The Best Apple Orchards and Pumpkin Patches

Take advantage of the beautiful fall weather at one of the many nearby apple orchards and pumpkin patches. Round up the family and enjoy a fun day on the farm picking apples and pumpkins, trying delicious fall treats, and exploring all the activities each spot has to offer. Illinois Didier Pumpkin Farm 16678 W. Aptakisic […]

A Conversation With Chef Yotam Ottolenghi of London’s NOPI

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 […]

Join Make It Better for a Mixology Class

While a fun night out with the gals often involves sipping wine, times are changing. It’s now increasingly common for girls’ night out to revolve around whiskey, bourbon and other “brown” spirits – all once predominantly a man’s domain. “Women’s false modesty toward dark spirits has faded,” says Julia Ritz Toffoli, founder of Women Who […]

9 Bowls of Macaroni and Cheese Worth Every Calorie

First, adult versions of the grilled cheese started popping up on menus all around town. Now, it’s perfectly acceptable for adults to order macaroni and cheese for dinner at a restaurant. Of course, the grown-up versions are a far cry from the bland stuff from a box. Modern mac and cheese is made with bold […]

New in Town: The Simple Greek in Highland Park

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 […]

Summer Year Round: The Hampton Social

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 […]

10 Tasty Soup Recipes to Warm You Up

There is nothing better on a cold day than that first spoonful from a warm bowl of soup. It’s the perfect comfort food that fills you up and makes you feel nice and toasty. We’ve gathered up 10 of our top soup recipes that can take you from fall to winter. Don’t forget to serve with […]

A Delicious Make-Ahead Menu for Tailgating

Fall welcomes cool weather and football games. And, who doesn’t like a good tailgate meal before the big game? When our children were both students at the University of Michigan, we were invited to many tailgate parties before games in the Big House in Ann Arbor – and I perfected the art of eating well […]