Craft Beer Comes to Highwood

Have you hopped on the craft-beer bandwagon yet? If not, you should. Picking up steam in the past few years, craft beer has finally hit the Chicago dining scene. And who better to introduce it to the ‘burbs than Ted Widen, the force behind Chicago Scene? The Winnetka resident put on his first craft-beer festival this […]

by Lindsay Roseman

Fresh: The Cookie Joint

Highland Park’s Jill Balick and Susie Schuster have hit on a genius idea. Cookie Fries are tender shortbread that’s crinkle-cut and fry reminiscent. They’re available in five flavors, and packaged in classic “to go” cartons. Dipping sauces like salted caramel, marshmallow and raspberry come on the side. Great for party favors and a real conversation […]

by Julie Chernoff

Potato Chip Crusted Oven-Fried Chicken

Oven-fried chicken is disappointing. It comes out pale and bready—so not like real fried chicken, that you simply can’t compare the two.   But what oven “frying” does have going for it is this: no mess and fewer calories. On a Tuesday, it’s doable. And thanks to a brilliant recipe by Kay Chun in Food […]

by Laura Hine

Wilmette's Dining Scene Heats Up at Nick's

Walking into Nick’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill in downtown Wilmette is a bit of an out-of-body experience. Though it’s in CJ Arthur’s old space, it’s been totally renovated and revitalized. Gone is the dark and dingy room, the smell of old fry oil, and the sticky floor. Instead, there is light, open space, plenty of […]

by Julie Chernoff

Buttermilk Corn Muffins with Fresh Strawberries

Everyone loves corn muffins: They can be sweet or savory, and they taste great slathered with either preserves or plain old salted butter (or both!). What makes them even better is the addition of fresh summer strawberries. (Want to pick your own? Check out our guide to berry picking around the Chicagoland area.) These little […]

by Jessica Suss

Bub Grub at Bub City

Just when you thought that River North was fully restaurant-saturated, Jerrod and R.J. Melman have opened their fourth insanely popular place in a two-block radius.

by Julie Chernoff

Vita's Ricotta Doughnuts

My mother-in-law, Vita Seidita, taught me this family heirloom recipe. Her mother, Gesualda, came from Sicily, so using ricotta in desserts was a natural. It’s one of the top recipes my husband, Jimmy, would long for of his mother’s, so he got her to teach it to me. I make them every spring on Easter. […]

by Gale Gand