What do sweaters, changing leaves, apple picking and football Sundays have in common? They’re all signs that fall has finally arrived here in Chicago. But perhaps no autumn signifier is more notorious or beloved than pumpkin, the star of this recipe collection. Instead of focusing on pumpkin’s commonplace preparations — pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and […]
Your intentions are good. You’ve signed up for a make-at-home meal delivery service but that meeting/rehearsal/practice went late, and you don’t really have time to put it all together. You still want to eat a real meal but don’t want to resort to fast food or spend an hour at a restaurant. What to do? Enter […]
Chicago does many things very, very well. But you know where we really excel? Booze. Chicago is a city of big shoulders, sure. But apparently our livers are pretty sizeable as well, because we are one hell of a cocktail town, populated by mixologists working their alchemy to our advantage. Here are some must-visit places […]
As the summer winds down and we gear up for a huge fall season (many food-oriented events and restaurant openings in Chicago and the North Shore), my mind turns to the upcoming Michelin Guide announcement in November, when we find out which restaurants are on and off the list, and how many stars they’ve been […]
Time is tight. You and your spouse both work; the kids have after-school schedules that rival an Olympic athlete’s; the dog demands a walk. Yet, your family still needs to be fed, and the drive-thru isn’t a viable — or healthy — option, especially on a regular basis. As importantly, cooking and eating meals together […]
This summer has been all about eating (okay, to be honest, every season for me is about eating, but still!) and I’ve had some very memorable meals, from the North Suburbs to the South Side, from old stalwarts to brand-spanking-new hotspots. And these, hands down, are some of the most delicious things I’ve consumed in […]
Canada’s State & Main, known for its comfort food, cocktails and selection of craft beers, has opened its first U.S. location at The Glen Town Center. Stop by for favorites like the Grilled Cheeseburger, Poutine and French Quarter Beignets. Plus, take advantage of specials like 25 percent off Tins on Tuesdays and half-price bottles of […]
Summer is a produce lover’s dream season. From stone fruit to heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, berries and everything in between, it can start to feel like a rat race trying to taste everything before the impending cold strikes. Fortunately, preservation techniques like jamming, pickling and fermenting make it easy to store these special ingredients for […]
With so much gorgeous summer produce sprouting up daily here in Chicago, the recipe possibilities can overwhelm. These summer salads are a great place to start; they taste fantastic and highlight the best picks of the season in all their glory. Sugar Snap Pea & Fennel Salad Crunchy takes on a whole new meaning in […]
The Scott Harris restaurant empire started in 1992 with the opening of the first Mia Francesca on North Clark Street in Chicago, a trattoria-style Italian joint that was vastly different from the red-sauce restaurants of Taylor Street. The food was both rustic and seasonally driven, with a handwritten special menu that changed frequently, depending on […]
