Just named one of Livability’s “Top 10 Best Downtowns,” Evanston has no shortage of strong suits, from the lakeshore, to charming Victorians, to Northwestern University, to easy access to the “L.” But what really sets it apart is the depth and breadth of its restaurant scene, a fact that goes seemingly unnoticed by the folks at […]
Anyone can open a great bottle of wine or pour an amazing craft beer, but it takes a true artist to design and mix a perfectly balanced specialty cocktail. These five Chicago bartenders are at the top of their game, using exotic ingredients (some you’ve probably never heard of!) to whip up masterpieces in a […]
Beef jerky is making a very big comeback. Not that it ever really went away, but it’s no longer consigned to the snacks-of-shame aisle at the truck stop and 7-Eleven. Once the mainstay of hunters, rig operators and hikers, beef jerky is now the low-fat, high-protein darling of paleo dieters and CrossFit fanatics. This ain’t […]
Duck Duck Goat, Stephanie Izard’s third highly anticipated restaurant, is expected to open in March, before Izard gives birth to her first baby in May. Izard is the talented chef at the helm of West Loop hot spots Girl & the Goat and Little Goat Diner. You may also remember her as the delightful “Top Chef” […]
Named for the famed Sichuan spice sprinkled liberally through its extensive menu, Peppercorns Kitchen is a modern, chef-driven Chinese restaurant located in the heart of Evanston’s bustling downtown. Yes, you’ll find many standard favorites, like Orange Chicken and Mongolian Beef, but you’ll also discover inventive regional delights such as Xinjiang-Style Sautéed Lamb, Dungeness Crab with […]
There are large indoor music venues throughout Chicagoland, but the scope of the new Joe’s Live in Rosemont’s MB Financial Park is still impressive. The creative team behind Bub City, Joe’s Bar on Weed Street and the BBQ and country festival Windy City Smokeout have joined forces to take over a 35,000-square-foot space that is literally […]
Updated March 19, 2018 Air travel from Chicago is always unpredictable. Winter snowstorms and summer thunderstorms mean you never know when you could be stranded on the runway for hours, making even a quick flight feel like an eternity. Don’t risk resorting to the pre-fab in-flight snack boxes; be sure to grab-and-go something yummy on […]
Despite being the executive chef and head of food services for Wolfgang Puck Kosher Catering at Chicago’s Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Laura Frankel knows her way around a slow cooker. It’s the secret weapon of her home kitchen, because when your day job is cooking for hundreds of people, who really has […]
Spain, a breathtaking country with a fascinating history and rich food culture, is a wonderful European destination to visit with kids. An integral part of Spanish life, children are adored and welcomed just about everywhere — including restaurants. Experiencing Spanish meals like a local, however, will likely require some adjustments for American families, especially those […]
In its purest form, the Margarita is the perfect blend of tequila, lime juice and triple sec, but of course, there’s room for interpretation. For the purposes of this particular article, I’m expanding the parameters to include tequila drinks with a citrus element, be it orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit or any of the myriad liqueurs […]
