The last two years have seen a bumper crop of new pizzerias in Chicago with styles ranging from deep-dish and tavern style to Detroit and Sicilian. At a new spot on the Northwest Side, the staff started off with one style, then added a second after popular demand. The Chef behind Giant – one of … Continued
There’s quite a bit more to Indian food than just tikka masala or tandoori chicken. The tradition of chaat – or street snacks – is integral to every region of India. A new cookbook highlights the subject, and so I went in search of some local versions, while also discovering they can easily be made at … 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
On Jason Hammel’s first day in Chicago in the mid-90’s, he grabbed lunch at the Logan Beach Coffee Shop inside the Logan Square Auditorium, not realizing how it would change his life. “So in that moment, first day in Chicago, I was sitting in the space that would become Lula, talking to a soon-to-be ex-girlfriend … Continued
A new restaurant in Logan Square began with a pair of local boys, both steeped in Indian culture with a shared love of the Indian kitchen. Their first project together is proving to be a hit in the neighborhood, as it combines lesser-known ingredients and presents them in some very familiar ways. On its face, Superkhana … Continued
Chicago has seen a wave of microbrewers in recent years. One of the most recent also happens to have one of the city’s best bread programs. Not only bread, but pizza! The same baker is in charge of all of the dough made in-house. Middle Brow Bungalow 2840 W. Armitage Ave. 773-687-9076
Chicago has been gaining a number of new breweries and distilleries over the past few years. There’s even a “Malt Row” in Ravenswood with a concentration of quite a few. Maplewood Brewery & Distillery 2717 N. Maplewood 773-270-1061
What do you get when you combine a degree from the French Pastry School with a family history of Mexican home cooking? A delicious mash-up of two cultures, bound by butter, corn and chiles. The family behind Pan Artesanal has worked for years – literally – on every detail. From the baking equipment to the DIY decor … Continued
The Japanese tradition of “omakase” is relatively new in Chicago, but three new omakase-style restaurants have opened in Chicago recently, each with a slightly different approach. KYOTEN 2507 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago 312-678-0800 OMAKASE YUME 651 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago 312-265-1610 OMAKASE TAKEYA 819 W. Fulton Market, Chicago 312-666-7710 Featured Image: @omakaseyume
Dozens of Chicago restaurants focus on pasta, but most of them take a narrow, Italian approach. However, Daisies — a cozy new spot in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood — not only makes all of the pasta in the basement, it takes a more Midwestern approach to cooking, worrying less about sticking to Italian tradition.
Chicago has dozens of high-quality Mexican restaurants. Part of that is due to the city’s talent pool, and part of it is a result of the “Rick Bayless Effect.” One of my favorite new restaurants is the result of a former Mexican food truck, turned into a brick and mortar, with a dynamic, Mexican-inspired menu. … Continued