In case you haven’t noticed, every Friday in May, I’ve been featuring a different Asian country for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We’ve covered Thailand, Japan and China so far, and today, we’re off to Malaysia. Chicago has plenty of Asian restaurants – mostly Korean, Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese, but only one focusing on the … Continued
On this week’s show, Rick Bayless and I visited a new deli in Chicago called Snaggletooth, where they specialize in curing all of their own fish, which they butcher whole. Then the 4th generation of H. Forman & Son met us there, to show us some of his company’s latest smoked fish products, while explaining … Continued
Every culture has its favorite snacks. And in Japan, two iconic treats come to mind: takoyaki and okonomiyaki. As part of my Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month coverage, I’m devoting each of my Friday Feasts this month on ABC 7 to a different country. Today it’s all about Japan, specifically the city of Osaka: one … Continued
There’s a lot more to Thai food than simply hot chilies. An Uptown family is taking a unique approach, serving traditional “street food” dishes from Bangkok and beyond. It’s part of my Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Coverage, in which each Friday Feast in May is linked to a different country.
Jetting off to Quebéc for an overnight trip with two other couples was a truly delicious endeavor. Sure, we hit some of the usual suspects – no less than three smoked meat delis, plus my favorite bagel anywhere, in the world – but we also managed to have an elegant lunch at Bouillon Bilk with … Continued
Taking a seafood lover to a steakhouse might seem counterintuitive, but that’s exactly what you need to do in the West Loop. It’s there that a large counter and an impressive array of raw seafood await, along with quite a few creative dishes, plus an impressive dessert menu. This week’s Extra Course, my web-exclusive video: … Continued
Even though I was on Spring Break (with hordes of tourists) in Playa del Carmen, that didn’t mean I had to settle for chimichangas and other Tex Mex fare catering to the lowest common denominator. I simply asked my co-host on The Feed Podcast – Rick Bayless – where he went when he was there … Continued
If you’re looking for affordable Mexican food in Pilsen, there’s a new restaurant from a pair of men who used to work at Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. Even better, 5 Rabanitos is also proudly BYOB. It’s tucked away, among the taquerias and bakeries on busy 18th street, but inside, you quickly see that the … Continued
Chicago has seen a surge of brewpubs over the past few years, but nothing quite like a new concept in Ukrainian Village. The kitchen is also getting into the act, offering much more creative fare than just pretzels and French fries.
Even though we are technically in Spring now, there are several chefs in town still relying on winter citrus for their menus. These bright, acidic fruits offer a range of new flavors, and at one restaurant in West Town, they play a fairly large role on both the food menu, as well as the new … Continued
I spent three days eating my way through Osaka, then wrote about it all for Canada’s Globe and Mail. Click on the images below to read the story.