Christina Henry has published more than a dozen books and is about to celebrate the first hard cover release of her latest horror novel, The Place Where They Buried Your Heart (Berkley) on November 4. The novel focuses on a haunted house on an otherwise ordinary street in Chicago. Like with most horror tales, this one begins with warnings from parents, stay away, stay home, stay safe. But where is the fun in listening? An older sister dares her younger brother to enter the haunted house but he never comes out and the lore begins that the house ate him. As the sister grows older, the house grows hungrier, leaving the question of what it will consume next. Henry is about to go on book tour across our city and beyond. Before she leaves town, we had to know her favorite spots to get her day started, the mid-day break she savors, and where she goes for a perfect end of day $5 pairing.
For the most important meal of the day aka breakfast, where do you go and what do you order?
My favorite breakfast is at Ann Sather on Belmont. I always get some kind of eggs Benedict—lately I like the smoked salmon eggs Benedict best—with hash browns and of course, the greatest cinnamon rolls in the world on the side.
Are you a grab-and-go lunch eater or a slow sit-down type? What's your place and order?
I’m a slow sit-down type. I like the lunch hour to be a real break in my day. I usually write in the morning and do admin in the afternoon so lunch is like a bright line to transition me from one task to another. One of my favorite lunch spots is Rice’N Bread on Sheffield. It’s a Korean diner and they serve lots of American diner classics as well as incredible Korean food. My go-to dish is the dolsot bibimbap with beef.
Afternoon pick me up? Snack? Caffeine or happy hour? Where is your favorite spot to jump start the evening?
I’m not much of an afternoon snacker but I do love the happy hour at Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar. I’m a big fan of $5 glasses of wine and their customizable butcher’s platter.
Dinner time, what place or meal brings your day to a close the right way?
Sushi Plus Rotary Sushi in Boystown is always a super-fun place to grab a meal. If you’ve never tried conveyor belt sushi, this is a great place to go. Their maki roll combos are always good and the staff is lovely.
