4 Delicious Recipes to Celebrate National Pasta Day

Mamma mia! Can you believe that there is an entire day dedicated to the Italian favorite, pasta? Well, it’s true! Oct. 17 is National Pasta Day. Here are four tasty pasta recipes to whip up in celebration of everyone’s favorite carbohydrate. Healthier Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese This is comfort food with a healthy (and tasty!) twist. […]

A Conversation With Chef Yotam Ottolenghi of London’s NOPI

The cookbooks of Yotam Ottolenghi are magic. When you make his recipes, you are instantly transported to a different place, filled with color and light, vibrant flavors and intoxicating aromas. It’s a veritable carnival of the senses. The best-selling author of five cookbooks (“Ottolenghi: The Cookbook,” “Plenty,” “Jerusalem,” “Plenty More,” and “NOPI: The Cookbook”) comes […]

9 Bowls of Macaroni and Cheese Worth Every Calorie

First, adult versions of the grilled cheese started popping up on menus all around town. Now, it’s perfectly acceptable for adults to order macaroni and cheese for dinner at a restaurant. Of course, the grown-up versions are a far cry from the bland stuff from a box. Modern mac and cheese is made with bold […]

New in Town: The Simple Greek in Highland Park

There’s a new fast-casual restaurant in town: The Simple Greek is open in Highland Park. Marcus Lemonis, host of CNBC’s “The Profit,” is a partner in the restaurant, a franchise out of Philadelphia that he first worked with on his show. The Simple Greek emulates the much-admired Chipotle model of an open food assembly line, where […]

Summer Year Round: The Hampton Social

Summer in Chicago is short (July, August, occasionally September) but oh, so sweet. The Hampton Social aims to make the feeling last all year long – and largely succeeds. From the moment you step inside (and even before, walking beneath the twinkling strands of white linen globe lights on your way to the door), you […]

10 Tasty Soup Recipes to Warm You Up

There is nothing better on a cold day than that first spoonful from a warm bowl of soup. It’s the perfect comfort food that fills you up and makes you feel nice and toasty. We’ve gathered up 10 of our top soup recipes that can take you from fall to winter. Don’t forget to serve with […]

One-Pot Fall Dinner: Turkey Meatball Soup

I grew up in hot, tourist-filled Florida – a place where the seasons are seamless and coat closets house mostly jean jackets. The vista out of my childhood bedroom window was static: Palm trees and dried grass in the winter, palm trees and even drier grass in the summer. I’ve come to especially appreciate Illinois’ […]

Healthy School Lunches Your Kids Will Love

Back-to-school time can be fraught. On the one hand, the kids are back in school and all is right with the world; on the other, you’ve got nine months of packing school lunches in front of you. And then there’s the guilt. Do you capitulate and pack the lunch box or bag with whatever is […]

10 Must-Try Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free Restaurants Around Chicago

Whether you eat strictly vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free – or you’re just curious about trying different diets or dishes – you’ll want to check out these restaurants that are killing it with veggie-friendly options. With delicious dishes available at both upscale restaurants and fast-casual eateries, say goodbye to the stress and guesswork of dining out […]