Quebéc has its maple sugar pie. In British Columbia, the Nanaimo Bar rules. But in Ontario, there’s no denying the importance of the humble butter tart. You can debate the merits of raisins or no raisins (with or without pecans), but the simpler, the better, as I found out on a recent trip to Toronto, … Continued
At its core, Fat Pasha is “tasty Jew food” as my colleague Chris Nuttall-Smith explained. The food critic for the Globe and Mail fell in love with this place, as did I, and it wasn’t just because of the incredible hummus covered in seasonal greens, herbs and vegetables, or the whole-roasted head of cauliflower. You … Continued
You’ve got a look a little harder to find Nonna’s, tucked into the back of the big and flashy Formento’s on West Randolph, but the search is worth it.
An inspired French bakery from Chef Andrew Carmellini (The Dutch, Locanda Verde) and Pastry Chef Jen Yee, serving a wondrous tartine, among many other French temptations. His tartare is also a wondrous thing of beauty. Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery 380 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 (212) 533-3000
If you want to start an argument in Chicago, just start naming who you think makes the best Italian beef. The only way this beef crawl was going to attain legitimacy was if I hit them all. So over the past few weeks, I checked off 31 beef stands.
1. Johnnie’s 7500 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park; 708-452-6000 $4.32 for sandwich + .37 for sweet peppers + .37 for hot peppers Total: $5.06 Bread: Gonnella Opened in 1961, the legendary store in Elmwood Park typically has a line snaking out the side, especially in the summertime. On a chilly weekday, I walked right in and … Continued
1. Bob-O’s Hot Dogs 8258 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773-625-9840 $4.95 for sandwich + .50 for sweet peppers + .50 for hot peppers (pictured, above) Bread: Gonnella Don’t let the title fool you. Yes, Bob-O’s started as a literal hot dog cart/trailer (like Portillo’s) in the Northwest suburbs. But they also make their beef in-house, and they … Continued
For years, you had to venture into the basement of the Palmer House to get those fun rum drinks and crab Rangoon with a side of bamboo, but a pair of expertly curated tiki bars call Chicago home: one in trendy River North, the other in laid-back Logan Square.
I’ve been spending a lot of time in Chinatown recently, looking for stories for Chinese New Year. Frankly, I hadn’t even thought to stop by Phoenix, the venerable 19 year-old restaurant hidden up on the 2nd floor of a dingy building across the street from the more dynamic Chinatown Square Mall. But the restaurant underwent … Continued
Upscale American and the first restaurant in town to promote sustainable, organic produce from the region. This is the special occasion place you make your parents take you when they visit, since they have literally hundreds of wine bottles in their cellar. L’Etoile 1 S. Pinckney St., Madison, WI (on the Capital Square); 608-251-0500
One of the Twin Cities’ first true mixology-meets-speakeasy bars, it’s located directly below The Bachelor Farmer (how convenient) in the North Loop section of downtown, serving cutting-edge cocktails. Open late by MSP standards (midnight on weekdays, 1 a.m. on weekends), this is a perfect nightcap after a dinner upstairs or Spoon and Stable, across the … Continued