Review: Zarella, River North’s New Bustling Pizzeria
A few months ago, I stumbled upon a TikTok detailing a dinner out at a new River North spot. I saw mozzarella sticks and pasta, in a dimly lit, cozy […]
Review: The Smith in River North Knocks Our Socks Off and Tightens Our Belts
Our evening at The Smith was one to remember, and thank goodness they have a photobooth in their basement so we could preserve our post-meal glee. My partner and I […]
Review: Meso-American (and More) Foodie Feast at the Reborn Michelin Star Atelier Restaurant
Across the street from the massive Lincoln Square construction site on the Western Brown Line stop (check out the piece of the Berlin Wall inside), and behind an unassuming storefront […]
Dialogs: Samin Nosrat Delivers a Call to Culinary Community Building in Chicago Humanities Event
When I opened chef Samin Nosrat‘s newest book, Good Things, it was clear that the cultural phenom born with her first project, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, was here to stay. […]
An Ode to Thanksgiving’s Most Treasured Dessert with Pie: A Global History
If you want to wow during the dessert course this Thanksgiving, don’t bother with the baking; all you’ll need is a stop at The University of Chicago Press for a […]
Review: British Bites and Subzero Martinis at Hawksmoor Chicago’s Beef & Liberty Bar
Atop Hawksmoor steakhouse, in the former Michael Jordan restaurant location on LaSalle in River North, is a newish second-story venue, the Beef & Liberty Bar. The décor evokes upscale English […]
Avoid Your Oven This Thanksgiving; Chicago Restaurants Are Ready to Cater (or Host) Your Holiday
As we careen full-steam ahead into the holiday season, it can all start to feel like quite a lot. If you’re looking for ways to minimize effort and yet still […]
Defying Gravity: A Wicked Rooftop Experience at The Gwen
In anticipation of the Nov. 21 premiere of Wicked: For Good, part two of the global smash phenomenon released in 2024, we’re all doing our homework and rewatching Wicked. I […]
Review: Teatro ZinZanni Boasts Outrageous Talent and Zany Jokes—But Lackluster Dining
Teatro ZinZanni is a great way to spend a fall evening in downtown Chicago. Would I rely on it for dinner? Probably not. Would I do drinks beforehand? Probably. But […]
Review: Accessible Opulence with Richard Sandoval at Casa Chi’s Dia De Los Muertos Boozy Tea
On a pleasantly chilly Sunday afternoon, my girlfriend and I headed downtown for boozy tea at Casa Chi. We exited the sunny, bustling street, peeking our heads into Michael Jordan’s […]
Bites: What Honeymoon Stage Author Margaux Eliot Eats in a Day
The name Margaux Eliot is new on the literary block in Chicago. Like her main character in her twisty, reality-TV-stoked whirlwind of a debut novel, Honeymoon Stage (Little A, Nov. […]
Review: Paint and Sip at The Gwen Is an Experiment in Colorful Cuisine
A Spirited Affair saw Fess Parker Winery, a Santa Barbara fixture, paired with The Gwen Chicago for a remarkable paint and sip event. Bites and sips pairings were designed by […]