Even though we are technically in Spring now, there are several chefs in town still relying on winter citrus for their menus. These bright, acidic fruits offer a range of new flavors, and at one restaurant in West Town, they play a fairly large role on both the food menu, as well as the new … Continued
It seems like there are more food festivals than ever. Not just the biggies, in places like Aspen, South Beach and Pebble Beach, but also regional events that bring together local artisans. Chocolate, however, transcends frequency and inclement weather. In three weeks, chocolatiers from as far as California and Maine are going to be bringing … Continued
If your morning ritual involves bagels, cream cheese and some smoked salmon, prepare for a jolt. That’s because a new Lakeview store is not only curing all of their fish in-house, they’re also making some pretty creative spreads to go along with their bagels.
Abe Conlon wraps a sticky rice dumpling (which were dangled from a tree!) at last year’s Taste Talks food festival in Palmer Square. He is nominated for a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes for his work at Fat Rice. This May, Chicago lays claim to the James Beard Awards for the … Continued
One of Chicago’s landmarked buildings has a stunning new look, and its crowning feature is a light-filled garden restaurant. The 3 Arts Club was built just over 100 years ago, but now, with a furniture and design store giving it new life, it seems the restaurant is attracting as much attention as the sofas and chairs.
There are dozens of Italian restaurants in Chicago, but only a small percentage go that extra mile and make all of their pastas in-house from scratch. A new restaurant in the West Loop is committed to hand-making everything, including one pasta dish that has become a personal favorite.
Once you get past the narrow counter and the make-shift seating arrangements, Bunny, the micro bakery, is a gem of a bread shop. Named for the owner’s childhood nickname, it really puts bread in all its forms front-and-center.
A TV crew from NHK Japan followed me around on my exploration of Osaka, and they filed this super long (by TV standards) report, which aired on their national network. Loved the sound effects and pop-up graphics, combined with semi-odd music, which made it feel like a video game; no surprise, I guess, from the … Continued
After a successful group trip to Cuba a few months ago, I’ve decided to organize just one more. This time, we’ll be taking no more than 22 people, and I just heard over the weekend that 25% of the spaces are sold already. We depart October 29 and come back November 5. I realize Cuba … Continued
Chicago lost the men behind such beloved institutions as Uncle John’s and Lem’s last year, which leaves just one veteran pitmaster still tending to his beef and pork with a critical eye. You’ll find him in the kitchen every day, among the sounds of burning wood and busy meat cleavers.
One of my favorite things to do in a new city is to explore its local markets. It could be a beloved supermarket, where they still make food to-order, or a bustling market, where chaos and noise and aroma dominate. On my most recent trip to Japan, I spent a few days in Osaka, which … Continued