A great party starts with a memorable cocktail. But who wants to be stuck mixing countless individual drinks all night? After all, your guests are there to spend time with you and won’t have any more fun if you’re slaving away at the bar. When it comes to libations for a crowd, “ease and simplicity” […]
The food has been (mostly) eaten, the table has been cleared, and the siren call of Black Friday has been heeded. What, now, to do with the leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and the like? Whatever you do, don’t toss those leftovers! The EPA reports that the majority of all items that end up […]
Chicago’s Loop business district is filled with quick-fix lunch options (I’m looking at you, Hannah’s Bretzel and Protein Bar) just right for the office worker on the go. Sit-down dining choices — especially for the theater, opera and symphony crowds — were for many years limited to stalwarts like Italian Village, Petterino’s, Russian Tea Time […]
The holidays are rapidly approaching, which means plenty of year-end celebrations, and more need than ever for interesting private dining spaces, whether it be for work parties, family gatherings, special dinners or weddings. Here are some of our favorite spaces right now, running the gamut from intimate to spacious; inventive comfort food to haute cuisine. […]
Forget turkey. Everybody knows that the real star of any Thanksgiving feast is a hefty slice of pie for dessert. More often than not though, traditional Thanksgiving pie flavors can tend to feel a bit blah. Don’t get me wrong, I love a pecan or pumpkin pie as much as the next gal, but why […]
Love Thanksgiving but shudder at the thought of preparing a whole dinner yourself? Don’t fret! We’ve got you covered with a whole lineup of Chicago-area restaurants offering a dazzling variety of gourmet options for the big day. So all you have to worry about come Thursday, Nov. 24 is what to eat first. Acadia Want […]
In the not-too-distant past, to-go restaurants often meant fast food; a place you’d run into for sustenance in a hurry. Sure, you’d find the occasional truly fabulous hot dog or hamburger joint — looking at you, Hot Doug’s (sob! RIP) and Edzo’s — committed to responsible ingredients and outside-of-the-box flavors, but more likely, it would […]
Evanston has always been a foodie destination, but there’s even more to love now that Alpana Singh’s Terra & Vine opened in late September. Executive Chef Andrew Graves is dishing up rotating Mediterranean cuisine like Wild Mushroom & Artichoke Pizzette and Grilled Swordfish with Eggplant Caponata and Agro Dolce, both featured on the opening menu. […]
Granite City Food & Brewery opened in Northbrook’s Willow Festival Shopping Center last week. In addition to offering seasonal beers, signature Granite City brews include Batch 1000 Double IPA, Bennie German Bock, Broad Axe Oatmeal Stout, Duke Pale Ale and Prairie Vixen Hefeweizen. Plus, you’ll always find the perfect food pairing, like Pulled Pork on […]
Oh, October. You naughty minx. You tease me with a peek at the glorious colors of autumn and a welcome blast of cool night air. So my thoughts turn, naturally, to a bowl of glorious, soul-warming soup. Sorry, gazpacho, you are SO August. Ta-ta, vichyssoise. You simply will not do. Here are some of my […]
