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Chicago Tribune

From the Farm: Global March Women's Month Celebrated at Hard Rock Northern Indiana

I'm an avid reader of autobiographies about the true legends of the ever-shifting music recording world. I'm also a devotee of Broadway bio stage musicals dedicated to the mountains and valleys traveled by performance artists navigating the tough terrain of the music industry. For women in this career field, the fight to cultivate a career, keep it and to control it is often even a greater tooth-and-nail struggle. Recent Broadway shows launched in the past decade, inspired by the lives, music and careers of Cher, Tina Turner, and Donna Summer, to name a few female heroes, put the spotlight on the success, failures and personal life journeys as blended into the shifting sands of bright versus what can be fading stardom. Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary is devoting this month to celebrating International Women's Month for March, as well as a few days showcased for added flavor next week themed for St. Patrick's Day menu specials. The menu items highlighted at the Hard Rock Café eatery are themed in a proceeds partnership with Colombian rock star and humanitarian Shakira, who just celebrated her 48th birthday in February. There's a Colombian Smash Burger, layered with the contrasting crunch of kettle chips and the soft sensation of a fried egg as one of the featured hits, along with a hearty chicken Caesar salad and libations such as a 'Hips Don't Lie' margarita contrasted by a non-alcoholic cocktail comprised of fresh lime and cucumber muddled with fresh mint and elderflower tonic. The signature dessert highlight is a decadent 'Dulce de Leche Brownie.' A portion of the food sales proceeds benefit Shakira's Fundacion Pies Descalzos which translates to 'Barefoot Foundation' in English. It is the Colombian charity founded by Shakira in 1997 to help poor and impoverished children, primarily focusing on education, nutrition, and healthcare in Colombia. Also throughout this holiday weekend, Friday through Monday, the Hard Rock Café will feature a special Irish menu item called the Irish Smash Burger created with two smashed burger patties, pub cheese, white cheddar cheese, cabbage bacon jam, smoked bacon and pickles served with seasoned fries. Two specialty cocktails on the menu toasting the weekend are The Irish Apple Crush featuring muddled green apples, Jameson Irish Whiskey, apple juice, lemon and Seagram's Ginger Ale, in addition to the option of Irish Coffee made with Jameson Irish Whiskey, coffee, brown sugar simple syrup and whipped cream. Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is located at 5400 West 29th Ave. in Gary, with more information about dining, events and entertainment available by calling 219-228-2383 or Among the more than 150 costumes and memorabilia on display at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana are gowns and wardrobe pieces showcased from renowned women such as Shakira, Cher, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Cyndi Lauper, Miley Cyrus, Nikki Minaj, Rihanna, Sheryl Crow, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, Fergie Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, and Diana Ross and Mary Wilson, the latter duo being two of the three legendary members of The Supremes. I've interviewed both Ross, who turns 81 on March 26, as well as the late Mary Wilson, who died at age 76 in February 2021. Both were founding members of The Supremes, which music producer Berry Gordy ranked as his most successful Motown act of the 1960s and best-charting female group in U.S. chart history. These two formed the musical trio with the late Florence Ballard, who was later replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967 in a show business backstage bitter scenario which is told in the Broadway musical 'Dream Girls.' Ballard, who suffered from alcoholism, depression and financial ruin, died at age 32 in 1976. She was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Supremes in 1988. While Ross doesn't welcome questions about Wilson, Mary Wilson was always outspoken and opinionated about Ross, not only in interviews but also in her two published autobiographies. Wilson told me when Ross organized a 'Supremes' reunion tour in 2000 (which I reviewed at Allstate Arena), Ross only offered Wilson and Birdsong a fraction salary compared to what Ross was to net, prompting both Wilson and Birdsong to refuse to reunite. Ross continued with the tour, enlisting singers Lynda Laurence and Scherrie Payne, both later members of The Supremes long after Ross departed from the original group, to join her on the 'reunion' tour which generated disappointing reviews and ticket sales. The last time I interviewed singer Mary Wilson was when she did a holiday tour with Abdul 'Duke' Fakir of the Four Tops for Christmas 2013. Wilson, even while touring, always tried to eat healthily. In her later years, she teamed with author pal Mark Bego to write a recipe blog titled 'Cook Like a Rock Star' and many recipes are still archived at Mary's recipe for a creamy and zesty artichoke heart and tomato soup is perfect for our meatless Lenten Fridays until Easter. Mary and Mark thought of the idea of replicating this recipe while sampling a similar soup offering at a restaurant in Louisville during the 2014 Kentucky Derby. While not in their original recipe, I like to transfer the soup to a blender and puree it until smooth and velvety before heating it and serving it garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is a radio host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@ or mail your questions: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374. Mary Wilson's Creamy Artichoke and Tomato Soup Makes 8-10 servings 2 cups chopped onion 2 cups chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped garlic 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup fresh chopped oregano 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil 1 can (28 ounces) of diced tomatoes 1 can (15 ounce) tomato sauce 1 pint half and half (or one cup heavy cream) 1 cup white wine 1 can (14 ounces) quartered artichoke hearts 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper Grated Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top Directions: In a large pot, combine the onions, celery, garlic and olive oil, and sauté the vegetables over medium-high heat, until softened. Add the oregano, basil, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, half and half, white wine, artichoke hearts, salt and pepper to the pot, and stir together. Transfer contents of soup pot one cupful at a time to blender, and puree until smooth and return to soup pot. Bring the mixture to a boil. When the soup begins to bubble, turn it down to a low temperature, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes. This 30 minutes of simmering is when all the flavors begin to meld together, and the creamy half-and-half takes on the faint red color and the taste of the tomatoes. Stir occasionally to prevent soup from burning on the bottom of the pot. Serve the soup in individual bowls; sprinkle the tops with grated Parmesan cheese and additional ground black pepper.