Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Tuesday, March 19

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Tiki is Tops

Lost Lake was named the best cocktail bar in America by Imbibe magazine. (Still tickets available for their New Year's Eve party.)

#🌴 #imbibe75 #limalimaohana #blessthiscess

A photo posted by Shelby Allison (@foureyed) on

The Legacy of the Yards

Curious City looks at what's changed in meat packing and butchery in the years since The Jungle. (Spoiler alert: quite a lot.)

Baltzley is Back

He's laid low since his Indiana farm dinner restaurant was shut down, but chef Brandon Baltzley is back in Chicago for the moment, with a pop-up dinner series.

The Hunger Awakens

If you're seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens tonight, Dennis Lee and the A.V. Club have your dinner menu.

RIP James Lemons

The eponymous owner of Lem's Bar-B-Q House, James Lemons, has passed away. He was 87.

Eat This Instead

Rob Leavitt of The Butcher & Larder shared with the Today Show some alternative cuts of meat to the expensive stuff.

Karyn's May be Cooked

Vegan restaurant and spa Karyn's is in dire financial straits, and has turned to crowdfunding to stay open. However, a lengthy Facebook post by an anonymous employee outlines why maybe it's not such a bad thing if the place closes. [via] UPDATE: Karyn's owners are being sued for $112,000 in back rent.

Tasty Lunch Treats

Today through Monday, the French Pastry School will be giving out free samples at a pop-up pastry shop in the Block 37 pedway.

Goodbye Again, Goose Island Wrigleyville

Goose Island has once again closed its Wrigleyville brewpub, after unexpectedly returning this summer for one last Cubs season.

Great Towns, Great Brews

Cane and Ebel fro Two Brothers in Warrenville (25), Gatecrasher IPA from Temperance in Evanston (43) and Ninja vs. Unicorn from Pipeworks in Chicago are among Livability's 99 Beers in 99 Cities list.

My Dinner with Neko

Next Friday's Eat to the Beat dinner with WBEZ Sound Opinions and musician Neko Case is sold out, but they are holding a drawing this Thursday at 5pm for a free pair of tickets to the event. Enter, you fool!

Den of Scum and Villainy

The Whistler transforms into the Mos Eisley Cantina, featuring the music of Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes. They've just added a late show for those who aren't already in line for the new Star Wars movie.

Best Dinner Plans

Bavette's, Boka and Les Nomades are among the best 100 restaurants in America according to OpenTable.

Acceptable Substitutions: Malort, Jagermeister

Celeste chef Amanda Barnes shares a recipe for Fernet Branca sugar cookies.

GB Gift Guide: Dinner Discounts

À La Card Chicago is one of my perennial favorite gifts for foodies -- 52 cards, each worth $10 off at some of the city's hottest restaurants.

The Year's Best Bites

Time Out's annual 100 Best Dishes & Drinks list is out, featuring everything from blood sausage to toasted marshmallow milkshakes.

GB Gift Guide: Next at Next

Tickets for the Alps, which is the first Next menu of 2016, go on sale next Wednesday at 10am (past customers get a two-day head start); if that's not your bag, later menus will pay homage to South America and The French Laundry.

Elevate Your Lunch

Dennis Lee has created a Chicago-style hot dog terrine.

Sick & Tired of Bad Lunches

School food is notoriously bad, but it's gotten even worse under the management of food service giant Aramark. Students in a Roosevelt High School civics class are holding Aramark accountable with a new website.

Upstairs Eats

Fooditor takes you inside Arbor, the top-notch locavore restaurant you've never heard of.

United States of X: Thanksgiving Edition

FiveThirtyEight examined what America eats on Thanksgiving, aside from turkey. We're a roll and/or biscuit state.

Growing the Roof

Gotham Greens just opened the world's largest rooftop farm in Pullman, covering 75,000 square feet of the Method factory's room with greenhouses to supply pesticide-free greens and herbs to local groceries and restaurants.

Danny's is Saved

Danny's Tavern, the Bucktown institution that looked to be closing at the end of this month, is staying open after all, thanks to the outpouring of support from fans -- and several weeks of lease negotiations, no doubt.

Roll Out the Barrels

Chicago has the second largest craft beer industry in the nation, and it's only getting bigger. Metropolitan is the latest brewery to level up, soon to move to a new brewery in Avondale, while Half Acre continues to build out its Bowmanville space.

GB Gift Guide: Very Cheesy

Pastoral offers a bunch of different gift packages, including "Best of the Midwest" and "Sweet Home Chicago."

Secret Sips Slip

Lost Lake has collected more than 100 drinks into a "whisper menu," available to anyone who asks for it, however inaudibly.

Fill a Bag for the Less Fortunate

If you commute out of Union Station, be sure to grab a Chicago Food Bank donation bag to fill up and drop off on Thursday.

RIP Bill Siebel

Bill Siebel, head of the Siebel Institute of Technology, a brewing and cicerone training school, passed away Nov. 8 of esophageal cancer. He was 69.

Pick a Pepper

Scrumptious Pantry is a local company that focuses on heirloom fruits and vegetables. Founder Lee Greene is on a mission to bring back the Beaver Dam pepper.

Best for Eaters

The Duck Inn won Best New Restaurant in this year's Eater Awards.

ThanksBangBangiving

Bang Bang Pie Shop is now taking orders for Thanksgiving pies for pick-up Nov. 24-25. (Thanks, Matthew!)

Hey hey! Don't delay - order your Thanksgiving Pie Today! Apple Crumble w/ Rosemary Caramel; Pumpkin w: Sage Pepita Brittle; Chocolate Pecan. Link in profile or visit our website at bangbangpie.com/thanksgiving #givethankseatpie

A photo posted by Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits (@bangbangpie) on

A Flouring Business

Plate profiles Megan and David Miller, owners of Baker Miller, whose second location opens Saturday in Ravenswood Manor.

Growing Good Students

Schurz High School is building a food science lab and urban farm, and they're looking for help to build an LED grow light system.

Ladies Who Lush

Drinking Woman, a new blog by former GB staffer Meghan Murphy-Gill and Molly Heyward, covers all aspects of beer and other beverages from a woman's perspective. Its first story is an interview with Metropolitan Brewing's Tracy Hurst.

Black Bottle Friday

This year's Bourbon County Stout is being released on Black Friday, Nov. 27, and Binny's just released its procedures for getting some. Be prepared to wait longer than for a big-screen TV at Best Buy. (Meanwhile, a few lucky fans will be picking up their rare bottles on Nov. 13.) [via]

Blind Ambition

TouchVision profiles Chef Laura Martinez, who has been blind since she was 3 years old. She opened her own restaurant, La Diosa, in Lincoln Park earlier this year.

From Dawn till Well After Dusk

Dennis Lee documents 18 of the nearly 24 hours of constant work happening at the Roots Pizza-West Town Bakery-Homestead on the Roof restaurant complex.

Rock the Roister

The Roister, the upcoming casual restaurant from Grant Achatz, Nick Kokonas and Andrew Brochu, is putting together its music playlist, and they're asking for your help. If they pick your song and you were first to suggest it, you'll get a free drink. (Hopefully this is a sign it's opening soon.)

It's Nearly Glögg Season

The Swedish-American Museum is hosting a Glögg tasting party and competition on Nov. 20 -- and if you think your recipe is up to snuff, you can apply to compete.

RIP Danny's

Danny's Tavern, a stalwart of Bucktown's nightlife, is closing by the end of November, another victim of gentrification. The bar hold many memories for Gapers Block as one of the first places the staff hung out together. I think we should do it one last time.

Deep Dish in the Desert

Following in the footsteps of Portillo's and countless Chicago snowbirds, Lou Malnati's is expanding to Arizona.

An Intelligent Purchase

Peet's Coffee & Tea is acquiring a majority stake in Intelligentsia, which put itself up for sale earlier this month.

No Hot Dogs on Michigan

That ordinance that legitimizes food carts? It'll include a ban on carts in parts of the Loop and other areas close to downtown, as well as large portions of Lakeview, under the excuse of avoiding congestion on crowded sidewalks.

They'll Pry Our Rashers From Our Cold, Dead Hands

As you can imagine, the founders of Bacon Fest are less than pleased about the news that bacon, along with other processed meats and red meat, increase the risk of cancer.

The Pizza Beat

Steve Dolinsky has been eating pizza for weeks as research for his "Ultimate Chicago Pizza Quest," an attempt at a definitive guide to the area's slices. The exhaustive results will be rolled out over the next two weeks.

Mayo Hazard

Mayonnaise is a healthy part of your daily sandwich -- but Little Village residents worry that planned expansion of the Hellman's plant in their neighborhood may bring more pollution.

Bar Food & Bulgogi

Take a Korean bar crawl with the Reader's Mike Sula.

An Eye-Watering Trade

Planet Money tells the story of how a New York onion farmer played the futures market and ended up flooding the Chicago River with onions.

Indie Doesn't Mean Broke

Nine Chicago restaurants made Restaurant Industry's list of the 100 top-grossing independent restaurants. Gibson's tops the local list with $22 million in annual sales.

To Tip or Not

With Danny Meyer eliminating tipping at his New York restaurants and several Chicago restaurateurs mulling this issue, The Radler has already made the switch -- but not for the reason you'd expect.

Get Cheesy this Weekend

Mac and Cheese Fest is back this Saturday; tickets are still available.

Beer Circuits On

Pipeworks Brewing teamed up with Jared Saul, beer buyer at Emporium Arcade Bar, to create Twin Pines Mall, a Back to the Future-themed beer brewed with spruce tips and wildflower honey. They'll be releasing it on Wednesday, Oct. 21 -- the day Marty and Doc travel to in Back to the Future II -- exclusively at the Wicker Park Emporium location.

Reservations are Killer

Lula Cafe is no longer dressing up for Halloween, but Fat Rice has taken up the tradition. On Oct. 31, the restaurant is transforming into Kill Grill: Haunted Izakaya, with two seatings available for $80 a head.

Midwest Meals

The Reader's annual food issue focuses on Midwestern cuisine -- and invites you to add to the list of regional specialties.

Editorializing on Food

Fooditor, a new site by Sky Full of Bacon's Michael Gebert (now formerly of the Reader), promises to dig deeply into the city's food scene. Its first story breaks the news that Manny's is adding a deli counter to its cafeteria, finally giving Chicago a true Jewish deli.

Eating Good in the Neighborhoods

Momotaro, Dolo and the Duck Inn made Esquire's Best New Restaurants list.

The Pizza Authority

Ten years after the publication of Everybody Loves Pizza, Chicago mag's Jeff Ruby and team pick Chicagoland's best pizzas. Bound to be controversial.

Strange Brews

Local breweries Moody Tongue and 5 Rabbit were mentioned in a WSJ story about ingredient experimentation in beer.

Less Boozy Target

In ongoing in-depth coverage of chain stores bringing "boozy" versions of themselves to Chicago, it turns out the new boozy Target in Streeterville won't let you walk around with wine while you shop, like Mariano's -- it just has a Starbucks that serves wine in it.

Sausage King of Chicago

No, not Hot Doug, nor Abe Froman. It's Mark Reitman, the guy who runs Vienna Beef's Hot Dog University.

Care to Buy Some Coffee?

Intelligentsia Coffee is up for sale, and could fetch as much as $100 million.

Skip Breakfast

Get free waffles at Pritzker Park, 310 S. State St., from 9:30am to 3:30pm today in celebration of the second season premiere of "Fargo."

Memories Makes Memories

Remember the Indiana pizzeria that declared it wouldn't cater gay weddings? Robin Trevino of GayCo Productions managed to get them to unwittingly provide pizza their vow renewal ceremony.

Been to the Boozy Taco Bell Yet?

Because everyone else has. Chicagoist, RedEye, Eater, Vice, even NPR got into it the alcoholic slushie action..

Devouring the Curse

Competitive eaters converged on Taco in a Bag Tuesday night to eat a whole roasted goat in hopes of vanquishing the Cubs' curse.

Showcasing the Encased Meats

The Chicago Foodseum opens the doors on its first exhibit, "The Hot Dog and Encased Meat of the World," this Saturday at Block 37. Executive Director Kyle Joseph talked with WBEZ about the show and the museum.

Where's the Beef?

CPS can't figure out where hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of food from outside vendors ended up.

Fresh Eats at Vintage Prices

If you're craving a cheap snack you can pick up bags of Garrett Popcorn for 66 cents this week, but be prepared to wait in (an even longer) line.

Behind the Tap

Working for Beer takes an in-depth look at what it's really like to work in the beer industry, including profiles of Emporium's beer buyer, the owner of Eris Brewery & Ciderhouse, and a sales rep from Destihl Brewing Company.

Food Carts Get Recognition; Regulation Next

City Council committee approved an ordinance allowing food cart vendors to be licensed, taking another step toward providing a level of legitimacy to a long pseudo-illegal industry that's been asking for regulation for years. The ordinance next will go the full Council for approval.

Yo Quiero Alcohol

Wicker Park's new boozy Taco Bell will open its doors for a "soft opening" today.

Tap Treasure Map

All of Chicago's breweries with brewpubs are now collected in one map.

Kettle Call

Great Lake Potato Chip Co. came out on top of an extensive search for America's best kettle chips by the Tribune's Kevin Pang.

Drink for Good

Tickets for Festiv-Ale, the Sept. 18 beer festival to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, are on sale now.

Blood and Franzia

The family behind Franzia contended with the Chicago mob as it grew, split, and eventually included more than half of wine business in the U.S.

Food Fights

Amazon is testing a food delivery service to compete with Grubhub in Seattle, while Google is launching its own grocery delivery service in San Francisco.

It's Gonna Get Dark

Tickets for the Festival of Barrel Aged Beers went on sale today. The fest happens Nov. 20-21 at the UIC Forum.

Don't Forget #HotDogEmoji

The online campaign to add a hot dog emoji started in Chicago with one couple's dream of a ketchup-free frank on every phone.

Back to the Island

John Hall, who left Goose Island after its 2011 sale to Anheuser-Busch InBev to start Virtue Cider, has sold the majority of Virtue back to Goose Island, citing a need for larger distribution facilities; Virtue will continue to be made in Michigan. Hall's father started Goose Island in 1988.

Chicago Concoctions

WBEZ's Monica Eng dug deep to find some lesser-known dishes created in Chicago, including: the jibarito, the Jim Shoe, and Akutagawa. One common ingredient for many of them: huge amounts of meat.

Hot Dish

Restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff opened up about his culinary career and starting Au Cheval and other popular restaurants on The Download.

Sorry, Italian Grandma

Mad food scientist Dennis Lee put together a recipe for risotto made out of Rice Krispies that's "astoundingly delicious."

Booze Test City

A new Target in Streeterville could be the first in the country to serve alcohol.

Eats on Armitage

A strip of Armitage Avenue in Logan Square hosts a slate of restaurants that rivals the West Loop, including Table, Donkey & Stick, Parson's Chicken & Fish, Osteria Langhe, and more.

Non-Blondes

River North neighbors are organizing online against the opening of a Bottled Blonde in the area, calling it an "amped-up version of Hooters."

Pressure Cooker

In the latest reflection on kitchen culture, Elizabeth chef Iliana Regan thinks intensity can be useful as a teaching tool but yelling at cooks is stupid.

Bronze Trotter

Chef Didier Durand is raising money to erect a bust of Charlie Trotter on Michigan Avenue.

Big Cheese

Cheese guru Lisa Futterman shared some of her favorites with Chicagoist.

Parachute is Soaring High

Parachute landed at No. 5 on Bon Appétit's 10 Best New Restaurants list. Chef-owners Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark are overjoyed.

As Illinoisian as Pumpkin Pie

Springfield can't agree on a lot, but pumpkin pie is now the official state pie of Illinois.

How the Cookies Crumble

Maurice Lenell Cookies pinwheel cookies will disappear from store shelves after the brand was eliminated by its Ohio-based parent company.

Eats on Display

The Foodseum's first-ever full exhibit will delve into "The Hot Dog and Encased Meats of the World."

Yearning to Brew Free

Like Minds brewing is relocating to Chicago from Wisconsin after laws there prevented them from both making beer and selling it at a non-brewpub restaurant.

Quality Concessions

Local eats will soon be on the menu at the United Center, including food from "hot spots" like Big Star, Publican Quality Meats, and Lillie's Q.

Bar Crawler

Google uses location search data to chart the busiest times at popular Chicago restaurants, although the conclusions aren't surprising: the best times to go are close to opening and closing times.

Eat Like a Local

The next time you get some Thai food, David Hammond offers some ways to be less like a culinary tourist.

Secret Sauce

Found in everything from Chinese to Polish food, Maggi is the flavor-boosting sauce you've probably never heard of, writes Kevin Pang.

Meat and Metal

Kuma's Corner was ahead of the gourmet burger trend when it opened 10 years ago, and still reigns as one of the city's top spots.

A Big Roll

Sushi burritos have come to Chicago from the coasts, and are now on the menu at Sumo Restaurant.

The Way We Eat

Documentary project The Midwestern Diner takes a look at food and drink in Chicago from all sides of the table, including the voices of chefs, farmers, and diners.

High-Flying Restaurants

Dove's Luncheonette and Parachute represent Chicago in Bon Appétit's Top 50 restaurants list.

RIP Yoshi Katsumura

Yoshi Katsumura, chef and owner of Yoshi's Cafe in Boystown, passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Cook Conundrum

Local restaurants can't find enough cooks for their kitchens and it's unclear why, although the number of restaurants, other career options, and cost of living are probably factors.

When "Best" is the Worst

"Best of" lists are click magnets but reviewers rarely have enough resources to try every option, leading to oversights noted by angry commenters, writes Michael Gebert.

Bucktown Apple Pie Contest on Hiatus

Even though the Bucktown Apple Pie Contest will not be held this year due to planned (then nixed, courtesy of Gov. Rauner) repairs to Holstein Park's field house, the organizers will hold a Pie Party on Sept. 20 at Senior Citizens Memorial Park (adjacent to Holstein).

Food Truck Fight

Scoutology is hosting a food truck free-for-all where you can vote for your favorite mobile eatery (or write in any that aren't listed).

Deep Dish in the Valley

Lou Malnati's is expanding beyond the Chicagoland area with a new restaurant in Phoenix.

Top Slice

Chicago ranked as the #1 city for pizza according to TripAdvisor (New York was #2), based on the number and quality of reviews posted here. [via]

Foamy Hot Dog

If you're tired of chewing your hot dogs, journalist and chef Louisa Chu created a Chicago-style hot dog foam, which should be finished with celery salt, of course. (Probably not something that'll show up at the Gapers Block Hot Dog Cookoff Saturday, but you never know.)

More Curbside Eats

Uber is now delivering a small selection of dinner dishes through its on-demand app in areas of downtown and Lincoln Park.

Clean Your Plate in Albany Park

It's Bon Appétit Restaurant Week in Albany Park. Dine in for special menus through Sunday, July 26.

Starting Up the West Loop

The New York Times takes a stroll through the fine dining options taking over the West Loop, noting the area's transition is similar to changes in New York's meatpacking district.

Getch'er Hot Dogs Here

ManBQue's John Carruthers spent a day at the Cell selling hot dogs. See what he and his crew can do with Vienna Beef at the Gapers Block Hot Dog Cookoff at Schubas Aug. 1!

Happy Trails

Eater put together a map of the inaugural Happy Hour specials in bars across the city, where the highest concentration (so far) appears to be in the Loop and River North.

Young Guns of Grub

Meet some of the up-and-coming talent from Chicago's hospitality industry in Zagat's 30-under-30, including chefs, bartenders, owners, and more.

Off the Chain

You can hunt down some free Olive Garden breadsticks by finding their food truck as it drives around the city (and parks in Daley Plaza during lunch on Thursday).

Happy Hour is Officially Back in Illinois

Although legislation has been signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner to allow happy hour specials back in Illinois, there are still some caveats.

Every Number is #1

Serious Eats dubbed Harold's Chicken (any location) as the "Best Bad Fried Chicken on Earth."

Cheap Treasures Mapped

Chefs shared some of their favorite cheap places to eat with Eater.

Swearing Minions?

Some parents think the talking minion toys included in a McDonald's Happy Meal are actually swearing.

The Taste Tested

If you're looking to spend your tickets wisely at the Taste of Chicago, the Tribune has a guide to the best and worst of the booths.

Inedible

David Burke's Primehouse and an unnamed Chicago music venue
are among those who shared "don't eat that" moments with Jezebel's Kitchenette.

Burgers That Move

Burgers from Slim's, Hamburger Heaven, and Kuma's Too are the most popular for delivery, according to GrubHub.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

The Bean Soup Times is challenging Chicago foodies to patronize as many black-owned restaurants as possible this summer.

Ballpark Franks

Three gourmet sausages created by Hot Doug's Doug Sohn will be served at Wrigley Field starting today. Look for them at the new Platform 14 stand behind the scoreboard.

Spend Your Savings at Grace

Grace is Chicago's most expensive restaurant based on its new minimum price of $235.

The Parable of Mustard Girl

One woman is vying to become the new queen of condiments.

A Decade in the Making

Masada's Shadi Ramli spent a decade building the massive Middle Eastern restaurant in Logan Square.

Cutting Trump Off

Microbrewery 5 Rabbits is turning off the tap on a house beer it was making for Trump Tower after Donald Trump characterized Mexican immigrants as criminals and "rapists."

Greatness on a Bun

The Double Cheese Burger from Au Cheval is the best in the country, according to the Food Network's "Top 5 Restaurants" show.

Taste the World

An interactive map shows the best and most popular ethnic food in each neighborhood.

Drink His Pain

In honor of the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage, Geek Bar is serving a special drink this weekend called "Scalia's Tears," a concoction of Jeppson's Malort, Triple Sec, apple bitters, and salt--a perfect cocktail for enduring the dissenting Supreme Court Justice's insults.

Donut Boom Continues

Krispy Kreme is bringing eight new doughnut shops to Chicagoland.

Pizza NSFW

Alleged hackers posted porn and other adult content to Home Run Inn's Facebook Page.

Wholesaling the Future

The Distance, Basecamp's profile series of long-time businesses, has fully transformed into a podcast, and the latest episode profiles two Fulton Market wholesalers and how they're handling the changes affecting that neighborhood and industry.

RIP Beachwood

Beachwood Inn is the latest neighborhood bar to close its doors in Wicker Park, over 60 years after the family-run tavern opened on the corner of Beach and Wood streets.

Here You Come Again

Jeni's Ice Cream reopens tomorrow at 5pm, following a series of voluntary shutdowns over the past two months after listeria was found in their product.

Keepers of the Cheese

The largest source for artisan American cheese in the country, the Great American Cheese Collection, can be found at The Plant in Back of the Yards.

Trotter's Still to Go

Charlie Trotter passed away in 2013, and his restaurants closed a year before that. But you can still get the famed chef's smoked salmon, courtesy of a company that licensed his name and recipes.

More Listeria, More Problems

Following a nearly month-long closure in May due to a listeria contamination, Jeni's Ice Cream has closed its doors again due to a second outbreak of the bacteria. Recent customers, don't panic: Jeni's assures you that their product since returning from the last outbreak was thoroughly tested and listeria-free.

Listeria's Latest

Potato salad sold at Chicago Jewel stores was recalled due to listeria fears.

What's Up With Lunch?

Jerry Seinfeld made the first Chicago appearance with Steve Harvey (meh) of his web series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," grabbing coffee and pastrami sandwiches (and unheard-of table service) at Manny's Deli.

Well, Hot Dog

Doug Sohn shared the list of hot dogs that will return to the menu for the new Dog Dayz of Summer festival, which will be held June 27th-28th at the Goose Island Barrel Warehouse.

Booze on a Cone

Booze-infused ice cream will be served up around the city by a gold-plated "Ice Cream Dream" food truck.

Greatness on the Menu

A search for America's best food cities by the Washington Post cuts a big slice off of Chicago's food past and present.

More Meat

The Butcher & Larder will join Local Foods in Bucktown where the butcher shop will open a cafe and wholesale business.

Heaven on an Italian Roll

The best sandwich ever made on the South Side may be the Gym Shoe from Stony Sub, writes Mark Konkol.

Here's Your Excuse

It's National Doughnut Day so get yourself some fried and frosted goodness.

A Head Above the Rest

Half Acre tops a ranking of top local breweries done by industry experts for Thrillist.

Mirror, Mirror Off the Wall

A two-way mirror in the women's restroom of Cigars and Stripes will be removed from the closet door where it hangs, after the club's owner conceded to pressure sparked by a viral video about it.

Get Happy

A bill that would bring back happy hours in Illinois is waiting for the governor's signature.

Poutine in a Mug

Writer Dennis Lee is making the most of his unemployment by inventing a poutine microwave cake.

Dank Eats

Pounds of sausage and other goodies leftover from Maifest are on sale for cheap at DANK Haus.

All About That Brunch

Crain's looks at restaurants' adoption of fancier breakfast fare over the past decade.

On the Menu

This year's Taste of Chicago will feature 60 vendors including well-known Chicago eateries, pop-up restaurants, food trucks and more.

Fart Science

Food writer Dennis Lee created a "Fart Dip" full of flatulence-inducing ingredients - and braced for the results.

Server Spy Games

Demonstrators calling for a higher minimum wage for restaurant workers used fake badges to get into the National Restaurant Association Show and stage a protest there.

RIP Maurie Berman

Superdawg founder Maurie Berman passed away Sunday. Much remains the same since he founded the original location in the 1940s, including the giant papier-mache hot dog people modeled after Berman and his wife that stand atop its roof.

The Nightmare is Over

Jeni's Ice Cream, which shut down production and closed its scoop shops last month over a listeria outbreak, is now back in production. Scoop shops will have a "grand reopening" next Friday, May 22 at 7pm for your ice cream needs.

Two-fisted Critics

Three sommeliers critiqued the "piney, astringent" flavor of Jeppson's Malort - and even suggested some food pairings.

Stock Up Your Garden

This weekend, Slow Food Chicago is selling heirloom tomato seedlings at Bang Bang Pie Shop. Pick up five and get a free biscuit!

Yo Quiero Alcohol

The planned Taco Bell in Wicker Park could be the first in the world to serve booze.

No Fine Print on the Menu

Chicago-based Restaurant.com could owe up to $1 million to customers in New Jersey after judges ruled expiration dates and other fine print on its gift certificates violated laws there.

McDreamy or McSleazy?

McDonald's just reintroduced the Hamburglar with an updated look. It's not going over well.

Beer Lovers Flocking to Chicago Next Week

Early warning: Starting May 14th you are entering Chibeeria-a magical place for one week where Chicago focuses its love on craft beers. The map and a schedule at Chicago Craft Beer Week will keep beer lovers busy hoofing all over town to the tasty events.

Four Course Honors

Several James Beard awards went to local foodies, including restaurateur Donnie Madia, Violet Hour, Lettuce Entertain You's Rich Melman, and the firm behind Brindille's design. More in Drive-Thru.

Robbing Jared to Pay Potbelly

A man who robbed a Subway in Rogers Park walked across the street to a Potbelly shop and ordered a sandwich.

Honeymoon is Over

The City wants to break its sweetheart deal with the Park Grill in Millennium Park and make the restaurant pay more than $8 million in lost rent and fees.

No Beard-Free Guarantee

Bearded cooks are technically supposed to confine their facial hair with a beard net or something similar, but most don't because the rule isn't strictly enforced.

Serving from the Same Plate

Monday's James Beard Awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera will be the first time that the restaurant industry's version of the Oscars will convene outside of New York; this handy infographic of every local Beard award winner since 1991 gives you a picture of the interconnectedness between restaurants, chefs and restaurateurs that contribute to the city's dining scene.

Grow Your Own

To build the "world's first" fully sustainable restaurant that grows its own food, chef and marketer Jaime Guerrero is enlisting the help of students at a local high school.

Achatz & Kokonas on What's Next

Ten years ago, Alinea opened and turned fine dining on its ear. Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas talked with the Trib's Kevin Pang about the past decade and what's coming with Roister and Alinea, and Achatz chatted with Elyzabeth Alfano about his career.

Made to Order

Food critic Penny Pollack says her career as a journalist started on accident while she was in her 40s, working as an intern at Chicago magazine.

Internet Famous

Fish tacos at Big Star, tonkotsu at Ramen-san, and the burger at Au Cheval are among the most-Instagrammed dishes in the city, according to First We Feast.

Harshest Review Ever

Federal agents ate at several of Tony Hu's restaurants before raiding them in October, searching for evidence they were underreporting earnings to the IRS.

Disrupting Delivery

Uber users can now order curbside delivery of lunch and dinner from a "curated menu" using the app.

Well, Hot Dog

Two former Hot Doug's cooks opened their own hot dog joint in Uptown, putting their own spin on Doug's classics like sausages made from strange meats and duck-fat fries.

If You Build It

Eater profiles chef Phillip Foss, whose EL Ideas brings accessible, avant-garde fine dining to an industrial area in Douglas Park on the Near South Side.

So Long, Sassy Service

Ed Debevic's in River North will close and be replaced by a residential tower.

All of the Things

Adding as many toppings as possible with McDonald's build-your-own burger kiosk creates a four-pound mess costing almost $25.

Jeni's Ice Cream Temporarily Off Shelves

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is voluntarily recalling all its products and temporarily closing its shops -- including the ones in Chicago -- due to a possible listeria contamination, following the Blue Bell Creameries outbreak.

The Pizza Box Nexus

Thrillist figured out the part of town with perhaps the best pizza delivery options of all.

Chefapalooza

Tickets for the inaugural Food and Wine Festival are now available; The event will feature tastings and demonstrations by some of the city's best-known chefs.

Meet the Meat Purveyors

Slagel Family Farm provides meat to many of the city's top restaurants. Chicago magazine tells the tale of the farm's rise to prominence.

Chicago's Disproportionately Popular Foods on a Map

Want to know what the most disproportionately popular food is in your neighborhood-meaning the type of restaurant people rave most about on Yelp? Then look no further than the interactive map over at DNAinfo- and for your sake, I hope its not salad.

The Food Must Go On

Homaro Cantu's Moto will reopen to the public this weekend thanks to some help from guest chefs and returning alumni.

Calling BS on Bud's Pumpkin-Peach Beer

Remember the Budweiser Super Bowl commercial that dismissed craft beer as "pumpkin peach ale"? Larry Bell of Bell's Brewery took offense -- and decided to retaliate by brewing a batch of pumpkin-peach ale, made with a pumpkin grown at Bell's Lakeview house. Just 48 bottles are for sale at the brewery this weekend, with proceeds going to charity.

Beard Stays Here

The James Beard Foundation Awards haven't even happened here yet (it's May 4 at the Lyric Opera), but formerly New York-based culinary awards will be back in 2016 and 2017.

As Illinoisan as Pumpkin Pie

The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly to make pumpkin the official state pie.

Their Plates Are Full

Newcity's Food and Drink Fifty serves up the butchers, restaurateurs, critics, and other leaders of Chicago's dining scene.

Festival Season is Upon Us

The City's new Lake FX Summet & Expo starts today, as does CIMMFest. The Chicago Latino Film Festival is ongoing, and Bacon Fest starts tomorrow. Oh, and there's also the Chicago Palestine Film Festival and HUMP! Film Festival this weekend. Whew!

Is it Lunchtime Yet?

The mother-in-law, the Italian beef and Rick Bayless' tortas made it into the NYTimes' Field Guide to the Sandwich. But what, no jibarito or pepper and egg?

RIP Homaro Cantu

Homaro Cantu, chef of Moto, the shuttered iNG and Berrista, was found dead yesterday of an apparent suicide outside a building in which he planned to open a brewery. He was 38.

Peak Artisan

If you're making dinner plans, Chicago Magazine's list of the best new restaurants is a good place to start, but book those reservations fast to beat the buzz.

Cutthroat Kitchen

Legal battles alleging embezzlement, forgery, and even inappropriate photos are raging behind the scenes at the Purple Pig.

Cubs Tied for First!

...In terms of the cost of a beer in the park, that is, at $7.75 for a pint. The Sox are toward the middle of the pack at $6.50. [via]

Make Reservations

Anthony Bourdain will stop in Chicago to perform his live one-man show, "Close to the Bone."

Roll Out the Weirder Barrels

Well over a decade after the debut of Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout, brewers are entering the third wave of barrel aging beers, posits Aaron Goldfarb in Punch.

Making Memories Pay

Jason Narducy and his band Split Single drove to Walkerton, IN to not eat at Memories Pizza, the shop that announced it wouldn't cater gay weddings after the state's RFRA law passed. Instead they bought $100 of pizza from the other pizza place in town, and fed it to the gathered journalists. Meanwhile, people have threatened Memories and defaced its Yelp page, leading to the owners closing the pizzeria for the time being.

How the Link Snaps

Ever wonder what it's like running a hot dog stand? John Carruthers fills you in at Serious Eats.

Some Dreams Come True

While McDonald's is testing all-day breakfast, talk of a zero calorie doughnut is just an April Fool's joke.

On Top Again

Alinea was ranked as the best restaurant in the world by Elite Traveler for the fourth year in a row.

Honey Buttler Pops-Up

Honey Butter Fried Chicken isn't normally open on Tuesdays, but today until April 21, they'll be open as HBFC Takeout: Fried Chicken Fried Rice. [via]

Beer Shouldn't Be Sophomoric

Binny's rejected a beer from Sweetwater Brewing due to its "sexist, borderline racist" label. The beer, called Happy Ending, is part of a broader trend of eyebrow-raising beer names and label art, leading Good Beer Hunting's Michael Kiser to reflect on the trend.

Eating Across the City

On Tastemade's "Day of Gluttony," Harry and Bruce visit 24 restaurants in 24 hours. The second episode tackled Chicago.

Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood (and Region)

Lincoln Square's Elizabeth, Logan Square's Analogue, and a pizza place in Racine, Wisc. (yowza!) are among the recipients of this year's Good Neighborhood Restaurant award given by the good, food-loving folks at LTH Forum.

A Lot of Cheese

Kraft and Heinz will merge, forming the fifth largest food company in the world. Kraft's headquarters will remain in Chicago.

Beer Making By The Numbers

There's no doubt that indie-brewers are growing in number and size. Fans of Half Acre have been eagerly awaiting news of when they'll get to drink beer at their new location. The fine folks at Good Beer Hunting have put a quantitative set of visuals together. They make planning look pretty.

Polishing Off the Pizzle

Dennis Lee's been telling people to eat a bag of dicks on his blog for years. Now he's taken his own medicine. (SFW...ish.)

The Goose Flies Back to Wrigleyville

Goose Island is reopening its Wrigleyille brewpub for the Cubs' 2015 season -- but probably no longer.

Fancy Up Your CSA

Chicago-based online boutique Perry Clark Home just launched a line called Farm to Table, featuring everything from heirloom fruit and vegetable seedlings to a $1200 handmade dining table.

Celebrate Pi Today

Today is the day to celebrate the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, so take it one step further and eat some circular items, like a (Pi)zza or (Pi)e today. WBEZ and the Adler Planetarium join up for a special party tonight.

When Irish Eyes are Bleeding

The funmeisters at Jeppson's Malört have a special St. Patty's Day label for you to download, print and affix to your bottle of their special liqueur.

Drinkers, Rejoice

The Reader's annual bar issue is out, featuring profiles of the people Danny's, Maria's, Rosa's and others are named after.

Body Slam the Intruder

Lee Varon, co-owner of pizza place The Squared Circle with his wife, Lisa Marie Varon (aka WWE Diva Victoria), easily subdued a man who came into the restaurant's kitchen with a gun Saturday night. TMZ uncovered video of the incident.

Put Your Back into It for Bacon

On March 28, Bacon Fest is volunteering its time to the Greater Chicago Food Depository to help repackage food donated by corporations. Lend a hand and you could earn yourself free tickets to Bacon Fest.

Not Lovin' It

McDonald's is struggling to reinvent itself in a marketplace where consumers are concerned more about quality and customization.

Doug Does Pizza

Doug Sohn continues his tour of other people's eateries with the spicy sausage-topped Atomic Pizza at Piece.

Breaded Beauty

Ricobene's breaded steak sandwich with mozzarella and hot giardiniera is the best sandwich in the world, according to USA Today's Ted Berg.

Food for the Soul

Sack Lunch Sunday gives thousands of free lunches to the homeless, complete with an inspiring handwritten note.

Drink in a Box

Cocktail Courier, a newly launched service that ships you all the ingredients necessary to make fancy cocktails from local bartenders, makes decent drinks at a discount.

Better with Whiskey

A new local liquor company has developed an Indian-inspired cream liqueur -- but don't take their advice and try it in a negroni.

Best Seats in the House

From the Frank Sinatra Booth at Gene & Georgetti to a seat near the Billy Goat's "Wall of Fame," Zagat sought out Chicago's ten most famous tables.

Another Encased Meat Emporium

Hot Doug's is returning... for one day only... at Paulina Meat Market May 16. And yes, Doug will be there. Nearer term, you can get a special Doug-designed pizza at Piece during March.

"Our Kitchens, Ourselves"

Chefs Gale Gand, Beverly Kim, Iliana Regan and Mindy Segal talk about the intersection of feminism and food Wednesday night at Revolution Brewing. Tickets are $20.

Suffering Bastard

John Greenfield spent a week visiting every tiki bar in Chicagoland.

What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Mutual Legal Understandings?

The owner of Piece, Love and Chocolate, a Colorado-based chocolate store, penned an open letter to Vosges founder Katrina Markoff after receiving a whopper of a cease-and-desist letter from her lawyers, threatening legal action if the store doesn't change their store name and marketing materials in one week. Vosges claims that they have trademarked the tagline "Peace, Love, and Chocolate" and that the Colorado store's name is "confusingly similar" and "unfairly competitive."

Ina's Back

Ina Pinkney, who closed her West Loop brunch spot in 2013, will be making a special appearance tomorrow starting at 9am at Feast; she'll be cooking and signing copies of her cookbook.

Local Comfort Food

Eat your way through these arctic temperatures by cooking up some foods invented or perfected in Chicago.

Pick a Paczki

DNAinfo has a handy map of bakeries selling packzis to satisfy your Fat Tuesday pastry cravings.

Shrinking to Grow?

Tony Hu is selling most of his restaurants except for the expanding empire of Lau Sze Chuan locations. He sold Lao Beijing already.

Think Outside the Styrofoam Box

Crain's has an interesting "open letter to McDonald's" from Mayor McCheese, aka comedian Joe Janes.

A Flight of Flavors

Passengers stuck at Midway and O'Hare can sample Restaurant Week specials offered by eateries from Auntie Anne's to Wolfgang Puck. [via]

Pour Some Cider This Week

This is a great week for cider fans. The Cider Summit is Saturday, and a whole bunch of events are happening at area bars during industry-only CiderCON's Cider Week. [via]

Get Paid for Lovin'

McDonald's is accepting random acts of kindness as payment from randomly selected customers now through Valentine's Day.

Brew Masters

Half Acre, Pipeworks, and Revolution Brewing made Ratebeer's list of the Top 100 Brewers in the World. [via]

"Drunks Made While You Wait"

Dirty jokes never get old, as shown by a booklet of one-liners printed by Heinegabubler's Boose Shop in 1905.

Deep Dish Does it Again

Professional eater Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti, whose Taco in a Bag restaurant will soon open in Lincoln Square, won the 23rd annual Wing Bowl in Philadelphia, devouring 444 hot wings in three rounds.

Well-Aged Meals

Being the oldest doesn't necessarily mean being the best, but in the case of Eater's list of 25 classic restaurants, there's obviously something good contributing to their longevity.

Pedway Pub Crawl for Pedals

This Thursday, there's going to be a pub crawl on the pedway to raise money for Streetsblog Chicago, so the site can return to daily transportation news coverage.

Spreading the Pickled Gospel

EatGiardiniera.com offers a guide to giardinieras available online and introduces the world to the classic condiment. [via]

Hope You're Hungry

Mike Sheerin fills the Lucky Peach food atlas with local places to get pozole, Chinese food, Polish sausage and greasy spoon diner fare.

A Taco in the Hand

Two competitive eaters are opening a Taco in a Bag restaurant in Lincoln Square after perfecting their fare at Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee.

Pie Yourself in the Face

Today is National Pie Day, so visit your local pie-oneers today; Bang Bang is even offering a free extra slice with purchase (celebrate with a friend).

More Meat

Noble Square's Butcher & Larder will join forces with the massive Local Foods indoor farmer's market currently under construction in Bucktown.

What Makes a Great Bartender?

Chicago magazine's Tom Chiarella looks to Jeff Magill, bartender at the Billy Goat Tavern for 34 years, for the answer.

Everybody Must Get Stoned

Add curling to the list of things you can do in the outdoor area of local bars. Kaiser Tiger just opened two lanes.

Get Your Drink On

Chicago magazine's annual bar guide is online, with recommendations grouped according to interest -- such as where to go on the third date or where to bring the kids.

The Meaty City

Zagat profiles the old-school butchers and new-school steakhouses bringing the best cuts to Chicago.

United States of X: What's for Dinner Edition

Using Yelp data, Huffington Post calculated the most disproportionately popular ethnic cuisine in each state. I didn't realize frontier chicken and shami kabobs were that popular.

The Bitter Side of the Beer Biz

Lagunitas has withdrawn its trademark infringement lawsuit against Sierra Nevada (previously). Good Beer Hunting explains why the case matters.

A Tear in My Cheap Beer

Thrillist compiled a list of the best dive bars in every neighborhood, and only included 31 neighborhoods -- or 29 if you don't consider River North and Streeterville distinct, or separate the South Loop from the Loop. Needless to say, daydrinkers commenters from Rogers Park are pissed.

Better Get In Line Now

There are plenty of smoked meats, game rooms, and tiki bars among Eater's most anticipated openings of 2015.

"Some people never get accustomed to it."

In Lucky Peach, Kevin Pang writes about the food at Westville Correctional Facility, a supermax prison an hour outside Chicago.

Beer Branding Battles

Lagunitas is suing Sierra Nevada for printing "IPA" in big, bold letters on its packaging, part of a growing trend of craft brewer copyright lawsuits.

Deep Dictionary

Learn the difference between deep dish, pan, stuffed, and many other pizza styles found in Chicago with a tasty guide put together by DNAinfo.

Essential Eating

Alinea, Fat Rice and Topolobampo are among Eater's selections of the 38 essential restaurants in America.

Mercury's Rising May Mean Cullen's End

Owners of the Mercury Theater are planning a renovation to add more performance space, which may mean that Cullen's, the Irish pub next door named after the founder of the Mercury, would close.

Eat at the Best

The Tribune's annual Dining Awards are out, with Parachute named best new restaurant and Lee Wolen of Boka chef of the year.

Google Problems

Chicagoist shares unexpected things found by googling local restaurants, like how much fat rice contains and prohibitionist preacher Billy Sunday.

Third Meal

Thrillist puts Chicago at number three in its list of the best US cities for dining, behind New York and New Orleans.

Not Even the Diviest Bar in Lakeview

Galway Bay Pub, steps from Lincoln Park, inexplicably made Impulcity's list of the "diviest dive bars in America." For context, take a look at their guide to Chicago.

One Toast is All You Get

Due to a crackdown by the City last year, fewer New Year's Eve parties are offering open-bar specials that may violate state's anti-Happy Hour law.

First Course

L20's new concept will feature a rotating roster of up-and-coming chefs, an incubator for new culinary talent that will be the first of its kind in Chicago.

GB Gift Guide: Eat Out

À La Card Chicago is perfect for folks on your holiday shopping list who love to eat. It's a deck of 52 $10 gift certificates to local independent restaurants all over the city -- all for just $30.

The Things They Ate

Time Out's 100 best dishes and drinks of 2014 list includes everything from a honey badger to a milk maid to an autumn garden.

Downtown After Hours

While the Loop isn't known for its nightlife, restaurateurs may turn downtown into a destination for locals and tourists alike.

GB Gift Guide: Whiskey Taster

Koval Distillery has the perfect gift for whiskey lovers: a gift pack of small bottles of their bourbon, rye and four grain whiskey. It's available at Binny's and plenty of other local liquor stores.

Kass Gets Out of the Kitchen

Hyde Park native (and former Avec and 312 Chicago chef) Sam Kass, who served as the Obama's personal chef and policy adviser on nutrition, is leaving his White House post at the end of the year.

Get the Right Stuff to Food Pantries

It's the time of year when people think about donating goods to food pantries, and Jan Deckenbach of Hyde Park & Kenwood Hunger Programs has some thoughts about what food pantries really need. Tip: it's not leftover cooking experiment ingredients.

Hot Bags for Any Season

Ingrid Kosar invented the now-ubiquitous pizza delivery bags decades ago, finding a way to keep pies warm that was more practical than other methods, like makeshift backseat ovens.

Very Important Porkbelly

VIP tickets for the 2015 Baconfest go on sale at noon Wednesday. There will once again be three sessions, on April 17 and 18.

Discount Grapes

Remember that wine Groupon was selling under its own name? Crain's taste-tested it.

More Tacos

Taco chain Del Taco is planning to return to the Chicago area in 2016.

Black Beer Friday

This Friday is your chance to pick up bottles of Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout, and Big Hugs, Half Acre's beloved coffee imperial stout, comes out Dec. 14. Expect lines for both.

Immersion-Circulate for the Border

"It didn't take long for the apartment to smell like the inside of a Taco Bell sauna. I couldn't tell if that was a good thing." What happens when you sous-vide Taco Bell for 48 hours.

United States of X: Side Dish Edition

Illinoisians are more interested in hawaiian salad for Thanksgiving than residents of other states, according to a study of Google searches by the New York Times.

Where to Drink

Punch magazine offers a guide to bars in Chicago. Probably won't be many surprises for locals, but it'd be handy this holiday season for recommendations for visiting friends and family.

Give Thanks for Good Airport Food

If you're flying somewhere this week, check out Midway's and O'Hare's best dining options.

You're Cut Off

Raf Miastkowski picks the Chicago bars that would play home to "Game of Thrones" houses.

United States of X: Thanksgiving Edition

Rick Bayless' pumpkin soup with ancho chiles and apple represents Illinois in the NYTimes' Thanksgiving recipes for each state.

Convenient Greens

Farmer's Fridge's salad vending machines bring healthy options to office workers and people in low-income areas.

Old Ways are the Best

The Reader's food issue digs into how old food-making methods are revolutionizing modern cuisine.

Cooking Alinea

Photographer Allen Hamberger finished cooking every recipe from the Alinea cookbook earlier this year (previously). Foodie produced a short documentary about his experiences, which included a visit to Alinea to get tips from Grant Achatz on a recipe.

Culinary Stars

Grace and Alinea were awarded three-star ratings in the 2015 Michelin Guide, while Sixteen, 42 grams and L2O took home two stars.

Drink to Remember, or Forget

A red-hued Chicago Fizz is an ideal cocktail for celebrating Republicans and self-medicating Democrats, according to David Leonhardt.

For Those Who Like It Hot

Serious Eats' Nick Kindelsperger ranked more than two dozen hot giardinieras to figure out which is the best to top your Italian beef.

Know Any Young -- Really Young -- Chefs?

Fox's "Masterchef Junior" is holding open calls for its recently announced third season. Contestants aged 8-13 can cook something up at Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 am to 5 pm. (Chicago's 10-year-old Nasir was one of the first to go home in Season 2, but 13-year-old Levi from Highland Park is still in it.)

South Side Food Star

Stephanie Hart of Brown Sugar Bakery is competing on Food Network's new show, "Holiday Baking Championship." Michael Gebert interviewed her in the Reader.

Big Hurt's in Berwyn

Frank Thomas' Big Hurt Brewhouse is now open in Berwyn, although the mediocre Big Hurt Beer isn't brewed there.

A Deal on Vino

Groupon has launched a line of private-label wines featuring the company's cat mascot. [via]

Leftover Apps

Zero Percent is a new app that helps restaurants and other businesses donate surplus food to food banks more easily.

An Addicting Melange

Chicagoist traces the evolution of pumpkin spice from a blend of flavors used to season pies to a seasonal coffee phenomenon.

Unreal Kitchen

After becoming a viral hit last Halloween with its Alinea parody, Real Kitchen felt the need to follow up this year. The result is Veritable & The Scullery.

A Toast to the Dead

Eater maps Chicago's most haunted bars and restaurants, while the Tribune shows you where the famous and infamous are buried.

The Last Masquerade

Lula Cafe will once again don a Halloween costume this Friday, but it'll be the last time -- at least for a while. This year's theme will be quinceañera in honor of the restaurant's 15th anniversary.

When Losing is a Win

Officials are calling the Taste of Chicago a success despite losing $169,000 on the event, since one day of the event was cancelled due to rain.

Not Just a Dive

While Jameson shots never go out of style, neighborhood bars are less central to community life than they used to be.

What Time is Lunch?

The latest issue of Chicago magazine tackles cheap eats, including seven variations on the classic Chicago-style hot dog.

Food on Film

Tickets for the Chicago Food Film Festival are now on sale. The festival will run Nov. 20-22 at Kendall College.

Beer Runners

Minibar is now delivering beer, wine, and spirits in Chicago.

Raising the Bar

Aviary and Three Dots and a Dash were named as two of the 50 Best Bars in the World, selected for their high scores in a global survey of cocktail professionals.

Getting to the Bottom of the Endless Soup Bowl

Gwynedd Stuart reserved a table at the first Olive Garden to open within city limits and tried to figure out why it was so packed (it wasn't the food).

Old World Lunch

The sandwiches at Olga's Deli aren't $5 anymore (they're $7), but they're still stacked high and made lovingly by Olga herself.

Crawl Out the Barrels

Find out how they made that craft beer you're drinking on the Gapers Block Microbrewery Crawl this Saturday, Oct. 11. We're visiting Lagunitas, Goose Island's Fulton Street brewery (which isn't officially doing tours yet), newcomer BreakRoom Brewery and finishing up at Begyle, where ManBQue is cooking us dinner. Get your tickets now!

Golden Brews

Three Chicago beers won awards at the Great American Beer Fest, including a gold medal for Haymarket's Defender, an American-Style Stout.

New Names on the Door

The corner formerly occupied by Hot Doug's will be taken over by Frank Meats Patty, a burger-focused joint from the people behind Lockdown and Fatso's Last Stand.

Topping the Tortilla

Nick Kindelsperger has launched a new taco blog, full of interesting ideas for taco fillings and some beautiful foodporn.

Sounds Like You've Been Drinking Already

Schlafly Beer (pronounced "schlaugh-lee") will soon be available here, after years of describing its distribution as a "300 mile radius around St. Louis, minus Chicago."

Cheers to That

Sportsman's Club's Jacyara de Oliveira and Drumbar's Alex Renshaw are among Food & Wine's Best New Mixologists

Smoking Meat While Waiting for Sausage

If you happen to pass the Hot Doug's line today, you might see two guys smoking brisket while they wait. That'd be Jared Leonard and Gary Wiviott, founders of the Windy City BBQ Classic, paying their respects and also getting a little free publicity. Hope they share.

Viva Deep Dish

Gino's East plans to go global for the first time, opening restaurants in Mexico City this year.

1-Benjamin Weekend

Seth Kugel's $100 Weekend in Chicago column for the NYTimes is pretty solid, and actually makes it beyond the typical neighborhoods.

Predicting Food Poisoning

The Chicago Department of Public Health is turning to big data to determine which restaurants are most at risk of health code violations.

Latest in Hot Doug's Closing News

The line for today's memorial lunch service began at 10:15pm last night. And Doug Sohn did an exit interview with the Tribune's Kevin Pang.

Hot Ticket

Riverview Tavern is hosting a Sriracha prix fixe dinner where every course features the popular hot sauce paired with a beer from Revolution Brewing.

Celebrate National Coffee Day Today

If CTA coffee maps (previously) aren't enough for you, DNAinfo made a map of nearly every place to get coffee in the city, including both chains and independents. Oddly, diners and White Castle (another fast food joint known for its coffee) were left off.

Not So Good Stuff

A Chicago law firm has filed a class action lawsuit against Templeton Rye, claiming the liquor company was duping customers into thinking their whiskey was made in Iowa instead of in an Indiana factory distillery.

Gigging for Dinner

Michael Gebert goes frog hunting in northwest Indiana with chef Iliana Regan for her restaurant Elizabeth, and then watches Regan put together the dish.

Goose Island Wrigleyville Closing

What is it with Goose Island and balky landlords? The Wrigleyville brewpub is closing Monday due to lease disputes.

Mapping Coffee in Transit

Thrillist released a coffeeshop El map today, listing the closest java to the CTA. It's a little different from the CTA coffee map created by the blog Corner of the Cafe earlier this year, and leaves out the Yellow Line entirely.

The Latest in Stunt Food: Ice Cream

Pavilion at the Langham Hotel knows the value of a ludicrous menu item, so they've introduced a $1,000 bowl of ice cream topped with gold leaf, cognac and a chocolate crown.

Behold, the Crowler

DryHop Brewers will offer a filled-while-you-wait 32oz. can of beer to go starting Thursday. They're calling it a "crowler," and it's designed to stay fresh longer than traditional glass. San Diego's Mission Brewing was the first in the country to offer the quart can.

Changing Plates

Eater asked Chicago chefs, restaurateurs, educators and, er, Billy Corgan how they would change the world through food.

Encased Meats on Film

Brothers Nick and Christopher Markos are making a documentary about the final weeks ofHot Doug's. Say hi if you're in line over the next (gulp) two weeks.

Marathon Eating

Chef Graham Elliot will be hosting a cooking demonstration showcasing healthy meals for runners in honor of the upcoming Chicago Marathon. Take home recipes and sample food at Mariano's in the West Loop on Sept 24.

Show Me the Way to the Next Microbrewery

We just announced the latest Gapers Block Microbrewery Crawl, visiting Lagunitas, Goose Island, BreakRoom and Begyle on Oct. 11. Tickets are on sale now!

A Toast to 'Da Bars'

With thriving neighborhood bars, local distilleries, and a cutting-edge cocktail scene, GQ calls Chicago the Greatest Drinking City in America.

Drink to Chicago

GQ called us America's greatest place to drink, while Food & Wine put six Chicago bars in the Midwest bracket of its new People's Best New Bars poll.

TBOX & TBOX West?

The massive and controversial Twelve Bars of Christmas bar crawl will be Dec. 13 this year, and tickets are on sale now. Meanwhile, the former social media manager for TBOX is launching Chicago Christmas Crawl for the same day, over in Wicker Park.

Not Drinking with Friends

Your sober friend may not be drinking, but that doesn't mean he or she isn't having fun. Jeff Ruby provides tips on not making it awkward.

Speaking of Brunch...

This Sunday, you can follow a morning of bloodies with an afternoon of bacon.

I'm Brunching It

McDonald's has applied for a trademark on the word "McBrunch," presumably with the intention of using it. No word on whether Burger King's applied for "BK Elevensies" yet. [via]

Bacon, Poutine, Mac'n'Cheese... now Ramen.

Ramenfest is coming to Urban Belly on Nov. 8. Tickets are on sale now. [via]

The Future of Street Food

Despite years of legal limbo, the largely immigrant food cart vendors still aren't technically legal. In These Times takes a look at their current plight and what's being done to change it.

Service Without a Smile

Dan Peacock wrote a recent Yelp review about the offensive and sexist service him and his girlfriend received at Andersonville's Hamburger Mary's. The review has been placed in the "Not Recommended" reviews section, with other reviews saying Hamburger Mary's has less than stellar service and food.

How the Nuggets are Made

The McDonald's corporate social media team got schooled after telling @HowThingsWork not to "spread bad information" -- by sharing an animated gif from the company's own video.

Hot Dog Rookie

Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery got his first taste of a Chicago-style hot dog at the Wiener Circle.

Club Foot Gets The Boot

Per an announcement on their Facebook page, Club Foot will be closing in November of this year, due to a "massive rent increase."

Fight for $15 Continues

Fast food workers in Chicago and across the country are going on strike again today, calling for a minimum wage of $15 an hour and the right to form a union.

Competing for Your Morning

Peet's Coffee is opening 16 new locations in Chicago this fall. Meanwhile, Filter is closing for 10 days starting Friday so that Latino store brand Café Bustelo can do a pop-up shop.

Social Drinkers

Two competing craft breweries, Ale Syndicate and Arcade Brewery, share the same brewing facility in Logan Square.

United States of X: Bell Pepper Edition

Illinois no doubt has Chicago to thank for green bell peppers and Italian sausage being among the most distinctive ingredients by state, according to data from Food Genius.

Feeding the First Family

The New York Times profiles Hyde Park native and U of C grad Sam Kass, personal chef to the Obamas.

Drinking to Help

Anthony's Own, founded by a retired Chicago fireman, employs physically and developmentally disabled adults to produce and package its line of liqueurs. You can find them at Binny's.

Chicago-Style Sandwich?

Is a hot dog a sandwich? This deep dive into sandwich ontology is food for thought as you plan those Labor Day barbecues.

Still Growing

While urban farms cultivate fresh produce and jobs, they still rely heavily on outside funding and most are not independently sustainable.

United States of X: Dessert Edition

Illinois gets brownies (introduced at the 1893 World's Fair) in Slate's map of desserts for every state.

Happy Birthday, Peggy!

Peggy Gelsomino has been making pizzas at Gino's North since 1992, and has been in the restaurant industry for decades. Her 85th birthday party will be at the Edgewater restaurant this Sunday.

They've Got This On Lock

Lockdown's The Lockdown Warden burger is at the top of Zagat Chicago's list, edging out competition from Au Cheval and Leadbelly Burgers.

The Post-Dominick's World

WBEZ explores how Chicago's changing grocery store mix is affecting how we live and shop.

A Sad Day for Illinois Twinkie Lovers

Schiller Park's Continental Baking Company, the first manufacturer of the Twinkie, will be closing and laying off 400 employees this October; the company claims that Twinkie sales have fallen dramatically due to competing Twinkie impostors that flooded the market following the brief closure and sale of the Hostess Brand in 2013 following a labor dispute. The snack cake will continue to be produced, but without local cred.

Who Owns Chicago Mix?

A small candy chain in the Twin Cities filed a lawsuit against Garrett and two other companies, claiming trademark on "Chicago Mix" popcorn, which they registered in 1991.

Your Restaurant is Stalking You

Michael Muser, GM of Grace, tells Food & Wine how they provide service so good it freaks people out.

Snacks of the Times

The City is turning old newsstands into healthy food kiosks run by e.a.t. spots, a local nonprofit focusing on improving access to fresh, healthier food.

Shrimp a la Chicago

Your next shrimp cocktail could come from here on the Fresh Coast.

Surviving the Hot Doug-alypse

While Hot Doug's is closing its doors for good in less than two months, eateries across the city are getting more creative with their encased meat offerings.

Warm & Gooey Events

Get ready for Mac & Cheese Fest in Oct. 4.

Treat Yourself for Trotter

This Sunday is Charlie Trotter Day, and several restaurants are offering specials this weekend. It's all in support of The Trotter Project.

Royal Delivery

The majority of pizzerias in Chicago give away 1-liters of RC Cola with pizzas. Here's why.

The Hot New Eats

Mott Street and Nico Osteria are on Bon Appetit's 2014 Best New Restaurants nominee list.

Perfect Pick

Lots of fruits and veggies are ready for harvest now. It's a great time to hit your local farmers market, but you might also be up for a weekend trip to one of the pick-your-own farms in the area.

Chicken By Any Other Name

While there are over 40 Harold's Chicken Shacks across Chicago, not all of them are supposed to be using that name.

Healthy Snackers

Park visitors actually spent more on snacks after Chicago Park District switched to vending machines only offering healthy options.

An Excellent 6-Pack

Pipeworks, Half Acre, Revolution, Haymarket, Goose Island and Three Floyds are among the "100 American craft beers every beer lover should drink, according to Paste magazine.

The Green City Gets Bigger

The Green City Market will be opening a second location at the corner of Halsted and Fulton Market every Saturday through October, starting this weekend (7am-1pm).

Stamping Out Burgers

Hollymatic helped standardize hamburger portions, for better or worse. The Distance profiles the 77-year-old company.

Food Based on a Dare

It's here: the Cheez-It kimchi beer cocktail you never asked for.

Joly Reigns Supreme

Charles Joly of the Aviary won the 2014 Diageo World Class Champion Bartender in London this weekend. Add that to the World's Best Cocktail Menu award the Aviary won at the Sprited Awards earlier in July and Joly's having a very good year.

Last Supper

The Reader's Michael Gebert bids farewell to Serious Eats: Chicago, which still exists but is shifting towards more SEO-friendly and non-local recipe and "best of" posts.

One Plate and Seat at a Time

Lookingglass' production of Cascabel, which features the acting styles of celebchef Rick Bayless, begins tonight; the ticket price is hefty, but the production comes with a multi-course meal curated by Bayless himself. The production runs through Aug. 24th.

The Beef is Here

The Tribune's Kevin Pang takes a deep dive into the jus, peppers, and meat that make up the best Italian Beef in Chicago.

So You Don't Have To

The Trib's Kevin Pang has compiled a dining guide for out-of-towners looking for recommendations.

The Benefits of Longevity

Eater talks with Tony Durpetti, owner of Gene & Georgetti, the oldest steakhouse in Chicago. Meanwhile, the Distance profiles Hala Kahiki, Chicagoland's oldest tiki lounge.

No Bathtub Necessary

This is Chicago Craft Gin Week. Get tippling.

Sweet, Salty, Sour, Spicy

Chicago is seeing a boom in neverias, Mexican ice cream shops that serve much more than just ice cream.

"Magnificent and Popular"

Logan Square bar Analogue finally has a sign. Wonder if people will get bent out of shape about it.

The Baristas vs. Paula Deen

Local café owners are resisting the latest trend of adding some butter to your coffee.

Bacon Double

If you can't imagine waiting till next April for BaconFest, you're in luck: The folks behind the American Beer Classic are organizing the Great American Bacon Festival for September.

Stuffed with Steak & Accolades

L'Patron's carne asada burrito made the The Daily Meal's list of the 35 Best Burritos in America.

Donut Smackdown

L.A.-based Stan's Donuts is opening a second Chicago shop practically next door to the upcoming Do-Rite Donuts in Streeterville. Eater.com has the full story.

New Restaurants from Achatz & Izard?

Apparently you have to go to Aspen to get Chicago restaurant news now. Eater learned that Stephanie Izard may have a new restaurant in the works, and that Grant Achatz definitely does, plus Alinea will be undergoing a thorough remodeling in time for its 10th anniversary next year.

Remembering Josh Marks

Chicago Magazine looks back at the budding culinary career and sudden death of Josh Marks.

Dog Dealer

After graduating from Vienna Beef's Hot Dog University, writer John Carruthers found out what it's like to work at a hot dog cart.

A Garden Underground

An old freight tunnel underneath the Palmer House Hilton now serves as a mushroom garden for the hotel's restaurant.

Put Some Butter On It

Culver's is bringing their Wisconsin brand of butter burgers and custard to Wrigleyville.

United States of X: Bartender's Handshake Edition

While Malört is no doubt still popular, at least some of Chicago's bartenders have moved on from the bitter stuff for "staff meals," according to this article from Punch. (In other Punch news, read this nice writeup of Three Dots and a Dash.)

Optimalist Cooking

Food & Wine offers a peek inside Alinea co-founder Nick Kokonas' kitchen.

Tastes Good Going Down

New Bubbly Creek Soda from Bridgeport Coffee tastes like coffee and is named after the still-stewing South Branch waterway that runs through the neighborhood. Sales of the drink benefit the Wetlands Initiative, which is working to clean up Bubbly Creek.

This is Getting Ridiculous

I tried to resist posting about yet another donut hybrid, but the bonut, based on the tasty biscuits at Bang Bang Pie Shop, actually sounds pretty good.

What Ticketing Tables Does

It's been three years since Next opened with a ticket-based reservation system, and the concept is beginning to catch on in the industry. Nick Kokonas explains how the system works and what difference it's made to the business.

The Burger That's Second to None

Kuma's Corner just earned more bragging rights: The Daily Meal declared the Kuma Burger the best burger in the nation.

Burrito Bracket Goes Big

Back in 2007, Nate Silver -- soon to be of FiveThirtyEight fame -- began the Burrito Bracket in an attempt to find the best burrito in his neighborhood. Today, Silver turned his attention back to his favorite Mexican-American food and took the bracket national.

Custom Combos

You can invent the next cronut, wonut or cuffin with Chicago Magazine's food combo generator.

Gin, Campari & Compassion

Evidently this is Negroni Week; order a negroni at one of more than three dozen bars and restaurants around town and a portion of the cost goes to charity.

No Longer Homemade

Homemade Pizza abruptly closed all its stores this weekend, and deleted its website and social media presence.

No Beer Was Harmed

Production of Half Acre Beer's "Daisy Cutter" variety will be halted for a week following a fire last weekend at the Indiana factory that makes the brew's aluminum cans. Stay strong, we'll get through this.

Last Days of the Telegraph

Logan Square wine bar Telegraph is closing June 7 due to an "amicable parting" between executing chef Johnny Anderes and the rest of the management team. The popular spot will undergo reconcepting and reopen in July.

Spirited Competition

Celeste, The Aviary, Sable Kitchen & Bar, and Three Dots and a Dash are finalists in the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.

10 Years of Taste

LTHForum is 10 years old; cofounder Michael Gebert recalls the dinner that instigated its creation.

Give the Others a Chance

As the James Beard Awards come to Chicago, Anthony Todd makes a convincing argument that the city get its own Best Chef category.

Beard's in Chicago

Chicago will host the James Beard Awards ceremony next year, the first time the awards will have been held outside New York. The awards gala will be on May 4, 2015.

Because it's Happy

McDonald's is bringing to the US a new Happy Meal character named "Happy," who will either delight your children or haunt their dreams. Happy was designed by the chain's European ad agency and debuted over there in 2009.

Warning: Insipid music.

A Tech Company Dealing in Food

The Tribune peers into The Matrix, the computer brain pieced together by Chef Homaro Cantu to help run things at Moto.

Get Drunk Faster

If QwikerLiquor (previously) wasn't enough for your immediate booze delivery needs, Boston-based app Drizly is now available here.

Statistically the Best

Chicagoist aggregated data from a variety of ratings to produce a "statistically accurate" list of the 25 best restaurants in Chicago.

Get the Legs Out

Don't worry, turkey legs are coming back to the Taste this year.

Don't Waffle on This Book

Remember the Waffleizer? Author and former GB contributor Daniel Shumski's book Will it Waffle?, based on the popular foodblog, is now available for preorder.

Counting Down to the End of the Bun

Hotdogs.com is, amazingly, a countdown clock for the closure of Hot Doug's.

Where to Eat Next

Time Out Chicago announced its 2014 Food & Drink Awards, with Cicchetti taking Readers' Choice for Best New Restaurant.

United States of X: Beer Tweet Edition

Vox shares several maps of Twitter data about beer. Chicagoans really like Schlitz and Goose Island, not surprisingly. But we tweet more about church than beer.

Let the Carts Cook

Two years after the food truck legislation passed, food cart vendors are trying to get a little regulatory relief of their own. Their fight is sadly not new.

Doggone It!

Hot Doug's is going on "permanent vacation," per owner Doug Sohn, who also told DNAinfo that it's "time to do something else." "I'm not burnt out. I also don't want to be burnt out. It's just time," he told the Trib's Kevin Pang.

Beard Winners Announced

Jacquy Pfeiffer of the French Pastry School, an episode of This American Life, Curtis Duffy's Grace, Dave Beran of Next, Jimmy Bannos, Jr. of The Purple Pig, and Paul Kahan (Publican, Avec, etc.) were among the winners at last night's James Beard Awards ceremony in New York.

Donut Forget Your Receipt

Stan's Donuts was printing Mitch Hedbergs "Receipt for Donut" joke on their receipts for donuts.

Goodbye, Johnny

Johnny's Grill in Logan Square has abruptly closed, just one more victim of the march of gentrification. Owner Nicholas Kalliantasis tells DNAinfo he was not given the option to renew his lease.

Drink Your Best Tea

In addition to the rumors that she may buy the Los Angeles Clippers in the wake of the Donald Sterling scandal, former Chicagoan Oprah Winfrey has collaborated with Starbucks to create a chai tea blend that is sure to make your life better.

Pick Up Some Portillo's

As in, all the Portillo's. The privately owned, Oak Brook-based Portillo's Restaurant Group is exploring the sale of its namesake restaurant chain.

Alinea #9

Alinea is ninth on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list from S. Pelligrino, up from 15th last year.

The Alinea Cookbook Book

VFX artist and photographer Allen Hemberger has spent the past five years cooking every recipe from Alinea's cookbook. His resulting blog, The Alinea Project, is full of beautiful photographs that Allen hopes to turn into a book about his efforts. The project is up on Kickstarter. [via]

Eating Green

Speaking of green restaurants, four star-certified green restaurant Big Delicious Planet, Michael Jordan's Chicago Steakhouse, Topolobampo/Frontera Grill and Uncommon Ground are on the Daily Meal's America's Greenest Restaurants list.

Green Tap Lines

Goose Island will be donating part of the proceeds from sales of Green Line Pale Ale to the Trust for Public Land, which supports The 606 and other park projects.

Latest Doughnut Development

From Waffles Cafe comes yet another doughnut hybrid, the Wonut.

Watch Them Repair the Circle

As part of the massive Circle Interchange reconstruction project, IDOT is currently rebuilding the Morgan Street bridge. UIC's Urban Transportation Center has installed a webcam so you can watch it happen. [via]

Burger Time

NPR's Planet Money maps out how long it would take workers in each neighborhood to make enough money to buy a burger. Lincoln Park and Englewood are among the shortest waits, while Edgewater is one of the longest in Chicago. [via]

Beer & Circuses

Lagunitas is bringing its Beer Circus to Chicago in May, which apparently means live music and lots of clown burlesque. Oh, and beer fresh from the brewery. Get your tickets here.

Table for 50

This year, NewCity's annual Food & Drink Fifty list is made up exclusively of chefs, bartenders and other people making food and beverages in the city -- no restaurateurs.

You Win or You Schnitzel

The owners the Schnitzel King food truck and sandwich shop announced they will be closing both, although their lawsuit against the City's food cart restrictions will continue.

Barcade All-Stars

RedEye's Mick Swasko profiles gamers striving for the High Score on barroom arcade games.

Tougher Reservations

Chicago magazine's annual Best New Restaurants list is out.

Whitefish Wiped Out

Fish sellers are rationing the hundreds of pounds of whitefish they sell each year during Passover because ice on top of the Great Lakes made it difficult for fishermen to catch a big enough supply.

Two Scoops of Summer

With this warm weather (mid-50s! woo!) you might be tempted to get some ice cream. Bobtail is celebrating its 10th anniversary by giving you an extra scoop of the week's special flavor; this week it's Signature Sunset.

Not So Useful Nuggets

WBEZ's Monica Eng is trying to figure out what ingredients make up the top five food items at CPS schools, but responses from officials so far include that chicken nuggets contain: chicken nuggets.

Malört Face on Film

This Story Will Never End: Jeppson's Malört Documentary, by Fire Engine Red Films, tells the story of the beloved and maligned bitter liquor. It's due out this summer. [via]

Tunes for Tastebuds

Building the right playlist is key for restaurants looking to set the right mood for their food.

Butcher has Beef

The Butcher & Larder's Rob Levitt dispels some myths and airs some grievances about his job in the Food Republic.

Malört™

Malört is no longer fooling around: the Carl Jeppson Company has trademarked the name of its signature (and only) bitter liqueur.

The Next Best Chef

Next's Dave Beran was named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs. Beran is also nominated for Best Chef: Great Lakes in this year's Beard Awards.

Alinea Tops Again

Alinea is the best restaurant in the world for the third year in a row, according to luxury magazine Elite Traveler.

Zagat Names Chicago's "30 Under 30" Chefs

Zagat released its 30 Under 30, a list of "gastronomic game changers," which includes a butcher, a baker, but alas, no candlestick maker.

The Mexican Cookbook Library

Eater got a peek inside chef Rick Bayless' personal library above Topolobampo & Frontera Grill.

Hold the Lime

If a bartender tells you to take those tequila shots without any citrus, it's probably because local bars are coping with the skyrocketing cost of limes caused by a shortage in Mexico.

Time to Kick It

A minimalist pour-over coffeemaker, a contemporary Korean restaurant and sockless shoe liners are among the projects currently on GB's Kickstarter page.

Tilling the West Side

Oakpark.com profiles Urban Till, an urban farm in Austin.

Foresworn

Four Loko as we knew it will be no more, as Chicago-based Phusion Projects agreed to cease production of caffeinated alcoholic beverages under pressure from government officials. They're still making Four Loko products, and in fact just released a new flavor. (Previously.)

Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood

Food LTH Forum has released its list of this year's Great Neighborhood Restaurants and Resources, among them Lincoln Square's Rainbow Thai Cuisine and Roscoe Village's Bad Wolf Coffee.

Distilling a Trend

The Reader looks at the increasing popularity of local distilleries.

You Get a Buzz, and You Get a Buzz

Starbucks announced it will begin selling alcohol in evenings at certain stores, as well as a blend of chai tea endorsed by Oprah herself.

It's Soup Weather

Join us tonight at 5:30pm for Soup & Bread at the Hideout, where members of the Drive-Thru section will be dishing up two of the soups being offered -- just donate if you can and grab a bowl.

Get Drunk Fast

Too lazy to go to the liquor store? QwikerLiquor now delivers wine and booze from local shops to your door. [via]

Battle of the Beard

Plenty of Chicago chefs and restaurants are among the finalists for the James Beard Awards, including Spiaggia for Outstanding Restaurant and The Violet Hour for Outstanding Bar Program. More details in Drive-Thru.

Flagging Foodies

Posted in the kitchen of a "prominent Chicago restaurant," a memo on how to spot a food critic discovered by Tribune writer Kevin Pang warned servers to be especially careful with diners eating alone.

A Dash of History

The Foodseum would be a permanent space for visitors to taste, touch, and smell exhibits about edibles of the past and present.

On Reluctant Vegetarianism

Chicago author, Joe Meno, writes about "surrendering" to a vegetarian lifestyle in this month's Chicago magazine.

Probably Not Bat Meat

The AnchorVan, the "world's first combination news/food truck," is serving up free chicken downtown to promote Anchorman 2.

Prepare for the Dark Lord

Fans of beer deepest black: tickets for Dark Lord Day go on sale today at noon. Three Floyds' annual celebration is April 26.

Deep Dish in the Big Apple!?

You remember all the New Yorkers bitching about how deep dish isn't really pizza? Well, one of the hottest restaurants in Manhattan right now is Emmett's, a Chicago-style pizzeria, where waits stretch to three hours. (Though it might not be that great.)

3.1415-Yum

Don't forget, Friday is Pi Day. Celebrate by eating some.

Crossing the Border

Chicagoist's Chuck Sudo says 18th Street Brewery in Gary gives beer lovers another reason to go to Indiana besides Three Floyds.

Gourmet Year-Round

Food fest Chicago Gourmet has launched Beyond Gourmet, a quarterly dinner series intended to give foodies opportunities to mingle with chefs, mixologists and industry folks throughout the year.

United States of X: Meaty Edition

If Illinois (and the rest of the states) could only eat one meat, what would it be? Slate attempts an answer. [via]

Careful with that Carp

WBEZ's Curious City looks into which Lake Michigan fish are safe to eat, and in what quantity.

White Bread for Health

Before it was considered junk food, Wonder Bread was a health innovation. Loaves will soon be back on Chicago store shelves.

Pastry Invaders

While Chicago is in the middle of a homegrown doughnut boom, the competition is heating up as Stan's Donuts comes to town from LA, the "Doughnut Capitol of America."

Lenten Eating

Former GB contributor JP Pfafflin is on a constant search for the best Friday fish frys.

Hot Chefs, Big Food

Mike Sula explores the phenomenon of top-rated chefs collaborating up with manufacturers of frozen dinners, fast food and breakfast snacks.

Mark's Chop Suey Final Day After 38 Years

The Chinese food restaurant Mark's Chop Suey in Boystown will permanently close its doors today after 38 years of service. The restaurant's owner, Amy Mark, 64, is ready to slow down. Marks' is right next to Sidetrack, one of the best-known gay bars in Chicago, which is one of the reasons why Mark chose the location in the first place.

How Much for a Large?

NPR's Planet Money tallied the median price of a pizza in every neighborhood of Chicago (and other cities) using data from Grubhub Seamless. Hit pizzerias in Austin, Avondale or the East Side to pay the least. Oh, and order a large. (Thanks, @tutebot!)

Pie in the Sky

Soon you will be able to grab a slice of Giordano's while looking down on the city from the Sears Tower's Skydeck.

Next Stop: Coffee

OK, there's the L bar map, but how 'bout one of coffee shop L map?

Heart-Stopping Races

The Bacon Chase fundraiser will feature the standard 5K race followed by unlimited bacon, as well as a .05K "blitz" because you're probably not there for the exercise anyways.

Chicago CTA Bar Map

Since drinking on the CTA is not (yet) legal, a map has been created correlating the "best and closest" bar to every "L" stop. Each stop on the map has been replaced with the correlating bar.

Vote Chicago as America's Favorite Food City

Food & Wine has created a survey inviting readers to rank the top American food cities. Vote for Chicago and look for the results in the September 2014 print issue of Food & Wine.

2 Chicago Chefs Up For Culinary Award

The International Association of Culinary Professionals will release the winner of its annual cookbook awards on March 15, and two cookbooks written by Chicagoans are among the list of finalists.

Supreme Pizza Wars

Let's all agree not to take US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scolia's bait about Chicago-style deep dish not being pizza.

Green Machine

Stocked with salads and healthy options made from fresh, locally sourced produce, the Farmer's Fridge vending machines offer much more than candy bars and Gardetto's.

Where to Show You Don't Care

Eater put together a list of the least romantic places for Valentine's Day. And no, White Castle isn't one of them.

Coffee Talk in Englewood

Englewood's Kusanya Café is a rare place where neighbors can sit down and have a chat.

Cuties in the Kitchen

Here are your Chicago chef and bartender valentines, courtesy of Time Out. (Here's the PDF.)

Eating Up Accolades

Food Politic talks with Sarah Becan about her webcomic, Sauceome.

Foodie Flirtation

City tourism officials are courting the organizers of the James Beard Awards, trying to bring the "Oscars of food" to Chicago from New York.

Ina's Rules

The "Breakfast Queen" Ina Pinkney may have closed up shop, but she has some parting advice on how to run restaurant.

No Coffee Blues

Follow Michael McSherry as he roasts coffee in his garage and delivers it by bike all around Chicago for his upstart "Grinderman Coffee" in a short documentary produced by RedEye.

Whose Booze is Best?

RedEye narrowed their search for the best up-and-coming bartender down to eight contestants, and they're now taking your votes on who's #1.

All You Can Poutine Your Mouth

The second annual Poutine Fest is Feb. 23, and tickets go on sale on its website this Friday, Feb. 7 at noon. Last year it sold out almost immediately, so be ready to jump. [via]

The Cheesy Confines

Giordano's is now the official pizza supplier of the Cubs and Wrigley Field.

All Hands on Deck

Employees of Snarf's Sub Shop who were fired in an email sent just before Christmas are heading back to work after reaching an agreement with the sandwich chain's management.

Chicago Sandwich Bracket

An online tournament of sandwiches has begun in Chicago, and is being called an "edible version of March Madness." The bracket currently consists of 64 sandwiches of various types all around the city. Participants who agree to the challenge eat the sandwiches, take photos and blog to the group's Google Docs.

Spreading #MalortFace

Malört's bitter tentacles continue to spread: it's now available in a couple bars in Washington, DC.

Dessert from the Sky

With yet another layer of snow falling, perhaps you could make something with it.

DePaul Campus: No Longer a Food Desert

Whole Foods Market Inc. confirmed purchasing four former Dominick's stores in Chicago, including the Lincoln Park location at 959 W. Fullerton Ave., the center of DePaul University's campus. Other locations purchased includes the West Loop, Edgewater and Streeterville.

Secret Sandwiches

According to food blog Sample the Culture, Potbelly's has a secret "underground menu," including sandwich hybrids like "Fireball" and "Seven Wonders." If you try ordering one, let us know how it goes. [via]

Averting a Coffee War

Close-by coffee shops in Evanston avoided conflict by, get this, talking to each other -- and their supplier.

Evolution of the Donut

NPR's Ian Chillag got a taste of Endgrain Restaurant's "doughscuit," the latest pastry innovation in a post-Cronut world.

Micro Brewhaha

The would-be builders of Forbidden Root, billed as the first "botanical brewery" in the U.S., are meeting resistance from West Town residents who don't want any more liquor licenses issued in its proposed location.

You Don't Have to Go Home

Chicago magazine captured glimpses of the special, magic moment that is last call at bars around the city.

Free Oysters

Pearl Tavern, the Loop's brand new craft, oyster and "sea delights" bar, is giving away free oyster tastings to all who make a reservation, in celebration of its opening. Call them at 312-629-1030 or follow the link for free oysters between now and January 30.

Sweet Liquor

The upcoming Candy Crush Crawl has nothing to do with the videogame and everything to do with chocolate fountains and pools filled with jelly beans. And booze.

Where to Drink

And speaking of Chicago magazine, its annual Best New Bars list is out, with Three Dots and a Dash taking the top spot.

Malört, Now with More Malörtiness

Has Jeppson's Malört seemed a bit too mild to you lately? Not to worry: their batch of Malört coming out this Spring will be even more bitter than their bottles on the market now.

Feast with Your Eyes

The Reader shows what it takes for the folks behind Sunday Dinner Club to prepare cassoulet -- a traditional French mixture of beans, meat, and assorted deliciousness -- for 500 people. Time for lunch.

Buns of Influence

The controversial Ghost burger special at Kuma's Corner last year made TIME's list of most influential burgers of all time. Seems like they're giving it a little too much credit.

Jewel Takes Over

Four former Dominick's grocery stores -- among them the ones at Roosevelt and Canal and Clybourn and Wrightwood -- reopen today as Jewels.

Alinea Baby Fracas Continues

Grant Achatz's tweet over his dilemma of whether a couple who brought their crying eight-month-old to Alinea this past weekend should have been asked to leave is earning him some major attention, as well as a new parody Twitter account.

Crying Over Pricy Dinner

A couple brought their 8-month-old baby with them to Alinea after their babysitter fell through. Chef Grant Achatz was at a loss as to how best to handle the situation after the infant's crying upset other diners, which led to plenty of discussion on Twitter -- and a parody account.

100 Percent Useful

The Zero Percent app helps grocery stores and restaurants share their surplus food with charities in Chicago.

Drink Beer Here

Draft magazine picked its 100 Best Beer Bars of 2014, and not surprisingly a lot of Chicago spots are on it. Congrats to Bangers & Lace, Fountainhead, Hopleaf, Local Option and Map Room.

Where Kahan Cooks

Home design site Houzz gives us a close-up look at chef Paul Kahan's kitchen.

You're a Mean One, Mr. Snarf

All of the employees at local sandwich place Snarf's Sub Shop (600 W. Chicago Ave.) were laid off last night. By email.

Lincoln Lodge Loses its Home

The Lincoln restaurant in North Center is closing at the end of the year, which means the Lincoln Lodge is looking for a new home. The long-running standup showcase begins its final performances tonight.

Make it a Fortnight

Reservations for Chicago Restaurant Week Jan. 24 to Feb. 6 are now available -- book one of more than 200 restaurants in the city and suburbs.

Cheeseborger, Cheeseborger, Salad

The latest Billy Goat Tavern in the Loop is courting the downtown lunch crowd, offering more than two types of beer and a salad bar.

Where Everybody Knows Your Game

The founders of the Kickstarter-backed Geek Bar found a fitting location in Lincoln Park, and plan to start serving Chicago's nerds in the spring of next year.

GB Gift Guide: Hot Dogs

You've got just a little time left to send Vienna Beef hot dogs to friends across the country. Maybe this commercial will convince you. [via]

No More Free Grub

GrubHub is getting rid of Yummy Rummy, the rewards game that gave frequent users a chance to win free food.

GB Gift Guide: A Flagon of Mead

Well, not a flagon per se, but Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery makes some delicious honey-based brews. You can purchase them online via Bev-Art.com.

Eat This List

Time Out's 100 Best Things We Ate & Drank This Year features special oysters, doughnut ice cream sandwiches, Russian style vodka shots and more.

Preparing for Hurricane TBOX

Wrigleyville businesses and residents are bracing for the hordes of Christmas sweater-clad bar hoppers set to stumble through the streets during this weekend's Twelve Bars of Xmas pub crawl.

Bari's Lunch Secret

I have a feeling Bari has a lot more people asking for Italian beef after Serious Eats discovered how well they make it. They make their own giardiniera, after all.

Few Better

Whisky Advocate named FEW Spirits Rye its craft whiskey of the year. Which means it's going to be even harder to find.

Take a Seat, Bacon

This morning, Do-Rite Donuts added a $20, special order Truffle Donut to their menu.

Pass the Plate Virtually

The Greater Chicago Food Depository has launched the Donation Plate, a simple site that makes it easy to create a fundraising campaign to fight hunger. Here's Gapers Block's plate; pitch in if you can.

The Peoples' Groceries

Chicagoans looking to start food co-ops are setting their sights on Dominick's locations that will soon be empty across the city.

Ate All of the Things

After people lined up around the block last week for Eataly's grand opening, the Italian food mecca had to close today to re-stock and prepare for more crowds of hungry Chicagoans.

Gift Guide: Bicycle Tire Fire

A Malört water bottle for your bike; fill it with yellow Gatorade for the full effect.

GB Gift Guide: Wine of the Month Club

There are the standard wine-of-the-month clubs, and then there's the one offered by Fine Wine Brokers in Lincoln Square. Each bottle is carefully chosen for the utmost quality for your fancy, and hopefully sharing, friends.

Happy Ordinary Days

An "A is for Atheists" display marking the pagan holiday of the winter solstice is joining the menorah and Nativity scene on Daley Plaza for the first time.

The Grid: Stickney Water Reclamation Plant

Want to know where your Thanksgiving meal went? If you stayed in the Chicago area, it probably ended up at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant. Stickney is the largest wastewater treatment plant in the world and the subject of our newest episode of The Grid.

Orange Crocs Descending

Eataly Chicago, the food store brainchild of celebchef Mario Batali, opens today at 4pm.

For the Bacon Lover in You

Cyber Monday gets porky: VIP tickets for next year's Baconfest go on sale at 10am.

Leona's Changes Hands

The Leona's chain has been sold (except for the Sheffield original and Rogers Park location) to an Evanston lawyer who plans to refresh the menu and the look. I'd gladly lose the psychedelic salad for roasted garlic heads on the menu again.

Put Turkey on Their Table

Hip hop shop Exclusive 773 is giving away 1,000 turkeys to needy families today at the store, 857 W. 87th St. Young Chop, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Durk, Co-Still, Twista and other local rappers have sponsored hundreds of turkeys, and there's still time to donate a couple yourself.

No Boot for You

The Christkindlmarket returns to Daley Plaza next week, with one notable absence: no ceramic boot mugs. This year's souvenir gluhwein mug is a skinny cylinder shape, and has some boot fans, well, bent out of shape, to say the least.

Best of a Least Favorite

Dining Chicago put together a bucket list of Chicago's tastiest versions of every kid's dinnertime nemesis: Brussels sprouts.

Mimosas for Brunch

Yelp has determined that Chicago likes to brunch -- and Broadway Cellars has the fourth most mentions in the nation of Mimosas in its reviews. (Thanks, Dee!)

Building a Better McRib

LTHforum member Binko made his own McRibs at home. They look a whole lot more appetizing than the original.

Turkey Takeout

Serious Eats picks its top spots for grabbing Thanksgiving staples to go.

Frankfurter Facts

O'Hare sells more Vienna Beef hot dogs than anyplace else in the world, and salami used to get salesmen out of parking tickets, according to Thrillist's listicle of things you probably don't know about Vienna Beef.

Busing it in Fresh

The Fresh Moves mobile produce market, built inside an old city bus, will reopen Nov. 23, in time to supply folks in food deserts with fresh ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner.

Stewart Gets Saucy

Jon Stewart unleashed an epic rant against Chicago-style pizza on the Daily Show after commentators pointed to it as something other than tallest building-having that Chicago still does better than New York.

Black Bean Friday

Dining Chicago highlights Black Friday deals at local eateries, perfect for shoppers looking to recover calories lost while battling the crowds.

New Michelin Star Recipients Announced

Elizabeth and EL Ideas are among the first-time recipients of Michelin stars; they are part of the 25 local restaurants who have received the award. The 2014 Chicago guide is available today.

Billy Goat at Risk

The famed Billy Goat Tavern may be pushed out of its home at Hubbard and Michigan if the Realtor Building undergoes redevelopment.

A Toast to Our Vets

Today, Veteran's Day, Veteran Beer launched here in Chicago.

Reasonably Delicious

Michelin's latest Bib Gourmand listing of high-quality, moderately-priced restaurants recommended for locals added over a dozen Chicago eateries.

HapPieNess

Local pie experts share a slice of their trade secrets in the Sun-Times.

Top Your Beef with the Best

Serious Eats Chicago taste-tasted 16 of the many varieties of hot giardiniera on the market to find the best of the lot. (Tangentially related: Our own taste test of neon green relish.)

Tech & Tacos

Dan Sinker turned to github to assemble Tacofancy, a taco recipe repository.

No More 24-Hour Starbucks

The Piper's Alley Starbucks is no longer open 24 hours, and some people -- writers and students, especially -- are none too pleased. (For future reference, the Northwestern Medical Center location is open from 4:30am to 3:15am, as close to 24 hours as they get.)

Skim Milk

Childhood obesity among CPS kindergartners seems to be on the decline, with some experts crediting healthier school lunches. The weight of older kids has plateaued, however.

The Spooky Bits

Serious Eats shares some of the tasty offal dishes around the city, from blood pudding to crispy pig ears.

Red Scare

The California plant where Sriracha is produced may be shut down after residents complained it emits an intense spicy odor, so now is a good time to stock up on the hot sauce, writes ChicagoNow blogger Ana Fernatt.

Lula Becomes Fat Rice

After dropping cryptic clues about their annual restaurant-wide Halloween costume, Logan Square's Lula Cafe is teaming up with their neighbors Fat Rice for a special one-night-only meal tomorrow.

Appetite for Profit

Locally led #Foodiechats has figured out a way to make money off its weekly Twitter chats.

Reminder: GB's Microbrewery Crawl is Saturday!

Gapers Block's Microbrewery Crawl is coming up this Saturday, Nov. 2, and there are still a few tickets left! Join us for brewery tours at Lake Effect, Finch's, Metropolitan and DryHop, where you'll get to see how each one makes their beers -- and enjoy samples of the finished product.

Sayonara, Sushi

The Reader's Michael Gebert laments the loss of authentic Japanese restaurants in River North and Streeterville.

Get Crazy with the Cheez Whiz

The Reader's latest Cocktail Challenge involves Cheez Whiz. Revel Room's Robbie Guevara manages to make something fairly decent sounding with it, but I think I'd still order a Furball over a cheezy bloody.

Pizza Pride

Seven Chicago slices are included in the Daily Meal's ranking of the 101 best pizzas in the country, with Spacca Napoli's Bufalina coming in highest at #23.

Chicago in a Martini Glass

Absolut teamed up with Threadless for a "Chicago" vodka. It's flavored to emulate a dirty martini -- but NPR's Scott Simon thinks a different spice blend would have been more appropriate.

United States of X: Food Edition

Deadspin ranked Chicago-style deep dis pizza #1 on its rundown of the Great American Menu." Cincinnati chili came in last, below getting hit by a car.

Hold the Raccoon

An investigation found that a man was selling wildlife to Chinatown restaurants. But he (allegedly) sold turtles, raccoons, and deer, and two out of those three actually sound delicious.

Beer & Scam Fest

The Crab & Beer Thirsty Fest was supposed to happen this summer at McCormick Place, then the Zhou B Arts Center. In reality, though, it was a scam designed to hit foodies in the pocketbook.
[via]

Beef with Bill Kurtis

Broadcaster Bill Kurtis and his Tallgrass Beef Company are being sued by the former CEO, who says he's owed back pay.

Stuffed Pumpkins? No.

Gozamos shares a fun take on Halloween/Dia de los Muertos food.

Chow Downtown

A different kind of rally is taking over Daley Plaza today as eight food trucks from around the city serve their wares to the lunch and dinner crowds.

Save a Little Dough So You Can Watch Movies About Dough

The Chicago Food Film Festival returns Nov. 21-23 at Kendall College; tickets are on sale now, but if you get yours today (and only today), you can get a 24% discount.

Dominicks' on the Block

Safeway Foods announced during its quarterly earnings report yesterday that it will pull out of the Chicago market by early next year, selling or closing its 72 Chicagoland Dominick's stores, which face increased competition on both the low and high end. Four stores, including two in Chicago, have already been sold to Jewel's corporate parent.

Five Star McDining

McDonald's treated food writers in New York to a fancy five-course dinner made from fast food ingredients, from pre-dinner cocktails to dessert. Kung Pao McNuggets, anyone?

Judge My Apple Pie, Please!

Need an expert opinion? In addition to Oct. 20th's Bucktown Apple Pie Contest, the folks at Bang Bang Pie are also holding a contest for the best apple pie later this month.

This Cake Takes the Cake

Girl and the Goat's Stephanie Izard got married this past weekend; her cake, made by pastry chef Mathew Rice, featured "layers of Strawberry Nesquik-infused chocolate marble cake with bacon buttercream, and a Cheez-It-flavored cake with a crunchy filling of chocolate ganache, peanut butter and chocolate-covered Cheez-Its."

Our Patty's Past

From The Jungle to "Cheezborger, Cheezborger," the hamburger has a more storied history in Chicago than you might think.

More Love for Local Food

Both Carriage House and Embeya made Esquire's Best New Restaurants list. [via]

Street Food Showdown

While some foodies were underwhelmed by the turnout, food trucks from around the city competed for the first-ever Chicago Vendy Awards. "Olga's Snacks" won the day.

Feed the Feds

County Barbecue is offering a free sandwich to government workers furloughed during the shutdown.

Dept. of Logical Conclusions

Ald. Deborah Graham has proposed banning BYOB at restaurants within dry precincts, in reaction to a new banquet hall within a dry district in the 29th ward. Graham is the same alderman who helped make it possible for a convicted felon to open a liquor store with TIF money in an area with a moratorium on new liquor license. Ward Room has a good perspective on it.

Is This Why the Parks are Closed?

It's National Taco Day today (according to whom, we're not sure) so you should eat some tacos to celebrate, right?

The Countdown of Monte Cristo

The last Bennigan's in the city will close at the end of the year. It was saved from the scrap heap in 2009, but this time rising rent is doing it in.

A Final Visit to Fox and Obel

The Streeterville grocery store, which struggled with bankruptcy and health department woes in recent months, will be closing Sunday after 12 years.

Sacrilicious

Kuma's is drawing some heat for its new burger, the Ghost, which features slow braised goat shoulder, a red wine reduction and a communion wafer garnish.

So. Much. Beer.

Karl Klockars runs down the long list of upcoming breweries in Chicagoland in Time Out... and adds further thoughts at Guys Drinking Beer.

Taste Back in Black

Taste of Chicago managed to make a profit this year, for the first time since 2007.

Pushing Liquor in Austin

Despite a moratorium on new liquor stores in the South Austin neighborhood, a convicted drug dealer was given special approval -- and TIF money -- to open a new one, the Tribune discovered. Twenty-ninth Ward Ald. Deborah Graham shepherded the arrangement, about six months after receiving a campaign donation from the owner. Smart Chicago's Dan O'Neil adds insight on the data side of the story.

DJ Food

STV SLV of the Hood Internet shares his famous Dr. Pepper chicken slider recipe with Vice.

Please Move to the Next Checkout Lane

Jewel-Osco has removed the self-checkout lanes at some of its Chicagoland locations. The move is intended to reconnect staff with shoppers.

How You Like Them Apples?

Gene Yale of Skokie grows 178 varieties of apples in his yard (they're mostly dwarf trees) -- but he doesn't eat apples.

Firm Plans for Hard Liquor

Explore Chicago's nascent microdistillery scene and the wide world of booze all this week as part of Craft Spirits Week.

The Food Fight Continues

A combination of fast food pricing, intense competition, and restrictive parking rules makes Chicago a tough place to own a food truck, Chicago Grid reports.

Goose to Stay Put, Bayless to Expand

Goose Island is in talks with its landlord to keep the Clybourn brewpub open. Meanwhile, chef Rick Bayless is planning a new spot in Wicker Park, in the old Salud space.

Copyright Mumbo Jumbo

A judge ruled that Washington, D.C.'s popular mumbo sauce is actually a Chicago concoction.

Shop in the Name of Lunch

A picture of what reportedly is R. Kelly's grocery list has hit the internet.

The Wrong Kind of "Old Fashioned"

The federal government filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Rosebud restaurant chain, which includes Rosebud on Rush and Carmines, saying it purposely fails or refuses to hire African Americans.

Thai Town Has Him Now

Arun Sampathavivat, chef-owner of Arun's, is hoping to transform a few blocks of Pulaski Road north of Montrose into a new Thai ethnic neighborhood.

Chicago's Wine Knight

New short documentary Wine for the People profiles Humboldt Park-born Charles Stanfield, master sommelier, chevalier in France's Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne -- and Binny's wine expert. [via]

Get TJ's Delivered

Grocery delivery service Instacart is expanding into Chicago, partnering with Trader Joe's. The company promises delivery in as little as an hour, which unfortunately means service is limited to within quick driving distance of a TJ's for now, but they plan to add Whole Foods, Dominick's and Costco soon.

Drinking on the Trail

Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail is leading a pub crawl along the 606 this Saturday. Five stops, with a suggested donation of $25. Email info@bloomingdaletrail.org to RSVP. [via]

Beyond Deep Dish

Zagat released a very good-looking list of must-try dishes from some of the city's best restaurants.

Glossary of Chicago Eats

It may be too early for dinner, but this guide of Chicago dishes, from a Jim Shoe to a Maxwell Street Polish, is making me hungry.

On the Trail of Delta Tamales

Mike Sula found a place to get true Mississippi Delta hot tamales, which made their way to Chicago with the Great Migration and morphed into the paper-wrapped style common in hot dog stands.

It's the Clash of the Pie Tins

Registration is open for the ninth annual Bucktown Apple Pie Contest, which deserves full credit for that awesome pun. The contest is Oct. 20.

Baconfest Expands Next Year

Think the nation's love affair with bacon is on the wane? Fear not, for Baconfest is doing three sessions next year, April 25 & 26 at the UIC Forum.

Public House Hosts a Gluten-Free Beer Dinner

Public House, River North's beer focused eatery, is hosting its first-ever Gluten Free Beer Dinner next Wednesday, Sept.18. The six‐course pairing menu from Chef David Blonsky & Chef Jeremy Tannehill was created to complement the hand-picked gluten-free beers. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased here!

Fixed Income, Full Flavor

WBEZ's Monica Eng did a two-day trial of the SNAP Challenge and produced very delicious-looking results (a feat, compared to others' attempts). The Greater Chicago Food Depository is organizing a SNAP Challenge next week, if you're interested in experiencing a food budget of $5/day firsthand.

Crawling Through Restaurants

The Wicker Park/Bucktown Chamber of Commerce is bringing back its Fall Dinner Crawl Oct. 1. Like last year, there are three routes to choose from, each featuring tasting portions of signature dishes from a dozen neighborhood restaurants. The Fork route is already sold out, and tickets are going fast for the Knife and Spoon routes. Get'em while they're hot!

Bike Safety is Paramount

The Paramount Room at Kinzie and Milwaukee has set up a bike repair station to help passing commuters -- and encourage them to pop inside for a drink or bite.

Real Food for Real People

Chicagoist's Melissa Wiley gets a taste of Comfort Station's community-focused potlucks in Logan Square, where the only cost of a home-cooked meal is your company.

'Pink Slime' Back in Illinois Schools

According to USDA purchasing data obtained by Politico, Illinois schools are once again buying ammonia-treated 'pink slime' beef to serve in cafeterias, likely in an effort to save money.

Taste of the Buggy Bits

Dennis Lee took a trip to Four Belly in Lakeview to partake of the silk worms, frog legs and other odd items on the menu.

[Insert Your Food Truck Name Here] is the Best New Food Truck

Want to start your own food truck? A free seminar Thursday at the Bucktown Public Library can help you figure out your next steps.

The Doughnutty City

Doughnut Vault earned a spot in USA Today's list of the nation's best doughnut shops.

Pizza & Malort: Delicacy or Travesty?

Did you hear that Dimo's Pizza has a pie made with Malort? Time Out's Amy Cavanaugh tried it, and it's not bad.

No More Aged Old Fashioneds?

Anthony Todd broke news yesterday about a possible crackdown on barrel-aged cocktails due to the technique's technical violation of several liquor and food safety laws.

No Guns at the Dinner Table

City Council is considering an ordinance that would require all restaurants that serve alcohol to post signs saying guns are not allowed; the state's new concealed carry law already bans them in bars.

Katsu Gets Top Spot in Zagat Survey

Rogers Park hole-in-the-wall sushi spot Katsu upset culinary titans like Next and Alinea to win "Top Food" in the 2014 Zagat Survey. [via]

Whole Foods to Open in Englewood

Whole Foods is publicly stating what's been known by Englewood organizers for a few months: It will open a store at 63rd and Halsted ... by 2016. For what it's worth, while Whole Foods and the Sun-Times imply Englewood is like the neighborhood where the Detroit location opened, it isn't.

Logan Square, We Hardly Knew Ye

Julia Thiel makes the case that Logan Square's influx of cocktail bars and restaurants means Wicker Park-like gentrification is just around the corner.

Your Garden Overfloweth

If you're lucky enough to have a space in a yard or a plot in a community garden, you're probably enjoying the bounty of tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers and more that your carefully tended plants are producing. But if you find that you're producing too much and you can't bear to watch the produce wither in your vegetable bin because going out sounds better than eating more zucchini, consider donating your excess to a local food pantry. Ample Harvest has created a nationwide database of all food pantries willing to take homegrown veggies and there are several in Chicago.

Brunch Will Never be the Same

Restaurant icon Ina Pinkney is retiring and closing her eponymous restaurant; last service will be Dec. 31.

Public School Drunkenness

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Kegs for Kids event at Hopleaf. Get your drink on to help a neighborhood school.

Doughnuts Get a Makeover

Black Dog Gelato is teaming up with Glazed and Infused for a daylong collaboration of ice cream doughnut sandwiches. Order today for pick-up tomorrow.

"Raising a brewery takes a village."

The interesting origin story of Off Color Brewing.

Feel Free to Start Salivating

Eater looks forward to some of the most anticipated bars and restaurants opening this fall, including a German beer hall, a butcher shop/ concert venue, and a bar to fill the "Bonny's sized hole in your heart."

Eating in White

Diner en Blanc, an annual outdoor dining event in a surprise location to which guests are expected to dress all in white, is back in Chicago on Sept. 19. If you weren't already on the mailing list, you missed the chance at tickets, but you can still register for the wait list.

Starbucks Will Be Contained

This fall, Starbucks hopes to bring their new drive-thru shop design to Rogers Park/Edgewater at the corner of Broadway and Sheridan. The kicker — the shop will be constructed entirely out of shipping containers.

Of Coffee and Donuts

Curious City did a crawl last month to find Chicago's best doughnut, but the question they really wanted to answer was, did Dunkin' Donuts kill the competition when it came here in 1965? The answer may surprise you.

Hungry for a Win

Seth Unger has started a bracketed Tournament of Dips, and your votes are needed. [via]

Stomach-Turning Tech

Food Safety News reports on Foodborne Chicago, the app from SmartChicago that monitors Twitter for food poisoning (previously).

Married to the Chef

Lisa Kornick may not be the typical chef's wife -- she runs operations for husband Michael Kornick's mk. But she can definitely give perspective on what it's like being in a restaurant marriage.

Drink Up, Chicago

Chicago magazine's Best Beers in Chicago feature is online, along with a scorecard to see how many of their 62 picks you've tried.

The Big Cheeses

Who's tops in the city's culinary world? NewCity's annual Food & Drink 50 breaks it down. The top 10 you can probably guess, but 11-50 is where it gets interesting.

The Next Top Chef Could be a Chicagoan

Chefs Aaron Cuschieri (Slurpling Turtle) and Carlos Gaytan (Mexique) will compete on the next season of "Top Chef," which premieres in October.

Hot Fat Rice

Bon Appetit announced its 10 Best New Restaurants list a little early, and Fat Rice made the cut.

Pizza Travesty

Gnash your teeth and rend your clothes, for Chicago has been left off TripAdvisor's list of the 10 best cities for pizza. This has got to be the only time San Diego has ever topped such a list.

Three out of 50's Not Bad

Bon Appetit's narrowed its list of best new restaurants in America down to 50, including Fat Rice, Grace and Trenchermen. The final list will be announced Aug.14.

Hop on This Ticket

If you want to attend this year's Hamburger Hop at Chicago Gourmet, be ready at your keyboard at 10am this morning, which is when tickets go on sale.

Son of La Creperie Owner Dies

The son of the owner of La Creperie was discovered dead of a heart attack last week. Jeremy Roignant was back in town, after moving to LA with his wife and children, to help his father close the restaurant later this month.

Who's Lovin' It?

Chicago-based food journalist Josh Schonwald will be among those sampling the first lab-grown hamburger today.

312: Still Local?

Goose Island's popular 312 Urban Wheat Ale is no longer brewed in Chicago. At all. So is it still a local beer? And are other area code beers still a possibility from parent AB InBev?

Flash in the Pan Taco

Chicago Taco seems to have shut down already, not even a week after it opened to replace the West Town Tavern.

Stuffed Full of Buns

Dare you enter one of Wow Bao's bao eating contests to celebrate its 10th anniversary?

Malört Snow Cones?

Yep, Malört snow Cones. At Red Door.

LGBT Bars Boycotting Russian Vodka

Sidetrack decided to stop serving Russian vodka in protest of anti-gay legislation and attacks in that country. Several other bars have followed suit, part of a national trend. The boycott spurred Stolichnaya Vodka's CEO to write an open letter noting the brand's support of the LGBT community.

West Town Tavern is Dead, Long Live Chicago Taco

Proving old dogs can learn new tricks, Drew and Susan Goss of West Town Tavern (previously) have announced they're reopening as Chicago Taco. Viva los Gosses! [via]

Find Your Next Meal

City Eats, a NY-based restaurant discovery and reservation site, launched in Chicago today.

Hip Ice Cream on Wheels

Keep your eye out for the Gladwell Company, a new ice cream trike.

Upscale Grocers Continue Expansion in Chicago

Mariano's South Loop location has been put up for sale today, says Crain's. The Chicago Tribune reported recently on upscale grocers gaining heat in the city.

Lunch Melts in Your Mouth

"Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me" staffers had some fun with another odd Chicago sandwich, the "Gravy Bread," which is essentially a dipped Italian beef without the beef.

Eat a Hot Dog Today

Why? Because it's National Hot Dog Day. Chicagoist rounds up their 13 favorites, while the Daily Meal more than doubles it to 29, while also proclaiming the Chicago-style dog the best in the world. You might also peruse GB's The Dog Show archives. And if you're really hard up, a few fast food places and convenience stores have deals today.

Redesigns & Special Sandwiches

LTHForum launched a redesign today, which includes a new focus on feature-length articles about Chicago culinary topics. The first is an investigation into the origins of the jim shoe sandwich.

Joly Takes Top Bartender

named American Bartender of the Year at "Tales of the Cocktail this weekend.

Crawling for Crullers

WBEZ's Curious City would like your help on a doughnut crawl.

Uber Your Ice Cream

Car service Uber has an ice cream truck on call today. Use the app to get frozen treats from Ice Cubed delivered to you for $25 for six people.

Fresh Vodka Cocktails

CH Distillery aims to be the first distillery in Chicago with an in-house bar.

South Side Groceries

There has been some discussion about which grocery chains are best for the city and why they aren't moving into the food deserts in Chicago. Gaylon Alcaraz, a local activist, has created a petition to challenge Whole Foods and Trader Joe's to open a store on the South Side of town. Whole Foods does plan to open a store in Hyde Park next year, but she hopes they will move into food deserts.

Hot Night for Barbecue

The Green City Market's annual Chef's BBQ Benefit is tomorrow night. Enjoy food prepared by some of the city's top chefs -- and this year, there's also Green City Cocktails to go along with the food. Tickets are still available.

Don't Come to Bad Wolf Coffee Looking for a Chair

Bad Wolf Coffee opened last week in Lakeview, DNAinfo reports. The owner wants to create a social atmosphere with no chairs so that people aren't glued to their laptops.

Still Cool

Koval was named one of America's coolest distilleries by Travel & Leisure.

Get Your Hot Dogs Here

July is National Hot Dog Month, which is part of the reason we're throwing our Hot Dog Cookoff this Saturday (get your tickets here!) Meanwhile, Time Out put together a list of the city's best hot dogs.

Hey Champ, Drink Up

Double Door's new subterranean "speakeasy" bar, Door No. 3, opens tonight with Hey Champ performing live, along with DJ sets by Gemini Club, pOCEANs and Greg Corner. It's free, but you have to RSVP on Do312.

Another Donut Gang Rolls into Town

An outpost of the Los Angeles-based Stan's Donuts will be opening in the former Skewerz space located at the base of the Wicker Park/Damen Blue Line.

Popping in at Cretors

Crain's took a tour of C. Cretors & Co., the Chicago-based inventors of the popcorn machine, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2011.

Evanston Votes for Temperance

Temperance Beer Company received the first-ever craft brewery license in Evanston at last night's city council meeting. Temperance plans to build a tap room and brewery at 2000 Dempster St.

Hire a Chef

Kitchensurfing is a site that helps you find a chef to cook for a dinner party, teach you how to make something, or put together a catering plan, based around your budget. It just launched in Chicago with a couple dozen chefs on board.

The Brat Variations

Keep your eye out for Johnsonville's latest sausage, a giardiniera-infused smoked link, made specially for the Chicagoland market.

Low-Hanging Fruit

Are you a huge fan of Juneberries or mulberries and upset that you can rarely find them at a farmer's market, and never at a grocery store? There is a great database called Falling Fruit with a Google map showing where every public or semi-public fruit tree is. Type in an address, or share your location, and then search to see where gingko nuts or even an apricot tree can be found. Feel free to add to it. The Oak Park Forestry Division seems to have pretty good coverage of what can be found on the far West Side.

The Ghosts of Moo & Oink

Vintage advertising murals for defunct Moo & Oink were recently revealed on a building at 72nd and Stony Island. (You can still buy Moo & Oink brand products online.)

Dogs Around the World

Doug Sohn of Hot Doug's shares some thoughts on hot dogs in other countries in Condé Nast Traveler.

United States of X: Booze-filled Edition

Thrillist's "Red, White and Booze" map of the best-known alcoholic beverage from each state is miles ahead of that corporation map that went around the web last week, while still giving people plenty to argue about.

boozemap.gif

The Whole Bresaola

West Loop Salumi is the city's first USDA-certified salumeria. Their Randolph Street storefront isn't open yet, but you can shop online.

Farming on the Green

Modern Farmer profiles Chicago Lights Urban Farm, which grows fresh produce in Cabrini Green. The farm was recently sold to the CHA.

Screw Loyalty

Jewel-Osco is phasing out its loyalty card in favor of "card free savings."

Check out this kind of weird video they created to introduce "new" features like fresh-cut fruit and fried chicken.

Pick Up Fresh Veggies After Work

The Logan Square Farmers Market's new Night Market launches tonight from 5 to 9pm in the Logan Square Blue Line plaza. It'll run on Wednesday nights through Sept. 4.

Ice Cream with Sprinkles on Top

Sprinkles Cupcakes is getting into the ice cream business starting this weekend, and to celebrate it's giving away free samples this Friday at noon. Supplies won't last long, so line up early.

Twinkies Making a Comeback

The snack cake and its Hostess brethren returns to the shelves in mid-July after production shut down last fall due to bankruptcy.

Drinking to Their Health

Un86'd is a charity aimed at helping injured restaurant professionals pay for medical care after an accident (in- or outside work). You can contribute by buying special cocktails at Carriage House or La Sirena Clandestina this weekend.

Say Hi to Bob

Myles Dannhausen profiles tap room and Lincoln Square hangout the Cardinal Lounge in Center Square Journal.

Maxim's to Rise Again

Brendan Sodikoff, the mastermind behind Gilt Bar, Au Cheval, Bavette's and the Doughnut Vault, has purchased and will rehab and reopen Maxim's, the historic restaurant that was auctioned by the city.

Kickstarting a Fraud Case

Meanwhile, elsewhere on Kickstarter, a supposedly LA-based campaign for Kobe beef jerky raised suspicions with its too-good-to-be-true pricing. It was soon discovered to be an apparent fraud perpetrated by someone based in Chicago. It's since been suspended.

Free Coffee & Doughnuts Friday

Glazed and Infused and Bow Truss are giving away each other's coffee and doughnuts this Friday to celebrate the latter's coffee now being brewed in the former's locations.

Eat Local

Chefs share their favorite locally made food products with Small Batch America.

Food Truck Lesgislation Rolling Along

While nothing will be decided for 30 days, a Circuit Court judge heard arguments this morning by food truck advocates and attorneys who are pushing for the end of regulations that prohibit food trucks from parking within 200 feet of established restaurants and required trucks to use of a GPS tracking device.

Buzz Down to the Lake Shore Drive

As if you needed more reasons to either avoid downtown or head there, Coffee Fest is at Navy Pier this weekend. It's a coffee snob's dream.

Whatever Happened to Brandon Baltzley?

Sarah Nardi profiles chef Brandon Baltzley in the Reader this week. Baltzley flamed out of Chicago's dining scene two years ago, has a memoir out now, and will soon open a small restaurant and boarding house in Michigan City.

Maifest Resteverwurtung

With all the rain last weekend, Lincoln Square's Maifest ended up with a lot of uncooked food left over, so they're selling it off. Swing by DANK Haus Friday afternoon if you want a 5lb. case of brats for cheap.

On the Foodie Trail

This Saturday, Bon Appetit magazine is hosting a Grub Crawl: for $149, get exclusive access and food at restaurants on Randolph Street or in Logan Square on one of two routes. Still a few tickets left, but hurry up.

Putting that Knife & Fork to Good Use

Enjoy this photograph of Patrick Stewart enjoying some Chicago-style pizza.

Everyone Gets Bored of the Food

The Trib's Wailin Wong profiles Fooda, a startup that brings more food options to office dwellers. Maybe even yours.

What's on Your Dog?

The Chicago dog is easy to spot in this fun video for Applegate hot dogs. [via]

Where the Sidewalk Cafes End

WBEZ maps outdoor seating in Chicago, and explains why it's nearly absent on the South Side

The McDonald's Diet? Not Exactly

McDonald's CEO Don Thompson says he lost 20 in the past year while eating at McDonald's every day -- the key being that he also began working out. Salads only make up 2% to 3% of McDonald's sales in the US.

Contemplate Wing Warfare

Last minute plans: ManBQue is working on a book, and they're holding events to collect recipes. This Thursday, you're invited to show off your best grilled chicken wing recipe at a "MEATing" in Pilsen.

The Hot Cocktails

The Aviary and The Barrelhouse Flat are among Esquire's Best Bars in America list for 2013.

Making More Malort

As Malort's fame and mystique continues to grow, the Reader's Julia Thiel learned why Letherbee decided to make a boutique Malort, which will soon join Jeppson's on local liquor store shelves.

Local Lunch Delicacies

The jibarito, Italian beef, mother-in-law and downstate's horseshoe make Grub Street's list of "hyper-regional" sandwiches.

More Food Stamps

Food assistance programs have seen a surge in usage recently; Whet Moser breaks down why.

The Opposite of Local Eats

If you like Grub Street Chicago, pay a visit today -- it and Grub Street's other city blogs closed today, and will redirect to a newly nationally focused main site. Writer Michael Gebert reflects on his time with the site.

Distributing the Farmers Market

New distributor Local Foods Grocer is trying to turn locavorism into a business.

Lincoln Park GoogaMooga?

Looks like Brooklyn's Great GoogaMooga food and music festival is coming to Chicago in August; permits have been applied for.

Your Seamless Hub for Food

Chicago-based GrubHub is merging with New York-based Seamless, creating an even bigger player in the food delivery biz. GrubHub's co-founder and CEO Matt Maloney will lead the combined company.

Meet the Meatpacking District

Tickets are on sale right now for From Cuts to Cult: Chicago Meat Past and Present, Chicago Detours' new tour through the Fulton Market Meatpacking District, giving the history of the neighborhood and a look at its future.

GB at 10: Tap Rooms

Chicago Craft Beer Week begins this Thursday, highlighting the city's vibrant beer culture. In 2003, Mark W. Anderson wrote about the decline of tap rooms, the bars attached to liquor stores, for Gapers Block. Half Acre's tap room aside, they're still a dying breed; visit one today.

It's a Foodie Town

Chicago was voted Best Food City in Tablespoon.com's 2013 Munchies food awards -- and Butcher & the Burger, Bar Toma, Hoosier Mama Pie Co. won in the burger, pizza and bakery categories. [via]

Doughnut & a Ride

SideCar is giving away Glazed & Infused doughnuts with rides Friday morning.

What is a Chicago Burger?

Over in the United Kingdom, McDonald's is currently selling a "Chicago Supreme" hamburger that doesn't have much at all to do with Chicago. Then again, all of the "Great Tastes of America" burgers are somewhat arbitrary.

Dragged Through Disney's Garden

Apparently you can get a Chicago-style hot dog at Disneyland now for $7.19. From the looks of the photo, it comes sprinkled with green relish and chives.

Tea by the Kilo

Intelligentsia has launched a new line of teas, called Kilogram. The packaging is beautiful. [via]

Try the Malort Cheese

Still tickets available for the Reader's Key Ingredient Cook-Off tonight at the Bridgeport Art Center. If you're culinarily adventurous, this is the event for you.

Feeding the Community

Bernard Loyd hopes that Bronzeville Cookin', a new dining complex at 51st and Prairie, can help revitalize Bronzeville.

Lunch isn't Sitting Well

If you think you got food poisoning from that last taco, pad thai or whatever, fill out a report at Foodborne Chicago or tweet at @foodbornechi. Your case will be logged into the 311 system for the City to check out.

You're Soaking in It

Foodie culture is deeply entrenched in Chicago -- so much so that it can be easy to miss what a luxury it is.

Food Trucks Screwed Over at the Taste?

The City has invited food trucks to participate in Taste of Chicago this year by selling food to concert ticketholders. But is charging them a higher commission on sales than pop-up restaurants, Food Truck Freak reports.

Fine, Fine Dining

Over in Drive-Thru, we visit Spiaggia, a nominee in the Outstanding Restaurant category for this year's James Beard Awards. The winners will be announced Monday in New York; other local nominees include Grace, Purple Pig and Girl and the Goat.

Book a Quick Bite

1871-bred startup TableSAVVY helps you land last-minute dinner reservations at a discount. It's partnering with Chicago magazine to allow readers to book straight from the reviews.

So Many Microbreweries

New microbreweries are opening in rapid succession here in Chicagoland. The Local Beet has compiled a list to help you keep track. [via]

A Donation Wrapped in Foil

The Green City Market is currently running a fundraising drive, and Chipotle is helping out this Saturday: all proceeds from Chicago stores (up to $20,000) will be donated to the market.

Walking Out for Higher Wages

Some fast food workers are staging a walkout today, led by Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago, to call for a $15 minimum wage and the right to unionize. Watch for picket lines in front of various Loop fast food joints.

Better Weather Spots

Sure, it's snowing. Ignore that and focus on the days coming when we can hang out on patios and rooftop decks.

Emergency Cookie Delivery

Got the munchies? Insomnia Cookies delivers cookies, brownies and ice cream until 3am -- provided you live near DePaul in Lincoln Park. The national chain caters to college students.

Eating on Paper

Not only is the last print issue of Time Out Chicago their Eat Out Awards issue, but the Reader's food issue is out on newsstands, too.

A Tasty Haul

A 17-year-old burglar allegedly decided to take a break from robbing an ice cream shop to sample some of the merchandise.

Get the Check

Quick reminder, this is your last day to vote for the next host of "Check, Please!"

Time Out Still Eating Out

Time Out's 2013 Eat Out Awards have been announced, with Fat Rice winning best new restaurant and Scofflaw winning best new bar.

Murder, Arson & Persian Food

Things are not going so well between the brothers who own Reza's.

In Praise of Danny's

It's been a very long time since GB held a Get-Together there, but Britt Julious writes about exactly what we love about Danny's Tavern.

One Cup of Coffee, Then I'll Go

The coffee shop at the Ohio House motel will close at the end of the month, to most likely be replaced by a chain.

Singh on the Restaurant Biz

Alpana Singh shares what she's learned about restaurants in her time as host of "Check, Please!" -- and after.

Chicken and Beer

The forthcoming Honey Butter Fried Chicken is joining forces with Half Acre for a newly added second evening of food and drink and OMG. Get your tickets before they disappear! UPDATE: Sold out.

Da Coach's Sausage

Vienna Beef is now selling Ditka brand sausage in "hot polish" and "chicken with tomato and mozzarella" varieties. [via]

Goodbye, Caribou

Most Chicago-area Caribou Coffee locations will close this Sunday at noon, with some later reopening as Peet's Coffee. According to the Tribune, most of the shops in the city will remain open. UPDATE: Crain's reports that the shops at 2453 N. Clark St. and 500 W. Madison St. are scheduled to close this weekend.

Great Food in Many Guises

Chicago magazine's Best New Restaurants list is out, and it ranges from high-end dining to kosher barbecue.

The Next Cheers

Lottie's Pub in Bucktown will star in several episodes of "Chicago Fire" next season.

A Good Saloon is Hard to Find

Peter Balla laments the death of "saloon life" in ChicagoNow. Mark Anderson covered similar ground regarding tap rooms for GB back in 2003.

Big Hurt's Liquid Diet

No, Frank Thomas isn't going on an all-Big Hurt Beer diet -- he's juicing (the veggies and fruit kind, not steroids) to lose weight. But speaking of beer, he's rolled out a low-calorie version of BHB.

Catching up with Cleetus

I talked with Cleetus Friedman shortly after he closed City Provisions, his locavore deli. Now Guys Drinking Beer talk to him about landing at Fountainhead and becoming a finalist for "Check, Please!" host.

You Have Dinner Plans

Gapers Block's Drive-Thru writers are among the soup makers at Soup & Bread this evening. The theme is "Chicago vs. Chicago," and we've got a couple of boozy doozies for you. Stop by the Hideout between 5:30 and 8pm for a bowl or two.

Props to Nightwood's Vincent

Nightwood's James Vincent is among Food & Wine's Best New Chefs of 2013. He shares his thanks on the restaurant's blog.

More to Eat, More to Drink

Two Wicker Park favorites are planning expansions. Big Star is moving its take-out window to a neighboring building, with more patio seating in between, and Emporium Arcade Bar is leveling up into an additional storefront.

Battle of the Beer Bashes?

The Chicago Beer Festival landed in hot water with some ticketholders after being informed by the state liquor commission that it couldn't offer unlimited beer. Rumor has it the competing American Beer Classic (previously) complained about the policy, which is against state law.

Where the Chefs Eat After Work

Twenty-five chefs dish on which greasy spoons, bars and other joints they hit when their shift is done.

The Apocalypse is Nigh?

An Olive Garden will be opening in Avondale this summer.

T's Bar Closed

The popular Andersonville bar and restaurant was shut down yesterday after months of not paying rent. The restaurant's owner, Colm Treacy, confirmed the closing in a Facebook posting.

Alinea: the World's Best Restaurant, Again

Alinea topped Elite Traveler/Laurent-Perrier Top 100 Restaurants in the World list -- and l2O came in at #18.

Not Loving it as Much

McDonald's isn't popular among Millennials, so they're working on new menu items like the McWrap.

The Confluence of Many Crafts

Britt Julious writes about The Perch, a Pilsen underground dining spot/indie press/arts collective that will be printing Todd Diederich's first book.

90,000 Square Feet of Plants & Fish

FarmedHere in Bedford Park is the country's largest indoor vertical farm.

Lillie's Q Open in the French Market

Lillie's Q reopened its Chicago French Market location today at 11am, a week after fire shut down the Bucktown restaurant. It will start with a limited menu, and will close when all food has been sold.

Two All-Beef Patties...

Time Out helps you get your burger on this week. Meanwhile, FoodGenius gives a little peek back at McDonald's menus of yesteryear.

Coffee in the Alley

Tucked way back on the alley at 22 E. Jackson St. is Pickwick Stable, one of the few pre-Chicago Fire buildings left in the Loop. It will soon be visited far more often, as Asado Coffee plans to build a roaster and cafe there.

Feeding the Neighborhood

Turkey Chop is part of an effort to help revitalize West Humboldt Park. Will it work?

Beard Award Finalists Announced

The finalists for the James Beard Foundation Awards were announced today [PDF], and Paul Kahan and his One Off Hospitality received four nominations.

Wrong Kind of Smoke at Lillie's Q

A fire broke out in the basement of Lillie's Q in Bucktown last night, destroying the restaurant. The fire means both the main location and the satellite shop in the Chicago French Market are closed indefinitely, but the owners vow to reopen ASAP.

Living on Bar Time

It's nearly 5, and the Reader's annual bar issue is out. Drink up.

Calculate the Circumpherence of Deliciousness

Tomorrow is Pi Day, and NPR's Kitchen Window has rounded up Chicago's pie options for you.

Banning Lion Meat? Really?

Lion meat has only rarely been on menus in Illinois, but local state Rep. Louis Arroyo has introduced a bill to ban it anyway.

Narrow it Down to an 8-Pack

Forget the NCAA. Chicagoist has been running a March Chicago beer bracket, and it's currently at the Sweet 16 level.

"It was a dark and stormy Dark and Stormy..."

Your brief audio essay on the subject of "appetite" could result in several of the city's best chefs (among them Rick Bayless, Elizabeth's Iliana Regan, and Lula Cafe's Jason Hammel) making a dish in your honor, courtesy of the Third Coast International Audio Festival and the James Beard Foundation.

Vote for the Best Bacon Amateur

Baconfest wants your input on the best dish of their amateur cookoff contest; the winner gets free tickets to the (sold out) April 20th pork extravaganza.

Going Drinking

Four of the 19 cocktail bars Time Out revisited this week didn't live up to their "iconic" status. Up to you to find out which ones -- and decide whether they were iconic in the first place.

Not What's for Dinner

SB Nation's "Spilly" makes a Chicago-style hot dog ...by way of Kansas City ...and hell.

Eating Through the City

Competitive eater Jamie McDonald just visited Chicago and hit as many food challenges as he could find.

Making One Happy Dog

Bucktown's Toast raised money to to replace a dog's custom wheelchair that was stolen from a resident's porch.

First Slice

Travel & Leisure named Chicago its top pizza town. Not surprisingly, New Yorkers are up in arms.

Let's Move (This Healthy Stuff Off the Menu)

While FLOTUS advocated for healthier living in the city's kids earlier today at McCormick Place, McDonalds announced that they are taking its low-selling (and reasonably healthy) fruit and walnut salad off its menu (along with chicken strips) later this year.

Lessons from Salt Removal

Michael Moss's Fresh Air interview about his new book, Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us, references intriguing experiences with suburban Kraft's food science team.

"There's no wrong way to consume alcohol."

That vaportini from "Parks & Recreation"? It exists, invented by Julie Palmer, owner of Red Kiva.

Soup & Bread Goes West

If you've always wanted to go to Soup & Bread at the Hideout but live off in the western suburbs, Soup & Bread: Forest Park, tonight at Skrine Chops, might be up your alley. (The Hideout edition's still on, of course.)

Hungry for Beats

This Here's Overrated, but I Love Your City Baby is a collection of Chicago's finest rap videos that are fully or partially filmed in or near restaurants.

Beard Award Semi-Finalists Announced

Kevin Pang has this list of Chicago-based semi-finalists in the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards. The finalists will be announced March 18.

The Pork is Calling

General Admission tickets for Baconfest go on sale tomorrow at noon.

Black History on the Plate

What do Chicago's African-American culinary elite think of Black History Month? Audarshia Townsend gets a variety of answers at DiningChicago.com, along with some recipes.

Tickets to Athleticism & Gluttony

By coincidence, registration for the Chicago Marathon and Baconfest are on successive days: Register for the marathon beginning at noon Tuesday, and get your Baconfest tickets at noon on Wednesday.

Check Out Charlie's Auction

The online auction for Charlie Trotter's restaurant is now open, with nearly everything starting at $10. Pick up anything from an "Viennese Secessionist" bar stool to Reidel wine glasses to a whole lot of steam pans. The auction closes Feb. 25. [via]

The Grace of Curtis Duffy

Kevin Pang spent a year and a half working on this long, engrossing profile of Chef Curtis Duffy -- as well as a documentary film that will debut later this year.

The Ballad of Tobi & Bruce

Roger Ebert pays tribute to the Old Town Ale House as only he could. (He mentions resident artist-raconteur Bruce Elliott's blog, The Geriatric Genius, but doesn't link to it.)

The Innovation & the Room

Alinea and Avec appear on Bon Appetit's list of the 20 most influential restaurants in America.

The Great Debate

While it's paczki mania in some parts of the city, at UofC it's all about the Latke-Hamantash Debate, the 66th edition of which occurs tonight. Watch it live online at 7:30pm.

Happy Paczki Day

Huffington Post gives Chicago-area Paczki Day options the slideshow treatment.

Better than Winging It

The wings at Belly Shack and Yusho made Food & Wine's list of the best chicken wings in the country.

Beware of Girl Scouts Hawking Cookies

It's National Girl Scout Cookie Day, which kicks off the selling season. If you don't have a connection, you can find one here. Or you can make your own.

Eat Early, Vote Often

Voting is open for Time Out's 2013 Eat Out Awards.

Mistakes Were Made

Several of the city's best pastry chefs discuss their biggest dessert flops (although with the right protective gear, I would have happily eaten most of these).

Pencil Shavings & Heartbreak

On a recent episode of WTF with Marc Maron, John Hodgman discusses his love for Malort. Chicagoist has pulled some quotes.

Cooking On Board, Finally

The Salsa Truck is the first food truck to clear the grueling process to become the first food truck licensed to cook on board. Find the truck via Twitter and celebrate.

Pour Some Out for City Provisions

City Provisions may be gone, but Cleetus Friedman's beer collaborations live on. One will be tapped tonight at Haymarket Brewery; stop by from 6 to 7pm to sample Rosemary's Red Devil and grab one of the limited edition mini-growlers.

Pipeworks Named Best New Brewery

Pipeworks Brewing Company was named new brewery of the year in the 2013 RateBeer Best Awards. Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout won "top beer" in Illinois and placed eighth overall; three Three Floyds beers also made the top 50.

Green Mermaids & Brown Beams

Loyola is getting a very fancy Starbucks indeed. Meanwhile, the second Bowtruss will open at 406 N. Wells St. later this week, according to co-owner Phil Tadros.

Origins of the Egg Roll

Fanny Go makes egg rolls. She's done it for decades, and in fact is part of the reason they're in every Chinese restaurant you've ever been to. Monica Eng tells her story, and shares Go's recipe with you. [via]

Lunching by Rail

Time Out tracks its favorite L train-accessible restaurants, from Pulaski to Morgan to Noyes.

Save Marie's Riptide; Too Late for Cocktail

Marie's Riptide Lounge, a favorite old-school dive, may close this week due to legal wranglings after longtime owner 's death. Stop by today for a "Save the Bar" fundraiser. Meanwhile, Cocktail in Boystown has been seized by its landlord, alleging $85,000 in back rent.

Alpana Checks Out

Alpana Singh is leaving "Check Please!" to focus on her new restaurant, The Boarding House. The show will begin searching for a new host soon.

Barrel-Aged Best

Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout made it on First We Feast's list of the 20 most influential beers of all time. [via]

Pack in the Paczkis

Bennison's Bakery in Evanston is holding a paczki eating contest on Feb. 9. They've just added space for two more teams of two -- if competitive Polish donut eating is your thing, sign up now!

Here's video from the 2010 competition.

Losing our Wings

Ald. Ed Burke has proposed banning the sale of energy drinks such as Red Bull and 5 Hour Energy, within city limits. Don't worry, coffee's not on Burke's hit list... yet.

Here's to Good Eating

The Tribune Dining Awards are out, with accompanying Instagram slideshow.

Dining by Technology

Yumbly is a new search engine for finding great food in Chicago.

Eating in Their Shoes

Several staffers at the Greater Chicago Food Depository took the SNAP Challenge to eat on a $35 budget for a week to mirror the average weekly benefit for those receiving food assistance.

Chicago Bars Get Honors

The Fountainhead and the Old Town Pour House are among the new additions to Draft magazine's 100 Best Beer Bars in America, joining a nice list of Chicago honorees (among them Sheffield's and Local Option).

100 Great Bars

Chicago magazine puts a hundred bars on the map for your drinking pleasure, and supplies a handy checklist to see how many you've already made it to. (A shocking 51 for me.)

How to Protect your Lemon Meringue

Piebox sells state-of-the-art wooden receptacles for your pie. (Thanks, Ian!)

Mmm, Illicit Bacon

Steve Delahoyde produced a short video for Alternative Apparel about Flesh for Food, a pop-up dinner team that also makes bacon on the side.

Flesh for Food from Alternative Apparel on Vimeo.

Beer Geek App

Chicago Beer Geeks have released an iPhone app to help you keep tabs on upcoming events -- this month alone includes a tour of Chicago's Argus Brewery and a special tasting with California favorites Stone Brewing Co.

Cataloging Chicago's Food Gardens

Two U of I researchers conducted an aerial photography assessment of food gardens in Chicago and determined there may be as many as 4,500 of them. While those familiar with food gardening in Chicago can probably already see that the methodology is overly conservative, it's an interesting view of urban agriculture.

World's Greenest

With 447.26 GreenPoints, Chicago's Uncommon Ground has been awarded the title of World's Greenest Restaurant, somehow topping their 2011 award for Greenest Resturaunt in America. [via]

Pre-Order Hot Doug's

Not your lunch, the book. Hot Doug's: The Book doesn't come out until July 16, but you can pre-order it on Amazon now.

Dinner & a Show

Reservations for Chicago Restaurant Week Feb. 1-10 are now on sale, and tickets for Chicago Theatre Week, Feb. 12-17, go on sale tomorrow, Jan. 9. Too bad they didn't coordinate so we could all enjoy some cheap dates.

Another Dollop

Popular North side coffee shop Dollop is opening a second location downtown at 345 E. Ohio, being the first to sell Metropolis coffee in the area, and bringing with it Hoosier Mama pies, Fritz Pastry donuts and Southport Grocery cupcakes. [via]

Food Truck Licenses Stuck in Traffic

Progress isn't always progress: not a single food truck has been granted a license for preparing food to order since the practice became legal in July.

Dining with Scrooge

Some jerk tried to subtract more than the tip from his bill at an Andersonville restaurant Christmas Day.

Undergrad Underground Dining

College dorm food is generally not that great. Unless you happen to live near Robert Lipman. The UofC first-year runs a monthly underground restaurant in various secret locations -- including dorm communal kitchens.

Kuma's Too

Chicago has finally willed it into existence: the second (and larger!) location of Kuma's Corner, Kuma's Too, will be opening at 666 W. Diversey in just a few months.

Illegal Christmas Chocolate Alert

Over at WBEZ, Louisa Chu reminds us that German Kinder Uberraschung chocolate eggs are still illegal and heavily fined in the US, no matter what those pushers at Christkindlmarket might tell you. Achtung!

Last Call at Cal's

After months of uncertainty, Cal's Bar, the South Loop dive that's been a favorite of bike messengers and punk bands, will be closing at the end of the month. The bar's last day is New Year's Eve; a free concert is scheduled.

OneDerBrew

If you've been interested in homebrewing but wary of the process, a Chicagoland brewer has developed OneDerBrew, a streamlined one-container system you can both ferment in and serve from.

GB Gift Guide: Co-op Sauce

Co-op Sauce has expanded its line to include more varieties of hot sauce, as well as barbecue sauce, salsa, pasta sauce and more.

Artisanal Brewing

Apparently beer brewed in art galleries is now a thing.

Yusho's Shooting Star

Yusho is the sole Chicago item in this year's Saveur 100.

The Hot Ticket

2013 Chicago Wingfest tickets went on sale this weekend -- get them fast if you want to go on Feb. 24.

No Beer for You

If you were hoping to get in on yesterday's release of Westvleteren XII, a highly regarded beer made by trappist monks in Belgium who are known for their brew, you're out of luck. Binny's Lincoln Park and Downers Grove locations, which were the only places in the Chicagoland area to sell the $85 limited edition six-pack, have sold out their stock.

Trotter's Auction Closes

Charlie Trotter got a little testy, unsurprisingly, at the auction of his eponymous restaurant, interrupting the auctioneer and kicking journalist Mark Caro out of the preview.

Treating Himself

Comedian and actor Aziz Ansari, who put an unsuccessful call out to his Twitter followers while at O'Hare this past weekend to bring him a torta from the airport Frontera at his gate in exchange for tickets to his next Chicago show (he made a mad dash to the restaurant instead), has a special love for Chicago's food. Tom Haverfood would be proud.

GB Gift Guide: Dining & Drinking at a Discount

The 2013 À La Card Chicago and Drink Deck restaurant and bar discount packs are now available -- always a good stocking stuffer for foodies.

Regulating the Drunken Mob

After a TBOX reveler was stabbed with a broken beer bottle and another was pushed through a window at Chicago Comics, Ald. Tom Tunney says he'll introduce an ordinance to regulate pub crawls

Hostess' Last Stand

When asked if they'd be interested in the last shipment of Twinkies, Jewel Osco bought 100% of it, and is sending most of them to Chicago.

GB Gift Guide: Rub BBQ Classes

Got an aspiring pit master on your list? Rub BBQ offers barbecue 101 cooking classes covering everything from picking the meat to smoking procedures to side preparation -- and attendees chow down at the end of class.

Aloha to Kona

Beer from Hawaii's Kona Brewing Company, the state's largest, will be available in Chicago as of January. Their Longboard Island lager, Big Wave golden ale, Fire Rock pale ale, and seasonal selections will be at Binny's and taps around town. [via]

GB Gift Guide: Santa Sacks

Safari Cup, an independent African coffee roaster and cafe, offers "Santa Sacks" stuffed with coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate. Festive, fair trade and totally delicious.

GB Gift Guide: VIP Tickets for Baconfest

If you love someone who loves bacon, this is the ultimate holiday gift: VIP tickets to April 20th's Baconfest at the UIC Forum, which go on sale this Monday at 9am. Your $200 ticket gets you a special hour-long early admission to the event, which is the equivalent of being in an amusement park with no lines -- and lots of pork. (FYI, $100 regular admission tickets go on sale in February.)

Kaufman's Reborn

Grub Street has a great interview with Bette Dworkin, owner of Kaufman's Deli in Skokie, which just reopened after renovations following a fire last year.

Free Doughnuts Friday

Glazed & Infused (previously) celebrates the long-delayed opening of their Lincoln Park shop, 939 W. Armitage Ave., this Friday, and you get the presents: free doughnuts.

Feed Others While You Eat

The Greater Chicago Food Depository has created Eat Out Check In, a program that lets you donate food every time you check into a restaurant on Foursquare or Facebook. [via]

GB Gift Guide: First Slice Meal Subscription

First Slice Pie Cafe, the brainchild of chef Mary Ellen Diaz, combines charitable giving with deliciousness. Sign up for a subscription for three meals a week, and you'll not only get mouthwatering, delicious meals that you don't have to shop for, cook, or clean up after, you'll also be helping to feed the same fantastic meals to people who would otherwise go hungry. An individual subscription costs $40.33 a week, and a family subscription goes for $78.36 per week. Purchase a subscription for a friend or for yourself! Your taste buds will be glad you did, and so will your conscience.

Krapfen & Birria & Big Hugs, Oh My

Time Out's annual 100 Best Things We Ate & Drank list is out.

GB Gift Guide: Mapped Glasses

The Uncommon Green offers highball glasses etched with city maps, including Chicagoland. (There's a matching carafe, but you might want to wait till they correct "Evansboro" to Evanston before you buy it.)

(Not The) World's Best Cup of Coffee

The Tribune reports that (spoiler alert!) Dunkin' Donuts coffee is not the best cup of coffee in America.

GB Gift Guide: A Beer Basket

Half Acre has teamed up with other like-minded companies to create a holiday gift basket filled with beer, coffee, hot sauce and other stuff.

Give Me All of the Twinkies That You Have

You may have heard about people stocking up on Hostess products in light of the company's liquidation, but few people have likely gone as far as Andrés DeLeón did.

Cobbler or Gobbler?

President Obama will be pardoning a turkey tomorrow; which one is it gonna be?

Malört Gets Facetime

The WSJ gets to the bottom of Jeppson's Malört.

The Twinkie Gets a Lifeline!

Hostess Brands, which claimed union demands were to blame for closing their operations (while requesting hefty "liquidation bonuses" for their execs) has suspended closing and is currently in talk with the Bakers Union.

Tony's Last Chicago Layover

Tony Bourdain's Chicago episode of "The Layover" airs tonight at 8pm on the Travel Channel. RedEye has a review, and the Sun-Times' Lori Rackl notes that Bourdain drives a vintage Cadillac in it, an unexpected echo of his anger with Travel Channel for cutting him into an ad for the car company without his permission.

Red Bull's Not for Kids?

Ald. George Cardenas wants to ban caffeinated energy drinks for people under 21 years old after reports that the drinks have been tied to more than a dozen teen deaths.

Ding Dong, The Twinkie's Dead?

A showdown between Hostess Brands Inc. and striking workers at the company's Schiller Park plant may mean the death of Twinkies, HoHos, Honey Buns and other iconic American treats. Update: They're now the Hostess with the Leastess.

Changes on the Island

John Hall, who founded Goose Island, is leaving the CEO position. He's being replaced by a Anheuser-Busch veteran who will grow the Goose Island brand "the right way." Hall will be a founding member of the Anheuser-Busch Craft Advisory Board. (Cynics might note that the word "beer" does not appear in the board's name.)

We Found Cheesecake in a Hopeless Place

Eli's annual warehouse cheesecake sale is this Saturday.

Local Food Trucks Sign on for Lawsuit Against City

The libertarian Institute for Justice, an anti-regulation voice in the Chicago food truck battle, and owners from Schnitzel King and Cupcakes for Courage filed a lawsuit against the city today. Read the Institute for Justice's press release or watch their video (below) for their pitch.

Waffleizing a Book

Will it waffle? Past GB contributor Daniel Shumski asked that question on his blog, Wafflizer. That blog will soon be a book.

Michelin's Stars Come Out Early

Well, so much for waiting. The list of restaurants receiving stars in the 2013 Michelin Guide was due to be announced tomorrow, but after some chefs began tweeting their wins today, the full list was released to the Tribune.

Talking Turkey

Order your holiday bird from a tasty local place: Publican Quality Meats, Paulina Meat Market, Gunthorp Farms turkeys (Green Grocer), TJ's Free Range Poultry, Mint Creek Farm, and Caveny Farm. Slow Food Chicago also has a nice list of resources.

It's Chocolate Week in Chicago

Maybe technically it always is Chocolate Week everywhere, but this time it's more organized for Chicago. Huffington Post Chicago has the latest.

Tasty Kickstarters

An "adult ice cream lounge," an innovative video game and a gourmet restaurant are among the projects currently funding on the Gapers Block's Kickstarter page.

538 Burritos

We heard about Nate Silver's Burrito Bracket blog back in 2007, but his newfound celebrity as an election predictor has brought that long-defunct site back to everyone's attention.

Celebrity Spice

Old Town's Spice House teamed up with celebchef Alton Brown to create three custom spice blends.

Painted Boobs Cause Controversy

Logan Square's Real Tenochtitlan was forced to cover up the bare breasts in a painting hanging in the restaurant after a patron complained about "obsenity." Eater spoke to an employee, "Yes, it's art, but to some persons they are a kind of pornography and that's what they understand."

Bib Gourmands Announced

Ceres' Table, Au Cheval, and Opart Thai are among this year's Michelin Bib Gourmand winners. The newest Chicago edition of the Michelin Guide comes out next week.

Another Bowl of Chili at the Ramova

Save the date for Jan. 24, when Chicagoist will be hosting a star-studded soup kitchen in the "Ramova Room" at Benton House in Bridgeport.

Great Lake, Great Drawings

The Andersonville pizza place gets a NYT profile.

Public (School) Health

Since 2011, 35 percent of Chicago's schools have failed at least one health inspection -- due to improper food storage, rodent droppings in the food, and in one case, a live snake caught in a glue trap. [via]

Carnitas Burrito & a 5 Vulture, Please

Chicago Chipotle shops will soon add 5 Rabbit beers to their adult beverage offerings.

Ada for the Arts

Ada Street and Facets are teaming up to present Chicago-based documentaries alongside a five-course dinner and drinks. There are two evenings to choose from -- Documentary Shorts by Tom Palazzolo on Nov. 5, and Maxwell Street Blues on Nov. 12.

The Blanding of Beer

"I have a problem with a craft beer like Goose Island being treated like a mass-produced brand," says a bar owner deep in Bloomberg Businessweek's great profile of AB InBev and its spendthrift CEO.

Go Dough-nutty

Chicago's recent influx of trendy doughnut shops reflect a profitable business with few hours and lots of dough.

Send a New Mom Dinner

New mothers often don't have time or are too tired to cook. Moment for Mom is there to help with that.

Smaller Taste Still Falls Short

The smaller, shorter Taste of Chicago didn't turn a profit this year, and might not for quite some time.

Life's Deep-Dish Questions

Lou Malnati's deep dish was voted the most life-changing pizza in America by readers of Esquire's Eat Like a Man blog. Gino's East came in at #5.

Caught Red-Handed

Yes, red-disgusting handed. Though not a new issue, some schools in Illinois, California and New Mexico are banning Flamin' Hot Cheetos specifically and completely. The Tribune considers whether or not the snack is addictive.

What We Used to Eat

Explore vintage menus from Chicago restaurants, clubs and railroads on New York Public Library's "What's on the menu?" project and Cool Culinaria. [via]

Apple and Oranges: Streetside

Streetwise has partnered with Neighbor Capital to start Neighbor Carts- a social business that funds fruit carts, providing both job opportunities and access to healthy food. [via]

When is Malört not Malört?

When it's custom distilled by Letherbee just for the Violet Hour. [via]

Eataly Coming to River North

New York's Eataly is coming to Chicago, finally filling in the long shuttered ESPN Zone space on Ohio Avenue near Michigan. It's expected to open in September 2013.

Cheers to Chicago!

Six breweries in the Chicago area were awarded medals at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival in Denver this past weekend. Details in Drive-Thru.

Everything Old is New Again

It's not news, but the noncompete clause that kept Logan Square's La Boulangerie from selling individual croissants so close to their neighbor New Wave Coffee is heating up an Everyblock thread today.

You Cantu that on Television

Chef Homaro Cantu's rumor mill is rumbling. There's the one about him taking over Charlie Trotter's old restaurant space, which has a built in TV studio. Meanwhile, he posted on Facebook that he has another TV show in the works, titled "CookiNG Under Pressure" -- then deleted it. Perhaps his claim of signing a multi-season deal was a little premature?

Mother-in-laws & Big Babies

Chef and artist Eric May takes Time Out on a tour of unique South Side foods.

Hope You Got the Bread for This

Chicago Mag names the city's 50 best sandwiches, with the BLT from Old Oak Tap topping the list.

Have a Coke, But Maybe Feel Bad While You Do It

Starting next year, municipal buildings in Chicago and San Antonio will be the first in the county to get vending machines with calorie counters- as well as signage that will remind you to take the calorie counter seriously, eat healthy, and may even venture into previously unexplored areas of vending-machine induced guilt.

Brew Camp Shut Down

Home brewing supply shop Brew Camp is temporarily closed by the city due to issues with licensing. They expect to reopen soon. UPDATE: The shop will reopen soon at a new Ravenswood location.

Kind of Like a Restaurant, Right?

City Council passed an ordinance today that establishes 23 locations on the North Side where food trucks can legally park while selling their wares.

Meat Free on Milwaukee

The Social Foodie got a sneak peek at the new Chicago Diner location in Logan Square.

"It was a smoky bar."

Eater continues its "the Regulars" series with an oral history of the Rainbo Room

America's Best Burger?

Is Au Cheval's cheeseburger the best in the country? Bon Appetit thinks it might be. Chicagoist is less sure.

Commuting & Grocery Shopping: Two Peas in a Pod

Online grocery service Peapod will expand its virtual retail locations to nine CTA and eight Metra stations across Chicagoland. Customers can use a free app to select and pay for their items and schedule home deliveries.

Contest: Oktoberfest Pub Crawl Tickets

CitySwarm is running an Oktoberfest Pub Crawl this Thursday, with three stops for big German beers. We've got a pair of tickets to give away!

Just email your name and phone number to contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "Prost!" We'll draw one entry at random from those received by noon Tuesday, Oct. 2. Must be 21 or older to enter; one entry per person. UPDATE: We've got a winner! Congratulations to Dan W. There's a consolation prize for those who didn't win, though: enter the code GAPERS and get $10 off your ticket!

Drink Local

Craft Spirits Week begins tonight, and fills the week with events featuring independent distilleries from Chicagoland and nearby.

West Side Pete's in Trouble

Work has stopped on a new Pete's Fresh Market being built in the food desert area of East Garfield Park, after the developers allegedly received threats of violence if they didn't hand out jobs or pay a bribe. Of course, Pete's doesn't have a stellar record in worker relations themselves.

Are Reviews Coming Too Fast?

Michael Gebert talks with members of Chicago's restaurant media scene about whether restaurant reviews are now happening too soon after a place opens. Part two here.

Porking Out

People, your bacon obsession has gotten out of hand. First you basically killed the pork belly futures desk at the Merc, now it looks like there will be a worldwide shortage next year. When will the madness end?

Another Bucket for Monsieur

At 6pm tonight, a man is going to attempt to eat everything on the menu at BadHappy Poutine Shop. You're welcome to watch, and perhaps offer him one wafer-thin mint.

A Den of Scum and Villainy ...and Martinis

Rockit Ranch has purchased Martini Ranch, and is asking for your help in re-concepting the River North bar. Do312's Jeremy Scheuch thinks it should be a Star Wars cantina.

Chik-fil-A Changes Heart; So Does Moreno

Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno acquiesced on his opposition to Chik-fil-A building a branch in Logan Square after the chain agreed to stop funding anti-gay organizations and issued a company mandate supporting equality regardless of sexual orientation.

Graham Elliot Settles a Suit

TMZ reports that Graham Elliot settled a lawsuit filed by 14 former servers that claimed his eponymous restaurant engaged in illegal tip pooling. Eater has the court documents.

Would-be Terrorist Targets ...Cal's?

Adel Daoud, an 18-year-old kid from Hillside, was arrested Friday night after allegedly trying to blow up a Loop bar with a car bomb. The FBI had been tracking him for months. The target was not released, but the owners of Cal's are pretty sure it was them.

Billy Corgan's Tea House

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan opened a tea house, called Madame Zuzu's, in Highland Park yesterday. The grand opening was celebrated with a special acoustic performance by Corgan himself.

Have a Bloody Carrie

Cafe Mustache, a favorite hangout of more than one GB staffer, now has a liquor license.

Trees to Grow in Logan

The Chicago Rarities Orchard Project is actually moving forward in Logan Square.

Longman & Eagle Team Tackle Hyde Park

The Promontory, a new restaurant planned for an early 2013 opening at 53rd Street in Hyde Park is being built by Longman & Eagle owners Bruce Finkelman and Craig Golden. No word yet on if there will be hotel rooms upstairs.

Raise Your Glass for a Berghoff Toast

The Berghoff kicks off its annual Oktoberfest tomorrow at the Kluczynski Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn St. It runs 11am to 9pm Sept. 12-14.

D.Rose Loves Giordano's

Giordano's landed a big-time investor and spokesperson this week: Derrick Rose. [via]

Foraging for Elizabeth

The Reader profiles underground chef Iliana Regan, now coming above ground with her new restaurant, Elizabeth.

Beer Drinkers at Your Mark

Tickets go on sale at noon Saturday for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild's Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer at Bridgeport Art Center Nov. 17.

The Charlie Trotter Beat

An avalanche of coverage followed the closing of Charlie Trotter's, which happens tonight. Mark Caro published a masterful three-part tribute to the chef and his restaurant, and Phil Vettel had one last dinner. Janet Rausa Fuller did a quick piece for the Sun-Times. Grub Street went inside for the big 25th anniversary dinner last weekend. The Toqueland ran a two-part interview with Trotter. Time Out's David Tamarkin reflects back on his cover story five years ago, and Chicagoist delved into the dark side regarding a lawsuit over pay.

RedEye Staff Tries Malört for the First Time

During a rare glimpse of the origins of the fabled Chicago grown liqueur, RedEye staff sample the beverage on camera. They react exactly like anyone who has ever tried Malört for the first time.

450 Animals, 40 Beers, Lots of Rain & People

Chicago Beer Geeks has a write-up and pictures from Zoo Brew, the Craft Beer Festival held at Brookfield Zoo, which, despite the rain, was a great time. Their next event is the Fugly Chandelier Contest, tomorrow at Sheffield's.

Another Year of Bacon

Baconfest 2013 will happen on April 20, to satisfy your munchies.

Pronounced "Free Year-Ohss"

Today is the fourth annual Kronos Free Gyros Day! Fill out the coupon form, find the closest participating restaurant and collect your free gyros sandwich. (Consider putting a couple bucks in the Fisher House donation box while you're there.)

Keep Your Friends Close, Your Hot Dogs Closer

Stat of the Day: You are never more than 1.5 miles from a hot dog stand within Chicago city limits. (Cincinnati is the most hot dog hungry American city, however.)

Melting Ice Cream on the Street

Ice cream truck owners are claiming the city forgot about them in the mobile food and the food truck ordinance, and that it's going to make their business more difficult.

Lao Sze Chuan Heads North

The legendary and tasty restaurant will be opening a second location in Uptown (in the space formerly occupied by Marigold) next month.

Unsalted Politics

Object Design League have the perfect butter dish for your most political friend.

Capitol Butter Dish from ODLCO on Vimeo.

Hey, That's My Ketchup Packet!

A Chicago man is suing Heinz for patent infringement for allegedly stealing his design for its Dip & Squeeze packets.

Avec's Grieveson Departs

Koren Grieveson, the Beard Award-winning chef of avec, is leaving the restaurant and moving to New York, apparently to get married. Grub Street's Mike Gebert puts it in perspective.

Sweet Nectar

I stopped by the Illinois Wine pavilion at the Illinois State Fair last weekend and sampled some great local wines. One that blew me away, though, was Sweet Desire Mead from Wild Blossom Meadery, based in Beverly at 100th and Western. Aged in bourbon barrels for a year, it comes in traditional or somewhat racier bottles.

Goodbye, Charlie

Legendary restaurant Charlie Trotter's served its final dinner last night. Grub Street's Huge Galdones offers a slideshow of the $2500-a-seat proceedings.

Eating in Secret, in White

Is it a secret if an event is widely publicized and hundreds of people are expected to attend? Yes, if the event is Dîner en Blanc and the exact location of the "chic picnic" to which everyone wears white is unknown. Get on the waiting list to be notified about where to show up on Aug. 24.

Squirrel, the Other City Chicken

The Reader's Mike Sula makes a case for eating squirrel. He served it in burgoo at an April Soup & Bread event.

Big Dreams and Encased Meats

If, at some point in the past 50 or so years, you stood in line for a hot dog and fries at the Parky's on Roosevelt Road, you know the unmatchable feeling of a real Chicago stand and the way that the best of them transcend the notion of a restaurant. Just when condemnation seemed inevitable for the building that housed the iconic spot, Chicago native Brendan O'Connor, a man with a dream and curious palate, set out to save it.

Thanks to his creative take on sausage, and the overall fast food experience, the Food Network show "3 Days to Open With Bobby Flay," chose to help O'Connor and Big Guys Sausage Stand become a reality. Bobby Flay himself showed up at the small, narrow-roofed building at 7021 W. Roosevelt Road in Berwyn and worked with O'Connor and his team to turn passion into crowd-pleasing originality. Ultimately, they stayed true to O'Connor's vision of creating a classic atmosphere, with a nod to the Chicago "Super Fans," while taking a truly unique and modern approach to traditional menu items. So far, Big Guys has been well-received, living up to its promises of big flavor, competitive prices and the quick-but-satisfying turnaround perfected by the best Chicago hot dog stands for decades. Check out the food, the vision and the Bobby Flay touch Mon-Thru 11am-2am; Fri-Sat 11am-3am; Sun 11am-6pm.

Free Achatz

Got a Kindle? You can download a new book of collected Trib coverage of chef Grant Achatz for free.

Crawling for Caffeine

Caffentures is leading a coffee crawl along the Blue Line Aug. 25.

Bee on the Lookout

The Chicago Honey Co-op's minivan, which was loaded with their booth gear and a couple of beekeeping smokers, was stolen over the weekend from their Ukrainian Vilage workspace.

Claire's, Macy's & Kuma's?

Is it just wishful thinking on Woodfield Mall's part, or is Kuma's Corner opening a location in the Schaumburg mall?

Where the F*ck Should I Go Eat?

Hell if I know, but this site will give you some f*ckin' suggestions. (Or maybe you just need a drink.)

Young and Hot

Balena and Yusho made Bon Appetit's Top 50 Best New Restaurants.

Evanston's Food Truck Law Gets Served

Beavers Donuts has filed a lawsuit against the City of Evanston, challenging its existing rule that mobile food trucks must be owned by brick and mortar restaurants.

Um, That's Maybe Not Actually Yours

In yet another chapter of the seemingly endless Bleeding Heart Bakery saga, questions have been raised about the bakery's recent garage-style liquidation sale. It seems that some of the items being sold may have belonged to the building's owner -- that is, a bank.

High School Foodies

The Buffet is a food blog written by students at Northside College Prep. [via]

Chi-Scream, You Scream

Tickets for the musical Kinky Boots go on sale this morning. To celebrate, Chi-Scream will be giving away free ice cream sandwiches throughout the city, starting at 10am at the Bank of America Theatre at 18 W. Monroe. Follow @BroadwayChicago on Twitter to get the scoop (ha ha) on the cart's whereabouts.

More Food, Less Liquor

Lupe Fiasco brought vegan food to Englewood's Payless Grocery as part of his foundation's pledge to feed 100 people every night of Ramadan, as they did last year.

A Fight to the Chef

Head over to the Daley Plaza farmers market between 11am and 1pm to witness the Country Chef Challenge, an "Iron Chef" style cookoff pitting Spaggia's Sarah Grueneberg, Frog n Snail's Dale Levitski and Telegraph's Katie Wyer.

The Kitchen is Closed

It's been a cruel summer for food critic Steve Dolinsky. First Graham Elliot kicks him out of his restaurant, now Schwa unexpectedly closes for the night and cancels his reservation.

Too Straight to Look at a Map

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who declared today "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" to show support for the restaurant's political and religious positions, has been posting pictures of lines forming outside of Chick-fil-As all over the country on his Facebook page; however, he mistook the suburban Wheaton branch for the Chicago one. Big difference there in clientele, pal.

Playing Chicken Sandwich

Tomorrow is Chik-Fil-A Appreciation Day (also Chik-Fil-Gay Appreciation Day), and the Chicago Republican Party is celebrating by holding a press conference at City Hall announcing the filing of civil rights complaints over Ald. Moreno and Mayor Emanuel's comments about the chain's opposition gay marriage. (On that note, read Ramsin Canon's thoughts on the matter.)

Kornick on Chicago's Dining Awakening

Restaurateur Michael Kornick talked about his life in the restaurant industry and the growth of the city's culinary scene in general at the Interview Show last month. [via]

Harvesting These Green Streets

The Chicago Department of Transportation recently contributed an unlikely product to the Lincoln Park Zoo: food, in the form of bamboo from a Chinatown roadside. [Thanks, Chris!]

Bleeding Heart Bleeding Out, Redux

Grub Street reports that Bleeding Heart Bakery has placed a Craigslist ad liquidating its Belmont store this weekend, likely spelling the end of the controversial bakery empire. (Food Network chef coats and other items are up on eBay.) The anonymous anti-BHB blog claims eviction notices have been received for both the bakery's current locations. Meanwhile, the former BHB West Town location reopens as the West Town Bakery & Diner this weekend. UPDATE: BHB posted on Facebook on Friday that they are closing August 5.

Taco Thursday

Time Out's annual "cheap eats" issue this week is all about tacos -- where they're from, who makes the best al pastor, and where to go on a taco crawl. Meanwhile, Grub Street Chicago has 25 recommendations of its own.

"No Soup For You," Chicago

According to Eater, a "No Soup For You" Food Truck will be in Chicago on Friday, July 27. No word yet on planned stops or a route for the truck, which will feature "free iconic Seinfeld" treats and The Soup Nazi himself, Larry Thomas, so check this Facebook page for updates (and be careful when asking for bread).

Food Truck Ordinance Now Law

The food truck ordinance was passed by City Council today, just after the lunch hour. In Drive-Thru, Robyn Nisi explains why this might spell the end of the fledgling food truck industry.

If It's Not Good Enough for The Muppets, It's Not Good Enough for Logan Square

First Ward Alderman Joe Moreno and Mayor Rahm Emanuel are joining the outcry against Chick-fil-A.

Break Out Mr. Boston's

Think you've got a killer cocktail recipe? Enter it in Public Hotel Chicago's contest and it could earn you $1,000.

The Layover Fakeout

Apparently Tony Bourdain's tweet about canceling his shoot for "The Layover" at Budacki's was just a trick to get rid of the fans who would have crowded the place on the promise of a $1 hot dog and a glimpse of a celebrity chef. He ended up there on Saturday after all.

Happy National Hot Dog Day!

One way to celebrate would be to participate in #Foodiechats today -- either online or in person at the Vienna Beef Factory Store this evening. Details in Slowdown.

On the Chicago-Style BBQ Trail

Chicago magazine offers a tour of Chicago-style barbecue joints. I can't help but notice that it's significantly different from Sky Full of Bacon's list.

Here's Michael Gebert's Beard-nominated documentary of the history of Chicago-style barbecue:

Pair with Filbert's Tonic Water

Keep your eye out for Letherbee Gin, a new locally distilled gin from the bartender and former general manager at Lula Cafe.

Free Ice Cream, if You Like Raisins

The French Pastry School is hosting an ice cream social at the Clybourn Treasure Island tonight from 5:30 to 7:30pm. The only hitch is, it's all raisin ice cream.

Food Truck Bill Rolls On

The food truck ordinance passed out of committee yesterday and will soon be voted on by the full City Council.

Where Tourists Should Eat

The Trib's Kevin Pang has created one-, two- and three-day dining itineraries for visitors wanting to eat their way through the city. You will no doubt disagree.

Food Trucks Circling the City Council

WBEZ's Louisa Chu and Food Truck Freak are live-tweeting today's City Council discussion about mobile food truck ordinances. UPDATE: the Ordinance, which places a lot of very unrealistic expectations on food trucks (fines for parking within 200 feet--or for more than two hours--in front of a restaurant, and requiring GPS monitoring) passed, and will go for full vote in front of City Council next week.

What 2,500 Meals a Day Yields

Forbes lists Bob Chinn's Crab House in Wheeling as the highest grossing restaurant in the US. It earns $24 million a year in food alone.

"Rate them 5 stars or you must be a drunk @#&$##."

The Taco Bell at Clybourn and Wrightwood has 4.5 stars on Yelp, thanks to apparently the best customer service you'll ever find in a fast food joint.


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Bourdain at Budacki's: Be There

Anthony Bourdain is in town filming an episode of "The Layover" for Travel Channel. He'll be at Budacki's in Ravenswood on Saturday from 1 to 3pm. Be there and enjoy $1 hot dogs in celebration, and keep an eye out for him elsewhere around town. [via] UPDATE: Or maybe not. Bourdain tweeted this morning, "How NOT to get your place on TV: ‪#cancelthatshoot‬!"

We All Scream for ...Uber?

Uber launched on-demand ice cream trucks today only. From noon to 6pm on Friday, downtowners* can make a truck request, and it'll show up with ice cream sandwiches, cookie sandwiches, push-ups and bomb pops -- as well as free swag. $12 will get you five cold treats.

*Sadly, the ice cream trucks will be serving the Loop, River North, West Loop, Gold Coast only.

The Taste of Asian Carp

You'll be able to try free samples of Asian carp at the Taste of Chicago. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will serve carp sliders at a booth near the Congress Parkway entrance on a first come, first served basis.

A Newspaper Man's Ode to "Boyle's"

Pete Anderson came across a 1922 poem dedicated to restaurateur Billy Boyle, the proprietor of a famed "Chophouse in the Alley" on Calhoun Place.

Discounting Doing Good

Actually, there's no discount at all on this Groupon for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Just $9 worth of helping others.

Food as Sport at the Cell

Just in time for Independence Day, the White Sox have introduced the Giant Slugger, a two-foot-long hot dog. It'll set you back $26; antacids sold separately.

Dishing Up New Containers

Frustrated by the lack of restaurant kitchen-optimized disposable storage containers, The Southern's Chef Cary Taylor designed and produced ModPans, which are based on industry standard modular metal containers.

Trotter's No Longer To Go

Trotter's To Go, the take-out sister restaurant to Charlie Trotter's, has closed. Trotter's itself will close later this summer. (Incidentally, charlietrotters.com is no more as well.)

A More Natural Farming

Sky Full of Bacon is back on the farm, this time visiting with Wisconsin farmer, dairy nutritionist and author Gary Zimmer.

Sky Full of Bacon 19: Soil, Corn, Cows, and Cheese from Michael Gebert on Vimeo.

For Millers, It's Miller Time

If your last name's Miller, get ready for some free beer.

Any Press is Not Good Press

Food critic Steve Dolinsky was spotted today at the newly opened g.e.b. taking pictures of his lunch. Word got to owner Graham Eliott Bowles, who ordered his staff to immediately stop serving Dolinsky. Eliott had his reasons; it was because Dolinsky had dissed Eliott's mentor Charlie Trotter over Twitter last fall. Dolinsky is baffled.

A Sweet Trend

Michael Nagrant surveys the fancy doughnut scene.

Beer Pong: Fancy Edition

Last year we mentioned a high end beer pong table created by two DePaul alum; they've rebranded the table the Chippewa Five, and have managed to place the table locally, as well in the offices of big tech companies like Facebook and Mozilla.

Well, I Guess it Still Refreshes

Speaking of the Trib's business practices, its keyword based Google ads generated this recent gem in an article about potentially questionable chemical additives in foreign Coca-Cola formulations.

Tribune Article

Pasticceria Natalina at Home

If you miss the authentic Italian pastries from Pasticceria Natalina, you're in luck: Nicolas and Natalie Zarzour are turning the shuttered bakery's website into a cookbook.

Get Cooking on a Business Plan

Want to open a restaurant? The City has made it a little easier with the Restaurant Start-Up Program.

No More Candy or Pastry for You

Sarah's Pastries and Candy is closing both its Oak Street and Macy's locations at the end of July. [via]

What the Fork?

Attendees of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials will be eating their meals today with limited cutlery as they listen to President Obama give a speech; Secret Service mandated the removal of forks as a security precaution, but as NY Mag points out, POTUS has been around plenty of forkful situations for a while.

Stop 2 Might Take Some Doing

Sable is the first stop on GQ's cross-country Great American Bar Crawl.

No Legs at Taste

Though a Taste of Chicago staple since their introduction in 1981, Tim McGivern, the man behind the barbecued turkey leg, will be taking the year off due to surgery.

Artist's Café to Add Second Restaurant

The Fine Arts Building's Artist's Café is opening a second location just north of Roosevelt and Wabash. The new restaurant will have a replica of their famous sign and a slightly different menu to cater to "the kids."

If Jon Bon Jovi Can Do It...

Panera just opened a pay-what-you-can cafe in Chicago -- their fourth, but the city's first. They're in good company.

Find the Gumbo Truck

Big Fat Tuesday is a food truck run by a Katrina survivor, serving up Louisiana cooking almost exclusively on the South Side.

Have a Nice Cold ORD?

Following its registration of a bunch of area codes to possibly create Goose Island 312 clones in other cities, Anheuser-Busch has filed for trademarks on 42 airport codes, including ORD and MDW. [via]

Special Sodas Popping Up

Suddenly custom sodas are a trend.

Sweet Energy Efficiency

Head to Anthony's Italian Ice this Saturday and help them buy an energy efficient freezer. [via]

Meet the New Abe Froman

Jen Bacher experiments with sausage-making in Drive-Thru's newest feature, and the results are Too Blue--but very successful.

Guys Dish Up for Charity

Are you a "real man"? Do you cook? Sign up for Real Men Cook this Father's Day -- or just head down and eat what the dads are cooking.

Colbert Talks Growing Power

Will Allen, MacArthur "genius grant" recipient and CEO of Growing Power urban farming nonprofit that's active in Chicago, was on "The Colbert Report" Tuesday night to talk about the organization and his new book, The Good Food Revolution. [via]

Running the Table at Hot Doug's

The crew from Serious Eats Chicago invaded Hot Doug's on Saturday and ate everything on the menu. Everything.

Hot Dog Architecture

FoGB Phineas X. Jones has created a poster that will soon hang in half the hot dog stands in town -- unless you buy them all first.

octophant_chicagodog.jpg
© Phineas X. Jones

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

Claire Zulkey has a great neighbor, and it's a bar.

A New Downtown Farmers Market

So wait, the Downtown Farmstand is closing, but it's being replaced by an indoor farmers market? That's not so bad after all.

Aztec Eagle Bayless

Rick Bayless is now a member of the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest honor in Mexico awarded to foreigners, for "his important work in the promotion and dissemination of cultural expressions of our country." [via]

Fresh Fruit: Coming Soon to a Curb Near You

Even though the term "food desert" has been the subject of some debate lately, the City Council's decision to allow mobile produce trucks has got to be good for folks who don't have easy access to grocery stores -- or who just want a really, really ripe peach.

Doughnuts Beyond Breakfast

Phil Vettel at the Tribune does a round-up of Chicago's blossoming doughnut scene, looking at a few of the new craft pastry operations -- Do-Rite, Doughnut Vault, and Glazed and Infused.

No More Farmstand in the Loop

As neighborhood farmers markets begin their season, the Downtown Farmstand, overseen by the Department of Cultural Affairs, is shutting down at the end of June.

Today's Urgent Ticket Purchase

The sixth annual Chicago Festiv-Ale, a beer bash benefiting the Chicago chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, isn't until September, but tickets went on sale at noon today and they won't last long.

RIP, Felony Franks

Felony Franks, the West Side hot dog stand employing ex-cons that battled for years to get approval for its sign, closed for good Wednesday.

Winos Battle it Out

Tonight and tomorrow, there's a Wine Riot at Union Station. Get your tickets.

Joyeux Anniversaire!

Lakeview's La Creperie continues their 40th birthday celebration with 1972-era prices (as expensive as $3.50! C'est cher!) on their menu today from 11:30am-6pm.

Galloping Chicago Gourmet Tickets

Tickets for Chicago Gourmet, Sept. 28-29, went on sale today, and they're already selling out. Get yours fast!

Blasts from the Cocktail Past at NoMI

If you miss Violet Hour cocktails such as the Blinker or Part & Parcel, you can get them again at NoMI Kitchen -- for a couple dollars more.

Tapping the Revolution

The tap room at Revolution Brewing's new Kedzie Avenue brewery officially opens today at 2pm.

Speed Eater

While passing through town, ChicagoNow challenged Kobayashi to an Al's Beef eat-off against several of their bloggers. I'd tell you who managed to eat five sandwiches in the time it took the rest to eat one, but I don't want to spoil the ending. [via]

Tuesday Night is Malort Night

Well, this Tuesday, anyway -- as in tonight. Nisei Lounge hosts the first-ever Malort Night, featuring malort cocktails, history and contests. You'll hate yourself if you miss it -- and your tongue will hate you if you don't.

Farmers Market in the South Loop

Grant Park still doesn't have a farmers market, but the Wheeler Mansion is stepping in to fill the void in the South Loop.

For the Glory of Ribs

Ribfest will be holding an amateur rib-eating competition next Thursday night at Black Rock Pub and Kitchen [PDF]. The winner advances to RibMania the next night to compete against the big guns of competitive eating. Have you got what it takes?

The Best 'Cue

Smoque made LocalEats.com's list of the top 20 barbecue restaurants in America; Lem's and Uncle John's got honorable mentions.

Eat Before You Leave

Eater shares recommendations on where to eat at O'Hare and Midway.

Dining a NATO Casualty

Perhaps not surprisingly, the "OMG stay away from downtown!" hysteria during the NATO Summit hurt downtown restaurants -- as well as some far from the action.

BYO BYOB App

The Chicago version was recently released, and it's pretty much what it sounds like -- an (iPhone only, as of now) app that allows you to hunt down BYOB-friendly joints by cuisine or neighborhood. [via]

The Pedi Cab and The Pub: A Windy City Lovestory

So you're as excited to be able to officially stick your winter coat in the coat-closet as the next guy but you want to do something different this summer, for pete's sake? Well, for a reasonable fee, you and your sun-loving, beer-fan friends can take to the streets and pedal your way around with -- that's right, not to -- the pub. Chicago Pedal Pub has made this summer dream a reality! Helmets not required.

Baderbrau is Back

Baderbrau, once called the best pilsner in North America, is flowing again in Chicago, starting Thursday. It will soon be available in Binny's across the city.

More Doughnuts Monday

Glazed and Infused, the new doughnut shop we previewed in Drive-Thru back in March, opens Monday.

Pork & Beer

Today is your last chance to get early bird pricing on tickets to the Slow Food Pig Roast at Goose Island Clybourne on June 10.

Nearly Beer O'Clock

Chicago Craft Beer Week kicks off today, with several events starting at 11am, and runs through the 27th. (Wait, isn't that more than a week? Well, it's hard to do math while drunk.)

I'll Have 19,000 Chicago Dogs, Please

McCormick Place's Director of Culinary Services dishes on the logistics of preparing food for approximately 20,000 NATO summiters.

Kitchen Closed

Logan Square Kitchen, which fought many battles in getting kosher with city regulations, is closing at the end of June.

Real Top Ramen

Even if you've burned out on Maruchan, it's worth giving the real thing a chance -- Chicagoist has put together a list of their top 5 Chicago ramen destinations.

The Grandeur of an 86-Component Dish

Alinea has a new dish, called "Lamb 86," that involves 86 ingredients in tiny portions. A new video gives a peek at how the cooks assemble it; it almost comes off as a parody of fussy modern cuisine. [via]

Putt Putt Goose Goose

On May 20th in celebration of Chicago Craft Beer Week Goose Island and their merry band of Illinois Craft Brewers will conjure up a 9 hole minigolf course inside their Fulton's Barrel Warehouse. More info on how to enter a drawing to buy tickets to this zen event are on the Chicago Craft Beer Week website.

Summer of Beer

Two promising events hosted by the Chicago Beer Society: Big Brew Day on May 12 -- a day of brewing and BBQing, and the Blues & Brews Cruise on July 7, an evening of craft beer and live music off Navy Pier.

Chicago Foods Abroad

Robyn Nisi and Laura Sant check out deep dish in San Francisco and hot dogs in New York in Drive-Thru.

Hitting the Snackpot

The Snackpot, a locally produced foodblog about snacks, launched today. Celebrate with them at Schubas on Thursday.

AARPizza

The A.V. Club ditches fancy dough and trendy toppings for old-fashioned, looking at Chicago's handful of 50-plus-year-old pizzerias.

Haagen-Dazs: Good News and Bad

The good news: tomorrow's Free Cone Day -- just walk into a Haagen-Dazs shop between 4 and 8pm, and get a free ice cream cone. The bad news: the only participating city location is at O'Hare.

That Doggie Bag Won't Be Necessary

The City Council's set to vote on a new ordinance that would collapse the separate "dog-friendly restaurant" license into the regular retail food license.

Even More Local Artists on the National Food Scene

Saveur's Recipe Comix has been loving on Chicago artists lately. Chris Eliopoulos stayed Midwestern with a recipe for fried smelts; Sarah Becan went continental with les galettes completes.

Local Makes Beck's Art Bottle

Chicago artist Willy Chyr's work is featured on the latest edition of Beck's Beer art bottle series, which is being sold in the US for the first time starting May 7.

Follow Those Trucks

Despite the ordinance to let food trucks cook on board still being stalled in City Council (looking at you, Ald. Tunney), Chicago has 50-some trucks on the streets. Time Out Chicago has created a convenient guide to them all.

3 Floyds Hates Resellers

Three Floyds would like to see the aftermarket for bottles of Dark Lord disappear, and is making a plea for people to stop buying.

Punk Rock Pastry Club

The Bleeding Heart Bakery, most recently open in West Town, is gearing up to welcome customers into their Lakeview spot, just down the street from the original Roscoe Village location. To celebrate, they're offering a deal on membership for a limited time. For $100, members get a handful of perks, including a discount on a monthly "Box of Curiosities" designed by Michelle and filled with handmade sweets and savories. Supporting local, sustainable practices never tasted so good.

Jim's Original vs. Express Grill

Serious Eats Chicago compares the two side-by-side on every menu item they share, and comes away with a clear winner.

The Story of Baderbräu

Two local beer fans are working with Argus Brewery to resurrect the once-beloved Chicago craft Pilsener discontinued in 1997.

Feeding the Dark Lord

In advance of (sadly sold out) Dark Lord Day this Saturday, the Tribune has a great profile of Three Floyds Brewery, including a hint that a Chicago brewpub might be in the works.

Discount & Do Good Simultaneously

Toodalu is a new service that gets you a discount at local restaurants, bars and a few shops -- with the added twist that every purchase also earns money for the charity of your choice.

Delicious Rings of Dough

Food & Wine named the Doughnut Vault one of the best doughnut shops in the country. Now everyone's going to want them.

Music Makes the Meal

Graham Elliot's iPod and Grant Achatz's plans for a live cellist at Alinea earn mention in a NYTimes story about music in the restaurant. Garin Pirnia explored the topic for us in Drive-Thru awhile back.

West Town Tavern Toasts to Ten Years

West Town Tavern is turning 10 and to celebrate, they're offering $10 glasses of Turley wines every Tuesday in April and May. The celebration includes Monday nights too, with $10 glasses of Grand Cuvée champagne. Stop in and pair your spirits with some delicious food from Drew and Susan, fixtures in the Chicago culinary and nonprofit worlds. Eat, drink and feel good about it!

Our Market, in the Middle of the Street

Another year, another controversy strikes the Logan Square Farmers Market: there's a proposal to move the market from its current location, much to the surprise of the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce, who runs the market.

Bad Cheese is a Bad Business

Good idea not to wash and resell moldy cheese.

Eat Out Today

Time Out Chicago announced its Eat Out Award winners this week.

Down Ramps

The ramp, the wild onion that may have given Chicago its name, is being wiped out by demand from foodies.

Bars: Anti-Douche Edition

In response to Complex Magazine's "25 Douchiest Bars in Chicago" list, Chicagoist has countered with a list of 26 non-douchey bars.

Was Selling Good for the Goose?

Chicagoist assesses the situation one year after Goose Island was bought by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Wirtz is Rolling Out the Barrels

Rocky Wirtz is no doubt happy that his Blackhawks are in the playoffs, but Crain's reports that he's really excited about the state-of-the-art distribution center he's building for Wirtz Beverage Illinois.

Booking Dinner

Soup Next Door is a startup that handles ticketing for "unique food experiences" hosted by anyone from underground restaurants to budding chefs. There are only a couple listings for Chicago at the moment, but expect more soon.

Two Lists of Restaurants to Try

Chicago magazine released its 2012 Best Restaurants list yesterday -- and LTH Forum added 19 more spots to its compendium of Great Neighborhood Restaurants.

Here's a convenient googlemap of all of LTH Forum's GNRs:


View LTHForum.com Great Neighborhood Restaurants in a larger map

The NYTimes on the Closing of Trotter's

Chicago magazine's Jeff Ruby: "In the Mount Rushmore of Chicago, his face would probably be up there: Michael Jordan, Al Capone, Charlie Trotter, Mayor Daley -- and they'd all be scowling."

Food Trucks Face Tickets

Food truck fans may have trouble finding their favorite snacks, thanks to an apparent police crackdown.

Lagunitas 2013

Chicago-born owner of Lagunitas brewery, Tony Magee, is opening up a second 250 barrel brewhouse here in his hometown. Production will be in full swing in late 2013.

Editor Andrew Huff pulled together more info on Storify:

Getting to Know the Regulars

Eater knows that the best way to learn the history of a place is to talk with the regulars. The new series leads off with Hopleaf.

Glutenless Goodness

Tonight, Ravenswood's Fountainhead cracks into some gluten free drafts and ciders. Last Monday's event, "It Might Get Wild," featured an evening of wild and sour beers.

What is a "Supermarket"?

Mari Gallagher's work on food deserts requires figuring out what really constitutes a grocery store.

The Girl and the Goat and the Camera Crew

You can see a day in the life of Stephanie Izard over at Hulu.

Why the Billy Goat Still Matters

The A.V. Club looks at the classic establishment's past, and tries to figure out where it fits into the present.

Alinea's Tops with the Jet Set

Alinea is the best restaurant in the world, according to Elite Travel magazine -- which is distributed primarily on private jets, so I guess they would know. [via]

Chicago Gets Glazed and Infused

Glazed and Infused, a new craft doughnut upstart, is about to open up shop near several CTA locations across the city, selling everything from old-fashioned staples to maple-bacon long johns. We have a preview in Drive-Thru.

McData Mining

At the end of this very technical post, Twitter data scientist Edwin Chen uses his tools and techniques to dig into the menu at McDonalds.

Young Turks in the Kitchen

Zagat released a 30 Under 30 list of Chicago food and wine scene.

Caution: Hot Coffee is Hot

McDonald's is facing two lawsuits over hot coffee spills, including a case involving a 4-year-old Chicagoland girl who received second-degree burns on her chest.

Julius Meinl isn't Starbucks

They may be called Julius Meinl North America, but they're just a three neighborhood coffeeshops, a smaller chain than Intelligentsia.

Bleeding Heart Bleeding Out?

Trouble seems to be brewing between Bleeding Heart Bakery founders Michelle and Vinnie Garcia and their partners, Fifty/50 and Roots owners Greg Mohr and Scott Weiner. The Garcias want out of the relationship, saying it's killed the stores they own independently. Someone started a "Save Our Bakery" Facebook page, which then got taken down. Meanwhile, former BHB employees are dishing dirt on an anonymous blog.

Burgers for Lunch Tomorrow

Tomorrow, March 21, M Burger turns 2, and to celebrate, it's giving away burgers -- any of its burgers -- with a purchase. Any purchase. Be ready for a line, and be aware that the secret milkshake flavors are the Grasshopper (mint, espresso, chocolate and cookies) and the Minty Leprechaun (mint, with crushed Andes mints on top.)

Watch "The Weiner's Circle" Tonight

Reality show network TruTV is airing a show about The Weiner's Circle, giving its notorious bad behavior (on both sides of the counter) more attention than it probably deserves. It debuts tonight at 9pm. Do312 and Chicagoist are teaming up for another viewing party at Liar's Club tonight; RSVP here.

The Dog in Repose

While Serious Eats Chicago was putting together a guide to Chicago-style hot dog variants, the Village Voice was wondering why it's so hard to get one done right in New York.

Welcome to WhiskyWeek

If you don't have a ticket to WhiskyFest this Friday, there are still plenty of whiskey events you can attend all this week -- including nightly tastings at Delilah's and other bars and our own screening of Capone's Whiskey at Mayne Stage on Thursday.

Where to Drink

In step with the weekend's holiday, the Reader provides a guide to neighborhood bars, from gastropubs to 4am joints.

But it's Not a Diner, Drive-In or Dive

Guy Fieri from the Food Network was spotted filming at Hopleaf earlier today--be on the lookout.

Happy Pi(e) Day!

You can celebrate the wonders of 3.14159 with special offers on pie thanks to the efforts of the Illinois Science Council and a bunch of local bakeries and restaurants.

Fin-ished

In what can only result in days of "No Soup for You" headlines, The State of Illinois is a vote away from banning all shark fin trade in the state. Between 26 and 73 million sharks are killed annually, and while most are consumed overseas, Illinois is one the the country's largest consumers.

March Chili Madness

The Ramova Grill is closing April 14, as its owners retire. You'll have only until then to enjoy one of the last old-school lunch counters -- and some of the best chili -- in the city.

R.I.P. Chef Michael Altenberg

Michael Altenberg, chef and owner of Bistro Campagne, passed away unexpectedly over the weekend. Altenberg is credited with pioneering the farm-to-table movement in Chicago; he was 48 years old. A memorial is scheduled for Wednesday; details have not yet been announced.

Cupcake ATM

The first cupcake vending machine debuted at the original Sprinkles location in Beverly Hills, providing 24-hour access to, well, cupcakes. There should be one at the Chicago location by summer.

Fundraiser for Susan Stursberg @ Gold Star Bar

Help one of Chicago's most beloved bar owners: Susan Stursberg of Gold Star Bar (1735 W. Division) was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A GiveForward campaign has been launched on her behalf to help with medical bills.

This Restaurant Looks Appetizing

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is going out to eat -- to examine how architecture and interior design influence our dining experience at restaurants with its new Appetite for Design series. Learn more in Drive-Thru.

Beer Riddle Resolved

For those stumped by Half Acre's Cipher beer riddle from a few weeks back, they've posted the solution and winners on their blog.

Delivering the Good

GrubHub turns eight today, and in honor of the anniversary it's rounding every order to the next dollar* and donating whatever the difference is to Feeding America until midnight tonight.

* So, for example, if your order comes to $15.49, that's still what you pay, but GrubHub will donate 51 cents to Feeding America.

A Movie about Bootleg Booze

Gapers Block is premiering a documentary about Templeton Rye (both the one at the liquor store and the stuff Al Capone smuggled up to Chicago during Prohibition) at Mayne Stage on March 22. Details in Drive-Thru.

Share this event with your friends on Facebook!

Pick Food & Wine's Best

Lots of Chicagoans in Food & Wine's "Best New Chef: Great Lakes" nominations. Vote for your favorite.

Good Beer is Here

Three Floyds topped RateBeer's list of the Best Brewers in the World this year, with Founders and Bells taking second and third. Goose Island came in 35th and Half Acre was 66th.

Rate Food to Give Food

FoodGenero.us is a quick rating site from the folks behind Food Genius; like or dislike dishes and your votes add up to donated meals to Feeding America.

CSA Joining Time

It's time once again to figure out from whom to get your weekly box of veggies (or maybe meat!). Luckily, The Local Beet published its 2012 CSA Guide this week.

We'll Always Have Texas

Spiaggia's Sarah Gruenberg placed second in tonight's season finale of Top Chef. Boo.

Hot Dog Arms

Superdawg has a few fans willing to take their love of the Northwest side hot dog stand to a tattooed extreme.

The Girl and the German?

Find out tonight if Sarah Grueneberg of Spiaggia becomes the next Top Chef to hail from Chicago. Spiaggia will be holding a viewing party; we'll recap it tomorrow over in Drive-Thru.

Small Breweries Becoming a Big Deal in Chicago

While Chicago lags behind many cities in the amount of local brews available to its drinking public, a growing thirst for craft beverages is attracting quite a few new breweries to the area.

Chicago's Oldest Eats

Check out this roundup of Chicago's oldest restaurants, still operating today. Included on the list are The Berghoff (1898), Daley's Restaurant (1892), and the oldest of them all: Schaller's Pump (1881).

Your Every Coffee Option

If you're a fan of coffee, this guide to your options in Chicago is pretty comprehensive.

Is Bacon Over?

RedEye thinks so, but Baconfest (whose April 14 homage to pork quickly sold out) begs to differ.

55-cent Drinks for 55 Years at The Lodge Tavern Monday

Know that fishbowl of change you have? Forget going to Jewel to turn it in for a Starbucks card, put it to good use at the The Lodge's 55th anniversary celebration, where from 9pm to 4am all drinks are 55 cents! Check out Slowdown for details.

Next Battles Cancer with Tables

Next Restaurant held a fundraiser for the University of Chicago Cancer Center by asking people to bid on tables for two for the elBulli menu at the restaurant. The tables sold out in four days and raised $339,000.

Cracks About Humboldt Park Earn Tipsy Cake Scorn

Humboldt Park activists are protesting outside of Tipsy Cake's Humboldt Park location today in response to owner Naomi Levine's comments about the neighborhood in a video interview with City Soles TV. (UPDATE: Owner Naomi Levine has issued an apology.)

Levine said she opened a Bucktown store because "there were just too many gunshots in the cakes" at the Humboldt bakery, and named a pastry the "Humboldt crack bar" because police officers would knock on the bakery door late at night asking for "crack."

In addition to the protestors, Yelpers have been heaping scorn on Levine for her comments, leaving dozens of one-star reviews on the bakery's listing.

Slow to Develop the Taste

Restaurants have been lukewarm on this year's smaller Taste of Chicago; the City has had to extend the signup deadline.

Ferrara Pan in Talks to be Sold

Crain's reports that Ferrara Pan is in talks to be purchased by Farley's & Sathers Candy Co., with Salvatore Ferrara II becoming the CEO of the merged company. Ferrara's father and company chairman, Nello Ferrara, passed away earlier this month.

CNN's Most Gluttonous City in the Nation Goes To...

Chicago, and not for its rich foodie culture. Between laying claim to the world's largest food festival and the creation of Baconfest, Chicago seized the title over the seven other US cities with a higher rate of obesity.

Rick Bayless in Cascabel?

Chicago Magazine has written up Rick Bayless' new, um, project- a musical theater/dinner service/circus at the Lookingglass Theater running March 21 to April 22. Tickets start at $200 and include beverages, a three course meal and the chance to watch the host of Mexico: One Plate at a Time woo a long-lost love in a 1940's boarding house.

TOC Gets Secretive

Time Out focuses on "secret Chicago" this week, sharing hidden spots in Edgewater, Bridgeport, Chinatown and Logan Square, among others. Meanwhile, voting is open for Time Out's 2012 Eat Out Awards.

Food for Fat Tuesday

While the city freaks out for paczki today, Brandy Gonsoulin, Drive-Thru's resident Cajun, shows you how to make another Mardi Gras traditional food: gumbo.

Talking About Good Food

Tickets are on sale now for the Good Food Festival & Conference in Chicago March 15-17. Unless you run a food-related business, you're probably going to be most interested in the activities on the 17th.

Truffle Butter & Beef Tenderloin, Delivered

Artizone is sort of a Peapod delivery service for gourmet foods. [via]

Cupcake for Cans

Until the 26th, bring in canned goods to Southport Grocery (to be donated to the Lakeview Pantry) and receive one of their super-famous cupcakes in return.

Porky Pork Pork

Baconfest 2012 tickets go on sale Monday at noon. The event is April 14 at the UIC Forum.

Chicago has a Fifth of GQ's Best New Restaurants

Alan Richman ranks Ruxbin and Next among his 10 best restaurants in America in GQ.

312 Gets Canned

Goose Island's popular 312 Urban Wheat Ale will debut in cans March 12. (Get it? 3/12.)

Eating and Painting

Constructive Chaos, a culinary and arts learning center for kids ages 5-18, is scheduled to open next month in River Forest.

Tea for Sharks

Chicago tea boutique Talbott Teas will be on "Shark Tank" this Friday.

Bottles & Buttons

Emporium Arcade Bar, opening this spring in Wicker Park, will bring alcohol and video games together in perfect harmony. [via]

Senior Foodizens

Domu has assembled a list of Chicago's oldest restaurants still in business, with Bridgeport's Schaller's Pump (opened 1881) getting top billing.

Start Exercising Now

Want to see a rundown of Restaurant Week menus? The annual event of prix-fixe menus at selected local restaurants starts this Friday and ends February 26.

Neighborhood Taps Running Dry

USA Today reports on the fading of neighborhood taverns. It's unfortunately not a new trend.

Stocking the Corner Store

Convenience stores are on the front line of the battle to end food deserts, little by little.

Whistling Tiki

Former Whistler mixologist Paul McGee will be taking his talents south of Logan Square to open a tiki bar called Bub City in River North.

Fat Tony Doesn't Feel so Great

Artist Ron English reimagines Tony the Tiger, the Kellogg's mascot created by Leo Burnett, as an obese over-indulger in his own sugary cereal. The vinyl figure is available at Rotofugi.

Scrape Your Plate

The third issue of SOILED zine is out, with the theme "Platescrapers" and articles about food and "comestible politics."

Vote for the Best Pastry Chef

Voting is open in Food & Wine's The People's Best New Pastry Chef poll. Eater has a cheat sheet listing the local nominees.

United States of X: Chocolate Edition

The Food Network made a chocolate map of the country, and northwest suburban Long Grove Confectionery represents for Illinois.

Man Size Wads

CollectingCandy tells the fascinating story of Big League Chew, which until 2010 was made by Naperville-based Amurol, a division of Wrigley. [via]

This Bar Really Satisfies

The crew over at Numero Group take on a giant Snickers bar straight from Mars--the company, that is.

A Farmer's Drink in the Big City

Chicago's brewing scene has been taking off -- and now it's not just beer. South Korea's Baesangmyun Brewery is opening a brewery for makgeolli, a milky colored rice wine, here in Chicago.

Rib Bibs at the Ready

Our first ever BBQ Bowl is tomorrow at noon, and tickets are going fast. Get yours in advance to guarantee your chance to judge delicious barbecue from Honey 1, Honky Tonk, Mrs. Murphy & Sons, The Piggery, Pork Shoppe, RUB and host Club Lucky!

BBQ, Bowls, Art Top Your Weekend: Time Out: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Filet of Pork Pagoda

This is what you would have eaten if you flew first class on United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Chicago in 1966. More airline menus in Northwestern University Library's transportation collection.

Asado Reopens Saturday

Asado Coffee, which I noted in Drive-Thru was undergoing a remodel, takes the paper off the windows and throws open the door this Saturday.

Trendspotting in Booze

Lunchbreath has some unsolicited suggestions for new alcoholic beverages. It's cutting edge stuff.

Earl Grey Loko

Pronounced "Con"

Kevin Pang profiles Paul Kahan, probably the city's most beloved reluctant celebrity chef. His latest venture, Publican Quality Meats, soft opens Monday.

Upcoming Rib Opportunities

Dates for this year's North Center Ribfest have been announced. Can't wait till June? Allow me to remind you the Gapers Block's first annual BBQ Bowl is this Saturday at Club Lucky. Tickets here!

Tracking the Elusive Shamrock Shake

McDonald's Shamrock Shake is already available at certain locations. Amazingly, there's a site that tracks sightings.

Grits and Gumbo

Chicagoist pulls together a few of the city's best options for real Southern food.

Sweets and Savories & Sweet & Savory

Grub Street reports that Sweets and Savories has closed, along with its sister restaurant Bluette. In more positive news, Time Out coincidentally rounds up a few sweet and savory brunch options in this week's issue.

Gluten-Free Good Time

Serious Eats Chicago adds a few more interesting gluten-free options in the city.

The Opposite of Foodporn

At least one food cart in London has absolutely no idea what's on a Chicago-style hot dog. Warning: the evidence will shock you. [via]

london style chicago style hotdog.jpg

Most of That is for Parking

Half of the nation's most expensive restaurants are in Chicago.

Single Speed, Double Espresso

Grid Chicago got a sneak peek inside of coffee/bike shopHeritage Bicycles, opening on Jan. 28.

How to Spend a Sunday

Travel and Leisure Magazine has named Chicago's The Publican as one of the best brunch spots in the country.

The Drinking Season

Baby, it's cold outside -- might as well warm up with a drink. Chicago magazine's February issue contains a drinker's guide to Chicago.

Milk Stout

If the headline didn't mean anything to you, neither will this: Left Hand Brewery is rolling out their most popular beer in nitrogen-charged bottles that will hit Chicago next week. Milk Stout nitro will be the first of its kind produced by an American craft brewery and aims to give the beer a mouthfeel closer to that of a draft pour. See link for details on tastings and launch parties.

Zagat Books a Gift Card

The Zagat Smartbox is an "experiential gift card" that gets you a three-course dinner for two at one of 46 area restaurants for $99 -- which, depending on where you dine, might not be such a great deal after all.

Beer Train Express Leaving From Unions Station

Tickets for the Chicago Beer Festival happening March 31st at Union Station have gone on sale. The first batch of breweries in attendance are Hamburger Mary's, 5 Rabbit, Argus, Three Floyds, Half Acre, Lagunitas, Duvel St. Fullien, Crispin, Sierra Nevada, Stone, Sea Dog, Shipyard and, Pyramid.

Twinkies Shelf Life Shortening

Twinkies, which were invented in Chicago, face an unsure future as Hostess Brands enters bankruptcy. A former executive with Continental Baking Co., the original Twinkie maker, shares why the iconic treat was better back in the day.

Welcome to Downtown, Wherever You Are!

GB flickr pool contributor Katherine Hodges noticed that the new Walgreen's seems to have a pretty liberal definition of "downtown living."

downtown living, according to the new Walgreens, State & Randolph

What're You, Cheap?

Then this week's Time Out is for you. (On the other end of the spectrum, Julia Kramer talks with Grant Achatz about Next's tribute to elBulli, which will cost $473 per person all told.)

Be Careful When Picking Your Seat

This past Saturday at Edzo's Burger Shop a group of people tested the rule that you should only reserve a table after you've ordered. For the outcome of that experiment, please see Ed's version of what happened, corroborated by Grub Street Chicago. And of course, this led to the inevitable one-star Yelp review.

Having a Good Time All the Time

...could win you a historic bar tour of the city for you and your friends! Chicago Detours has the details.

Vinnie Goes West

Potato chip maker CJ Vitner Co. has been purchased by California's Snak King, leaving Chicago without a locally owned chip company. Jay's was sold to Snyder's of Hanover in 2007.

Don't Drink & Drive-Thru

If you're so drunk you fall asleep in the drive-thru at the Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's, a Big Mac isn't going to help you.

Calling Out for a Mugging

A new trend in restaurant delivery: scrutinizing mobile phone orders. The CPD recently warned restaurants to avoid mobile phone orders after a string of delivery robberies in Chinatown and Hyde Park.

End of a Culinary Era

Charlie Trotter's will be closing in August. The legendary chef plans to travel, earn a master's degree, and open another restaurant in the future.

Tour Revolution

Revolution Brewing has a virtual tour of their new facility available online. It's a bit on the CAD side, but a great feel for their new space.

The Man Aisle?

Apparently more men are going grocery shopping. As a man who has always gone grocery shopping, it surprises me that this is news. [via]

Virgin Cocktail Connoisseur

From pink peppercorn and thyme soda to lemon and bitters with house-made tonic syrup, Chicago Magazine rounds up some local designated-driver specialties.

Evolving the Taste

Taste of Chicago will be a five-day festival focused solely on food in 2012 -- and will be held July 11-15, instead of late June to early July.

Shop Til You Eat

Though a few days late for your holiday shopping pit-stops, Chicago Serious Eats put together a culinary survival guide for the Magnificent Mile and State Street shopping districts, as some of the best places to eat are "underground, way above ground, or slightly hidden behind storefronts."

Another Award for Achatz

The Daily Meal named Grant Achatz its chef of the year.

Get Supper to the Table

If you liked our coverage earlier this year about the in-progress documentary about Wisconsin supper clubs, perhaps you can kick in a few dollars to help get the project finished.

Human Rumaki

Here's a great last-minute holiday gift: a bacon-patterned neckwarmer, courtesy of writer/farmer/crafter Vera Videnovich.

Home-Brewed for the Holidays

If the gift you were really hoping for this year was learning to brew your own beer, you may be grateful that New Chicago Beer Company is promoting home-brew culture in Chicago. Thanks to them we know about Homebrewers Pride of the Southside and CHAOS (Chicago Homebrew Alchemists Of Sud). There is also the Chicago Beer Society, which has a wider focus. If you live in the burbs, there are nearby options for you as well.

Vending Machine Sandwich Scandal!

It turns out those sandwiches found in vending machines are just as disgusting as you thought they might be.

This Project Carries Water

Project: Living Well is a startup crowdsourcing funds to produce a water bottle in a shape familiar in Latin America: the Calabash.

"Shove it in a Mug"

Laura Park is back in Saveur's Recipe Comix, this time with a tasty-looking apple dessert.

End of Year Beer

Right about now you're going to wish you were one of Vessel's clients.

Journeyman Chicago

In time for holiday libations, the spirits of Southwest Michigan upstart Journeyman Distillery have found a retail home in Chicago. Their Bilberry Black Hearts Gin and W.R. White Whiskey is available at City Provisions, Perman Wine, The Noble Grape, and In Fine Spirits, who will be hosting a tasting tonight from 6 to 8.

Classy Christmas Concoctions

'Tis the season to make things merry by mixing up these holiday cocktails. (There's also our own series in Drive-Thru.)

The Bouncer Has a Blog

Stephen Sowley, who mans the door at Bucktown bar Danny's, breaks down the unpleasantness of his job.

Unique Holiday Gifts, Pt. 31

More a roundup of culinary options: here's The Local Beet's gift guide, some book suggestions from Grub Street, and Time Out's food and drink gift ideas.

Over 300 Ways to Bring in 2012

Still making New Year's Eve plans? Check the Chicago Reader's extensive guide to the best eating, drinking, and concert-going the big night has to offer.

Time Out and Metromix also have guides, of course, and don't forget Transmission's own NYE concert guide.

Bid on a Bit of the Bakery

"Punk rock pastry" purveyor Bleeding Heart Bakery recently announced that the Roscoe Village location is moving down Belmont to a new spot beside Schubas, but they can't quite take everything with them. Bid high on eBay and you can be the owner of the shop's 16-foot neon sign (local pickup only).

Foodstuffs of Fictional Old

Happy lunch time. A local graphic designer is eating his way through "A Game of Thrones."

Food for the Holidays

Looking for culinary gift? Ms. Mint's Holiday Bazaar has you covered, today and tomorrow, with a couple dozen food and beverage related artisans all in one place.

Yule (Need to Look Elsewhere for Those) Logs

Citing, among other things, an "inability to operationally meet the seasonal needs of our customers," Rolf's Patisserie is closed. Effective immediately. (Maybe it's because, thanks to last year's food poisoning outbreak, the at-a-glance Google details are, um, less than appetizing.)

Which Way to Griddle Women?

Hilarious blogger and GB staffer Jasmine Davila came up with names for restaurants she'd like to open. Table for one, please...

Bees Seeing You

The Chicago Honey Co-Op has to move, and it needs your help to do so.

Big Hugs from Half Acre

The rascals at Half Acre Brewing have announced the details for their December 18th release of their yearly Dark Matter coffee enriched imperial stout Big Hugs.

On Dec. 18 the Half Acre brewery located at 4257 N. Lincoln will be open from 11am until 6pm. Big Hugs will be sold at $12 per 22oz bottle or $21 for a half gallon growler fill. Half Acre would like you to know that if you come dressed as a cat you will get a prize.

If your torso can't wait for liquid hugs until the 18th, there will be a Big Hugs release party on the 16th atThe Blind Robin at 853 N. Western.

Unique Holiday Gifts, Pt. 17

À la Card Chicago is 52 gifts in one -- each a $10 discount at a local restaurant.

Checking In at Dinner

Time Out Chicago's annual 100 Best Things We Ate & Drank issue is out, and this year it comes with a Foursquare badge (more).

Simon's Suffers Register Theft

Longtime Andersonville tavern, Simon's, had a theft from its basement over the weekend of an antique cash register that's as old as the bar itself (nearly 77 years). If you have any leads, they'd be very interested to recover it. [Update: Simon's has additional information describing the register, should you see it at your local pawn shop or flea market.]

Unique Holiday Gifts, Pt. 16

First Slice is a unique organization that combines charitable giving with a delicious way to save time on grocery shopping and cooking. For $33 a week for an individual, or $75 a week for a family, you can purchase three home-cooked meals. All you have to do is reheat and presto -- delicious, nutritious, locally sourced dinners for you and yours. That includes side dishes, entrees, and their legendary pie for dessert. Profits are used to serve the same amazing high-quality meals to the hungry, so you'll feel doubly good.

Greater Than the Rest

Greater Than sports drink won BevNet's 2011 Best Sports or Hydration Beverage.

Unique Holiday Gifts, Pt. 13

The only time you'll get something with "Hot Doug's" on it, without waiting in the occasionally epic line outside the encased meats emporium, is when you buy one of these cute Hot Doug's shirts or hoodies online. There are no better words than "no line," my friend.

H.O.V.A., Party of Two

Jay-Z and Beyonce were spotted at Andersonville's Vincent last night having a drink while waiting for their table at Great Lake.

Treat Yo Self

Escape to a World of Chocolate tonight; the event benefits the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and will serve you right.

A Broth with History

College Inn chicken broth has its history in the Sherman House Hotel, which once stood on the block now occupied by the Thompson Center.

The Snap of the Casing

Serious Eats Chicago made a map of all the hot dog stands with natural casing dogs they could find.

Weirdos, Fried Chicken & Christian Rock

The A.V. Club interviews a Chicagoan who camped out for 24 hours ahead of a Merrillville, IN Chick-Fil-A grand opening in order to get a years' worth of chicken nuggets.

Unique Holiday Gifts, Pt. 3

Already known for their salted bourbon caramels, bacon bourbon caramel corn, and stout marshmallows, Salted Caramel is adding hot cocoa mix (and a bevy of gift baskets) to its repertoire just in time for the holidays. For those on your list who are a bit salty as well as sweet.

Feasting on Uncertainty

While discussing the One City, One Food Drive campaign, Emmanuel announced, "One in six Cook County residents is food insecure, or uncertain of where their next meal will come from." If the surplus on your table so moves you to donate, find out how with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Your Blackout Wednesday Plans

Among the items in Time Out's Thanksgiving feature this week is a list of all the "blackout Wednesday" options tonight.

Where's Upton?

Upton's Naturals has just purchased land somewhere in the city for construction of a future store, but are not saying where it actually is located--you have to figure it out, for a prize.

Talent vs. Tantrums

Michael Nagrant has a short piece in Chicago mag online about local celebrity chefs and their "celebrity" behavior. Just posted and the comments are already getting heated. Stay tuned...

Turkey Balls Closer to Home

Speaking of unusual food events, if you can't make it to the 29th annual Turkey Testicle Festival out in Huntley tomorrow, Timothy O'Toole's in Streeterville has you covered. Details in Slowdown.

A Debate for All Time

Tonight, the 65th annual Latke-Hamantash Debate takes place at UofC. Be there for history... and starchy Jewish foods.

Hot & Fresh, 125 Years Later

Haven't you always wanted your own popcorn machine? Chicago-based Cretors still has some of its 125th anniversary popcorn machines available.

Restaurant Inspections, from Customer to Chef

The online database of city restaurant inspection reports has gotten a huge upgrade; read more on the experience of being inspected as well as being a curious consumer in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Fighting Over Michelin Stars

A cook from L2O, which lost two stars in the new Michelin Guide, got into a fistfight with the kitchen staff from Boka last night at Old Town Social after they ribbed him about the demotion. Relax dude, it's a book for tourists.

What a Cock(tail)

Chicago attorney Adam Levitt is suing Southwest Airlines for discontinuing a free drink program for their business class passengers.

Green Plate Special

The Reader wants you to eat your veggies, so it put together a big guide in this week's paper. And The Local Beet can tell you where to get a CSA or hit an winter farmers market.

Quinoa at Wow Bao...Oh! Ah!

Where will they stop? Between the new truck, and Secret Word Wednesdays (free bao with password), the latest coup for the "o" and "a" combo is Wow Bao's addition of ginger and scallion-studded quinoa as the base layer of its bowls (for an extra $0.50) in case "rice" just didn't have enough vowels for you.

Second Verse, Same as the First

The Michelin Guide 2012 ratings have been released--with not a lot of surprises.

Next's iPad Cookbook Released

Next Restaurant's Paris 1906 cookbook is now available in iTunes.

Misery Loves Food

If it's happened to you, you know the joy of a Hot Doug's experience is equal only to the misery endured by arriving and finding it closed. But no fear, this is Avondale, Serious Eats' Alternatives to Hot Doug's flowchart to the rescue!

The Virtues of Cider

Time Out's Julia Kramer talks with Greg Hall about his new hard cider company, Virtue.

Teeny Pies, Big Tour

Local "lady pie baker" Teeny Lamothe has embarked on a mission to bake pies across the country; you can help fund her exploits on IndieGoGo.

Chicago Eats Seriously

Serious Eats Chicago makes its official debut today (previously).

Now Anyone Can Buy Moo & Oink

A Sun-Times piece on the pending Moo & Oink auction indicates there's still some hope for a reconstituted meat depot, but a lot of suitors have their own intentions.

Cheap Trick's Gonna Raise Hell on Motor Row

Cheap Trick plans to open a new space on Motor Row with a restaurant, radio station, performance space and a museum.

The Business of Impermanence

The Awl delves deeper into McRib economics than ever before.

Bib Gourmand 2012

The Michelin Guide announces Chicago's Bib Gourmand restaurants for 2012 -- eateries where, "for $40 or less, you can enjoy two courses and a glass of wine or dessert." See what's changed since last year in Drive-Thru.

Grapefruit & Godwin's Law

Chicagoist dug up a new commercial for Jeppson's Malört, the intensely bitter liquor sold almost exclusively in Chicago, created by comedian Sam Mechling, the voice behind Malort on Twitter.

A New Crop of Jobs

Amid the worst recession in thirty years, Chicago's urban farms are hiring. But it takes more than a power tie and snappy resume to get the job. Read more over at Drive-Thru.

Historic Brewery Under Retail Demolition Threat

If you've ever driven north on Elston from Fullerton, you may have noticed the large brick factory building directly south of the Home Depot parking lot. Slow down the next time you cruise by this long-closed building. It may be the last time you see it.

State of the Art

The Reader's big feature this week is about The Arts of Life Band, a rock group made up of developmentally disabled people. Watch the band play and enjoy some tasty chili at the Half Acre Charitable Chili Cookoff this Saturday.

Beer Art

Hogsalt.com talks with Half Acre's Gabriel Magliaro and illustrator Phineas X. Jones about the brewery's fantastic labels.

Tastes Like Chicken

Amish-raised, antibiotic-free chicken. That's what will be served in Chicago Public Schools from now on.

Cafe Lula Dresses Up

Pictures are up from Cafe Lula's annual Halloween costume -- this year, Taco Hell. And who better to sell your soul to for Mexican food than Rick Bayless, dressed as the Devil himself.

McDonald's Introduces Somewhat Healthier Happy Meals

Now Happy Meals at Chicago McDonald's restaurants can be configured with a few fries, a few apple slices and milk. Most surveyed owners think it won't make any difference, which also seems to be the response in the health community.

"Smoking Out" Gangsters

How do you keep gang members from hanging out on your street corner? Try a cookout.

Chicago-Style Overkill

Hot Doug's and Pizzeria Uno make Grub Street's list of restaurants that need to take a food TV hiatus.

No Worse Than Hot Dogs

Whet Moser tells the history of the McRib (which is back, if you hadn't heard.)

Be Like Guy

If you've ever wanted to eat in the, er, footsteps of Guy Fieri, here's a list of Chicago restaurants featured on "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives."

The Back-of-the-House Divide

There are many ways to make it in the restaurant industry. For some, it's hard work and a hard-earned culinary education. For others, it's a tap on the shoulder. Chaya Babu explores who gets which in Drive-Thru.

Food Deserts Shrinking

Chicago's food deserts are shrinking, according to a new report by food desert expert Mari Gallagher. Michelle Obama will be in town tomorrow to highlight the issue of food deserts and, no doubt, laud this development.

Hamburger Heaven

Someone took pictures of every burger at Kuma's Corner, even immortalizing ones no longer on the menu.

Architecture Touring with a Little Culinary Character

Most travel recommendations from national publications are pretty uninspired, but the WSJ's weekend architectural blitz does a decent job of balancing architectural and culinary stalwarts with a few of atypical restaurants.

We'll Give Him Tomato Pie

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia called Chicago-style deep dish pizza "tomato pie" in a talk at Chicago-Kent Law School this week. He likes it, though.

It's Quittin' Time

A look at Chicago's saloon culture in 1900. From GB's own archives: "Tapped Out," an elegy for the city's fading tap rooms.

Fight for Fresh-Cook Food

Food Truck Freak has started an online video petition site, Let Them Cook, encouraging City Council to approve an ordinance allowing food trucks to cook onboard. They're running a Facebook contest to get the word out. [via]

Eating Childhood

Next's chef Dave Beran teased a menu for the restaurant's "Childhood" incarnation yesterday, and tickets went on sale last night at midnight. They're sold out, but same-day reservations will be announced on Facebook. Meanwhile, Eater has an interview with Beran about the menu.

A Thousand Crumbs

Cupcake chain Crumbs is opening its fourth Chicago location tomorrow at 346 N. Clark St., and is once again giving away 1,000 cupcakes to celebrate, starting at noon. Expect a line.

Drawings About Food

Laura Park (who designed our 3rd anniversary poster!) is featured in Saveur's "Recipe Comix" this week -- and Sarah Becan was last week's artist!

Get a Lula Chalupa

Lula Cafe "dresses up" for Halloween every year; last year it was Kuma's Corner, the year before that it was Hot Doug's. According to Time Out, this year it'll go a bit lower-scale, masquerading as Taco Bell.

BBQ in a Cup?

Speaking of Solo, the company is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and is sharing the love by, oddly, publishing a booklet of employees' barbecue sauce recipes [PDF].

Proceed to Party

Slate delivers a paean to the red Solo cup, a Chicago-made party staple.

United States of X: Lunch Edition

Chicago's Italian beef is well represented.

Hope She Hasn't Been Snacking on Security Guards After Hours

Sue the T-rex was a lot heavier than originally thought. About three tons heavier.

Pump Room Officially Open Today

The revamped restaurant in the Public Hotel has its grand opening today, featuring a menu designed by Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Phil Vettel got a first look back in September.

Making the Cut

Chicago Cut Steakhouse was named one of Esquire's Best New Restaurants; Girl and the Goat, Next, and the Paris Club also received nods.

Michael Nagrant is the Sun-Times' New Dining Critic

Michael Nagrant, foodblogger and restaurant reviewer about town, takes over as Pat Bruno's replacement in the Sun-Times today. Read his first column, and then read my interview with him over in Drive-Thru.

Billions of Bubbles for Big Stars

A Russian billionaire spent $100,000 on a very large bottle of Champagne (a 15-liter "Nebuchadnezzar" of Armand de Brignac) for Zac Efron and Heather Graham at Board Room this week. And now you know such things exists.

Taco Bell Introduces Doritos Taco Shell

Only in California right now, but cross your orange-stained fingers some of that cheese dust makes it out East.

Four Loko = 4 Beers

That's what the FTC says the Phusion Brands will now have to print on its cans.

Beer Here

Some local breweries did very well at the Great American Beer Festival, though Red Dog winning gold for Lager is...interesting. [via]

Cafeteria Nation

Jamie Oliver wants to know about your kid's school lunches. Fresh and healthy, chemical-laden, or somewhere in between, upload your photos and rate others' contributions here.

RIP Moo & Oink

Moo & Oink closed this weekend after 150 years in business.

Back from the Grave, 15 Years Later

Sizzler, the steakhouse chain that is more likely to live in your childhood memories than in your usual restaurant list, is going to try to win your cash again by opening 18 restaurants in the region in as many months.

The Pink Dress Run

The Chicago Thirstday Hash House Harriers' Pink Dress Run to raise money for Imerman Angels will be held this Thursday.

Find the Market Near You

Kind of late in the season, but the City launched a new farmers market map over the weekend, featuring both city-sponsored and independent markets. [via]

Tribune Co.'s New Food Road Trip

Tribune Broadcasting is bringing a little of the Food Network to WGN with "America's Best Bites," a new show touring the country looking for tasty food. It debuts this Saturday at 5:30pm.

Mac and Cheese for Lunch?

The Southern Mac and Cheese truck's store at 60 E. Lake opens today. The line looks long, so bring a lunch. How meta!

Where the Hunger Is

The Greater Chicago Food Depository released a study mapping the city's hungry neighborhood by neighborhood. Riverdale had the highest rate of food insecurity at 40.8 percent, followed by Washington Park (34.0 percent), Englewood and North Lawndale (both at 31.2 percent), while Edison Park (7.4 percent), Forest Glen (7.8 percent) and Norwood Park (8.3 percent) had the lowest.

United States of X: Caffeinated Edition

Chicagoans spend more money in coffee shops than any other city in America -- which probably says more about the cost of living here than our actual coffee consumption.

Craft Beer in Chicago

Imbibe's current issue has an outstanding piece on the local beer scene, charting its too-occasional successes over the past few decades, through the recent boom and the industry's future. All in all, an almost definitive to-drink list for the beverage nerd.

12,000 Pounds of Chicago Chocolate

Chicago's World's Finest Chocolate created the world's biggest chocolate bar, which weighs 12,000lb. and is 3 feet high, 21 feet long. The purpose of the gigantic chocolate bar is to teach kids to think about eating smart.

From Ambrosia to Yusay

The endearingly quaint Chicago Breweriana collects promotional products and ephemera from Chicago's bygone breweries.

Enter the Adobo

Adobofest 2011 is looking for a few more contestants for their annual adobo (that wonderful Filipino dish of meat marinated in vinegar and garlic) contest, which is taking place this Saturday in LaBagh Woods. If you aim to compete or just eat, get the details in Slowdown.

Washing it Down in the Heartland

The WSJ features a Midwest beer tour that starts in Milwaukee and loops around to Chicago among its "Heartland Drive-Through Vacations."

Food You Can Print?

Cornell Creative Machines Lab has developed a 3-D food printer that will allow the creation of previously unheard of cuisine. And not just a hamburger with liquid layers of ketchup and mustard inside, either (though also that). Chicago's Moto Restaurant looks like it'll be one of the early adopters.

Lula Reopens Tonight, Sorta

Lula Cafe, which has been undergoing expansion, will reopen tonight at 6pm. However, their bar isn't open yet, so it'll just be the drinking basics (i.e. beer and wine) until the dust finally settles.

Take Down the Bacon

The Chicago Bacon Takedown is next Sunday, Sept. 18, and there are still a couple slots left in the competition. Cinnamon Cooper and I took second place last year -- could it be you this year?

But Which Hot Dog is the Best?

Sarah Lee and suburban Kraft foods have called a truce in their epic hot dog court battle, so we'll never know who makes the best hot dog in the land.

Old Style (Kinda) Hearts the Cubs

It looks like Old Style is staying with Wrigley Field after all ... at least until the 2013 season, that is.

Hard Luck for Hard Luck Josephine's

Chicago's soul food is disappearing as blacks move out of the city.

Eat Local: It's a Challenge

This year's Locavore Challenge from the Green City Market starts Thursday, Sept. 8. Are you up for the challenge?

Local Beer Awareness: Argus Brewery

Chicago Beer Geeks tour a too easy to miss Chicago craft brewer. They've only been around since 2009, but their current HQ was built in 1906 as a stable for Schlitz delivery horses, which is nothing if not several kinds of beer awesome.

Free Nuggets at Chick-fil-A Today

The Chick-fil-A at 30 E. Chicago Ave. is offering unlimited free refills on orders of 12-piece nuggets from 3pm to 5pm today. There are, of course, a couple catches, not least of which being your health will suffer.

Next on Your iPad

Next Restaurant will be releasing a cookbook based on its inaugural Paris 1906 menu -- and it will only be available for the iPad.

Bartering for Dinner

If you've got something to offer, Fireside Restaurant might make you a deal.

Veggie Up Your Fridge

We're giving away a CSA box of organic produce to the writer of the best haiku! Details in Drive-Thru.

It's Free Gyros Day!

Fill out this form and go get in line!

Achatz and Gross

It's a rebroadcast, but tune in today at 2pm to Fresh Air on WBEZ for an interview with chef Grant Achatz of Next, the Aviary, the Office, and (of course) Alinea.

Homebrewers Take Note

And aspiring homebrewers as well- Brew Camp, recently opened at Belle Plaine and Lincoln, offers frequent classes for beginners and high quality ingredients for everyone.

Top Chefs

Michael Nagrant runs down the most influential people in the restaurant industry in this week's NewCity.

To Live and Die By the Standardized Menu

Over at Chicago magazine, Whet Moser charted key moments of his life in chain restaurants. Mine would surely include Perkins.

Art & Food Inspire Each Other

Last week the Chicago Artists Coalition held an event at which four artists and four chefs collaborated to create food and art inspired by each other. We interviewed the artists and the chefs about the experience.

Maria's Community Bar Celebrates Makeover Anniversary

Bridgeport favorite Maria's Packaged Goods and Community Bar announces a celebration of the one-year anniversary of its makeover on September 3 at both the bar and art space Co-Prosperity Sphere down the street.

Insect Eating for the Future

That's the slogan of Entom Foods, a company started by some UofC undergrads to get Americans eating more bugs.

Gettin' Cakey With It

Threadcakes, the super contest that pairs a love of Threadless shirts with cakes, is in the process of judging this year's submissions. Want to see them?

The Logan Square Kitchen is Fed Up

They've had 19 health inspections in two years and they're challenging their most recent fine. There's more information on their site than I can summarize here, but they make a pretty good case that they're being harassed by the Food Safety Division of the Chicago Health Department.

Breaking the Fast

The Lupe Fiasco Foundation is working with the Block By Block initiative to feed at least 100 people each day Aug. 15-31 in honor of Ramadan.

Big Hurt Beer?

There is now a beer named after Frank Thomas. Big Hurt Beer, which Beeronaut determined is brewed by Minhas of Monroe, WI (aka Huber Brewing), should be on shelves later this month.

Knife, Fork & Pen

Related to the previous post: They Draw & Cook features several recipes illustrated by Chicagoans.

Kraft Foods is Trying to Kill You

Triple Double Oreos, coming soon to a store near you.

"The frank should look delicious, iconic and heroic."

The 312 pulls out some of the most entertaining quotes from the Sara Lee/Oscar Meyer hot dog battle. (Previously.)

The Latest Top Restaurant: Ruxbin

Meanwhile, Bon Appetit named Ruxbin the fifth best new restaurant of the year.

The Latest in Achatz/Kokonas News

NYTimes weighs in on Next and Aviary; Eater interviews Nick Kokonas. UPDATE: Grant Achatz revealed the next four Next menus to TOC's Heather Shouse.

Way Beyond Sugared Cereal

Want to have dessert for breakfast? A.V. Club explores your most decadent options.

Weiner Wars Escalate

I'm really happy for you, Sara Lee and Kraft Foods, and I'ma let you finish, but Vienna Beef makes some of the best hot dogs of all time!

Gourmet Eat-athon

Gourmet spends 24 hours eating in Chicago. [via]

Taxi Cab Recommendations

Chicago Cab Fare reviews restaurants recommended by the city's many ethnic taxi drivers. The author is profiled in the ChuffPo today.

Food Truck Friday in Grant Park

Mobile Cuisine Magazine, the folks who've been organizing a food truck corral in the Clybourn shopping district on Tuesdays, is launching a new series on Fridays in Grant Park. At least two trucks will be at the inaugural event today at Columbus and Balbo starting at 5pm.

So Good it's Criminal

After two years of battling Ald. Fioretti, Felony Franks finally got a permit to put up a sign.

Moo & Oink on Butcher Block

Moo & Oink, the 150-year-old meat butcher and grocery, faces liquidation if it can't find a buyer.

Huge Check, Please!

Alinea and Charlie Trotter's placed fourth and fifth on a list of the most expensive restaurants in the country, and Tru, Les Nomades and Everest joined them in the top 10. [via]

Coffee Wars: Battlefield Chicago

Starbucks and Caribou both plan significant expansions in Chicago, and the first volley is from Starbucks: It's opening a store at 8 N. Michigan Ave., directly next to an existing Caribou.

Candy and Restaurants Nearly Devoured by the G8

Two major trade shows have changed their annual show dates in order to accommodate next May's G8 summit and its security demands.

Edenic Fall from Grace

Edenic Soy & Tofu had some pretty serious health code violations on a recent FDA inspection. [via]

Leaded Glass of Water

High levels of lead were found in seven of 38 homes tested by the EPA this year, the Tribune reports. Read some of the backstory on how the paper found out.

The Next Best Thing to Thailand

Want to see what Next is up to these days? Take a look at pictures of their most recent menu over at Drive-Thru.

Lolla-food-ooza

...or something. Grub Street breaks down the food options at Lollapalooza, while Food Genius crunches some data.

"It's Foodie Fascism"

Kevin Pang flies in the face of Chicago prevailing wisdom and defends the practice of putting ketchup on a hot dog.

Got Beef?

Surprisingly, I've never come across ItalianBeef.com before. Unsurprisingly, it's a site obsessively cataloging its namesake delicacy in Chicago.

312 Moves East

Production of Goose Island's 312 Urban Wheat Ale is being outsourced to upstate New York. Goose Island CEO John Hall says it'll allow the brewer to devote more attention to Matilda and other smaller beers; it might also be the first step in Anheuser-Busch's area code diversification plan.

Growing Trend: Guerrilla Gardening

The housing boom led to a bunch of knockdowns -- and the crash left many of those lots empty. Robyn Nisi explores what happens when community gardens spring up on what is technically private property.

Out with the Old Style

Rumor has it that Old Style wants to drop its 61 year association with the Cubs.

Casting Illinois in Iron

On Re-Nest, they have a swell Etsy find: specialty cast-iron pans in the shape of Illinois. You can even load up on pans in the shape of other Midwestern states if you so desire.

Dine on a Dime

Time Out focuses on "cheap eats" this week; coincidentally, Food Genius was inspired by a Forbes article to find the cheapest food in the richest neighborhood, Lincoln Park

It's a Genuine Chicago Hot Dog

Here's a poster to remind your friends what's on it.

hotdogposter.jpg

Designed by Betty Turbo.

Chalking Up Meal Deals

The Chicago edition of Blackboard Eats launched on Friday; subscribe and get a secret code for a discount or other perks at local restaurants.

Take Our Grain, Please

Chicago brewery (and FoGB) Half Acre is looking for some creative business ideas to use its spent grain. A lot of spent grain.

"We're always afraid of being bored."

Grant Achatz talks with Gilt about switching from Escoffier to Thai at Next.

Baking in the 'Burbs

Bleeding Heart Bakery announced on Facebook that it is opening a new location in Elmhurst by the end of the summer. Afterwards, they "will be working with [their] partners and a team of other folks to figure out what to do next."

Megachains Find Healthy Ways to Colonize Neighborhoods

Michelle Obama held a joint press conference this week with reps from Supervalu and WalMart to announce that to be good, (cough) profit-earning guys, the retailers will open new stores in underserved neighborhoods in the next five years. Walgreens will also add more produce and healthy foods for sale at 1,000 more stores, as they've already done.

The Girl Battles the Goat Curse

Chef Stephanie Izard will sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch at today's Cubs game.

Follow Those Trucks

Keeping track of the city's food trucks is becoming increasingly difficult -- which is where Food Truck Freak comes in. [via]

Pitchfork Players Club

If you've got a Pitchfork wristband, a lot of doors (and discounts) open up to you.

This Dish is Recommended

Food Genius is a new app for Android and iOS that helps you decide what to eat at Chicagoland restaurants.

Great Local Farmers Markets

The Glenwood and Logan Square farmers markets are in among the top five farmers markets in Illinois according to the American Farmland Trust's competition. Voting is still open.

Go Next Go

The once-faulty reservation system for the sittings of its Tour of Thailand at Next is back on. Get in there before it dies! UPDATE: it sold out. Sorry, folks!

The Day After Next

If you're a Grant Achatz fan, you've probably heard that Next Restaurant is offering a Thai menu now that "Paris, 1906" has closed. However, due to having a reported 20,000 people logging in with 2,800 queries per second, the site crashed as the appointed reservation time arrived. And the foodie world? It went totally apes shitting bananas. Seriously, so many people have great, know-it-all, techie, entitled, hilarious and just plain offensive comments. They're due to launch again today -- good luck!

Ice Creamed

Margies Candies' "World's Largest Sundae" takes on several members of the A.V. Club's staff--and wins.

Starbiggulps

Caffeine fiend alert: Starbucks' 31oz. "Trenta" drink size debuts in Chicago next Tuesday.

Playing Telephone?

Some recent trademark applications may tip Anheuser-Busch's hand in its plans for recently acquired Goose Island.

Presidential Maki

Hot Woks Cool Sushi's Obama-nami roll boasts a diversity of fish, a "hint of green pepper" and a political message amidst the rice and vinegar.

Big Brother Hits the Bars

Chicago start-up SceneTap wants to bring facial recognition software into bars so owners can monitor the number, age, and gender of their customers. Because figuring that out without computers would be impossible, right?

Free Fro-Yo

Get free Pinkberry on Thursday from 5 to 9pm at the frozen yogurt chain's first Chicago store, at 635 N. State St. The store officially opens Friday.

Mmm, Turkey Legs

The Beachwood Reporter got a little turkey-leg obsessed today after news broke that it was one of the Taste of Chicago's most-gobbled items.

Who Will Be Top Dog?

If you're looking for someone to cheer for on July 4th, try Chicagoan Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti, who is competing in Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest at New York's Coney Island.

Cold Soup'n'Bread for a Hot(house) Cause

Unless you've never used the Garfield Park Conservatory as a mid-winter in-city escape, you're probably upset by the damage the conservatory has undergone. Martha Bayne was upset and decided to revive her fabulous Soup'n'Bread event as a fundraiser for the park. She'll feature chilly souper dishes from Swim Cafe, Inspiration Cafe, Bonnie Tawse, Anastasia Davies Hinchsliff, and more on Wednesday, July 6. All donations will be donated to the rebuilding efforts.

Trader Vic's is Dead, Long Live Tiki

Chicagoist's Rob Christopher notes the passing of the second coming of Trader Vic's in Chicago, and points to some other options to get your tiki drink on in the city (assuming you don't want to cab it to Hala Kahiki.)

Searching for Buns Next

Chicagoans search for "hot dogs" on Google 1.6 times the national average, and Illinois leads at the state level. I guess there's something to that state motto poster (previously).

Steamed Secrets

Head into Wow Bao, say the secret password (accessible through their Facebook page), and a free bao.

Cirque du Soleil vs. Tristan & Isolde

Jonathan Gold compares Alinea and Noma, the best restaurant in North America versus the best restaurant in the world.

Save Foodmiles at the Taste

If you need a compelling reason to go to the Taste (and really, who doesn't), Grub Street has a nifty map showing where vendors are coming from, all over the city. You'd save gas money just by going to Grant Park -- especially if you're into dessert.

Inferno of Pizza Comes to Logan

The western end of Logan Square's getting a new, spicy pizza place. Offering slices and BYOB, Dante's Pizzeria comes courtesy of Georg Simos (High Dive, The Rocking Horse) and a few people from Santullo's and Piece.

Slow Food from Brew City

Making a Milwaukee expat pine for more northern shores is as easy as mentioning the beloved Comet Cafe. Now, Comet's owners bring their locally sourced, from-scratch comfort food south in the form of Lakeview's Northdown Cafe and Taproom.

Feds to Chicago Mag: No Bootlegging!

OK, not really. But the magazine did get a call from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms telling that due to licensing issues, they can't give away the beer they brewed with Pipeworks Brewery at their shindig tonight. However, there will still be free beer: startup brewery 5 Rabbit has stepped in with a keg.

The Turkey is Compulsory

The menu at Just Turkey might remind you of a certain Monty Python skit, done with a healthier meat. Learn the backstory in Drive-Thru.

Better Guarded Taste

When the Taste of Chicago opens Friday, expect a stronger police presence than in past years.

It's the Beef

Leah Zeldes loads up on wordplay in her paean to the humble Chicago-style weiner.

Time for Tunney to Recuse?

Karl Klockars questions whether Ald. Tom Tunney is in violation of City Council ethics rules for not recusing himself from the food truck legislation, since he owns several restaurants and has catered events for the City.

Say Cheese and Burgers and Hot Chocolate

Editor of local food website The Feast/Eat Carly Fisher's Class Photo series talks to the staff of Kuma's (most recently), The Girl and the Goat, Moto, and more. All interviews include a high school-style group picture.

Good Truck, Heel

There's one food truck roaming the streets that doesn't need to worry about whether Ald. Tunney ties up legislation: Fido to Go serves up "canine cookies" and dog-friendly ice cream.

Delicious in Space or Your Kitchen

Tang is now a billion dollar brand.

Sweet and Savory Strawberry Scene

Strawberries are in season -- take advantage of it with these recipes from Guy Meikle from Nana and Jeff Donahue from Next and the Aviary. Here's a place to start if you want to pick your own.

That Tipplin' Town

Chicago's a pretty good wine town, according to the WSJ's Lettie Teague. In fact, she says it's "the second-most important wine city in the country right now."

Even so, You STILL Don't Want to Know How It's Made

One Pork Taco turned up a postcard of Adolph Luetgert's sausage factory. Mr. Luetgert killed his wife way back in the 19th century, and rumors persisted that he'd turned her into sausage. He didn't, but the real story is just as yucky.

Corner Bakery & Cinnabon Now Siblings

Arby's wasn't the only restaurant chain sold yesterday; the same private equity firm bought Corner Bakery. Roark Capital Group also owns Cinnabon, Auntie Annes' pretzels and Schlotzky's Deli.

At Least There's No Ketchup

Martha Stewart clearly has no idea what a Chicago-style hot dog is.

Helping Out the Little Guy

Grub Street reports that the Grasstoots Collaborative is holding a bake sale in front of the Mercantile Exchange (20 South Wacker) today to benefit the CME Group, the parent company of the Merc who is threatening to leave the state unless Gov. Quinn gives them some special tax considerations.

Deep Dish Strange

John Apostolou, president of Giordano's (which is currently in bankruptcy proceedings), is accusing the government of committing "bank fraud, securities fraud and tax fraud" in its handling of the pizza chain case. Apostolou was forcibly removed from the chain's headquarters last month.

PBR Buyout Canned

Remember a couple years ago some guys tried to crowdsource the purchase of Pabst Brewing Company? They got slapped with a cease-and-desist order by the SEC, some months after shutting down the attempt. [via]

An Out of the Ordinary Potluck

We dish with Chicago Cooking Chicks in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Ipsento Reopens

Bucktown coffee drinkers, your world is back on its axis: Ipsento reopened this morning after The Man shut them down for six long days.

Get a Taste

The Taste of Chicago isn't for a couple more weeks, but you can get a preview today, as a dozen or so Taste vendors set up in Daley Plaza from 11am to 2pm.

Hot Dog! A Lawsuit

Vienna Beef is suing Red Hot Chicago, a rival that happens to be owned by the grandson of one of Vienna's founders.

Food Truck Tuesdays

If you too are skeptical of the food truck hype, you may want to head to the corner of North and Halsted on tomorrow night Food Truck Tuesdays. At least four trucks will be there every Tuesday in June.

Ipsento Closed Temporarily

Bad news for Bucktown coffee drinkers: Local favorite Ipsento (2035 N. Western) closed suddenly yesterday after an Illinois Department of Revenue official showed up to revoke its business license because of unpaid taxes. Store owners said today they're "working hard" to right the ship and reopen soon.

Here's the explanation they posted on their Facebook page:

Ipsento is temporarily closed. In 2010, we mistakenly overlooked the filing and paying of nine months of sales tax. We have been current with this years sales tax. However, to date, we have been unable to pay the lump some [sic] we fell behind. For this reason, the state revoked our business license yesterday. We are working hard to get the license back...and have been told by our tax expert lawyers that this shouldn't be a problem. We originally thought we could turn this around right away. But that's not how the Department of Revenue works. Our hope is to re-open next Monday afternoon. We'll keep you informed as we find out more. We REALLY appreciate how supportive you all have been!

Food Trucks Remain on Trend

The Tribune surveys the current food truck scene as Ald. Waguespack reintroduced legislation to allow vendors to prepare food on their trucks.

Food Therapy

Chicagoist reports on In Chef's Hands, a new charitable organization providing one-on-one culinary training to people with special needs.

Escoffier on Next

Jeff Ruby channels the ghost of Auguste Escoffier for his review of Next's Escoffier-inspired menu.

Everywhere to Eat, Nowhere to Go

You can find a lot of food trucks roaming around the city, but as this week's Drive-Thru feature shows, they aren't that convenient.

Functional Gourmet Art

Kevin Pang makes a case for Hot Doug's being the quintessential Chicago restaurant.

Yes, Virginia...

"There is a beef jerky chocolate bar."

Free Fieri

Fanfound is giving away free tickets to the Guy Fieri Food Tour this Saturday at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.

The Doughnut Dame

Meet Julie, the lady behind the counter at The Doughnut Vault.

Uncompromising Cocktails

Apparently one of the Bulls went to Aviary after the game last night -- and asked for a vodka and seltzer. The bar denied the request, and the baller left.

Food Travel on the Brain

With travel season approaching, we've got edible reasons for you to get out of town and even the country -- details in Drive-Thru.

Steve Albini Produced This Plate of Pasta

He has a food blog in which he names a female fennel bulb "Latifa" and says things like, "How did people make soup before stick blenders? They are the absolute stone cold nuts."

Most Illinest BYO-Boys

The Reader's Miles Raymer profiles the BYOBandits, two 20-something dudes into drinking heavily and pigging out at BYO restaurants.

One Business Helping Another

Boystown restaurant Ping Pong is closed after a kitchen fire last week. Nearby Scarlet, which was closed by a fire itself in 2009, is holding a fundraiser for Ping Pong's employees tonight; $10 of your $15 drink wristband goes to them.[via]

Mapping Chicago Craft Beer Week

Wondering if your favorite watering hole is included in Chicago Craft Beer Week? There's a map for that.

Save Gas, Drink Local

John Greenfield has some suggestions of bars near the CTA to get buzzed. You might also check out Centerstage's venerable Virtual El guides.

Adonis to Zazerac

Sepia's bartender Logan Lavachek came across her grandmother's "Bar Aid," a cocktail recipe gadget from the '60s. She's working her way through its recipes and updating the ingredients; you can follow along on her blog, or sample her experiments at the bar. [via]

Odd Dish

Dishtip is meant to be a guide to the best food in a city, but some of the results are a little odd. Is the salad bar at Fogo de Chao really the second best dish in Chicago? And since when does Lou Malnatti's serve New York-style pizza? [via]

Cheese That Isn't Yours

Stolen nacho cheese was at the center of a recent scuffle at a West Side 7-Eleven.

Summer Snacking

The weather may make it seem like summer will never come, but this year's Taste of Chicago food vendors have been announced.

A Savory Drink

Following the success of its Key Ingredient series, he Reader has added a new column, "Cocktail Challenge," to its arsenal. Each week a bartender takes on a new ingredient; first up is garlic mustard, a culinarily friendly invasive weed, taken on by Sable's Mike Ryan.

Claw to Claw in NYC

Chicago boasts two contenders in Tasting Table's New York Lobster Roll Rumble later this summer, with seafood stalwart Shaw's Crab House and extremely new GT Fish & Oyster.

Bin Laden's Remains?

Filter had an unusual lunch special earlier this week, spotted by Josh Andrews.

Bin Laden's remains

I suppose it falls along the lines of eating the souls of one's enemies.

What're You Eating?

The top recommendations for Chicago dishes on foodporn site Foodspotting are pretty solid recommendations.

Strike While the Ire is Hot

Logan Square alderman Rey Colon will be at City Hall today to try to shut down the popular farmers market in the neighborhood--over a political feud. Find out more over at Drive-Thru.

Some Red and Black Earns Red Velvet

Wear your Bulls gear and head into Sprinkles Cupcakes on Tuesday, May 3rd for a free cupcake! Fans sporting some swag get a red velvet treat that's sure to inspire some team spirit. The offer is good at the 50 E. Walton St. store from 9am-8pm tomorrow.

Fishy Fun

Why would we write about the long waits for foo-foo drinks at Aviary when there's a Red Lobster in Lincolnwood with immediate seating? Details of an annual pilgrimage are in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Whiskey in Ravenswood

Center Square Journal takes us on a tour of Koval distillery.

Taking a Slice of NYC's Pizza

An odd chapter in Chicago and New York's pizza rivalry: Supposedly you can't get a just a slice of pizza at certain NYC institutions because of Al Capone's strong-arm tactics regarding cheese distribution.[via]

Making Grant Park Even Greener

The south end of Grant Park may get a farmers market this summer run by the same folks as the Ogilvie Station French Market.

Win a Classy Dinner!

Want to attend the Growing Home Gala Benefit tomorrow night? Details in Drive-Thru.

The Phusion Projects Saga

Months after their sickly sweet caffeinated malt beverage landed them in hot water, the makers of Four Loko finally tell their story -- and what they're up to next. [via]

LINKing Farmers Markets

Good news for low-income Illinois residents who use LINK cards — Chicago farmers markets doubled the number of sites where they now accept the card as payment for fresh produce. Especially important in an area hampered by food deserts, this expanding service hopefully will get healthy food into more homes. There are also participating markets around the state. Chicago farmers markets open on May 12, 2011.

More Mug Talk

Bring your own mug to Caribou Coffee tomorrow, and get a free coffee. Use the caffeine rush to walk or bike to work -- it is Earth Day, after all. (And BTW, Caribou's got one of the best, everyday, non-Earth-Day BYO mug discounts around: 50 cents off, all day, every day.)

Influential Achatz

Thomas Keller sings the praises of his protege, Grant Achatz, in this year's Time 100.

Speaking of Mugs...

Pack your travel mug the night before (unless you're just naturally good at remembering such tasks in the morning, pre-caffeine) and bring it by Starbucks on Friday for a free coffee or tea in celebration of Earth Day.

Alinea: 6th Best in the World

Alinea remained the best restaurant in North America, and rose a spot overall in S. Pelligrino's annual World's 50 Best Restaurants list. Last year in ranked 7th.

Mobile Oasis in the Desert

A whole different sort of food truck is getting ready to roll in Englewood. Fresh Moves Mobile Produce Market is converting a CTA bus to bring fresh produce into food deserts.

The Year in Mobile Food

Last week Time Out took a look back at the last 12 months of the food truck movement. Take a survey yourself this Tuesday at the Food Truck Summit.

Whetting Your Appetite

Chicago magazine's Best New Restaurants list is now posted, but you'll have to pick up the magazine to find out why they picked Bistronomic as the best.

Meat for a Better Tomorrow

Apparently there was more to that Crain's ham map than met the eye. Consumers are still buying meat, which means we're on our way out of this recession.

The Girl's Night Out

Time Out announced its 2011 Eat Out Award winners last night, with Girl and the Goat winning best new restaurant and Stephanie Izard landing Chef of the Year. No doubt she'll put that award next to her Best New Chef award from Food & Wine. Next up, the James Beard Awards.

But will the Gardens Grow Wheat?

In a move that clearly establishes that community garden initiatives have gone mainstream, Triscuit will be sponsoring new gardens in Chicago and Los Angeles.

"Who's Buying More Ham?"

Surprisingly, an infographic in Crain's Chicago Business, not The Onion.

School Lunch Controversy

Some CPS schools have banned lunches brought from home in an effort to promote healthier eating. Students and parents are, of course, not all happy about this.

Farming 24/7/365

You can still get fresh produce even if it's cold and dreary outside. We visit the indoors Green City Market in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Cravin' Bacon?

So, Baconfest is sold out, but it's put you in the mood. Steve Dolinsky has some suggestions, but at Paddy Long's you can schedule a bacon and beer tasting, pairing five seasonal beers with five cuts of bacon. Or dare to order the Bacon Bomb. Finish it and a mess of fries in 45 minutes and you'll win a t-shirt and your photo on the wall -- and get it free.

Free Popcorn Tomorrow

Garrett Popcorn is giving away free snack size bags of its CaramelCrisp popcorn tomorrow, April 6, from 11am to 2pm -- and will donate $1 to Japan relief efforts for each bag given away

One Hoodoo Voodoo With Bacon

About a week ago, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy finally wandered into a sandwich shop in Toronto that was oddly familiar, or at least the menu was. It definitely left an impression.

Dining Domain Justice

Dining Chicago's David Lissner finally got ChicagoRestaurant.com back, two years after it mysteriously transferred to a Turkish squatter. [via]

A Month Between Bread

The Trib's food writers are highlighting a sandwich a day for all of April. First up is HotChocolate's cheddar melt. (Not coincidentally, Saveur is all about sandwiches this month, too.)

Eat Your Words

The Center for Book & Paper Arts' 12th annual Edible Books & Tea is this evening from 6pm to 8pm. Get there early -- the books aren't just for show, and you'd be surprised how many people are hungry for literature.

This Time, It's More than "Just Lunch"

The vegan chain Native Foods Café is moving its headquarters to Chicago and opening three new restaurants before the end of the summer.

In Control, Out of the Race

The New York Times ponders the peculiar predicament of Charlie Trotter: still excelling while the culinary world seems to pass him by.

Free Refills at O'Hare

Now after you're forced to dump your water bottle at O'Hare security, you can refill it for free. Not at McDonald's -- at these fancy new water fountains. [via]

Ketchup at Gene & Jude's?

Fame comes at a cost for some of Chicago's cult restaurants, as word spreads internationally.

Paying Donating for Friends

Formerly Chicago-based Menuism has announced Feeding Hunger Chicago. They're donating $1 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository for every like they gain on Facebook between now and April 25.

Anheuser Island

Local brewery Goose Island has agreed to be purchased by Anheuser-Busch for $38.8 million. Despite the ownership change, the brewery will stay in the city, and their brew pubs are not part of the deal.

Cooking up History

Chef Troy Graves has been trying out recipes from an 1896 edition of the Chicago Daily News Cook Book; we ran excerpts from the 1930 edition in Drive-Thru awhile back.

Spring Dining Deal

Today only, you can get the A la Carde restaurant discount pack for half the regular price.

Pizza Map

Serious Eats' Slice pizza blog has created a googlemap of all the Chicagoland pizzerias they (well, Daniel Zemans, mostly) have reviewed.

The Zombies Crawl Again

Pre-registration is open for the Zombie Pub Crawl through Andersonville April 30.

The All-Beef Fame of Chicago Hot Dogs

Speaking of Chicago foods in elsewhere in the country, a Missouri couple smitten by the flavors of Chicago hot dogs decided to open a Chicago-style hot dog restaurant in Holden, Missouri. So, you know, the next time you're in Holden, you're all set.[via]

Calling All High School Kids

Chicago loves student design contests. The latest one will feature a CPS high school student's design on 10,000 reusable bags to be handed out at farmers markets. Here's some info from one of the sponsors.

Procuring Local Delicacies in a Foreign Land

It seems New Yorkers are having a hard time finding ingredients to make a proper Chicago-style hot dog.

3.14 Equals Pie

Pie deals all over the place in honor of Pie Day. Morton's and many others are offering slices of pie for $3.14, and Hoosier Mama is both staying open late and borrowing the Gaztro-Wagon to sell around the city (find'em via twitter).

Also, this Saturday, March 19, Hoosier Mama is teaming up with Drive-Thru to hold its second annual scavenger hunt. Get details here!

...And Their Weather Stinks, Too

Bernardo Hees, CEO of Burger King, said during a recent visit to U of C, "The food is terrible and the women are not very attractive [in England]. Here in Chicago the food is good, and you are known for good-looking women." Not surprisingly, the Brits are pissed.

The Grid: Congress Conducts El at Cal's

Today we release the second feature in GB's short film series The Grid. "Congress Conducts El at Cal's" explores the construction congestion at Congress Parkway through the music and activity at Cal's, a nearby hangout and liquor store.

Put Away Your Winter Coat

...and get ready for the foods of spring. We'll show you how to prepare in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Earwax Re-opening?

According to their Facebook page, yes - under the guidance of former Landmark Grill chef Kurt Guzowski, and with a slightly retooled menu.

Beer Pong Meets High Design

Burr Ridge-based designer Joseph Mollo has created a sleek, Poplar-finished beer pong table now available on Etsy.

Walgreens Beer Taste Test-off

In one corner, A.V. Club Chicago got Goose Island's Greg Hall and Jared Rouben to try out Big Flats lager, Walgreens' new house beer. In the other corner, Time Out put together a taster panel of its own.

Saving a Lot, Gaining a Lot

A new grocery store chain that recently opened in several south side food desert communities gave away a bag of free groceries to residents and the assurance that fresh, affordable food is no longer miles away; we cover the neighborhood response in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Signs of Spring

Scooter's Frozen Custard opens today at 2pm, which chocolate peanut butter as the daily special.

Miracle Berry

After transforming dinner at MOTO, Homaro Cantu's star has steadily risen. Now he believes he has made a stride in his most personal project, the modest task of combating world hunger, and it all comes down to a berry.

Stimulating Drinks

Stimulus Social Club meets again tonight at Public House. Your $10 goes to Multiple Solutions, the junior board of the MS Society -- and gets you complimentary appetizers and a round of drinks.

Pancakes for Dinner

We're a little late to the news, but IHOP is offering a free "short stack" of pancakes to all diners today; now you have dinner plans.

I'm Sorry, Consumer. I'm Afraid I Can't do That.

Meet suburban-based Kraft's "Meal Planning Solution," a kiosk that will be able to recognize your face and give you shopping suggestions based on your shopping history. In the process, it'll also provide recipes, free samples ... and "anonymously" collect data.

More Sugar than a Snickers

The oatmeal McDonald's is promoting as a healthy breakfast option is a bit more complicated than it seems.

Healthier than Our Own

Apparently, Sweden's Statoil gas stations now offer a "Chicago menu" of a (non-Chicago style) hot dog, a Coke and ...baby carrots? [via]

It's Bacon Time

Bacon nuts probably already know, but just in case: Baconfest Chicago tickets go on sale at noon Friday.

Daley's a Lettuce Guy

The Stew published the first post-election interview with Mayor Daley yesterday -- about his interest in food.

Food Truck Food Court

The release party for Heather Shouse's book, Food Trucks: Dispatches and Recipes from the Best Kitchens on Wheels, April 19 will double as the first-ever Food Truck Summit in the parking lot of Goose Island Clybourn.

Drink Early and Often

With a new Mayor-elect in the wings, one ponders if the city can be unified by a crowdsourced alcoholic beverage. Chicagoans, the choice is yours. (h/t Joe)

Healthy Eating

Perhaps not so coincidentally, National Eating Disorder Awareness Week overlaps with Restaurant Week. Dr. Kathrleen Young has some suggestions on how to observe it.

Three Floyds Gets Strict

Beer fans, be warned: Dark Lord Day is for ticket-holders only this year.

United States of X: Daily Special Edition

Not a map, exactly, but The United Plates imagines each state as food. Illinois looks tasty.

Earwax No More

Once shut down temporarily, now permanently: long-time Wicker Park food institution Earwax Cafe will be closing February 28.

Skipping School Lunch

A healthier lunch is only good for kids if they eat it -- and apparently CPS students aren't. More food discussion in Drive-Thru.

Chicago's Youth and the Future of Food

Not every kid is sucked into the McDonald's vortex! We meet up with a local youth-centric food policy group in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Raise a Toast

Chicago is the best beer city in America, according to Esquire.

Not So Stuffed Pizza

Giordano's filed for bankruptcy Thursday, but said it plans to keep its restaurants open.

Don't Tell the Revenuers

Speaking of criminals, Mike Sula talks with some folks making moonshine over at the Reader.

Achatz Redux

Not to be outdone, the New York Times has a profile of Grant Achatz today, too.

Composition: Achatz

Past, present and future blend together in Chris Borelli's profile of Grant Achatz.

The Secret is Out

As of this writing, This American Life's site is just barely reachable, thanks to the nearly one million people who've visited to read Coca-Cola's secret formula since it was mentioned on last weekend's episode. [via]

Haters Gonna Hate...Wild Boar

Award-winning restaurant Longman & Eagle has made lemons into lemonade, printing a negative review from Yelp onto a fancy postcard.

Swine & Wine

Looking for something a bit more exclusive than BaconFest? Perhaps Cochon 555 is up your alley. Eater has some details about the March 20 Chicago celebration of pork and wine.

Cupcakes for a Cause

In this week's Drive-Thru feature, we visit a bakery that churns out sweet treats and even sweeter charity...just in time for your Valentine's Day treat shopping.

A Sweet Encased Treat

You have just a couple more days to get Hot Doug's latest special, a cherry-apple pork sausage (with a touch of cinnamon) topped with Sir William pear mustard and a crumbled Vosges bacon chocolate bar. he encased meat emporium closes Sunday and doesn't reopen until March 2.

To Toddle No More

The last Chicago Toddle House--a former chain of eat-in/take-out restaurants and a precursor to modern fast food eateries--will soon be razed. The location has been closed for eight years, and locals complain that the site is an eyesore.

Awards Season

And not just for films. Time Out's Eat Out Awards are open for voting, and LTH Forum is taking nominations for its latest Great Neighborhood Restaurants awards.

No Music at Taste of Chicago?

Mayor Daley has proposed a way to keep Taste of Chicago free without incurring losses on the festival: do away with the music programming.

Mmm, Bacon

BaconFest has announced its lineup of exhibiting restaurants and chefs. Tickets go on sale soon.

United States of X: Microbrew Edition

GOOD puts better brews on their United States of Good Beer. (Previously: 1, 2) [via]

United States of X: Beer & Football Edition

Two maps relevant to today's big event: The United States of Football and beer consumption in the U.S.

Un-Pack-ing Our Love of the Steelers

In this week's Drive-Thru feature, we plan for what we'll be making this Sunday--the fine, fine foods of Pittsburgh.

United States of X: Beverage Edition

Yep, it's enough of a meme to start doing editions, like google maps a couple years ago. This time, Goose Island reps for Illinois on the United States of Beer, while Green River is ours on the United States of Soft Drinks.

Top Pints

RateBeer.com's list of the best brewers in the world includes some familiar local names: Three Floyds at #1, Goose Island at #10, Half Acre at #75 and Piece at #82.

A New Beverage Horizon

Is it time to crack open a Walgreen's beer?

What a Bunch of Wieners

Sammy's Taste of Chicago, a suburban Milwaukee hot dog stand, has renamed its Chicago style variety the "Packer Dog." Right back at you, buddy.

Start the Day Off Right

That's what 410,000 Chicago Public School students will be able to do now that Chicago Public Schools has agreed to offer free breakfasts in classrooms to students. As a former free-breakfast and -lunch kid, I can't say how surprised I am that this is a new thing.

Grubwithus: Never Dine Alone

Mashable profiles startup Grubwithus, a social-networky site about dining out with new people.

Drink Well Here

Hopleaf, Local Option, Map Room and Sheffield's all made Draft magazine's America's 100 Best Beer Bars list. Nearby, there's also Firkin in Libertyville and Heurot in Muncie are also worth hitting.

Frequent Dining Card

You can now get a subscription to The Local Tourist's popular Chef's Table dining events.

The Non-Musical Fortunes of Chicago Musicians

Pete Wentz has reopened Angels & Kings in the Hard Rock Hotel, while Kanye West's Orland Park Fatburger location has closed.

Doodles For Your Beer

DIY lifestyle mag ReadyMade recently gave props to (already beautiful) Pilsen bar Simone's for their accidental artistic venture: blank beer coasters. Patrons are enjoying the chance to draw their own designs and decorate it with a glass of their favorite bevvy.

Food Trucks with a Conscience

In this week's Drive-Thru feature we meet up with two chefs who want to make an impact in their community through food trucks.

Fresh Brewed

Time Out focuses on coffee culture this week, including a meticulous breakdown of beans, brewing methods and prices at 33 indie shops and chains.

Let this Meat Divide and Unite Us

The NY Times visits the Brat Stop, the Kenosha restaurant that attracts the love of both Bears and Packers fans.

Sheffield's' Ric Hess Dies

Ric Hess, the owner of Lakeview's Sheffield's bar/restaurant, passed away Monday night from a heart attack. He was 48.

In Enemy Territory

If you're a Packers fan, Will's Northwoods Inn may be the only safe place in the city next weekend.

Eat This Before You Die

Not to be outdone, Eater has created The Eater Doomsday Map -- one place to eat in each state "before the Apocalypse."

Illinois is a Deep Dish

Another map boiling the US down to a single trait (previously), only this time by foods.

Cold Outside, Meaty Inside

The season of crock pot roast beef has returned! Details in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Take My Compost, Please!

Erlene Howard's burgeoning green business helps those who can't compost for themselves. For under $11 a week, she'll take northsiders' compostables and put them to good use (not a landfill).

That Name Sounds Familiar

Gulpon is a new deal-a-day site promising "up to 90% off" beverages of all sorts.

Mayor Spice Trader?

Whether you support her bid for mayor of the city or not, you might enjoy Carol Moseley Braun's Ambassador Organics line of teas, coffee and spices.

2010's Food in Review

If you haven't been reading Mike Gebert and Michael Nagrant's ongoing conversation about the year in Chicago's food scene, you've got a lot of great reading to catch up on.

Hot Breakfast at Union Station

McDonald's will be handing out free bowls of their new fruit and oatmeal at Union Station this morning from 7am till 10am.

Yelp It's Not

ShamelessRestaurants.com is a forum for "the inside scoop by restaurant employees" The Chicago section must be read to be believed.

Paint Thinner isn't for BBQ

On Reddit, a neighbor adds details (some very sad) to the suspicious fire at Ole Hardwood yesterday.

Not Drunkest ...Yet

We'll probably prove them wrong tomorrow, but Chicago is only #29 on Daily Beast's list of America's 40 drunkest cities. Then again, #1 is no surprise. (Thanks, Dee!)

With Sprinkles

Just in time for New Year's Eve, here's a recipe for the Rum Emanuel. (There's another recipe from some bar in New York, but it doesn't look as good.)

What We Ate

The Drive-Thru staff shares their favorite food experiences from 2010 in the first annual Eatacular. Share yours in the comments.

Bacon is Killing the Merc

Thanks in part to the popularity of bacon, pork belly trading has all but ceased on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Wall Street Journal reports. [Google News link] Learn more about the history of futures in a new book.

Ring in a Reasonable New Year

Want to do something more special than TV and beer, but can't afford New Year's Eve specials hovering around three digits? Metromix and the Reader have some ideas to get you started.

Share Your Strength, Eat at Alinea

Carol Blymire, author of the Alinea At Home foodblog, is doing a fundraising contest for Share Our Strength -- and the grand prize is dinner for four at Alinea. [via]

Salvation, Low and Slow

In Drive-Thru, Alan Lake shares the story of his annual tradition of serving Christmas dinner, BBQ style, at the Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center on the near West Side.

Greasy Fingers and Good Conversation

Eric May -- artist, proprietor of Roots and Culture and food enthusiast -- has set out to start up a "Mobile Culinary Community Center."

Call it a Drink Special

The Drink Deck has launched an iPhone app, which gets you the same deals as the 52-card deck but costs $10 less. [via]

Get Some Hot Cocoa

Seems like a good day for Mexican hot chocolate.

SF's Best Chicago-Style Pizza

Chicago-style pizza is surprisingly common in San Francisco. Ex-pat David Shamma recently set up a double-blind taste test, pitting three of the city's best up against FedExed pies from Gino's and Malnatti's to see which was the best.

The Public & Personal Taps

Marina City News has an early look inside Public House, opening Jan. 13 at State and Kinzie, where a dozen of the tables will have not just their own beer taps but also liquor taps.

From Humboldt Park to Trump Tower

In this week's Drive-Thru feature, we introduce you to Cob Connection, an organization that teaches urban farming skills to ex-offenders in the most unlikely of places.

Bring It On

@Eligratz put together a list and made a map of all the BYOB restaurants in Chicago (though he'd like to know if he missed any).

Eat on the Street

Chicago's food truck battle hit the Wall Street Journal today.

Tip Jar Bandit Caught

A Chicago man was arrested for stealing tip jars from at least three Starbucks and possibly several other coffee shops in the city and suburbs.

Mado Walk-out #2

Things don't look good at Mado. After its original chefs, Rob and Allie Levitt, left to open a butcher shop, Brandon Baltzley took over. Now Eater reports Baltzley's quit, too, and took the whole kitchen staff. They'll be doing a "pop up dinner" at Delicious on Dec. 17.

City Farms Take Root

Produce industry magazine The Packer reports on the City Produce Project's first harvest.

Jackson the Mushroom Man

Herbert Fickenworth, 12 years old, Chicago, writes: "I am picking and selling mushrooms every day."

A Hundred Ways to Blog an Egg

Chef's hats have 100 pleats to signify the number of ways a chef knows how to cook an egg. One Hundred Eggs shares a few of those ways, along with sumptuous food photography.

NewCity's Number Ones

Cultural weekly NewCity gives us their 2010 top picks in vintage TV shows filmed in Chicago, food trucks, indoor make-out spots, and many more.

You're Brewing it Wrong

Intelligentsia has come out with an iPhone/iPad app that teaches you the proper way to make your coffee. (Thanks, Roderick!)

Chicken Skin is the Next Bacon?

The Stew makes some food trend predictions for 2011. While bacon may be getting a little old, chicken skin seems like an unlikely successor.

How to Make Tea

Ever wonder the best way to make tea? Chicago Tea Garden's Tony Gebely breaks it down for you.

Not Another Teabag

Ineeka is a Chicago-based tea company with a farm in India and a unique "delivery system."

Chicago Survival Pack

BYOB Chicago, Drink Deck and Not For Tourists have teamed up to create the Chicago Survival Guide, a good gift for friends who want a cheap drink with dinner in a neighborhood they're not that familiar with.

What's In Season?

The Local Foods Wheel can help figure it out. [via]

Shaken, Not Stirred

Need a bartender for an upcoming party? You could win the services of one of the city's best.

The Key Ingredient Is...

What would a chef do with an ingredient they've never used before? The Reader intends to find out with its new series, Key Ingredient. First up is, of course, Grant Achatz and kluwak kapas nuts. The online version includes a video by Sky Full of Bacon's Michael Gebert.

Pop Open a Cold One

You have Chicagoans to thank for both canned beer and a way to open them.

Achatz on the Line

Both Eater and Grub Street have early peeks at Grant Achatz' upcoming memoir, Life, On the Line. Meanwhile, GQ offers a glimpse at Achatz' thought process behind Alinea's fall menu

Biodynamic Drinkability

In Drive-Thru, meet Shebnem Ince, a Chicago-born sommelier who specializes in biodynamic and organic wines.

Would You Like Fries with Those Vegan Ribs?

Northwestern is ranked as being the most vegan friendly "small" school in PETA's 2010 ranking of U.S. universities. The U of C made the initial list but was promptly defeated by Northwestern.

An Uncomfortable Thanksgiving Dinner

Chicago's own Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation says that pumpkin pie is the most arousing smell for men.

Oversized Deli Items

E.leaven has created a giant bagel they're calling a "party bagel." Seems like the ideal accompaniment to your Big Hot Dog (previously).

Farming in the City

Eight Forty-Eight paid a visit to the farm at Altgeld Gardens on the far South Side.

Wake Up With Wilco

American aquarium drinkers also now have the option to enjoy Intelligentsia's Wilco blend, selected unanimously by the band.

Your Pun for the Day

Local coffee roaster Crop to Cup is now providing IIT with a custom blend: Mies van der Roast.

Sustain This

Lessons learned at State of the Plate in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Pioneering the Food Truck Movement

The Gaztro-Wagon is out there, plying the streets with its naanwiches and waiting for the City to change laws against food trucks.

For Your Next Celebration

Bon Appetit included Grant Achatz' Next on its list of great celebration restaurants. Only problem being, of course, Next isn't open yet. They've since removed it from the list, but The Stew has a screenshot. [via]

L2Over and Out

Laurent Gras left L2O for "a break" just three weeks before the restaurant received three stars from Michelin. Yesterday news broke that the departure is permanent, and Eater Chicago got an exclusive interview.

Alas, Four Loko, We Knew Ye Well

The makers of Four Loko are caving to pressure and reformulating the drink to eliminate the caffeine and energy drink ingredients. Meanwhile, bars everywhere continue selling vodka and Red Bulls and Jack and Cokes.

Starbucks BOGOs Your Afternoon

Tomorrow, Nov. 18, through Nov. 21, Startbucks will help you get through the afternoon with a buy-one-get-one-free deal on its holiday coffee drinks between 2 and 5pm.

Queens Crushing Plantains

Tostones are easy to make, but making them with drag queens is more fun.

I'll Have a Suicide, Please

Remember mixing all the soda flavors at the fountain when you were a kid? Coke's experimental "Freestyle" soda dispensers bring back the fun (and danger) of that experimentation, and are now at a couple restaurants around town.

Michelin Stars are Out

The Michelin Guide announced its list of restaurants receiving stars a day earlier than planned after it leaked on Yelp.

"I don't know whether to drink it or snort it."

A powdered gin and tonic was among the experimental drinks Grant Achatz and team demoed at a private event in LA Friday. You'll have to wait for The Aviary to open to try snorting it yourself.

Newsweek Shows Chicago Food Some Love

In light of the Michelin guide's arrival in Chicago, the current issue of Newsweek is waxing poetic about some of Chicago's not-so-fancy (but still very loveable) foods.

A Survey of Chicago's Pizza Scene

Slice finally got around to Illinois (aka Chicago) on its tour of the United States of Pizza, courtesy of Daniel Zemans.

Take a Restaurant Flight

Flight Chicago is different from the usual restaurant deal: buy a flight and you get a three hour tour behind the scenes at three top restaurants, including Q&As with the chefs.

Canned Awards

Eater Chicago announced the winners of its first annual awards.

Decorate the Kitchen Sink

Edgewater coffee shop, Kitchen Sink, is looking for local artists to display their work at the business in 2011. The cafe is located near the Berwyn Red Line stop. Details.

Toast of the New Town Guide

Speaking of free, Drive-Thru is co-hosting a pre-release cocktail party for the Michelin Guide Chicago at Violet Hour next week. Space is limited, so sign up today! UPDATE: Sold out!

L20, Minus the L

Laurent Gras has left his post at L20. Whether it's for now or for forever remains to be seen.

52-Card Eat Out

A la Card has announced its 2011 restaurant discount deck, and for a limited time you can get 20% off your pre-order and get the 2010 deck to use as fast as possible. This year's deck is discounted to $15, too. (Thanks, Caffrin!)

A Home-Roasted Enterprise

We look at a group of DIY coffee roasters with big plans in this week's Drive-Thru Feature.

"Unknown" may be a Misnomer

Chances are you've been to at least one or two of Time Out's 50 unknown bars, or at least have heard of them.

Raiding the Spice Cabinet

Alinea was busted in 2006 for having a supply of the needlessly illegal tonka bean.

Verdict: Delicious

Lawyers like burgers. Some lawyers like them enough to pass judgment over them.

Lose-Win

Rob and Allie Levitt have left Mado. But by the end of the month, they'll be opening a butcher shop in Noble Square that will feature custom-cut meats from animals raised on small Midwestern farms and handmade charcuterie. (For those jonesing for the Levitts' cooking, there'll also be a small lunch menu.)

Hair o' the Dog

Local illustrator Mitch O'Connell designed this awesome tiki mug for the day after.

Beware of the Sweet Drinks Stalking School Halls

Because they're still widely available, says a UIC researcher.

Next Iron Chef Will not be Local

Vermillion's Maneet Chauhan was cut on this week's "Next Iron Chef," but you can still try her show-inspired lunch boxes for $24. Chef Ming Tsai, who won while Chauhan lost, is at The Chopping Block tonight for a book signing and cooking demo.

Kindly Check All Cutlasses, Rayguns, and Glow in the Dark Vampire Fangs with the Attendant

Halloween in Chicago: A completely reasonable sign on the door of a northwest side liquor store.

Cuisine Fit for the President

Obama Foodorama has the details regarding President Obama's weekend dinner at Topolobombo and take-out breakfast at Valois.

Gettin' Cheesy With It

We head to Wisconsin for a trip full of dairy goodness in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Pizza and Cake? Yep, That'll Fly in Chicago.

The owners of Bleeding Heart Bakery are teaming up with The Fifty/50 crew to create side-by-side pizzeria and bakery collaboration in Wicker Park.

Chicago's First Legal Whiskey in 90 Years

Koval Distillery is releasing Lion's Pride Whiskey, the first whiskey made in Chicago since Prohibition, this weekend. The Reader's Mike Sula got an early taste.

Tina Orders the Chicken

Thinking about dinner at the Athenian Room tonight? Forget it. Ever since Tina Fey endorsed it in a "30 Rock" web video, it's been packed.

A Little Cart of Home in Vegas

Of course Vegas proudly promotes "Chicago Style Polish" dogs.

Four Loko is too Many for College Kids

Chicago-based Phusion Projects is under fire as its Four Loko alcoholic energy drinks are implicated in underage drinking cases at colleges around the country. More details in Drive-Thru.

New Brews in the Pipeline

The seasoned local craft brewers behind Pipeworks Brewing Company have taken to Kickstarter in search of the funds to build their brewing facility in Garfield Park. If you're feeling particularly flush, they've got some very creative rewards for the big spenders, including a trip to Belgium and a chance to create a beer with them.

Food Police

A 10-year-old boy in Buffalo Grove called 911 last week to complain that he hated the food his parents served him for dinner.

Son of a Son of a Tourist

Margaritaville is coming to Navy Pier.

Room Service: Eating Locally in the City's Hotels

The Mag Mile Marriott and the Elysian Hotel get name-checked in a New York Times article about hotels committed to über-local food sourcing.

Goats and Zebras and Dragons, Oh My

Grub Street Chicago points us to a cool restaurant map by Vidhya Nagarajan.

"Where did you steal this cart from?"

A multimedia artist takes a summer job as a paletero in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Pairing with Pinot

Devon Seafood has a special dining deal for GB readers; learn more in Drive-Thru.

The Future of Food

Time Out covers coming trends in food and drink in this week's feature package, which naturally includes an interview with chef Grant Achatz. David Tamarkin posted a longer version of the interview online.

Take One Down

Chicago magazine hosts 40 Bottles of Beer tonight at the Village Tap in Roscoe Village.

Nom Nom Nom

Soup's on at the Lincoln Park Zoo! What are your favorite ruminants, amphibians, and primates noshing on and how much does it cost per animal each year? Yum, krill!

Turkey Tom vs. Tom Turkey

Jimmy John's is suing Halsted Street Deli over trademarked sandwich names. (Watch out, Mr. Pickle's, you're next)

Fighting for Space in the Kitchen

The Reader takes a look at the zoning battle facing the Logan Square Kitchen.

Sudo Make Me a Sandwich

Ever wish someone would just make you something to eat? Or maybe you'd really like to cook for someone. CookItFor.Us, a new site, er, cooked up at a hackathon last week, can help party A find party B.

Where's Our 24-Hour Coffee Shop?

The Kitty Journal expresses frustration at how tough it is to find a late night cup of coffee in this town. (Presumably the author doesn't want to hang out in a diner.) [via]

Getting Your Drink On

MyDrinkOn brings the crowd-couponing concept to booze, starting with Chicago.

Carrying Bacon into the Next Decade

Baconfest 2011 has been announced.

Well, Duh: It's Really Good Pie!

Hoosier Mama Pie Company just made Bon Appetit's list of the country's Top 10 Best Places for Pie. Achatz Handmade Pie Company, from Armada, Michigan, also gets a shoutout -- as much for the pie as for being related to Grant Achatz and served at Alinea.

Eating at the Poverty Line

Could you eat on $4.50 a day, as people on the SNAP program do? Chicagoist's Betsy Mikel tried it for a week.

Sake It Up

Today is International Sake Day! We've got some places for you to sip sake, hot or cold, in Drive-Thru.

Meat & Gwiv

LTHForum's Gary Wiviott will be on the Food Network's new show "Meat & Potatoes" tonight, showing host Rahm Fama the wonders of Sun Wah BBQ.

Dining at Deep Discount

Arlington Heights-based Restaurant.com tried their hands today at the group discount game today, offering 90% off restaurant gift certificates. It's proved so popular that it's crushing their servers -- so they're extending the deal through Friday to make up for it.

Eating is a Sport

Game Time Dine brings together sports and food.

A Really Early Preview

Gene's Sausage Shop's rooftop deck and beer garden won't open until next spring, but a few lucky folks got a sneak peek last weekend.

Bacon Blog

And other food, too: the 2nd place winners for Judges' Choice in the Chicago Bacon Takedown have a blog, The Green Chalkboard, where they explore porky and non-porky (or even meaty) delights.

River North's Taste of the Season

Octoberfeast returns to River North next week: spend Oct. 5 wandering from restaurant to gallery to bar, capping off with a party at the Hard Rock, all for $65.

Eating Across the Region

After that somewhat underwhelming visit from the New York Times, it's nice to see someone who really dove into Chicago's (and Wisconsin's) food scene.

Cheers to These Guys

Chicago-based glassware company By the Glass has been getting some attention lately for their tasteful lines of drinking glasses inspired by several cities around the world. Maybe I'm biased, but I like the Chicago line.

Binge on Pasta, Then Exercise, Then Beer

The Chicago Marathon's right around the corner. Put your feedbag over your race number for Frasca's half-price-pasta Carb Cram on marathon eve, then trade your Bibs for Beers at Dunlay's on Clark post-race.

A Decade of Media Justice

Billed as a "gala celebration & tasting for friends, fans and foodists" the Chicago media-arts nonprofit, Beyondmedia, is celebrating 10 years of media justice, 10 top Chicago chefs and 10 honor awardees. Regrettably, another Chicago event dominates the 10-10-10 slot, so they bumped theirs to October 14th. Check Slowdown or the event site for tickets and details.

You Scream Saturday

It's free ice cream day tomorrow at Capannari's in the French Market.

Big Beer in a Craft Bottle

If you notice some new craft beers at the bar this weekend, keep in mind that they may not be as microbrewed as they seem.

Warning!

Kevin Pang, a reporter at the Trib, spotted a sign of culture clash at Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill in Hong Kong.

This Logo is Bananas

Allan Nacapuy, a Harrington College of Design student, is a finalist for a nationwide contest to create a redesign of the Chiquita Banana logo; his artwork will appear on selected bananas from November to January.

Liquid Uppers & Downers

Two new drinks are vying for space on shelves: Greater Than, a new coconut water-based energy drink, and Sleepyhead, an elixir to help you sleep.

Goose Island's Takes Home the Bling Again

Yet another good year for Goose Island. The brewery's 312 urban wheat ale won a gold medal in this year's Great American Beer Festival in the category of English-style Summer Ale. Goose Island's Bourbon County Brand Stout also won the bronze in the Wood- and Barrell- Aged Strong Stout category. Full results here.

Hot Dogs: Now With T-Shirts

Devotees of Hot Doug's encased meat emporium have been rejoicing all over the city today, but not about food; Hot Doug's has released a new line of t-shirts, and they are actually awesome.

Making Over McDonald's

How might the McDonald's of the future look? Much more stylish. [via]

Start Saving Your Pennies: Izard Hosts Beard

Chicago's It Girl Stephanie Izard will host a Friends of the James Beard Foundation dinner at Girl & The Goat. If that's not enough capital letters for you, check out the lineup of guest chefs, breweries and producers she'll be featuring at the November 2 dinner.

Bird-Brained Beer

The latest craft brewery in Chicago, Finch's Beer, is still looking for a name for their flagship brew. Make the winning suggestion and you could win free beer for life.

Heading to the Hall of Fame

Chef Art Smith -- of Table Fifty-Two, Oprah, and Top Chef Masters fame -- is being inducted into the Chefs Hall of Fame by the Chicago Culinary Museum. And Mayor Daley has proclaimed September 30, the same day as the induction ceremony, to be "Chef Art Smith Day In Chicago." Oh, and in other news, there's also a Chicago Culinary Museum.

More Traveling Bar Food

The Tamale Guy is no longer the only game in town for late-night bar snacks sold out of a cooler: Time Out Chicago introduces the Burger Guy. Wonder when he'll have his own tribute t-shirt, too.

Rocking Oktoberfest

Metromix runs the numbers on the various Oktoberfest celebrations around town.

Starbucks Innovations in Chicago

Starbucks is testing two new ideas at Chicago locations: an email based order and payment system and a separate drip coffee order line.

Beer for a Reason -- or No Reason

Beer lovers, here's your calendar: On Sept. 24, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation throws its Festiv-Ale, a beer-soaked fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research. And on Oct. 9, the beer podcast HopCast is organizing a bike crawl to 10 breweries and brewpubs. Then on Oct. 22, Alphabeer returns with 26 new selections to sample.

No One's Immune to Groupon Fever

Not to be outdone by Groupon, YouSwoop, SocialBuy, and all the others, Open Table has launched its own discount coupon site.

Hot Dog Imperialism

The Detroit News sees Leo's Coney Island as a victory for the Detroit-style hot dog. But if Yelp ratings are any indication, the Chicago style in Detroit is more of a success than Leo's.

The Local Options

I occasionally find myself putting together a gift basket of Chicago-based foods. I'm definitely not alone.

Help the World Come Out to Roscoe's

Roscoe's Tavern is in the running for TripOutGayTravel's five best gay bars in the world list. Vote for it here.

Positive Changes

We look at some new developments in the ever-complex "food desert" problem in the city in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Escargot and Goat Balls: Not a Sex Act

Probably the best review of The Girl and the Goat you'll ever read.

How Jelly Bellies Get Made

Chicagoist has a two part tour of the Jelly Belly factory in North Chicago. While that factory isn't open to visitors, the one in Pleasant Prairie, WI is.

Everybody Loves Waffles

The Waffleizer blog, written by former GB contributor Daniel Shumski, came to an end last week with a post about the one thing he promised never to make with his waffle iron: the thing it was intended for.

Major Federal Smuggling Case Run Out of Chicago

What was smuggled? Honey.

Roger Ebert Writes About Cooking Too

Roger Ebert's cookbook is set to come out later this month. Here's a story in The New York Times on it.

Eat Your Way to More Food

If you eat at five of these restaurants, you could earn yourself a free ticket to Chicago Gourmet.

Chicago's Food Trucks Already Compete

Chicago's nascent food trucks are in the running to be on the next season of Food Network's "Great Food Truck Race." Vote for Chicago's Fired Up, Flirty Cupcakes, Gaztro-Wagon and Happy Bodega by selecting Chicago on the map, because we can't link to specific trucks.

Read a Restaurant Opening

Mark and Liz Mendez, until recently chef and wine director at Carnivale, are planning a new restaurant and blogging about the process on WindyCitizen.

Eat Your Food, Even If You Hate It

Chicago magazine's food critic spent the afternoon with Nutraloaf, food for misbehaving inmates, a.k.a. "a thick orange lump of spite with the density and taste of a dumbbell."

Voting for Chicago Veggies

Tomorrow is the last day to vote in the VegNews 2010 Veggie Awards and give props to competing locals, including the Chicago Soy Dairy, The Chicago Diner, Karyn's on Green, Loving Hut and Karyn Calabrese. Oh, and you might win some prizes too.

Another Food Truck Readies

Simple Sandwiches is getting ready to roll. Keep an eye on them via Twitter.

Unless Time Is Money

Bon Appetit just crowned Chicago the nation's top spot for inexpensive eats. With Xoco, Big Star and Urban Belly -- and their infamous waits -- on the list, you should have plenty of time to scrounge up loose change. Takashi, Gene's Sausage Shop, Danny's, Franks 'n' Dawgs, Edzo's Burger Shop, and Floriole Cafe & Bakery also made the cut. Popularity, local/organic/seasonal ingredient sourcing, and general deliciousness notwithstanding, can we accurately call a $3 oatmeal cookie, a $13 bowl of ramen, or a $12 bowl of soup "cheap"? Discuss.

St. Jerome's Had 80 Little Lambs...

We head down to Bridgeport to celebrate a Croatian holiday and eat some delicious lamb in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Average Appetites

Chicagoans spent just a little above the national average on food in 2009, according to research by Cornell University. Enjoy lunch!

Bikes and Bars

This Sunday, occasional GB contributor John Greenfield will be signing copies of his book, Bars Across America: Drinking and Biking from Coast to Coast, at Lush Wine and Spirits, 1257 S. Halsted St. -- conveniently close to the Boulevard Bike Tour start/finish line. And if you stop into the new Rapid Transit Cycle Shop at 1305 S. Halsted, you can get a free Rapid Transit pint glass, which Lush will fill with free Half Acre beer at the reading.

Evanston Lunchin'

Visit a small block of mammoth edible potential in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

TEDxWindyCityxFood

If you missed TEDxWindyCity back in February, you've got an opportunity to see a food-related mini version in October. Tickets are on sale now, and expected to sell out today.

Mooooo

The Butter Cow, now on display at the Illinois State Fair.

Stay Away from the Egg Salad

The eggs might have been OK, but you gotta worry about the salmonella-tainted pickles.

That Was Quick

Looks like Half Acre is getting a new brew master, and St. Louis a new brewery. [via]

Chicago's Potbelly Expands

Did you know that Potbelly Sandwiches had never signed a franchise deal until this week? Apparently the Lincoln Park store has held out for more than a decade, despite expanding into 40 cities and receiving some 6,000 hopeful franchise inquiries.

Nasty Meat Treat

The "meat-man parfait" is basically a giant plastic cup layered with scoops of barbecued pork or brisket, mashed potatoes and barbecue sauce. Ingest it for $7 at the Illinois State Fair -- I have a feeling there won't be much left once PETA finds out.

Crowdsourcing a Table for 12

Grubwithus puts a social spin on dining deals: members buy seats at a group table, meaning you get to meet some new friends while you eat on the cheap. (Thanks, Lakshmi!)

Cinnamon Caramel Donuts in the Loop?

Yes, oh, yesssss. We visit a delicious downtown Amish bakery store in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Chi-town Shucking

What do you get when you combine 60,000 people, a carnival and 50 tons of sweet corn? The 2010 Mendota Sweet Corn Festival, of course! The weekend event begins tomorrow, and don't forget the free Del Monte sweet corn on Sunday afternoon.

Grab a Beer

Wondering what's on the beer list at the bar you're heading to? Here you go.

See Your Food

We take you through a Guerrilla Dinner from snout to tail in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

1,000 Shares of Wheat

The Reader profiles Sarah Kavage, creator of Industrial Harvest, an "experiment to discover how an abstract 'wheat futures' contract connects to real wheat, real food and real people."

Pork's Swine Song?

Kevin Pang asked a dozen chefs what food is overrated, and five said pork. Is this the beginning of the end? (Two said hamburgers.) [via]

Goodbye, Edna's

A month after its namesake passed away, Edna's has closed.

Home CSA Distro Points Nearly Killed

A misunderstanding with a city inspector nearly led to all home-based CSA drop-off points becoming illegal.

Green Drinking

We head north to Wisconsin to visit an environmentally conscious brewery in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

I Scream, You Scream

We all scream for the 2nd Annual Chicago Luxury Ice Cream Festival! That's right, there will be a glorious festival tomorrow and Saturday night where micro-creameries and local chocolatiers practically hose people down with hot fudge and caramel. Get tickets and details here.

More Cupcakes

In Drive-Thru, we've got details about the third cupcake truck about to hit the streets, from More.

Drinking and Flying

No need to hit a 4am bar before your red-eye flight soon: Bars at O'Hare and Midway may never close if a change to Chicago's liquor granting airports exemptions passes the full City Council.

Still Wondering About That Hot Dog?

In other food news, ESPN tracked down health department reports about food service providers for major stadiums around the country. At first, the Chicago stadiums look pretty clean, but then an important distinction emerges: Unlike most locales, Chicago health inspections were conducted when the food vendors were closed.

Hollywood Bowles

In the wake of his tiff with Chicago magazine, Eater has an interview with Chef Graham Elliot Bowles about "MasterChef" and his personal life.

The Arrival of the Korean Taco

Local Korean-Mexican hybrids Taco Chino and Del Seoul got some attention from the NY Times in its recent write-up of the Korean taco trend.

Tap Into Your Temper

Hot Temper Hot Sauce is a locally mad, limited edition hot sauce with unique custom labels. They'll have a booth at Wicker Park Fest this coming weekend.

Bake Your Own Hot Dog Buns

Never have the wrong number of buns for your Chicago-style hot dog again! (Or, at least, it'll be your fault.)

An Apple a Day Requires a Permit

Want to know why Chicago has very few fruit-bearing trees on public property?

What's On a Chicago Style Hot Dog

Ever wonder where they neon green relish came from? Did you know that yellow mustard started here? Dining Chicago has your answers.

Randy Wells Can Make Dip?

After six months of preparation, a cookbook will be released on Friday authored by none other than the Chicago Cubs. Chicago Cubs Cookbook features collected recipes and stories from players and coaches, and all proceeds will go to pitcher Ryan Dempster's foundation, dedicated to helping those with the rare DiGeorge syndrome.

Riding the Bacon Wave 'til it Dies

Thought BaconFest was a one-off deal? No sir. The meat candy fest is already looking to 2011.

Would You Like a Mustache With That Coffee?

This morning, Cafe Mustache opened its Logan Square doors with an impressive lineup: Bleeding Heart pastries, Bridgeport Company coffee, Nice Cream ice cream and free Wi-Fi. Check it out at TimeOut Chicago.

Yet Another Pitchfork Guide

Adding to the long list of Pitchfork guides is this one, from the New York Times' T Magazine, geared more towards out-of-towners looking for places to eat and shop.

Bring Home the Homemade Bacon

I hope you have some pink salt on hand for this week's Drive-Thru feature.

The Stars Our Destination

Following the announcement that Chicago will get a Michelin Guide later this year, Esquire's John Mariani handicapped which restaurants would get coveted two- and three-star ratings.

Higher and Higher

The Signature Room in the Hancock has unexpected competition for the city's highest restaurant and bar -- from the Hancock Observatory, one floor below.

And That's How the Michelin Man Got so Roly-Poly

Chicago will be the third U.S. city to become the subject of a Michelin Guide. Last November, the New Yorker went undercover with one of Michelin's (in)famously anonymous inspectors.

Lighter Fare from Burger Meisters

A couple of McDonald's alums are working on a new, healthier fast-casual chain.

Chocolate is the Curriculum

We visit the French Pastry School in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Using Flames to do Something Other than Bake Pizza

It's official: The recipe for starting a lengthy online discussion is to malign or celebrate various Chicago pizzerias.

Fresh Veggies, Fresh Money

Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks, a local produce delivery service, just won more than $80,000 from a highly competitive national USDA grant program that funds innovative small businesses. Irv & Shelly's delivers boxes of fruits, veggies and locally made foods to customers' doors -- owners will use the cash to improve the company's distribution network of farmers and CSAs.

Taste of the Art Institute

The Art Institute reminds us that it's air conditioned, has food and displays scary pictures of food that may remind you to take it easy at the Taste.

Looking for a Good Scallion Cigar?

We've got recipes for your upcoming picnics and eat-offs in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Home Grown Hot Sauce

The very tasty Co-Op Hot Sauce is made with hot peppers and other ingredients grown on the West Side, and the proceeds benefit youth arts education.

Tasty Tees

Threadcakes, the competition to make the best cake version of a Threadless t-shirt design, is open and ready for your votes.

A Loaf for All Seasons

Leah A. Zeldes of Dining Chicago argues that meatloaf really is a summer food, and passes off a simple, delicious-sounding recipe from Chef Alfredo Anaya does at Dine in the West Loop. [via]

Candy, Gum, Chocolate, Coffee, Biscuits and Powdered Drinks

Suburban culinary megacompany Kraft Foods, Inc. is embarking on product and advertising realignment following its recent acquisition of Cadbury. The process provides some interesting insight into how multinational consumer product companies strategize global growth -- namely by selling sugary stuff to developing countries.

Goose-20? G-312?

Obama toasted with a Goose Island 312 in a photo op with British Prime Minister David Cameron at the G-20 summit.

Growing with Greenbacks

Some area residents are putting their money where there mouth is and investing in local organic farms in order to help sustain their own pantries.

Beware the Pizza Mafia

It seems that people didn't care much for Jeff Ruby's list of his 25 favorite Chicago pizzas.

This Champ Doesn't Win a Cup, He Pours One

Mike Phillips won the 2010 World Barista Championship in London on Friday. Sounds like the Stanley Cup should pay a visit to Intelligentsia.

Hot Diggity Dog

We visit a Chicago institution of encased meats in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Chicago Magazine Hearts Eating in Logan Square

And they want you to love it too.

Food Fights! At Noon Today

Join me and writers from the Trib, Time Out Chicago, Sky Full of Bacon and other bosses of the trade for today's Lunchbox liveblog chat at noon on Vocalo--we'll be talking about food truck legislation, the noshes that will be available at Lollapalooza and Taste of Chicago, and whatever else tickles our fancy.

Get Your Hot Dog from a Hood

Chicago Storytelling has a story about Felony Franks, the new hot dog stand on Western Avenue that employs ex-convicts to dish out its "misdemeanor wieners" through bullet-proof glass. Owner Jim Andrews is fighting the alderman to let his stand serve time.

Food Porn for Your Morn

Behind the scenes at Kith and Kin, and a recent grand tour at Alinea.

Tasting Chicago on Your iPhone

Before you head to the Taste of Chicago this year, you may want to download its pretty darned good official app [opens in iTunes].

Big Star Tacos, Metal Burgers at Lolla

Wondering what you'll eat at Lollapalooza? Big Star, Kuma's, Rockit and Hoosier Mama are among the options.

No Winners Here

Lincoln Park's Wiener's Circle, described as "a microcosm of segregation in Chicago" and ranked 56th in journalist Catherine Price's highly subjective (nothing's unpleasant in France, really?) but admittedly entertaining 101 Places Not to See Before You Die. At least it beat out New Jersey's Grover Cleveland Service Area?

Feed Your Eyes

Chicago certainly is home to The Food of the Gods.

Snow in June

If you've tried everything your local ice cream truck has to offer, you can move on to more exotic frozen fare--like xue hua bing, shaved ice from Taiwan now available at Cloud 9.

The Sweet Taste of Corruption

Phil Vettel considers other Chicago politics themed frozen treats, inspired by Bobtail Ice Cream's Blago's Blues flavor.

Back to Work, in the Kitchen

Inspiration Corporation's Cafe Too is a place where the homeless and unemployed learn a valuable trade while they start a new chapter in their lives. We take a closer look at the program in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

I've Got a Sandwich & It's Effin' Golden

The cafeteria in the Dirksen Federal Building offered a special today: "The Innocent, aka Blago." Too bad we already had lunch.

Golden Beer in Red, Black & White Labels

Remember how Goose Island wanted help naming their latest beer? The winner is... Hefe-Hawks-Win. Try it for yourself at the RedEye/Metromix Tweet-up tomorrow.

Soul Food Restaurateur Edna Stewart Passes Away

Edna Stewart, owner of the legendary Edna's Restaurant on the West Side, passed away on Friday. For background about Stewart, her restaurant and her role in the civil rights movement, check out this interview from the Southern Foodways Alliance Oral History Project.

No Shiitake?

Let's get into mushrooms, courtesy of this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Fine Dining

Grub Street Chicago's put together a list of Chicago's most expensive dishes. At the top of their list - TRU's Caviar Staircase, a tasting course of sturgeon caviars that costs a cool $280.

Your Own State Dinner

Rick Bayless will soon be offering the menu from his recent state dinner at the White House at Topolobompo; check out photos of the courses here. Start calling for reservations.

Still No Food Trucks

The City's much-awaited food truck ordinance is delayed yet again, but don't despair, 32nd Ward alderman Scott Waguespack says it's "the right plan." We think the right plan would have us buying tacos from a food truck right now.

Candy Coming Soon

The AV Club has a round-up of notable candy and snack food from the 2010 Sweets & Snacks Expo (formerly the All Candy Expo), which happened in May at McCormick Place.

The Whole Wine World

Bottlenotes is back with its Around the World in 80 Sips wine tasting event at the MCA this Friday, June 11. And they've got a deal for GB readers: Use the code GAPERSBLOCK and get $10 off tickets!

Eat Like Achatz

Gridskipper's Star Map this month is Grant Achatz's tour of his favorite Chicago eateries. He lauds The Bristol and The Drawing Room as some of his go-to restaurants.

Clearly, it's Candy Time

In honor of National Candy Month, ABC News picked Sarah's Pastries and Candies as one of the top candy stores in the country.

Rogers Park Gets a Farmers Market

Rogers Park's Glenwood Sunday Farmers Market debuts today, featuring all certified organic or transitioning vendors.

Mmm, Donuts...

Oh hey, it's National Do(ugh)nut Day. You know what that means? Free ones at Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme.

Kids Growing Strong

Learn more about an organic farming initiative that gets high school students away from the TV and into the fields in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Mmm, Barbecue Party

Wicker Park's Smoke Daddy wants you to name its new smoker, offering a free BBQ party for 20 people to whomever creates the winning moniker. Head to the restaurant, write down your favorite names, and you'll be entered to win, but make sure you pick a name to match its power -- the 5,000 lb. beast can smoke 432 ribs at once. The contest is open June 14 through the 30th, and BBQ lovers can suggest up to three names.

Pier-ing into the Food Abyss

We learn that you can get a decent meal at Navy Pier in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Burnt Popcorn, Tuna & Bananas

Food smells are a regular annoyance in office kitchens -- and everyone has their personal stinky pet peeves.

Hipsters to Run Hipster Beer Co.

The Wall Street Journal reports that investor C. Dean Metropoulos has purchased Woodridge-based Pabst, makers of PBR, Schlitz, Old Style and plenty other "old man" beers. His sons, Evan (29) and Daren (26) are expected to have a role. Here's a bit of background on the Metropoulos boys.

Bacon Mania Rolls On

If BaconFest didn't cure you of your bacon fetish, maybe this special deal will help.

Who You Callin' Cupcake?

Your home can taste a lot more like 1955 W. Belmont, thanks to the release of Bleeding Heart Bakery's first cupcake cookbook. Try your hand ahead of time with the recipe for Infamous Spinach and Apple Cupcakes shared with No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner.

Create Your Own "Suicide"

Futuristic vending machines have been getting a lot of attention lately, and events at the (other) NRA show didn't buck the trend. One vending machine from the show will hit Chicago this summer with the ability to mix Coke with Fanta, lemonade or about a dozen other flavors to your specification.

Name That Wheat Beer

Goose Island wants your help naming its latest brew, a hefeweizen. Bragging rights aren't all you'll win if they pick yours.

Food Trucks Soon?

On June 9, Ald. Scott Waguespack plans to introduce an ordinance allowing food trucks of the sort that roam LA and New York. He made the announcement at a National Restaurant Association panel discussing food truck culture.

It's a Margarita Summer

We're exploring Chicago's wealth of margaritas in Drive-Thru this summer. Suggestions welcome.

AHHHHHH! GETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFF!!!

An Amityville Horror-like gathering of bees amassed under a wicker table in Oak Park today in an obvious attempt to induce the heebie jeebies. [via]

Food Club

The first rule of underground dining is not to call it underground dining.

The Clown Stays in the Picture

Ronald McDonald is staying.

To Eat Quickly or To Eat Pretty Quickly

In other food news, Grant Achatz weighs in on the tensions between photographing and eating food as it's presented at the table.

Allergic to Bayless

Gizmodo.com writer Mark Wilson explains why a single Twitter update from Rick Bayless resulted in him canceling a reservation at Topolobampo.

Are You Ready for Herb Green Ceviche of Hawaiian Opah?

Perhaps you've reached Bayless saturation by now, but the official White House dinner press release is actually a pretty interesting read.

Wheeling Most of the Farm to You

Archeworks' most recent unveiling is the Mobile Food Collective "Urban Farm Tool," a hub for the creation and support of urban community farming.

Drink Up

Looking for some foamy action? Chicago Beer Week kicks off today and runs through the weekend.

Banana Power

Pilsen's Atom Banana is one of the country's largest wholesalers of bananas. In Drive-Thru, Cinnamon writes about appealing ways to use them.

Un-Cook This

Raw food gets back onto the plate again in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Heinz Changes Its Ketchup Recipe

Chicago's least favorite condiment is getting a makeover. Heinz is reportedly changing their ketchup recipe. The move comes as part of the company's efforts to be more health-conscious. Don't worry, though; your Chicago Dog's recipe remains unaltered.

Become an Iron Chef

Our own Cinnamon Cooper's new cookbook, Everything Cast Iron, isn't in stores until June 18, but it starts shipping from Amazon on Monday.

Bye Bye Betty

Former Cicero town president Betty Loren-Maltese has left her job as a hostess at Salerno's in Oak Park. Maybe she's looking to get in on the food truck trend?

Pre-Washed Produce

The Daley Plaza Farmers Market opens today, rain or shine.

Eat Your Way Through Chinatown

Kevin Pang has created a "Chinese Guy's Guide to Eating in Chinatown." It's in tomorrow's print Trib, but you can preview it on Facebook. (Compare and contrast with Time Out Chicago's guide from two weeks ago.)

Cooking for the President of Mexico

Rick Bayless, the chef behind Topolobampo and the new Xoco, will prepare the Obama administration's second state dinner in honor of Mexican president Felipe Calderón.

Julie & Julia & You

This Friday (the 14th) at 10am, within the Chopping Block, aspiring French chefs can receive a first hand introduction into the greatest of all culinary arts. The class will focus on some independent cook book titled "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" from an unknown author by the name of Julia Child. Registration for "Mastering the Art of Julia Child" is $85 and spots are filling up.

Foursquare Meals

Foursquare has made an unlikely alliance with Crain's Chicago Business to deliver restaurant recommendations for your next business lunch, based on your location.

Foie Gras Faux Pas, Revisited

Join Northwestern PhD student Michaela DeSoucey and the Culinary Historians of Chicago tomorrow at 10am at Kendall College to discuss her dissertation comparing the foie gras debates in the States versus France.

Chew to the Music

We look at how restaurants create their playlists for your enjoyment in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

But No Bars!

Booze: coming soon to a beach near you?

Just in Time for Lunch: Chicago's Biggest Chimichanga

From the "Unnecessarily Large Food Department" comes the 3.5 pound chimichanga at Dos Diablos in River North. In case you had $25 and an didn't know where to go for your Day-After-Cinco-de-Mayo lunch. Enjoy the slide show.

Hello Hotdish

What some would call a quintessentially Midwest food is now available through Le Cordon Bleu graduate "Johnny Casserole"'s delivery service.

Alinea's New Projects Take Flight

The team behind Alinea have announced two new projects: Next: and Aviary, a restaurant that offers tickets instead of reservations, and a cocktail bar. A few more details here.

Johnny Cupcakes at Bleeding Heart Tonight

Fans of pint-sized confections should hit Bleeding Heart Bakery tonight at 8pm (on your way to our Get-Together, of course) to meet Johnny Cupcakes on his tour across America.

A Guide to Local Chow

It's a gorgeous day outside, which means that seasonal produce will be coming back soon. Learn more about how to eat and buy locally in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

A Good Reason to Eat Out Tonight

If you don't have dinner plans yet, make them: Tonight you're Dining Out for Life.

The Latest Food Truck News

The Reader's big story this week sums up the legislative situation for getting food trucks on the streets of Chicago. Meanwhile, Time Out reports that a new cupcake truck will be hitting the road this weekend.

Alinea Gains in World Esteem

Alinea is now the seventh best restaurant in the world, and best in North America, according to the annual World's 50 Best Restaurants list.

Food Trucks or Fight

Time Out Chicago is throwing its weight behind legalizing food trucks in Chicago, with Street Food Now!, a portal to the magazine's coverage of the movement.

Even the Worm Now Wears a Top Hat

Tequila drinking gets more refined in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Questionable Taste Levels

PETA is coming after McDonald's for its support of the poultry industry with a new ad that appears in today's Tribune -- featuring Bea Arthur and the phrase "roll over in her grave."

Jelly-inea

Want the taste of Alinea at a fraction of the cost? Reproduce the menu with jelly beans. [via]

Vegetarians Can Double Down

Don't eat meat, but still want in on the latest fast food abomination? A local young lady and her boyfriend help you out with their meatless version of the KFC sandwich.

Food and Memories in Faber-Castell

Local comic book artist and hot dog aficionado Lucy Knisley gets interviewed in Book Club as part of the ongoing series One-Shots.

Push Something into the Sunlight, It's Bound to Get Burned

Time Out Chicago wrote about the only legal gourmet-style food truck in the city right now in last week's issue -- and the attention is getting All Fired Up hassled.

Delivery Extra

Chicagoist's Anthony Todd rants about food delivery fees.

The Greatest of All Time?

Perhaps even more controversial than the 40 best songs list, Chicago magazine's 40 Greatest Chicago Restaurants Ever list has people abuzz. Sky Full of Bacon offers a couple corrections.

Taste the Music

The musical lineup for Taste of Chicago has been announced. Highlights include Rob Thomas and Salt-n-Pepa.

Drinking in the Park

It's theoretically illegal to have alcohol in the parks -- but Mayor Daley wants to make it easier to drink, if it'll increase city revenue.

A Marriage of Flavors

Chicagoans have a delicious way to depart from traditional department store wedding registries with newly-launched Foodie Registry, which features gift certificates for local restaurants like BOKA and one sixtyblue. Here's a short profile of the site on Crain's.

Frozen Yogurt Market Chilling

Frozen yogurt favorite Berry Chill has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reportedly based on poor location choice. All locations will remain open for now.

Foodie the Website

Foodie the App is now available to those of us without iPhones: the web version of the discount deal app is live and fully functional.

Tax Tacos

Whether you're celebrating or trying to forget, make tacos a part of your April 15th. Taco Del Mar (3955 N. Broadway) is giving one away: head to the website to print out your coupon.

Tastes Like a Winner

Tony Mantuano, Terzo Piano chef and Top Chef Masters contestant, dominated the second season's debut challenges. Judge the dishes yourself at Terzo Piano through the end of the month.

A Berry Good Spring

We have some ways to take advantage of the strawberry surplus in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

We Can Have Happy Hour Underground

Stay dry while getting sloshed with a pub crawl via Chicago's subterranean Pedway. [Bonus: A map of the system for your designated navigator. Plus, GB's '04 Detour through the tunnels.]

Sleep(walk)ing around River North

Ever watch the Amazing Race and think you could do it -- if it weren't for the jetlag? Take part in the River North Sleep Around Challenge, and you won't even need to leave the 312 area code. The Challenge Starts at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza and ends up at Martini Park. Along the way, there are stops at seven hotels that will provide challenges and refreshments. Lots of prizes will be offered. Tickets available from the River North Business Association.

Getting Healthy, Panel by Panel

Local comic book artist Sarah Becan chronicles getting healthier in a sort of sequential weight loss diary. Good for anyone who likes beer and delicious food but is trying to slim down, and/or enjoys sweet, autobiographical, journal-style comics.

Drink Like Your Life No Longer Depends On It

That's right, the Zombie Pub Crawl is back. Sign-up opens this Saturday for the April 24 invasion of Andersonville.

Bakery Hop

Forget bar and pub: Chicago Bites' cupcake crawl is where it's at. [via]

Turning Coffee into Wine

While Intelligentsia may not be quitting the roasting business, its founder does want you to think of coffee the way you think of wine.

Final Four Drinks

Whether you're a fan of Butler, Michigan State, Duke or West Virginia, there's a bar in Chicago for you. Here's where to drink among friends this weekend.

Eating with Your Eyes

Food with a view in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Getting the Falafel Rolling

The upscale food truck trend is heating up across the country, and now chicagofoodtrucks.com is gathering opinions and support for an ordinance that would open the city to the mobile eateries. Time Out Chicago launches its own Street Food Now campaign this month.

Intelligensia is Out of Beans

We have the breaking news over at Drive-Thru. Also, a new CSA arrives on the scene.

Refunds and Uncertainty for Cakegirls

A couple of days after the Cakegirls building burned, Mary and Brenda Maher are contemplating their next steps.

A Loop Grocery Store

Milwaukee-based grocery chain Roundy's plans to open a grocery store in the Loop next year. It'll be called Mariano's, after the company's CEO -- who used to run Dominick's before it was purchased by Safeway.

Legalizing the Mobile Feast

A new movement is afoot to bring gourmet food trucks like they have in many other cities to Chicago. Share your thoughts at ChicagoFoodTrucks.com.

Fire Closes Lao Sze Chuan

Speaking of fires, Lao Sze Chuan was the victim of a blaze this morning, too. There go my Friday night dinner plans. [via]

The Neediest Hunger

A local food bank explains why you need to help now in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Jazzfood Cooked Live

Tonight from 6pm to 9pm, chef and Drive-Thru contributor Alan Lake will be doing a cooking demo at the Kenmore Live Studio, 678 N. Wells. Come be part of the studio audience (and maybe swing by the GB Get-Together nearby afterward!) or watch live on Facebook.

Save Your Cup

Speaking of coffee cups, Save the Cups is a locally based effort to encourage people not not waste paper cups at coffee shops. Sign up and log how many cups you save.

Bring a Mug, Get a Deal

A Fresh Squeeze checks out which Chicago coffee shops give discounts to customers who provide their own mugs.

"It's the best pizza, and I'm from Chicago."

Does First Lady (and South Side girl) Michelle Obama really prefer New York style pizza to Chicago deep dish? The folks at Grimaldi's in Brooklyn seem to think so.

Kid, You'll Go Far

Aron Pobereskin has worked at Alinea, Lockwood, Moto, Graham Elliot Schwa and Perennial. He's 16 years old. [via]

Not a Review

Is it OK for a blogger to review a restaurant based on one meal? Is anyone else surprised this question is still being asked?

Strange Brew

Beer gets solidified in the Odd Pairs dish concocted by Jared Rouben (Goose Island Clybourn) and Emiliano Pimentel Morado (L2O). Watch the granita form over at NBCChicago's Feast.

Thinking the Unthinkable

Crain's asks will there be an end to the cupcake craze?

Chef Week Menus

Each day during Chicago Chef Week, which runs through Sunday, we'll be sharing a menu from a participating restaurant in Drive-Thru. First up: Big Jones.

New Beer to Taste Old

Ever wonder what beer tasted like before Prohibition? You'll get your chance -- sort of -- when MillerCoors test-markets a new brew here later this spring.

A Tale of Two Blackies

As the owner of the Boston Blackies chain goes to jail, the owner of Blackies -- the original, in Printers Row -- hopes the confusion over their names fades away.

It's Good for Business

Street vendors band together for better working conditions in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Bleeding Heart Takes on Yelp

Bleeding Heart Bakery is the most recent party to one of three lawsuits [pdf] against the review site yelp. They're even making anti-yelp cupcakes in celebration.

Michiganders get the Scoop

Michigan's Hudsonville Ice Cream is coming to Chicagoland; it'll be in Jewel stores March 22.

Beaver Brew and Aardvark Ale

Local artist Phineas X. Jones is creating a new, fauna-centric labeling system for the tanks at Half Acre Brewery.

Eating on the West Side (of the State)

We find out that the Quad Cities have some good eats in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Explore the Complexity of Food Distributions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture just released a new interactive dataset called the Food Environment Atlas, where one can look at county level data on everything from access to grocery stores to the price of savory snacks. If you're not interested in playing on the site, the Trib did a summary of Chicago area data with some pretty interesting results.

Reuben Egg Rolls?

Surprise: Most of the food in Chicago's Irish pubs isn't very Irish.

The Chicago Chicken Community

Despite concerns about Chicago law that allows residents to keep chickens and roosters, chicken enthusiasts persist.

Skull and Bones

If you decide to spend a couple hours waiting for a table at Kuma's sometime in the future you may see some interesting artwork courtesy of the sous chef from another of Chicago's great restaurants, Mado. It's clear evidence of their "whole beast" philosophy.

Flip Madness!

Are you the master of flip cup? Form a team of four (or sign up solo and meet new friends) for Flip Madness — a flip cup tournament on 3/27 at Mad River benefiting Rock for Kids. Beer, food, entertainment provided. Details in Slowdown.

No, I Actually Want a Beverage

The popularity of a certain political movement is making those who are interested in tea a little frustrated.

Keeping it Local

Learn more about next weekend's Family Farmed Expo in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

A Stout Victory

Speaking of beer, Goose Island's Oatmeal Stout is tops in Serious Eats' book. More foodie links in Drive-Thru.

A Beautiful Union

Word has it that a new beer--a product of a collaboration between the glorious Half Acre and Three Floyds breweries--is fermenting somewhere in Chicago right now.

Soup Line Tonight

The Drive-Thru staff spent last night slaving over three soups for you to try at Soup and Bread at the Hideout tonight from 5:30-8pm. The soup's free! (Donations appreciated.)

BaconFest Chefs Announced

BaconFest has announced the chefs involved in the April 10 bacon mayhem -- and that tickets go on sale March 4 at noon. Be ready!

More Rock, Less Sham

Chicago writers William Shunn, Marcus Leshock, and Kyra Kyles get their Irish up over the dilution of McDonald's shamrock shakes with whipped cream and cherries. And now I'm picturing myself explaining shamrock shakes to my ancestors arriving on Ellis Island.

Heavy Metal Cupcakes

Kuma's isn't the only one naming tasty treats after metal bands.

Restaurant Week Reprise

You may not have missed Restaurant Week after all. Several of the participating venues are still offering their prix fixe menus. Check the A.V. Club's deal calculator to find the best (and avoid the worst) values.

Who Knew Mango Splitters Are So Useless?

...and other kitchen gadgets we can live without in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

March Bar Madness

The Fifty50 and CoachHouse are Chicago's entrants in Thrillist's "Bar Madness" contest to determine the best sports bar in America.

No Longer Just "Upstairs" vs "Downstairs"

The Trib reviews recent research on the disparities in compensation, working conditions and demographic characteristics for those who work in the front of the restaurant compared to those who work in the back.

BBQ for SYGC

It may still be winter, but BBQ is always a good idea. Get your grub on and help raise funds to aid the return of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir to the stage at Darkroom tomorrow night. Food by Man-B-Que. Live music and DJs galore. Details in Transmission.

Crime Doesn't Pay (but it Feeds)

A stolen bike investigation leads to the discovery of some great street food in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Down Payment on Drinks

Drinks Over Dearborn is trying to raise money to stay open with an interesting proposal; if you're likely to spend $100 on booze or mixology classes in the next few months, why not pay it in advance? [via]

The Apple of My Eye

...and the subject of this week's Drive-thru feature.

No More Foam?

Finance Committee Chairman Edward Burke drafted a citywide ban of Styrofoam today. If approved by City Council, Chicago Public Schools will have to find another way to serve lunch.

A Valentine's Day Full of Hot, Spicy Oil

For the homemade egg rolls, silly! We've got the details in Drive-Thru.

Calumet Fisheries is a Classic

The James Beard Foundation named Calumet Fisheries as one of its 2010 American Classics. It joins Tufano's Vernon Park Tap and The Berghoff (pre-closure) as Chicago's only restaurants to earn the title.

Love is in the Air, Love is in the Food

We've got a round-up of some of the best Valentine's Day events and offers in Drive-Thru.

Better Than Chocolate

Valentine's Day approaches: show your love with heart-shaped pizza, available at a surprising (surprisingly awesome) number of locations.

Costa's Not Open for Business

Alvin Shubert, GB flickr pool contributor (and today's Rearview photographer), looked out his window last night to see Greektown restaurant Costa's in flames. Another contributor, Michelle Wotkun, headed down to get a closer view.

Eat and Shop Here

The Eat Shop Guide to Chicago came out recently; it's yet another guidebook to cool stuff in the city.

Goose Island's Green Line Pale Ale

Speaking of the Green Line, Goose Island is set to debut a new environmentally friendly "Green Line Pale Ale" tomorrow.

Re-Filtered

Drive-Thru contributor Christian reports that beloved Wicker Park coffeehouse Filter officially opened this morning in its new home, 1373 N. Milwaukee Ave. Stay tuned for more info in Drive-Thru.

It's Cold...Beer

We bring you part two of our homebrewing how-to in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Learn About Lager

Looking for some different indoor fun as January slogs into February? Local brewery Half Acre Beer Company offers free tours every Saturday at 1pm. Contact info [at] halfacrebeer [dot] com to register.

Ode to a Haggis

Tonight is Burns Night, when Scots around the world (and particularly Scotland) enjoy scotch whisky and haggis in tribute to poet Robert Burns. Currently, your primary source for haggis in the States has been Stahly Quality Foods here in Chicago, but soon you may see true Scottish haggis here soon if the current ban is lifted. (Interested in celebrating Burns Night? Head to The Globe Pub tonight at 8pm.

Producing in Hyde Park

Two U of C grads stick around the neighborhood to open up a produce market that goes the distance in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Are You Celebrity Sausage Material?

Half Acre Beer is celebrating the release of its Baumé chocolate stout in growler form by holding a contest to be a "celebrity sausage" at Hot Doug's next week.

City on the Make

Time Out Chicago's annual cheap issue is out this week, and MyOpenBar's Chicago editor pitches in with a list of budget drink deals.

Helping Haiti Here

Crain's Chicago Business lists 10 local ways you can aid the relief effort for Haiti. [via]

Sweet Relief

This Saturday, several of Chicago's beloved bakeries and celebrated sweet shops will join forces for a charity bake sale, hosted by Medici on 57th. All proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam for their ongoing relief efforts in Haiti.

Selling an Invasive Species

Asian carp, the potential bane of the Great Lakes, will soon be marketed as "silverfin" at grocery stores.

DIY Beer

Want to learn how to set up a home brewery? This week's Drive-Thru feature will help you (get drunk).

Here It's Called a SAHsage Tree

The African Sausage Tree (Kigelia africana) at the Lincoln Park Conservatory is bearing 20-pound fruits. Fun fact: the fresh "sausage" is poisonous, causes mouth blisters, and acts as a laxative. No sampling.

Eating for Haiti

Restaurants and bars around the city are teaming up to make it easy for you to help relief efforts in Haiti simply by eating out (which also happens to help the local economy.) Grub Street Chicago has a list of restaurants doing their part, and in Drive-Thru, you'll find a list of restaurants collaborating with the Heartland Alliance in a fundraiser, as well as details about Monday night's concert and bake sale at the Hideout.

Celebrity Food

I know when I want a steak, nothing is better than a Michael Jordan signature steak. They go great with my Mike Ditka wine.

Hamming It Up

The Greater Chicago Food Depository recently received 44,000 pounds of various pork products. Want to give them some eggs to go with all that bacon?

Will it Waffle?

Fruit slinger and occasional Drive-Thru contributor Daniel Shumski takes an often-ignored kitchen appliance to new heights with his new cooking blog, Waffleizer.

What's in Store for the Dill Pickle?

Learn more about the new Logan Square Co-op in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Neither Eat nor Drink

Roger Ebert eloquently describes not being able to eat or drink anymore, as well as the conversations that occur around a dinner table. (Share what flavors you'd miss most in Fuel.)

Eating Our Way Down Memory Lane

Our fearless and refined staffers share their best eats of 2009 in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Chicago's Finest Apple Sauce

Jim Mullen, a Chicago cop who was shot in the line of duty and left paralyzed, is finding a new life selling a family recipe apple sauce.

Kumas Corner Seeking Cook

Looks like one of the city's most iconic burger joints is seeking a long-term line cook. If you can keep from salivating on your keyboard to apply, I'm sure there's tons of taste testing involved in training, you know, to make sure it's done right.

Break These Chains of (Food) Love

We delve deeper into the connection between food and togetherness in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Eat for Cheap in January

January tends to suffer from the cold-weather, post-holiday doldrums, so the Local Tourist has organized its first Restaurant Week, with more than a dozen restaurants offering three-course meals for only $25 at lunch or $35 at dinner. Ten percent of each meal benefits pediatric cancer foundation Endure To Cure.

God Jul!* Now Drink Up...

The Sun-Times raises a glass to the glogg being served up at Simon's Tavern in Andersonville, as owner Scott Martin gives the inside scoop on the tradition. * "God Jul" is Swedish for "Merry Christmas."

The Art Institute by Way of Wonkavision

Yes, you can even eat the lions at the Art Institute's Gingerseum.

I Want Candy

Homemade candy, that is. This week's Drive-Thru feature will take you to a magical place where candy canes are plentiful and easily made in your own kitchen...

In Praise of Mincemeat Pie

Cliff Doerksen reminisces about an out-of-favor holiday treat in this week's Reader feature, which doubles as an intro to his new blog on historical oddities.

USDA Raids: Guilt by Association?

The USDA raided Frontera/Topolobampo/Xoco and plan to visit North Pond -- on the basis of sharing a meat supplier with two North Shore guys who make and sell their own bacon and sausage, as reported in a recent Reader story by Mike Sula. UDPATE: Or maybe it wasn't the USDA. Sula's updated the story.

Watching Pie Being Made is Nothing Like Sausage

Sky Full of Bacon takes you behind the scenes at Hoosier Mama Pie Company.

Tootsie Rolls, DOTS Now Kosher

If you keep Kosher, you can now enjoy Tootsie Rolls, DOTS and many other Tootsie Roll Industries candies. Oh, and their website has some classic commercials you'll likely remember fondly.

Food Minds Read Alike

Both Chicago Mag's dining staff and The Reader's Mike Sula posted their picks for 2009's best cookbooks today. Good gift suggestions for the cook in your life.

No More Healthy Food in Bridgeport

As LTHForum readers are lamenting, Healthy Food Lithuanian Restaurant will close December 15.

What Do You Do with a Big Ass Hot Dog?

Find out in the latest edition of The Dog Show, now in Drive-Thru.

Mies van der Dough

What does an architect's gingerbread house look like? The Trib finds out -- and lets you bid on the results or make your own. (Thanks, Dee!)

52 Drinks

Taking a page (or is that card?) from à la card Chicago, the new Drink Deck gives you 52 $10 gift certificates to Chicago bars of all sorts.

For All Your Upscale Food Needs

Should you be in the mood for a couple of lobsters, truffles, or a "giant wheel of brie," look no further than the Chicago French Market. We've got a first look report in Drive-Thru.

Getting Das Boot at Christkindlmarket

We visit the annual holiday outdoor market in Daley Plaza and it's the wurst -- in a good way! The details are in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Gift of Dinner

Speaking of gift-giving, the 2010 edition of à la card Chicago is now available, giving you 52 $10 gift certificates to local restaurants for just $30.

The Only Two Artisan Distilleries In Chicago

The Chicago News Cooperative has a story on the only two "artisan distilleries" in Chicago -- both, coincidentally, are family ventures.

More Chicago Food

The New York Times discovers the latest hot restaurants in Chicago, including Paul Kahan's new Big Star, Xoco, a certain heavy metal burger bar and America's best pizza.

Give Thanks for Meats Other than Turkey

If you want to liven up your holiday dinners, forego the Settlers of Catan tournament and go with serving a Standing Ribeye Roast. We got the details in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

City of 'Iron' Shoulders

Chicago native Jose Garces brought the city even more culinary acclaim as he walked away with the title "The Next Iron Chef" in the Food Network reality series contest.

Turkey Day Breakfast

All this focus on dinner eclipses the most important meal of the day, as we point out in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Cheap Eats for the Children

Kids Eat For is a web site that features "Kids eat free" and other food specials for kids at nearby restaurants. Click here for deals in Chicago.

Chicago: The New Barbecue Capital

Is Chicago BBQ better than Memphis? Michael Nagrant thinks so.

Happy 75th, Billy Goat Tavern!

After work snack alert: The Billy Goat Tavern celebrates its 75th anniversary today with 75-cent cheezborgers and beers. (If you followed us on Twitter, you'd have heard two days ago.)

Bleeding Heart Beats in Oak Park

Just a reminder, this Sunday is Bleeding Heart Bakery's grand opening for their Oak Park location: free mini cupcakes, donut holes, and a birthday cake raffle. Keep up with the tasty goings-on here.

Remember Urbis Orbis?

If you do, you should check out the videos GB reader Anna sent us documenting the Wicker Park coffeehouse's last weeks and the interesting folks who worked and hung out there.

Ever Wonder How a Turkey Pop-up Thermometer Works?

L. Stolpman shows you how over at Chicagoist.

Nourishing Neighborhoods

A nonprofit started by an award-winning chef is helping make fresh farmers market produce available in Chicago's low-income communities. Alan Lake has the story in Drive-Thru.

A Place to Eat Socially

Culinary Culture is a new social network for "serious and aspiring foodies" launched today by Threadless cofounder Jakob DeHart and his wife, Mischa.

Eating Fresh & Local Even in Winter

Want to keep up the locavore lifestyle this winter? The Local Beet has your guide to winter eating.

Food Stamps for Pets

OK, food stamps aren't involved, but a variety of organizations in the Chicago area and elsewhere are providing assistance to families who are having a hard time buying food for their pets.

Kickstart the Cookbook

There are just five days left to donate to help make the beautiful Soup and Bread Cookbook happen. If you were (and/or are) a fan of this delicious and fun project at the Hideout last winter, help them out by making a donation to offset the printing costs.

Introducing the Dog Show

We've got a new regular feature in Drive-Thru starting today: The Dog Show, an exploration of the city's hundreds of hot dog stands. First up, Superdawg.

Run On Dunkin For Less

Starting Monday, Chicago locations of Dunkin' Donuts will offer a new 99-cent menu. Keep an eye out for Dunkin' employees handing out $2 gift cards on your morning commute.

Make Your Own Hard Cider

It's not, er, hard, as the Paupered Chef demonstrates.

Hungry?

Check out this website devoted to pictures of Chicago-style food. It won't help your situation, but it sure is beautiful.

Sausage Pizza, Every Day for a Month: The Outcome

LTHForum's ronnie_suburban lost his bet that a coworker couldn't survive for a month eating nothing but sausage pizza. The Trib has a writeup, DiningChicago has a list of local pizzerias the victor sampled.

Kids n' Compost

Elementary school students in Oak Park, Naperville and Villa Park are learning early about making "zero impact" on their environment. They're recycling, composting food scraps after lunch and sending far less trash to area landfills.

Boozin' in Buenos Aires

A trip to Argentina is a lesson in their many drinks in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Energy for the Shark Tank

Element Bars, a local customizable energy bar company, got a big boost from a recent appearance on the reality show "Shark Tank."

Living Organically in the Concrete Jungle

Organic in Chicago is a site devoted to organic eating and living in the city.

Taking a Joke Literally ... in Court

In Will County, you can get out of community service for $50 worth of jerk chicken.

Where They Know Your Name

Which Chicago bars would the characters from "Cheers" hang out at? AV Club Chicago has your answers.

61st Street Garden Coverage Expanding

The imminent closure of the 61st Street Community Garden is getting a lot of attention from the media, with the Trib and Sun-Times augmenting weeks of coverage in the Hyde Park Herald and the Invisible Institute's Garden Conversations.

Funds for Food

Chicago-based crowd coupon site Groupon has started a fundraiser for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. A few clicks and a few bucks could bring someone in need a Thanksgiving meal.

Jewel No Longer "Urban Fresh"

Jewel's Urban Fresh market, part of its strategy to compete in a more specialized grocery field, will close by the end of the month.

Sweets on Paper

A new cookbook by Sarah Levy of Sarah's Pastries and Candies gets reviewed in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Ticket for Zestiness

If you live in Wicker Park, pay close attention to the ticket on your car -- it might get you free hot wings.

The Green Slime Are Here!

Grubstreet Chicago is (justifiably) wondering what the hell is going on in this advertisement for the Dana Hotel's Aja restaurant. Fans of sci-fi/horror B-movies know all too well what's coming next. Let's rock, before we blast that thing out of the sky!

The Art of Dinner

Food becomes more visual through the Bluebird's new dining and art series. We take a deeper look in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Rules of the Restaurant

Please watch "Mike G's Rules for Better Dining", a video from Michael Gebert of Sky Full of Bacon inspired by Michael Pollan's dietary rules recently featured in the New York Times.

Caramel Corn Returns to Michigan Avenue

Garrett's Popcorn is celebrating the reopening of its Mag Mile store, 625 N. Michigan Ave., tomorrow starting at 10am. They're giving away free bags of popcorn, so expect a long line -- just like old times.

One Zombie Dog, Extra Brains

Logan Square favorite Lula Cafe plans to "dress up" as another local gem this Halloween: Hot Doug's. I wonder if the menu of encased meats will be named after the dead, the undead or simply those whose careers have flatlined. (via)

Hot Dogs Get Hard Time

Felony Franks gets the Wall Street Journal's attention for its battle against neighbors and Ald. Fioretti.

Threadless Founder Goes Culinary

Crain's has an interview with skinnyCorp co-founder Jacob DeHart who's launching a new startup business website later this month: CulinaryCulture.com.

Spice Up Your Life

We visit a local gourmet spice company in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Three Sheets to the Windy City

Chicago is yours for the drinking, thanks to Cityscape Bar's new Architectural Martini Tour, an alcoholic ode to some of the Loop's best known buildings.

Sausage Pizza, Every Day for a Month

That was the challenge LTH Forum's Ronnie Suburban gave one of his coworkers. So far, he's holding fast -- even on business trips. [via]

Tru Dat

We head to a fancy schmancy wine dinner in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

You Need a Treat Today

And if you're near Michigan Avenue, you can get some free candy from Mars today till 6pm.

Tastes Like Burning

The smell of popcorn wafting from Garrett's, so familiar to Loop workers, prompted someone (presumably a tourist) to call out the fire department this morning. Must've been a particularly dark batch of caramel corn.

Chick-Fil-YAY!

OK, all of you Chick-Fil-A cultists, get ready to cluck for joy. The much-ballyhooed restaurant chain is moving a step closer to Chicago. They're going to open one in Orland Park.

Your Nearest McDonald's

You're never far from a McDonald's -- unless you're in South Dakota. More in Drive-Thru.

I am Woman, Hear Me Saute

NAHA executive chef/owner Carrie Nahabedian's the first woman to be inducted in the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame. She joins Charlie Trotter, Jimmy Bannos, and Rick Bayless.

This Dinner Never Happened

The co-owner of New Leaf Natural Grocery gives the lowdown on her first underground dinner.

Going Northwest to New Glarus

Lori Barrett goes north to Wisconsin for some family fun, weird neighbors and great-tasting beer in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Online Ordering Diversifies

Chicago's own GrubHub, which has been expanding into other cities, recently got a competitor on its home turf: Eat24Hours.

You Get a Meal! And You Get a Meal!

The Oprah effect may go beyond books, products, musicians. The next episode on the continuing saga of "It's Oprah's world and we just live in it": Local restaurants and certain chefs are seeing an Oprah bump, according to 312 Dining Diva.

Hot Doug in the Big Apple

Don't plan on going to Hot Doug's on October 7: they'll be in New York showing them Yankees how it's done.

Looking for Somewhere New to Go?

The Pilsen Community Market will be hosting a community garage sale for the next two Sundays on a vacant lot at 18th and Peoria.

Helping the Needy Find Help

A new website, direct2food.org, helps the needy find social services including food pantries and soup kitchens.

Cryovacing and Tofu: a Love Story

Chris Brunn sits down with chef Ryan Poli of Perennial to discuss their new (delicious-looking) vegan menu offering in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Try to Eat Local

The Green City Market's Locavore Challenge starts today: to participate, simply commit to, as much as possible, eating food grown or produced in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan or Wisconsin for the next two weeks.

The Roof, the Roof is on Fire...with Delicious Organic Produce

We visit a rooftop farming operation at Uncommon Ground in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Wait for Bacon

Baconfest Chicago has decided to postpone their pork extravaganza until April 10, 2010 due to lack of funding. However, the Baconfest VIP Bacon Cookoff is still on and will take place on October 24th at the Publican.

World Class on Northalsted

Is Sidetrack the best gay bar in the world? Gay travel site tripOut thinks it's a contender; you can have your say as part of their Gay Travel Awards. [via]

More than Kielbasa

Among all the other stuff going on this long weekend, you should try to make it to Taste of Polonia, which will open your mind to what Polish food can be -- and features the musical stylings of Poland's Sidney Polak among others.

"VaporTini" Certainly Sounds Better than "Huffing Vodka"

Either way, Red Kiva Lounge sells the concoction in a 180 degree fahrenheit container for $10 a pop.

Twix is Food?

So, how well is enforcement of the "Twix clause" in the brand new candy tax going? Not so well, first day out. (Twix clause? Any candy containing flour is exempt from the increase. Here's a list of other surprising items landing on one side or the other.)

85% Beef, 15% Lamb, 100% Tasty and Free

Don't miss out on a free gyro tomorrow, courtesy of our very own Kronos Foods, Inc (thanks for the tip, Jough).

Alinea Live!

Speaking of Alinea, you can watch Grant Achatz and team planning the fall meeting live on JustinTV. Follow @Gachatz on Twitter for heads up on future broadcasts. UPDATE: Well, that was quick. They finished the meeting just after noon, but promise to be back Saturday night around 8:45pm for about an hour. Tune in!

Back to the Land

Andie Thomalla heads out of the city for a decadent farm dinner (with some Shakespeare and microgreen gardening thrown in) in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Celery Salt, Maybe?

Absolut is rolling out a series of city-themed vodkas, and Grub Street Chicago asks, what would Chicago-flavored vodka taste like?

Food Tech

Alinea partner Nick Kokonas has been blogging on Gizmodo about some of the technology used in the restaurant, including a failed attempt at making culinary snow.

Beyond Kuma's

The Tribune's "Cheeseburger Bureau Chief," Kevin Pang, host of CLTV's The Cheeseburger Show--which launched new episodes today--beefs up Chicagoans on extraordinary burgers. This week takes Pang to the (gasp) burbs.

All Together Now

Coudal points us to a fantastic Budweiser commercial shot on the El (mostly the Brown Line), for the Irish beer drinking market if the URL attached to it is any indication. UPDATE: The Sun-Times gets the backstory on the ad.

Pure Tastiness

We have a nice guide to good eats in Michigan and Indiana for your next trip in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Land of Cheap Big Mac Attacks

According to the Economist, in Chicago it takes just 12 minutes of work time to pay for a Big Mac. Compare that to Nairobi where it takes about 2.5 hours to earn a special sauce fix. (via).

"I Had Literally Become a Numbskull."

As Chicago Mag's Jeff Ruby highlights the 30 best burgers in Chicago, he was hit with a consequential downside to his summer burger epic.

Ice Cream Man's Chimes No Longer Reel or Rock

The New York Times Dining section reports on last year's banning of ice cream trucks from the 18th Ward and modern parents annoyed with ice-cream-demanding toddlers and chain-smoking, shirtless, and burping ice cream vendors.

Princess Pugnacious Chablis Needs You

Do you love both pugs and wine? You might want to check out Alpanah Singh's Pug Chug this Saturday at Juicy Wine Co. For $45, you get a wine tasting, tasty food and a silent auction, all to benefit pug rescue.

It's Not Just the Mercury Now

Researchers have found that eating Great Lakes fish is associated with the development of diabetes because of DDE, the metabolite of DDT.

Treat Tweeting

For foodies and boozers around Chicago, Wait Watcher tweets wait times at key restaurants and bars. Developed by the Onion's AV Chicago section, local restaurant-goers can text or call in wait times to help their fellow diners.

Bacon Lettuce Tomato

Chicago Tomato Fest says, "This may be a 'Reduced Services Day' for the City, but it's an 'Increased BLT Day' for us." Make an old-school BLT and enter their contest, or just find a tasty one at participating restaurants. (More about the fest here.)

Turning Up the Heat on Top Chef?

Seems like a few bloggers are stirring up controversy over something many Chicago residents have known for years: Rick Bayless cooks delicious Mexican food. [via] Read further thoughts in Drive-Thru.

Gettin' Soupy in the Kitchen

It's hot outside, but it's still a good time for a bowl of (chilled) soup in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Shhh....Secret Supper on Southport

Southport Grocery and Cafe just announced their next Secret Supper, to be held Thurs., August 20 at 7pm. What will you get to eat? It's a secret! Call 773-665-0100 lickety-split to secure a spot.

Frozen Custard Summit

Scooter's Frozen Custard put some plastic chairs out on the sidewalk for patrons to sit. The City told them to stop. Patrons organized. The alderman is now intervening. (A much more interesting version of the tale.)

So Much for a Sense of Humor

Apparently a humorless Market Days visitor was so upset about the labeling of the Chicago Diner's tip jar as "Sarah Palin Retirement Fund," they're calling for an investigation of the Diner for "impersonating a charitable fund" and not revealing the jar would go to tips...

One Door Closes...

Chris Brunn talks with Vella Cafe's Sara Voden about the upcoming closure of the Bucktown eatery, the inspiration for her cooking, and plans for the future in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

100 Words Hungry

Win tickets to Taste of the Nation Chicago from Grub Street by writing about your favorite childhood food.

Another Day, Another Drink Special

Chicago, meet Small Tabs, the latest site dedicated to helping you bar hop on the cheap.

To Go Food

Fork and the Road, a "bike and dining adventure" series, got a nice write-up in the Trib today.

A New 'Leaf'

The crazy-popular Hopleaf finally gets the green-light on adding some much-needed space a sister restaurant next door. Now how long before THAT spot gets filled wall to wall? (via Edgewater Community Buzz)

Standing Room Only

Nick Kindelsperger of The Paupered Chef has been highlighting the best stand-up eating in Chicago for Serious Eats.

Something Fishy

Sky Full of Bacon shows you how fresh fish makes it to Chicago and your table.

Create Your Own Speakeasy Tour

Want to drink in some history? The Chicago Bar Project has a list of still-active bars that were once Prohibition era speakeasies.

Veni, Vidi, Vichyssoise

VF Daily's Society & Style blog asked some of the country's top chefs to take on the recipes of the late, great Julia Child. Chicago's own Graham Elliot Bowles presents a terrine based on Child's vichyssoise.

DIY Yogurt

An at-home science project yields delicious conclusions in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

The Caged Tomato, Unleashed

Ever wonder who designed the Hot Doug's logo? It was Caged Tomato, Bake and Destroy interviewed her recently about her influences, baked goods and more.

The Titans of the Gyro

Leave it to the NYTimes to remind us that the "Titans of the Gyro" are all Chicago-based!

At Last, Locally Produced Frangos

One reason to return to Macy's: Frango mints are once again being produced in Chicago. The start of production will be announced today by Macy's and South Side candy company Cupid Candies.

Watch Us Wait

How long is the line at Hot Doug's? What's the wait like at Kuma's? Are the lines crazy at Costco? Decider decided to help you find out without having to be there -- follow @WaitWatcher and get updates from people in line at popular places.

Vote for Local Favorites Nationally

It's the time of the year for the Veggie Awards survey -- vote for locals such as the Chicago Diner, Bleeding Heart Bakery and Chicago Soy Dairy.

Cooking With John Kass

Although it's not hard to catch him smoking in front of the Tribune Tower or having a burger at Billy Goat, 100 lucky Tribune print subscribers will schmooze and make beer-can chicken with legendary columnist John Kass Aug. 1 at the Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton.

Small Steps

If you're an all-or-nothing type when it comes to eating healthier, we have some tips on how to break the mold by incorporating a few new, smart foods into your diet in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Up a Creek

If your idea of summer sauce is Knob Creek, get ready for disappointment. The Deerfield-based distributor says massive demand for the nine-year-aged American whiskey could mean limited supplies until the next batch is ready in November.

Guava, Passionfruit, or Jerk Cupcakes?

Photos from last night's Iron Cupcake event. Also, Chicago Bites reports that the cupcake baking challenge is now a monthly event. Woo hoo!

Hold da Mustard

July is National Hot Dog Month -- and why wouldn't it be especially significant in the Windy City? Nothing screams "National Pastime" quite like tube-stuffed, processed chicken, beef and/or pork trimmings. So, go out and celebrate.

Taste of Food Waste

A Chicago Reporter investigation found that even though the Taste of Chicago has been getting smaller, the amount of food thrown out by vendors has increased -- primarily due to temperature violations discovered by health inspectors.

The Gift of Eating at the Taste

Those with major food allergies will appreciate Lisa's allergen free guide to the Taste [pdf]. [Via]

Gourmet Again

In our current Fuel thread about Taste of Chicago, a couple people wished there was a high-end version of the food fest. In fact, there is: Chicago Gourmet, which returns to Millennium Park in September. The downside is, high-end comes with high prices -- early bird discounted tickets start at $120.

You Don't Even Need a Dealer

Andie Thomalla reviews a field guide to (safely) hunting mushrooms in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Police Plan for Safe Taste

Going to Taste of Chicago? Worried about more than the heat, sweaty tourists, and the cash you'll need? Chicago police have announced their security plans to ease your mind and prevent a rerun of last year's violence.

A Rainbow on State Street

The best news I'm sure to hear all day: Original Rainbow Cone is opening a location in the Loop at State and Lake. Now we North Siders won't have to wait until the Taste every year to get our Rainbow Cones!

Wine and Cheese Advocacy

Come try Italian wine and wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano from 5:30-7:30pm today, courtesy of Pastoral (53 E. Lake), Atlantic contributor Daphne Zepos and Italian cheesemaker Giorgio Cravero. [via]

A Sub-Zero Feeling In The Mouth

The Taste of Chicago begins on Friday, and the Sun-Times has a story on one of the new food items that's sure to be talked about: frozen popcorn on a stick, brought to you by Taste newcomers Garrett Popcorn.

Iron Cupcake II: This Time It's Tropical

Chicago Bites has the details on the next Iron Cupcake challenge.

Puerto Rico on the Plate

To celebrate tomorrow's Puerto Rican Independence Day Parade (kicking off from Columbus & Balbo at noon), we are chowing down on traditional dish Mofongo over in Drive-Thru.

What Time is It?

It's HarvesTime in this week's Drive-Thru feature. Grab your grocery list and learn about one of Chicago's finest supermarkets.

Hopefully They're Not Corked

Longball Cellars has created wines named for Cubs and Sox stars Derrek Lee and Mark Buerhle, with proceeds benefiting the players' favorite charities. Keep in mind that CaberLee and Buerhlot might be more enjoyable to look at than to drink. (Oops, sorry for the Carlos Lee slip-up; you probably already guessed I'm a Sox fan. Thanks for the correction, Mark et al.)

Chicago Gluttony

The Chicago Gluttons foodblog is one of the raunchiest you'll ever see -- but it's also good advice about restaurants in the city. New City sneaks a look behind the personnas.

Taking a Walk on the Vegan Side

Chris Brunn talks with chef, writer and author Linda Long about her recent cookbook, Great Chefs Cook Vegan (which includes contributions by kitchen heavyweights such as Charlie Trotter, Eric Ripert, and Thomas Keller), in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Vegan Ribs Still Require Bibs

Northcenter's Ribfest is this weekend -- and for the first time, there will be vegan ribs on hand. Drive-Thru writers Chris Brunn finds out exactly how one makes a such a thing in this interview on Vocalo.

A Taste of the Taste Before the Taste

The Taste of Chicago preview event used to be the dirty (greasy?) little secret of local VIPs and intrepid reporters looking for "the inside story" -- as well as a chance for free food. But now they're thrown the doors open to the public.

Will There be a Breakout Session on Pepperoni?

Speaking of pizza (see below), the Pizza Executive Summit '09 is currently taking place here in Chicago. With a name like that, it sounds ominous...ominously delicious.

Crying Over Cooked Milk

Speaking of old news, Chicagoist went digging through LexisNexis and found a 100-year-old story about the controversy over pasteurizing milk.

Check Please Bump + Obama Bump = Closing?

Don't forget, this weekend will be the final days for the Dixie Kitchen in Hyde Park. Not even the fabled "Check Please" effect could save the restaurant from being closed by the U of C. For old time's sake the Reader has the fabled Obama "Check Please" endorsement.

Time's Running Out for Our Growing Home Photo Contest

Upload a picture that creatively displays your dedication to locally grown or organic produce to the Drive-Thru Flickr Group and you could win a pair of tickets to Growing Home's Annual Benefit (valued at $250), courtesy of the Drive-Thru Photo Contest, which ends Sunday at noon!

A Green Deli Comes to Ravenswood

We have all the details in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Donuts. Free. Tomorrow.

Friday is National Donut Day. This is important because it means a free Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donut for all. It IS the best day of your life.

Schwa Shares

312 Dining Diva points us to the first cameras reaching the inner sanctum of Schwa: NBC Chicago's interview with Schwa chef Michael Carlson. The interview includes a mini-rant against celeb-chef culture, reveals why your reservation calls are never returned, and shows some mighty facial hair.

A Market Oasis

Time Magazine notes a Chicago grocer trying to grow in the city's food deserts.

All Your Bacon Are Belong To Us

Mark your calendars: BaconFest Chicago will be held October 25 in Logan Square's tony Stan Mansion.

Aren't We All Winners?

Check out a little cupcake pron at this wrap-up of the Iron Cupcake Challenge.

1990 Oprah Cake

Once seen, it cannot be unseen.

Thinking Ahead to Date Night

Got a date coming up? Date Nite Delivery can help make it special with gift baskets of wine, cookies and other treats.

Free Eats for the Conscientious Produce Buyer

We're giving away two tickets to Growing Home's upcoming benefit, which will feature foods by Charlie Trotter's, Vie and Bistro Campagne...details over in Drive-Thru.

Elotes Under the Law

Today's Reader cover story takes a look at pushcart vendors' legal plight -- licensable in the parks, but not in the rest of the city.

Bakers Needed!

Got a good cupcake recipe? Then consider taking part in Chicago's first Iron Cupcake challenge, happening this Monday, June 1. Chicago Bites informs us that bakers are still needed for this event (apparently they already have plenty of judges), so if you can whip up something pretty fast in the kitchen, you should totally try out. See the links for details.

From the Rooftop to the Tabletop

The growing season is at hand, so Chicago magazine spends some time with micro gardeners.

Get the Beef

Top SECRET! Head over to Drive-Thru to learn how your lunch today can cost a measly dollar!

Andersonville Pizza Best in the Land

GQ Magazine has spoken, and according to Alan Richman, the best place for pizza in the nation resides in Andersonville. The Mortadella pie at Great Lake won top honors.

The Third Largest Whole Foods

The new Whole Foods Lincoln Park opens next week -- but we've got a sneak peek in Drive-Thru. If you want more, there's a preview party Monday.

Eating Local Food Locally

The Sun-Times' recent article about CSAs is pretty good, but its photo illustration offers a bold alternative to out of control condos.

Chicago Bars Earn Love

It's not just our restaurants getting the high-class recognition. Chicago represents in the newly released Food and Wine Cocktails 2009 guide. Of the 100 top bars named in the U.S., Chicago has five, including C-House, The Drawing Room, Green Mill, Nacional 27, and the Violet Hour.

Are You a Broke Hipster?

Then there's a site for you.

KFC-Gate Explained

Ad Age has a nice summary of the events behind Oprah's well-intentioned gift of a free plate of KFC chicken to viewers last week that erupted in a full-scale PR fiasco for the restaurant.

Second to None

Chicago earns four of the top spots on Travel + Leisure's recently released list of the "50 Best New U.S. Restaurants" with L2O, Urbanbelly, Perennial and The Publican. Peoria hot spot June also made the cut thanks to the unique "post-modern molecular gastronomy" of its Alinea-trained chef and owner, Josh Adams.

Distill This

We take a look at Ravenswood-based Koval Distillery in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

What Does Organic Really Mean?

OrganicNation.TV is "an exploration of the American sustainable food landscape focusing on the people, places and products that are shaping a new green economy and lifestyle." Produced by Fresh Cut Media's Dorothee Royal-Hedinger, the video tour hits the road May 10.

KFC KGF FUBAR

In case you were wondering, "The combination of free food and Oprah is a tsunami."

Bee Sting

Chinese nationals were arrested here and in Seattle on suspicion of running an international honey smuggling ring.

Historic Tube Steaks

"Hot Doug" Sohn and culinary historian Bruce Kraig will be discussing the history of the hot dog at Kendall College tonight; details in Drive-Thru and Slowdown.

el-two-oh

The NY Times included Laurent Gras's Chicago restaurant L2O [Caution: audio on website] in its "Outstanding Newcomers" series, which profiles exemplary restaurants that opened since the beginning of 2008. If you're feeling hungry, there's always more food discussion in Drive Thru.

Find the Farmers

Want to pick up some local produce but aren't sure where to go? Local Beat's Farmer's Market Locator helps find you the closest one to you.

Local Deep-fried Dough

Want a donut that's a step above the Dunkin' variety? Donut Database has you covered.

Miso Hungry

An exploration of the soup follows in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Your Lost Shaker of Salt is at Nacional 27

With all the swine flu talk, you may not be feeling all Cinco de Mayo this year. Just in case you're looking for a good margarita though, USA Today claims Nacional 27's is one of the ten best in the country.

Go to a Restaurant Tonight

Weather be damned, tonight is Dining Out for Life, which benefits AIDSCare Chicago. Check the site for participating restaurants.

One Way or Another: The Beautiful Chef

As if all the accolades for his, you know, cooking talent weren't enough, chef Paul Kahan of Blackbird gives us another reason to feel inadequate. He's named as one of People's 100 Most Beautiful 2009 ... or not. [Thanks for the update, Dan!]

Lauded Diner To Close

Patty's Diner, winner of the Reader's pick for Best Diner 2009 and one of LTHForum's Great Neighborhood Restaurants, is closing up. The word on the Reader's Food Chain blog is that the rent's going up by a prohibitive amount, and Patty will have to close up shop as early as May 6. So... plan that trip to Skokie now.

Misdemeanor Weiners

Felony Franks, a new hot dog stand to be staffed by ex-prisoners, is causing a stir over its name despite its positive mission.

Looking Between the Bread

Trends in sandwiches, from the upscale to the not-so-upscale. Discussed in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Chicago Barista Third Best in the World

Update on local barista Michael Phillips; he placed third in the World Barista Championships this past weekend.

Grab Your Snuggie and Go!

The Snuggie Pub Crawl is tomorrow, and there are still some tickets left!

Chicago Represented in World Barista Competition

Michael Phillips, the Intelligenstia Coffee employee who won the Great Lakes regional championship just last year, goes to Atlanta this weekend to represent the US in the World Barista competition. Best of luck, Michael!

The Chronic-What?-Cles of Alinea

When parody rap and molecular gastronomy collide.

The Bees' Needs

While there is an apiary in the city, most of Chicagoland's honey production is done in the suburbs. Lake Bluff's GazeboNews profiles a group of retirees who've taken up beekeeping as a hobby.

(Cupcake) Life After Butter

Natalie Slater of Bake and Destroy interviews former vegan and baker extraordinaire Michelle Garcia of Bleeding Heart Bakery on baking philosophy, butter alternatives, and making that perfect vegan chocolate cupcake.

Easter Without the Meat

Setting up a vegetarian Easter in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

A BYO Bonanza

GoBYO is a nifty little website that catalogs restaurants in the area where you can bring your own wine. Among other features, their database lets you know if a restaurant is solely BYO, if they serve wine but allow you to BYO, and the corkage fee. Chicago (including suburbs) is one of ten cities/regions covered by the site.

Hot Doug Drop Drops

Hot Doug's has put a stop to unofficial delivery service, but it could blossom into something more. (Hot Doug's will remain the same, though.)

How the Mighty Have Fallen

New City published its 100 Essential Restaurants list, and for the first time, Charlie Trotter's isn't one of them.

Encased Meats, Delivered -- for Now

Hot Doug Drop is a new service that delivers Hot Doug's to drop-off locations at the Merc and CBOT twice daily for a small fee. But it's unaffiliated with the restaurant, and owner Doug Sohn says the service's days may be numbered.

What is This, the PGA?

Bravo has announced that its new show, "Top Chef Masters," which debuts June 10, will feature three Chicago chefs -- Rick Bayless, Graham Elliot Bowles and Art Smith.

Alinea Fools Day

On April 1, Carol Blymire, the author of the foodblog Alinea at Home, posted a video of herself with Chef Grant Achatz, claiming he'd hired her to work at the restaurant. It was an elaborate and successful April Fools joke, and she explained how it came to be over the weekend.

Chocoholics Gently Weep

Just when you really crave some chocolate comfort food, Mars, Inc. is shutting down 5 of its 6 Illinois Ethel's Chocolate Lounge locations. Skokie's your last outpost in the state (or there's always Vegas).

Beer for Brains

The Chicago Zombie Pub Crawl returns to Andersonville in a couple weeks. More details in Slowdown.

A Menu for Weight Loss

The Four Seasons' executive chef Kevin Hickey is among a group of chefs who have devised their own diets -- he lost 90 pounds, and added many of his tricks to his restaurant's menu.

"If You're Really Down for it, Ask for the Brain to be Grilled"

Pork, pork everywhere in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Dunkin' Donuts: Serve Pork or Good-bye

Walid Elkhatib, the Muslim owner of a Westchester Dunkin' Donuts, is reluctantly converting his store to another donut business after a judgment that he could be denied a franchise renewal because he refused to sell pork products

Taking a Bite out of The Taste

Crain's reports that theTaste of Chicago will have 15% fewer food vendors this year.

BaconFest Cometh

That's right, an entire festival devoted to your favorite pork product, right here in Chicago. Follow @baconfestchi on Twitter or join the Facebook group.

French Toast for Dinner: 'Nuff Said

Kaitlin Olson turns her day upside down in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Cheese Pizza, Jello & Chocolate Milk

What was your school lunch like? The Healthy Schools Campaign wants your "most vivid memory of school food" -- and you could win a panini maker for it.

Weeklong Bender

WhiskyFest is still a week away, but the party starts tonight. Jill Jaracz rounds up your whisky (and whiskey) options in Drive-Thru.

Foie Gras Back in the News

Chef Didier Durand has announced plans to open a foie gras museum in his restaurant, Cyrano's Bistrot. Meanwhile, Mark Caro's Foie Gras Wars is selling like, um, foie gras.

Eating Cincinnati

Chris Brunn goes on a vegan vacation in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Heartland Cafe Reopens

After being briefly closed by the Chicago Department Of Public Health, the Heartland Cafe reopened last night. Heartland owner Katy Hogan felt the inspection was fair, and gave the building an opportunity for an overdue renovation.

Beer, Here

New Chicago breweries Metropolitan and Half Acre got some good press today, both in the Tribune and in the Wall Street Journal.

Small On Size, Big On Soccer

Tailgate's Steve Gillies continues his excellent series on the city's best soccer-watching bars to get your footy on. Today: The Small Bar.

Heartland Café Closed by Health Department

The Heartland Café was closed by the city Health Department on Thursday after inspectors found a variety of problems. Meanwhile, the restaurant's website says it's "closed for renovations," with a "reopening celebration" in the works.

Save Room for Pie

Made from scratch pies by Paula Haney (Trio, 312 Chicago, One Sixtyblue) have been at the Green City Market for two years, but as of tomorrow the mama in Hoosier Mama Pie Company has her own three-table bakeshop. Located at 1618½ W. Chicago Avenue, it features an open kitchen, '40s decor, and a rotating menu from dozens of seasonal selections available by the six- or nine-inch pie, slice, or flight.

Eating on the Cheap

We revisit Depression-era recipes to liven up our current Depression in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Close It Out

Did you know that setting a minimum on credit card tabs is against credit card company rules? Bars do it anyway.

Achatz on Oprah

Chef Grant Achatz appeared on Oprah this morning, talking about his cancer diagnosis and recovery. Chicago Celebrity Examiner has a couple quotes from the show; catch it again on ABC-7 tonight at 11:05.

Cross-reference That Cookbook

Recipe Comparison is a local site that allows you to search for recipes and compare them across several major recipe sites. Great for dishes where there's no one way to do it.

Dog Gone?

Time Out Chicago is reporting that Rockstar Dogs, the only place in Chicago where a person could shamelessly order a footlong "Tommy Lee", may be no more.

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy birthday to you! Watch out for the zombies! Happy Birthday to you!

When Dinner Freezes Over

Cooking becomes a party in your refrigerator in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Beer, Dog & Cracker Jack

The Sugar Syndicate created a quintessential Chicago birthday cake for one lucky Cubs fan. (I'd request a Sox version.)

Soup's On Tonight

Come to The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, tonight between 5 and 8pm for a bowl of tasty soup lovingly cooked by the Drive-Thru staff (along with Columbia film prof Dan Rybicky and dietitian Bettina Tahsin, and fresh-baked bread from Hugh Amano) as part of the bar's weekly Soup and Bread event, which is a fundraiser for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Donations encouraged.

Celebrate Shrove Tuesday with Donuts

Come celebrate the Polish tradition of Paczki Day with Illinois State Rep. John Fritchey at the Jefferson Park Blue Line Stop, 6:30-8:30am.

The French Word for Doughnut, but the American Word for Love

The excellence of beignets gets the spotlight in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Sweet and Wet

The origins of deep dish pizza may be shrouded in controversy, but the origins of Italian beef, are much clearer. The Straight Dope gives a taste of the sandwich's past, present and future.

OMG Obama Sushi

I'm speechless (mainly because I can't read Japanese). [via]

Days Of Our Knives

Want to be on the next season of Top Chef? Helen Rosner of MenuPages has got the scoop for aspiring cheftestants in Chicago.

New Stimulus Package Idea

Table Fifty-Two has been swamped with reservation requests since word leaked about the Obamas' Valentine's Day dinner there. As of Monday afternoon, Saturdays were booked through the end of March. I wonder if they'd have the same effect at any restaurant they visited...

Tamale Guy Tracker

The search for the Tamale Guy just got a little easier with Twitter.

Permanent Discount

Here's an interesting Valentine's Day deal: Angels and Kings, 710 N. Clark, is offering a free bottle of Champagne to anyone with a tattoo of someone's name. Offer's good while supplies last, starting at 8pm.

All's Fair in Love and War

Here's a dinner conversation topic for you and yours this weekend: tomorrow marks the eightieth anniversary of the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, when seven members of George "Bugs" Moran's gang were shot down in a garage at 2122 North Clark (which is now a small park) by associates of Al Capone, several of whom were dressed as Chicago police (how interesting).

Cooking with Twitter

In this week's Drive-Thru feature, we discover that Twitter can be used for purposes other than broadcasting opinions about your cat.

Back in the Kitchen

Anxious to get a taste of what "Top Chef" alum Dale Levitski may be cooking up at his new restaurant? Well, Relax and eat up every Thursday (if you can get a reservation). [via]

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

MenuPages Chicago blog offers four restaurants at which to dump your significant other. (Share your best/worst/craziest break-up story in Fuel right now.)

Bleeding Heart Busted

The popular Bleeding Heart Bakery on Belmont Ave. was shuttered this week by the Chicago Dept. of Health for code violations. Eep. UPDATE: The bakery put out a statement about the closure.

Everyone is Splitting Up

The bill, that is. Separate checks are apparently on the rise as people feel the economic pinch in their wallets.

Drunken Goat News

No, not about Cubs fans. Serious Eats has an interview with Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard about her upcoming restaurant, The Drunken Goat. She mentions she's on Twitter, and MenuPages Chicago cleverly tracked down her account.

What a Long, Strange Tofu Trip it's Been

Yu Kizawa discovers a new, wacky Japanese tofu at Mitsuwa and her life is changed forever in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Bourdain's Chicago Photo Journal

The Chicago episode of Anthony Bourdain's television show No Reservations aired on Monday, and ever since I've been in withdrawl. But never fear! The Chicago photo journal is up on the show's site. [Vegetarians note: After the jump, there are serious photos of sausages.] Update: And note the episode's Google map of dining locations along with video of missing scenes/locations (Ramova Grill, a tour of the Tom Tom Tamales Factory) here.

Contest with No Reservations

As mentioned yesterday, we're running a contest in Drive-Thru -- if you caught last night's episode of "No Reservations," answer our trivia question for a chance to win!

Part of a Healthy Breakfast

Or maybe not, in the case of this gargantuan Frosted Mini-Wheats cluster found in a Chicagoan's cereal box.

Anthony Bourdain X-Treme Prize Giveaway

Celebchef Anthony Bourdain will be spotlighting the foods of Chicago on his show "No Reservations"; the episode premieres tonight at 9pm on the Travel Channel. We will be liveblogging and giving away an awesome prize during the show, so stop by Drive-Thru later tonight for details on how to win.

Cooking in Half-Time

The Drive-Thru staff lists their favorite cooking shortcuts in this week's feature.

A Kitchen Savant

GQ's Alan Richman profiles Schwa's Michael Carlson and gains new insight into the restaurant's abrupt closure and reopening.

Champagne Taste, Beer Bottle Pockets

Sky Full of Bacon went to Food Network chef Sandra Lee for semi-homemade suggestions on how to reproduce some of Alinea's greatest hits for a fraction of the cost. Or did they?

Bottles at the Ready

You're going to need a lot of booze if you play along with Chicagoist's Blagojevich drinking game during his appearance on "Larry King Live" tonight.

Deer in the Headlights...of Your Kitchen

Andie Thomalla cooks with venison in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Mapping Dinner

Thinking about Restaurant Week reservations? The Local Tourist has made a handy Googlemap of the participating restaurants, so you know which are closest to you.

Chips Ahoy

Jill Jaracz goes on a hunt to find a replacement for her beloved Jay's Zestidos in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Capitol Beer

Another Chicago product is heading to DC this week. Goose Island will soon feature in the district's public houses.

One Good Meal Returns

The venerable One Good Meal has new digs over at Drive-Thru, and she's making soup this week.

The City That Never Sleeps?

And you thought it was the relentless winter weather, skyrocketing cost-of-living and hit-or-miss public transportation that was putting you on edge here in Chicago. Nope. Turns out we're the third most caffeinated city in America. Step away from the Coca-Cola...

Impalatable Tradition, Cheap.

Beginning tomorrow, enjoy (?) $2 shots of the Chicago-based, widely considered vile Jeppson's Malort at Stadium West.

Tlaxcalli Anyone?

In conjunction with the Aztec World exhibit at the Field Museum several area restaurants will be offering Aztec inspired food and drink. Taste of the Aztec World starts a week-long run this Sunday.

It's Tamale Time

A childhood treat gets remade with adult eyes in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Blago Burger

Kuma's Corner's January special is particularly topical: the "#@(*&%^ Blagojevich" consists of a 10 oz. hamburger patty, thick sliced bologna and yellow mustard between two grilled cheese sandwiches (made with American cheese and wonder bread), and a large dollar sign written in mustard.

Cheap Eats Ahead

The participants for this year's Chicago Restaurant Week have been announced; start making your reservations for Feb. 20-27 now.

The Good and the Meh

The Drive-Thru staff reflects on the highs and lows of their year of Chicago eating in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

O'Hare: First in Flight, Last in Food

The New York Times takes a look at seven airports to see what kind of food awaits travelers hoping for a bit in between flights. O'Hare ranks at the bottom of the list of airport cuisine: "particularly disappointing since Chicago is one of America's great restaurant cities." [via]

Getting More Than What You Paid For

The Trib's investigation of food mislabeling and hidden allergens found 117 products that violate federal law. While seeking the correct ingredient listings, it also conducted more food laboratory tests than the USDA and FDA have done -- combined -- over the last several years. How many tests did the Trib do? Fifty.

The Mystery of Nut Breads

A Chicagoan recounts her ongoing journey for the perfect potica recipe in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Even if You Lost, You Really Won

A kolacky recipe won this year's Trib holiday cookie contest, but a badass recipe for rogaliki gave it a wedgie and shoved it in a locker afterwards in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Gingerbread Masterpiece

April Reed Cake Design is selling a gingerbread version of Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House. The original, located in Plano, Illinois, was sold to local preservationists in December 2003 for $7.5 million. This edible treat sells for $4,320 - 15% of proceeds pays for repairs to the real house. [via]

Indian Done Right

Chris Brunn takes on the task of making sambar in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

The Obama Food Tour

Where does Obama eat in Chicago? Anywhere he wants. Actually, Sky Full of Bacon has a more precise list.

Ready for Repeal Day?

This Friday marks the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. 312 Dining Diva has a list of all the parties going on to celebrate.

Harry's Hot Dogs Doomed?

It's Demon Dogs all over again: developers are planning on buying up the Showman's League of America Building at 300 W. Randolph for office building development. That building, as you may or may not know, houses Harry's Hot Dogs, which has been around for over 50 years yet (according to the Yelp reviews) still features the original Harry! Better get your hot dogs now before Harry's closes up...

It's Turkey Time

Mandy Burrell Booth gives us the skinny on decadent turkey cooking in this week's Drive-Thru Feature.

City of Big Truffles

You probably aren't familiar with the saga of the Giant Italian Truffle, which has failed to find a home here in the States... until it reached Chicago, that is.

Lunch Planning

Speaking of lunch in the Loop, the Tribune has a foodporn gallery of some of their favorites.

Tiny Thanksgiving Treat

This week, diners at The Café at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago will be treated to "Thanksgiving Dinner in One Bite", an amuse-bouche that combines all the tastes of a traditional Thanksgiving meal into a single forkful.

Crispy Goodness

The Reader has a mouth watering piece on Cafecito, a new Cuban sandwich spot in the South Loop. I haven't tried it but it sounds like the owner definitely did his homework, even researching my neighborhood's favorite whole in the wall, El Cubanito.

Top Cupcake

File under "Nom Nom Nom": Top Chef cupcakes are back at the Bleeding Heart Bakery.

Now is the Time for Tater Tots and Cream Soups

Kaitlin Olson introduces us to the venerable Hot Dish in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

The Master Sommelier Blogs

"Check Please!" host Alpana Singh has a blog.

Potbelly Gets Crafty

Who knew that employees at Chicago-based Potbelly Sandwich Works were so into DIY and being green?

Not So Sweet

Wicker Park's Sweet Thang lost its lease and moved to Roscoe Village earlier this year. Now it's closed again -- embroiled in the same strange scandal that swirled around the closing of Sweet Occasions. Read more in Drive-Thru.

Presidents Can't Go Hungry!

The owners of Italian Fiesta Pizzeria, one of Barack Obama's favorite restaurants, are being flown out to Washington for the Presidential Inauguration Expo, an event that will preview the food to be served come inauguration time.

Reverse Mugging

Watch your pockets. A creepy guy in a mask might just stick something in them.

Happiness is a Warm Meatball

The weather is getting colder, the economy is getting weaker, and relief seems to be nowhere in sight...so why not cozy up to a meatball in this week's Drive-Thru feature?

Make Your Reservations Now

The Reader's 2008 best restaurants list is out, along with some notable runners-up. (You might also want to check out places the chefs eat.)

Goose Island Clybourn Staying Open

The original Clybourn location of the Goose Island Beer Company will stay open, thanks to a renegotiated lease. "I could not be happier," said founder John Hall in a press release. "I felt terrible, like I was losing a part of my family. We would not have been able to reach an agreement with our landlord without the support of our loyal customers. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support with e-mails, letters, and petitions."

A President's Gotta Eat

Sure, there will be a few important Cabinet positions to fill in the coming months, but what we really want to know is who will be cooking up the cuisine at the White House? The Obamas may be bringing a bit of local flavor with them to D.C., though it sounds like they are still partial to Spiaggia for special occasions.

The Numbers Have It

Meet Chicagoan Nate Silver, the U Chicago grad and statistics whiz behind fivethirtyeight.com, the election data analysis site that has "helped make sense of some of the things that didn't seem sensible."

Eat Noodles, Help a Cause

On Wednesday, November 12 Noodles & Co. (2813 N. Broadway) will donate 25% of all sales toward the Weisman Park renovation project. Donations accrue on sales between 4 PM and 10 PM, and you must have this flyer to have your sale count.

Left to Her Own Devices

Drive-Thru staffer Yu Kizawa stumbles upon every chef's fantasy--a deeply discounted Kitchen Aid mixer--and the results are life-transforming in this week's feature.

Vote and Get Fed Today

Many national chains are offering special free items if you vote (most, if not all, won't require you to show your "I Voted" sticker or slip as proof, either). Get in on some free coffee, donuts, chicken strips, or ice cream at participating businesses.

It's Not a "Diet," it's a "Live-it"

A change in administration...of the self in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

This Place Ain't Sexy

"The Squirrel," a blog by an anonymous Chicago restaurant worker, is one of the more entertaining reads I've come across in awhile.

You, Too Can Make Guava Foam

GB Editor Andrew Huff sits down with Michael Nagrant to talk about his newest project, co-authoring the Alinea cookbook, in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Earwax Café Under Fire

Popular Wicker Park eatery Earwax Café, 1561 N. Milwaukee Ave., was ordered to close after Chicago Department of Public Health inspectors found rat feces in a basement storage area, holes in walls that allowed insects and rodents to come in and a poorly maintained outside garbage container, the Tribune reports.

Chronicling the Red Hot Lovers

UIC News recently profiled reference librarian Lynn Westney, author of the ever-popular article "Dew Drop Inn and Lettuce Entertain You: Onomastic Sobriquets in the Food and Beverage Industry."

Beer Me a Medal

This week's Drive-Thru feature covers this year's Great American Beer Festival, which was heavy with Chicagoland brewers vying for national recognition.

Goose Island's Last Day on Clybourn

The Chicago Beer Society's e-mail listserv was buzzing over the weekend after Goose Island Brewing Company annouced they'd be closing their Clybourn Avenue brewpub on December 21.

Eating Bodega-Style

The Drive-Thru staff talks about our latest cooking and party adventure in this week's feature.

Full-bodied Bunny

Behold... the Playboy Wine Collection. The collectible bottles, each paired with a vintage magazine cover, are sold individually or as part of a subscription. [via]

Sandwich Wars

If the Fuel question for today has gotten you thinking about your lunchtime eating options, consider that Potbelly has unveiled a new sandwich to complete with the piled-high-with-meat options at Quizno's and Subway.

A Restaurant with Wireless (not that kind)

A Chinese restaurant in Urbana, IL (if you know which one, let me know) has started using a wireless remote to let customers summon their waiter for food, water, the check, or just regular old attention. Makes me want to roadtrip for some ma po tofu.

Stepping to the Plate

We look at Chicago Gourmet through the eyes of a volunteer in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Alinea: The Home Game

Mike Sula from the Reader goes to the launch party of the new Alinea cookbook (there's an Alinea cookbook? Yes!), held at Wired NextFest (NextFest is back? Yes!).

Mayor Places Sausage, Nuts on the Line

Showing faith in a White Sox win, the mayor has bet three Florida mayors that the White Sox will beat the Tampa Bay Rays. Apparently seeking intestinal vengeance, should he lose, Daley has wagered Vitner potato chips, Lemonheads from Ferrara Pan Candy, a "Pepsi for a Year" certificate, assorted peanuts, sunflower seeds, and trail mix from Fisher Nuts, and 100 Vienna Beef Polish sausages. Why, the headline just wrote itself, didn't it?

Another Chicago Chef Could Be "Top"

Competing in the next season of Bravo's "Top Chef" is Chicagoan Radhika Desai, executive chef of Between Boutique Café & Lounge. Let's hope she can bring home the title, just like Stephanie Izard did last spring.

(No) Soup For You? It Depends.

Groupon, a Chicago startup, will offer daily coupons for local events, services, hotels, eateries and more. The twist? You only get the deal if enough people sign up for it. If not - well, you know.

Pancakes, My Treat

Well, while Wrigleyville bar owners have agreed to stop alcohol sales after the seventh inning during the playoffs, Joe Fournier has an amusing take on Da Mayor's plan for good, clean fun in Lakeview.

Palin Spotted @ Old Town Ale House

A nude painting of vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin (or is it Second City alum Tina Fey?) now graces the wall at the Old Town Ale House.

Eating Around the World

This week's Drive-Thru feature takes us on a trip to eat the foods of Denmark and India through a Chicagoan's eyes.

The Daily Achatz

Eater Chicago may not be bowing until next month, but the love for "Chicago's darling" Grant Achatz has been simmering for a while. Get a taste of "The Daily Achatz".

Will There Be Cocoa-Ed Dorms?

Something called the U.S. Chocolate Academy, created by the Barry Callebaut company, is coming to Chicago. It's the first one in the US.; the other is in Russia. Sweet.

7th Inning Dry Stretch

The City is asking Wrigleyville bars to stop serving after the 7th inning during Cubs playoff games to avoid mayhem in the streets. Share your opinion in Tailgate.

Not So All Beef

Turns out Vienna's "all beef" hot dogs haven't been quite 100 percent. Get in on the class action lawsuit.

Food First, Seeing the Eternal Union of Todd and Lisa Second

This week's Drive-Thru feature explores some of the newest trends in delicious, memorable wedding reception eats.

Mai Tais by Thanksgiving?

The Sun-Times has an update on Trader Vic's return to Chicago. The restaurant is scheduled to return in late November at Newberry Plaza (1030 N. State). In anticipation of the grand re-opening, they've put out the giant tiki head that used to sit in front of the original Chicago location, so you can't miss the new restaurant.

Not Manic For Organic?

Organic food may be all the rage these days, but according to the Chicago Reporter, the pesticide-free food is hard to come by in minority communities, for various reasons.

Top Dog

GQ's food critic, Alan Richman, who has previously deemed Chicago "the best restaurant city in America," recently attempted his own version of a hot dog crawl to see how our dogs compare to those in NYC. [via]

Gourmet Discount

Thinking about going to Chicago Gourmet, the new high-end food and wine festival in Millennium Park next week? Use the code CG2008TEN when you buy your tickets and you'll get 10 percent off.

Following Achatz's Footsteps

In 2007, Carol Blymire decided she would try cooking every recipe in the French Laundry Cookbook and blog the experience. The project proved wildly popular, and now she's set her sites* on Grant Achatz's forthcoming cookbook. (You can preorder Alinea from Amazon for just $31.50.) Chicago MenuPages Blog interviews Blymire about Alinea at Home. *Pun intended.

Cooking with Sandra

We catch up with Food Network celebrity and cookbook author Sandra Lee in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Right On 'Cue

Chicago native Scott Johnson barbecues for a cause: to fight cancer. He donates his winnings in national competitions to a cancer research foundation. That's nice, but his reasons for getting into barbecuing might tick a few people off: he points to "the lack of quality barbecue cuisine in his native Chicago." Ahem...

September 11th Cake at Swedish Bakery

The title says it all.

Tag Team Baking

If you're setting your Tivo for the weekend, don't neglect to catch the Chicago chef Michelle Garcia of Bleeding Heart Bakery compete in the Food Network Challenge: Tag Team Cakes on Sunday at 8pm. The chefs didn't know who they'd be paired with for the competition, but if this snapshot of the final product is any indicator, I say it was a productive (and likely, delicious) pairing.

Summer in a Jar

You don't need to struggle to chow down the last of the season's produce. This week's Drive-Thru feature is all about what you can do to enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits far into winter...from a jar.

Michelle O. to cook with Paula D.

Michelle Obama will be a guest at "Paula's Party" on the Food Network. Besides sharing details about life on the campaign trail, Michelle will learn how to make host Paula Deen's Fried Shrimp and Creole French Fries. Put on your eating pants and tune in on Saturday, September 20 at 7:00 pm ET/CT.

Lettuce Entertain You ...Differently

Restaurant empire Lettuce Entertain You is branching out beyond food with a two-hour internet radio show featuring Mike North, who left WSCR in June. The show debuts Monday, Sept. 8, from 9 to 11am on WildfireRestaurant.com, and will be available as a podcast on iTunes and North's website later in the day.

Moving the Bar

Drunken Service Announcement: The Chicago Bar Project has had some trouble with their hosting company, and are now at ChiBarProject.com.

Better Than a Bag of Peanuts and Half a Can of Pepsi

This week's Drive-Thru feature takes a train trip and has a dining experience that ought to be in pictures. And is.

Burning Up the Kitchen

Thinking of opening a restaurant? Unless you're able to luck out like Smoque, think again.

Taste Of Melrose Park!!!

Can't stand politics? Then while the time away with the absolutely unfunny entertainment of "Taste Of Melrose Park" broadcasting on Channel 19's "Star Performers". (And in other news, the Taste Of Melrose Park is this weekend. Samples under $2, city's Web site is down, and LTHForum makes it sound awesome.)

Drunk on the Train from Chicago

Last call on Metra's bar cars comes this weekend.

Attacking Hot Dogs Upsets the Hot Dog Council

A group called The Cancer Project is going to run ads in our neck of the woods in September critiquing hot dogs and school lunches. Among those who are mad are the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council. Yes, there is a National Hot Dog & Sausage Council.

Come on-a My House

Olympian Michael Phelps can eat 12,000 calories' worth of pasta, pizza and fried egg sandwiches each day. Wouldn't he enjoy spending his mealtimes gorging on Chicago foods instead? Our Drive-Thru feature for this week investigates.

Vote for Chicago's Veggie Establishments

VegNews is currently accepting votes for the 2008 Veggie Awards, which feature the Chicago Diner, the Bleeding Heart Bakery and products from the Chicago Soydairy, among others.

Nine Feet of Discomfort

Shaw's would like you to know the tapeworm did not come from them. Of course, the guy with the lawsuit doesn't see it that way.

It's Sonic Day!

In our continuing coverage of the arrival of Sonic burgers in the Chicago area (actually Aurora), the fast food chain with the omnipresent commercials finally opens today. And apparently not a moment too soon.

Put On Your Beer Goggles & Suit Up

It's time for the Chicago Bar Olympics, a tournament of bar games being held at 15 bars across the city. If you're not up for the travel, maybe just the Beer Olympics at either Mahoney's or Cortland's Garage would suffice.

Wisconsin is for the Thirsty

GB staffer Dana Currier recaps a weekend spent visiting three Madison-area breweries in this week's Drive-Thru feature. You may want to scrap your weekend plans and brave I-90 for the trip to Sconnie's capitol (only three hours away!).

Learn the Secrets of the Rosetta

Want to learn how to do latte art at home? Intelligentsia will teach you how. (Thanks, Shirley!)

Really? Not In-and-Out?

If you were a mega-bazillionaire and the fast food joint you loved didn't exist in your home town, what would you do? Well, buy a franchise license and start picking spots of course. Get ready for Fatburger Chicagoans.

Providence!?!

According to Forbes, we're the fifth hardest drinking town in the nation. We were outdrunk by, in descending order, Austin, Milwaukee, San Francisco, and... Providence, RI. Really?

Anthony Bourdain eats and films at Hot Doug's

Tony eats encased meat, my friend.

Nine Dogs, 17.8 Miles

According to their website, Bike The Dog is "Chicago's Premier Gastronomic Cycling Challenge." They're inviting bikers of any skill level to join them on September 13th for an almost-eighteen-mile trek through the north and northwest sides, sampling the wares at nine quintessential Chicago hot dog locations. It's a pledge-based event, with raised funds benefiting the family of Stella Ackerman, a two-and-a-half-year-old living with a rare blood disorder. More info.

Hot Eats, Cool Treats, LEED Certification

A visit to Wicker Park's new Dairy Queen/Orange Julius store is a sentimental trip down memory lane amidst a sea of stores that sell $200 t-shirts in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Hot Doug's Unveils New Chicago Dog

Today's the day that Hot Doug's unveils the winner in Time Out Chicago's recent hot dog recipe contest, The New Chicago. TOC will be at Hot Doug's today to celebrate; details in Slowdown.

Chewing Up the Charts

Singer Chris Brown's hit single "Forever" is also a paid ad placement for Wrigley's Doublemint gum; Wrigley has two more song-commercials in the works.

Snacking on Shrubbery

Nance Klehm teaches people about the edible plants growing throughout the city.

Soup's On...Ice

To combat the oppressive heat, Lori Barrett is cooking up chilled soups in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Bell's Back in Town

Remember when Bell's vanished? It's back.

Yet Another Googlemap - Cheap Date Edition

UEatCheap.com, now in alpha.

But Where Will the Tourists Eat?

The Bennigan's across from the Art Institute was abruptly closed today, along with the rest of the nationwide chain. The Stew's Lara Weber pays tribute to the tourist favorite.

Shop Talk for Chefs & Servers

If you're in the restaurant or hospitality industry, check out FohBoh, a new social network.

Cooking and Playing with Fire

The blood, sweat and bain maries of making crème brûlée at home is chronicled in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

The Edible Presidential Candidate

I've seen a lot of Obama products in the last few months, but none of them compare to the Obama lollipop.

The Next Hot Doug Dog

Speaking of hot dogs, the finalists have been chosen in Time Out's contest to create the next encased meat special for Hot Doug's. Go vote now!

Get Your Frank On

The GB Drive-Thru staff reviews some of the city's best (and meh) hot dogs in this week's Feature story.

18 Chicago Starbucks to Close

Crain's tells us which ones will vanish.

Maybe This One Won't Have Rats

Obviously interested in Whole Foods' market segment, Jewel's going to open a new concept store called "Urban Fresh, by Jewel" in Lincoln Park in the fall.

Egg Over Wrigley

The McDonalds across from Wrigley Field is displaying an unusual billboard right now. [via]

More Free Stuff

It's Free Slurpee Day today! Also, enter to win a designer t-shirt from Chicago magazine, or $10,000 for your own design sense.

Berry Good

This week's Drive-Thru feature takes a look at the glories (and widespread availability) of the mulberry.

It's Beer Thirty

For those of you of that have graduated from Miller Lite and Bud (and no, Icehouse doesn't count) Chicago Mag's events editor is keeping a great blog, Get to the Pint, on drinking good suds in the city.

Failed Health Inspection Shutters Whole Foods

Attention urban food snobs: according to an email alert that’s not yet available online, the Chicago Department of Public Health has ordered the Whole Foods on North Ave. closed “after CDPH inspectors found mouse feces throughout the premises, including more than 100 droppings in one walk-in cooler alone. Also found was a dead mouse on a glueboard trap.” Resisting urge to make sarcastic “organic” jab...

Sayonara, Venti Coffee

Intelligentsia Coffee is ditching the 20-ounce size of its coffee and espresso drinks -- out of respect for the coffee. The owner says: "Drinking our coffee is not like drinking jug wine."

How Local Can You Go?

Sky Full of Bacon looks into the trend.

Foam: It's What's for Dinner

GB Staffer Lori Barrett takes on the world of homemade molecular gastronomy in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

I Can Has Hotdog?

Time Out Chicago have got a killer contest running right now: create your own Hot Doug's hot dog. Readers can submit their ideas for new encased meats or toppings, and Hot Doug himself will select finalists that readers will vote on. The winning entry will actually be made and featured at the restaurant for a week. Check out Hot Doug's menu to get some idea of their regular fare. You'd better think quickly, though, because entries are due in one week!

Mmm, Jibaritos.

Does Chicago have a signature dish? Must it be deep dish pizza?

Taste(less) of Chicago

Professional curmudgeon and columnist Thomas Roeser absolutely trashes the Taste of Chicago experience as "a sad trampling of civility" and says that it reduces the dining experience to "ashes and banal barbarism." But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Barleycorn's in Bridgeport?

The Sun-Times uncovers that Jimbo's Lounge's landlord wants the 22-year-old bar out so he can bring in an outpost of John Barleycorn.

Love, Italian Style

GB staffer Mandy Burrell updates us on her culinary adventures while on a European honeymoon in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

It's Bacon!

One of the reasons I love Chicago. (vegetarians and vegans look away) [via]

Figaro Fries

Because one fat lady is never enough, the Lyric Opera has announced plans to open a restaurant and bar.

Give Hot Dogs a Break

This week's Drive-Thru feature gives you some very tasty Japanese-influenced suggestions for your grilling endeavors.

Don't Get Trapped

Got family visiting from out of town? Centerstage suggests some alternatives to the standard tourist traps.

You Say Tomato and I Say...

...you might want to make a note of one particular restaurant chain in Chicago, which has been pinpointed by the Chicago Department of Public Health as one of the major sources of the local tomato-based salmonella outbreak.

Sonic Commercials: Not Just Torture Anymore

The road to a tasty Cherry Limeade just got a little shorter: Sonic plans to open four new drive-ins near Chicago in the next year. Aurora, IL, here I come.

The Big Apple is Vegan

Get out of town with this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Talking to Stephanie

Chicago's own Chef Stephanie Izard is a finalist on "Top Chef," and she's going to be answering reader questions on the Tribune's website starting at 1pm tomorrow. Here's an interview with her to get your interrogation juices flowing.

New Chicago Reader Website: Drinks

The Reader will be launching a new nightlife site this week: drinks.chicagoreader.com. The site isn't live yet, but it's mentioned in the official flickr group.

Top Chef Chicago Reaches the End of the Line

Wednesday night marks the end of a very special season of Top Chef; Drive-Thru will be covering the spectacle, play by play. The show starts locally at 9pm, allowing you plenty of time for So You Think You Can Dance. I watch a lot of television.

BYO Cracker Jacks

The NY Times has a story and interactive map (written by a native Chicagoan) detailing the culinary hits (ha ha) and misses at some of the nation's ballparks. Wrigley Field ranked a good dog and a bad dog, and the Cell, well, has a lot of room for improvement.

Eating from the Urban Earth

In a less popularized form of urban foraging, Nance Klehm seeks food and medicine from plants along railroad tracks and other urban oases.

Top Chef Chicago

Congratulations to Grant Achatz of Alinea, who was named Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation.

Everything Old is New Again

Reunitings, separations, and new encounters with restaurants in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Cheap Eating in Time Out

Time Out focuses on cheap eats this week, following seven chefs, from Rick Bayless to Le Lan's Bill Kim, to their ethnic food faves.

(Pork) Bellying Up to the Finish Line

After a dizzying display of plantain usage in Puerto Rico, the finalists are chosen in this week's Top Chef recap over in Drive-Thru.

Midwest Wine Country

Looking for a unique activity for an upcoming summer weekend? How 'bout a tour of Michigan wineries?

Freelancers, Load Up on Coffee

It looks as though the rumors are true: Starbucks will be making its wifi "free" tomorrow. Of course, there's a catch on that free part: you have to have a Starbucks card, and you only get two hours a day.

Eating ChiVegas

Is Chicago's dining scene becoming "vegasized?" David Tamarkin thinks so.

Steakout!

The cheftestants throw on the chainmail to get their carve on, Padma shows off her high, high waist (eat your heart out, Rushdie) and the contest prepares to leave Chicago in this week's Top Chef recap over in Drive-Thru.

Italians on Pizza

Speaking of opinions on food, Chi-Town Daily News' two Italian interns take stock of Chicago's pizza, and declare Pizza D.O.C. the best.

French Fry Heaven

On Chowhound, they're talking about who has the best fries in Chicagoland. [via] Name your own faves in Fuel.

Rock the Cupcake

Buy a cupcake from the Bleeding Heart Bakery during the month of June, and they'll donate $1 to Girls Rock! Chicago. Plus you'll get to eat a cupcake -- or, give it to me.

From Scripture Candy to Crackheads

The Onion's A.V. Club spend some time at the All Candy Expo at McCormick Place and give us the details on all the strange products they tried.

Mini Quiches are For Lovers

The food of wedding receptions is both fondly and not fondly remembered in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

U-Pick It, U-Buy it

Now that the permafrost has broken, head out into the hinterlands for some delicious produce.

Anthony Bourdain Takes His Laksa Seriously

The celebchefs shop at Pier One and sniff around Lou Mitchell's, and a rising star goes sous vide in this week's Top Chef recap over in Drive-Thru.

Chicago Gourmet Will Eat a Hole in Your Wallet

Going to Chicago Gourmet, a new high end culinary festival planned for late September, will cost you a pretty penny. Details in Drive-Thru.

Who's Bringing the Soy Milk?

If you're trying to get to work today via the I-80, you're already well aware that a semi carrying 10 tons of Oreo cookies crashed near Morris, IL early this morning. Although crews had successfully brushed the last of the crumbs to the side of the road by 6 am, the morning commute for those going eastbound is still totally dunked.

Greek Week

Greek Orthodox Easter has passed, but that's hardly a reason to not read this week's Drive-Thru feature about the eats of this holiday.

Get in Line

Free food today from McDonald's & Dunkin' Donuts.

Burned Rice, Sexy Salads

...and my fantasy boyfriend Sam Talbot returns to the kitchen in this week's Top Chef recap over in Drive Thru.

Superdawg in the Suburbs

Looks like the magic behind Superdawg will be coming to Wheeling soon when they take their drive-in with the best hot dogs in the universe to Restaurant Row. Favorite quote: "The 12-foot hot dog statues on top of the building -- representing Maurie and Flaurie -- will be 14 feet in Wheeling."

Not the Taste of Chicago

Details are still murky, but the Illinois Restaurant Association and the city are planning a gourmet version of the Taste.

Texas-Sized Veganism

Chris Brunn, our resident guru of all things vegan, hits up Austin's eateries in this week's Drive Thru feature.

Twinkies for Troops

A group of students in South Holland, IL deploy 1,000 snack cakes to Iraq.

Rodent Infestation at O'Hare?

WGN says so. O'Hare says "no."

Grant Achatz and Cancer

The New Yorker tells the story of Grant Achatz's battle with cancer in the context of the rise of his career. (There's a nice photo set, too.)

The Business of Candy

Now that the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company will no longer be locally owned, who's Chicago's biggest name in candy? Tootsie Roll Industries, that's who.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

In this week's Drive-Thru feature, Gemma makes a beer run--to Indiana.

Cookies, Pastries and Fast Food

Pamela Mitchell Johnson paints food we love to eat.

Tomatoes and Peanut Butter Go Quite Well Together, Thank You

In this week's Top Chef episode recap over at Drive-Thru: corporate rice product placements, cute child labor in the kitchen, and a Hobbit gets schooled.

Red Bull or Just Bull?

The makers of Red Bull have won a six-figure settlement in a lawsuit against the local nightclub Wet for passing off a generic energy drink as their more famous product in their cocktails. The nightclub's website is strangely unavailable.

'Hell' Coming to Chicago

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey, of "Hell's Kitchen" fame, is set to open a restaurant here in Chicago. Will it have yelling and non-yelling sections?

Taste's DC Preview Far Better than the Real Thing

What a different creature Taste of Chicago would be if Rick Bayless, Shawn McClain, Art Smith and other top chefs had booths here and not just in DC.

The Real Top Chefs

This week's Drive-Thru feature is about local business Fig Catering, which makes the kind of inventive food you'd expect in a good restaurant.

Giggles and Depressed Bacon

Bowl licking, a trip to Second City, and asparagus doesn't keep it up in this week's Top Chef recap over at Drive-Thru.

Listen Up, Drunkie

This week marks the beginning of the annual 2nd Story Festival, wherein writer/performers regale you with tales, accompanied by a DJ. Organizers predict that over the course of the festival, they'll serve 5,000 glasses of wine. Place bets now on how many will be yours.

The End of an Era

The last neighborhood tavern in Wrigleyville is on the verge of closure. Farewell to the Nisei Lounge.

Eating on the Cheap

Did your wallet take a hit this past Tuesday? Soothe your post-Tax Day woes with recipes from this week's Drive-Thru feature, where we eat well at little expense.

Top Chef Scores a Goal in the Parking Lot

Tasty tailgate parties, cooking with beer, and cocky losers in this week's Top Chef recap over in Drive-Thru.

Have Room for a Brew Pub?

Goose Island's Clybourn Brew Pub, which it has occupied since 1988, will close by the end of the year.

Rev Beer

Revolution Brewing, a new brewpub that is working on opening in Logan Square, has a neat description of how to move a brewpub from Michigan to Chicago in three days or less.

Turn that Slurpee into a Banana

This week's Drive-Thru feature updates us on what the Neighbors Project is doing to promote healthy eating at the many corner stores in the city.

Next Target, Roscoe Village

Legendary Southern California-based food franchise Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles has, um, persuaded the Bronzeville-based Rosscoe's Chicken and Waffles (note the extra "s") to change their name after a court battle.

Braving the Elements on "Top Chef"

Visits from Ming Tsai, earthy carpaccio and free trips to Italy courtesy of bacon in this week's Drive-Thru recap of "Top Chef."

Make Your Reservations Now

The 15th Annual Dining Out for Life fundraising event is April 24.

Just a Kiss of the Hops

Schlitz is coming back to Chicago next week. Can't bear the wait? Kill time with these classic ads.

The Cool Sweet Stuff Reviewed

Reviews of new contenders in the ice cream, yogurt, custard and everything like it business in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Ohio: Now Closer, Classier

The theme for Chicago's newest swanky-sounding cocktail lounge: Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm officially inspired to open a Buffalo, New York-themed martini bar. [via]

Not Just the Saganaki

Maybe we should be eating out more often, but not at Greek Islands.

Better Than a $13 Tub of Popcorn

Movies, intact digits and tapioca caviar...all in this week's Top Chef recap in Drive-Thru.

April Fool's Meal

Spatulatta, an award-winning webcast by Channel 2 reporter Vince Gerasole's daughters, features a couple April Fools recipes in case you want to have fun with dinner tonight. How about cake for dinner, with grilled cheese for dessert?

This Coffee Changes Lives

This week's Drive-Thru feature interviews a coffee importer in Chicago that is making meaningful connections with Ugandan farmers.

Cooking by Podcast

Want to learn how to cook? Check out the CHIC Podcast with Chef Tom Beckman, one of the instructors at the Cooking & Hospitality Institute of Chicago.

The "Top Chef" Train Rolls On

Missed tonight's "Top Chef" episode? We have your recap ready in Drive-Thru.

Drink Up!

On the local beverage front, Business Week profiles North Shore Distillery, an area company making high-end vodka and gin (they were previously featured in Drive-Thru), while Intelligentsia's Michael Phillips just captured the Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition behind his speciality drink, an espresso version of a Mai Tai.

Green Meets Blue

Just in time for Earth Day and Arbor Day, local sustainability company Live It Green, LLC has gotten Gerber Bars to offer the Treetini -- a martini for the environmentally conscious -- during the month of April at Whiskey Blue, Whiskey Sky bars and Mexx Kitchen at the Whiskey. Every Treetini sold results in a tree planted in India.

Coming Earth Day: Organic Frangos

Starting on April 22, Earth Day, one will be able to purchase organic Frango mints at 70 Macy's locations, as well as online. Bonus: the Trib apparently believes the news to be so big it printed the last paragraph twice.

The Trials and Tribulations of a TV Host

Padma Lakshmi, host of everyone's favorite reality television chef competition, apparently has a dangerous job. Also, "out of principle," she won't say "pack your knives and go" to people on the street. So, um, don't ask her to say that when you see her walking around town.

America's Drive-In Coming to Chicago

Good news for you fans of Sonic drive-in restaurants; there are plans afoot to open the first Chicago area location in Aurora.

Easter Just Got Sweeter

Easter memories and Polish traditions are remembered in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Cooking Like Animals for Humans

Tonight's Top Chef: a visit to the Green City Market (which reopens May 14!), animal diets, and flower centerpieces. Read the full recap at Drive-Thru.

Burt's Reopening. No Joke.

So, as soon as I grew anxious about beloved Burt's Place being closed due to illness (turns out Burt was undergoing triple bypass surgery!), the word is out at LTH Forum that the pizza destination in Morton Grove will re-open to the public on April 2 (with a special LTH Forum/Roadfood.com RSVP-only night on April 1). (Thanks, Dan!)

Sonic Booming in Aurora

Those ubiquitous Sonic hamburger commericals may finally have some relevance to the Chicago area when the company opens their first regional outlet in Aurora. All of which mean the two guys in the commercials, Chicago improv giants TJ Jagodowski and Peter Grosz, may finally be able to purchase some of the food they've been shilling.

Burt's Place Temporarily Closed

Driving up to Chicagoland pizza favorite Burt's Place last night, my heart nearly stopped when I noticed that the lights were out. Turns out that Burt is getting a "routine medical procedure" and has locked up the place until he's feeling better, probably for a few more weeks. LTH Forum has the skinny, and I'm lighting a candle for Burt.

Chef Quiz

How well do you know Chicago's top chefs? Thrillist has put together an excellent quiz, and the prizes aren't half bad either.

A Lighter Wallet = A Happier Eater?

This week's Drive-Thru feature gives the critical eye to dining experiences from Chicago Restaurant Week.

Chicken and Waffles

Word on the street is that Rosscoe's Chicken and Waffles is finally open in Bronzeville. (Note the spelling: it's an imitator, not another branch of the famous LA site.)

Deliver Me This

Just last night, I was wishing for someone to run to the store for me, and now, conveniently enough, there might just be a new addition to my speed dial. If it's late, and you've got a case of the lazies, or maybe you're just in no condition to travel, try NightOwl Deliveries. They'll deliver, for a small fee, from their growing list of participating restaurants and convenience stores. [via Daily Candy]

Table for One...Plus More

Drive-Thru Lori Barrett explores the art of cooking for large groups in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Attention Hoosier Transplants:

Ball State University alumni magazine reports that Scotty's Brewhouse will be opening in Lincoln Park this summer. Thanks, Nicola!

Mai Tai Time Again?

The Chicagoist reports (by way of Every Block) that Trader Vic's is reportedly making a return to Chicago. I'm off to buy stock in tiny cocktail umbrellas and tiki lights...

Traveling While Eating

Chris Brunn tackles the art of eating while vacationing in Tahoe in this week's Drive-Thru feature.

McSkillet Mania

Calories, schmalories. Oak Brook-based McDonald's is dishing out free McSkillet burritos this Thursday and Friday morning (The catch: You have to buy a drink.). Yeah, it has 610 calories and 36 grams of fat, but...what the heck, it's free!

Ready to Eat?

Tonight is the start of the first-ever Restaurant Week Chicago. Time Out has a list of prix-fixe menus for your perusal; make your reservations now.

Working for Charlie

Trotter talks business with Crain's.

Hot Dog Musical

Found on Songza: The Theme from Hot Doug's by bee.

Hello, Aloo Tikki!

When you head to Devon Avenue to partake in their delicious eats, take Cinnamon Cooper's wonderful guide to understanding Indian cuisine with you; it's this week's Drive-Thru feature.

Ale Night

If you like beer, especially ales that have aged in wood, then you might want to buy your tickets now for the Chicago Beer Society's "Night Of The Living Ales IV." Forty casks of the stuff will be on hand, as well as lots of things to eat.

A Week of Eating Holidays

This week's feature in our Drive-Thru section takes a look at the weird holidays designated for eating random foods, and how to get your celebrations going using the city's restaurants and bakeries.

Craving Tracker

Got a craving for something specific, but not sure where to find it? Check out FoodieBytes, which allows you to search for particular dishes, like deep fried pickles or spam, not just styles of food.

Yet Another City Guide

Like I said, they're popping up all over. Boorah.com now covers Chicago.

Vote with Your Mouth

Time Out Chicago's annual Eat Out Awards come out in about a month, and the Readers' Choice nominees are now up. Vote early and... well, you know.

Forest Park 1, Cool Kids 0

Decidedly far-from-the-center Forest Park won the "best dining neighborhood" contest in the Tribune today, beating out endlessly Yelped-about neighborhoods that need no further ink.

Vegging Out at May Street Market

It's Friday! We've got our weekly feature up over on Drive Thru! This week: Chris Brunn writes about a very special birthday dinner for his lady friend at May Street Market. With Valentine's Day coming up, this one's well worth a read. A lesson in romance, indeed.

The Department of Coincidences

If you're in New York and looking for a taste of home, head to the Upper East Side and look for a bar called Wicker Park. Its seasonal draught beer this winter is Goose Island's Honker's Ale. The waitress tonight didn't seem to find that as amusing as I did.

These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty

Auntie Anne's is offering free original and cinnamon sugar pretzels on Feb. 2, from 10am to 4pm. Come for the free pretzel, stay for the somewhat obscene pretzel dog.

Million Dollar Check, Please!

Business POV interviewed "Check Please!" executive producer David Manilow about CheckPlease.tv and his hopes for investment to bring the site to a national audience.

Italian for Food Lovers

There's a whopping array of things to do this Valentine's Day, making a decision difficult. If you're a food addict who needs your fix, however, you're in luck. Dinotto's Italian Ristorante is once again serving ravioli d'amore -- dark chocolate ravioli stuffed with sweet ricotta and Nutella, from February 14-17.

Other aphrodisiacal pleasures from the Valentine's Day menu include ostriche con Pernod (Chesapeake Bay oysters baked with spinach, Pernod and lemon cream sauce) and ravioli arragosta (lobster-filled ravioli topped with tiger shrimp, roasted red peppers and green peas in saffron cream sauce with caviar). Call the restaurant to make reservations for Valentine's Day (and V-Day weekend) or check the website for more info.

The 1930s Never Tasted this Good

This week's Drive-Thru feature opens the culinary time capsule that is the Chicago Daily News cookbook for your reading pleasure. Published in 1930, the book offers many surprising (as in surprisingly edible) recipes and other advice. And finally, a good recipe for Mock Possum for those times that you don't have a real possum to cook.

A Foodie Feeding Frenzy

Get ready to loosen that belt a few more notches. Not only will Chicago get its first official Restaurant Week, (as noted in Gapers Block's Drive Thru section) but it may even get another, courtesy of a group of local restaurants known as Chicago Originals. Three-course meals will be priced as low as $20.08 (2008, get it?).

Treasure Island to Fill Co-op Spot

Ending the recent struggles over the Co-op lease, the U of C has announced Treasure Island will fill the Co-op's current home.

The Chicago Palate Dissected

What does it take to become a versatile eater in Chicago? Take a look at our newest Drive-Thru feature for answers.

Wing Nuts Beware

Fiery food fans will be flocking to Jake Melnick's Corner Tap to take on their new hot wings tossed in Red Savina pepper sauce, the second hottest pepper in the world.

Eating Well in Utah

Chris Brunn takes on the task of finding vegan eats in Utah in this week's Drive-Thru feature, and is not disappointed with the results. Click here to read his tale.

We're Here When You Knead Us

Your buddies at Drive Thru reviewed several new and classic cookbooks just in time for last-minute holiday shopping recommendations.

Grant Achatz Tastes Again!

Following up on the news that Alinea chef Grant Achatz was diagnosed with lymph cancer earlier in the year: Achatz has released a statement saying he has successfully completed his treatment. And according to Achatz, the doctors at the University of Chicago Medical Center were able to "achieve a full remission while ensuring that the use of invasive surgery on my tongue was not needed."

Squeal!

Via MenuPages: The Morton's Steak House site store offers copies of the restaurant's distinctive pewter pig lamps for sale. And just in time for Christmas! That'll do, Morton's. That'll do.

Da Cookie

Looking for some ways to pay tribute to the Windy City when doing your holiday baking? Head over to Drive-Thru for some clever decorating tips in our newest Feature story, Sweet Home Chicago.

From St. Pauli to St. Nick...

Grab a brewski, sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you REALLY want for Christmas at the Avenue Tavern's "Slam One Back With Santa" party tonight (Thursday), 8pm to midnight. You can even get your picture taken, if you think that's a wise idea.

Daavat in River North Closed

The place has been going downhill for years. We were not surprised to hear officials have closed Daavat, one of the first great Indian-Pakistani cabbie restaurants in River North. There are still several good ones along Orleans, including a relatively new one at Chicago Avenue.

Food for a Good Cause

GB's Drive-Thru is participating in this year's Menu for Hope campaign to raise money for the UN World Food Fund. Check out our prize here, and the rest of the prizes at Chez Pim!

One Cookie to Rule Them All

In Drive-Thru, the tale of the seven-layer cookie.

A Tale of Two Brownies

Of course, the first brownie must have been made at the Palmer House.

Repeal Day

Today is Repeal Day, the anniversary of the repeal of the 18th amendment (the one that prohibited the sale and transportation of "intoxicating liquors"). Drive Thru encourages you to celebrate with a mid-week drink (or more).

Be Friends with Cheese

Kraft's Cheese Singles now have a MySpace page. [via]

Wake Up Early or Stay Up All Night...

The recently relocated Ann Sather will serve free breakfast from 7am to 9am tomorrow.

Mmm, Delicious Art

Local restaurant Apart Pizza is devoting a chunk of the company's resources to supporting the arts in Chicago. Tonight the pizza company hosts a record release party at Schubas for musician/Chicago Trib writer Lou Carlozo, and in December, Apart will host a benefit for Cabrini Green Legal Aid by buying out tickets to a production of the House Theatre's Nutcracker. Bonus fun: Watch Apart make pizza, on YouTube.

Drambui Rock

MyOpenBar is hosting a Drambui party at the Hideout tonight from 7 to 10pm. Andrew Andrew, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players and Gabriel Kahane play, all for free. RSVP here.

I'm Lovin' It... Just Not All Day

Got a hankering for an Egg McMuffin at 7pm? Forget about it. Oak Brook-based McDonald's is putting plans for serving breakfast all day on hold. Of course if you can't shake that craving, you can always try to make your own.

Al Capone's Potato Chip Connection

Tonight on Channel 11: Foods of Chicago: A Delicious History, a documentary on the culinary history of Chicago, from Tootsie Rolls to Chicken Vesuvio. The doc airs at 7:30, with an instant repeat at 9:50. (via Chicago Foodies)

Everytime You Hear a Bell...

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Bell's beer may finally be returning to Illinois.

Michigan Tourists Love Us

Do they come for the sights of the city? Navy Pier? Sears Tower? The Mag Mile? Nope, it's Binny's...

Sexism at the Cafe?

A recent study has determined that women, on average, wait 20 seconds longer for their coffee than men. Yes, the study adjusts for the "frou frou" drinks that women tend to order.

Food for Nighthawks

Some night not far from now its 3am, you're feeling pekish and craving vindaloo for some reason and you thank your stars and garters the Reader has a guide on late night dining in Chicago.

Gotta Cut Back

Diners at our local branch of Fogo de Chao put away six tons of meat each week.

The Most Five Diamonds

With seven AAA Five Diamond restaurants, Chicago now leads the nation in the club's fine dining rankings.

Condé Nast Picks Chicago

While you won't be able to read the reviews online, in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler, critic Alan Richman picks 20 of the best dishes to eat in the country in a feature called The Great American Food Odyssey. Two Chicago dishes made the cut, including the ceviche fronterizo at Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill and the goat cheese, asparagus and balsamic vinegar terrine at Charlie Trotter's. There are beautiful pictures of both the ceviche and terrine in the slideshow feature on the site, but you'll have to buy (or peruse) the print edition to get all the details.

Tasty Menu

Chicago magazine lists its favorite 124 dishes in Chicagoland, from the common (tempura green beans) to the unusual (pineapple rum soup).

Candy Remix

Wondering what to do with all that leftover Halloween candy? We've got some ideas for you in Drive-Thru.

Conversations with Mario

Drive-Thru contributor Alan Lake posted an excellent interview with Mario DiPaolo, Jr., owner of Mario's Italian Lemonade, on LTH Forum.

Free Boo-Rito

Dress up like a Chipotle entrée tomorrow evening and get a free burrito.

Welcome Back, Frango

Well, if nothing else, Macy's made good on one promise: to bring Frango back to Chicago. Cupid Candies will make the mints in its southwest side plant.

Victory's Banner Guru Dies

Sri Chinmoy -- spiritual leader, extreme weightlifting enthusiast and inspiration for Roscoe Village breakfast joint Victory's Banner -- died last Thursday. The restaurant will be closed for a week while his followers pay their respects in New York.

Wing Man

The Sox tanked, the Cubs are done and the Bears are shaky. Well here you go sports fans: the new chicken wing eating champion of the world is Chicago's own Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti! Congrats man.

Makin' Sandwiches

Over in Drive-Thru, we're talking about sandwiches. Come on over for a bite.

Haute Spot

You may still like steak-and-potatoes, but the world doesn't see us that way anymore; Time's take on Trotter's 20th anniversary dinner and how it highlights Chicago's foodie transformation.

Woah, Schwa is Closed? For Good?

The Food Chain and Time Out are reporting that Schwa closed over the weekend "indefinitely," and it might actually be a permanent thing. Stay tuned...

Pierogy Poll

Whiting, Indiana, just over the border, is in a competition for the title of pierogy capital of America. Go vote!

Live-blogging "Top Chef"

Hey, if you're watching the finale of Bravo's "Top Chef" tonight, tune in to Drive-Thru too, where Shylo will be live-blogging with plenty of snarky commentary.

Head to Head Competition

Who has the best burritos in Wicker Park/Bucktown? That's the big question with The Burrito Bracket. The site is run by Nate Silver, an analyst for Baseball Prospectus.

Guide to Free Coffee

Hey, need a pick-me-up? TV Guide is giving away free cups of coffee today until 5pm (next Friday, too) at coffee shops around the city -- details in Drive-Thru.

Apropos of Nothing

Here's an old interview with Steve Albini, talking about food.

Fight for your Right to Fish Tacos

Kevin Pang over at the Tribune has a tasty crusade for you to join. It comes with a wrist band and a side of pico de gallo.

Thin Crust

Someday, we're going to lose this reputation for only eating deep-dish pizza.

Maybe You Can Sign His Cast

All hail the return of encased meats September 12 (and still-healing purveyor Doug Sohn).

Give Me Beer, or Give Me Death

Like beer? Like beer enough to fight or even kill for it? Richard English at Modern Drunkard Magazine and Gregg Smith at BeerHistory.com provide brief, hop-filled histories of the Chicago Lager Beer Riot of 1855.

Ban? What Ban?

One year after the Chicago foie gras ban went into effect, NPR finds plenty of restaurants still serving the forbidden food. See also: stories on the ban at Chicago Public Radio and the Tribune.

Nice Tomatoes!

Growing a coffee can tomato plant this summer on your sill? Bring in your best tomatoes to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba for their "Show Me Your Tomatoes Festival" Saturday 8/25 and compete for a trip to Vegas. Details.

Calling All Beyonce Ticketholders

If you're going to see Beyonce tonight at the United Center, don't forget the canned carrots! The Greater Chicago Food Depository is holding a pre-show food drive at the United Center, and the first 1,000 fans who drop off a minimum of three nonperishable food items before the 7:30 p.m. show will receive an autographed photo of Beyonce and a raffle ticket for a chance to win a seat upgrade.

Come and Knock on My Door

Quick, what was the bar in "Three's Company" called? That's right, the Reagle Beagle. And now you can visit it and the rest of the Seventies and Eighties, right at Michigan and Grand.

New Brew in Town

Half Acre Beer is a new brewing company in Chicago (although its beer is actually produced in Wisconsin). Looks promising; we'll track down a six-pack and review it in Drive-Thru.

New Bottled Water Tax?

The national movement against bottled water is making further inroads here, where it looks like Mayor Daley will support a 10¢ to 25¢ tax on bottled water sales.

The Itchy and Scratchy Show

I hope this doesn't provoke a batch of psychosomatic scratching amongst Gapers Block's readership, but the Illinois Department of Public Health reports on a hundred or so cases of folks with tiny, itchy red bites. It might be an outbreak of tree-dwelling Pyemotes herfsi, better known as the itch mite, but officials won't know for sure until after they set up and inspect sticky traps in area parks.

Hacking the Menu

Over in Drive-Thru, we're wondering: what menu hacks have you come across?

Chicago's Best Pierogi

Time Out Chicago enlisted Steve Zavesky, two-time pierogi eating champion, to check out the best pierogi in town. Gridskipper nicely repackaged a good portion of the article with a map. As always, other food deliciousness can be found in Drive-Thru.

Another Kitchen Gets Busted for Critters

The Tribune reports that Navy Pier's Grand Ballroom has been temporarily closed for sanitation problems, the same kind their buddy to the west experienced this week as well; however, the Ballroom is expected to reopen as soon as those pesky fruit flies and mice are removed. Hmmm, that sounds nice.

The Political Becomes Edible

A new Whole Foods store is scheduled to open today at the corner of Addison and Halsted, in the Center on Halsted building, which is a community center for GLBT persons. According to an article in the Tribune, the Center is happy to have Whole Foods as a tenant, as it will not only act as a grocery store, but will also serve as a vehicle for promoting the Center's activities. Sounds warm and fuzzy, right?

The article went creepy on me, however, when it started talking about how "mainstream corporate America is increasing its efforts to woo gay and lesbian consumers," and cited heaps of statistics and anecdotes about how placing a business in the GLBT community can be a gold mine. Positive attention for the new store also comes at a good time for Whole Foods, given their (anti-Union) CEO's internet adventures, which have gotten the attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Alinea's Achatz Cancer Diagnosis

Grant Achatz, the 33-year-old wunderkind chef and proprietor of Alinea, the nation's best restaurant, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth. While doctors say that Achatz's cancer has not spread beyond his lymph nodes and is still curable, the treatments he will need to endure may rob the chef of his ability to taste. We extend our sympathies to Achatz and wish him the best in his fight.

Condiment-nation

Neo-Futurist playwright Sean Benjamin recently received 21 packets of taco sauce for two tacos from the Taco Bell drive-thru. Then he wrote a play about it. Now he wants your help collecting one million condiment packets for his Condimentometer project. Because why the hell not? You have more condiment packets than you could ever possibly use, right? Bring (or mail) your packets to the Neo-Futurarium at 5153 N. Ashland, 60640, and be a part of something big and meaningless.

Oh, Rats

Hai Yen, the Uptown restaurant reviewed favorably on "Check, Please!", was closed yesterday after city inspectors found live roaches and rat droppings. Perhaps WTTW should invite a few inspectors to pick some eateries for the show...

Taster's Choice

Well it's been a great run. Every year millions eat food prepared under the July sun, but it took 20 years for the first confirmed case of food-borne illness to come out of the Taste of Chicago.

Tastes of All Kinds

Over in Drive-Thru, we've got some companion coverage geared toward the Taste of Chicago: Christine Blumer provides tent-to-tent recommendations on the drinks of Taste to go with Tribune reporter Monica Eng's ratings of all the food choices. (No really, she tried them all; it cost $1100.) And David Hammond offers up an alternative Taste of his own -- a guide to eating cuts not usually found on American plates.

Tasting It All

Speaking of consuming huge amounts of food, the Trib's Monica Eng sampled 253 dishes at the Taste. The experiment cost the paper a grand total of $1,022. I'm sure it was a lot of really healthy food.

East vs. Midwest

The 91st annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest takes place this Wednesday, July 4th at 12PM EST on ESPN. Watch Chicago local Pat Bertoletti (ranked third in the world) go up against 6-time champ Takeru Kobayashi, who won last year by consuming 53.75 hot dogs in 12 minutes. This year's winner receives a cash prize of $10,000. Nap time is rumored to begin at 12:30.

Phone Reader

The Reader now offers its restaurant, film, music and event listings in a mobile version for your phone. Could come in handy the next time you're planning with friends who "dunno, whadda you wanna do?"

Grease Box Issues Shuts Down Michaels' North Restaurant in Old Town

Crain's reports the closing of the popular Old Town restaurant for, among other things, the vulgar-sounding violation of "failing to maintain a sanitary grease box". If you're wondering about your own favorite food haunt, don't forget about the City's imponderable food inspection lookup tool. Note to geeks with a Google Maps API key: please mashup this data, today. Thank you.

A What Reuben!?

Over in Drive-Thru, we're discussing questionable and strangely named menu items -- such as the ill-advised tilapia reuben and the disturbing Porker McGee. Join us, won't you?

No Fatty Liver for You!

A U.S. District Court judge ruled that Chicago's ban on the sale of foie gras is not unconstitutional Tuesday. You can almost hear the quacks of relief.

At the Drive Thru

If you haven't clicked over to Drive Thru, our GB food blog, here's what you're missing: rhapsodic talk about the booze tasting cards at Whole Foods; updates on Dining Out for Hunger; and more incredible food photos. Gobble, gobble!

More Cheddar For Your Bread

In today's Sun-Times, the food section features a lengthy article about the rising cost of Chicago's food. Rising costs for fuel and ethanol demands mean we're paying 2.2% more for food than we did a year ago. Michael Swanson, an economist for Wells-Fargo, keeps in in perspective with this quote: "If people are willing to pay $4 for a Starbucks latte, then $7.50 for a good pound of sirloin shouldn't be that much of a stretch." And remember, you can always try the farmers' market.

Get Yet Eat On

Can't keep track of the farmer's market day? The crew at Chicago Localvores is making it easier with this Google Calendar of all the markets in the Chicagoland area. BTW, ramps and morels so are hot right now.

School Lunch Program

The Reader takes a look at Chicago Public School's lunch program and efforts to improve it. You might also be interested in Lori Barrett's in-person take on the same, awhile back in Drive-Thru.

Fugu FUBAR?

Two people in the Chicago area became ill after eating what was labelled as frozen monkfish, but which authorities suspect may have contained tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin is found in the pufferfish—infamous gilled source of the dangerous Japanese delicacy fugu.

"Harold's 6 Piece"

A musical tribute to Harold's Chicken Shack. [via]

Gin and Openings

Over in Drive-Thru, we've got a looong list of openings that have just happened or will in the next month or so. And Tim Lacey recommends opening up a bottle of gin.

YES, SOUP FOR YOU!

Al Yeganeh, immortalized on Seinfeld as the Soup Nazi, will be opening a cafe in the Windy City. But don't push your luck, little man. Mr. Yeganeh isn't amused by the epithet.

Stop By The Farmer's Market Starting Today

The Federal Plaza Farmer's Market kicks off the Farmer's Market Season, today until 3pm. Daley Plaza Market is on Thursday, with the neighborhood markets starting a bit later.

Foodies, Start Your Engines

...And head up to Devon Avenue: the first shipment of Indian mangoes has arrived.

Fancy Fillet-work

That red snapper you got at the sushi joint? Possibly not the real thing, the Sun-Times reports. Tilapia and sea bream are nice, but that's not what we ordered. (D'oh! Link fixed.)

Yummy In Your Tummy

And for all you adventure eaters out there let's not forget LTH Forum's topic with tips on how to cook your cicada feast.

A Peck of This, A Pound of That

Our friends at Chowhound remind us that our bountiful Chicago farmers' markets will be open soon. What's your favorite place to pick up heirloom tomatoes or fresh Michigan berries?

Dine Out for Life

Tonight is a great opportunity to treat yourself to a good meal and also donate to a worthy cause--at the same time! Dining out for Life, held at numerous restaurants around the city and suburbs (click here for a list of this year's participants), is an event where a portion of your meal cost will be donated to AIDSCare Chicago, a local service organization.

Brett's Cafe Closing

This is the last weekend for brunch and breadbaskets at Brett's Cafe Americain, a Roscoe Village standby for more than a decade. Owner Brett Knobel sold the place and is moving to Mexico, where she plans to open an Indian-style hotel. Rumor has it Orange will be opening its third location in the spot.

You Ramp You!

The fine folks at Hungry Mag are ga-ga for wild leeks, a.k.a. ramps, calling them "kind of like the agricultural version of crystal meth." Find out all about 'em, how to get 'em, and what to do with 'em.

Coffee on a Mission

Those wondering what will fill the java void left by Filter's eminent demise (you know, besides the several other coffeeshops in Wicker Park) can rest easy: Blend is ready to be your new fix-provider. YoChicago sheds some light on the "faith, hope and love" idealism on the shop's website -- safe to say you won't be meeting many one-night-stands there. (Thanks, Trish!)

Free Ice Cream

It's that time of year again: Ben & Jerry's has free cone day! Their site isn't letting you use their finder very well but Google Maps has you covered.

Looking for Lunch?

GrubHub, the food delivery search site, has redesigned. BusinessPOV interviewed the founders about it.

Chicago History Roundup

From the establishment of the Hull House Theater to the World's Columbian Exposition, the Sun Times lists their take on "The 50 Greatest Chicago Moments."

Show Your Support

Free Hot Doug!

The Last Lamb and Veal Slaughterhouse in Chicago

Now that Easter and Passover are almost here, the New York Times offers two features on Chiappetti Lamb and Veal. NOTE: The first link is a TimesSelect article, so if you aren't enrolled in the program, you can either sign up or start a free trial. If you are a student or faculty member with a .edu email address, you can get a full account for free right now.

Coffee Time

Including a discussion with roasters from Metropolis and Intelligentsia, a perfect moniker for Starbucks and a list of quality coffee shops around town, the article about coffee in this week's Reader is required material for us go juice addicts.

Fan of Foie Gras Fined

Yup, it's official. Hot Doug was on trial, and Hot Doug lost. But, he's only out the minimum fine of $250 for illegally selling foie gras (encased, of course) under a 7-month old City of Chicago ban.

Don't Forget Yer Milk

Ever get the jones for school lunch? If you're hankering for childhood delicacies such as mini corn dogs, crappy pizza and ham and cheese pinwheels, compare and contrast these school lunch menus from the Francis Parker School, Arlington Heights school district, Morgan Park Academy, and Saukview Elementary.

Get Your Ghet On

Hey, did you hear? Oakland's Ghetto Gourmet is in town for a couple underground dining dates over the next couple days. More details -- and later this weekend, a report from the first dinner -- in Drive-Thru.

Kronos Posters For Everyone!

I know it's caught your eye while waiting for the bus...those ridiculous pictures of a hot chick eating a giant greasy gyros, usually in a tank top. Would you like one of those posters for your very own? Yes, Kronos is selling them.

First Slice: Offering hope to Chicago's hungriest

Check out First Slice, Chef Mary Ellen Diaz's project to help feed Chicago families in need. A subscription brings home-cooked meals to your door, and sends healthy and delicious meals to a Chicago family who would otherwise go without. Or, volunteer at the community kitchen. Either way, it's a tasty way to help others.

That Doesn't Belong in a Milkshake!

Oak Brook's very own McDonald's seems to be having some trouble on one of its British websites. (Unfortunately, the item on the original website is in Flash, so we can't link to it.)

Do Not Feed Gum to Your Dog

Don't be distracted by Wrigley's announcement that it will launch a sensory "invigorating" gum called "5" this summer. Their Product FAQ offers so much more, including an important dog related item.

Whole Foods In Sauganash Delivers Grocery Innovation

There are many reasons not to go to the newly opened Whole Foods at Peterson and Cicero: it's hard to get to, the parking lot is a pain, it's crowded because it's a new grocery store in place that had few options. But there is one fabulous reason to go there: YOU CAN DRINK BEER WHILE GROCERY SHOPPING. Sorry to shout, but this is one idea whose time has come. Seriously. Saunter up to the "Sauganash Grill", order a pint, and enjoy shopping and drinking. (For the budget inclined, you can get low-priced tastings of wine too.)

New York vs. Chicago Pizza Throwdown

TV cooking queen Rachael Ray is laying down the yeasty gauntlet with the NYC v. CHI Pizza Throwdown. Vote for one of the Chicago choices or add your own write-in.

One More French Chef In Town

While other French chefs are undecided on moving to Chicago, the Reader's food blog notes that the Persian restaurant Noon-O-Kebab, experiencing huge popularity since its appearance on WTTW's "Check, Please", has hired a French chef to handle a second kitchen in the restaurant for take-out, delivery and catering. Look for the new kitchen to open up in a couple of months.

Get Your Cook On

If you're looking for a class or three to get you through the winter doldrums, our friends at The Chopping Block can oblige. Check out their March schedule, which includes cheesemaking, Philipino cooking, and stout pairings.

Get Your Paczki On

Today is the Tuesday before Lent begins, so you know what that means -- it's Paczki Day in Chicago! Stop by an old-school bakery -- like Dinkel's, Ann Sather, Alliance or anything in the Polish parts of town -- and get some deep-fried jelly donut goodness. Because starting tomorrow, it's all about the deprivation, my friend.

French Chefs Eyeing Chicago

The Sun-Times reports that French chef Alain Ducasse, the only chef to hold the top Michelin rating for three restaurants in three different countries, was in Chicago last December at Avenues in the Peninsula Hotel. Does this mean that Ducasse was scouting for a Chicago location? No plans have been made public by Ducasse, although another acclaimed French chef, Joel Robuchon, recently confirmed that he will open a Chicago restaurant by the end of next year.

Hot Doug: Served!

Doug Sohn, owner and proprietor of the world-renowned Hot Doug's, is the first person to be formally cited for flouting Chicago's foie gras ban.

Drive-Thru Now Open

We're pleased to announce the launch of Gapers Block's newest section, Drive-Thru, devoted to the city's vibrant food scene. We'll be covering everything from restaurants and bars to businesses like Kraft and McDonald's to recipes to where to find some random ingredient. Oh, and foodporn, lots of foodporn. Be sure to check out this week's Detour feature, too, by one of the Drive-Thru contributors.

If that weren't enough, we've also redesigned the Gapers Block Book Club page, which has been quietly morphing into a blog on the Chicago literary scene.

The Anti-Valentine Store

Feeling not-so down with Cupid? Chicagoist and Apartment Therapy point us to a pop-up store from Altoids in Lincoln Park aiming to provide "the lovesick, lovelorn and Cupid-wary of Chicago ... a sanctuary from all the romantic overtures." Stop in between now and Valentine's Day and get free chocolate-dipped Altoids, coffee and cupcakes from Angel Food Bakery, anti-Valentine's cards and more. Yes, all for free. Open noon to 10pm at 912 W. Armitage Ave.

Chicagoans: Little Debbie Doesn't Have a Snack for You

Little Debbie Nutty Bars: Now with metal shavings "enrobed in fudge"! Mmmm-boy!

Yet Another Googlemap, Night Food Edition

Chicago Restaurants at Night, courtesy of Urbanspoon.

No Need to Finish the Bottle

As of January 1, it became legal in Illinois to take home your leftover wine from a restaurant, provided the bottle is inside a clear, tamper-proof bag. Unfortunately, a Chicago ordinance contradicted the new law, keeping it illegal in the city. As of today, however, that ordinance's days are numbered, reports the Winediva.

Hello, Hannah's

Finally! The new Hannah's Bretzel in the Illinois Center opened today. So if you're near Mich and Wacker and you have a jones for a big sammitch, Vosges chocolates and biodegradable utensils, then hit 'em up.

Not Cheese at All

As Altria (formerly Philip Morris) prepares to spin-off suburban food giant Kraft, Crain's Chicago Business asks "What is 'Real Kraft Cheese'?" There's a hint in our title.

Robuchon Comes to Chicago

Chicago magazine's Dish reports that the rumors are true: Joël Robuchon will open an outpost here in 2008. Foodies, prepare your palates and start saving now.

It's Not Delivery, It's Charity

This week is National Take-Out & Delivery Week, and GrubHub has teamed up with Meals on Wheels to make it an extra-special nonholiday: for every meal ordered through the site through Feb. 4, GrubHub will donate one meal to Meals on Wheels.

If She Doesn't Dump You on the Spot, Marry Her

Make your reservations today for a candlelit Valentine's Day dinner at one of several local White Castle restaurants. (This eGullet thread offers a preview of what might be in store.)

Wine Town

Bloomberg says, "Chicago, home to some of the most innovative and buzzworthy U.S. chefs, has quietly become a great wine city over the past decade." Who knew?

O'Donovan's Contract Asshattery

Over on Ask.MetaFilter, someone has posted about O'Donovan's canceling his friend's contract for a Super Bowl party without notice, even though it's been on the books for over a month. Keep that in mind next time you're looking for a place to host a party.

Moto Chef Can't Be Beet

The Reader's food blog has the details on last night's premiere of the "Iron Chef America" episode featuring Moto chef Homaro Cantu.

Cow Hooves and Bug Canapes

LTHForum.com has put together a great collection of Chicago food photos from 2006. Everything from Alinea to Mr. Shrimp. (link spotted at EatChicago)

Bleeding Heart Bleeds Fresh

The Bleeding Heart Bakery located in the latest hotbed of development and hipness (Damen/Chicago) has just re-opened following remodeling. They say, "We want to show the city how we've grown since opening last year- we've transformed everyone's favorite organic bakery into a full café, featuring a new line of sandwiches, a full espresso bar, and a wider selection of ready-to-buy produce and dry goods." Yum.

Something Fresh, Something New

Increasingly needed in this day and age, A Fresh Squeeze is a site dedicated to green living in Chicago. Primarily a bi-weekly email, the site also offers articles in their archives for a taste of things past.

Bobtail Salutes the Bears

The Bears won yesterday, which means we all win: report to Bobtail on Broadway between 5pm and 7pm today and receive a free ice cream cone or hot cocoa! (I'm going with the cocoa.)

Another Week, Another Chicago Landmark Closing

This time it's the Four Stars Restaurant in the West Loop, which has been open for 80 years. The building on the corner of Madison and Racine has been sold, and the restaurant will close at the end of the month to make way for -- what else? -- condos.

Maybe You Shouldn't Have Another

Following up on a recent government report [pdf] ranking Chicago as the top binge drinking city in the U.S., the Sun-Times dropped by the Chicago Social Drinking Project lab.

An Oyster Shucker's Manifesto

The Reader's cover story is a profile of Mark Mavrantonis, executive chef at Fulton's on the River and an oyster afficianado. He's writing a Kitchen Confidential-style "manifesto" about oysters; read some excerpts here.

Really Quick Review: Petra Cafe

Adequate. That was the first word that came to mind when I visited Petra Cafe. The hummos is good, the falafil sandwich is Chicago-big and dependable. It's quiet there, and you can usually find a place to sit. This is exactly what you expect, and that is certainly a huge part of its appeal. If you're a vegetarian looking for lunch in the Loop, you could certainly do worse. Petra Cafe, 331 S. Franklin, (312) 913-9660.

Globe-Trotter

While the great unwashed savor their 5-ounce soda pours and $7 sandwiches, first-class and business-class passengers on United Airlines can rejoice in the return of Charlie Trotter as a co-executive chef.

"Rome"-an Wine Hits Town

If you come across a bottle of this stuff in the next few days, be a sport and add a photo to the GB flickr pool. [via]

Food Briefs: Haute and Hot

Here's yet another review of Alinea -- this time in MIT Technology Review -- and Serious Eats included Skokie's Poochie's in a list of the best hot dogs in the country. (Thanks, Matt & Chicagoist)

Hungry for the Win

Hungry Mag, the local foodblog edited by Michael Nagrant, has been nominated for the Best Group Foodblog award at Well Fed Network. Vote by Jan. 9 to help this hometown blog do good!

Hannah's Bretzel Deux

Looking for a new lunch spot in the loop? Well, soon enough the new Hannah's Bretzel will open up at the Illinois Center this month. Quick reconn shows that progres is coming along -- and purports to be green construction. Check the HB site for more updates.

Garrett's Opens Store in NYC

Garrett Popcorn recently opened its first store outside of Chicago. The Sun-Times reports that the new location, in Manhattan's Penn Plaza, has not yet experienced the long lines of customers that Chicago shops typically have. But the new location has only been open for less than a month, so they're working on it. So if you find yourself in Manhattan and need some Garrett's popcorn, remember this address: 242 W. 34th Street.

Spend All Night With Gurlesque Burlesque

What are you doing Thursday the 28th? Spending it with your other fave GB crew, Gurlesque Burlesque. These sexy performers will start the night at Sidetrack at 9 p.m. then head to up to Crew for shots, specials and a DJ set from our own Kris Vire. Show up for a chance to win tix to Gurlesque Burlesque January sextravaganza featuring Margaret Cho!

Foie gras ban continues to be ignored

The Sun-Times reports that despite the citywide ban on foie gras, a number of restaurants are intent on serving up the delicacy for New Year's Eve patrons. One chef even comes up with a good word to describe the restaurants flouting the law: "duckeasies".

Holiday Food Goodness at Kitchen Chicago

Kitchen Chicago has gracefully opened its cafe for a chance for customers to sample some of the incredibly tasty treats that come from its kitchen: pie from the Hoosier Mama Pie Company, scones from SconeWild, and truffles too! Can't choose? Try the "Taste Of Kitchen Chicago" with a bit of all of the above. Plus free coffee with any purchase -- it's open Friday and Saturday from 11am-5pm at 4664 N Manor, just steps from Lawrence Ave. and the Brown Line.

Moto imitates Morimoto

Chef Homaro Cantu, founder of the adventurous Fulton Market restaurant Moto (you can eat the menu!) and Ben Roche, Moto's pastry chef, will be on Iron Chef America at the end of January (via Hungry Magazine).

Taco Town

New City Chicago is running a neat rundown of tacos in the city. It has some of the best-known, as well as many places that are a bit off the beaten path.

Here comes the Ghet!

Over at the Chicago Reader food blog, there's news of an interesting culinary arrival in Chicago: The Ghetto Gourmet, an "underground dining experience" that's been going on in California for the last few years (SF Chronicle article on the Ghet). Unfortunately, the two Chicago dates are already sold out, but if you want to get alerts for any upcoming dates you'll probably want to sign up for the Ghet's mailing list on their Website.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Weiner

In the spirit of the season, fRedhots, the other specialty-sausage-store-punning-on-the-owner's-name, is serving reindeer sausages.

Pop Over to Pops

Looking for something to do tonight? Head over to Pops for Champagne tonight after 9pm -- they're celebrating their 25th anniversary and the grand opening of their new location, 601 N. State in the Tree Studios building. Jazz Conspiracy performs, and lots of champagne will be served (duh).

Eating on Someone Else's Dime

Chicagoist did some investigating into the Channel 5's LeeAnn Trotter departure from the station "Good Eats" segments and ethical concerns regarding her restaurant "reviews." [Correction/Update: Trotter's not leaving the station, and Chicagoist has a follow-up story up now.]

A final recommendation

On the Chicago Reader's food blog, they report that on the night before he died, New York Times writer R.W. Apple, Jr. sent an email to colleague Jill Santopietro in response to her request for examples of great American pancakes. Apple recommended the pancakes at the Bongo Room. Santopietro tried them and reported in the Sunday Times: "As was often the case with food, Apple was right."

Don't forget the taquerias

In this week's Reader, you will find the last part of a 6-part series by local writer David Hammond on authentic regional Mexican food in Chicago. EatChicago.net has links to all 6 parts, along with a rousing essay on how our Mexican cuisine always seems to get overlooked by food critics (and even Chicago residents!) looking for eating options.

Charlie Trotter II

It's going to be a while, but Charlie Trotter is planning on opening a new restaurant in the Elysian Hotel. Yum!

Wither the Rhino-topped Choco-apple?

Praytell where one might find this bizarre confection? It's in the Chicago Cuisine flickr pool, so it must be local. Shoot an email to inbox @ gapersblock if you can enlighten us. UPDATE: It's available somewhere in the Christkindlmarket at the Daley Center. (Thanks, Mary and Laura!)

Try Out A Sake Tasting And Workshop

Do you like sake? I mean, do you really like sake? Andersonville wine eporium In Fine Spirits is having a sake tasting on Wednesday at their store. In addition to tasting sake, you'll learn about how it is made, as well as its history. The class requires a $25 deposit, which is good towards sake purchased after the event. This happens on Wednesday, call 773-506-WINE to reserve a spot.

Thanksgiving Help

If you're scrambling for Thanksgiving dinner options and ideas, allow us to point you to last week's Detour feature, "Taking Care of Turkey Day," as well as One Good Meal this week and last -- and, for that matter, last year and the year before too! Good luck, and happy Thanksgiving!

Really Quick Review: Stocks And Blondes

Super friendly owner, good food, over 10 different beers on tap at reasonable prices, Wheel Of Fortune, Christmas lights above the bar--in a word, Stocks And Blondes is after-work bar perfection. Still not enough? Take a trip to the bathroom, find a card for the other Stocks and Blondes business, The Stocks And Blondes Shoppe. Highly recommended. Stocks And Blondes, 36 N Wells.

Drink, Post, and Be Merry

Local foodie message board LTHForum.com has a new section dedicated solely to beverages.

Breakfast -- It's What's for Lunch

Since a new Cereality opened a block from where I work in Evanston (although you wouldn't know it online, since their site hasn't been updated *ahem*) I decided to snag a coupla co-workers to eat with me. The verdict? It's better than we thought. $4 will get you two scoops of either hot or cold cereal (real oatmeal, people!), and your choice of milk (although soy milk does cost 50 cents extra), along with one topping of your choice. And even though it's a slick chain, and even though it's gimmicky, and even though you can buy a box of cereal for a little more than you get in one of their bowls, it was fun and I'm likely going back. And they use decent cinnamon on the oatmeal. I oughta know, you know.

Where not to go

The Sun-Times gives you a list of the 12 Chicago restaurants with the most health code violations. If you're interested in finding out if your favorite hangout has any major health code violations on record, you can find violations of Chicago restaurants posted online at the Department of Public Health Website.

Bars Raise a Red (or Blue, or Yellow) Flag

The Wall Street Journal reports that Chicago has more than its fair share of college alumni bars, and hypothesizes that it's because (sorry, Northwestern) we lack a local football powerhouse to root for.

NY imitates CHI

Foie gras-wise, anyway. Activists are beseeching a state judge to shut down farms that produce the fattened duck liver, with a new angle: the conditions in which they live have made the birds "diseased" and unfit for consumption.

Hoosier Mama Pie Benefit

The Hoosier Mama Pie Company, in addition to offering very tempting pies for order online, is having a benefit. Stop by Kitchen Chicago at 4664 N Manor on Saturday--$5 gets you a slice of pie and a cup of joe from Metropolis. All of the proceeds will go to the Greater Chicagoland Food Depository and the pie goes to your belly -- it's good practice for Thanksgiving.

Bell's Update -- And A Way To Still Get It

Beerdorks.com has some more detail about the Bell's beer situation (and general lack thereof in Illinois) and a sensible explanation of the whole brewer-distributor-retail legal situation. Also, like the lovely beer dorks they are, they offer a way to get it shipped from a liquor store in Iowa.

Thanksgiving Temptation

Vegans (and the people who feed them): miss the pumpkin pie of the Thanksgivings of your youth? Not to worry, the Chicago Soy Dairy has you covered! Submit an order for their dairy-free version now, and pick one up just in time for the holiday. (And, for more ideas about local options for Thanksgiving -- vegan or otherwise -- check next week's Detour.)

Food on the Run

Get LTHForum's Great Neighborhood Restaurants to go: the Fall '06 guide is now available as a pocket-sized PDF. [via]

Interview With The Captain

Sadly, downtown is losing a lovely place for draught beer and generally a great place to hang out. The Sea Of Happiness closes next week because the lease is ending. Time-Out Chicago has a quick interview with the owner, Captain George, that highlights the warmth of the place. Go check it out for yourself before it's finally gone: 640 N Wabash before Nov 7th.

Oprah's Pizza Club?

Oprah may do for pizza what she's done for so many novels, with a little help from Chicago Magazine food writers Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby: on yesterday's show, her friend Gayle King began a quest for the best pies in the country, based on Pollack and Ruby's book, Everybody Loves Pizza. (Read our review and interview with the authors here.)

Go to work in pajamas

Cereality, the cafe specializing in serving up breakfast cereals in new and novel combinations, is apparently opening up a second Chicago-area location in Evanston's Sherman Plaza this month. There will be a job fair for the new location this weekend; see the details at the Cereality site if you're interested in working for the Chicago-based chain.

Free Boo-rito

In other fast food news: dress up like a burrito and get one free.

Patty Burger Preview

I had a chance to go downtown and sample some of the much hyped and much awaited Patty Burger offerings last night, and my feelings are rather lukewarm about the whole place. Much smaller than I imagined, there were no promised milkshake samples, or fries, and I was not blown away by these wunderburgers at all.

The burgers are fine, really. The meat seems to be of slightly better quality than other fast food offerings, but "The Sauce" seems to be only a slightly tangy thousand island dressing, and the cheese was rather blah. The burgers without cheese, in fact, tasted better. You can pay an extra buck (on top of your $3.29 single burger) and get bacon or avocado as a topping, and McD doesn't do that, but is that the key to a successful hamburger establishment?

All the rumors of Patty Burger being the closest thing to the beloved In-N-Out Burgers just don't seem to be true. It's a good burger, but it ain't all that. I imagine the spot will do fine, since it's right in front of the Art Institute, and it'll make its money on delivery (with a $.49 per item delivery charge), but expect crowds even when it's not lunch time since the place is tiny and C-shaped which leads me to think it'll bottleneck fast. Check out some pictures of the space, the menu prices and the burgers at our flickr.

Cantu Finds Another Edge to Cut

Homaro Cantu is known for some very experimental cooking techniques at Moto, but he's also on the forefront of another area of culinary innovation: the copyrighting and patenting of recipes. [via]

They Are What You Eat

Menuism is a new website that invites diners to review restaurants -- not just overall, but menu item by item. Yum.

Who Here Likes Pancakes?

The aptly named Illinois Pancakes blog has a simple goal: eat and review the pancakes of Illinois.

Tell Blago You're Mad About Bell's

A follow-up to the earlier Bell's beer story: The Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society has written a draft (draught?) letter to send to Blago to help prevent the elimination of Bell's (along with other smaller brews) from Chicago. (This American Life has an excellent background on it in the prologue to their "The Fix Is In" episode if you want to hear more about how this came to be.)

Help Bring Back Bell's

Bell's is one of my favorite microbreweries (mmm, Oberon), so I was dismayed to find out their delicious beers would no longer be available in Chicago because of a distribution dispute. In response, members of the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society will be meeting at Weegee's Lounge, 3659 W. Armitage, Tuesday night at 9pm to develop a plan of action. If you're mad as hell and can't take it anymore, join in!

Prominent paper picks Pizano's prized pizza

The owners of Pizano's must be feeling pretty good these days. They represent Chicago in USA Today's top 10 list of great pizza restaurants in the US, and according to the Sun-Times they'll be featured on an upcoming episode of Oprah as the makers of the best thin-pizza crust in Chicago. Pizano's got a mention in a Fuel pizza discussion a couple years ago; check that archive for some more pizza recommendations.

Johnny Apple's Favorite Pancakes?

The late R.W. Apple, legendary New York Times food critic, recommended the pancakes at Bongo Room in his last email message, Gawker notes. [Thanks, Jeb!]

Zephyr closing

The Sun-Times reports that the Zephyr Cafe, the Ravenswood restaurant/ice cream parlor, is closing its doors on October 22 after 30 years at that location. That gives you less than 2 weeks to enjoy the Treasure Island milkshake, the King Kong burger, and the War of the Worlds 10-scoop sundae.

Is a $100 Pizza Worth It?

Barcello's in Bucktown offers a caviar-topped pizza for $100. Chris LaMorte at Metromix tries it out and delivers the verdict.

Liver Confidential

New Jersey would follow the lead of Chicago and California if a recently proposed ban on the sale of foie gras becomes law. What does Anthony Bourdain really think about this apparent trend? "It's a win for the forces of darkness, willful ignorance and intolerance," not to mention "kicking Julia Child in the teeth." After all, he says, "these ducks aren't doing anything that a porn star doesn't do on a regular basis."

Really Quick Review: Sheba Cafe

Saturday night, in search of good Ethiopian food, I headed to a locale smaller than my regular haunts. What I found was a splendid, low-key alternative to the often long weekend lines up Broadway. Sheba Cafe (or Queen of Sheba Cafe as it is also known) is a fine little spot just north of Balmoral on Broadway in Edgewater.

The menu is filled with yummy and cheap meat and veggie dishes ($6-$12), along with some quite good deals on combination platters ($13 for 4 items). We chowed down on deliciously flavorful beg tibs (lamb) and misir wat (red lentils), yellow split-peas, tikil gomen (cabbage with potatoes and carrots) and a dish of shimbera fitfit (mashed chickpeas with garlic). Everything was lovingly prepared by our cook/hostess who disappeared in the back while delicious smells arose from the kitchen. It's BYOB, so that cut our bill down, but in comparison to other Ethiopian restaurants on the strip, this one cost us half as much for a similar table full of food.

The Herbivore's Diary

Speaking of "green thumb" options, newly launched blog Vegan Dinner is going the Julie Meets Julia route. Kinda: local couple Ian ("straight edge") and Kit ("strong, silent") are on a quest to try 365 new meals (vegan) in 365 days (one year). The recipes are accompanied by photos and organized by preparation time (20, 40, 60 minutes). I smell a book deal.

Lunching In The Loop

We mentioned this last year, but a little reminder never hurt anybody: Tired of bickering about where to go, or having a long series of conversations about "Maybe Thai. Or Italian. Or Chipotle."? Friends, help takes the form of Lunch In the Loop, which has a lunch roulette wheel that'll just tell you where to go. If you have a short list of places you like, it can use that for places to choose from. (Not to mention that they also have categories if you want to choose that way, too.)

Really Quick Review: Hannah's Bretzel

Need something for breakfast, but tired of the bagel or doughnut routine? Pop over to Hannah's Bretzel, the little nest of German goodness in the Loop at Washington And Well's. All organic, and the bretzels are just like I remember in Germany. (The coffee is not, and that's fine by me--it's really good too.) Highly recommended, for breakfast, lunch, or a mid-day snack sometime in the middle.

Del Taco Coming To Chi Cago

Diners who don't recognize food as being Mexican unless it's pressed into a tortilla discus, rejoice: California's Del Taco chain is expanding into the Chicago region. (Hey, want to work there?) It's not In-N-Out, but the place does seem to have something of a following, and, really, how bad can fish tacos available 'round-the-clock be?

How and Where to Eat Bo Nuong

If you've ever wondered about the proper way to eat foods like thali, bo nuong and injera, a Tribune video story has you covered. Watch the video and then check out the restaurants they recommend.

Dinner Theater

Improv Kitchen's new season starts today; reviews have been mixed in the past, but hopefully the new show irons out some of the kinks. UPDATE: The new "flagship" show, "The Unfinishe... Project," doesn't premier until Oct. 4.

Coffee Pop

Local foodblog Tastebud offers tips on DIY coffee roasting. They suggest starting with the Home Coffee Roasting guide and a popcorn popper.

A Falafel with Hot Sauce, a Side Order...

Loop lunchers (and party girls), rejoice! After some difficulties at the jewelry mall, Oasis Cafe has relocated and reopened just down the street at 17 S. Wabash.

Alinea on Top

Alinea is the number one restaurant in the country, according to Gourmet magazine, while Charlie Trotter's has dropped to 13th. Expect reservation waits to expand and contract accordingly.

Politically Incorrect with U of C Students

The Maroon, U of C's student newspaper, got edgy in their orientation issue this week with a series of "politically incorrect" restaurant reviews. Read'em here: Hyde Park A-M, N-Z and downtown.

I'll Take Drinking for Nothin', Alex

Chicagoist brings news of potent potables of the complimentary sort, as MyOpenBar.com opens a local outpost.

Around the World Market

Interested in the wide variety of ethnic foods available in the city, but not sure where to go to get the best? You might be interested in the Ethnic Grocery Tours offered by Evelyn Thompson.

Little Village Pub Crawl

This is an idea I'd had for awhile but didn't have the time to implement: a Little Village pub crawl. If you're tired of pub crawls that traverse the same North Side haunts, this one is certainly off the beaten path. The fun gets started at Trevino's (31st and Karlov) at 4pm on Friday. Be sure to bring lots of cash and shoes, especially if you'd like to pick up a t-shirt. For more info, check the mailing list archives at the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society.

The route was described roughly as follows: Trevinos (31st & Karlov) to M&Ms (30th & Karlov) to Encanto Michoacano (26th & Kildare) to Miska's Bar (26th & Kedvale) to La Justicia (26th & Springfield) to El Rayo (26th & Avers) to La Jacaranda (31st & Central Park).

Where's the Designer Beef?

According to this Associated Press article -- which, for some reason, is full of fashion references -- the answer is Chicago. The "hip new food trend" of choosing a meaty entree based on its diet or its lineage is gaining popularity in our steakhouse-lovin' city. And, as Executive Chef Jason Miller of David Burke's Primehouse said, "There aren't very many small people walking around Chicago." Er...

Reporter or Press Secretary?

Ostensibly, at least, Fran Spielman is a reporter. But sometimes, by golly, she sounds like she's got a point of view to get across. Check today's lead, for example: "Five months ago, the City Council opened itself up to ridicule by banning foie gras, a controversial delicacy that most Chicagoans have never tasted and cannot afford." Never mind that the entire state of California has taken such a step, so far as I can tell by reading the article, the only people still focused on this "ridicule" are those folk who didn't get their way the first time around. Compared to the Trib's 'just-the-facts' approach, the framing of this piece sure sounds like Foie Gras Follies to me.

Cupcake Crawl

I never really had the constitution for pub crawls. Mixing drinks has always been a personal cocktail for disaster. But a cupcake crawl? Holy buttercream frosting! And in case you are arriving late, you can get location updates for the crawl on your cell phone. Chicago Bites asks you to RSVP for a map. More info Slowdown, of course.

Logan Square Baristas, Unite!

Workers at the Logan Square Starbucks have announced they're unionizing, demanding a living wage, guaranteed hours and reinstatement of baristas fired for organizing activity. The store is the first outside New York to join the IWW Starbucks Workers Union. (Thanks, Patrick!)

Foie Gras Back in the News Already

The foie gras ban has sort of claimed its first victim: Block 44 in Lincoln Square. Chef Rick Spiros served some duck liver as a special over the weekend -- to finish off his stock rather than throw it out, he says -- and someone bothered to call 311. Spiros has gotten a warning from the City not to "finish off" any more.

Corn Sheets and Soy Gels

You've seen the photos; you've read the press. Now, with the help of these recipes, you can Be Like Grant and try recreating Alinea at home.

Bon Foie-age

Today's your last day to eat foie gras legally in the city of Chicago. (Although the law goes into effect today, enforcement begins tomorrow.) Term it protest or publicity-hungry pandering, some restaurants that don't usually serve foie have added it to their menus tonight. Mayor Daley, for his part, thinks the ban is "silly," but when asked if he'd be having a nosh of the stuff today, responded, "No, I'll have soup."

Late Night Eats

As I post this, it's 12:47am. If I were hungry, I'd be glad to have GopherNow at the ready: It shows which places are still open and whether they're delivering. (Then again, I'll be even happier when it's not dominated by Domino's Pizza and Burger King.)

Chicago-style, photographed and documented

Ever wonder who eats the chili at the Golden Angel? Or has dared the Italian Beef at every place I know of that offers it? Greasefreak.com is a nifty site that takes photos of greasy food and rates the experience for all to see. And I love his comment on the lost art of the gyro: "With the Spit's demise, homemade gyros are virtually extinct in the town that invented them. Since taste differences are minor, most variables come down to presentation and garnish. Sexy, yes. Spiritually rewarding, no."

Rockin' Good Food, Man

Michael Nagrant parlayed his awesome Hungry Magazine food blog/podcast into a podcasting series for Chicago Magazine -- check out his first "Chefs on the Grill" interview with del Toro's Andrew Zimmerman, who used to be a musician.

Really Quick Restaurant Review: Marigold

Indian restaurant Marigold recently sprouted in Uptown, and like the flower from which it takes its name, it has loveliness somewhat marred by ostentatiousness. The restaurant calls itself "modern," which translates roughly as "not Devon." That's both good and bad. The attention to ambience and presentation is welcome, and the drinks menu is extensive. However, service, while apparently good-intentioned, is stiff; given the cuisine, vegetarian options are limited; and prices are steep, especially for the neighborhood. As for the food, it was lackluster, with only one dish of several my friend and I tried standing out. These may be growing pains, but if modernity means burnt naan, maybe tradition isn't such a bad thing.

Two Kinds of Mexican Food

The Toronto Star's food critic, Jessica Bain, takes a look at two sides of Mexican food in Chicago: a visit to Rick Bayless' Topolobampo/Frontera Grill and a tour of neighborhood restaurants with LTHForum's David Hammond. She also gives us a recipe for birria -- goat stew.

An "A" in Kuchnia Polska

Looking for more Polish food than you can get at the ballpark? Not to worry: you can cheat off Gridskipper's homework. We won't tell. (Mind you, they did omit a GB favorite, Staropolska, so that's another option. And, if you're looking for extra credit after eating, head south on Milwaukee and pay a visit to the Polish Museum of America.)

Fuel for Foodies

LTHForum.com, the local food chat website, has just announced the latest round of Great Neighborhood Restaurant award-winners--23 destinations for gastronomic adventures, throughout the Chicago area.

Windy City Wine Festival

For the second year in a row, Binny's is hosting a HUGE wine tasting festival in downtown's Grant Park. $25 gets you ten tastings plus access to cooking demonstrations and some live tunes.

Picking up the Check

Not only is Chicago becoming noted for its restaurants, but its restaurant review program "Check, Please!" is also a hot property. The Sun-Times reports that "Check, Please! Bay Area" has already started (sample show at Google Video), and versions are also in the works for LA, Seattle/Vancouver, New York, and even Hawaii. Back in Chicago, "Check, Please" junkies will have to wait a few more weeks to get new programs, as the 6th season of the program is currently being taped for broadcast in October.

Drink on a Boat

This summer, Kafka Wine and Wendella Boats have been getting together for a series of Wine Tasting Cruises, which pair vino with architectural tour on Wednesdays each month. The next one is August 23 at 5:45pm. Tickets are $50 and reservations are required. [via]

Schwa-ing!

I'm not entirely convinced that there's anyone writing better restaurant reviews than Dominic Armato of Skilletdoux. His treatment of dinner at Alinea was dead-on; a perfect mix of sophistication and accessiblity. Dominic's latest post, running down a meal at Wicker Park's Schwa, is pure gastroporn.

Outlaws Dine Again

Baed on the enthusiastic response to his first Outlaw Dinner, 676 Restaurant's executive chef Robert Gadsby is holding another one on Monday, August 21, the day before the foie gras ban goes into effect. Chicagoans will yet again be treated to another menu featuring several barely legal foods at the center of controversies across the nation, including the aforementioned foie, absinthe, hemp seed, imported raw milk cheeses, morels and sous vide preparation. The seven course, prix fixe meal is $95 per person, with seatings between 7pm and 10pm; call 312-944-7676 for a reservation.

Drink up on the CTA

For the duration of the current heat wave, the CTA is now officially allowing passengers to carry and drink cold beverages on its buses and trains. (Not that the law was stopping people from drinking on the CTA, of course, but at least now it's permissible.) The heat wave is expected to end this evening, so do your drinking sometime today!

Tea Time Suggestions

In such hot weather, tea's not really been on my mind, but come winter these recommendations of tea-oriented cafes will be quite useful.

Political Trans-gression

Just another day in the nanny state: alderman Ed Burke is on the warpath against trans fats, and he's invited the CEOs of McDonald's, Burger King, and Taco Bell to the table to answer why "their promise to the American public (to make their food healthier) has gone unfulfilled." Consumerist questions his motives, observing a physical resemblance to Colonel Sanders. Stay tuned.

Foodpr0n Gets a Moment in the Sun

KIPlog's Food blog points us to the Tribune's article on the trend of foodies taking pictures of their meals, accompanied by photography tips and a short list of food-porny blogs.

MAN-cation, All I Ever Wanted

Hey man, you look like you need a guy's night out. Lucky for you the newly relaunched aria bar at the Fairmont Hotel has you covered: at 7:30pm next Saturday, July 29, it's hosting a men-only "MAN-cation," featuring cocktails in the bar, a three-course steak dinner, and a Woodford Reserve whiskey and cigar tasting . It's not cheap at $150 per person, but short of strippers and drag races, it couldn't get much manlier. Reservations can be made by calling 312-444-9494.

Haute Cuisine, Outlaw Style

The foie gras farewell continues: in honor of the dish's final days in the city, chef Robert Gadsby of 676 Restaurant & Bar in the Chicago Omni put together a one-night menu full of ingredients of which the Nanny State would not approve. The $95 prix fixe menu for tomorrow night's "Outlaw Dinner," as it's being called, features absinthe, hemp seed, morels, unpasteurized cheeses, sous vide preparation, and of course foie gras; Gadsby's planning similar nights at his Noé restaurants in LA and Houston.

Really Quick Restaurant Review: Los Nopales

Los Nopales (4544 N. Western Ave) is a small Mexican joint near the Western Brown Line stop in Lincoln Square. With tables and a small bar (despite having no alcohol), Nopales is quaint, but can match dishes with some of the big boys, especially when it comes to steak. On a recent trip, I ordered the steak fajitas and wasn't dissapointed. The thinly cut steak is some of the better steak out there, especially for the price. The other excitement is the two salsas provided to each table, red and green. Los Nopales was featured in a recent Sun-Times article discussing that very strip of Western Ave.

Eggvertising

Since we're all bored with the pristine surface of eggs, a Deerfield company is teaming up with CBS to put advertisements and expiration dates on 35 million of them. Look (out) for them in your local grocery store.

Behold! The McSundial

McDonald's put up a pretty interesting new billboard in Wrigleyville. (Thanks, VinceJose!)

Goose Liver, Get Yer Goose Liver

There are only a couple more weeks of foie gras sales in local restaurants, and, tonight, Chicago Chefs for Choice celebrate the swan song of this controversial ingredient. They're holding a festival at Allen's Cafe, where "guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of foie gras preparations, beverages included." It won't come cheap, of course: admission is $150 a person. Still, they've cloaked themselves in the First Amendment -- proceeds benefit the "Freedom of Choice Fund" -- and who can say no to that?

Alinea, Vicariously

Not in a position to plan a year ahead and drop a couple of Franklins on dinner? LTHForum user Dmnkly has posted an incredibly detailed chronicle of his meal at Grant Achatz's brainchild, complete with photographs.

Take Me Out for a Veggie Burger

The Red Sox haven't made the past few games at the Cell very fun (maybe this afternoon'll be different?), but PETA says those looking for healthy stadium fare have reason to be happy: the animal rights organization listed US Cellular Field among this year's Top 10 Vegetarian-Friendly Ballparks.

Share a Beer

Introducing Coastr, "a social guide to beer," produced by local design team Luckymonk.

Really Quick Restaurant Review: Spa Cafe

These days, you can't go near a restaurant without it adding chipotle to something or other. While this usually comes across as a feeble attempt at au courant zest, when Spa Cafe (112 W. Monroe) combines it with pureed Okinawa sweet potato to make soup, it's a wonderful thing. So long as you can get past the fact that it looks like you'll be dipping into a raspberry vinaigrette -- the dish is, well, purple -- you're in for a treat. (As for the cucumber water, I know it has its devotees, but I could have done with more water, less cucumber. I'll be sticking with the lemons next time.)

Restaurant Cage Match!

Ever notice two similar restaurants so close together that they must be feeding off each other's patrons? So has Phil Vettel, who just introduced a new series in the Trib: Cage Match, pitting neighboring joints against each other.

Tech Cocktail On Thursday

Eat, drink, meet. Meet other geeks, or hip business people at the first Chicago Tech Cocktail. Swanky. (And if you haven't had enough, BARCamp Chicago, a tech unconference, is coming up soon too.)

Kitchen Chicago Cafe Closed

Sad but true: the cafe at Kitchen Chicago is closing, at least for now. There's no official mention of it on the website, but a letter on the door confirms the sad news. The owners wish to concentrate more on their original business--running a kitchen for hire--and the cafe was taking time away from that. While some grand traditions will continue, such as Sunday Brunch and lots of goodies from the great companies that start there, the cafe is officially on hiatus.

Really Quick Restaurant Review: Deleece

On the northern tip of the Southport Corridor, at Irving Park, sits Deleece, a stunningly low-priced quality American contemporary restaurant. While they were in the news a few months back when one of the chefs left to start Sola (also very, very good), their fare hasn't suffered one bit. In fact, they've done the opposite and ramped things up a bit, with new dishes that work really well. One of my favorite things about Deleece is their Monday and Tuesday $20 for three-course prix fixe special, which is one of the best values for food in this city. A recent meal included a ham avocado bruschetta, a carmelized on the outside and tender and pink on the inside flank steak prepared with a mole sauce and for dessert, a chocolate mousse that was divine. I'd have easily paid $50-60 for a meal like that. Go!

Legislating Nasty Food?

Alderman Edward Burke doesn't think the recent ban on foie gras is enough legislation of food for one year. He has now brought to the table a proposal to ban all trans fats in Chicago. The proposal has been ridiculed by Mayor Daley and the President of Illinois Restaurant Association. While the proposal would be difficult to implement, Burke noted that he just wants to start up a conversation and get expert opinion on the matter.

Break Out Your Fry Daddy

One thing you probably won't find at the Taste this year are Deep Fried Brats. But you could make your own.

Sneak Out for Free Coffee

The Devil Wears Prada is sponsoring some sort of National Coffee Break Day today, and it must just be a coincidence that the film opens this weekend. Anyway, there are four spots in Chicago where you can snag a free "coffee beverage" from 2-4pm, all in and around the Loop. Gawker has the details.

The imminence of the Taste

The city has blocked off the streets near Grant Park in preparation for the 2006 Taste of Chicago, which starts this Friday and runs through Sunday, July 9. Check out the Taste Website for a list of participating restaurants that'll be selling food during the event, a map of the vendors (PDF link), and a roundup of the performers that you'll be able to see during the Taste's 10-day run. And if you know you'll be checking out loads of vendors, you might want to get your food tickets in advance at your local Dominick's because you'll get a discount if you have a Dominick's Fresh Values card.

Quick Review: Goose Island's Matilda

If you haven't yet tried Goose Island's version of Belgian abbey-style beer, Matilda, you should. It's the refreshing, feel-good hit of the summer: full-bodied and fruity, with flavors of apples and apricots, with a nice long finish. Don't just take my word for it -- it's got a 93/100 rating on RateBeer.com. Just one quibble: Goose Island used the wrong six-pointed stars on the label.

Playing at Potbellys

If you like music with your sandwiches or wish to play MTV's crappiest hits for those indulging in their lunchtime subs, you might be surprised to hear (or play) a tune or two the next time you're at a Potbellys. The Beachwood Reporter has a piece about the local Potbellys and how they stack up musically. And on a side note: local musician Jef Sarver will attempt to break the world record for the longest guitar marathon ever at a Potbellys on June 21-23.

Really Quick Review: David Burke's Primehouse

Another downtown steakhouse? Well, yes, but damn, is this place ever good. With a menu dedicated to seafood and dry-aged steaks (Chef Burke commissioned a salt cave for aging underneath the restaurant), Primehouse lends some substance to the stylish new James Hotel. Shellfish from the raw bar, served on a lazy susan of lemons and crushed ice, was impeccibly fresh, although the lobster was perhaps a touch limp. Gazpacho with crab was spicy, refreshing, wonderful. The steaks? Par excellence, and they will rival the best you'll eat in your life. (Forget the syrupy bottled sauces that arrive with your steaks; what is this, Ponderosa?) Cocktails are innovative, maybe gimmicky (leather-infused Maker's Manhattan?), but they work. Not cheap.

Splash Your Wine

Tomorrow night at Webster's Wine Bar, friend of GB Christine Blumer is throwing her WineDiva Summer Splash, a "celebration of women in wine" benefitting Appetite Theatre. Tickets are still available, and are cheaper in advance; details in Slowdown.

Motinea on Megnut

Meg Hourihan liked Moto, but loved Alinea. (So did hubby Jason Kottke, who said of chef Grant Achatz, "'He's out-Kellered Keller!'")

Really Quick Review: Dorado Restaurant

Incredible. This is not Arturo's, it's a delightful mix of Mexican and French cuisine located in a very neighborhood location. We are still remembering the great great meal we had three weeks ago--the corn chowder soup and nachos were absolutely amazing. Great place for a good meal with friends. BYOB, veg-friendly, and great service, if perhaps a little loud when crowded. Dorado Restaurant. 2301 W. Foster. (773) 561-3780.

Happy Hour Booze Crooz

If you work downtown and like wine, then sign up for a riverboat wine tasting/architecture tour with Wendella Boats. All the wine will be provided by local shop Kafka Wine. Tasting, tour and hors d' oeuvres for two hours are included in the $50 price tag. Check out Wendella's site for details.

25 for $25

Mon Ami Gabi, the Lettuce Entertain You "French steakhouse" is holding a weather-permitting event in their outdoor cafe at the Chicago location called "25 for $25 — A Tour de France Through Wine at Mon Ami Gabi". What do diners and drinkers get? 25 wines to taste and a sampling of the restaurant's bistro fare (hors d' oeuvres). Sounds like a good deal. The event happens July 11 from 6-8pm and reservations can be made by calling 773-348-8886.

Really Quick Review

Let's say you're riding east on Granville toward the lake, and you're ready for a break. Park your bike outside Cafe du Monde, at the corner of N. Broadway. No beignets (yet), but the coffee and tea are excellent and the sweets behind the glass case are tempting. Bonus 1: classical music is piped outdoors, which helps turn the charming patio into a refuge, in spite of proximity to traffic. Bonus 2: if you happen to be traveling with your laptop, Cafe du Monde offers free wireless.

A Fine Time for Wine

Epicurious has a lovely guide to wines to enjoy in June, written by Chicago master sommelier (and our favorite tv show host) Alpana Singh.

Cask Strength

Because Friday is drinky Friday to some, why not get in on some really good scotch? Andrew has posted a very interesting idea and plan that may intrigue some of you. Have a look, oh scotch connoisseur.

Beer Advocated Here

If Ben Franklin was right and beer is "living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy," then the happiest places in Chicago are Map Room and Hopleaf, according to Beer Advocate magazine.

McClain: Triple Threat

Nope, we're not talking about Bruce Willis' die-hard cop John McClane but Shawn McClain, one of Chicago's most exciting chefs (yes, aside from Grant Achatz). He recently was awarded the James Beard for best chef in the Midwest and after showing off the sophistication of seafood and vegetarian at his restaurants, Spring and Green Zebra, he's expanded his repertoire with a more meaty menu in the form of Custom House.

Not a Cozy Fire

Monday afternoon, many of us who work in downtown Evanston noticed black plumes of smoke coming from Davis Street. The fire, it turns out, was coming from the kitchen of Cozy Noodles & Rice at 1018 Davis Street. The fire damaged the restaurant, a nearby store and the apartments above. The dining room, with its walls of vintage toys, looks good, sans smoke and water damage, but for now, we'll all have to get our Cozy noodles at the Wrigleyville location.

A Real Irish Wake

If you've ever been to Butch McGuire's bar down at Clark & Division, you probably have fond memories of its owner and namesake. Butch passed away recently, and to mourn him, Division Street between Dearborn and State will be closed from 10am to 8pm for his wake. Stop on down and have a drink in the street.

Drink 'til you write

It's drinking time again! A group of Neo-Futurist alumni is presenting the third version of the play Drinking and Writing, subtitled "To Cure A Hangover." Along with the play, which will be performed at bars around Chicago for the next few weeks, the Drinking and Writing team is putting together a pub crawl on Memorial Day to find a cure for the common hangover, and their second annual Drinking and Writing Festival on June 10, which will include readings, a two-drink-minimum writing contest, and lots of beer tasting. See Slowdown for all these events, and the Drinking and Writing Website for tickets.

GQ eats Chicago

GQ's food critic Alan Richman jumps on the Chicago bandwagon with an article in the June issue naming us "the best restaurant city in America." The story's focus, unsurprisingly, is on culinary wunderkinds Homaro Cantu of Moto, Grant Achatz of Alinea, and Graham Elliot Bowles of Avenues.

The Tastiest Time of the Year

Tomorrow marks the launch date for the first of the Chicagoland Farmer's Markets, and boy, I'm ready. Saturday markets are my favorite, and the ones in Evanston and Lincoln Park open on May 20 (most others open in early June). There are markets every single day of the week, as always, throughout neighborhoods in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. If you're planning a Market tour, try checking out this nice (work in progress) Google Map of some of the Farmer's Markets done by Ben at InqBlot. It's quite handy and dandy.

Goose Island Update

We told you awhile back that Goose Island was in negotiations with Anheuser Busch; Crain's has an update on the story. Looks like Busch could own 35 percent of Goose Island and would take over distribution.

Best Bars?

If you've picked up the latest issue of Esquire you've seen their feature on the "Best Bars in America." Chicago gets a few on those list, including the Red Lion Pub, Bungalow and the Matchbox. Also on the list is GB fave, the Hideout, which, if you've never been, next Friday presents a golden opportunity. I can vouch for Bungalow's vanilla martini, but would I call them the best? Put in your dissensions and suggestions on the website and they may get published.

Really Quick Review: Ole Ole

Thankfully, the latest restaurant to open in Andersonville is not a Thai place (we've got enough, really!). Ole Ole is a sumptuously decorated space on two floors of 5413 N. Clark Street. It was the site of my very first (not my last) mojito, and of some delicious dishes and quite helpful wait staff. The empanada appetizers were tasty and perfectly fried (not burned), my Chicken Adobo was a blend of cinnamon and spices without overpowering the senses and my dining companion's dinner salad with chicken (substituted for duck) was enough for a very full meal. I'd love to see more dishes with a mole in the future, and can't wait for their pending cafe con leche service to begin!

Metra To Host Year-Round Marketplace

Something I'd advocated in The Party Line previously is fortunately coming to pass: Metra is building a fresh-foods marketplace in the Ogilve Train Station. No, this isn't a Dominick's in the station--the idea is to get local vendors of meat,vegetables, and wine under one roof. Won't be ready for a year, but I'm excited.

If you'd like to get an idea of something to expect, Toronto's St.Lawrence Marketplace is a good idea.

Printed Fun On Every One

Did you know they're printing Guinness World Records on Pringles now? Matt Maldre of Spudart got a tube, and among the world records was an odd looking print-out that included the phrase "printed fun on every one." He realized it was a diagnostic display intended to show the density of ink being sprayed by the chip printer.

Ben Gordon, Mixologist

Bulls guard Ben Gordon is the first NBA player with his own energy drink. Gordon signed with start-up H3Enterprises to create BG7, a white tea-based concoction expected to be on store shelves later this year.

Feel Like Chicken?

The heavily anticipated Wicker Park branch of Harold's Chicken Shack finally opened yesterday and, as of 7pm, were doing an admirable — if slightly slow — job of meeting demand (although the rumored wheat bread was nowhere to be seen). The chicken? Damn good. If the Chicago Reader's Mike Sula ever updates his rundown of every Harold's in the city (pdf), I wouldn't be surprised to see #36 high on the list.

Feel the Foie Gras Fury

Chicago Magazine's Dish column (click "Welcome Back Foley" under "Recent Dish News") notes that some Chicago chefs aren't taking the City Council's recent foie gras ban sitting down. "Copperblue's Michael Tsonton and Cyrano's Bistrot's Didier Durand are starting an organization called Chicago Chefs for Choice.... [Tsonton said,] 'The foie gras people are tired of being pushed around.'" Is serving foie gras a Constitutional right? They're gonna find out.

The New Frontier is Preparation

This Wired profile of Alinea's Grant Achatz is particularly useful in that, after all this time reading his name, I now know how to say it. (If you didn't know either, apparently it rhymes with rackets.)

Free Hot Dog Alert

According to Chicago Magazine's latest Dish bulletin, today, in honor of France's Labor Day (who knew?), Brasserie Jo is serving "free hot dogs on a crusty baguette with Dijon mustard." Now, if that doesn't improve your Monday, nothing will.

The two best beans in Chicago get together.

Today, the third Intelligentsia coffee house opens at 53 and 55 E. Randolph, just down the street from Cloud Gate. If you go today, you might even get your espresso from this year's best barista in America, Matthew Riddle.

An Alternative to Metromix

Somehow we've managed not to write about it, but Yelp. Founded in 2004 in San Francisco, Yelp has been helping Chicagoans find good places to eat and drink for quite a while now. It now covers dentists, hairstylists and other professions, too — all reviewed and rated by regular people.

No More Foie Gras

If you're a connoisseur of foie gras, you've got 90 days to get your fill: City Council banned it from Chicago today. Mayor Daley was duly annoyed: "We have children getting killed by gang leaders and dope dealers. We have real issues here in this city. And we're dealing with foie gras? Let's get some priorities." (Thanks, Dave!)

Berghoff Cafe Reopens

With little fanfare, the Berghoff Cafe, in the basement of the recently closed Berghoff Restaurant, reopened for lunch today. The Berghoff Memorial Blog has the story.

Chicago barista wins US title

The Sun-Times has a profile today of Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea employee Matthew Riddle, who won the US Barista Championships last week. Riddle had to serve up 12 drinks in 15 minutes to claim the title. His winning the title means that Chicago will represent in the World Barista Championships in Berne, Switzerland next month. Riddle isn't working as a coffee server right now (he's working as a graphic artist for Intelligentsia), but he will be serving up coffee for the grand opening on April 28 of a new Intelligentsia store at 53 E. Randolph. So if you're looking for a fast cup of coffee, remember to stop by and congratulate Matthew.

Really Quick Review: Eleven City Diner

Eleven City Diner, the Viper Room of Jewish Chicago, has the building blocks of a great restaurant, but is currently lacking the haroset to put it all together. The pastrami and corned beef are as good as any I've had outside New York, and the matzo ball rivals my mother's recipe (highest praise possible), but who allowed owner Bradley Rubin to think that a pastrami on rye needs a third slice of bread like a trayf club sandwich? Or that sandwiches and (very tasty) fried onions should arrive simultaneously, followed by soup? And how are you out of Cel-Ray? Still, they're only a few weeks old: don't call it a shonda, they'll be here for years.

Harold's On Hold

Reader Al gives us an update on the Wicker Park Harold's Chicken Shack, which we reported would open on Sunday: "They won't be opening for about another week or two. I spoke to the (slightly embarrassed) owner and he said the paper never consulted them before writing the article and went with an approximate date provided months ago."

Please Stand By...

After a very busy opening week, the South Loop's Eleven City Diner experienced a power outage yesterday, and will be out of commission until Tuesday. (In the meantime, whet your appetite with some reviews via LTHForum.com.)

AOL Says These Are the Best

AOL City Guide has come out with its annual City's Best list, which dovetails nicely into our overrated /underrated restaurants Fuel questions. Some potentially controversial choices: Moody's and Twisted Spoke under "best burgers," Giordano's and Pizza D.O.C. among "best pizzas" and Frontera Grill is tops for Mexican.

Alinea's Dinnerware

If you've followed the coverage of Alinea, you've probably heard about the unusual plateware Grant Achatz commissioned for his inventive dishes. Well, Crucial Detail created them, and at least some of the items are available for sale.

Harold's Chicken for the Hipster Set

Wicker Park (1361 N. Milwaukee, to be exact) will house the only northside outpost of the venerable Harold's Chicken, beginning April 2. In an effort to "have a store that fits with the neighborhood," bulletproof glass will be nowhere to be found, and--stop the presses--whole wheat bread will be available. (Thanks, Andy!)

Chicago Chefs Nominated for Beard Awards

(...and I'm not talking about this.) The James Beard Foundation for culinary excellence announced nominees for their 2006 awards yesterday, and Chicago did just fine, thank you. Graham Eliot Bowles from Avenues was nominated in Rising Star Chef category, and fancy northside spot Alinea is in the running for Best New Restaurant. HungryMag's got the details, and a couple of interviews.

Best Burger Available

A minor league baseball team in Sauget, IL is adding a special burger to their list of concessions. Gateway Grizzlies fans will be able to enjoy "Baseball's Best Burger:" a beef patty with cheddar cheese and bacon between two Krispy Kreme doughnuts. According to urban legend reports, these are the same ingredients that make up the "Luther Burger," a burger named for Luther Vandross.

The Barefoot Contessa at the Fox

If you're a fan of Ina Garten (of Food TV's Barefoot Contessa fame) like I am, then you might be interested to know that she's appearing today at Fox and Obel downtown at 401 E. Illinois from 4-6pm for a reception where she'll show off some of her stuff and her new line of products. [Thanks Jen!]

Sensational Bites

With all the cupcake mania that seems to be ending up in the gullets of people nationwide, I thought I'd point out the extremely good cupcakes available at Sensational Bites, a cafe and bakery along the Southport corridor. They have a particularly good Boston Cream Pie cupcake — vanilla cake with a custard filling topped with chocolate. Cupcakes aren't all they do and their cakes are fantastic. A recent 11-layer Death by Chocolate cake that was roughly 8 inches tall was quite an endeavor — at $5 a slice that lasted you for 3 days or perfect for two, it's quite the deal.

Fantastic Food for the Midday Masses

Having recently eaten at Hannah's Bretzel, I can wholeheartedly concur with its inclusion in the EatChicago.net Loop Lunch Roundup, "a list for people who need to get something good to eat and get back to work." Yum. [Previously: Lunch in the Loop]

Wired While You Eat

According to this week's Dish column, the new restaurant State, 935 W. Webster, is thoroughly up on the latest tech. "We have 40 Internet terminals here and 20 laptops for use anywhere in the restaurant," says owner Kosta Giannoulias. And if you can't find your server, you can just IM the bar.

Berghoff: Now or Never

OK, this is it. The Berghoff closes today. If you haven't made your peace, better do it today. Then share your memories at the Berghoff Memorial Blog, and check out the ad (PDF) the Berghoffs took out in today's Trib thanking everyone for "the incredible outpouring of emotion" they've seen.

German food in Wrigleyville

As the Berghoff closes this week, the Sun-Times reports on another German restaurant that will be opening this April in the middle of the sports-bar-clogged stretch of Clark Street near Wrigley Field. Uberstein is being started by the owners of Crobar and Blu, will be in the space that the Heaven on Seven restaurant is now, and will feature beer and beer glasses imported from the Hofbrauhaus in Munich. Will Cubs fans go for a German restaurant? Since they're planning to serve beer, I'm going to go out on a limb and say yes.

Pooh-poohing the Berghoff Boo-hooing

Yes, the Berghoff is closing next week. Yes, there has been much weeping and wailing about it. In the midst of the sentimentality, however, EatChicago.net pipes up, stating an opinion I suspect many wish they could discount: "This once-venerable icon of historic Chicago has been serving below-average German fare for quite a while." The upside? "This city has too much good food for us to cry over a restaurant that gave up on quality years ago."

"Where the Nicest People Meet & Eat"

Reader Mike alerts us to another long-time Chicago institution's passing: tomorrow is the last day for the Uptown Snack Shop, 4668 N. Broadway. The Sun-Times has the story.

Fun With Google Maps, Oenophile Edition

Oh no! You've got a hot date tonight, and s/he asked you to bring the wine. You're looking to impress, so a bottle from Jewel just won't do. What now? Dr. Vino to the rescue. His new Chicago Wine Shop Map will point you to the closest wine shop, where a professional will set you up with the perfect bottle.

Really Quick Restaurant Review: Choppers

You might have seen Choppers while driving down Ashland. They tout themselves as "The Home of the Choppak" which intrigued me for years. The retro exterior is a throwback to the 50's. I visited it finally to sate my curiosity this past weekend and had a choppak. It's a value meal of a double cheeseburger (order the quadruple if you wish), steak cut fries and coleslaw. On the side, I had what they also tout as "Chicago's Best Milkshake". The Choppak was pretty decent: good greasy type food. But the milkshake. It's less than $3, you can mix and match flavours and it's thick enough to give Mickey D's a run for their money in that department. Takes forever to finish, if you can at all. I had the banana (fresh!) and my dining partner had the Oreo Cookie. Need I say more?

Hilary's Urban Eatery to Close

Woe unto the Wicker Park dining scene; first Leo's Lunchroom, now this. Not a month off of their appearance on Check, Please!, Hilary's Urban Eatery announces they're closing at the end of the day on February 27. (That's Monday!) Don't worry, they'll be reopening at a new space on Division sometime in the future.

Gasoline Pepsi

First there was Crystal Pepsi, then Crystal Clear Gasoline, and now the least desirable of the three, chemical-smelling Pepsi. Area Jewel-Osco stores are pulling 24-packs of Pepsi from their shelves after multiple customers complained of a chemical smell.

Berghoff history up for auction

If you aren't able to make it into the Berghoff for a final meal before it closes at the end of the month, you still have a chance of getting a piece of the restaurant's history: the restaurant will be auctioning off Berghoff memorabilia, from an original menu from 1939 to commemorative items for the Berghoff's 100-year anniversary, which was in 1998. The auction starts at noon on March 4, so start collecting your pennies. For pictures of the items up for auction, check out the auctioner's Website.

Drinking for the Kids

mmmChicago lives up to its name this morning with the details of 826CHI's upcoming Wine & Dumplings fundraiser. The event takes place Thursday night and will feature wine writer Bill Daley and food writer Monica Eng, as well as -- you guessed it -- all manner of wine and dumplings.

What's in a name when it comes to food?

Fluky's changes its name to U Lucky Dawg (generic and ugh - hat tip: Paul). Meanwhile, let us breathe a sigh of relief that Booby's in Niles isn't changing its name.

Really Quick Review: Kouk's Cafe (Norwood Park)

The strangest thing about Kouk's Cafe (5653 N. Northwest Highway in Norwood Park) is that this same idea wasn't done sooner. A very warm and cozy cafe (with good tea and wi-fi), it also has an attached resale shop that is affordable and filled with doo-dads. (We got some great retro postcards.) In the summer there's an outdoor garden where you can take your tea and conversation. Recommended, certainly.

What's for Lunch?

Not sure what the place around the corner offers? Check out MenuPages, which lists the menus of more than 2200 Chicago restaurants. Yum!

Personally, I Go for the PB&J...

Next time you end up at Potbelly's, surrounded by hollering staff and patrons, you can think to yourself, "Well, if it's good enough for Grant..." That's right, in a Best Life magazine feature about famous chefs' favorite downmarket indulgences, Alinea wunderkind Grant Achatz gushes over the Wreck's meat, cheese, toppings and "tasty bun." (A four dollar sandwich is probably about as close as you're going to get to Achatz's dining out routine -- when asked about his upmarket favorite, he lists some restaurant in Spain with a 35-course tasting menu. Good luck getting there and back on your lunch hour.)

Like Chicago for chocolate

The Washington Post takes a look at the status of candy and chocolate companies in Chicago. Some (Blommer Chocolate Company, Margie's Candies) are doing well in the city, while other companies (Primrose Candy Company, Brach's, Ferrara Pan Candy Co.) are moving some or all of their manufacturing out of the US, to take advantage of the lower cost of sugar outside this country. Still, there are new companies sprouting up (Blue Cat Candy Company, Chicago Chocolate Company) to feed Chicagoans' need for sweets, so the Chicago/candy connection is still alive. (See also the Art of Chocolate event tomorrow night in Slowdown.)

starbucks is love

Looking for love, coffee lovers? This ValDay, head on over to the Piper's Alley and Roscoe Village Starbucks. From 7-9 p.m., the folks from Yahoo! Personals will help you create an online personal, take a professional snap of you, and hand you a $10 coffee card. Hey, where else can you (maybe) find the love of your life -- and a week's worth of joe? Via TOC.

Holy Kauai!

Update on the plan to revive Trader Vic's in Chicago: on Tuesday, February 7th Harry Caray's Restaurant will go Polynesian, serving food from the Trader Vic's restaurant menu only for that day. The occasion: the Trader Vic's president is flying to Chicago to pass the torch (figuratively and literally) to Harry Caray's, which will be overseeing the opening of the new Trader Vic's Chicago location sometime next year. Along with the torch, Harry Caray's will also get the Trader Vic's Mai Tai recipe, which will be served in all three Harry Caray restaurant locations at least until Trader Vic's opens. (thanx to Robert for the tip)

Pizzeria Uno East. Faaaar East.

Next time you find yourself in, say, Shanghai, and you're looking for a, say, taste of home, maybe give CJ Chicago a try? Holy cow, indeed.

Tru and Moto on TV

Coming next month (or possibly the month after) to the Food Network: separate appearances by chefs from Tru and Moto on Iron Chef America. The competitors have kept quiet about how they fared, but today's Sun-Times offers a little preview of what to look for. Namely secret ingredients like fennel and beets.

Where's The Beef? Online!

Not a moment too soon: Vienna Beef's online store has launched, and now The Frank That Made The Damen/Elston Intersection Famous is available nationwide, along with all of the related fixings. You could order your neon-green relish, skinless franks, and boxer shorts individually, but don't you owe it to yourself to go for the tubesteak gold: the Valentine's Kit?

Flavor Saver

Quick! Grow a mustache and head to Sheffield's tonight at 8pm for the 11th Annual Bell's Stout Tasting and 2nd Annual Mustache Contest. Or just show up — they'll have temporary 'staches available for follically challenged men and women.

Hungry?

Local food chat site LTHforum.com has announced the latest recipients of its Great Neighborhood Restaurants awards. One of my new years resolutions is to check out each of these establishments, just as soon as I get through with last years.

Java, from Las Brumas to Lakeview

Love the Intelligentsia? Today's Trib spins the tale of a good cup of coffee, tracing the requisite beans from the forests of Nicaragua to the roasters of Chicago.

Really Quick Review: Junior's

From Car Seat columnist Alejandra Valera: "Calling itself a 'Sports Lounge' rather than a sports bar, Junior's on Maxwell and Halsted (partially owned by Chicago Bear Gale Sayers) is beautifully designed and swank. With 20 flat screen TVs, a VIP area and plenty of music coming from the DJ booth, expect to see both suits and backwards baseball caps at Junior's. Besides appetizers, a lunch and dinner menu is also available featuring burgers, surf'n'turf, salads and more."

So Many Menus

Reader Andrew sends in a neato website: Restaurant Place. You can do the typical searching -- neighborhood, cuisine and such -- but the real draw is the menus, which are presented in full and ripe for the pickin'.

Lincoln Park or Lincoln Square?

If you haven't taken a stroll in Lincoln Square lately, changes are afoot in this German-Baltic-Yuppie 'hood. Sure, the strip is peppered with cool restaurants, indie cafes and bookstores, but now a Potbelly is slated to open -- right next to a Cold Stone. Will Costello's prevail? We sure hope so!

Yet Another Google Map, Drinkers' Edition

The Chicago Beer Map doesn't just give you bars, it also lists beer-oriented liquor stores and shops that sell homebrew supplies. (For nightly specials, see previously mentioned Drinktown.)

Trader Vic's sailing on

Trader Vic's update, from the Tribune: the restaurant will eventually open a new Chicago location somewhere in River North, with the help of the owners of the Harry Caray's restaurants. In the meantime, the Trader Vic's people are trying to get all their memorabilia out of the space in the Palmer House Hilton, in the hopes of redecorating the new restaurant with most of the accoutrements from the old space. (Patrons during the last few days of the restaurant helped with the move by taking anything that wasn't nailed down, from drink glasses to table lamps.)

Another High Profile Closing

Breaking news, via mmmChicago, who got it from Chicago magazine's Dish e-newsletter: the renowned Trio Atelier is closing, with the last day tentatively Feb. 25.

Fat Tire on the road to Chicago

Beer enthusiasts, especially those who've spent time west of the Mississippi, have reason to celebrate: Fat Tire Ale is coming to Chicago. While on a Friday night outing to Whirlyball for a friend's birthday, I spotted a sign proclaiming the impending arrival of Fat Tire, which is one of my favorite beers and has never been distributed east of the big river (though at least one Chicago bar sells it clandestinely). I emailed New Belgium Brewery to confirm, and they've told me it's true—22oz "bomber" bottles of Fat Tire should start showing up here in February.

Chefs speak on trends

Zagat publishes an article about what the big name chefs want to see in 2006 and look back on the trends of 2005. Rick Bayless and a maitre d' from Alinea have their say amongst the other voices.

"We Serve Beer"

No reason to put off the reminiscing about the closure of the Berghoff until it happens in February: this afternoon, NPR's Melissa Block chatted with maitre d' Mike Santiago about his 50 years at the soon-to-shutter eating establishment.

Berghoff to Bug Off

Aw, man, now The Berghoff is closing. The owners of the 107-year-old Chicago institution, themselves in their 70s, have decided to close up all but the O'Hare terminal location at the end of February. Belly up to the bar one last time.

Really Quick Restaurant Review: Tiki Terrace

With Trader Vic's shutting down, you might be looking for more Tiki fun. The Tiki Terrace in Prospect Heights is excellent. Despite the very odd strip mall location, they have fantastic decorations and truly delicious cocktails (much better than Hala Kahiki, I have to say). With Tiki Blues shows and hula girls dancing on Saturdays, this place puts Prospect Heights on the map.

Anheuser Island? Goose-Busch?

There's a rumor brewing that Anheuser-Busch is considering taking an ownership stake in Goose Island Brewery. The Trib has the story, with Goose Island president John Hall confirming that the companies are "in talks" but claiming they're about distribution, not acquisition.

Whet Your Whistle

It not quite finished, but ExtraTasty! has soft launched — sign up and add your favorite drink. From the looks of it, you can expect it to be a combination bartender's recipe guide and social networking site.

More Waffling to Follow

Something's going on; we just don't know what. Waves of excitement crashed across Chicago foodboard LTHforum.com at the news that an outpost of L.A.'s Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles would be opening in Bronzeville this January. Once people settled down a bit, someone noticed that this restaurant's name is actually Rosscoe's, not Roscoe's. It's possible that we're dealing with shoddy copyediting, but it seems more likely that MLK Drive is going to be getting a branch of this New York restaurant, or another knockoff altogether.

Hey, Big Spender, Spend a Little More on My Drink

By now, the $950 Reserve Ruby Red is something of a local legend. But that's the sort of legend the Sunday Styles section of the Times thrives on, so leave it to them to track down someone who dropped the requisite grand on a first date.

Something's Fishy

Did you catch the Tribune's series on mercury levels in store-bought fish? It'll put you off canned tuna and walleye forever.

Holiday Cheer ...And Then Some

mmmChicago lives up to its name this morning, presenting one writer's eleven favorite drinks from local bars.

Red Sauce Shift

The Sun-Times has an enlightening look at how restaurant trends shifted between 1994 and 2005, comparing Zagat's ratings then and now and giving us lots of charts and graphs. Yum.

Daytime Dining Downtown

The name says it all: Lunch in the Loop makes that most important workday decision a little bit easier. And, if you're feeling lucky (or just curious), spin the roulette and try some place new. [via] Also, from the Fuel archives, GB reader suggestions.

Really Quick Restaurant Review: Ay Ay Picante!

If you want to try something different, zip out to Elston Ave. for a taste of Peruvian food at Ay Ay Picante. Peruvian food combines Asian influences with Old World cuisine, throwing in a dose of South American ingredients to boot. It's one of a kind, and worth trying if you like seafood and want something different.

Cheese TV

Pastoral, an artisan cheese, bread and wine shop in Lakeview , has been getting some heavy press lately (our review here). Not only are they featured in this month's issue of Entrepreneur, they'll also be on a forthcoming episode of the Food Network's Eat This! with Dave Lieberman. No date yet on the episode's airing, but those interested should note that the show also broadcasts over the web. Pastoral is located at 2945 N. Broadway should you want to check them out in person.

Yet Another GoogleMap, Happy Hour Edition

DrinkTown maps where the specials are, so you can make your way from one cheap beer to the next.

Aldi: Cheapest Booze Ever

Those of you who make a special trip to Trader Joe's for cheap wine can now shorten the trip to your local Aldi store. Aldi stores in Chicago are now selling beer and wine, with prices on the site advertised as low as $2.50/bottle and $4.50/six pack for imported German beer. (If anyone's tried their booze, please let us know inbox AT gapersblock DOT com.)

Bake Sale Gone Luxe

According to the latest WBEZ newsletter, the opportunity to host Charlie Trotter in your own kitchen to prepare a full tasting menu along with 11-13 of your closest friends is still available, in exchange for a generous donation to our local NPR station. The privilege will set you back, oh, $25,000. If anyone can spot me a few bucks, I can guarantee an evening of Chef!-like hilarity as Trotter sorts through my drawer of novelty shot glasses looking for cheesecloth. Call WBEZ's Jeff Dunlap at 312-948-4686 to seal the deal.

Cupcakes' Exit Strategy Explained

If you were thinking, "WTF?" when we told you last month that Cupcakes was for sale, you'll want to read the interview with co-owner Noah Antieau in this week's Dish. Upshot: new owners, bigger cupcakes soon.

As You Dish, So Shall You Take

Move over, as-seen-on-Check, Please! signs and Steve Dolinsky glossies: Chicago's LTHForum.com is currently accepting nominations for the second round of their Great Neighborhood Restaurants program. Like last year, inductees will receive a little laminated rectangle to hang in the window and represent what will surely be a contentious few weeks of back-and-forth internet bickering. Discussion closes December 18 (see FAQ here).

Aloha, Trader Vic's

The Chicago outpost of Trader Vic's, the Polynesian-themed restaurant that started in 1934, will be closing at the end of this year, according to Bill Zwecker. The Chicago location opened in 1957 and just this past summer was one of the venues in the local exotica music festival Luau by the Lake. For those of you that'll be looking for a tiki bar in the new year, you'll have to drive to River Grove to go to Hala Kahiki (but please see their dress code first). Update: Tiki Talk reports that Trader Vic's plans to reopen in another location in 2007. Hooray!

Free Grub(Hub)

We've told you about GrubHub before, a site that lists local restaurants' menus and delivery options. Recently, the site made their services free and opened themselves up to user entries. Know of a good restaurant that deserves a mention? Now you can put in all the data youself and make sure everyone knows about your favorites.

Make plans for Turkey Day

For you late planners who haven't made Thanksgiving Day plans yet, Metromix comes through for you with a list of restaurants for either attending for Thanksgiving Day, or ordering Thanksgiving takeout from for your own Turkey Day at home. Many of these restaurants are still taking reservations, but only through today, so you'd better make some plans soon.

Free Cocoa Alert

Today and tomorrow, the Pump Room at the Omni Ambassador East Hotel is giving away hot chocolate between 1 PM and 10 PM as part of the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. So is Harry Carays. For details about these and related discounts and deals, click here.

A Really Good Apple

Autumn may be leaving us, but the web makes it possible to hang on a little while longer with, well, some photographs of fall fruit. Over the past couple weeks, Thrown for a Loop has been "appleblogging." He finished yesterday with the Cameo variety, one he claims is hard to top. Makes a person wanna dash to the produce market while there's still time.

The Diner Takes It All

Just in time to make plans for a turkey-free Thanksgiving, voters in the VegNews 2005 Veggie Awards have named the Chicago Diner the nation's favorite vegetarian restaurant. Plus, the magazine's editors handed out their own prizes and picked the restaurant as their "ideal eatery for down-home cookin'" which obviously depends on your definition of "down-home."

A Taste of Turmoil

Whether spread by indoor voices or not, the controversy surrounding that sign in the window of Andersonville's A Taste of Heaven has gone so far as to catch the attention of the Times.

Lay's vs. Jays, a new beginning

So do you remember last year's tussle between Lay's and Jays? Where Jays took Frito-Lay to court, disputing their ads that Chicago prefers the taste of Lay's potato chips over Jays? Well, it looks like Lay's might have some more ammo to boost their claims: the Sun-Times reports on a new snack food survey conducted by Chicago-based Information Resources that indicates Lay's outsold Jays in Chicago, $17.1 million vs. $13.3 million, based on 2005 supermarket sales data. The survey also indicates that cookies are the top-selling snack food in the city, with Oreo cookies #1 here and nationwide.

Dive Bar Divisions

Chicagoist got an earful when it critiqued Citysearch's list of the city's top 10 dive bars. Many of their criticisms were spot on — the Cubby Bear is in no way a dive — but as GB found out awhile back, Chicagoans have strong opinions about dive bar delineation. (You might also be interested in this feature about the disappearance of tap rooms.)

Mmm, chocolate respiratory ailments...

The Blommer Chocolate Company, the place that blankets the River North area with a chocolate smell, was cited by the EPA this week for clean-air violations stemming from excessive dust coming from the company's machinery. The company has been working with the EPA to reduce emissions (but not the sweet-smelling ones, please) and has 30 days to address the citation.

Have Your Cupcakes (And Own it, Too)

Remember back in August when Lakeview went crazy for Cupcakes? The story goes that the folks behind the bakery devised their plan somewhere between here and Alaska, so it's only fitting that, just four months later, they're selling the joint to split town and study abroad. True to form, Craigslist has the details. (Thanks, Paul!)

Free Cocoa Alert

Throughout November and December, the Pump Room at the Omni Ambassador East Hotel is giving away hot chocolate between 12 and 2pm as part of the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. And, if you take a copy of this holiday guide with you to the Museum of Contemporary Art, you get 2-for-1 admission as well as free hot chocolate at Pucks Caf. For details about these and related discounts and deals, click here.

Chicago, home of the nation's favorite gay bar

The Chicago Free Press reports that Sidetrack was named the best gay bar in the country by readers of OutTraveler magazine. Indeed, Sidetrack tied for the top spot with NYC's Roxy in the magazine's readers' poll; as the editors aptly put it, "Either invite 1,200 of your closest friends over for a night of trash TV or meet them all at Sidetrack, Chicagos sleek, supersize video bar."

Bleeding Heart Bakery To Open Its Doors

There's a new bakery in town, as Bleeding Heart Bakery moves from their incubator in Kitchen Chicago into a full-blown storefront at Chicago and Damen. Expect something for everyone at their grand opening on Halloween (running from 10am - 8pm), and dig their website for a moving testimony about why green and bread aren't contradictions.

Sorry Charlie

The Zagat annual ratings are out, and there's at least one surprise in the list of Chicagoland's best restaurants: Charlie Trotter's didn't get a top score. The mighty fell one point behind the top six, which included Mirai Sushi, Seasons, Tallgrass and Carlos' in addition to stalwarts such as Tru and Ambria.

Avant-Garde Foodporn, Pt. 2

Last week, it was Alinea. This week, peep some pictures of Moto.

America's Best Food City?

Is Chicago America's best food city? Men's Style ponders that question as it highlights four new upscale restaurants opening in the city. Scenesters are especially directed to the recently opened Landmark Grill & Lounge in Lincoln Park. The much-hyped venue features a flying catwalk, Moroccan-inspired lounge and designated cell phone booth.

The Return of Avant Garde Foodporn

Alinea has resurfaced in the foodie buzz; chef Grant Achatz was counted as one of the country's top tastemakers in Forbes, and the new Fall menu looks divine in photos on eGullet.

Cereal + milk (pat. pend.)

If you still aren't a fan of Cereality, the downtown cereal cafe that charges you nearly $5 for a bowl of mixed-up cereals, you might be interested in a new project called Cereal Solidarity, a site that draws attention to the fact that Cereality has a number of patents pending to give them an exclusive right to the concept of the cereal cafe. Two competitors to Cereality have already run afoul of the Chicago-based business: Bowls in Florida; and Cerealogy in Iowa City. Cereal Solidarity is asking Cereality to withdraw its patent application and allow other businesses to try their hand at selling cereal.

They help dogs too. But the cat sites are funnier.

Do you like to look at cats that hate you? Perhaps you prefer cats in sinks? Or maybe you'd like to get drunk enough to take crazy pictures of your cat and post them on the internet? PAWS Chicago is having their annual gathering at The Tasting Room. Eat, drink, and listen to live music. It starts at $75 per person, but it benefits an organization that helps animals find people that love them enough to make them wear festive hats. This Thursday, October 20th at 7 pm. Contact Jaime McClary at 773.843.4884 for more info.

Cooking the Books

Ted Allen, Chicago's own Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, is signing his book, The Food You Want to Eat: 100 Smart, Simple Recipes, at Sur La Table, 52-54 E. Walton St., between 2pm and 3pm October 23. Then he goes upstairs and teaches a cooking lesson. $85 gets you the book and the class. (Via Dish, whose authors also have a book out -- Everybody Loves Pizza.)

Chopping Block Cookie Contest

You've got until October 15 to prove that you're the best darn cookie baker in Chi-town. Enter the Chopping Block's cookie recipe contest. Will you be the winner of a Le Crueset six-piece set?

The Usual Suspects

In its recent issue profiling "America's Top 5 Restaurant Cities," Bon Apptit checked in on Chicago. The magazine's local choices won't come as much of a surprise -- Moto, Green Zebra, etc. -- but when things are working, I guess people can't help but recognize. (Which isn't to say everyone agrees: the Sun-Times notes that, while Esquire is less impressed with some of these spots, its critic loves Butter. No accounting for taste, huh?)

Check That Expiration Date

The City's Department of Consumer Services fined 71 of 100 randomly chosen independent grocers for selling out-of-date products ranging from baby cereal to cold medicine. Hope yours isn't on the list.

Spoilt for Choice

Take it from the Times, "eating in Chicago is almost painful: to choose one superb restaurant is to reject a dozen others."

Bottomless Accolades

The Wall Street Journal's Catalog Critic recently tested coffee beans by mail services from various roasters, and Intelligentsia Coffee tied for "Best Overall" with their new Bottomless Cup program. "Whoever roasted this knows what they're doing," said their coffee expert, Ken Nye.

Inflation by the Slice

As if we didn't have enough problems: The Sun-Times reported yesterday that area pizza delivery prices are increasing because of higher gas and ingredient costs. Even Domino's and Papa John's now charge for delivery. (Related: Not clear on the difference between "deep dish" and "stuffed" pizza?)

Avec Sanglier Avec Pappardelle

If by chance you don't feel like chicken tonight, maybe you're brave (and carnivorous) enough to try this recipe from yesterday's Times: wild boar with pappardelle. It may take a bit of effort to source the ingredients (the recommendations are customized for New Yorkers), but for Chicagoans there's also the soft option: head to Avec, developers of the dish, and let them make it for you.

Pastries for the People

Not many merchants at an outdoor festival could out-fun a petting zoo, pony rides, or the Farm Aid Tractor Parade, but Michelle Garcia's spread from her Bleeding Heart Bakery came very close. At this weekend's 5th Annual County Fair, Garcia sat beside tables of prize produce grown by neighborhood youth. Garcia's delights are often vegan, and always made with organic sustainable ingredients from local farmers. A few chunks of Bleeding Heart's Busy Bee cookie added delicious flair to the walk around the Garfield Park Conservatory. You can enjoy the Conservatory today, but will have to wait until Halloween day to visit The Bleeding Heart when it opens at 2018 W. Chicago Ave, near Damen.

The Hearty Boys Hit The Airwaves

Earlier this year, we told you about Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, The Hearty Boys, winning the Food Network's reality show, "The Next Food Network Star." That contest resulted in a new show, "Party Line with Dan & Steve," which debuted Sunday at 9:30am. Didn't get up early enough of forgot to Tivo it? You can catch it again on Friday, Sept. 23, at 5pm.

Come again?

Maybe it's just me and my early morning crankiness, but this article on a Chicago area restaurant cited for health violations reads like a fever-dream narrative. Pecadillos aside, II Jacks Restaurant's violations seem pale in comparison to others I've read about. Of course this is coming from someone who would eat steak off the floor.

Tour de Ferrara Pan

BoingBoing reminded us that Ferrara Pan has a great website, featuring virtual tours of the making of Atomic Fireballs, Boston Baked Beans, Lemonheads and other favorites.

Love that Bean Smell

Fresh from our Fuel topic on favorite smells, did you know you can tour local coffee purveyor Intelligentsia's roasting plant? It only costs $3, and you get as much coffee and tea you can drink, plus some fresh beans! Located at 1850 W. Fulton, tours are currently conducted on Saturdays once a month. Your next opportunity for the freshest coffee smell ever: October 1st. We've got you covered in Slowdown. [Thanks, Stephen]

Ladies Do Fondue

Ladies, your Wednesdays are about to get cheesy. The Melting Pot at 609 N Dearborn Street is offering free fondue for ladies in the lounge every Wednesday from 5 until 7. The Melting Pot recently celebrated its 30th birthday and opened its 100th restaurant! Between dips of your strawberry, enter to win a "Fondue Rendezvous" to the Pot's birthplace, Zurich, Switzerland. Don't forget to note this Wednesday freebie on your PDA, or this.

Chocolate Capital of the US

Chicago may no longer have a sausage king, but we're back on top for chocolate. (Did you know Blommer, the company responsible for that cocoa scent wafting through the Loop, has an outlet store?)

Pricey Gas, Cheap Beer

Handlebar, 2311 W. North Ave., is giving us a small reason to root for higher gas prices: the "Inverse Petrol-O-Matic Beer Pricing Scheme." If regular unleaded costs more than $3 a gallon at the BP station down the street from restaurant, pints of Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale will be discounted to $3 (from $3.75). The cost goes down a dollar every time gas rises another dollar -- so let's hear it for $6 gas!

Chicago veggie votes

Today is the last day to vote for Veg News magazine's 2005 Veggie awards. There are a number of Chicago favorites nominated, including Chicago Diner and the fabulous Chicago Soy Dairy.

Something cooking this weekend

Sure, it sometimes seems like they charge $1.35 for a single lemon, but Whole Foods is throwing itself a killer 25th birthday party with lots of cooking demonstrations this weekend in Jonquil Park, at the intersection of Wrightwood, Lincoln, and Sheffield. For $5, you can see Charlie Trotter, Rick Bayless, Rick Tramonto, and HB owners Dan Smith and Steve McDonough on Saturday; on Sunday, you can see Paul Wildermuth, Jared Case, Paul Choi, and a mystery chef. There is also a music stage, as well as a kids' pavillion featuring Environmental Elvis.

Shameless Chicago

Shameless Restaurants, the message board for the industry's workers, had a Chicago forum. It's still a bit nascent, but a potentially good source for communication in the server community.

Abracadabra!

The Magic Pan chain of restaurants, which hit it big in the 1970s when America was apparently ready to eat anything as long as it was stuffed into a crepe, may be poised for a comeback, thanks to Chicago's Lettuce Entertain You restaurant chain. The Sun-Times reports that there's a Magic Pan Crepe Stand already open in Minnesota's Mall of America, and on Thursday a second Magic Pan will open in Northbrook Court. Until a Magic Pan shows up closer to home, we city dwellers will have to make do with such places as La Creperie on Clark Street, with its chicken-and-mushroom crepes and onion soup gratinee. Oh, poor us!

Everything old is new again?

According to Crain's (Subscription req'd), Old Style is attempting a sales comeback, hot on the coattails of the recent PBR popularity boom. If you haven't noticed the new billboards around town, Old Style has launched a new "irreverent" ad campaign that is trying to reposition its brand as more young and hip, while still retaining it's neighborhood beer status. "More refreshing than a parking spot in Lincoln Park" and "More refreshing than stopping Bucktown before it Lincoln Parks" may cause you to roll your eyes, but I thought the Ukrainian Village radio ad (mp3 clip) was pretty on point. Cheers.

So Long Lakeview Lounge

First heard rumor-fashion on Craigslist Rants and Raves, turns out it's true that Uptown dive bar/ late-night legend the Lakeview Lounge will soon be shutting its doors for good. No telling exactly when the last night will be, but it'll likely be very soon -- New City already ran an obituary, although the bar is still open tonight. Owner Cathy told me it has to do with rising rent prices and a need to find a new location, since the building's owners have other plans for the space at 5110 North Broadway. Even the house band Nite Watch has been sent home. They likely won't be open late, so head out early and drink a few for an old friend.

El Pizza

Interesting news in this week's Dish column from Chicago Magazine: The guys behind the Got Pizza chain are opening a gourmet pizzeria in the North/Clybourn El stop in October. They'll serve coffe'n'pastries in the morning, salads and up to 30 pizzas by the slice till 4am.

Sam's Air & Water Show "Survival Pack"

Stop by Sam's Wine & Spirits this weekend on your way to the Air & Water Show and pick up a "Survival Pack". The kit includes two chilled bottles of wine, a corkscrew, four plastic cups, bottled water, cheese snacks and nuts, all in an easy to carry bag. Also included is a BYO wine bag for two bottles, a great insulated, reusable bag to transport wine. Email toddhess@samswine.com for this $49 offer, and pick it up on the way to the show on Saturday or Sunday.

Westward on Devon

Eats by East-West is a blog that is working its way from east to west down Devon, reviewing every restaurant or eatery with a table.

It's a cupcake stampede!

Is Chicago ready for its first all-cupcake bakery? Apparently so. Cupcakes, the logically-named patisserie in Lakeview, sold out of all of its 37 varieties within four hours of yesterdays grand opening. They then re-opened at 8:30 in the evening, and promptly sold out again. Head to 613 W. Briar to see what all the fuss is about (though you may want to check the cupcake stock at 773-525-0817 before you show up).

Click! Gulp!

The Sun-Times takes a look at the apparently thriving pastime of posting pictures of your restaurant meals online. The main example used in the article is the collection of photos of every single course at Alinea, which is apparently already quite used to its patrons snapping photos of the surreal-looking courses (more photos available, of course, at Flickr). Tip for future Alinea patrons: cameras are okay, but no flashes, please.

Site Specific Caf

Across the street from West Towns Ida Crown Natatorium at Eckhart Park, Swim Caf, a beautiful vision in cool colors, opened three weeks ago at 6am.

Items of interest include: two kinds of soy-cheese for sandwiches, natural Beggins Paws dog treats, pastries and breads from Wicker Park's Red Hen, salads, croissants, quiches, paninis, tarts, free wi-fi, innovative Ineeka tea, and 100% fair trade Just Coffee. Swim is the only Chicago caf to feature Madison's Just Coffee, do you feel a coffee movement coming on? Swim's current iced-coffee blend is Work for Peace, and they also pour Revolution Roast. A vote for best thing ever about Swim Caf: owners Karen and Brian, and their staff, are devoted to the aquatic aesthetic: they all wore blue or green t-shirts. 1357 W. Chicago Ave, 312-492-8600, 6am-6pm daily (closed Wednesday).

Three-course, Prix Fixe!

Dine Out week is coming up here in the City That Works. Enjoy special three-course, prix fixe menus at some of the city's best restaurants, including Coco Pazzo, Brasserie Jo, Va Pensiero and more. You'll spend just $20 on a superb lunch and $35 for a yummy dinner, plus receive a free bottle of S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water or Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water with your meal. S.Pellegrino will donate $1 for every Dine Out meal to Share Our Strength. From August 15 - August 19 and August 22 - August 26.

Chicago Bar News

Sean Parnell, web god who has helped thousands of thirsty Chicagoans with the Chicago Bar Project, is getting married. The engagement story is cute, but readers have to wonder: will this mean the end of R&D for the project?

Free Apps on the Way Home

If you ride the Brown Line, you might want to stop off at the Francisco station and head over to Kitchen Chicago. New catering company Dining In is offering free appetizers (and information about their services) from 6pm to 8pm in Kitchen Chicago's cafe, 4664 N. Manor. (Monday night.)

An honor to be nominated...

Last night at Market Days, I bought a root beer float from the guys of the Chicago Soydairy. They told me they're up for a 2005 Veg News Award, and I was happy to report I'd already done the requisite mouse clicking. Thing is, they were so nice (and excited), I want to spread the word that they, along with the also-nominated Chicago Diner, could use your vote.

GNRs on Gmaps

LTHForum.com, a Chicago-based message board devoted to discussing food, glorious food, recently designated 27 local places to eat as "Great Neighborhood Restaurants" (the selection process is detailed here). EatChicago.net followed up by presenting the winners on an interactive map that gives you the basics -- phone and address details -- and then goes a step further by linking to the Forum's discussion of why each establishment deserved recognition.

Stockyard-city vegetarianism

If you're at all like me, the idea of a Bacon-off ranks up there as one of the sickening stunts they show on Fear Factor. No, I'd be more apt to pig out (so to speak) on chana masala, and now I know where to go for it, thanks to the Metblogs list of favorite local veggie food. [For good measure, a few more veg*n resources, including some from our archives: VegChicago; the Chicago Veggie community on LiveJournal; PJ Chmiel's gallery; Bite Me Baking on Daily Candy; and Go Veggie.]

More Burger Ratings

GQ rated the country's 20 best burgers, and Chicago got but one listing -- Poag Mahone's in the South Loop. Considering it didn't make the Tribune's top five nor was it mentioned in the Fuel thread on burgers awhile back, you have to wonder exactly where GQ got their information. (Thanks, Brenda)

Hot dog showdown

In a national phone poll of 900 people, New York edged out Chicago for best hot dog. Is it the poppyseeds, or the sport peppers? Related: Watch me eat a hot dog.

Food + music

Big Delicious Planet, a local catering company, has a blog about food and music. They're catering this weekend's Lollapalooza festival, so expect some interesting updates.

If you're on Check Please, Don't Read This

If I had to pick one restaurant to send out of towners, last year it would have been Lula. This year though it'd be the brunch at Kitchen Chicago. An utterly fantastic crepe, delightful coffee, and a friendly chat with the proprieter... not to mention fresh bon-bons, best use of an oven ever, and the cutest cafe ever. And free Wi-Fi. Go here before everyone else does, it's fantastic. They only have Sunday Brunch for now, but meals will be coming to many weeknights near you as well.

Slurpee for Free

We're all about the free stuff: 7-11 is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Slurpee today, 7/11/2005. Find your nearest store and pick up a free slushy sweet concoction. (Thanks, Eamon)

Dude, I Got the Munchies

According to this article at CNN.com, Chicago's City Council has just banned all pot-flavored candy — including Tony Van Pelt's Chronic Candy line — even though no illegal ingredients are used in these products. Other cities are apparently about to follow suit. [via TMN]

Free Ice Cream Social

Everyone's obsessed about ice cream lately. Surely after reading our article, Starbucks decided to get into the game and is giving the stuff away this afternoon, possibly even right now.

Enough to fill the Grand Canyon

This week in Detour we looked at a few of our favorite places for frozen treats, and readers have been filling in some of the gaps by making additional suggestions in the comments. After all, there are only so many of us, and there is so much of Chicago. Michael McGarry, though, didn't let that sort of thing keep him from delivering judgment on not just the city's, but the region's best ice cream parlors and custard stands in Midwest Scoops. Get a sample of his tasting tips in the Christian Science Monitor.

I want my HBTV

Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, owners of Hearty Boys Catering and Boystown's HB cafe, were voted the winners by viewers of The Next Food Network Star last night. (That the show's finale fell on Pride must have been a good omen.) The Boys now get their own Food Network show, to premiere September 18.

Dill Pickle Dance

The still-nascent West Side Food Co-op is having their first fundraiser event Saturday, the Dill Pickle Dance, in honor of having chosen a name: The Dill Pickle Food Co-op. From 4pm to 6pm at the Spare Room, there will be good food, music, dancing, and a logo designing contest. For more information, check out the mailing list. 2416 W. North Ave. Suggested donation: $5 adults, $10 per family.

A Separate Taste

The Trib and the Sun-Times offer all the coverage a person could want about the Taste of Chicago. And, if that's not enough, there's the Too Many Chefs take, too. But what if you just aren't interested? EatChicago.net has devised an alternative which doesn't include "a single hot dog, deep dish, or Italian beef sandwich." UPDATE: For vegetarians, VegChicago is also offering a vegan guide to the Taste.

Prepare to start Tasting

The 25th annual Taste of Chicago starts Friday in Grant Park. Eleven days of eating and drinking, featuring food from more than 60 restaurants around Chicago. Live entertainment will be happening throughout the park; see the Taste site for complete information on events. And don't forget, you can purchase Taste food tickets at your local Dominick's, between today and Thursday. And if you don't have a local Dominick's, you can buy tickets online.

Time runs out for Demon Dogs

The CTA finally caught up with Demon Dogs. The long-lived hot dog stand under the Fullerton El stop tracks closed its doors this weekend, and will be demolished as part of the upcoming Brown Line expansion project. However great the new Fullerton station will be, I'm guessing it won't include one great feature of the old station: the smell of cooking French fries wafting up from Demon Dogs.

Museum Cocktail Fun

The Sun-Times' calendar section included a nice wrap-up of all the evening cocktail hours at Chicago museums. Get more info about Tuesdays on the Terrace at the MCA, the Chill at the Adler, Jazzin' at the Shedd, and cocktail hour at the Field.

City Farm sells to the public

City Farm, the organic, sustainable farm next to Cabrini Green, has expanded their land use and growing season this year. Their produce, particularly Heirloom tomatoes, usually goes to local restaurants like Frontera Grill. However, they're now selling to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3pm-6pm, and Saturday 9am-1pm, at the gate on Clyborn just north of Division across from the Starbucks. What's available will change with the growing season, but currently they have chard, sugar snap peas, broccoli, herbs, garlic scapes, collard greens, beets, and lettuce.

City's Best Burgers

Ever had a cheeseburger at Rosebud Steakhouse? Me neither; if I'm going there, I'm having a porterhouse. But apparently we're missing out, as Phil Vettel and a 33-person panel declared the Rosebud burger the best in the city. Check out the other top contenders, then compare it to GB readers' own picks in this Fuel thread from last September.

Marshall Field's Culinary Quarterly

Instead of knocking off after work and heading to your fave bar, why not attend a cooking class at Marshall Field's Culinary Studio? Through August, you can take classes such as Field's Favorite Lunch, Great Fish for Summer, and the Weekend Baker. Classes range from $20-70 and are taught by members of the Field's Culinary Council. Get the full schedule.

Alinea reviewed

It's been an unbelievably long time since we had any news about Alinea, the restaurant that would be king. Today the Sun-Times posted a review, giving Alinea 3-1/2 stars out of four. The half star was taken off because, reviewer Pat Bruno warned, "unless you are really into food ... it can be a bit much." So take that as a warning, all you restaurant patrons who are going to Alinea expecting a regular old meal for your $75-175 investment: it's going to be a bit much! Meanwhile, Phil Vettel of the Tribune was more enthusiastic in an informal review last month: "This is big. Charlie Trotter big. Ducasse-comes-to-America big. Don't miss it."

Lick the Spoon

Reader Joy points us to The Wooden Spoon in Andersonville, a family-owned gourmet cooking shop. Of special note is the slew of classes they're offering this month. From $45-$125, the classes cover everything from Thai noodles to tapas to healthy summer meals. Yum.

Homer Simpson Day!

In the latest of a series of bulletins to our readers on free food handouts, we'd like to alert you to the fact that Krispy Kreme will be handing out free donuts this Friday, in honor of National Donut Day (a holiday started by the Chicago Salvation Army!). Stop in at a participating Krispy Kreme location near you and request your free donut.

The Science of Taste & Smell

You've got to love the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation. They're constantly pumping out bizarre factoids about how taste and smell affect our perceptions. The latest: the smell of grapefruit makes women appear younger. Oh, and as if you couldn't have guessed, caffeinated cola may make kids hyperactive.

Dining about Architecture

Metromix has an odd little article for those of you who get hungry thinking about buildings: they've paired local architectural gems with nearby matching restaurants, as you might wine with a meal.

Hearty Boys: HB, TV

Chicago Magazine's Dish column informs us that Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, aka The Hearty Boys, are remodeling the cafe into HB, which will be slightly more upscale. Why? In anticipation of more business driven by their appearances in the upcoming show, "The Next Food Network Star." The show debuts June 5, and apparently HB will open a bit before that.

How not to impress a food critic

Debra Pickett of the Sun-Times was given the assignment to take former New York Times food critic Ruth Reichl out to lunch. Debra decides to take her to Karyn's Cooked, a vegan restaurant. Hilarity ensues. (Reichl: "People take me to great places all the time. But I hardly ever get a meal like this.")

Free 'Finger Free' Frosty, Please

To thank customers for sticking with them during the "I found a finger in my chili" hoax, Wendy's is giving free Frostys to everyone who asks for one this weekend.

Who loves Chipotle?

Kyle Smith does. The Northwestern student has eaten a Chipotle burrito every day, for 34 days in a row. He's visited the original Chipotle restaurant in Denver, eaten a Chipotle burrito at a movie screening (he's the film columnist for the Daily Northwestern), and when he went to Boston, where there are currently no Chipotle restaurants, he "nearly fainted." Plus, according to him, the burritos "satisfy me in ways a whore never could." Uh...

From PB&J to sponge cake

If you've been following the reports on Alinea (aka Chicago's gift to the culinary world), and are wondering exactly what the 28-course meal looks like, take a peep at this thread on the eGullet discussion forum, which contains detailed shots of every course. And then head on over to the Alinea section of eGullet, which contains loads of information about the restaurant and the development of its menu, the serviceware and even the restaurant's logo.

Yikes! Penang Closed

We were just there last week and the food was fine, but reader Bill emailed us to say that Penang in Chinatown has been closed by the city due to major health code violations. Hopefully they'll fix everything quickly so Naz can get his cendol fix again!

A Science Fair or Marathon Dining?

Not one, but two large scale articles on the latest food trend in Chicago, matching science and dining. First, the NYT ventures into the recently opened Alinea and also hits up Moto. Then, read further into chef Homaro Cantu's Moto, over at the LA Times. Both restaurants use science to craft unforgettable meals, which can stretch upwards of seven hours. The prices are sky-high, but then again, where else can you find sushi flavored paper and liquid chocolate desserts?

Pineapple sponges and bottomless bowls

The group food blog Too Many Chefs posted a rave review of Alinea, the newest restaurant sensation in Chicago. If you want to check it out, make your reservations very soon; they're booked through July.

Check Before You Eat

Ever wonder about that sketchy restaurant down the street? How safe is it, really? Well, the city's Food Inspection Data Search is the place to check. For restaurants famous or not, any health code infraction shows up, whether serious or not.

Eat Out Tonight

You should be Dining Out for Life tonight -- if you haven't already made your reservations, here's a list of restaurants participating in this annual charity event benefitting AIDSCare, a home for HIV and AIDS patients.

A History of Encased Meats

Doug Sohn of Hot Doug's, at 3324 N. California, recently revealed a major addition to Chicago history -- Critical Links: A History of Encased Meats. Displayed in the store, Hugh Musick's research depicts "the most extensive history of encased meats ever conducted." Yum! It's all about bringing the history that matters to the people who care.

Mmm, fudge chunks...

The Tribune reports on a new Ben & Jerry's flavor that's unlikely to sell big in Chicago: Dave Matthews Band Magic Brownies. The deal for the flavor ("vanilla ice cream with fudge brownie chunks and raspberry swirls") was apparently signed long before the infamous poo incident from last year linked the words "Dave Matthews Band" and "800 pounds of raw sewage" in the minds of Chicagoans. (Thanks to Amy C. for the tip.)

Trotter's Does It Again

NPR has republished a Restaurant Magazine list of the Top 50 Restaurants in the World, and our very own Charlie Trotters made an appearance at #14. Did you know that they also offer food to go?

USA, Baking Champions of the World!

Following up on our previous post, the US Bread Bakers Guild team has won the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie (the World Bakers' Cup) in Paris. Here's a short Quicktime video montage. Team member Jory Downer will soon be back in his home kitchen at Bennison's Bakery in Evanston -- stop in and meet a true champion!

Free Cone Day!

Reader Cara alerts us to the fact that today is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's. Free ice cream! Whoo! Check here for a listing of shops in Illinois participating in the 12-8pm happening.

Takin' It to Paris

Over the next couple days, the US Bread Bakers Guild team goes up against competitors from around the world in the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie -- the World Bakers' Cup -- in Paris. The three-man team includes a local guy: Jory Downer of Bennison's Bakery in Evanston will be holding down the Viennoiserie (a type of pastry) category. Go USA!

Mmm, anniversary burgers...

Today is the 50th anniversary of McDonald's. The first restaurant in the chain was opened on April 15, 1955 in Des Plaines, and the latest one, a two-story restaurant with a retro design, will be opened this morning at 10:00 on the site of the old Rock'n'Roll McDonald's (600 N. Clark). In case you can't attend the opening in person, McDonald's is thoughtfully providing a Webcast preview of the restaurant; see the McDonald's site for details.

Dining out for life

Two weeks from tonight, the annual event Dining Out For Life happens, in which a number of Chicago-area restaurants either donate a percentage of their day's proceeds or make a single donation to the local charity AIDSCare. If you've been looking for a good excuse to try a new restaurant, check out the list of participating restaurants on the Dining Out For Life site and make your reservations for Thursday, April 28.

Name That Bin

According to Chicago Magazine's Dish column this week, Bin36 is planning to open a third location in Wicker Park. They're having trouble coming up with a name, though: email danbin36com if you've got a suggestion. (Please, serious suggestions only. Be a grown-up.)

Eat, Drink and Be Murray

On the one hand, I'm a big Bill Murray fan. On the other, I'm not a fan of chain restaurants. So the news that Murray and his siblings are scouting locations for two outposts of their Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurants in the Chicago area (the first ones are in Florida) has me a bit torn.

Chicago gets Beard nominations

This year's James Beard nominees have been announced [PDF], and Chicago got a lot of nods. Among the nominations, Avec got one for architecture, Everest got the expected outstanding restaurant nomination, and Chicago restaurants hold three of the five spots for outstanding service (Spiaggia, Topolobampo, and Tru). For journalism, the Tribune's habitually lackluster Good Eating section did not win any nominations, though local NPR show 848 did.

"Delocating" Your Local Starbucks

Put down that Starbucks. You should be drinking local coffee. And to help you do that, I'm pointing you to Delocator, a directory of independent coffee shops searchable by zip code. (If you really insist on drinking that Seattle sludge, they also include a list of the Starbucks in the area.)

The new name in food: Alinea

Metafilter points us to a rave review of the highly anticipated new restaurant started by Chicago chef Grant Achatz: Alinea, at 1723 N. Halsted. The dishes listed in the article sound like Achatz is trying to out-weird the Surrealists at Moto: lacy toast wrappings that taste of peanut butter and jelly; atomized shrimp cocktails; exploding ravioli filled with hot truffle broth; and Instant Tropical Pudding that arrives at your table in powder form. Alinea opens in May, but the word is they're booked solid through June. Start saving your pennies now, if you want to go; food this weird isn't going to be cheap.

Edgebrook to Get Bar?

In the continuing quest to ensure that every urban citizen on the planet is within walking distance of an Irish pub, the far Northwest Side neighborhood of Edgebrook will be getting a bright red Irish pub named Moher, nearly across the street from the Edgebrook library. Those of us who live near Edgebrook are excited: the seemingly dry precint could use a nice neighborhood pub. Next up: a few more restaurants. Dare to dream?

Learn About Thai Food

Sìlàpaahãan is a new site "intended to be a repository of information on the various aspects of Thai cuisine, with a distinct emphasis on the culinary arts and cultures as they are practised in our adopted home town, Chicago." There's translated menus and photos, with more promised.

What's bakin'

There's a new baking blog in Chicago: Part-time Pro Bono Baker. The site discusses all things relating to baked goods, and has two different people that do bakery reviews (via KIPlog).

Billy Goat Goes National

Billy Goat Tavern is crawling out from under the Michigan Avenue Bridge and heading to Washington, D.C. -- and that's just the beginning. Crain's reports that owner Sam Sianis is planning a San Diego outpost and would like to colonize New York as well, possibly even franchizing the greasy burgers made famous by a Saturday Night Live skit.

Home Coffee Roasting

A relatively new local food blog, Chicago Foodies, offers a relatively novel way to roast your own coffee at home: Find a hot air popcorn popper, grab an extension cord and head outside. He got his green beans from a local store, but you could also order them from Intelligentsia.

We're Golden

Ever wonder why there are so many restaurants in Chicago with the word "Golden" in the name? So did Matt Maldre. He doesn't have an answer for you, but he does have a list of every Golden ______ within city limits.

Local coffee abounds

The Sun-Times mentions that Chicago ranks third in the country for the number of coffee shops. We have 568, placing us behind Los Angeles and Seattle, but ahead of New York. There are also a number of fabulous coffee roasters in town, most of which offer fair trade roasts.

The city that perks

In a new listing prepared by the NPD Group of American cities ranked by the number of coffee shops, Chicago ranks third, behind Seattle and LA but ahead of NYC, Portland, and San Francisco. Why does Chicago rank so high? The researchers point to Chicago's winter weather as the cause of increased consumption in the city.

That's Good Coffee

Three baristas from Chicago were finalists in the Specialty Coffee Association's 2005 United States Barista Championships -- and all of them work for Intelligentsia. Ellie Hudson-Matuszak came in second, Matthew Riddle was fourth and Amber Sather came in sixth. So feel free to order that double-shot half-caf mocha latté with extra foam from either of them, assured that it'll come out exactly right. (Thanks, Tim)

A Saucy Newcomer

Jessa Crispin, editor and founder of Bookslut, has launched a new foodie webzine, Saucy. It's off to a promising start, with articles on whether to put booze in the freezer and when to start planting your garden.

A deep dish of trouble for NY writer

New York food critic Ed Levine recently published a new book, Pizza: A Slice of Heaven, in which he lists his favorite pizza places in the US. Although he devotes a number of pages in his book to places in New York and New England (16 pages on Connecticut pizza alone!), Levine devotes only 11 pages to Chicago pizza. An interview with the Sun-Times Mark Brown turns up the fact that Levine doesn't think much of Chicago pizza: "I've never had pizza in Chicago that lives up to my pizza ideals." But lest you think that Levin doesn't even like our pizza: "I actually like it because I like good casseroles. I even like hot dish in Minneapolis." There you go. According to Ed Levine, Chicago pizza is at least as good as hot dish!

Food co-op meeting

If you missed Tuesday's meeting for the formation of a West Side food co-op, there will be another one tomorrow, March 5 at noon at the Congress Theater (2135 W. Milwaukee Ave.). For more information, check out the Yahoo group.

Chicago's Avant Garde Chefs Get More Press

A month after Moto's Homaro Cantu's feature in the New York Times, Grant Achatz -- formerly of Trio, now on his own at Alinea -- gets a nice, big feature in Food & Wine. I really want to try that PB&J.

Organic Foods Festival

The FamilyFarmed.org Expo is being held this Sunday at Navy Pier. The one-day festival will feature more than 100 local organic farmers, who will be showing and distributing their produce and other products. Cooking demonstrations from folks like Art Smith, Oprah's personal chef, and workshops on healthy living will also be included. The expo runs from 11am-5pm. Visit the Family Farmed website for the complete program.

Cereality store closer to reality

As mentioned previously on GB, Cereality Cereal Bar & Cafe is planning to open a location in Chicago, where customers can enjoy 30 kinds of cereal and 30 toppings. The AP reports that Cereality has found a location for its store: 100 South Wacker at Monroe. The cafe's opening in the late spring, according to Cereality. Also reported: the Cereality company HQ will be moving to Chicago from Boulder, CO.

Essence of ball

After claiming that they were going to turn the dreaded Steve Bartman baseball into a "curse ending" spaghetti sauce, Harry Caray's restaurant started serving "Foul Ball Spaghetti" yesterday. Instead of including actual pieces of the baseball, the restaurant boiled bits of the ball with water, Budwiser (Harry's beer of choice), vodka and herbs, and put the liquid (without the ball) into the sauce. So you don't actually get to eat bits of the baseball, but instead you get "the essence of the ball". Uh huh.

Please Take a Look at Our Daily Specials

ChicagoSpecials.com offers up daily lists of specials at various bars on the North Side. Now you never have to wonder where to get cheap wings on a Friday night in Lakeview -- if that's a burning question for you, that is.

Moto Origato

The New York Times has an article on Homaro Cantu, executive chef of Moto, and his use of an inkjet printer to create culinary curiosities. Printed sushi -- yum?

Chef Bubala, the "anti-steakhouse chef"

Have you ever dined at Thyme, or its casual counterpart, Thyme Cafe? If so, you've experienced Chef Bubala's creations. A recent visit to Princeton University prompted a nice article about Bubala and his philosophies; he works with small, local farmers to find the freshest products. Chef Bubala visited Princeton as part of the Department of Dining Services' Great Chefs of Chicago series. The program offers both students and staff the opportunity to sample different kinds of cuisine and cooking styles from some of the most renowned chefs in the country.

Chicago eats from a Streets-eye view

Author Dennis Foley worked for Chicago's Dept. of Streets and Sanitation for 7 years, and learned about a lot of good & cheap places to eat in the city. He collected a list of these places in a book published last May, The Streets and San Man's Guide to Chicago Eats (already in its third printing), and was interviewed on yesterday's Eight Forty-Eight on Chicago Public Radio about his favorite restaurants to have lunch (the Streets and San worker's favorite meal of the day). From the book reviews and the interview it sounds like he lists a bunch of lesser-known restaurants and bars to eat, but be warned you might have to battle with the Streets and San trucks for parking near any of these places.

Drinking cheap for tsunami relief

There's nothing like a Chicago winter to encourage combining your philanthropy with heavy drinking. The latest ridiculously easy way to help with tsunami relief comes this Sunday via Wrigleyville's Bar Louie. From 6pm onward you can buy a $10 wristband giving you access to $2 u-call-it drinks and half-price appetizers. The wristband fees go to the Red Cross. Details in Slowdown, natch.

Sam's Wine Blog

Sam's Wine & Spirits has jumped on the blogging bandwagon. Case by Case is a new, twice-weekly blog by in-house writer and journalist Bill St. John, who also writes a column for Wine & Spirits Magazine (not affiliated with Sam's).

Baja Fresh Leaves Chicago

So Burger King isn't the only chain restaurant to leave the city. Oddly, the same thing has happened to the Wendy's-owned chain Baja Fresh. Baja Fresh has closed most of its locations in Chicago, which were quite popular during lunchtime. No word on why or where, but Baja fans will have to look to alternatives for their tacos.

Burger Mystery

Chicagoist is trying to unravel the story behind the transformation of many North Side Burger Kings into Burger Delights; a fact-finding mission by a reader turned up little info. Turns out they're not the only ones curious: a visitor to the RoadFood forum also investigated, with little to show for it.

Rent-a-Kitchen

Kitchen Chicago is a great idea come to fruition: a 1200-square-foot fully equipped commercial kitchen available by the hour to chefs, students and plain-old foodies to hone their skills or develop new recipes. There will also be a small store out front where tenants can sell their products. (Warning: the site's javascript does funny things to my FireFox browser, so proceed with caution.)

Organic Food All-Year Long

In the off-season, you can't get the farm-fresh produce from a local co-op as it doesn't grow here. You might want to try TCF Organics. They have boxes of organic produce that you can order which are then delivered to you. It isn't locally grown, but it is all organic and they offer additional products like bread, eggs or beef.

Fixed Price Menus Through Feb.

The Chicago Tourism & Convention Bureau is offering you a chance to enjoy a sumptuous meal at some of Chicago's finest restaurants for less. Through the end of February, savor fixed-price, three-course menu options at restaurants like Bistro 110, Rhapsody, Pili Pili and more.

The Foodie Year That Was

Tribune food critic Phil Vettel summarizes the year in restaurant news.

Turkey for the Holidays

Making a turkey for the holidays? A few weeks ago Anne Holub shared her Turkey 101 in One Good Meal. But if you're in need of extra help, check out the Turkey for the Holidays website from the University of Illinois Extension. You can find how to select a turkey, cooking techniques, carving tips and recipe suggestions for what to do with leftovers. And, if you want a really fresh bird for your holiday dinner, check out this list of local poultry farms in Illinois. Although most birds are sold-out for this year, farms are already taking reservations for 2005.

Metropolis turns one

Swell coffee shop Metropolis (in Rogers Park) turns one today (and I'm glad they were able to!) and during this anniversary week, they're giving away a free Metropolis poster for the first 50 people to buy a pound of coffee. Why is this important aside from celebrating another independent business? Well that poster's a Jay Ryan Bird Machine production.

Angelic Organics 2005

It's hard to think about tomato vines ripening with tomatoes as the snow falls right now. But if you can take your mind out of January and and put it into July for a second, you might want to check out Angelic Organics. This organic CSA outside Rockford delivers a box packed with great herbs, melons, and vegetables. Buy now before the price goes up on the 31st.

A professional opinion on a big pile of food

You may have heard of Hardee's new sandwich, the Monster Thickburger, a frightening contraption made of meat, cheese, mayonnaise and bun that totals a diet-killing 1,420 calories and 107 grams of fat. The Tribune's restaurant critic, Phil Vettel, bravely sampled one (outside of Chicago city limits, because there are no Hardee's in Chicago) and gives it a positive review. In fact, he says, "I may have another one next year."

Chicago Eatathon

Eat Chicago points us to a tour of Chicago dining written by a foodie in Portland, OR. ExtraMSG's "Chicago Eatathon" took him to a wide range of the city's ethnic offerings, reviewed under some interesting categories: Superfly Soul Food, Los Hermanos Azules, Thai Me Up, Thai Me Down, La Dolce Vita, A Passage to India and A Tale of Two Pueblas. More entries may be on the way.

Drunk, well fed Vikings

With good eats and good drink, what's not to love about Andersonville? Pismire, proprietor of another fine local blog, has written up an excellent review of some of the highlights. While you're here, be sure to pick up a couple bottles of Mr. Hans' Andersonville Glögg at the liquor store at Foster and Clark. Nineteen percent alcohol by volume, it keeps us Vikings warm on those sub-zero Chicago nights.

Hormel's Bias Against Chicago

While not quite worthy of a protest, I'm a little miffed: Even though SPAMalot, the musical, is opening in Chicago, Hormel Foods is giving ticket holders to the New York show a free can of Honey Grail SPAM (well, the first 100 anyway). Who in your opinion is more likely to eat and create buzz about SPAM - a Chicagoan or a New Yorker?

The Obama episode of "Check, Please!"

A while back, Newcity mentioned that there was a pilot episode of WTTW's killer restaurant review program "Check, Please!" that featured an appearance by then State Senator Barack Obama. On yesterday's Eight Forty-Eight, the aired an interview with the show's producer, David Manilow, and aired segments from that episode, featuring Obama and the other guests talking about the Hyde Park restaurant Dixie Kitchen. You won't see this episode on the air, though; not only was this a pilot episode for the program, but the other guests on the program said very little, allowing Obama to pretty much carry the entire show. The interview is archived at Chicago Public Radio's Website, and it's required listening for fans of the program. UPDATE: Obama's appearance on "Check Please!" will air on Jan. 16, 2009!

Hot Doug's II

Just got word from Hot Doug's; the beloved hot dog emporium will be returning, after a fire closed the restaurant last April! The new home of Hot Doug's will be 3324 N. California, or about 1/2 mile west of the old location. The grand re-opening is set for sometime in early January; keep an eye on the Hot Doug's Website in the weeks to come for more details.

There's still time to get turkey on Turkey Day

Are you stuck in the city on Thanksgiving, away from all your relatives? Does your Turkey Day plan involve a trip to Taco Bell? Yeah, I've been there. Which is why I was pleased to see both Metromix and Newcity come up with a list of restaurants that offer either a sit-down dinner on Thanksgiving, or take-out Thanksgiving food and trimmings. No all-day slaving in a hot kitchen required, and you still get that happy drowsy feeling from eating a lot of holiday food. Make your plans quick, though; many restaurants require reservations for their holiday servings, and the take-out ordering deadline for a lot of the restaurants is tomorrow.

NYT on Lincoln Square eats

The NY Times has discovered Lincoln Square: its dining options, that is. An article in yesterday's paper profiles Charlie's on Leavitt, Bistro Campagne, Tank Sushi, and Acqualina.

Fannie May store opens today!

Good news for Fannie May fans! The store is opening up stores again in the Chicagoland area, and the latest opening happens today in the Loop. The Fannie May store at Michigan and Wacker Drive opens this morning at 10:00, and the first 500 customers get a free one-pound box of Pixies. So you better go stand in line right RIGHT NOW. (Thanks to Chicagoist for the tip.)

White Castle Stuffing

In today's Sun-Times food section, you can score Sandy Thorn Clark's father's recipe for White Castle Stuffing (5th paragraph). "Enjoy its oniony fragrance and remind yourself that Thanksgiving was created for carb-laden recipes just like this." Yum, White Castle Stuffing.

Dining Events Next Tuesday

ChicagoMag.com's Dish column points out two food events next Tuesday:

1. Head to the Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Dr., and "eat scorpions, rattlesnakes, crickets and other exotic munchies" at the "Taste of Adventure." Free, but reservations required: call 888/281-8502.

2. Watch Rachael Ray film an episode of Food Network's "Inside Dish with Rachael Ray" at Piece, 1927 W. North Ave. She'll be talking with Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen. (Shouldn't they be in Rockford, then?)

Chicago diners tip well

Chicago ranks high up on yet another national list, this one being a list of the nation's most generous tippers. We're tied for 4th place on the list released by Zagat; Chicago diners tip an average of 18.8%, a bit above the national average of 18.6%. In addition to generous tipping, Chicago diners are also paying more for their meals; the current average meal costs $31.64, up from $29.29 in 2002 and $28.25 in 2001.

Instead of spare change

Chicago Shares is a voucher program that lets you order vouchers in $1.00 increments to give to people on the street asking for money. The vouchers can be redeemed for food and other necessities at places like White Hen, Dunkin' Donuts, Jewel and Subway, though they cannot be used for alcohol or tobacco. Or you could do what I do and carry around extra granola bars to offer people who are hungry, but the vouchers provide opportunity for a more complete meal.

Direct From the Manufacturer

Looking to get a fresh turkey this year, raised in Illinois by a family farmer? HoKa Turkey Farms delivers its turkeys to butchers and independent grocery stores across Chicago and you can even order one that hasn't been frozen. Plus, their "Where to Buy" page acts as a list of independent butchers for Chicago and the suburbs.

Good News From Fannie May

The Mae family has had a string of bad luck lately. Both Freddie and Fannie Jr, of home mortgage fame, are facing a lot of heat from Congress. But Chicago's beloved Fannie May, the candy store, had some good news this week: stores are reopening! While it doesn't seem like the jobs that left with the factory are returning, seeing the stores with the lights on will make me feel better. (If you really think candy made in Chicago tastes better, then try Peerless, which are still made in Lincoln Park.)

Top Food Roundup

The November issue of Chicago Magazine hits the stands soon, and subscribers already know which restaurants top this year's Dining Awards. EatChicago has a preview for the rest of us, and Epicurious just happened to feature five of the top 10 in its Corner Table section last week.

Dining with Alsace

Alsace, the province frequently tossed between France and Germany and currently in France, has some kick-butt cooking. If you like the idea of German food but the stuff they serve at Oktoberfest-type gatherings doesn't excite you, then you might want to try one of a handful of Alsatian restaurants in Chicago. The New York Times has an article about the chef behind Brasserie Jo and Everest, both of which serve Alsatian food. (Useless trivia: Sauerkraut comes from Alsace and not Germany, and therefore might technically be considered French, not German. Or is it Freedom Kraut?)

Slow Food Chicago

The Slow Food Guide to Chicago is out, with listings for restaurants, bars, markets, and manufacturers recommended by Slow Food Chicago members. Places listed in the guide were chosen for their quality (ranging from Trotter's to West African lunch trucks in Streeterville), as well as their dedication to the Slow Food ethos: good food takes time. Other stated goals of its mission are to preserve food source biodiversity and to promote locally, sustainably grown food. Disclosure: I am a Slow Food member and wrote some of the listings in the book. Order it from Amazon or Chelsea Green.

A Sad Day For Turkeys

This weekend will be the 26th Annual Turkey Testicle Festival in Byron, Illinois. Yes, you read that right. Bands, beer, the namesake treat, and the timeless classic "Run For The Nuts". If you want more info, you can visit the website or listen to their amazing song.

Loop Cheese Happening

Looking for a great date spot? It's Sonoma Valley cheese month at the very posh Cafe des Architectes in the Sofitel Hotel at Water Tower. Create your own cheese plate! Three selections are just $8, four are $10, and five are $12. Pair your plate with a wine from the same region.

Apple picking season

It's finally starting to feel like fall, what better time to hit an orchard for apple-picking, cider, and donuts? Depending on how far you want to go, there are many options: this U of I page lists all of the orchards in Illinois, including Homestead Orchard in Woodstock. Related: apple varieties.

Surreality, Indeed

Chicagoist points out the coming opening of Cereality, a "cereal bar and cafe" that lets customers breakfast on custom combinations of their favorite puffs and flakes. Pajama-wearing "cereologists" will help you. Wonder how long that will take to tank.

The Great Barista Battle

Man, there's a competition for everything. Baristas all over the region are gearing up for the Great Lakes Regional Barista Competition, happening next Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 2-3) at Fox & Obel, 401 E. Illinois. The event is organized by the Specialty Coffe Association of America and sponsored by Intelligencia -- who just announced the winners of their internal competition on their spiffily redesigned website.

Brunch, Delivered

Chicago Mag's "Dish" column talks up Ritter's Breakfast Delivery, a brand new service bringing brunch to your front door -- assuming you live in or near Wicker Park, Bucktown, Ukrainian Village or West Loop. The somewhat limited menu still gives you plenty to choose from, and you can even order roses!

Wine-y City

Want to learn more about wine? Perhaps the Chicago Wine School is for you. Just looking for a wine tasting? Check out LocalWineEvents.com's calendar of events in the Chicagoland area.

Movin' on up in Uptown

If someone told you that there was a gay sports bar, in Uptown, that served "Beergaritas," would you believe it? Eight TVs of different sports and what could be one of the best sets of bathrooms in Chicago -- the Greg Louganis or Billie Jean King bathrooms.

More woes for Demon Dogs

After narrowly escaping a couple of shutdowns during the past year, the Chicago landmark Demon Dogs now faces another hurdle: it has to pay 14 years of utility bills that had originally been paid by the CTA, who owns the property that the restaurant is built on. That amounts to a total of $152,654 the business has to pay to the CTA. Yikes. Considering the CTA is planning to reclaim the land anyway for the eventual Brown Line reconstruction, and Demon Dogs is on a month-to-month lease for the property, we might be seeing the actual final days of Demon Dogs coming soon.

But where's Ronald, mommy?

According to the Chicago Tribune, a new, "upscale" McDonald's will be built in Oak Brook, with the company aiming to finish building by April, which marks the 50th anniversary of America's long, dietary nightmare. The new restaurant will apparently not sport the Golden Arches or the big scary clown. The article does not mention if by "upscale" they mean they will serve actual food.

Chicago Dine Out

From now through August 29, you can enjoy a three-course meal at some of Chicago's finest restaurants for just $20 for lunch or $35 for dinner. The best part? S. Pelligrino, the sponsor of this limited-time promotion, will donate $1 per meal served to Chicago's Meals on Wheels program.

The Return of Hot Doug's?

Rejoice, Chicagoans: Hot Doug's, purveyor of some of the city's finest encased meats, is reopening on Labor Day - at least according to the Tribune. A few people on the LTH Forum have their doubts. All I know is, I need to try some duck fat fries.

Get Hot at the Park Grill

Chicago Magazine puts the Park Grill at the top of the monthly Hot List in the September issue. Executive Chef Bernard Laskowski says, "We've been focused on evolving a menu of classic American cuisine, served up with unique Chicago flavor and a complex infusion of seasonal, regional ingredients." Check the article to find out a few of the upcoming events, including the kickoff for Bears tailgaiting, starting every Sunday morning at 9 a.m. on game day.

Fighting Back in Andersonville

During a recent assault on Clark Street, Andersonville resident Leslie Clark sustained many physical injuries and lost a week's pay. Instead of crying into her beer, Leslie and friends have organized a benefit at T's Bar & Restaurant on August 24. From 7pm to midnight, the proceeds from drink sales, tips, and raffles will go to help Leslie's recovery. There are great prizes to win plus terrific guest bartenders like the Sissy Butch Brothers and Lickity Split Radical Cheerleaders.

Chicago, City of Meat

As a favor to a reader, here's a post all about Chicago's love affair with meat. Click more for all the meaty goodness.

According to Google, the number one site for Chicago meat is, of course, ChicagoMeat.com, home of local meat packer the Chicago Meat Authority. Go figure.

Chicago was once the meatpacking capital of America, with the industry centered on the Union Stockyards on the near South Side. The conditions in meat packing plants were dangerous and unsanitary, and the book The Jungle by Upton Sinclair finally brought the industry to bear, resulting in the Meat Inspection Act of 1906. The meat packing industry eventually unionized in 1936, and the stockyards eventually closed in 1971. You can still see the gate at Exchange Ave. and Peoria St.

Chicago is probably known best for two meat products: hot dogs and Italian beef. Vienna Beef makes the city's classic dog, while Best's Kosher makes our kosher style dogs. Metromix has a round-up of places to go for a wet one with sweet peppers (shockingly, it leaves out Al's #1 on Taylor Street -- at least Mr. Beef's in there).

Looking for a cooking class

The Tribune has an updated roundup of Chicago area cooking schools and classes. It's more of an informatory compilation than a rated guide, but they break it down into helpful categories like seafood, vegetarian, ethnic, and cake decorating.

At our table

Because we like food around these parts and reading about it, here's another weblog to add to your foodie read list: At Our Table. The author, Linda describes the site as "A food and lifestyle blog chronicling the culinary adventures of a Chicago-based young woman, her husband and their baby girl. Welcome to our table!" So there you go. [via Kiplog's FoodBlog]

New Chef has Homegrown Roots

Last month, Chicago Magazine reported that Sarah Stegner, executive chef at the Ritz-Carlton Dining Room, was leaving her post after 20 years of service. Not to worry, the Ritz has found a valuable replacement and Bridgeport native to fill the vacancy. Kevin Hickey, of the Four Seasons Atlanta, has worked in such cities as San Francisco, Dublin, London, and also the Renaissance Hotel here in Chicago. Kevin counts Stegner, and the chefs at Naha and Blackbird as his personal friends. With such a high-level circle, we expect lots of good things to come; he starts September 1.

Zebra muscles

The New York Times gives a glowing review to Green Zebra, which it says raises the stea stakes in vegetarian cuisine. Like Spring before it, this latest invention of Shawn McClain, Esquire's 2001 Chef of the Year, features interior design by Francois Geneve and cheese considered more valuable than gold. Outstanding vegetarian food is hardly a contradiction in Chicago, however, thanks to the likes of Chicago Diner, Soul Vegetarian East and the many, many wonders of Devon Street.

Lay's vs. Jays, the final chapter

The legal dispute between Frito-Lay and Jays, over recent claims in Frito-Lay advertising that Chicagoans preferred Lay's to Jays, has now been settled. Frito-Lay promised to not run any comparative ads with Jays for 2 years, and agreed to pay Jays' legal fees. Let this be a warning to any other potato chip maker coming to town: don't mess with Jays.

Like White Castle but Better

As a tie-in with Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Metromix today features a round-up of places that take the "slider" burger style in totally different, much more appetizing directions. Guinness-cheddar dipping sauce? Count me in.

Negro League Cafe

Both the Trib and the Sun-Times have stories today on the Negro League Cafe, 301 E. 43rd St. in Bronzeville. The restaurant serves soul food as well as Latin and Caribbean cuisine (menu here), and is selling Negro and Latin League merchandise.

Dinner and a show

Centerstage has a neat "dinner and a play" feature up pairing current shows to see with worthwhile restaurants near the theatres. (One of them is, ahem, my current show.) The Latino Theater Festival and the Artistic Home's "Street Scene" both ended last week, but all of the other shows listed can still be seen, and of course the resturant reviews stand.

Eric Schlosser talks at the GCM

Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation, is giving a free talk at the Green City Market next Wednesday, August 4. 9:30 a.m., 1750 N. Clark. Check it out, and then shop for some of the season's best organic and sustainable produce.

Sushi-eating contest anyone?

My love for Japenese and sushi is unbridled. As I've stated many times before, I could eat Japanese for the rest of my life. Thus, a sushi-eating contest is right up my alley. The launch party for the Flying Fish Lounge at Ra Sushi kicks off with such a contest, in promotion of this weekly service industry event that features warm sake for $1, their signature Tootsie rolls for $3.75 (8 pieces) and more specials. Oh, and the top three winners for the sushi-eating contest take home $50-$100, though really all I care about is the free sushi.

Finger food

From gyros to Italian Beef and from hot dogs to banh mi, our city's contributions to sandwichdom are legendary. Monica Eng added to the canon last year when she introduced readers to the jibarito, a Puerto Rican sandwich invented at Humboldt Park's Borinquen that stuffs meat and other fillings between two twice-fried flattened plantains. A recent visit by this chowhound confirms her findings: Fried plantains are the best thing since sliced bread.

Jays victorious!

Following up on this week's Lay's vs. Jays controversy, the Sun-Times reports that a federal judge ordered Frito-Lay to remove a billboard that claimed that Chicagoans preferred the taste of Lay's over Jays, and told the company to stop using this claim in their advertising. Frito-Lay conducted taste tests late last year at malls in Joliet, Niles and Elgin, in which 55% voted for Lay's chips.

Joie De Vine

Is Joie de Vine, the new Andersonville wine bar, really as good as Daily Candy Chicago suggests? A taste test during the storms last night confirmed that indeed, Joie de Vine rocks. Pleasant music, fabulous decor, nice outdoor seating (when it isn't raining that is) and lots and lots and lots of luscious wines to choose from. Try the Cooper's Creek Sauv Blanc and call it an evening. (Tip: Dig the martini list too if you're not feeling grapey.)

Honey Harvest at Garfield Park

Love honey? If so, check out the Honey Harvest at Garfield Park Conservatory this Saturday, where you can learn about honey while helping to harvest it. Fresh honey from one of the conservatory's eight productive hives will be available for purchase. July 24, 10-4, $3 entrance fee, 300 N. Central Park.

Metropolis Coffee Co.

The site's not much, but the actual place is excellent. Metropolis Coffee Co. at Granville and Kenmore is the kind of independent father-and-son owned coffee house that a diverse neighbourhood like Edgewater deserves. Heck, any neighbourhood really, instead of a Starbucks. If you sign up for their mailing list, in person or send an e-mail to info@metropoliscoffee.com, you'll get e-mail reminders about what's going on that week. Usually, there's a live jazz night, a movie night and the good 'ol open mic/poetry slam. Recent films include Dogtown and Z-Boyz and Kurosawa's Dreams. Oh, they're also from Seattle, so they know good coffee.

Art of Cupcakes

Ever wonder how they make those delicious cupcakes from Sweet Mandy B's? The head baker gives a sneak peak at the process she goes through each day to craft upwards of 1,000 mini cakes for all the sweet tooths in Chicago. At the end of the article, you'll find a shortened recipe to create your own version of the "Happy Snack". Check out Metromix for a roundup of more lovely bakeries around town.

Jays vs. Lay's

Local potato chip manufacturer Jays is feeling the heat of a Chicago ad campaign by Frito-Lay that claims Chicago prefers the taste of Lay's over Jays. Jays filed a federal lawsuit yesterday, claiming the advertising is false and misleading, and asked to see Frito-Lay's research backing the claim. (Frito-Lay isn't revealing its sources, of course.)

Hema's Kitchen II: Electric Vindaloo

Good news for fans of the popular Indian restaurant Hema's Kitchen who are put off by the huge wait times to get into the place; Hema has recently opened up a second location in Lincoln Park (2411 N. Clark, near Clark & Fullerton) with the same menu. We went for dinner this weekend, and found the food as great as the original location, and the serving times to be markedly better. Hema's Kitchen II has only been open a couple of weeks, so its existence is not well-known around town yet; you'd better go now before people suddenly wake up and realize the best Indian food in Chicago (according to WTTW's "Check, Please!") is now available at two locations.

Sausage is not an acceptable crust

Marisa's Pizza in Northbrook has a "lo-carb pizza" where they replace the crust with sausage. Atomly has a rant about it.

Farmers' Markets

'Tis the season for farmers' markets. Chicago is home to many markets over the summer, which were mentioned earlier on Gapers Block, but if you're outside the city, you can get a complete listing of community and roadside markets in the state from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Just search by county to find a market near you.

They can call it 'Big Yellow'

Researchers at UIUC are developing a new chewing gum that, unlike current gums on the market that are made out of synthetic bases, is made out of a natural ingredient that Illinois has plenty of -- corn! Currently their cinnamon-flavored corn gum isn't doing so well in taste tests, but they remain optimistic that they can improve the product and possibly open up a new huge market for the state's corn industry.

Cafe Opening in Lincoln Square

Despite the unrelenting assault of Starbucks on, well, just about everything, some independent coffeeshops are popping up, too. Monday sees the opening of a new cafe in Lincoln Square, the Grind Company. In addition to joe, they'll have food, juice, and "free wi-fi with purchase." The Tribune also runs a profile of a place that's caught my eye near Milwaukee and Central -- a vintage store and cafe named Kouks Vintage Cafe. That's the best idea since they put bars in bowling alleys.

Eric writes in to also recommend Beans and Bagels, a coffeeshop devoted to the Brown Line. In addition to the Montrose store, they've recently opened another shop near the Rockwell stop. Well worth the trip.

Chicken Vesuvio, Our Hometown Dish

Sure, we've got Chicago-style hot dogs and deep dish pizza, but did you know chicken vesuvio was invented here, too? Eat Chicago points us to an article in Chicago's Dining Guide that places the origin of the dish at the original Giannotti's in Forest Park sometime in the 1960s.

Home of the Hot Dog

If you just can't get enough of the encased meats, then you'll like Chicago: Home of the Hot Dog. There's reviews amongst other things but my favorite is the FAQ. A sample question — Can love of Hot Dogs prove fatal?. Find out, though I really want to ask Takeru Kobayashi. [ via GB alumni Paul McCann ]

From 'Block to 'Block

The Chopping Block, the popular cooking school/market, is looking for the best holiday cookies around. They don't specify which holiday, or what definition of "cookie" they're using, so the field's wide open. Prizes include one of them fancy 30" Wolf wall ovens, a 7-piece Mauviel copper cookware set and gift certificates for classes at the C.B. Deadline for entries is August 30.

Hot Doug's, coming soon (again)

For those people who have been missing their fix of smoked pheasant and truffle hot dogs, (not to mention the veggie dogs), there's good news: Hot Doug's will be re-opening soon. Eat Chicago talked to Doug Sohn and found out that the Roscoe Village hot dog hot spot that was closed in April after a fire will open again in mid-August, in the same location.

More Fun with Hot Dogs

The latest sushi concept not sweeping the city: the Chicago Roll. *shudder*

Delivery and late-night dining

GrubHub is a site that lists Chicago restaurants that deliver (and cater). Some neighborhoods are more heavily populated with delivery options than others, but it seems to be a good start. Via LTH. To tie-in with the Fuel thread, this somewhat outdated list of 24 hour greasy spoons is also a good resource.

Barrington Beer Fest

July is American Beer Month. I know you've already found myriad ways to celebrate this event (usually involving numbers like 6, 12 or 30), but here's one more: Barrington, a neat and tony suburb in northwest Cook County, is having a Microbrew fest on July 10. $25 before the event gets you a T-shirt, tasting glass, some other shwag and all the beer you can drink. Lots of regional brewers will be there, so hop on Metra and sample the wares.

More Hot Dog News

On the heels of yesterday's announcement that the Chicago-style hotdog would be invading the West Coast, Vienna Beef unveiled the world's longest weiner yesterday at the Taste. Measuring a whopping 37 feet, two inches (although Vienna claimed it was 38 feet), the dog was delivered in a 35-foot poppy seed bun, with all the standard toppings. Unfortunately, no one gets to eat this meal -- but Vienna donated an equivalent amount of hot dogs to charity. [Thanks, Pete]

Hold the Ketchup

"The world's largest hot dog chain," Weinerschnitzel, is bringing the Chicago-style hot dog to the West. Their press release lists that as "'sensory taste explosion' featuring a seven inch all-beef hot dog topped with mustard, emerald green relish, chopped onions, tomato, a pickle spear and sport peppers. The bun is sprinkled with poppy seeds." The chain's marketing director notes that the bright-green relish is a trademark of our home-town dog; someone should tell him that the relish most of stands here these days is dye free.

Popular restaurants are also pricey

The Sun-Times reports that Chicagoans are going out more often to eat, and paying more for the experience. The latest Zagat survey shows that the most popular restaurants in Chicago -- Tru, Charlie Trotter's, and Everest -- are some of the priciest places to eat in the city. In addition, a survey of Chicago diners indicates that nearly 2/3 are paying more at restaurants than two years ago.

Veggie bike and dine

If you're a vegetarian bike enthusiast, consider buying an early ticket for the July 24 Veggie Bike and Dine event, a nine-mile ride with stops at four restaurants: Karyn's Fresh Corner, Chicago Diner, Lula Cafe, and the Handlebar. Advance registration is required, and limited to the first 25 riders.

Mmm, Chicago...

Summer is once again here, and that can mean only one thing around these parts: the 24th annual Taste of Chicago. Dozens and dozens of local restaurants offering samples of their regular menus, a "wireless cafe" operated by US Cellular with fancy WiFi hardware, a bunch of free concerts, and people. LOTS OF PEOPLE. Tip to hardcore Taste fans: the food tickets, which cost $7 per pack, can be purchased at local Dominick's for $5.50 through this Thursday.

Gentlemen, Cleanse Your Palates

This Saturday the world's finest competitive eaters will converge in Downer's Grove for the Bacci World Pizza Eating Championship. On the line will be the $2,500 in prize money, and the ultra-prestigious title of World Pizza Eating Champion. This will be the first IFOCE-sanctioned Chicago event (thats the International Federation of Competitive Eating), and will draw a panel of competitors that includes Ed "Cookie" Jarvis, world ice cream eating champion, among other contenders.

Coming Soon: Green Evening Farmers Market

On June 24th, the city will open the first evening farmers market, at 843 W. Randolph. The market will run through the end of October on Thursday evenings, from 4 to 8 p.m. The Sun-Times reports, "about 10 farmers will offer organic produce and meats, and specialty vendors will sell artisanal goods such as pastries and cheese. At least twice a month, chefs will prepare and sell to-go meals". The market is a direct response to the city workers who complain about the only other organic market, the Green City Market, held on Wednesdays mornings. Hooray for good city response!

Chicago ethnic markets writeup

The Washington Post has a good article on Chicago's ethnic food markets (registration required). Unfortunately, all of the shops mentioned are on the far north side, including Rogers Park Fruit Market, Middle East Bakery, and Thai Grocery. Regardless, it's still nice to see independent grocers getting recognition, a subject I care a lot about.

LTH forum

Attention foodies: there's a new bulletin board in town. Some of the core posters from the Chicago Chowhound board have started the LTH Forum, which has a much more usable interface and relaxed atmosphere. There's already a great chow community in this city, it'll be nice to contribute to this new resource and watch it grow.

National Hunger Awareness Day

Thursday, June 3 is National Hunger Awareness Day. Eat Chicago lists several ways you can participate here in Chicago, such as bringing two non-perishable food items to any Chipotle for a free burrito, and bringing this ticket to any Dominick's to have 5% of your shopping total donated to the Chicago Food Depository.

An Important Resource for People Who Eat Food

Chicago Magazine's Morsels column points us to Savoring Chicago, a bimonthly newsletter reviewing the best food stores in the city. Judging by the excerpts, it's definitely a good resource for all foodies looking for that elusive ingredient or new delectable delight.

Strawberries & More

Did you know strawberries are a member of the rose family? Find out more fun facts about strawberries at Strawberries & More from the University of Illinois Extension. The site also includes information on selection and care of strawberries, tips for growing your own, strawberry recipes, and links to local farms where you can pick your own.

The Other NRA

The 85th Annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is wrapping up this week at McCormick Place. The NRA show is an international gathering of more than 70,000 professionals from the foodservice and hospitality industries. News from this year's event includes a discussion of the increased presence of energy drinks in the market and the infiltration of video games and other entertainment in restaurants.

Candy snatcher freed!

Northwestern student Alison Baenen, charged with shoplifting after she ate 41 cents' worth of candy in a White Hen Pantry, has had her charges dismissed after she promised never to go into the store again. Says Baenen: "I'm just glad this is over."

Come and get it

The farmers market season kicks off tomorrow at Daley Plaza, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The outstanding Green City Market in Lincoln Park starts Wednesday, May 19. Weekly markets at Federal Plaza begin Tuesday, May 18, and most other city markets begin the third week of June.

The 'Bird wins a Beard

The James Beard awards -- the Oscars of the culinary world -- were announced last night, and local celebrity chef Paul Kahan won for best chef in the midwest. Kahan runs the kitchen at the much-celebrated Blackbird restaurant, on Randolph's restaurant row. Also victorious was Steve Dolinsky, host of CLTV's Good Eating, for best local cooking show. James Beard, by the way, was considered the "Dean of American Cookery," but did you know he was also a WWII cryptographer?

No Fries With That

Today marks the first day McDonald's will offer Happy Meals for adults. The Meals contain one Premium salad -- California Cobb salad, Caesar salad, or Bacon Ranch, or Fiesta salad -- water, and a pedometer with a book on walking. The salads contain between 10 and 27 grams of fat before adding salad dressing, which can pack on up to 18 additional fat grams. That's, um, healthy.

South Side Bread: the Art of Pita

Travel southwest from the city to Oak Lawn and find the bakery which produces the famous 'south side bread' that you may see on signs all over the city. The bakers at Salaam Bakery produce thousands of hand-made pitas and other baked items made fresh daily. Many in the city swear by these pitas, and owners of north-side Middle Eastern restaurants make the trip just for this superb bread. Ever been to Sultan's Market? Then you've tried these pitas.

The week (so far) in dietary news

Yesterday, the Sun-Times reported on McDonald's reaction to the new documentary Super Size Me, which shows the effects of eating Mickey D's food exclusively for a month. (The movie opens in Chicago on Friday.) And today, they report that the USDA asserts that low-carb diets are a fad, just like the low-fat diets of the 1990s. (This isn't preventing retailers from making big bucks selling low-carb foods right now, of course; the Food Marketing Institute Convention, currently under way at McCormick Place, features a whole array of new low-carb items, from pizza to salad dressings.)

Since when?

Hubris apparently is not among the many obstacles to securing a liquor license in Chicago. A gay sports bar opening next to the historic Green Mill is claiming to be the world's greatest bar. And in west Lakeview a new Irish bar is billing itself as being "since 1972," despite the fact that until December its space was occupied by the landmark Romanian restaurant Little Bucharest. The world's greatest and 32 years old, all before pouring a single pint.

World Fair Trade Day

Fair Trade leaders and activists will gather at the World Fair Trade Day Fair at the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum this Saturday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will highlight what the average citizen can do to make trade fair. The day will feature presentations by expert Mexican coffee farmers and a fair featuring fair trade product vendors. To find out more, check with Oxfam.

The return of Fannie May?

Good news for Fannie May chocolate fans: Alpine Confections, the owner of the Fannie May and Fanny Farmer brands, announced plans today to re-open some Fannie May stores, two of which will be located in Chicago.

Hot Doug's mourned

The Tribune has a story on the fire at Hot Doug's last weekend. No details as to when they'll be opening again, alas.

Ballpark Food

Sure, Wrigley Field is beautiful and historic and "US Cellular Field at Comiskey Park" is big and corporate. But The Cell still has one thing going for it: better food.

Ice Cream, Ice Cream!

Yikes! We missed Ben and Jerry's Free Ice Cream day yesterday but do not fret! There is still free ice cream to be had. Baskin-Robbins has its Free Scoop Night tonight from 6pm-10pm. You can be like me last year: my friend and I hit three Baskin-Robbins in a row on the way someplace! It was perfect. Of course, we went back to one of them two hours later...

Eat Chicago

You just can't get enough of foodie sites and EatChicago is looking mighty tasty. While relatively new, the site has brief reviews and some interesting categories. Another essential Chicago based foodie site: Vital Information.

Hot Doug's Closed by Fire

Gasp! Chowhound reports a rumor that celebrated hot dog stand Hot Doug's is closed and will have to relocate due to a fire in the apartment behind the store! More news as we get it. (Thanks James)
UPDATE: Our own AC verified this story at lunch today: a sign in the window confirms the store is closed until a new location can be found.

Free Cone Day

Tuesday, April 27, is Free Cone Day at participating Ben & Jerry's stores across the country. This year they are teaming up with Rock the Vote so, not only can you get free ice cream, you can also register to vote! Participating Chicago locations include stores at 338 W. Armitage Avenue, 26 West Randolph Street, and Navy Pier. Check out the Ben & Jerry's website to find additional locations.

Dining out for life

This Thursday is Chicago's 11th annual Dining Out For Life event. A number of restaurants in the city have pledged to donate a portion of their day's proceeds to help people living with HIV and AIDS. If you'd like to help out, take a look at the list of restaurants on the Chicago site, make reservations for Thursday, April 29th, and go out to eat. This year's beneficiary is AIDSCare, a nonprofit residence and service organization for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Junk food and soda pop out of Chicago schools

The Chicago Public Schools announced yesterday that it is banning carbonated drinks and junk food from being sold in school vending machines, starting next year. They are currently soliciting bids from contractors for a contract to sell beverages in the district's 500+ schools.

Chicago chocolates -- from South Bend

Coming soon to Chicago: chocolates from South Bend, Indiana under the name "Chicago Chocolates." The South Bend Chocolate Company is starting up a new candy company to try and populate the market that was vacated by Fannie May store closings. The company is planning to open stores here in Chicago, but for now you can only order Chicago Chocolates online.

Make me one with everything ... no ketchup

The Times' R.W. Apple eats his way through some Chicago favorites, devoting much well-deserved attention to the "canine nouvelle cuisine" of Hot Doug's. He also drops in at Al's #1 Italian Beef and Ann Sather, but declines any deep dish: He "abhors the stuff."

Sushi Chicago

Ever been out on the streets of Chicago and wanted to know the best sushi place nearby? Well, now you can point your WAP-enabled phone to Chicago Sushi Finder and search by name, location (even just the nearest cross streets), neighborhood, or check out their top rated list of sushi restaurants (they've only got three so far). If you think you're the greatest sushi finder out there then you can register and rate restaurants yourself. Oh, and yeah, you could just point your computer to their website, I suppose.

We'll all scream

The Tribune reports that, due to reduced milk production, prices for milk and dairy products are soaring, which will mean, among other things, increased prices in ice cream this summer. Already prices are starting to rise to record levels; at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the price of a pound of cheese was set at an all-time high of $2.02, and milk prices are likewise expected to soar to a record high next month.

Too Pretty to Eat

Morsels points us to Gems by Sarelle, incredibly detailed, kosher cakes by cake artist Sarelle Weiner. My stomach is rumbling.

Potlucks have a friend in Illinois Senate

The Illinois Senate, prompted by Sen. Dan Rutherford, approved legislation that would prohibit health departments from shutting down community potlucks. Apparently this is not much of a problem in Chicago, as Public Health Department spokesman Tim Hadec explains: "'Do we regulate potluck dinners in Chicago? No. What health department has the staffing to do that, especially in a big city?'' Well, thanks to Senator Rutherford, they need not worry about the problem anymore.

Fannie May leaves Chicago airports hungry

The Sun-Times reports that O'Hare and Midway airports are trying to fill four concession stands that were vacated by Fannie May. The airports are losing quite a bit of money due to the vacancies ($17,000 a month at O'Hare and $11,000 a month at Midway), so they're trying to fill them as quickly as possible, but the bidding process for the stands could take as long as eight months, costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue.

Chicago chefs among the best

Two Chicago chefs are among the finalists in the prestigious 2004 Bocuse d'Or USA contest. The chefs: Rick Gresh from the Caliterra Restaurant at the Wyndham Hotel and Fred Ramos from Pili Pili. The US finals for the contest will be held in May at the 85th annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (held here in Chicago!), and the winner of that contest will represent the US at next year's international Bocuse d'Or World Cuisine Contest in Lyon, France.

Coming to Chicago: soup!

Simply Soup, a Madison-based restaurant, is bringing its line of some 200 varieties of soups to Chicago. Four to six stores in the Loop area will be open by Labor Day, selling soup (as well as grilled sandwiches and salads) to Chicago patrons.

To the pub with ye!

Sure, you had a green beer last weekend. You went to the parade down in Beverly. But the true St. Patrick's Day celebration is tonight. Head to your favorite Irish bar, fake or otherwise -- pick one off this list or use this map by KIPlog if you don't have a favorite, or take a look at Metromix's guide -- and order yourself a Guinness.

Apply for the Brunch Bunch

Do you love brunch? Do you have a great group of friends that love eating out? If so, Metromix wants you! Tomorrow is the last day to apply for the next reader review project, the Brunch Bunch. Find yourself part of a diverse group of five friends? If so, apply for the position online. However, "every person in your group must be available the weekend of March 27, every weekend in April and the first weekend in May. No exceptions." Good luck and happy eating!

Top 5 restaurants for February

The Chicago Citysearch Website has released a list of the top 5 most popular restaurants for February. The way they tallied the popularity of these restaurants was by tracking the keywords the people were searching on at their site, so this list reflects only the dining habits of Citysearch users. And their dining habits seem to be pretty pricey, as their list includes such expensive places as Nine Steak House, Japonais and Michael Kornick's MK. What, no Demon Dogs?

When Beers Stop Being Polite...

If you're up for an ale-soaked weekend, try making it through Chicago's Real Ale Fest. The now scaled-down event was created in 1996 by Ray Daniels and the Chicago Beer Society to celebrate brews that have that smooth, non-commercial flavor. Festivities start tonight with a feast, then on Friday, "Chicagoland Real Ale Day", there's a pub crawl, and on Saturday, a real food tasting at Goose Island in Wrigleyville.

Guinness Tales

Got a good story involving Guinness? The BBC wants to hear it. The Chicago Report passes on word that a BBC3 film crew will be at Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade, interviewing people with interesting stories relating to hte classic Irish pint. More info here.

Supersize Downsized

Bowing to pressure about the unhealthiness of its menu, local corporate giant McDonald's is discontinuing Supersize fries and drinks. By the end of this year, an unstained Supersize Fry container will be a collector's item.

1st Local Organic Trade Show-Chicago

On March 3, Sustain's Local Organic Initiative is holding the first ever trade show for local organic food in Chicago. Fifty farmers and farm cooperatives from Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana, representing nearly 500 organic farmers, will have the opportunity to create new business with Chicago area retailers, restaurants, distributors, and processors. The goal of the event is to help these producers create new sales in Chicago's $300 million market for organic food. Currently most organic food consumed in the area is imported from California and beyond. The event is not open to the public; Sustain hopes the media will attend to spread the word!

Grub Hub

An interesting resource, GrubHub.com provides a map, neighbourhoods and most importantly the listings of resturants that deliver in your area. While the site is a little non user-friendly (why can't I click on the cuisines?) and it takes three clicks to get to a listing of restaurants (hint: click on a street on the map), it's actually useful.

Haggis redux

Following up on the very important story of haggis production in Chicago: the Chicago Tribune took it upon themselves to hold a haggis taste test, to see if the product being produced at Vanee Foods in suburban Berkeley is worthy enough to be served. Their panel's verdict: the vegetarian haggis is a bit bland, but the regular haggis is authentic.

Tuman's Reopens

The bar formerly known as "Tuman's Alchohol Abuse Center" has reopened it's doors for the first time in a year. Tuman's, well known as one of the best dive bars in Chicago and loved for it's incredibly cheap beer, is now a shiny, new and very rehabbed bar with a full kitchen. The broken furniture is gone, and unfortunately so is the excellent jukebox. The beer is not quite as cheap, but for only about .50 cents more you can walk into the bathroom without feeling scared, it's squeaky clean! Visit the sparkly new Tuman's at 2159 W. Chicago.

Free Booze!

Do you feel that Monday nights are boring nights to eat out? Well, the folks at Tizi Melloul feel your pain. To make it a little easier, they've decided to offer a free bottle of Bouchard wine to every table.
Server's request: "Just because my boss has decided to give you something for free, I still have to open the bottle and bring it to your table and refill your glasses. To thank me, please base your tip on the cost of the dinner plus the wine.

What, no Demon Dogs?

Looking for a good place to go out to eat? Check out this week's Newcity; the cover story is "Chicago's 100 essential restaurants." Mini-review of each restaurant, and the places are categorized by neighborhood, so you'll know what's closest.

Chowhounds in the Trib

The Trib has a good article on Chicago's Chowhound community and some of the recent dinners they've planned together.

A subtle twist on Valentine's Day

Looking for something different this Valentine's Day? Something better than just heading out to dinner? The Chopping Block is offering some classes that not only serve a delicious meal, but have it prepared before you! Current Valentine's Day offerings include A Romantic Dinner for Two, Champagne Brunch, and classes on how to woo your favorite girl or guy. You can either choose the hands-on menu where you and your sweetie cook together in Lincoln Square, or the demo meals at either Lincoln Square or their Webster St. store.

Fannie May not

Several aldermen have called for a Valentine's Day boycott of Fannie May/Fanny Farmer candy, to show support for 625 employees involved in a severance pay dispute with parent company Archibald Candy Corp. That shouldn't be hard to do, as Chicago Public Radio reported on NPR last week that the Fannie May stores in the city have pretty much been cleaned out of all the good candy.

Unleash the power of soy

The Sun-Times reports that two University of Illinois scientists have developed an energy bar made from soy protein that they wish to develop for use by first aid agencies. These bars have an advantage over currently used energy bars because they are made with no animal ingredients. The scientists have contacted the Defense Department, which is expected to invite food companies to bid on production.

We'll always have haggis...

So what if Fannie May is closing up in Chicago? Stahly Quality Foods, a Scottish food producer, is starting production of tinned haggis in a Chicago facility, in the hopes of tapping into that lucrative North American haggis market. Right now, the plant produces only two types of haggis, traditional and vegetarian haggis (?), but the company hopes to expand to other products such as whiskey-flavored haggis (!) and clootie dumpling (!?). Amazing quote from company founder Ken Stahly: "Our working relationship with the Americans is excellent even though there is the odd translation quirk, such as the fact that, in the US swede is known as rutabaga."

Garlic Makes Families Closer

The Chicago-based Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation presents a paper entitled Effects of garlic bread on family interaction. "Serving garlic bread at dinner enhanced the quality of family interactions. This has potential application in promoting and maintaining shared family experiences, thus stabilizing the family unit, and also may have utility as an adjunct to family therapy." (Via KIPlog's FOODblog.)

Sniff, swish, spit

Like wine? I know you do. Thus, a list of wine events, tastings and dinners in our fair city for the year. May be updated as time goes on. Quite a list it is too.

Vegan Victuals Redux

If you thought vegan/vegetarian food wasn't tasty, think again. Mr. PJ Chmiel has relaunched his Vegan Food section of mostly places in Chicago and now with 60% more content. Thorough, comprehensive and sure to make you super hungry this early in the day.

Dominick's store closings

The Tribune has a list of the Dominick's grocery stores in the Chicago area that will be closing on March 13th. The dozen closings are part of a cost-cutting plan by Dominick's parent company, Safeway. [Trib. login: gapers/gapers]

Farewell to Fanny Farmer

Archibald Candy Corp., makers of Fanny Farmer and Fanny May candies, announced today that it's shutting down its West Loop plant, putting 625 employees out of work, and that it's selling off the candy brands to an as-yet-unnamed buyer. But with the loss of Fanny May/Fanny Farmer (and the loss of Frango mints manufacturing jobs in 1999), Chicago still has quite a few candy makers in town: Tootsie Roll, Ferrara Pan Company (makers of Lemonheads, Red Hots, Black Forest Gummies, etc.), and Blommer Chocolate Company are just some of the candy-makers still headquartered or making their products here in Chicago. [Trib. login: gapers/gapers]

Grass-fed is best!

The recent Mad Cow epidemic has driven myself and others to investigate organic food alternatives. Joining one of the many organic vegetable co-ops available in the area is a start. But if you're not ready or willing to be a vegetarian, Eat Wild has a list of Illinois farmers who meet certain farm-raised criteria. If you're not convinced, you can read why they say grass-fed is best.

Sweeeet!

The prairie garden on top of City Hall has about 200,00 Italian honey bees in it, and the city has apparently harvested about 120 pounds of honey from these bees. If you'd like to try some of the honey, stop by the Gallery 37 store at 37 E. Randolph; they're auctioning off some of the honey to benefit their programs for young artists.

Bar Specials

So you like a deal on your drinks. And you want to know where the specials are at on a particular night at bars in Chicago. Well, the good ol' interweb is good for these things. Ask, and people will build: ChicagoSpecials.com helps you to drink more for less.

Green City Holiday Market

The Green City Market is having a Holiday Market this Saturday at the Lincoln Park Zoo, 8am to 1pm. Entrance to the zoo is free, and the market will be held in the Lion House. There will be cooking demonstrations, children's activities, and of course, all the usual organic and sustainable merchants to shop from: fruits & vegetables, hormone-free meats (pork and beef), organic meats (lamb, turkey, chicken, and duck), breads, artisanal cheeses, mushrooms, caviar, cider, vinegars, mustards, maple syrup, honey, coffee, and more.

Corporate Groceries Fucked

Dominick's may be closing 25 of its 113 stores soon after parent company Safeway gave up trying to sell the chain last month. No word until January about which locations will be affected. [Trib login: gapers/gapers]

Mmm, Terminal 2...

The food at O'Hare International Airport has improved health-wise, according to a report from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. It's been moved up from dead last (in a list of the 15 busiest airports) to #3 in their list, according to the Sun-Times. The reason? Starbucks has been introducing healthier food in its coffee-terias at O'Hare, which apparently was enough to bump the airport up past such unhealthy flight destinations as Dallas-Fort Worth International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, and even New York's Kennedy International Airport.

Roselle = Not Napa

I don't think anyone has every mistaken the DesPlaines River for the Rhone or the Rhine, but that doesn't mean there aren't a handful of vineyards in suburban Chicago. Lynfred Winery in Roselle has tastings every evening (tip: takes the edge off of that Woodfield experience); Valentino Vineyards in Long Grove also has tastings if you find yourself seeking vino in the wild edges of suburbia.

Nonsmoking Restaurants

A good resource for people who like to taste their food: the Chicago Department of Health's Smoke-free Restaurant Recognition Program, an alphabetical directory.

Hi Ricky Closes

Hi Ricky's three noodle shops are no more. With rising real estate prices in Wicker Park, Lakeview, and the West Loop, the owners decided to cash out and roll around in their piles of money, leaving Chicagoans with slightly fewer pan-Asian cuisine options.

Festive drinking

For some, this season's holidays brings together family and friends, love and cheer, and good times for all. And for others, it's a great time to get your drink on. In the spirit of this (pun intended), Metromix has published a guide to limited edition holiday beers for your enjoyment.

Cheeseburger Cheeseburger, No Pepsi -- Lawsuit

Billy Goat Tavern, the grungy burger place that inspired the famous "Cheezborger Cheezborger" skit on Saturday Night Live, is suing a Florida based restaurant chain, called Cheeburger Cheeburger, for trademark infringement. The chain has existed since the mid-1980s, but a plan to open a store in Glenview spurred Billy Goat to sue. (In a related story, we neglected to report that Bill Churachas, the long-time cook at Billy Goat, died in late October. He will be missed.) [Trib. log-in: gapers/gapers]

Taste of Chicago -- the restaurant!

The residents of Port Huron, MI are getting their first taste of a Chicago hot dog; a restaurant named A Taste of Chicago has been serving the dogs up since last month, and plans to expand its menu with other Chicago-related food items. Tip to the owners: don't include Frango mints on the menu. They were invented in Seattle and are made in Pennsylvania.

Thanksgiving juxtaposition

One of the more expensive Thanksgiving dinners to be had this year was the $82 turkey-day buffet at the Peninsula. Read all about the extravagant dinner, and then compare it to some Chicago Chowhounds' Thanksgiving dinner: preparing 38 22-pound smoked turkeys, serving 512 people at the Salvation Army.

Benedicts au Poivre

Ever get the urge to find the best Eggs Benedict in your hometown? You could eat your way across your city, sampling and taking notes, or you could just click and read someone else's well-designed brunch notes comparing each element of the dish, including the garnish, complete with beautiful photos. And if you've digested your hunk'o'hollandaise'n'egg you just might be interested in finding out where you can get great steak au poivre for dinner. Yeah, SGR (like sugar without the vowels) tells us where to go in Chicago.

Talkin' Turkey

Thanksgiving is a week away, and vegan meals aside, most people will be roasting a turkey on that special day. (What? Ham? Unamerican.) But if you run into trouble with that gigantic bird, to whom can you turn? Butterball staffs a Turkey Talk-line every day from 8am to 6 or 8pm now through the day after Christmas -- a room full of home economists are waiting for your call in west suburban Downers Grove. And the fine people of America's Test Kitchen (editors of Cook's Illustrated) have created Turkeyhelp.com, full of thoroughly vetted recipes and advice. Good luck!

Unturkey day

For those about to diss meat, I salute you! If the idea of a rather large steroid-pumped bird that's too heavy for one person to carry scares you or you're vegan/vegetarian, then perhaps these feasts may interest you: The Chicago Vegetarian Society is having its 15th annual vegan Thanksgiving dinner at the Hilton Chicago on S. Michigan. Old favourite The Chicago Diner has its annual Turkey-Free Thanksgiving Dinner as well, which is pretty damn tasty. Their menu for ths year is available for viewing (note: PDF file).

Green City Thanksgiving market

The Green City Market is having a Thanksgiving Market this Saturday at the Lincoln Park Zoo, 8am to 1pm. Entrance to the zoo is free, and the market will be held in the Lion House. There will be cooking demonstrations, children's activities, chestnut roasting, and of course, all the usual organic and sustainable merchants to shop from: fruits & vegetables, hormone-free meats (pork and beef), poultry (organic turkey chicken and duck), game, breads, artisanal cheeses, mushrooms, caviar, cider, vinegars, mustards, maple syrup, honey, organic Christmas trees, wild rice, and coffee.

Chicago's Food Superstars

The New City ranks Chicago's "food superstars" in The Big Heat. Celebrity chef Rick Bayless tops the list while last year's number one guy, Rich Melman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, slips to number three.

Coke is it!

Marshall Fields on State Street is home to the world's only Coke soda shop. Aren't we lucky?

Snobby Wine

If aged Bordeaux from Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is your standard wine purchase, then The Chicago Wine Company is more your style. They hold one live auction and one silent auction every month and you can place bids online. They also hold formal dinners/tastings. You just missed the November dinner, but at $595 per person did you really? They're also willing to help you sell off your wine collection, but Boone's Farm collectors need not apply.

Kafka never tasted so good!

Morsels also briefly reviews the most innovative small wine store in the city: Kafka. They claim to be "Cheap, Easy, Fun" and with most wine selections under $15, they are. But, they're knowledgable and friendly, too. Wine doesn't have to be intimidating and these guys prove that. If only they'd get their website working.

Rick "BK" Bayless

Rick Bayless, celebrity chef of Frontera Grill, etc., caught some flack for appearing in an ad for Burger King's new chicken sandwich. Morsels links to a letter Bayless posted on his website explaining himself, and points to a scathing comment from chef/author Anthony Bourdain (ninth comment down).

You can smell it from down the block...

Not only does the Spice House (two locations in Evanston and Oldtown) have a new website, they also have spice blends based on Chicago Neighborhoods -- Argyle Street Asian Blend, Back of the Yards Garlic Pepper, Bronzeville Rib Rub, etc.

Sam's Expands to NYC

For once, Chicago is sending something (besides Broadway musicals) to New York instead of the other way around: Sam's Wine & Spirits is planning to open a store on Manhattan's West Side, the first of potentially many new stores around the country.

Kendall College Chicago

The Daily Northwestern reports Kendall College is finalizing plans to move to a new near-Lincoln Park location, possibly located on Goose Island. Residents near the college fear its leaving could create a messy zoning war with Northwestern, with the university eyeing new high-rise dormitories. But the former Sara Lee location seems too good to pass up for Kendall.

Boo-rito

Feel like wrapping yourself in tinfoil for a free burrito? If so, get to it and head on over to Chipotle today.

Another one bites the dust

Little Bucharest, the Romanian restaurant that would pick you up in a Limo for free, is closing. One Chowhound reports: "When we asked why, [owner] Branko replied: 'Yuppies. They don't buy goulash.'"

Free Turkey Dinner

According to Rachael, Cousin's Turkish Fine Dining restaraunt (3038 W. Irving Park Rd.) is offering a free turkey dinner on Thanksgiving day. She's afraid no one will go, but you will. Won't you?

I [heart] Beer

Are you a beer snob? You may be interested in joining the Chicago Beer Society, founded in 1977. In addition to monthly meetings (there's one next Thursday, 11/6, at Goose Island) the society also has its annual fall blind tasting and dinner coming up November 8 at Rock Bottom Brewery. Check their site or call their hotline for more information: 847-692-BEER.

Last Green City Market

Tomorrow is the last of this year's Green City Markets, the only completely organic and sustainable farmers market in the city. There's still an abundance of apples, squash, corn, late-season berries, greens, and other produce, as well as cider, crepes, breads, and pastries. In Lincoln Park on Clark just north of North, Wednesday, 7am-1pm.

American Diner Museum

A few months ago on Gapers' Block, Brian Sobolak picked his Six Qualities of a Good Diner. For anyone interested in diners, check out the American Diner Museum. Although the physical museum has not yet opened, the website includes a variety of resources including news and events, sponsored diner tours, diner history and culture, and even listings of diners for sale.

A farmers market of your own

More than 6,000 New Yorkers subscribe to organic-produce buying clubs, and it's not just the yuppies. In Chicago, one can still subscribe to the 2004 season of Angelic Organics at a discounted rate or look into King's Hill Farm. Related: USDA info on Community Supported Agriculture.

Homeless coffee

WomanCraft Inc. and the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless are selling coffee-themed cards and organic, Free Trade coffee beans as a holiday fundraiser. Studs Terkel thinks their coffee "tastes better than (a pricey, name-brand brew)!"

Does one carbo load for this?

Chicago's Chowhounds know how they'll be using their extra hour this weekend: eating. Their 13-hour Allnightathon will dirty tablecloths from Hyde Park to Uptown and at many points between. The fun ends with an early-morning stroll through the buffet line that is Maxwell Street Market. Related: 24-hour diners and greasy spoons.

Dollar Smoothies!

For those of the smoothie persuasion, this is big news: from 3-6pm today, Jamba Juice is offering a "free" 16-ounce smoothie for a $1 charitable donation to Children's Memorial Hospital. (Find the one closest to you.)

Last days of Demon Dogs

It's time to pay final respects at Demon Dogs, for 20 years an institution under the Fullerton El stop. It will close Oct. 31 as part of the CTA's Brown Line expansion.

The Tomato Lady Talks

The Tomato Lady, a local expert and cultivator of 75 heirloom tomatoes in her small backyard, is giving a talk Saturday morning. At the Culinary Historians of Chicago meeting, Aggie Nehmzow will discuss organic farming of heirloom varieties of produce, biodiversity, community gardens, and teaching children about the importance of organic gardening. Saturday, October 18, 10-noon, at the Chicago Historical Society, 1601 N. Clark St. $10 for the public, $5 for students, free for Culinary Historians. To reserve a spot in the lecture, email rsvpchc[at]yahoo.com.

flesh-free feasting

Looking to strap on a meatless feedbag, but don't want to go to Chicago Diner again? Go Veggie has a list of nineteen all-vegetarian joints around the city and suburbs. Crunchy! Update: VegChicago just launched, offering not just a list of restaurants but vegetarian/vegan friendly groceries and catering companies, too.

Eat and Surf

Chicago Magazine's Morsels column tells us that just-opened Darwin, the new restaurant from the owners of Orange, will be serving up a free WiFi connection along with its upscale burgers and beer. Darwin's at 1935 N. Damen Ave.

Duck fat fries get a Gourmet nod

Hot Doug's is the only Chicago restaurant to get a nod in Gourmet magazine's article, Restaurants We Love. The blurb, which you have scroll down to read, focuses mainly on Doug's Friday- and Saturday-only duck fat fries.

Chicago Chefs

Curious about who Chicago's great chefs are aside from Mr. Trotter or Mr. Bayless, some poking around revealed this list of Guide to Chefs of Chicago and the ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine, a chef's guild of sorts.

Important Update: Halfway To St. Pat's

So in case you haven't heard, today is halfway to St. Patrick's Day. Many Irish pubs are having "Halfway To St. Pat's Specials" where you can get a real bargain on some good booze. A good starting point in the venerable KIPLog's Irishmap, though the Chicago Bar Project might have some places to go too. As if you didn't already have a Irish bar in your neighboorhood that's your favorite.

Dining Discount

You like to eat? I like to eat, too. But my dinner at Butterfield 8 is going to cost me 10% less than your dinner. Why? Because I'm a member of idine and you aren't. So? So, I save 10-20% at many restaraunts around the city and no one knows I'm getting a discount.

Pimp Juice

Feeling low on pimp-tacity? Try drinking some Pimp Juice, a new energy drink created by a company with Nelly as the chairman. "Pimp Juice’s artificial coloring gives it a smooth neon green glow, while its 10 % apple juice content adds a natural sweetness to its taste." Um, yeah.

Chef's Collaborative

Since Chicago is surrounced by farmland, you'd think it would be easy to eat local, seasonal produce, but there are few grocers and restaraunts that focus on keeping it local. Chef's Collaborative has a mission of encouraging local, seasonal, and sustainable produce purchases by restaraunts. Their Illinois list is small and I think incomplete. But they explain how to choose sustainable fish and seafood, why grass-fed vs. grain-fed isn't the only factor in getting quality meat, and they have a list of suggestions from farmers to chefs to increase the quality of their menu. Even though the website is directed at chefs and restaraunt owners, it helps to stay informed about what you're putting in your body. The Audubon Society also has a wallet card you can print and carry with you to ensure you aren't eating endangered seafood.

Hot Doug's specials

Bookmark alert: Hot Doug now updates his specials page every morning, so you can check to see when the duck and foie gras sausage or spicy Italian with vodka marinara, basil, and fresh mozzarella comes around. I already know today's lunch: kangaroo. And for the vegetarians, his veggie dogs rock.

Automated grilling

A Chicago innovation that doesn't seem worth bragging about: McDonald's is testing an automated grill that dispenses burgers periodically, with the hope of reducing labor. It's already in use at the Romeoville location.

Le Francais Closed

Fans of Le Francais in Wheeling will be crying in the burgundy tonight: the Daily Herald reports a deal to reopen the internationally famous French restaurant has fallen through. The restaurant suffered in the two years since founding chef-owner Jean Banchet sold it, and it was closed in late June.

Sunday Brunch

The Drake Hotel's ridiculously lavish Sunday Brunch (11:30 am- 2:30 pm) is a Chicago tradition for fancy folks, and the rest of us who just like to pretend. At $35 for unlimited champagne, bloody Marys, and.. what else? right, food like you wouldn't believe, it's practically a bargain (if you drink enough.) Check it out.

Red Line Bars

Metromix has a list of good bars near Red Line El stops. Thing is, New City did it much better back in '99.

Bitter harvest!

Where did that tomato really come from? As the popularity of farmers' markets increases, regulation is getting tougher. But Chicago is cracking down on farmers' market vendors who buy produce wholesale and pass it off as homegrown. (Trib login: gapers/gapers)

Kosher in Chicago

Halakhah is hip. Or so says the Chicago Tribune, which has a nice article on the rise of kosher food in Chicago (login:gapers/gapers). It sounds like the Chicago Rabbinic Council has been busy certifying everything from slurpees to spices. Est gezunterhayt!

Masters of the Grill

Tonight, at Masters of the Grill, some of Chicago's top chefs will be grilling market foods at the Green City Market as a fundraiser for the organic, environmentally sustainable market. Cooks include Rick Bayless from Frontera Grill, Jennifer Newberry from Fortunato, and seventeen others. $35, 5-7pm, at the south end of Lincoln Park between 1750 N. Clark & Stockton Dr.

Veggie/Vegan Chicago again

Veggie food updates: Ian has a nice list of veggie and vegan friendly restaurants in Chicago. Add PJ's excellent and ever expanding vegan food section (with photos of various dishes). Mix well for an animal-friendly time. Also, visit Letizia's Bakery on Division, as they now have a vegan pizza offering.

Homeless Coffee

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is selling fair trade coffee to raise funds for a coffeehouse to provide jobs and training. Coalition Café organic coffee is available at the Daley Center and Prudential Plaza farmers markets, several stores around town and online. More info and a list of sales location at the CCH's website.

Go Organic?

Is organic food better? An article in today's Times discusses the possible biases in studies on nutritional health. Regardless, most organic farming is more environmentally sustainable, and ingesting poison can't be good for you, even in minute amounts. So if you're organically inclined, head over to the Green City Farmers' Market today and every Wednesday at Lincoln Park just south of Armitage, 7am-3pm.

U-Pick Food

You'll feel all Laura Ingalls Wilder when picking and plucking your own food at small, family-owned farms. Check out this list of Midwest u-pick opportunities compiled by the Univ. of Illinois Extension Office.

Slurpee Alert! Slurpee Alert!

I'm not quite sure what they're hiding by not revealing the location, but 7-11 is going to open its 25,000th store somewhere on the North Side tonight. And if that wasn't enough, you can get a free Slurpee too. A Slurpee is a summer staple, but one can only question some of their other items: Go-Go Tacquitos (does it come with boots?) and DefCon3 Energy Drinks. And word at the rumor mill is that they will soon start selling beer too.

Dinner & Movie al fresco!

The free Chicago Outdoor Film Festival in Grant Park begins next Tuesday with "It Happened One Night." Chicago Magazine's Morsels column tells us Cyrano's Bistro & Wine Bar is offering three different five-course French picnic baskets for $28 for those heading to the movie. Bon appetit et voir!

Hopleaf Food

Speaking of Andersonville and liquor licenses, Hopleaf at Clark and Foster finally got their restaurant license, and has begun serving food. No word yet on how it is, but if it's even half as good as their beer list is comprehensive, it'll be great.

BYOB No More

Andersonville's Tomboy has been sold and the new owners have been able to secure a liquor license. Tomboy owners will be discontinuing the popular restaurant's BYOB policy soon. But there are other BYOB establishments around.

Green City Market auction

The Green City Market, Chicago's best organic and sustainable farmers' market, is having an online auction fundraiser through July 28. Get a group together and bid on various culinary packages from Chicago's top chefs, including dinner in your home by Charlie Trotter, be a pastry chef for a day at Tru, and various classes from the people at Sur La Table and the Chopping Block.

Starbucks invades south side

According to this recent story in the Chicago Maroon, Starbucks may be "getting over its fear of the South Side of Chicago." The coffee retailer has plans to rent out a vacant Hyde Park storefront on 55th Street, and "last month the City approved the company's plan to build a $1.4 million freestanding store with parking on 71st Street and Stony Island Avenue." These two additions would increase the South Side presence of Starbucks to three stores.

Inspections

It's Saturday afternoon, you've got a bit of a hang-over, and a huge craving for greasy, hot fries and a sausage. You lurch to your neighborhood crap-food stand and instead of the lingering smell of old grease, you're greeted with a large orange sticker that has been put there by an inspector from the Department of Public Health. You groan and stop someplace else, which doesn't really satisfy, and you wonder through the meal: "What did they do? What did they do?" Well, thanks to Luke you know where to find out how badly your favorite place has sinned.

Pabst

PBR! According to the New York Times, Pabst consumption is up 134 percent in Chicago.

Burn Trotter's Burn...

"Baby, please don't be like that. I know you were looking forward to eating at Charlie Trotter's last night, but I can't help it if the place caught on fire. Yes, I know you were looking forward to that gold-encrusted lobster stuffed with diamonds, but you will just have to wait until they repair the kitchen. Yes, baby, we'll have to wait another 2 months for a new reservation, but I promise you, it will be worth it. Yes, I promise, I'll still spend $1000 on your meal. You know I love you."

Drinking Outdors

Almost as important as the list of drink specials mentioned here a few days ago, is a list of Chicago beer gardens, where one can enjoy a beverage outdoors now that the weather has finally started to resemble the season. And after last call you'll need the list of 24-hour greasy spoons.

Taste!

Mmmm, smell that? It's the Taste of Chicago getting ready to start up again on June 27th in Grant Park in downtown Chicago. Ten days of sampling food from all over the city, and plenty of live music to wash it down. You can now purchase food tickets at Dominick's around the city, or (if you're cool) online at the Mayor's Office link above.

Barkeep!

There are, of course, many hundred bars in Chicago, so many that someone has taken the effort to compile a list of drink specials by day. This on top of a newspaper devoted entirely to the bar scene. Although it's incredibly easy to get a drink in this town, the June issue of Chicago Magazine reports that it's extremely tough to get a license to sell one. On newsstands now.

Taste of Ann Sather's

Did you know Ann Sather's, the brunch capital of Lakeview, also serves dinner? Stop into the Belmont restaurant this Friday or Saturday after 5pm and enjoy a "Taste of Ann Sather's" -- sample portions of your choice of any four items from their newly updated menu (not reflected on their website, unfortunately), soup or salad and dessert for $12.95. Plus, they're BYO, so you can enjoy whatever wine you please along with the meal. Reservations recommended; call 773/348-2378.

Lake Breeze

Yes, it's almost 11am but damn if I don't feel like having a nice cool drink at the moment. Preferably this scrumptious sounding Lake Breeze by Ian Olsen-Clark.

Mmm, produce.

Summer starts in one week, and you know what that means: farmers markets! More than 30 weekly and monthly markets, scattered across the city, will be offering fresh produce from June through October. The Mayor's Office of Special Events has thoughtfully provided a handy schedule so you can see what markets are closest to you.

Northcenter Ribfest

It's not the big Naperville Ribfest, but the Northcenter Ribfest is this weekend. Local restaurants will compete for the title of best ribs, and an amateur chefs have a separate cook-off. 4000 N. Lincoln Ave June 14, 12pm-10pm; June 15, 12pm-8 pm.

Slow Food Feast of the Senses

The Slow Food movement is sponsoring a Feast of the Senses on Saturday, June 7th / 6:00pm-8:30pm. 24 art galleries will be open for perusal while attendees sample tastings from Chicago's top chefs. Each gallery will host a chef / winery or brewery / food vendor. Tickets are $35 for Slow Food Chicago members / $40 for non-members, and can be purchased online at chicagocooks.com.

Food Part 1.

Okay, okay, we frickin' love to eat so here's a few choice links to Chicago foodies with a vegetarian/vegan slant. Jes has her recipes, and so does Jen. PJ has a nice selection of vegan places he's eaten, both American and Thai, lacking only the recipes to his own creations. Paul goes at it on his food webbity and on a related note, Sandy and Luke talk restaurant. If you know other good Chicago food links and recipes, drop me a line.

Where's My Wax?

Earwax, a video store turned cafe that seemed to be a staple of Wicker Park, is gone. Or is it? As it turns out, they're moving across the street. Although that New City story claims the fantastic Myopic Books will be taking the old Earwax space, a sign in the ol' window claims that "Wicker Park Guns and Ammo and Cocktails" will be taking its space. I'm confused. For now, Filter will have to do.

S'poon-tang'

Whilst browsing some restaurant reviews over at Metromix, I came across this review. I like how the rater expertly gave his advice (warning, a little crude): "OVERPRICED AND OVERHYPED LOUSY SERVICE WITH AN ATTITUDE I HAD A SPOONTANG MARTINI AND IT TASTED LIKE POONTANG YUCK!!" (yes, caps and all). Some may not complain.

Chicago Sushi Club

The Chicago Sushi Club is a group whose "sole mission at this time is to meet on the first Sunday of every month to eat sushi. You don't have to do anything to 'join' the club - just feel free to meet with us at our next outing." The next meeting is Sunday, June 1 at Bistro Nami, 439 W. Ogden Ave. in Clarendon Hills. The club also maintains a good listing of Japanese restaurants in Chicago.

Hot Doug's

Doug Sohn, owner of Hot Doug's in Roscoe Village, is profiled in this week's New City. If you've never been, you really must: get the Raquel Welch (an andouille sausage, nice and hot -- all the encased meats are named after someone) and, if it's a weekend, ask for the french fries fried in duck fat. Divine!

National Restaurant Assn. Trade Show

Getting a seat at a good restaurant this weekend might be a little more difficult than usual. A post on the Chicago Chowhound board points out that the Annual National Restaurant Association show is being held at McCormick Place this weekend, thus flooding the city with eager new patrons. The cost of the trade show, which features food and drink samples, is fifty dollars for people age 16+ who can prove they are somehow in the industry.

Perfect Martini

Jim Coudal makes a perfect martini.

Retro Beers

Metromix has an article about Retro Beers and because this is a big thing for us Chicagoans, you should read it. Notable exceptions include The Empty Bottle whose $1.75 PBR's and $1 Huber Bock's is what it's all about.

NYT hits Milwaukee/North/Damen

"... see how some of the locals might spend the weekend." The New York Times Travel section visits Wicker Park and Bucktown.

Farmer's Market

April Showers may bring May flowers, but May flowers bring farmer's markets. Almost every neighborhood in the City has an area where local farmers set up their seasonal produce and small batch items like jams and sauces. The USDA also has a list of all the farmer's markets in the state.

USDA link found at Fuck Corporate Groceries, where you can find lots of info on non-corporate food buying in Chicagoland.

Reader Resturant Coupons

This may be worth your while if you like dining out a lot (which I know you do). The Chicago Reader has online Resturant Coupons (and menus) for you to use. I assume this page gets updated every so often. Useful.

Bergoff seats

Another tradition falls: After more than 100 years, you may now sit at the Bergoff stand-up bar.

 

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