United States of America
Former journalist. Current foodie. Chicagoan.
I f the thought of Chinese food has you reaching for takeout menus or flashing back to the final scene from "A Christmas Story," then it's time to give this cuisine another taste. At Red Violet, consulting chef Gene Kato (Japonais) and chef Franky Fong (Lao Sze Chuan, Lao Beijing) have redesigned the menu, and now ...
Chef Rick Bayless has had quite a year. His first restaurant, Frontera Grill, celebrated its 25th anniversary; he filmed the eighth season of his PBS show, "Mexico - One Plate at a Time"; he launched his latest concept, Frontera Fresco, at Northwestern University; he handily beat Iron Chef Marc Forgione on the Food Network's "Iron ...
Ravinia-adjacent Merlo's makes for saucy eats Restaurateur John Merlo made his name as the owner of swank Chicago spots such as Avenue M and Bacchus. But for his latest creation, he wanted something that struck a little closer to home - in more ways than one.
In a city known for spectacular steakhouses, how does a new arrival steal some of the spotlight? Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House seems to have it figured out. After six years of searching for a Chicago location, the Dallas-born concept (which also has outposts in Boston, New York and Las Vegas, among other cities) ...
Chicago Gourmet fires up one beefy competition As the months of outdoor cooking come to a close, we're taking a minute to revel in summer's ultimate al fresco dinner: the burger. From the Billy Goat Tavern's simple "cheezeborger" to chef-driven gourmet iterations topped with a half-dozen ingredients and a range of textures, the meaty dish ...
It's all about food and wine for this Master Sommelier and restauranteur Alpana Singh is used to paving the way. At 26 she was the youngest woman to ever be named Master Sommelier, and since then she's appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, Wine Spectator and Food & Wine, has penned a book and ...
Petterino's pre-fixe menu is the perfect pre-theater dinner treat Dinner and a show is the proverbial night on the town - and our city has no shortage of offerings. From the artistic talents of Diane Lane in the Goodman Theatre's "Sweet Bird of Youth" to the whimsical storyline of "Kinky Boots," this fall has something ...
Ditch the sandwiches, wraps and subs - portable eats have gotten a European makeover as new River North spot Bel 50 has re-imagined hand-held dining. Rather than putting delicious sandwich fixings between the oh-so-predictable slices of bread, Bel 50 owner Tim Jandovitz and chef Joey Altman stuffed them into a light, fluffy Belgian waffle.
Hoerr's 25th-story rooftop on Michigan Avenue offers views of the famous street and Buckingham Fountain below. Stories above the bustling streets exists the serene world of Chicago rooftops, where city dwellers take in unobstructed views of their beloved city and its iconic skyline.
Fall is in full swing at one of our favorite Italian restaurants We've had major entrée envy while watching our marathon-running friends carbo-load for the big day. Now, all we can think about is diving into a big bowl of pasta. So we're turning to one of Chicago's classic Italian spots, Phil Stefani's Tuscany Restaurant ...
The Sodikoff restaurant empire expands to include an anything-but-ordinary steakhouse In the last two years Brendan Sodikoff hasn't stopped. Since launching Gilt Bar in 2010, the local restaurateur has opened three more thriving and distinctive culinary destinations: urban French spot Maude's Liquor Bar, the perpetually packed Doughnut Vault and upscale diner Au Cheval, which serves up ...
A Vegas eatery brings pizzaz to Chicago brunch Hash House a Go Go (1212 N. State) may be new to town, but this award-winning restaurant has been serving its quirky concoctions to San Diego and Las Vegas diners for years. The restaurant prides itself on serving "twisted farm food," which combines the excess and extravagance ...