The sheer number of stores on Devon Avenue can be daunting. Between the jewelry stops, sari vendors and restaurants, a stroll through “Little India” presents a riot of color, aroma and sound (especially on a weekend). My friends are always puzzled when it comes to choosing a place to eat. Wanting to avoid the cliché … Continued
I know what I’ll be doing the last Monday of each month. Arami – which has always been in the upper tier for local sushi and ramen – has been doing a Noodle Night the past few months, always the last Monday of the month, featuring a couple of drink specials and a trio of … Continued
You’ve got a look a little harder to find Nonna’s, tucked into the back of the big and flashy Formento’s on West Randolph, but the search is worth it.
Chef Beverly Kim (Parachute) stops by to take on Rick Bayless in a friendly challenge using Brussels Sprouts + five ingredients, hoping to come up with something delicious in 15 min. or less. As usual, I’m trying to keep everyone on schedule. Both recipes are at the bottom of the page. Brussels Sprout Salad Tacos … Continued
1. Bob-O’s Hot Dogs 8258 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773-625-9840 $4.95 for sandwich + .50 for sweet peppers + .50 for hot peppers (pictured, above) Bread: Gonnella Don’t let the title fool you. Yes, Bob-O’s started as a literal hot dog cart/trailer (like Portillo’s) in the Northwest suburbs. But they also make their beef in-house, and they … Continued
1. Johnnie’s 7500 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park; 708-452-6000 (second location at 1935 S. Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights; 847-357-8100) $4.32 for sandwich + .37 for sweet peppers + .37 for hot peppers Total: $5.06 Bread: Gonnella Opened in 1961, the legendary store in Elmwood Park typically has a line snaking out the side, especially in the summertime. … Continued
For years, you had to venture into the basement of the Palmer House to get those fun rum drinks and crab Rangoon with a side of bamboo, but a pair of expertly curated tiki bars call Chicago home: one in trendy River North, the other in laid-back Logan Square.
I’ve been spending a lot of time in Chinatown recently, looking for stories for Chinese New Year. Frankly, I hadn’t even thought to stop by Phoenix, the venerable 19 year-old restaurant hidden up on the 2nd floor of a dingy building across the street from the more dynamic Chinatown Square Mall. But the restaurant underwent … Continued
It had been awhile since I ventured into Katy’s Dumpling House in Westmont. A few weeks ago, I had tried, but arrived just as they were closing. On Saturday, however, my son’s soccer game ended nearby at 7 p.m., so we had plenty of time (why the Chicago City team plays in Westmont every week … Continued
(photo by Jessica Lynn Capron) There’s a reason you’ve never seen one tweet or Instagram post on my feeds from The Dawson, that hulking glass-and-concrete behemoth on the corner of Grand and Halsted. Why, you might ask? Because after two chefs, the food just never made an impression (the drinks, however, have always been solid). … Continued
I was reading at the Between Bites event last week in West Town (which, by the way, was a lot of fun), and one of the spirits they had on hand was a new brand called Parce (PAR-say). The term means “buddy” or “good friend” in Colombia, and the man on hand doing the pouring, … Continued