest distributors of Mediterranean food in the country (www.ZiyadRecipes.com).

The first Celebrity Guest Chef is Je'Niece Mac, the daughter of the late comedian Bernie Mac. She is the executive director of the Bernie Mac Foundation.

Our first celebrity chef is Heather Warthen, of 22nd Century Media Newspaper Group and editor of the Orland Park Prairie Newspapers. Heather prepares her favorite recipe "Pesto Chicken"and a dessert of Vanilla Roasted Pears in Episode 1 filmed this week and slated for broadcast Friday may 28.

The show will be broadcast every Friday on Comcast Cable TV on Channel 19 at 7 PM or 8:30 PM depending on your suburban location. The show is broadcast in 145 suburban Chicagoland locations and is a part of Hanania's Radio Chicagoland and TV Chicagoland enterprises. www.RadioChicagoland.com.

The show web site is www.StarChefChicagoland.com.

Celebrity Chefs Nemer Ziyad, Je'Niece Mac and Bryan Sord.

Heather Warthen talks with host Ray Hanania with Nemer Ziyad at the table in background.

All photographs courtesy of photographer Glenn Kaupert www.GlennKaupter.com.

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Won two awards this month for journalism

In addition to the Society of Professional Journalism Lisagor Award I received last month (my 4th Award) from the Chicago Headlline Club, the SPJ's largest chapter, I also received the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for columns writing.

Here's the press release.

Announcing winners of the 2009 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for journalism


5/3/2010

For immediate release

Contact:
Lauren Rochester, Awards Coordinator, (317) 927-8000 ext. 210,
lrochester@spj.org
Karen Grabowski, Communications Coordinator, (317) 927-8000 ext. 215,
kgrabowski@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism.

Judges chose the winners from over 1,300 entries in categories covering print, radio, television and online. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2009.

Dating back to 1932, the awards originally honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the Society granted the first Distinguished Service Awards. The honors later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.

The awards will be presented Oct. 2 during the 2010 SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference in Las Vegas.

For more information contact Lauren Rochester at (317) 927-8000 ext. 210 or at lrochester@spj.org.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well- informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

2009 Sigma Delta Chi Winners:

General Column Writing (Daily Circulation 1-50,000)
“Sunday Reflections,” Tracey O'Shaughnessy, Republican American

General Column Writing (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
Sean Kirst, The Post-Standard

General Column Writing (Daily Circulation 100,000+)
Nicholas D. Kristof, The New York Times

General Column Writing (Non-Daily Publication)
Ray Hanania, Southwest News-Herald

Click HERE to read the entire list of winners.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Jerusalem Post: Why doesn't the Government want to know about Arabs in America?

Yalla Peace: Some other race?

By RAY HANANIA, THE JERUSALEM POST, 17/03/2010 12:28 

Why doesn't the government want to know how many Arabs there are in the US?

A lot of Israelis think it is rough growing up Jewish in the Western world, but we Palestinians and Jews share a lot. It’s just as difficult for us.

As a child, my friends once surrounded me and demanded to know “What are you?”

What am I, I wondered. “I’m American.” No you’re not, they insisted.

So I went home and asked my dad. “Dad, what am I?” My dad shook his head and said, “Ya rubbee. Don’t tell them you are Palestinian. Tell them you are Syrian or Lebanese.”

Imagine, it was okay to be Syrian or Lebanese back then. So I went back to school and the kids surrounded me again and they asked “What are you?” I told them: “I’m cereal. But I think my mother is a lesbian.” Badda boom! Great joke in my comedy lineup but also a true reflection of the challenges facing Arabs in America.

Things haven’t improved at all. In fact, they’ve gotten worse.

Recently the US Census announced its decennial campaign to “count” all Americans. You see, in America, money is distributed based on the ethnic and racial demographics of the population – how many people each ethnic and racial group has.

If the census shows blacks living together in one spot, the government designs political boundaries to help black voters strengthen their voices in elections.

THREE TIMES over the past 30 years, the US Census has spent millions on lobbying ethnic and racial communities to convince them to fill out the census forms which ask questions about family size. Traditionally, though, minorities have resisted the census believing it is a way for the government to peek into their lives, and then punish them for things they might be doing wrong.

Hispanics fear that the government might discover some of their relatives are “illegal aliens,” for example. (Actually, things could be worse for me. Instead of being Arab, I could be “Hispanic” and have the word “panic” built in to my name.)

So the census has added “ethnic identity” to the form and identified 29 ethnic and racial peoples to help them more easily be counted. And, the more easily you can identity yourself, the more benefits you may get.

When you review the census form’s long list of 29 “recognized” ethnic and racial groups, you notice that Arabs, and Jews by the way, are not included.

The groups are:

White.

Black people are listed in three different categories on the form: Black. African-American. Negro. (A strange apparition in 2010)

Hispanics are listed in five different ways on the form: Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin. Mexican-American. Chicano. What country does Chicano come from?

The census also identifies American Indian and Alaskan native. They even give them space on the form to write in their tribe.

There are all kinds of Asians. Lots of them. Asian-Indian, Japanese, native Hawaiian, Chinese, Korean, Guamanian or Chamorro, Filipino, Vietnamese and Samoan. Just in case they missed someone, they’ve added categories for other Asians such as Laotian, Thai, Pakistani and Cambodian. They also have Pacific Islander, Fijian, Tongan. Who are Tongans?

I know why they don’t have Arab or Jew written on the US Census form. They don’t have any room left on the form.

Now, many people think that Jews already “control the news media” and don’t need to be counted. They have the highest voter turnout of any group in the country and are considered among the most politically empowered.

SO THAT leaves us Arabs. What do we have? Zip. Zilch. Zero. How many ways can I say ‘nothing’? The fact that the US government doesn’t want to know how many Arabs there are in America or where they live is really kind of strange, actually.

Because since September 11, 2001, the US government has done everything it can to identify Arabs and Muslims, too. Usually at airports, profiling us to pull us out of lines and give us the third degree. When it comes to something bad, the government is all over us as Arabs. But when it comes to getting something good, like power, the US government leaves us out. And it doesn’t count us.

We’re told when we complain that Arabs are not listed on the US Census form that we Arabs can just write our name on the “other” line at the bottom of the form.

That is so demeaning. I don’t want to be “other.” How much have we lost as Arabs in America because we’re not counted by the census?

Well, take a place like Chicago for example, that has 36,000 to 38,000 city jobs paid for by taxes (we Arabs pay taxes, too). Chicago Mayor Richard Daley was in Dubai last year trying to raise money for his near-bankrupt city, the second largest in America, by the way. He told

the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chicago has 250,000 Arabs. He treats them well, he boasted.

In fact, next month, Daley will be feted at a dinner hosted by the Arab American Institute in Washington for all the “good things” he has done for “his” 250,000 Arabs.

Well, it turns out he hasn’t done much for his Arabs at all.

Chicago has 3 million people. Do the math. Arabs are about 8 percent of the population. That means we should have 8% of the city’s jobs, or about 3,040 city jobs. Arabs have only about 200 total jobs in the city.

Arabs being paid to promote the census are angry with me. But I have learned one important fact when it comes to American politics: If you can keep ethnic groups from knowing how many they are, you can un-empower them.

Named Best Ethnic Columnist in America by New America Media, the writer is a Palestinian-American columnist and peace activist. He can be reached at www.YallaPeace.com

Letters, comments, and more ...

Mr. Hanania,

I was pleasantly surprised to read your column and see that at least one correspondent in the Chicago area remembers how Bobbie Steele maneuvered herself  (in my opinion) to steal a much larger pension from the citizens of Cook County. I wish you had taken a moment to reach the larger audience and remind everyone how she ran for and won re-election to her county position and subsequently gave it to her son.

I don't even see how it's legal for these 'elected' positions to be handed to family members. Of course she only did what she saw Stroger do. If he indeed did appoint his son to his county board Presidential seat. I, for one, believe he was far too ill to make such a decision and his associates and Todd Stroger's handlers made that decision for an incapacitated Board President. I personally do not think the current Cook County Board President is legally seated, and never has been.

The only disappointment I read in your article was your frequent reference to race. It's a shame when we must calibrate our polls and voting practices to assure a certain race wins a position. How is a 4th, 5th, or 6th generation of American, a "mutt", to ever win elected office if the media focuses only on Whites or African Americans or Latinos?

It is time for all this question of race to be put behind us and the election of truly competent budgeters and leaders to be the focus of our elections. The Citizens of Cook County can no longer afford to allow officials to run for, and win, election based solely upon which voting demographic they are going to squander the most of our Taxpayer dollars on.

Thank you for your reporting,

 J.T.

RAY HANANIA REPLIES

Thanks Jim for the comments. I appreciate them and also your feelings about the issue of race … I was hoping to make the point that stronger says race is an issue but the poll shows that race is in fact not an issue with voters at all and that he isn’t trailing a White candidate but rather two Black candidates undermining his contention that he is the victim of racism. I don’t dislike Stroger because of race. I dislike him because he is a lousy government leader. And as lousy government leaders go, he is among the worst.

Thank you

=== ===

Dear Mr. Hanania

I look forward to your column every week.  You are the brightest most knowledgeable person in the news industry.  Thanks for telling it how it is and writing so people understand what is transpiring.   Your ideas on a Regional Hospital are outstanding! The world needs more people like you that step up to the podium and "DO THE RIGHT THING".  You are an inspiration! 

Sincerely, 

Bridgeview Resident.

=== ===

Dear Ray Hanania

You are an absolute blind clueless uninformed moron who worships a cardboard cutout of Blago and any other person with a D by their name every time you get up in the morning.  Please quit apologizing for crooks.

Mad Conservative Crime Fighter

=== ===

Ray

Nice article in the paper today.  Don't forget Cheney got 4 or 5 deferments from the Vietnam War because he was afraid to serve his country but he is sure quick to pull the trigger when it comes to sending someone else into war.

T.P.

=== ===

Ray, I listen every morning and I respect your honesty. However, your show has become a total arab-american travesty. enough with the arab american crap every day. You are capable of doing a wide variety of topics. The arabs bring most of the problems on themselves. Wherever there are arab muslims in the world thete is terror and devastaion. Any people that murder in the name od alah or God are sick people. Please cut back a little on the arab crap. I know I can listen out if I don't like it but I am afan of yours and WJJG .

A FAN

=== ===

Ray:

Just a quick note to thank you very much for coming to speak to our group "Behind the Headlines" at St. Xavier University. Your comments were both entertaining as well as insightful and informative.  It is quite a feat when you can keep the attention of a group of senior citizens for an entire hour.  I think you succeeded in this with no question.  Our group come from varied backgrounds...... teachers, principals, business people, trades people, law enforcement (me), etc.......One thing we all have in common is to have people come in from all different backgrounds and share their ideas and opinions with us....This, in turn, gives us material to have some very vocal arguments the next time we meet.

Again, thanks very much for coming to visit us.  I'm sure Tom has already expresses that you can come back and visit us anytime.  We'd be glad to have you!

M.S.

=== ===

Dear raghead

"Ray Hanania, spokesman for the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military, told a Chicago radio show the incident would exacerbate existing prejudice. "It's going to get worse. They are going to go after us," he said."

Well you bastards bring it on yourselves with this type of shit. Do us all a favor, pack up, and take your raghead asses back to the fucking desert where you belong. Americans HATE you, and with good reason

Obed Santos

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Amazing technology -- what can be done with online campaign videos

This is just hilarious ... "Ray Hanania blamed for Barack Obama's defeat Nov. 7":



Pass it on.

-- Ray Hanania
www.OrlandParker.com

Hanania named morning talk show host at WJJG

Hanania to host weekday morning radio talk show on WJJG

(Orland Park/Sept. 5, 2008) – Orland Park resident and journalist Ray Hanania was named this week as the morning talk show host on WJJG AM 1530.

An award winning journalist who covered Chicago City Hall from 1977 until 1992, and hosted a radio show on WLS AM radio, Hanania will host the show weekday mornings, Monday through Friday, beginning every morning at 8 AM.

Hanania said he expects the show to expand in the near future.

“Mornings with Ray Hanania” will feature interviews and discussions with listeners on every topic in the news. Hanania will also emphasize local Southwest suburban news and issues in the show along with regional, national and international guests.

“I am a big believer in community news, community newspapers and community reporting and one important aspect of the show will be inclusion of community perspectives and news in our discussion,” Hanania said.

“I want people in Bollingbrook to learn about some of the events in Orland Park, for example, and for the people in Orland Park to engage people in other communities on issues that are local but that cross suburban boundaries. Suburban communities face common challenges and even though the details might be different, they are the same and sharing and discussing is important.”

Hanania is the winner of three Society of Professional Journalism Lisagor awards and was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist in America” by the New America Media in November 2006. He also has awards from UPI and two Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild.

The radio show will be broadcast live on the internet off his web page at www.RadioChicagoland.com. Hanania is also a columnist with the Southwest News-Herald newspaper, and with the HuffingtonPost.com. His columns also appear in news blogs and newspaper around the world.

“People love me. People hate me. People read my columns. Now you can listen to me and engage in a discussion about today’s top issues and topics. It won’t be me talking down to people like on most other radio shows. I want people to call and share their views on issues and topics,” Hanania said.

end

Wanted to thank the listeners for their support

My weekly radio show "Radio Chicagoland" is off the air, mainly because we lost a major sponsor who was with us for so long and we couldn't find a substitute in time to keep the show going. Regardless, I wanted to say thank you to all of the listeners who spent the past 9 months with me as we had so much fun, forst on WJJG AM Radioa nd later WCEV 1450 AM Radio. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to call my "radio friends."

We may or may not make it back ont he air. It all depends, so I will look at this as a brioef sabatical from on-air rboadcasting. Maybe find another radio station. Who knows.

But I did want to say thank you especially to Neha Mehra, our intern and Special Reporter on Youth News. She did a GREAT JOB! And so did Ali Ido, who provided special reports from the street in his "Street News" segments. What a great job they all did.

In the meantime, I will probably continue to podcast interviews that will be posted on both the Radio Chicagoland web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com, and also at the Southwest News-Herald web site at www.SWNewsHerald.com. Those interviews will be of general interest. I also plan to do some special interest interviews on the Middle East and Chicago's dysfunctional Arab American community in the hopes of shaking some sense into their senselessness. You can find those on Radio Chicagoland and also on my web site at www.Hanania.com.

Thanks and talk to you soon
Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com

Radio Show may be at an end

Well, we had a great 9 month run on radio, first one show every Wednesday with WJJG and the great Joe Gentile beginning in September 2007, and then at WCEV 1450 AM Radio every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 until 6 PM with its stronger signal on the South and Southwest Side and Suburbs. But alas, it is all about sponsorship and while we enjoyed some strong support for the majority of the show, the media market is collapsing and advertising is weak.

So, I am not sure if I will be back on radio Tuesday at WCEV. The station needs a stronger signal, is too "ethnic" -- although that's the call letters of WCEV "Chicago;s Ethnic Voice." But the ethnic angle sure turned off a lot of listeners. Wow! The feedback on the content of the rest of the stationw as harsh.

Still, during our brief two hours every Tuesday and Thursday we had a blast, getting more call-ins from listeners than any other show during the week.

Radio Chicagoland, the only radio show giving Southwest Siders and Suburbanites a voice on local, regional, state, national and international issues will be back! :)

Thanks everyone for making it so much fun.

The past show segments are either online or podcast at www.RadioChicagoland.com.

In the event I don't come back to radio, I will continue to do radio interviews and podcast them through the web site.

Thanks
Ray Hanania

PS ... read my columns on the www.HuffingtonPost.com, the Internet's highest rated web page ... numero uno!

More Drew Peterson pr on TV?

"Drew Peterson Speaks Out?" That is how the Today Show promoted their interview with Drew Peterson, the apparently unluckiest man on Earth. Drew Peterson didn't speak out. He didn't say anything. He is just appearing on TV to get his ugly face on TV. It's sickening. His whole attitude and his lack of concern for his 4th wife id DISGUSTING. And it's pathetic to watch him on TV.

Do we have to see Drew Peterson on TV, smirking and laughing? His 3rd Wife's death was ruled a homicide. Murder. It sounds like the original ruling was manipulated to suggest she died accidentally. Who was the Orland Park Police Officer who was a part of the Will County Coroner's Office jury that pushed the members to rule the death of his 3rd wife was an accident when in fact it has now been ruled a murder?

Do you think Drew Peterson is innocent or guilty? That's one of the questions on tonight's radio show. Call in to the show tonight at 5 PM during the Hot Topics Segment and share your views ont his and other topics.

773-777-1450

WCEV RadioChicagoland.com 4 to 6 PM every Tuesday and Thursday night.

Ray Hanania

Tinley Park Police Chief Mike O'Connell joins show today with Lane Bryant murders

Tinley Park Police Chief Mike O'Connell will join the Radio Chicagoland show today to offer an update on the Feb. 2, 2008 murders at Lane Bryant in Tinley Park ... five women were murdered execution style on Feb. 2, 2008 and one other was shot but survived. The police have a sketch of the killer. It's received huge coverage on America's Most Wanted and other national programs, and the hunt is on for the killer.

Also, joining the show is African American Jewish comedian Aaron Freeman.

Other guests include Cook County Board Commissioner Tony Peraica on county taxes, and Jim Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute giving us an update on the challenges facing the many countries of the Middle East.

Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Column by Jim Zogby of the Arab American Institute on Peace in the Middle East

Here's the most recent column by Jom Zogby of the Arab American Institute on MIddle East peace. Zogby is our guest tonight on WCEV Radio Chicagoland at 5:20 CST/Central. We'll be talking about this and the entire gamut of the Middle East challenges during the interview tonight.
Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

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Washington Watch:
"Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace" - Is Peace Possible?
By James ZogbyFebruary 25, 2008


This month the U.S. Institute for Peace released "Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: American Leadership in the Middle East," the report of a study group which examined U.S. peacemaking efforts over the past four decades. Headed by Daniel Kurtzer (former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and Israel), the group met during 2006-2007 and interviewed over 100 officials and experts from seven countries and three international organizations.
The main body of the report is a concise and precise look at successes and failures, and strengths and weaknesses of the past three administrations' efforts at Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. It concludes by detailing ten lessons learned, and then outlining recommendations based on those lessons to guide the next administration.
The examination of Washington's peace making efforts during the past three administrations begins with a largely positive assessment of "Bush 41," crediting President George H.W. Bush for "having the clearest sense of strategy," which he pursued "in a highly disciplined, effective and committed manner." Bush and Secretary of State Baker are praised for understanding and taking advantage of the opportunities that flowed from the end of the Cold War and the end of the first Gulf War, and moving aggressively, with balanced pressure, to convene the Madrid peace conference. On the other hand, the major weakness of "Bush 41," pointed to in the report, was his "failure to build a strong coalition at home to support [his] strategy." It was the combination of this failure, and the distraction of his reelection effort in 1992, that caused the Bush Administration to lose focus on its peacemaking efforts.
In spite of this, the report notes that the Clinton Administration "inherited an ideal strategic environment for peacemaking." Noting that President Clinton more effectively built a domestic support base for his peacemaking efforts, he was, however, "less disciplined and less strategic than his predecessor." Specifically, the report noted that the Clinton team "failed to understand and deal with key asymmetries in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. While the U.S. paid attention to Israeli security requirements, less attention was devoted to Palestinian political requirements. The U.S. did not find a way to compensate for Palestinian political weakness. This was the first time in history a people under occupation was expected to negotiate its own way out of occupation while at the same time creating a viable, democratic and independent state." The report notes that President Clinton did not personally become directly involved in negotiations until late in his second term, and did not put forward his own peace plan until his last month in office. This was, of course, too late to make a difference.
It is the administration of George W. Bush's approach that receives the greatest criticism, the authors noting that "his approach to the conflict lacked both commitment and a sense of strategic purpose." This, they suggest, was due to the fact that too many of the president's advisors dismissed the importance of Middle East peace, placing greater emphasis on their "regime change" and democratization agendas.
When Bush did become involved, however, it was mostly on the rhetorical level, with little or no follow through. Plans were announced, and mediators were dispatched in succession, ignored and undercut, and then dropped. To some degree, this contributed to a widespread belief that the administration's efforts lacked seriousness.
The result of this mismanagement and/or neglect has negatively affected not only Israelis and Palestinians, but U.S. diplomacy in the broader region, and public attitudes toward the U.S. itself. This, the authors lament, makes it more imperative for the next administration to begin early and aggressively to reengage Middle East peacemaking.
Following this critical review of the past, "Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: American Leadership in the Middle East" goes on to list a number of important lessons which must be heeded by any future administration. Several of them, while viewed as obvious to many analysts of the conflict, have been ignored for too long by U.S. policy makers.
Here are three:
"Arab-Israeli peacemaking is in our national interest: September 11, Iraq, and increasing instability in the Middle East have made U.S. leadership in the peace process more, not less, important. The president needs to indicate that the peace process is a priority and ensure that the administration acts accordingly."
"U.S. policy must never be defined anywhere but in Washington. Consultations with the parties must take place and policy revisions based on these consultations are inevitable, but our policy must be seen as our own."
"The peace process has moved beyond incrementalism and must aim for endgame solutions. This not only requires U.S. leadership to help the parties make the necessary trade-offs on core issues, but also a commitment to an expanded diplomatic approach that involves key international and regional actors."
"Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: American Leadership in the Middle East" provides both a useful history and thoughtful analysis, with which one can find little disagreement. My concern, however, is that it comes too late. After decades of failed policy and deteriorating conditions on the ground, the Arab-Israeli arena is plagued by entrenched new realities and hardened attitudes that combine to make peace more difficult. With an Israeli wall snaking through the West Bank, settlements dominating the landscape, and Gaza and Jerusalem both engulfed and strangled by the occupation - how can the back of this intransigence and sense of entitlement be broken? And with the Palestinian Authority weakened and, in the eyes of many, discredited, a provocative Hamas in control of Gaza, and Palestinians desperate and angry - how to break the back of extremism and despair?
It may be possible. But not by conducting "business as usual." If "Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: American Leadership in the Middle East" is to be followed, it must be followed by a very determined president willing to use pressure and politics not only to bring Israelis and Palestinians together, but also to work to transform U.S., Israeli and Palestinian attitudes and build a new consensus that recognizes the necessity and benefits of Middle East peace. It will not be easy. But it must be done now, or, in short order, it will be too late.

Washington Watch is a weekly column written by AAI President James Zogby. The views expressed within this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Arab American Institute.
We invite you to share your views on the topics addressed within Dr. Zogby's weekly Washington Watch by emailing jzogby@aaiusa.org.

end

First show on WCEV now posted/Podcast and online

The first WCEV 1450 AM broadcast of Radio Chicagoland is now available online and in podcast format. Here's the Podcast feed:

http://rayhanania.libsyn.com/rss

Enter the feed into the "subscribe option" for your iPod and we'll update the feed with new shows.

Tuesday show, Feb. 19, 2008 featured former Congressman Bill Lipinski discussing the presidential elections, the fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and the candidacy of Republican front-runner and likely nominee John McCain.

And, an interview with Heather Warthen, editor of the Orland Park Prairie Newspaper on the Feb. 2, 2008 Lane Bryant/Tinley Park muders.

END

Arlington Heights Daily Herald Newspaper reader off-base; real issue is rejection of moderate voice

Ernest Mahaffey writes a public letter to the editor in today's Arlington Heights Daily Herald Newspaper that he no longer reads my column or the column by Chaya Gil (which appears only once each month ont he first Monday -- down over the years from weekly) because he thinks we are dueling. Clearly, Mahaffey doesn't read my column at all.

I met Chaya Gil a few times years ago. We do not communicate. And I can say that when I write my column I never take Chaya's column topics into considerati9on at all. Although the newspaper put an "Israeli" view across the page from my column, to add the balance all newspapers require when an Arab view is published, we have no connection whatsoever.

In the past, Chaya has attacked my views directly in her column, but I never write about her or her views in my column at all. I believe I am too moderate for Chaya and we are in two different leagues. She is an activist and works for an organization that has a very specific political agenda int he Middle East and I am sure she represents that view loyally. In my case, I do not represent anyone and write fromt he standpoint of being aprofessional journalis.

I am proud of the fact that in 2003, I was awarded the Society of Professioanl Journalists Lisagor Award for column writing for my columns in the Daily Herald. I have since won another Lisagor for my syndicated columns and was named in Nov. 2006 Best Ethnic American Columnist in America by the New American Media for the columns that appeared ins everal newspapers including in the Daily Herald, which never acknowledged the awards.

The Arlington Heights Daily Herald deserves praise for their courage; there are only a very few newspapers in the United States who run columns by Arabs, let alone Palestinians, on a regular basis.

What Mahaffey really dislikes is the idea that a Palestinian is not a hack like most of the Palestinian and Arab and even Muslim activists who write columns in other newspapers like the Chicago Tribune. They advocate viewspoints rather than explore issues objectively, as my column tries to do in a journalistic manner. That is how my column stands apart from the others. I apply one principle to issues. I criticize not only Israeli government policies but also Palestinian government policies, which I have not seen Gil do. Gil criticizes the Arabs and Palestinians, like many Jewish Americans activists, and I think she should write criticizing Israeli policies when they deserve to be criticized.

A true moderate is someone who applies principle to both sides and who does not pull their punches when their side does wrong, as most Palestinian and Arab and Muslim writers do and what Mr. Mahaffey appears to prefer.

The columns are not pitched against each other. We are not given topics to write about. Anyone who really reads my column knows that I write about what is the most important topic in the news at the moment and I strive to define the moderate Arab and Palestinian voice to give readers a perspective they can never find elsewhere -- principled views that weigh both sides fairly.

Chaya Gil and I certainly disagree on everything, but that is not the mandate of my column at all. Any appearance that we have selected the same topic to explore only reflects the fact that some topics weigh heavily more than others at certain times, and it is pure coincidence. Anyone who reads my column knows that frequently, we touch on different topics.

Here is Mahaffey's letter, which I am glad he wrote, even though I think he seems to write from a perspective that reflects not having read my column at all.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=132477&src=

I think the Arlington Heights Daily Herald deserves much praise again for offering both views and more importantly for offering a view rarely found on a regular basis, even if only once each month. It's not an easy thing to do in this day and age after Sept. 11, 2001, when Americans blame anyone who

Thanks
Ray Hanania