Paletas are a summertime treat found all over the region, often in Mexican ice cream shops. There are both milk and water-based versions, but there’s so much more than just mango or strawberry. A tiny shop on the city’s Southwest Side produces more than 60 flavors, some completely unique, inspired by the owner’s childhood in Mexico. Razpachos … Continued
After several years of construction and tens of millions of dollars, the landmarked Cook County Hospital building has been reborn as a hotel and food hall. The latter comes as a welcome sight to the hundreds of hospital workers in the Medical District. I sampled a bit from each vendor there. Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall 1811 … Continued
In the wake of the protests following the killing of George Floyd, there has been a surge of interest in supporting Black-owned businesses. In terms of restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries, a website designed by a Richton Park man has become the place for Black-owned businesses in at least a half dozen cities, including Chicago. … Continued
As coffee shops around the city begin reopening — with social distancing, masks and other precautions in place — one local roaster is focusing as much on a Mexican chocolate as it is its own coffee beans. The two ingredients actually have a lot in common. Dark Matter Caravanserai 2901 W. Belmont Ave. 773-293-6425 darkmattercoffee.com/pages/about-us
For decades, Taylor Street has been synonymous with Italian food and culture. Chicago’s original “Little Italy” still has a few beef joints and ice shops, which do well in the summertime. A relatively new ice cream shop in the neighborhood is turning up the creativity a bit, with an emphasis on flavors from Asia, while still … Continued
We all know Chicago is a pizza town, but did you know about all of the various styles available here? Beyond our native tavern-thin, deep-dish and stuffed, there’s also Detroit, Neapolitan and Sicilian, to name a few. Even Roman style is gaining a foothold here, with the latest iteration in a category all its own. L’Aventino … Continued
Korean chains usually start their American branches in Los Angeles, but a popular fried chicken brand from South Korea – with more than 200 locations there – has begun its U.S. expansion on the East Coast, with stores in Virginia, Georgia and Texas. Choong Man Chicken recently opened a branch in Glenview, the only location … 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
Bagels have been a constant at shops like New York Bagel and Bialy in Lincolnwood, or N-Y-C Bagel Deli and Steingold’s in the city, but every now and then, another bagel maker comes onto the scene. I found two new shops worth a shmear: one in Oak Park, the other in Gold Coast (based on … Continued
There are few seasons in the Midwest as short as strawberries. Lasting just a few weeks, the time to find juicy, ripe berries is now. Any farmer’s market will have them, but so will a fifth-generation farm in Indiana, only 45 minutes from The Loop. Johnson Farm Produce 8960 E. Ridge Rd., Hobart, IN 219-962-1383 https://johnsonsfarmproduce.com … Continued
Noodles come in all sorts of sizes, from several different countries, and a pair of Hoffman Estates restaurants take their noodles pretty seriously. One of them makes their noodles from scratch, while the other uses them in traditional Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese recipes. Asian Noodle House 844 N. Roselle Road, Hoffman Estates 847-882-9650 Noodle Deli … Continued