This Wednesday, August 5th, some of Chicago’s top toques (do chef even wear toques anymore?) are gathering for a great cause in West Town. “The Modern Classic” is an event raising money for Easter Seals of Metropolitan Chicago, and you can see pretty quickly the results of having the Boka Restaurant Group’s Kevin Boehm and Rob … Continued
If you’re sick of the lines at Randolph and Halsted, you might want to give Au Cheval’s little sibling a try this weekend. Just in time for Lolla, Small Cheval opens to the public tomorrow, at 11 a.m., in the former Roxie’s by the Slice space at 1732 N. Milwaukee Ave. The joint has been … Continued
In case you haven’t been following me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, you probably haven’t realized there’s a Pizza Quest underway. It all started last weekend, after I read a particularly troubling listicle of the city’s hottest pizzas. I figured since I did the Ultimate Italian Beef Roundup in the Spring, and I’ve never tackled … Continued
There are countless ways to tell the stories of Chicago’s immigrant communities through food. I’ve spent the past 20 years meeting cooks and bakers and butchers, hearing about some of the challenges – and joys – of feeding their own communities. But I hadn’t seen anything on the subject of food quite like the brave, … Continued
In only its third year, the Chicago Hot Dog Fest is expanding to three days of eating action, while moving into a larger location in Lincoln Park, just north of the Chicago History Museum. The event will be held August 7 – 9, and includes not just hot dogs, but live music and a good … Continued
Why is it so many kebab joints in Chicago haven’t yet figured out how to master their grills? More often than not, chicken arrives dry; the same with lamb and beef. At least the cooks working the line at Kabobi Grill in Albany Park know what they’re doing. I popped in last night as I was … Continued
You have to hand it to Highwood. The tiny, bedroom community on the North Shore has become the envy of similarly sleepy hamlets, by ramping up for yet another fest that attracts attendees from all over. There’s Garlic Fest, Pumpkin Fest and for the 6th year in a row, Bloody Mary Fest. Mom and dad … Continued
Landlocked Madrid is a tough sell in the summertime, especially when Barcelona, located on the sun-kissed Mediterranean, is only a two-and-a-half hour bullet train ride away. The city underwent a major metamorphosis/upgrade after hosting the Olympics in 1992, and it shows: stunning, cutting-edge architecture, gondolas, trams linking the waterfront to the hills, clean, efficient subways … Continued
“Don’t eat paella in Madrid,” one Twitter follower implored. “Let me know if you’re going to Barcelona, because I have a friend who staged there and knows some great places…” another one explained. Why is everyone so down on Madrid? It could be since most of the world’s culinary attention is affixed to Catalonia, the … Continued
While I was in Barcelona, I filed this report on Spain’s obsession with canned seafood (conserva), ranging from barnacles and baby eels to the more common sardines and anchovies.
Chef Priscilla Satkoff, co-owner of Salpicon! in Chicago, stopped by Frontera’s test kitchen to take on Rick Bayless in a Poblano Challenge for The Feed Podcast. They get 5 extra ingredients and 15 minutes to make a simple weeknight meal. As usual, I’m the guy trying to keep everyone on task. See recipes at the … Continued