Lake Forest Destination: Westwood Bistro

The Lake Forest crowd is a clubby bunch, and when they find someplace they like, they descend upon it in numbers. Westwood Bistro, which opened last year, certainly fits that bill. Yes, I’m a little late to the party, but better late than never, right? It was jammed to the gills on a recent visit, […]

10 Ways to Repurpose Those Old Mason Jars

Did you collect a shelf full of Mason jars back when they were all the rage? Maybe you no longer want them front and center as tabletop décor, but no need to toss them just yet. We mined Pinterest (and a few of our other favorite sites) to find clever ways to repurpose your Mason jars. You’ll […]

New in Town: Gigi’s Cupcakes in Wilmette

Beloved throughout the country, Gigi’s Cupcakes opened in Wilmette on Oct. 28, offering a rotating menu of more than 300 cupcake flavors. Piled high with icing, Gigi’s cupcakes are a national phenomenon — but don’t miss out on other breakfast options including muffins, pies, breads, cinnamon rolls and a host of other treats, all baked […]

15 South Side Restaurants That Are Worth the Drive

North siders and North Shore residents, Chicago doesn’t stop at Madison Street! There’s real life in the South Loop and beyond, and some great new restaurants that you really, really need to know about. To ease you into your migration south, I’ve thrown in a few yummy places near Symphony Center and Millennium Park as […]

New in Town: Your Pie at The Glen

A new pizza joint swells the ranks of the many others in Chicago (we love our pizza in this town!). The Glen welcomes Your Pie, a build-your-own establishment serving real craft beers, hot Panini sandwiches, chopped salads and gelato to boot. Your Pie opened on Friday, Oct. 2 and owner Shawn Reinheart says business has […]

My New Secret Vice: La Principal in Evanston

I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, because it’s already crowded, even on a recent Tuesday night when the Cubs hadn’t yet thrown in the towel. But the truth is, you need to know about La Principal, a new full-service Mexican restaurant in Evanston. Authentic Mexican Street Food Located on the site of the old […]

Satisfy Your Pumpkin Cravings With These Recipes

While October is National Pumpkin Month and National Pumpkin Day is Oct. 26, let’s be honest, celebrating pumpkin can happen all fall long. And plenty of people will be toasting with Pumpkin Spice Lattes as long as Starbucks sells them. If you can’t get enough pumpkin, don’t forget to check out the Complete Pumpkin Primer […]

Tonight’s Wineup – Perfect Wine Pairings for Classic Chicago Foods

Although the Cubs’ season died a pitiful death last night, every other Chicago sport is just gearing up. Whether it’s another nail-biter of a Bears game or a non-stop party with the Bulls and the Blackhawks, there’s no denying that watching sports demands the proper sustenance. From the classic Chicago hotdog to the inimitable deep-dish […]

New in Town: Shake Shack Old Orchard

Shake Shack has opened an outpost in Skokie, and all is right with the world. This is the third Chicagoland location for über-restaurateur Danny Meyer’s little burger stand that could, and the only one with unlimited free parking. It’s time to head over to Westfield Old Orchard and get in line – believe me, there […]

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Butternut Squash With Ginger Tomatoes and Lime Yogurt

The unerring palate of Yotam Ottolenghi scores again! In his newest book, “NOPI: The Cookbook,” the great chef, along with NOPI’s executive chef, Ramael Scully, shares 120 flavor-bomb recipes from his newest London restaurant, NOPI, where Scully’s Malaysian heritage informs many of the flavors. It’s a veritable Middle Eastern-Mediterranean-Asian mash-up of deliciousness. As with Ottolenghi’s […]