Every year, I look at my enormous cookbook collection and think, “I’m done buying cookbooks. After all, how many do I need?” The answer, dear reader, is apparently “an infinite amount,” because I just cannot quit them. Cookbooks are my literary meth. Wandering into any bookstore, a gravitational pull seems to reach out from the […]
This holiday season, satisfy your sweet tooth with internationally inspired delights at Chicago’s top restaurants. Beacon Tavern Three different flavors of Bûche de Noël will be available all December long at Beacon Tavern. The festive yule logs will be available in crowd-pleasing chocolate ganache, fruity cherry coconut, and Mont Blanc, another traditional French dessert flavored […]
They’re baaack. Big-bowl batches of the good stuff have made a resurgence just in time for the holidays, promising to give your mother’s sherbet fizz a serious run for its money. Sorry, Ma. It’s Entertaining 101: Be ready for the onslaught of guests and good cheer by prepping in advance as much as humanly possible. […]
We all have favorite holiday memories, and most of those seem to revolve around food. Not a surprise, right? Food (even your Aunt Dorothy’s overcooked turkey) brings people together; what better way to express your love for someone than to feed them? And along with the hilariously awkward family stories that stem from the holiday […]
One thing I’ve learned after many years of entertaining at home: Everyone loves dessert. So my advice to you is, don’t skimp. Go big AND stay home. Chicago is filled with fabulous bakeries producing Instagram-worthy, delectable goodies, and they’re more than happy to help you end your party — be it an intimate dinner gathering, […]
Food for Your Stomach and Your Soul: 10 Food-Centric Philanthropies By Gabrielle Tasiopoulos | March 2016 Sure, we’ve reviewed hundreds of restaurants over the years, and printed at least as many recipes in our popular dining section. Need a great spot for brunch, pizza or hot chocolate? We’ve got you covered. But this compendium of food-driven […]
Chefs and restaurateurs, by their very nature, are hospitable creatures. They are naturally programmed to receive and tend to others, to entertain strangers. It’s just what they do. So it should come as no surprise that when there’s a natural disaster or a man-made tragedy, the hospitality industry dives right in to provide aid. Sadly, […]
You know you love a good casserole; I certainly do! They come in many guises: lasagna, mac ‘n’ cheese, enchiladas, pasta bakes, stratas — and to me, they are dinnertime gold. Sure, I’m a dairy fanatic, and most casserole recipes seem to be built around some sort of cheese, which I don’t hate. But the […]
Bars were once mostly places you’d roll into and order a drink that would usually come from a bottle or a tap. Your drinks would be served by a guy who, though he was personable and willing to wipe off the counter for you, probably didn’t know how to make more than a handful of […]
You probably already know that eating seasonally and locally is better for you, your bank account, and the planet. But as more and more leaves drop from the trees and the icy chill of winter begins to beckon, it’s easy to forget that even in Chicago there are still opportunities to enjoy fresh, local produce at peak flavor. […]
