Pretty much everyone agrees that fried chicken is delicious. It doesn’t matter where you’re from; the combination of crispy skin and juicy meat, sometimes doused in hot sauce and served with pickles is a true Southern delicacy that is hard to resist. But what are the origins of this dish, and more importantly, why have … Continued
Tents will rise in Millennium Park this week to be filled with plenty of hungry and thirsty patrons for two days of learning (but mostly eating the food and sipping the libations) with a stellar lineup of local and national culinary talents. The Illinois Restaurant Association and Bon Appétit lead Chicago Gourmet into its ninth … Continued
You might think River North restaurants fit into one or two categories: steakhouses or something by Lettuce Entertain You. Lately, that’s a pretty good guess. Lettuce’s latest effort – a Mediterranean-by-way-of-California restaurant, offers some unique flavors for the neighborhood.
On this week’s show, the driving force behind one of Chicago’s premier cocktail lounges stops by, to talk about a category of spirits changing cocktail menus and digestivo lists across the country. Eden Laurin, one of The Violet Hour‘s first female bartenders, walks us through this complex subset of bitter liqueurs with history, insider tips for … Continued
Michigan’s Harbor Country is jammed with great places to eat and drink. In the town of Sawyer, Michigan, one company has been rapidly expanding with good food and even better beer. They started with a brewpub, and now operate several business in town, including a grocer, a charcuterie and cheese shop, bottled beer store, all-day … Continued
A lot of people think Michigan’s Harbor Country shuts down after Labor Day, but a lot of people continue to make the drive around the bottom of the lake, where they’ll find plenty of delicious things to eat year-round. The first two towns you encounter upon driving into Michigan are New Buffalo and Union Pier. Sure, … Continued
If you liked the food at Lula Cafe or the late, lamented Nightwood, chances are you might like Giant. That’s because one of the former chefs from those beloved restaurants has struck out on his own, along with his two partners, hoping to create the same kind of seasonally-driven menu, only this time, via smaller … Continued
Chicago has dozens of bakeries, but most offer the same mix of croissants, muffins or cookies. The new bakery next door to Fat Rice in Logan Square offers the only sweets and savories of their kind, with a strong emphasis on ingredients from Southeast Asia, as well as Portugal.
By Kristine Sherred So often identified with the end of summer, Labor Day falls less than three weeks before the Autumnal Equinox — this year on September 22. What’s more painful to bear than the arrival of shorter days may be the departure of summer’s beloved harvest, and the tomato is one that takes many … Continued
When you think of Middle Eastern food, you might think falafel or sliced shawarma sandwiches – maybe some hummus on the side. But a Middle Eastern bakery in West Rogers Park also has pizza on the menu – although it’s probably unlike most of the pizza you’re used to seeing.
I will admit that I don’t always see trends coming (or even realize that we’re in the midst of some “next big thing” like poutine), but after having heard about Eataly’s frosé (that’s a portmanteau of frozen and rosé, in case you missed it), I say it’s time for frosé to have its moment. I … Continued