In case you haven’t been following me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, you probably haven’t realized there’s a Pizza Quest underway. It all started last weekend, after I read a particularly troubling listicle of the city’s hottest pizzas. I figured since I did the Ultimate Italian Beef Roundup in the Spring, and I’ve never tackled … Continued
There are countless ways to tell the stories of Chicago’s immigrant communities through food. I’ve spent the past 20 years meeting cooks and bakers and butchers, hearing about some of the challenges – and joys – of feeding their own communities. But I hadn’t seen anything on the subject of food quite like the brave, … Continued
With a name like Pub Royale, you’d be forgiven if you thought this Wicker Park bar was simply a place to grab a drink. Sure, the list is vast and the cocktails are strategically chosen, like an excellent Pimm’s Cup swizzled with pebbled ice. But don’t overlook the intriguing menu, leaning heavily toward India.
In only its third year, the Chicago Hot Dog Fest is expanding to three days of eating action, while moving into a larger location in Lincoln Park, just north of the Chicago History Museum. The event will be held August 7 – 9, and includes not just hot dogs, but live music and a good … Continued
Why is it so many kebab joints in Chicago haven’t yet figured out how to master their grills? More often than not, chicken arrives dry; the same with lamb and beef. At least the cooks working the line at Kabobi Grill in Albany Park know what they’re doing. I popped in last night as I was … Continued
You have to hand it to Highwood. The tiny, bedroom community on the North Shore has become the envy of similarly sleepy hamlets, by ramping up for yet another fest that attracts attendees from all over. There’s Garlic Fest, Pumpkin Fest and for the 6th year in a row, Bloody Mary Fest. Mom and dad … Continued
Landlocked Madrid is a tough sell in the summertime, especially when Barcelona, located on the sun-kissed Mediterranean, is only a two-and-a-half hour bullet train ride away. The city underwent a major metamorphosis/upgrade after hosting the Olympics in 1992, and it shows: stunning, cutting-edge architecture, gondolas, trams linking the waterfront to the hills, clean, efficient subways … Continued
“Don’t eat paella in Madrid,” one Twitter follower implored. “Let me know if you’re going to Barcelona, because I have a friend who staged there and knows some great places…” another one explained. Why is everyone so down on Madrid? It could be since most of the world’s culinary attention is affixed to Catalonia, the … Continued
While I was in Barcelona, I filed this report on Spain’s obsession with canned seafood (conserva), ranging from barnacles and baby eels to the more common sardines and anchovies.
Chef Priscilla Satkoff, co-owner of Salpicon! in Chicago, stopped by Frontera’s test kitchen to take on Rick Bayless in a Poblano Challenge for The Feed Podcast. They get 5 extra ingredients and 15 minutes to make a simple weeknight meal. As usual, I’m the guy trying to keep everyone on task. See recipes at the … Continued
If you want to see Chicago’s most talented chefs in action, behind their stoves and working their dining rooms, don’t bother visiting them Thursday night. That’s because pretty much everyone will be in Lincoln Park, cooking and serving at the 15th annual Green City Market Chef’s BBQ. More than 100 chefs, bartenders and food artisans … Continued