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.
Otafuku specializes in oden – a dashi broth containing loads of fried tofu, seafood and vegetables. They’ve been in business for over a hundred years, so they probably have a pretty good handle on how they do it. It’s fascinating to watch the shokunin behind the large vat of oden, constantly refilling the dashi, removing … Continued
World champion barista Hiroshi Sawada has been consulting in Chicago the past few years, and I had a chance to meet him at his coffeeshop in Tokyo on my second trip there. The man is one serious shokunin when it comes to mastering the art of lattes, but he’s also got some serious decorating skills … Continued
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.
You’ll find some of the best eating in Tokyo in the basement, of all places. Whether it’s a depachika in a department store or a train station, the Japanese never have too far to go to find something incredibly delicious (and beautiful) to eat. On my recent trip to Tokyo, I stopped in the lower … Continued
If Japan has been on your bucket list, now would be the time to plan a trip, because come November, the glorious, historic and well-worn Inner Market at Tsukiji will be moving about a mile away to a brand new facility, scrubbed of any faded glory. You certainly won’t get to see the tuna auctions … Continued
After the long flight to Tokyo’s Narita airport, the first thing you think you’re going to need to do is locate transportation into the city. Shuttle buses can take you straight to your hotel, but you’ll most likely have to ride with guests of other hotels, which means a longer ride and more stops, depending … Continued
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.