I’m not sure what I was more excited about, the fact that I could have pristine oysters from a number of British Columbia bays everyday of my vacation, or the fact that my nine-year-old son was now also a rabid fan of slurping the mollusks right alongside me. We saw Fanny Bay, Gorge Inlet … Continued
Like Hot Doug’s in Chicago and SriPraPhai in Queens, loyalists always drag out-of-towners to these meccas for a taste of foodie religion. They wait in long lines, perusing the menu, making difficult decisions from a list of enticing options. The same is true at Red Fish Blue Fish, a miniscule restaurant on a dock in Victoria, BC, housed in … Continued
If Wheaties is the “breakfast of champions,” then I’m Bruce Jenner. Marketing propaganda aside, I’ve never found the same satisfaction in a bowl of cereal as I have from a thick wedge of Sandra Holl’s fruity, caramel-laced bread pudding for breakfast. Holl has always sold her bread pudding at the Green City Market on Wednesdays and … Continued
Columbus Day is celebrated next Monday, and in addition to a big parade down the eponymous Avenue near Grant Park, Italians will be celebrating with lots of traditional food. You don’t have to look far to score a dollhouse-sized piece of lasagna or eggplant parm, but you would have to look a little harder … Continued
A lot of attention is being paid to local chef Stephanie Izard’s upcoming restaurant, The Girl & The Goat. She’s been hosting special preview dinners under the auspices of “The Wandering Goat.” When she finally opens on West Randolph St. there will certainly be goat in some form on the menu. But the pleasures of goat, are nothing new … Continued
The Thai New Year of Songkran begins today, and while the Thais will be having water fights during the three-day festival, those of us in America will have to settle for steaming bowls of curry and toothsome salads to get into the spirit. One of the dishes I always get psyched to see on menus is khao soi. … Continued
I’ve been a fan of Bittersweet in Lake View since they opened, in 1992. For years, I’ve had them make the birthday cakes for my kids, because I knew there was no one else who could bake like Judy Contino. The former pastry chef at Ambria, Contino has set the standard for her colleagues around the city, … Continued
This week, I’m off to Evanston, not to quiz the law students on how they’re going about digging up research on capital crime cases, mind you, but rather, to indulge in that all-American treat: burgers at Edzo’s Burger Shop. Eddie “Edzo” Lakin knows how to do burgers right. The former cook at such high-end downtown restaurants … Continued
There really isn’t much to find these days on the lunch front for less than five bucks. I mean, you can get a burrito or a burger, but that never really satisfies – both from a taste and a nutritional standpoint. But the Pita Inn has been serving its impressive lunch special for $4.95 for years, and … Continued
Steve Dolinsky’s annual pig roast is a back-alley affair with celeb chefs and a potluck support system that draws hundreds By Lisa Skolnik Photos by Katrina Wittkamp May 3, 2009 As a food reporter for WLS-Ch. 7, Steve Dolinsky is always looking for the next big thing. As it turns out, he may have dreamed … Continued
Here is one of my James Beard Award-winning reports I filed for the “848” program on one of Chicago’s iconic foods. Click here to listen