The Lake Forest crowd is a clubby bunch, and when they find someplace they like, they descend upon it in numbers. Westwood Bistro, which opened last year, certainly fits that bill. Yes, I’m a little late to the party, but better late than never, right? It was jammed to the gills on a recent visit, […]
Shake Shack has opened an outpost in Skokie, and all is right with the world. This is the third Chicagoland location for über-restaurateur Danny Meyer’s little burger stand that could, and the only one with unlimited free parking. It’s time to head over to Westfield Old Orchard and get in line – believe me, there […]
The cookbooks of Yotam Ottolenghi are magic. When you make his recipes, you are instantly transported to a different place, filled with color and light, vibrant flavors and intoxicating aromas. It’s a veritable carnival of the senses. The best-selling author of five cookbooks (“Ottolenghi: The Cookbook,” “Plenty,” “Jerusalem,” “Plenty More,” and “NOPI: The Cookbook”) comes […]
There’s a new fast-casual restaurant in town: The Simple Greek is open in Highland Park. Marcus Lemonis, host of CNBC’s “The Profit,” is a partner in the restaurant, a franchise out of Philadelphia that he first worked with on his show. The Simple Greek emulates the much-admired Chipotle model of an open food assembly line, where […]
The Ferris wheel may be gone, but you can still “Ride the Cyclone” at Navy Pier. Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is currently presenting the U.S. premiere of the decidedly offbeat – and entirely engaging – “Ride the Cyclone” in the Theater Upstairs. It’s a smart blend of musical genres, cultural references, quirky characters, and impossible […]
Summer in Chicago is short (July, August, occasionally September) but oh, so sweet. The Hampton Social aims to make the feeling last all year long – and largely succeeds. From the moment you step inside (and even before, walking beneath the twinkling strands of white linen globe lights on your way to the door), you […]
Just as the fall is a harbinger for new fashion trends, so is it a time for brand-spanking new restaurants. There’s a lot of news to share: restaurant openings (and closings – sob!), singular food and wine dinners, and special events. Get your stomachs – and wallets – ready. Hot New Restaurants “Top Chef” fan […]
The cold and flu season is nearly upon us, but Lake Forest residents AnneMarie Ranallo and Laura Rukavina are more than ready. They opened LF Juice this summer, and all of their products are made with purely organic ingredients, free of preservatives and artificial additives. These are raw, cold-pressed juices, all hand-crafted for their discerning […]
Sara Montmorency grew up cooking with her mom and grandma, though she didn’t see it as a career initially. So she pursued a fine arts degree in college and then a master’s in business. But, she’s always loved pie, so she returned to the kitchen. After three years of farmers’ market booths (you might know […]
Every year, when it comes time to compile my annual list of favorite cookbooks, I ask myself the same questions: What makes a cookbook compulsively readable? Why do some cookbooks – even those without the Food Network imprimatur – become bestsellers, while others languish on the shelves? Most importantly, which new cookbooks can I not […]
