I fully realize that it’s getting much colder outside, so why the tease for Hawaii? Because honestly, couldn’t we all use a little dose of extreme sunshine every now and then? This was from a trip I took back in September; just 10 minutes from the airport on Maui, in Kahului, I stopped by … Continued
As a kid, my mom would often make lukshon kugel, a sweet, cottage cheese-and-sour-cream noodle casserole that was always a reliable milchig (dairy) meal – since we kept kosher. We would eat it while breaking the fast during Yom Kippur, or just have one at a special occasion dinner, when meat wasn’t on the … Continued
Chicago’s “Little India,” also known as Devon Avenue, stretches in a long, east-west line dissecting West Rogers Park. As you drive down the street, you’ll notice most of the restaurants offer food from the Northern regions of India – Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab being the most widely represented. Yet finding the wonderfully tropical, coconut-influenced … Continued
Jose Garces has been getting a lot of press since he became an “Iron Chef,” but the man with Chicago roots – and a small Philadelphia empire of restaurants – still gets back to town every now and then to fire up the troops at Mercat a la Planxa, inside the Blackstone Hotel on … Continued
As much as I love the cookies, cakes and muffins from A Taste of Heaven in Andersonville, it’s the scones I would drive out of my way for (as well as the artisanal pizzas across the street at Great Lake, but I digress). The scones here are unlike their dry, crumbly brethren, and I’m … Continued
Giuseppe Tentori is a busy guy these days. The Trotter veteran continues to oversee his upscale Boka in Lincoln Park, as well as the more casual GT Fish & Oyster (in the former Tizi Melloul space) in River North. Tentori has a way with seafood, treating it with more reverence (and a tad more … Continued
I always thought taro root was something used in steamed or fried dishes at dim sum parlors. That is, until my colleague Kevin Pang, from the Chicago Tribune, took me to Joy Yee’s in Chinatown and showed me how good taro can be in a frozen smoothie. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but … Continued
Martial Noguier never quite settled into his previous assignments. At one sixtyblue, his cooking would veer into French territory, but the fact diners were there for Michael Jordan’s connection as much as anything, probably limited his creativity. At Café des Architectes, inside the Hotel Sofitel, he explored his roots a bit more, but still, he was a … Continued
As the summer draws to a close, I’m left with thoughts of sweet corn, tomatoes and soft serve. I’ve been spending lazy days on, in and around Lake Geneva, the summer respite for so many Chicagoans. With an abundance of farm stands in the area, the thought of cooking dinner every night is simply exhilarating. … Continued
The dudes over at Sultan’s Market may have the bus stop bench advertising market cornered, and as much as they boast about their falafel, it is quite good. But regulars at Albany Park’s Semiramis also know that their favorite Lebanese haunt also churns out some of the best in the city. I particularly love their … Continued
Just about every Italian restaurant on Taylor Street, in Little Italy, serves the same lineup: penne with vodka sauce, eggplant parm and veal milanese. But Davanti Enoteca has been a standout since it opened a few months ago, mainly due to its excellent lineup of cured meats and cheeses, as well as some boldly-flavored antipasti … Continued