So many cities claim to have them, but the true Baja fish taco was born in Mexico, on the Baja Peninsula, from Tijuana south. San Diego has claimed them in the U.S., thanks to chains like Rubio’s, but also smaller, independent places like Oscar’s Mexican Seafood, where they make the tortillas from scratch. LISTEN TO … Continued
One of the best breakfasts I had in 2014 was in the Silver Lake neighborhood in Los Angeles. It’s there where the tiny and unassuming Sqirl offers the most amazing jams, rice bowls and pastries. I spoke with owner Jessica Koslow about her training, and asked her advice for how to order from the beguiling … Continued
C.E.O. Danny Meyer and Culinary Director Mark Rosati sit down with me at the latest Shake Shack, in Chicago, to talk about Meyer’s Midwestern homecoming, and why there would be no Shake Shack without Chicago. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
I recently organized a “crawl” through three spots in Logan Square for a Midwest-based corporation, having its quarterly Team Leader retreat in Chicago. On a Wednesday night, we had Chicago Trolleys pick up the group of 44 employees, take them first to Billy Sunday for two rounds, and learn a little bit about the area … Continued
Interested in taking a small group down to Austin for the day? I recently organized an intensive barbecue sojourn to Central Texas that had us visiting three notable places, and we did it in less than 12 hours. We started by taking a private charter jet from Chicago’s Midway Airport directly to Austin. Then we … Continued
There are only a handful of places I like for dim sum in Chicago’s Chinatown. Phoenix is the stalwart – and much-needed renovation in 2014 really brought them into the modern era. Cai, on the 2nd floor of the Chinatown Square Mall, is more elegant, but still, bustling on a weekend (which means plenty of … Continued
Is there a better fried chicken in Chicago? Probably not. Although there are certainly different styles (I love the Carolina-style at Roost, as well as the vaguely Asian-flecked version at Smalls). But Crisp has always been my go-to. It’s twice-fried, then tossed with a choice of either a gojujang-laced barbecue sauce or a sesame-soy-garlic Korean … Continued
Say what you will about Montreal smoked meat, but Schwartz’s – that legendary icon – is nothing more than a tourist trap. On my most recent visit, a few years ago, I got a tour of the kitchen and noticed they don’t smoke the cured briskets anymore; haven’t since the 60s. What they serve at … Continued
An upscale take on the American diner with great cocktails, matzo ball soup and yes, those cheeseburgers. During brunch (and after midnight) check out the chilaquiles, but be sure your friends are joining you, because the mound is enough to feed six. It seems like Brendan Sodikoff and the Hogsalt team thought of everything here … Continued
Jimmy Bannos, Jr. has restaurants in his blood. His father launched Heaven on Seven, where the young Bannos grew up, then he trained in New York with Mario Batali’s team for a series of stages. But it’s his father’s Greek heritage and his mother’s Italian heritage the really creeps into dishes like the grilled chicken … Continued
In a city awash in cocktail bars focusing on bitters, tinctures, rare spirits and low lighting, Billy Sunday stands out for its, well, Midwestern hospitality. Rarely have I sat at a bar and been made to feel so comfortable, no matter who was working. Named for the early 20th Century prohibitionist, this Logan Square bar … Continued