CUSP Magazine: Winter Issue 2014

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ON THE RADAR//UPTON’S NATURALS 10 UPTON’S NATURALS <strong>CUSP</strong> MAGAZINE WINTER ’14 ISSUE ALL AMERICAN VEGAN Written by Danielle Masterson Photography by Matthew Thompson I’m your typical, cheeseburger loving American. I grew up in Michigan and wasn’t exposed to a lot of exotic food choices. Family dinners consisted of a rotating menu of chicken, spaghetti, and meatloaf. It wasn’t until I moved to Chicago that I tried my first piece of sushi or enjoyed a jiberito. But Chicago has a way of taking a fodder-sheltered girl and making her an open-minded, adventurous eating woman. I sat down with Upton’s Naturals’ Nicole Sopko, a dedicated vegan since the age of sixteen. Unlike what some may picture a vegan to be like, Sopko is a lot like any other Chicagoan. She enjoys walking her dog, practicing yoga, and eating good food. And as it turns out, Sopko and I have a lot in common. After talking with her I learned we grew up in the same metro Detroit city and attended the same university. Who knew vegans were just like you and me? Vegan life got off to a rough start for Sopko. When she first began her journey in veganism in Michigan, there were not as many options available and she really wanted to change that. Today, she is the Vice President of Upton’s Naturals, a company that manufactures a vegan meat alternative called Seitan (pronounced say-tan). For the last eight years, Sopko and her partner Dan Staackmann have been making and distributing Seitan, a process that involves rinsing the starch away from wheat and retaining the protein. The duo thought it would be even more rewarding to have a restaurant and have customers experience eating their recipes firsthand, so they opened Upton’s Breakroom in West Town. It’s a vegan eatery that left me pleasantly surprised by how normal and American the menu is. I happily sampled customer favorites like the Fried Bacon Mac (bacon Seitan), the Italian Sanwich (Italian Seitan served Chicago style), and let’s not forget the chocolate shake, sure to bring any boy (vegan or not) to the yard. My favorite was the Korean Tacos, made with homemade kimchi, Seitan marinated in Korean BBQ sauce, crowned with avocado and cilantro atop a tortilla. They are packed with flavor, contain just the right amount of zest and the tangy sauce is perfection. For $6.00, you get three. Upton’s Breakroom has managed to take an unfamiliar idea and have it not only fit right in, but stand out because it’s that good. It’s a place for vegans, vegetarians and even carnivores who enjoy the occasional Meatless Monday. It’s a café for people who like good food, started by two normal people who dreamt of more vegan options. It’s the American Dream, served up vegan style.
<strong>CUSP</strong> MAGAZINE WINTER ’14 ISSUE 11
Page 1 and 2: SHOP FOR UNIQUE GIFTS IN OUR 2014 H
Page 4 and 5: INSIDE WINTER 2014 ISSUE 22 OUR COV
Page 6 and 7: PUBLISHER’S NOTE For our Winter 2
Page 8 and 9: ON THE RADAR//FEW SPIRITS 8 FEW SPI
Page 12 and 13: ON THE RADAR//BEERMISCUOUS BEERMISC
Page 14 and 15: TECH SPOTLIGHT//CURB NINJA Photogra
Page 16 and 17: Photography courtesy of Seedkicks T
Page 18: Elee XThe Photography by Matthew Mz
Page 21 and 22: Then in April of 2014, Elee opened
Page 23 and 24: CHICKEN SOUL
Page 25 and 26: CUSP MAGAZINE WINTER ’14 ISSUE 25
Page 27 and 28: an alternative to the normal te a r
Page 29 and 30: “We are still focused on our food
Page 32 and 33: BREWEREY FEATURE//ALE SYNDICATE Wal
Page 34 and 35: BREWEREY FEATURE//ALE SYNDICATE 34
Page 36: BREWEREY FEATURE//ALE SYNDICATE Fal
Page 39 and 40: Illinois natives, Rob Mueller and C
Page 41 and 42: The live music that drifts out of t
Page 43 and 44: Since 2002, Ignite Gaming Lounge ha
Page 45 and 46: Great Together Photography by Matth
Page 47 and 48: Couches and comfy seating are sprea
Page 49 and 50: A: Did you always want to own your
Page 51: A: When WIRED Magazine coined the t
Page 54 and 55: POLITICS//DR. AMARA ENYIA 54 Young
Page 56 and 57: MUSIC// WINTER NEW RELEASES 56 CUSP
Page 58 and 59: Photography courtesy of The Lemons
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MUSIC SPOTLIGHT//THE L.A. MUSIC SCE
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MUSIC SPOTLIGHT//HURT EVERYBODY HUR
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WHITE M
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MUSIC FEATURE//WHITE MYSTERY 66 A f
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MUSIC FEATURE//WHITE MYSTERY 68 “
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MUSIC FEATURE//WHITE MYSTERY Much o
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Pilsen Ar Second Fridays Have Somet
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ART FEATURE//PILSEN ART DISTRICT Ch
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Still Written by Tyler Quick Photog
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ART FEATURE//STILL SANE Even if it
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HOLID GIFT GU NO
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE TWOTHOUSANDFOURT
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE TWOTHOUSANDFOURT
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CUSP Magazine: Winter Issue 2014

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