“U.S. Pizza Cup” from Paulie Gee’s Logan Square If you’ll excuse the alliteration, the pandemic has made plenty of pizza parlors pretty popular, particularly for pickup. But for the last century or so, ordering a pizza in Chicago meant you had one of three options: a round, thin-and-crispy, square-cut pie; a circular deep-dish – chunky … Continued
The Japanese bowl of ramen is getting a few new looks in Chicago, thanks to some chefs willing to experiment. While most bowls feature the cloudy, pork-based “tonkotsu” broth, a pair of newcomers is offering diners a wider range of options. One is located in Des Plaines, near O’Hare, while the other is in Lincoln … Continued
Like pizza and doughnuts, fried chicken is one of those universally loved dishes. There are two new options in Chicago making two very different styles of fried chicken – both of them delicious. Landbirds 2532 N. California Ave (773) 697-7107 Luella’s Gospel Bird 2009 N. Damen Ave. 773-904-7704
Although Chicago Market has yet to secure a precise home, the co-op has already garnered more than 600 “owners” since its inception last summer. To further entice potential stakeholders, the founders are hosting a series of pop-ups in line with the market’s mission: to provide a spacious grocery store stocked with local produce, meat and dairy – … Continued
Juicy St. Louis style ribs at Bub City This upcoming week has a couple of great food events on tap, from ribs to Midwest corn. First up, Bub City (435 N. Clark) is kicking off summer with a Sunday Night Ribs special – a weekly dinner created by Chef Doug Psaltis featuring St. Louis style and baby … Continued
There are only a handful of Turkish restaurants in Chicago, and of those, only a few serve lahmacun. It’s essentially a thin, crispy pizza-like disc topped with minced lamb and beef. It’s one of only two things that are served at the tiny Pide ve Lahmacun on Irving Park Road, and the key to enjoying … Continued
As the coffee market grows in Chicago, owners are getting creative with coffee-bakery hybrids. Beans and Bagels in Lincoln Square hired Jean-Yves Martin four years ago, and now the shop – known for its coffee – boasts an exquisite pastry selection as well. Martin takes a classical approach, beginning work at 1 a.m. each day. … Continued
When you walk into Mekato’s Colombian Bakery, you might think they only sell sweets; between all of the dulce de leche-stuffed alfajores, cookies and pastries, you wouldn’t be too far off. But take a look to your immediate right, and you’ll see a small heated box, containing sausages, fried empanadas and arepas. These thin, narrow, griddled … Continued
Attention vegetarians: you can still find peace with your meat-eating brethren. ‚ Just head to any Korean BBQ restaurant, and have your bovine-eating friends snag the grilled short ribs, because you’re in store for a serious veggie attack. Banchan is the series of tiny vegetable side dishes that traditionally accompany a meal of stone … Continued
Most people come for the coffee, but I always think of a visit to Julius Meinl as a double-feature. That is, I can’t have the Viennese-style coffee all by itself; I need to pair it with their luscious almond croissant as well. As good as the flaky pastry is, it is significantly enhanced by … Continued
Colonization has led to some amazing culinary stepchildren. Granted, foreign occupations rarely come to an end peacefully, but just look at some of the results: you can find world-class Indian food in London, authentic Portuguese bread in Goa, along India’s West coast and in Vietnam, there is always that reminder of French colonization: the … Continued