One of the jewels of this year’s Chicago Tribune Food Bowl settled in Bronzeville Sunday afternoon. The Food Bowl is one of the city’s newest food extravaganzas with the stated mission of celebrating the entirety of Chicago’s dining scene, from the ever so humble to the ever so grand. The two-week festival features an impressive …
About 30 blocks south of The Full Slab and just west of Western is a whole new breed of BBQ oasis. Loaded with quaint charm outside and what looks like a take-off of an Italian beef franchise inside, Nine One One BBQ Shack in Evergreen Park has tapped into a whole new rule book for …
BBQ’s like bacon. It enjoys a natural allure. Maybe it’s the primitivism of its origins. Something about the pure honesty of meat on flame and enveloped in smoke. Time and technique gave it nuance and tenderness. Sauce gave it another layer of bold flavor. With scores of pits dotting the city, it’s easy to satisfy …
Inspirations, even when they spring from nowhere, can still end up remarkable artistic creations. To hear playwright Brian Yorkey tell it, his Tony award winning Next to Normal now playing at the Writers Theater in Glencoe was just a “what about a play about” idea. Astonishing that a mere whim could carry such force. The …
Napolita Pizzeria and Wine Bar has enough charm to make you give it a whole handful of second chances. With its devoted local following and exceptional wine offerings, there are reasons to keep the sophisticated little outpost on Wilmette’s main drag in your suburban play cycle when Neapolitan pizza crosses your mind. Sometimes thought of …
In the twelve years since Michael Carlson created Schwa, jolting the city’s dining scene with a completely new take on how fine dining can be done, the commitment to vision still seemed thoroughly intact last weekend. If you’ve never been and only know what you’ve read about the restaurant, you may still be surprised …
How many marks of excellence does a BBQ house needs to become a return destination? Not many; but each one is critical if you want that repeat business to be assured. Your product can’t be dry, bland or skimpy. Good BBQ is meaty, succulent, flavorful and, if the Q gods are in the house, bountiful …
Even with the Tribune’s official announcement of its three-week long eating extravaganza dubbed the Chicago Tribune Food Bowl, it was pretty hard to determine exactly why this mega event was taking place. A little scratching revealed the newspaper is emulating its one time sister paper, the Los Angeles Time’s and its super successful May event …
If there was ever a restaurant in Chicago achieving a perfect balance, it would be Band of Bohemia. Nailing the basics with their exceptionally prepared dishes and sophisticated approach to a complete dining experience, they’ve moved on to conquer higher peaks. Distinguishing itself by making food far better than most, the restaurant’s leadership has also …
We expected a level of affectation. Some kind of reputational gloat. Both were completely not present. Everything at Boka was unassuming and regular. Busy night, lots of people, restrained class in the midst of bustle. And an added surprise at the host stand. Unconventional beauty that was also pleasant. All adventures should cast off so …