This tour took place in November, 2015. I’m working on another trip for later in 2016, but if you’d like more information, contact Earthbound Expeditions, who organized the details for me. I went to Havana on my own in August, to scout some of the paladares (private restaurants in people’s homes); we then put together … Continued
Although Chicago Market has yet to secure a precise home, the co-op has already garnered more than 600 “owners” since its inception last summer. To further entice potential stakeholders, the founders are hosting a series of pop-ups in line with the market’s mission: to provide a spacious grocery store stocked with local produce, meat and dairy – … Continued
The British cookbook author and TV personality stopped in Chicago on tour for her latest cookbook, Simply Nigella: Feel Good Food. Rick Bayless and I talked to her at length about her philosophy in the kitchen, and why she likes sweetened condensed milk so much.
In the case of holiday planning, the early bird this year gets a bonus pie. Let French Pastry School graduates Bob and Gina Hartwig of Lovely bake for you. The duo offers an array of seasonal pies from the classic apple, pumpkin, and pecan to house specialties like chocolate pecan and pumpkin pecan – the latter … Continued
If you’re a Metra commuter from Evanston, or even attend the occasional football game at Ryan Field, you’ve got a new sweet new option nearby. Just don’t plan on finding anywhere to sit down.
You know all about the worms. And the crazy-ass hangovers. But that was the tequila of your college days. Shots are so passé. Now you’re all grown-up, mixing blancos (or, if you’re feeling flush, reposados) in your margaritas, and later, after dinner, sipping añejos from a snifter. Tequila production, marketing and consumption have come a … Continued
Michigan Avenue Magazine featured our James Beard Award-winning program, The Feed Podcast, in the November, 2015 issue. Click here to read it.
Typical Sicilian pan-style from Freddy’s Pizza in Cicero Aside from the usual name-calling I get, this #ChicagoPizzaQuest turned out to be pretty tame. I guess by “tame” I mean somewhat respectful. Naturally, there are some disagreements, and despite my thoroughness – tackling 76 joints in two months – I still have that nagging feeling … Continued
Lovers of deep dish are probably still smarting from Jon Stewart’s famous rant from two years ago, when he tore into the city’s iconic pie so hard, it required a (tepid) on-air rebuttal from Marc Malnati. Of course, everyone else in the city who thinks of deep dish merely as a cheese casserole was probably … Continued
Classic Neapolitan from Spacca Napoli in Ravenswood It’s really all about the dough. Say what you will about the merits of San Marzano tomatoes or fior di latte vs. buffalo milk mozzarella; sausage made in-house vs. a recipe made by a local butcher. When it comes to assessing pizza quality, the dough is what … Continued
I spent the better part of a week eating my way through Barcelona this summer, taking some recommendations from colleagues of mine who eat there everyday. My story appeared in the Sunday Chicago Tribune (Travel). Click here to read it.