Oysters' popularity may come and go, but one restaurant in Chicago has been a beacon for shucking and slurpring the past quarter century: Shaw's Crab House.
Oysters' popularity may come and go, but one restaurant in Chicago has been a beacon for shucking and slurpring the past quarter century: Shaw's Crab House and they're celebrating their 25th annual Oyster Festival all next week in the city and in Schaumburg.
Over the last few years, some of Chicago's legendary soul food restaurants have closed for good, but Southern Kitchen, a brand new restaurant in the South Shore neighborhood is hoping to revive the tradition of South Side soul food.
Monday is Columbus Day, a time when Italian pride swells, especially along the parade route on Columbus Drive. While you can find Italian food pretty much anywhere in Chicago, only a handful specialize in the food from the region of Bologna.
Over the last few years, some of Chicago's legendary soul food restaurants have closed for good, but Southern Kitchen, a brand new restaurant in the South Shore neighborhood is hoping to revive the tradition of South Side soul food.
You might have heard about macarons. Those are the tiny, French sweets that look like miniature sandwiches -- not to be confused with macaroons, which are typically sweetened balls of coconut and egg whites.
In the far western reaches of Naperville, most of the dining options are chains, but Paris Bistro, a tiny French bistro in a strip mall, offers crepes and pastries as good as any cafe in the city, and no passport is needed.
There are several regions in China, each with a very distinctive food style and Yan Bang Cai Sichuan in Chinatown is one of Chicago's few true Sichuan-style restaurants.
There are several regions in China, each with a very distinctive food style and Yan Bang Cai Sichuan in Chinatown is one of Chicago's few true Sichuan-style restaurants.
The art of hand-crafting cocktails has taken off around Chicago recently and Charles Joly, one of the city's best bartenders, is now bottling his favorite cocktails, making home entertaining a snap, and all it takes is a glass of ice.
The art of hand-crafting cocktails has taken off around Chicago recently and Charles Joly, one of the city's best bartenders, is now bottling his favorite cocktails, making home entertaining a snap, and all it takes is a glass of ice.
Brandt's of Palatine has seen generations of locals come and go over the years, and after new owners rescued the business from creditors this past year, the burgers are as solid as ever.
Brandt's of Palatine has seen generations of locals come and go over the years, and after new owners rescued the business from creditors this past year, the burgers are as solid as ever.
Barbecue joints continue to open at a frantic pace in Chicago and Smalls Smoke Shack is among the most interesting, in addition to being the smallest, but its diminutive size has no impact on the big flavors.
Barbecue joints continue to open at a frantic pace in Chicago and Smalls Smoke Shack is among the most interesting, in addition to being the smallest, but its diminutive size has no impact on the big flavors.
Doughnuts and fried chicken are hotter than ever and Endgrain in the North Center neighborhood is featuring both of them on their menu, but they aren't the only things on the menu worth sampling.
Chicago has dozens of hot dog joints, but there's only one Hot Doug's and the shop's namesake has written a book about his first 12 years in the business.
In Argentina, beef tends to be the star of local menus, but there's also a strong Italian influence there and several examples reveal themselves at Chimichurri, a new Argentinian restaurant in Pilsen.
There are plenty of food trucks roaming around Chicago, but only a handful are allowed to actually cook on board and a pair of new trucks are definitely worth seeking out, one is primarily in the suburbs, while the other sticks to the city streets.
Replicating the flavors from Asia is getting easier for local chefs, but sometimes cooking technique plays just as important a role as access for Mott Street in Wicker Park.
Replicating the flavors from Asia is getting easier for local chefs, but sometimes cooking technique plays just as important a role as access for Mott Street in Wicker Park.
We are in the midst of tomato season in the Midwest, and they're all over local menus right now, from BLTs to gazpacho, including a few dishes at a relatively new restaurant in Wilmette.
There are plenty of food trucks roaming around Chicago, but only a handful are allowed to actually cook on board and a pair of new trucks are definitely worth seeking out, one is primarily in the suburbs, while the other sticks to the city streets.
In Argentina, beef tends to be the star of local menus, but there's also a strong Italian influence there and several examples reveal themselves at Chimichurri, a new Argentinian restaurant in Pilsen.
There's only about a month left on Ravinia's schedule. The outdoor music festival in Highland Park is one of the best places to bring a picnic before a show.
Chicago has dozens of hot dog joints, but there's only one Hot Doug's and the shop's namesake has written a book about his first 12 years in the business.
Dining alfresco is an annual, albeit brief, indulgence in the summertime and despite the number of sidewalk cafes, there aren't as many rooftops serving dinner, but the Hungry Hound has found at least five worth the trip.
Chicago has quite a few specialty grocery stores, places like the Standard Market in Westmont, Trader Joe's and even Whole Foods, but Plum Market is the latest entry in the market actually from suburban Detroit.
Doughnuts and fried chicken are hotter than ever, and Endgrain in the North Center neighborhood is featuring both on their menu, but they aren't the only things worth sampling.
Many restaurants in the area tout their connections to local farmers, but Gather in Lincoln Square takes the farm connection very seriously, featuring a daily dish plus a monthly dinner, spotlighting one or two farms in particular.
The Salsa Truck, one of the city's first food trucks to be able to cook on board, opens a lunch spot in their garage, aptly named The Garage in the West Loop.