There were no ball drops last night at midnight, but Friday is the Chinese New Year. The Year of the Ox would typically usher in parades and family feasts in Chinatown, but with COVID-19, it’s obviously a different story. I visited a pair of restaurants this weekend. One specializes in Hunan cuisine and the other focuses … Continued
The Promontory in Hyde Park has a temporary restaurant, El Oso, with a focus on Mexican cooking. Chef Jonathan Zaragoza, a family member of the Southwest Side Birrieria Zaragoza Mexican joint, has given new purpose to a music venue and restaurant that has been prospering since spring. El Oso (at the Promontory) 5311 S. Lake Park … 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
A new restaurant in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood combines the culinary skills of a fine-dining veteran and his love of all things Southern. VIRTUE 1462 E. 53rd St. 773-947-8831
Neapolitan pizza joints have been cropping up all over Chicago the past few years, but none had opened in Hyde Park, until recently. One of Lincoln Park’s best pizza makers closed her shop a few months ago, re-opening in a brand new dorm on the University of Chicago campus, where they’ve expanded their menu. Nella … Continued
Rub’s Backcountry Smokehouse is a distant memory now that the BBQ Supply Co. is fully in charge along Western Avenue in the West Rogers Park neighborhood, near the city’s border with Evanston. When things weren’t going well, Rub’s decided to reconcept and refine the business. After six years, the upgrades have been significant – a new … Continued
It seems like there are all kinds of bakeries opening up in Chicago lately, but few, if any, emphasize Brazilian flavors. Yet a Hyde Park baker, originally from Brazil, is now integrating some of her favorite treats from back home, into her extensive menu of Italian and French pastries.
By Kristine Sherred With the holidays officially upon us, both home bakers and pros are perfecting their pie crusts and selecting their fillings, turning back to time-tested favorites or updating the classics with unexpected spices. In its fifth year, the South Side Pie Challenge affords those dexterous kneaders the opportunity to bake for a cause (and a … Continued