Up until recently, Chicago’s top chefs wouldn’t dare put tomatoes on their menus until August, when they could source them locally. But a new business west of the city is now growing tomatoes under glass, hydroponically. They’re using Dutch technology to grow tomatoes indoors.
In case you haven’t noticed, every Friday in May, I’ve been featuring a different Asian country for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We’ve covered Thailand, Japan and China so far, and today, we’re off to Malaysia. Chicago has plenty of Asian restaurants – mostly Korean, Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese, but only one focusing on the … Continued
Every culture has its favorite snacks. And in Japan, two iconic treats come to mind: takoyaki and okonomiyaki. As part of my Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month coverage, I’m devoting each of my Friday Feasts this month on ABC 7 to a different country. Today it’s all about Japan, specifically the city of Osaka: one … Continued
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
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.
Even though we are technically in Spring now, there are several chefs in town still relying on winter citrus for their menus. These bright, acidic fruits offer a range of new flavors, and at one restaurant in West Town, they play a fairly large role on both the food menu, as well as the new … Continued
If your morning ritual involves bagels, cream cheese and some smoked salmon, prepare for a jolt. That’s because a new Lakeview store is not only curing all of their fish in-house, they’re also making some pretty creative spreads to go along with their bagels.
One of Chicago’s landmarked buildings has a stunning new look, and its crowning feature is a light-filled garden restaurant. The 3 Arts Club was built just over 100 years ago, but now, with a furniture and design store giving it new life, it seems the restaurant is attracting as much attention as the sofas and chairs.
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.
Once you get past the narrow counter and the make-shift seating arrangements, Bunny, the micro bakery, is a gem of a bread shop. Named for the owner’s childhood nickname, it really puts bread in all its forms front-and-center.