In its purest form, the Margarita is the perfect blend of tequila, lime juice and triple sec, but of course, there’s room for interpretation. For the purposes of this particular article, I’m expanding the parameters to include tequila drinks with a citrus element, be it orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit or any of the myriad liqueurs […]
Who doesn’t love brunch, that genius mash-up of breakfast and lunch, eaten on weekends when late-night shenanigans make early-morning breakfast an impossible dream? Thoughtfully, some of our favorite restaurants have recently jumped on the brunch bandwagon, dishing out miraculous egg-centric meals, entrée-sized desserts and hair-of-the-dog beverages that will happily bite back. So roll out of […]
In a bold move, local mini-chain Epic Burger has opened in downtown Evanston, just a block north of homegrown Edzo’s and a block east of national burger chain Five Guys. They’re betting that locals and Northwestern students will be enticed by their message of sustainability and mindful eating. The menu is pretty basic — choose […]
After 37 years of marriage, four kids and a mortgage, longtime Evanston actors Jill Shellabarger and Roger Mueller still feel the heat. “We are each other’s biggest fans,” says Shellabarger. “We respect each other’s artistry; we don’t talk shop a lot, but we can go to each other when we are wrestling with a part.” […]
An important thing to note if you choose to venture to downtown Wilmette’s newest hotspot, Napolita: there will be a line. Get on the List Sure, you can call ahead and put your name on the list, or even make a reservation for a party of 6 or more, but you’re still going to wait. […]
Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes the opening of Vanille Patisserie Lakeview, the third and newest outpost of owner Sophie Evanoff’s beloved artisanal bakery. Lincoln Park and the Chicago French Market locations remain open — and busy. If you’re a macaron fan, Vanille is a go-to bakery already; the Lakeview location, which officially opens Feb. […]
There’s no arguing the fact that Chicago is a red meat town. Certainly, we’ve got the big beef houses as testimony to our love: Morton’s, Mastro’s, Gibson’s, Gene & Georgetti, Chicago Cut and more. But in the past year or so, there’s been a carnivore renaissance, with innovative new steakhouses pushing beyond the Caesar Salad/Creamed […]
My job is SO HARD. Recently I was asked to judge the third annual Cheesy Noodles Mac N’ Cheese Contest for charity. The nerve! But seriously, I was honored to accept, especially given the beneficiary. Held at Max’s Restaurant & Deli in Highland Park, the fabulous culinary competition benefitted StandUp for Kids Chicago, a nonprofit […]
When you are in Key West, only 90 miles separates Cuba from the United States. For many, it was tantalizingly close, but a world away. For the Gonzalez family, who emigrated from Cuba on a shrimp boat back in 1980, it was a 15-hour trip to the land of opportunity. Alberto Gonzalez certainly made the […]
High above Streeterville, on the 18th floor of a Northwestern Medical Center office building, sits GreenRiver, a luxe restaurant and bar that combines the magic pixie dust of NYC restaurant king Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events with the Best Bar in the World team (Jack McGarry and Sean Muldoon of NYC’s The Dead Rabbit). It’s a […]
