New in Town: To-Die-For Dumplings at Imperial Lamian in River North

There is some drop-dead gorgeousness happening at the very new, very chic Imperial Lamian in Chicago’s River North. This Indonesian import is sure to take the neighborhood by storm; it is the first American outpost for the brand. Named for China’s famed, hand-pulled la mian noodles (made on-site here in the open kitchen by Wang […]

Evanston Has Hearth: Former Quince and Trio Space Finds New Life

Just named one of Livability’s “Top 10 Best Downtowns,” Evanston has no shortage of strong suits, from the lakeshore, to charming Victorians, to Northwestern University, to easy access to the “L.” But what really sets it apart is the depth and breadth of its restaurant scene, a fact that goes seemingly unnoticed by the folks at […]

Chicago’s Think Jerky is Leading an Artisanal Jerky Movement

Beef jerky is making a very big comeback. Not that it ever really went away, but it’s no longer consigned to the snacks-of-shame aisle at the truck stop and 7-Eleven. Once the mainstay of hunters, rig operators and hikers, beef jerky is now the low-fat, high-protein darling of paleo dieters and CrossFit fanatics. This ain’t […]

New in Town: Peppercorns Kitchen in Evanston

Named for the famed Sichuan spice sprinkled liberally through its extensive menu, Peppercorns Kitchen is a modern, chef-driven Chinese restaurant located in the heart of Evanston’s bustling downtown. Yes, you’ll find many standard favorites, like Orange Chicken and Mongolian Beef, but you’ll also discover inventive regional delights such as Xinjiang-Style Sautéed Lamb, Dungeness Crab with […]

Chrissy Teigen’s Cobb Salad With Honey-Mustard Ranch Dressing From ‘Cravings’

If you follow Chrissy Teigen on Instagram, then you know that her love for food is no joke. The model/TV personality and her husband John Legend, who are parents to 3-year-old daughter Luna and their 1-year-old son Miles, are always cooking something incredible. After countless comments rolled in on each of Teigen’s deliciously engaging social media posts asking for […]

Simple Slow-Cooked Supper: Falling-Off-the-Bone Short Ribs

Despite being the executive chef and head of food services for Wolfgang Puck Kosher Catering at Chicago’s Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Laura Frankel knows her way around a slow cooker. It’s the secret weapon of her home kitchen, because when your day job is cooking for hundreds of people, who really has […]