Don’t let the cold get you down. A new cookbook from Fig & Olive, one of our favorite Oak Street haunts, has arrived just in time for the inevitable hard-core winter weather. Sure, I’d rather be sitting on their lovely terrace, enjoying a beautiful bouillabaisse and sipping a dry Tavel rosé, but we all have […]
Try this delicious winter dish, which is typical of Basilicata in the south of Italy. Nancy Brussat‘s blog is a great source of fabulous Italian recipes and great writing about her journeys in Italy and the beginnings of Convito. A hearty red wine, like Gattinara by Travaglini, one of Convito’s favorites ($34), would be perfect […]
When the late, great Eli Schulman first opened the legendary Eli’s The Place for Steak in 1966, he hadn’t yet created the signature dessert that would long outlive the restaurant itself. It wasn’t until the late ‘70s that Schulman himself developed that über-creamy and delicious cheesecake — featuring a butter-cookie crust — that has become […]
Plunging temperatures and the season’s first snowfall make me want to hibernate under eight or 10 blankets and practice my favorite brand of mindfulness — I am one with the couch. Ohm. The only catch is that winter weather makes even the sportiest of us loath to exercise. My solution? Ultra-healthy dinners, which means minimized […]
Thanksgiving may only be one day of the year, but the leftovers tend to linger a while in your fridge. And if turkey is going to make a second appearance over the holiday weekend, it needs to be in a different form, if for no other reason than to shake things up a little. So […]
Thanksgiving may only be one day of the year, but the leftovers tend to linger a while in your fridge. And if turkey is going to make a second appearance over the holiday weekend, it needs to be in a different form, if for no other reason than to shake things up a little. So […]
Updated Feb. 20, 2017 I wasn’t the only one up in arms when the New York Times published a recipe for pea guacamole. In fact, the entire Internet flew into an uproar, and rightfully so. Guacamole is not to be tampered with. At its finest, it is simple and unfettered by fancy add-ins. The nuanced […]
With the bustle of the holidays quickly approaching, you probably have plenty of parties to plan. How do you host with elegance and ease? Make It Better consulted three top-notch Chicago private chefs for their tips and tricks. Executive chef and owner of My Private Chef, Chris Tong, has been creating distinctive cuisine and upscale […]
It all started with an avocado. When longtime Chicago Tribune food columnist JeanMarie Brownson was in fourth grade, her teacher returned from a Florida trip with the then-exotic fruit and shared it with the classroom. Brownson was captivated by the flavor and texture, and it inspired in her a lifelong love of food. Fast forward […]
Cooler weather calls for stick-to-your-ribs comfort foods. If you need a little inspiration, look no further — we’ve reached out to the best local chefs to get their recipes for creative comfort foods that will make you glad you can stay inside. Get ready to roast, simmer and bake the chill away! Apple and Beet […]
