There’s a lot more to Thai food than simply hot chilies. An Uptown family is taking a unique approach, serving traditional “street food” dishes from Bangkok and beyond. It’s part of my Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Coverage, in which each Friday Feast in May is linked to a different country.
Taking a seafood lover to a steakhouse might seem counterintuitive, but that’s exactly what you need to do in the West Loop. It’s there that a large counter and an impressive array of raw seafood await, along with quite a few creative dishes, plus an impressive dessert menu. This week’s Extra Course, my web-exclusive video: … Continued
If you’re looking for affordable Mexican food in Pilsen, there’s a new restaurant from a pair of men who used to work at Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. Even better, 5 Rabanitos is also proudly BYOB. It’s tucked away, among the taquerias and bakeries on busy 18th street, but inside, you quickly see that the … Continued
Chicago has seen a surge of brewpubs over the past few years, but nothing quite like a new concept in Ukrainian Village. The kitchen is also getting into the act, offering much more creative fare than just pretzels and French fries.
There are dozens of Italian restaurants in Chicago, but only a small percentage go that extra mile and make all of their pastas in-house from scratch. A new restaurant in the West Loop is committed to hand-making everything, including one pasta dish that has become a personal favorite.
Chicago lost the men behind such beloved institutions as Uncle John’s and Lem’s last year, which leaves just one veteran pitmaster still tending to his beef and pork with a critical eye. You’ll find him in the kitchen every day, among the sounds of burning wood and busy meat cleavers.
There are dozens of stories of husband-and-wife teams working in the kitchen together, but a new Mexican-inspired restaurant in Logan Square has one of the most talented pairs in Chicago. They both worked for Rick Bayless at Frontera Grill and Topolobampo for several years. Now they’re striking out on their own, with a very similar approach.
Part restaurant, part 380 year-old tofu manufacturer, this iconic, serene building is tucked away, just off a busy pedestrian shopping street. Try to go during lunch, when you can see the beautiful gardens through the windows, just fyi: it’s strictly tatami (floor) seating, and the tofu is the star. I met one of the shokunin … Continued
I’ve always thought Nick Nitti had a way with dough. Ever since he opened Forno Rosso in the Dunning neighborhood, on the city’s far West Side, he’s been consistently cranking out some of the best Neapolitan pies in the region. He is somewhat of an evangelist on the merits of fior di latte, San Marzanos … Continued
It’s not that hard to find a good biscuit in Chicago, but in a bar? That’s the case everyday at The Long Room, which has installed a tiny kitchen called The Sidecar, and rents it out to two very different businesses each day. At night, it’s burgers and poutine, but in the morning, The Biscuit … Continued
I’ve had jerk chicken and pork from the source – Boston Beach, Jamaica – but I’ve rarely had jerk in Chicago that matched the flavor profile of those spicy, tongue-blistering, sweat-inducing memories. Thankfully, a former food truck has expanded to a full-time brick-and-mortar operation on the city’s Near North Side, now cranking out Jamaican food … Continued