Nothing beats eating a just-plucked tomato still warm from the sun. In the quest for the freshest food, restaurateurs and chefs are going hyper-local. Even in the heart of Chicago, some innovative restaurants are homegrowing produce on patios and rooftops as part of their farm-to-table fare. Here’s an up-close look at standout restaurant gardens in […]
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 […]
There was a time—a long time, actually—when fine dining equaled French haute cuisine. End of story. Of course, that’s in the past, and many of those splurge restaurants have gone the way of the dinosaur. But the American love affair with French food survives, just in a less stuffy form. The Chicago area is filled […]
Traditional Japanese sushi is a true art. If you’ve seen the documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” then you know that it takes years of training to master the steps needed for perfection. Jiro Ono’s restaurant, located inconspicuously in a Tokyo train station, has three Michelin stars, yet he says he is still learning. The sushi […]
It’s lunchtime in the city, and you need a quick bite to eat. You’re tired of the standard quick-service giants (sometimes, even Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup gets old), but there’s not enough time to sit down at even a casual eatery. What do you do? The solution may be parked right outside of your office: […]
Although great anytime of the year, fried chicken is perhaps best enjoyed outside on a warm night with a cold beer, sitting at a picnic table. Happily, it’s delicious hot or cold. Sure, you’ve got your KFC and Brown’s Chicken, and while they’re consistent—the hallmark of a long-running franchise—they have no personality. These 15 chicken joints […]
Summer is heating up in Chicago, and soon we’ll be desperate for ways to keep cool. Our advice: Keep calm and sh-sh-shake off that heavy mid-summer humidity with the best of Chicago’s creamy, cool desserts — milkshakes! Sip ‘em neatly through a straw or scoop ‘em messily with an oversized spoon; go chocolate-y sweet or […]
Are you ready to get brain freeze this summer? Battle the heat and humidity with nine of the best frozen desserts in Chicago and the suburbs. Just hurry so you can get them before they melt! There’s no sweeter way to cool down. Homestead on the Roof There’s no better place to enjoy an artisanal twist […]
Every college town has their specialties—restaurants that students favor for brunch, dinner, or that 2 a.m. slice of pizza. As my fellow college freshmen and I finished finals and came home for the summer, however, we couldn’t have been more excited to return to all of our favorite childhood spots. Everyone has their own list, […]
It’s Saturday night and you have choices to make. You’d love to see a good show but don’t have tickets. You’d love to try out a new restaurant but don’t have reservations. No need to stress, because we have a roundup of venues in and around Chicago that offer live music, great food and fun […]
