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
Covering the food world has certainly changed over the past decade, especially if you’re in the magazine business. Rick Bayless and I talk with Bon Appetit Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Adam Rapaport and Deputy Editor Andrew Knowlton, during their recent visit to town for the annual “Bon Appetit Presents Chicago Gourmet” event.
While the ramen wave continues to sweep across Chicago, there is a sub-category of the beloved Japanese noodle soup, but it’s barely seen here. It’s called “tsukemen” (SKEH-men) and there are a just a couple of places offering it now, one of them yearround.
South American chefs love to cook meat over live fire, but few restaurants have the capability to cook just about everything over flames. El Che Bar, a new restaurant in Chicago’s West Loop, is so committed to live fire cooking, it’s literally the hottest new kitchen in town.
Columbus Day is coming up on Monday, a time when Italian pride swells. While there are dozens of great Italian restaurants in the region, only a few cook the truly local dishes, which often include parts of the animal you may not be familiar with.
You’ve seen plenty of food courts downtown, but you’ve never seen anything quite like the Revival Food Hall. It’s a “greatest hits” from some of the city’s neighborhoods, having been curated by a restaurant group with deep roots in the city.
Food festivals tend toward plugging celebrities or gorging oneself with bite-sized portions of lavishly-topped treats while pounding two ounce pours of wine and beer or miniature cocktails. We can all indulge once in awhile. This weekend, however, offers a little something different. Taste Talks promotes an alternative to the gluttony of food festivals, championing critical … Continued
“Hamilton” fever has officially come to Chicago. The Tony award-winning play begins its first run outside of New York, right here in the Loop, beginning next Tuesday. So in honor of the show, I decided to go out and see what I could find for less than a Hamilton, that is, a ten dollar bill.
Pretty much everyone agrees that fried chicken is delicious. It doesn’t matter where you’re from; the combination of crispy skin and juicy meat, sometimes doused in hot sauce and served with pickles is a true Southern delicacy that is hard to resist. But what are the origins of this dish, and more importantly, why have … Continued
Tents will rise in Millennium Park this week to be filled with plenty of hungry and thirsty patrons for two days of learning (but mostly eating the food and sipping the libations) with a stellar lineup of local and national culinary talents. The Illinois Restaurant Association and Bon Appétit lead Chicago Gourmet into its ninth … Continued
You might think River North restaurants fit into one or two categories: steakhouses or something by Lettuce Entertain You. Lately, that’s a pretty good guess. Lettuce’s latest effort – a Mediterranean-by-way-of-California restaurant, offers some unique flavors for the neighborhood.