When’s the last time you saw quiche on a menu? The classic French dish – which is really a custard at its core – is the star of a new grab-and-go café that just opened this week in Lincoln Park. I got an early taste, and there’s actually a lot more than just eggs, heavy cream … Continued
“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 Chinese New Year is just three weeks away, and I’m getting into the spirit with some great Chinese food outside of Chinatown. I’m devoting every Saturday night in January to a different place, beginning at a Lincoln Park spot where shumai and har gao dumplings are the stars of an expanded dim sum menu. D … Continued
How does all-you-can-eat Alaskan King Crab and prime-grade beef burgers sound? It’s not some gimmick from a chain restaurant, but rather, a new concept tucked away in the basement of an oyster bar, from the folks at Lettuce Entertain You. Crab Cellar 1962 N. Halsted St. 773-248-1737
One of Chicago’s shortest seasons is already drawing to an end — strawberry season. It typically only lasts about a month, but one bakery is making the most of it. At Floriole, in Lincoln Park, they’re coming up with some delicious takes that go far beyond shortcake.
The Thai New Year of Songkran is coming up next week and if you haven’t had Thai food in the city recently, there are several places cooking home-style food. Home-style means bolder flavors and not just the usual pad thai noodles.
Whereas retail boasts sales aplenty after the holidays, restaurants typically suffer low attendance – not to mention worn-out staff whose vacation (if such a respite exists) lasts a few short days in January. Restaurant Week, running from Friday, January 22 through Thursday, February 4, aims to ameliorate a typically quiet two weeks with prix-fixe feasts across … Continued
In a city as diverse – at least in culinary terms – as Chicago, there are only a handful of French restaurants. Most are associated with older recipes that have fallen out of fashion. But a local chef who’s worked his way up through French kitchens decided it was time to bring those classic recipes … Continued
I’ve always loved French fries, especially the crispy, thin frites you find in French and Belgian restaurants. I’ve also begun leaning toward a mayo-based dip as opposed to my ketchup-laced childhood preferences. There are several great version of fries in Chicago, but none that have stood out as much as the ones I had recently … Continued
Chef Dominique Tougne preaches the simplicity of traditional French cooking through the crust of his bacon & onion tart and the confit of his cassoulet, but starting September 15, he turns to mollusks. Though Moules de Marinière is always on menu at Chez Moi, Moules Fest offers guests an all-you-can-eat mussels and frites feast for just $25. … Continued
I rarely bother writing about opening days of restaurants, since whatever a publicist promises, in terms of actual dates, usually gets pushed back due to forces beyond their control. So take this with a few bags of Maldon. But the reason I’m letting you know about White Oak Tavern & Inn is not because of … Continued