Community Celebrations: Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria

Chicagoans love their deep dish, and Lou Malnati’s has been serving its cheesy goodness for 45 years. The first Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria opened in Lincolnwood on March 17, 1971, and as their website says, “Lou always thought it was funny that an Italian should open a pizzeria in a Jewish neighborhood on an Irish holiday, […]

Chicago’s Best Sandwiches Right Now

Perhaps Oprah says it best, as she shills endlessly for Weight Watchers: “I. Love. Bread.” Oprah, truer words were never spoken. We hear you. We are with you. Carb watchers be damned, because bread is where it’s at. Especially when two thick, crusty slices of it surround gooey cheese, braised meats, crispy bacon and aioli […]

Food as Medicine: Diet Plays a Growing Role in Healing

With its distinct flavor and pungent aroma, garlic has quite a reputation for making dishes sing. But here’s something you might not have known: eating garlic can bring down your blood pressure, according to Dr. Connie Catellani, a Skokie-based internist who practices integrative medicine. It might not happen overnight, but include garlic in your diet […]

How to Grow Your Own Food Garden

The garden is a love song, a duet between a human being and Mother Nature. —Jeff Cox Have you always wanted to start your own garden but been afraid of failure? Like most things in life, gardening is trial and error. Talk to any gardener and they’ll happily admit to killing plenty of plants. It’s part […]

Eat These Words: 8 Books Where Food Plays a Starring Role

Of course, cookbooks are all about good food, and the best ones are a thrill to read as well as cook from. And then there are the memoirs and novels where food is the protagonist — and occasionally, the antagonist. These books are so evocative, you can taste the words on every page. The best […]

One-on-One With Chicago’s James Beard Rising Star Chefs

The James Beard Awards are coming back to Chicago this May and three Chicago chefs received semifinalist nods in the Rising Star Chef category. (Jenner Tomaska of Chicago’s Next was named a finalist on March 15.) Here, they tell us what moves them and how it feels to be recognized on the restaurant industry’s biggest […]

New in Town: To-Die-For Dumplings at Imperial Lamian in River North

There is some drop-dead gorgeousness happening at the very new, very chic Imperial Lamian in Chicago’s River North. This Indonesian import is sure to take the neighborhood by storm; it is the first American outpost for the brand. Named for China’s famed, hand-pulled la mian noodles (made on-site here in the open kitchen by Wang […]

Evanston Has Hearth: Former Quince and Trio Space Finds New Life

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 […]