Rebecca Taras | November 15, 2011 8:45 amWhether it's peanut butter, eggs, or a can of Campbell's soup, chances are you have a go-to ingredient you're thankful to have on hand when putting together a meal on the fly — or for a group. It's no surprise that professionally trained chefs do too. Here's a look at the ingredients they are most thankful for and a delicious dish you'll find at their restaurant using their secret ammunition.Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 14, 2011 8:00 amWelcome back to our new series "L" Eats, where we explore accessible (and delicious) restaurants just steps away from Chicago's CTA train stops. Last time we covered the Brown Line, which included new (Farmhouse), old (Bistro Campagne), and soon-to-be open (Slurping Turtle) dining destinations. This time, we're headed down the Red Line.Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 11, 2011 8:30 amI talked about a few ways to beat the daylight savings time doldrums, but starting this Sunday, Wave restaurant (644 N. Lake Shore Dr., 312-255-4460) in the W Hotel Lakeshore has another cure for what ails you: a weekly Sunday remedy brunch. Here's the not-so-skinny.Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 10, 2011 10:15 amTurkey day is right around the corner, and in the spirit of giving thanks, I want to know what your favorite recent restaurant opening is. A martini that made you melt, taters that made you tingle, and a server so amazing, you'd love to invite him or her over for dinner on Nov. 24.Read More
Kate Stahl | November 10, 2011 9:00 amI've been trying to stick to a healthy diet lately, which means I've been obsessing about all the delicious foods I haven't been eating. (I miss you, doughnuts.) But at the top of my recent craving list is most definitely grilled cheese. Your favorite childhood sandwich has gotten a grown-up, gourmet makeover at many restaurants around town.Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 10, 2011 8:45 amCoffee is normally a stimulus to get you through the day, but this time of year, a cup-o-java is also a resource for staying heated through the frigid temps. Cool — er — warm your heels at one of these cozy and distinct (read: Starbucks or the double D not included) coffee shops in town.
View Slideshow ›Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 10, 2011 8:00 amWhether you'd like to give mom a break this year or you're not willing to take a Thanksgiving cooking class to learn how to whip up a Norman Rockwell-inspired feast, turn off the stove and let one of these restos in town do — some or all of — the cooking!
Pass (on) the sides: If you're on side-dish duty but never really learned what goes into that somewhat mysterious green bean casserole, then save yourself some elbow grease and let Custom House Tavern (500 S. Dearborn St., 312-523-0200) put a spin on the traditional (yawn) accompaniments.Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 9, 2011 9:15 amIf you'd rather eat a Banquet frozen dinner on Thanksgiving than tackle Tom Turkey's giblets, I hear your battle cry. Amaze your family this holiday by learning how to whip up both traditional and nontraditional Thanksgiving dinner eats at one of these consumer-friendly (read: nonprofessional) cooking schools. You can worry about working off the calories from all your trial and error in January.Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 9, 2011 8:30 amI just returned from a blissful 10 days in Italy, Greece, and Turkey, and I'm already having a hard time getting back to reality — and that's not including the jet lag! While sites like the Acropolis, the Roman Forum, and the ancient ruins of Ephesus will forever change my perspective of the world, the food I ate — and libations I drank — have definitely impacted my palate. Being exposed to the real McCoy of international flavors and textures really comes down to one simple formula: fresh ingredients and simple preparation.Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 8, 2011 8:00 amI've been going to Chicago's Chinatown since I was little. My brother and I never got sick of the mocktails and "surprise" packages in one of the little hole in the wall shops — even if the contents were only garage sale type items like an oriental fan, back scratcher, and out-of-date calendar (for real). As an adult, those mocktails turned into Mai-Tais and my curiosity was more for the different restos than my beloved fan.Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 15, 2011 8:45 am
Whether it's peanut butter, eggs, or a can of Campbell's soup, chances are you have a go-to ingredient you're thankful to have on hand when putting together a meal on the fly — or for a group. It's no surprise that professionally trained chefs do too. Here's a look at the ingredients they are most thankful for and a delicious dish you'll find at their restaurant using their secret ammunition.
Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 14, 2011 8:00 am
Welcome back to our new series "L" Eats, where we explore accessible (and delicious) restaurants just steps away from Chicago's CTA train stops. Last time we covered the Brown Line, which included new (Farmhouse), old (Bistro Campagne), and soon-to-be open (Slurping Turtle) dining destinations. This time, we're headed down the Red Line.
Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 11, 2011 8:30 am
I talked about a few ways to beat the daylight savings time doldrums, but starting this Sunday, Wave restaurant (644 N. Lake Shore Dr., 312-255-4460) in the W Hotel Lakeshore has another cure for what ails you: a weekly Sunday remedy brunch. Here's the not-so-skinny.
Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 10, 2011 10:15 am
Turkey day is right around the corner, and in the spirit of giving thanks, I want to know what your favorite recent restaurant opening is. A martini that made you melt, taters that made you tingle, and a server so amazing, you'd love to invite him or her over for dinner on Nov. 24.
Read More
Kate Stahl | November 10, 2011 9:00 am
I've been trying to stick to a healthy diet lately, which means I've been obsessing about all the delicious foods I haven't been eating. (I miss you, doughnuts.) But at the top of my recent craving list is most definitely grilled cheese. Your favorite childhood sandwich has gotten a grown-up, gourmet makeover at many restaurants around town.
Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 10, 2011 8:45 am
Coffee is normally a stimulus to get you through the day, but this time of year, a cup-o-java is also a resource for staying heated through the frigid temps. Cool — er — warm your heels at one of these cozy and distinct (read: Starbucks or the double D not included) coffee shops in town.
View Slideshow ›
Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 10, 2011 8:00 am
Whether you'd like to give mom a break this year or you're not willing to take a Thanksgiving cooking class to learn how to whip up a Norman Rockwell-inspired feast, turn off the stove and let one of these restos in town do — some or all of — the cooking!
Pass (on) the sides: If you're on side-dish duty but never really learned what goes into that somewhat mysterious green bean casserole, then save yourself some elbow grease and let Custom House Tavern (500 S. Dearborn St., 312-523-0200) put a spin on the traditional (yawn) accompaniments.
Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 9, 2011 9:15 am
If you'd rather eat a Banquet frozen dinner on Thanksgiving than tackle Tom Turkey's giblets, I hear your battle cry. Amaze your family this holiday by learning how to whip up both traditional and nontraditional Thanksgiving dinner eats at one of these consumer-friendly (read: nonprofessional) cooking schools. You can worry about working off the calories from all your trial and error in January.
Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 9, 2011 8:30 am
I just returned from a blissful 10 days in Italy, Greece, and Turkey, and I'm already having a hard time getting back to reality — and that's not including the jet lag! While sites like the Acropolis, the Roman Forum, and the ancient ruins of Ephesus will forever change my perspective of the world, the food I ate — and libations I drank — have definitely impacted my palate. Being exposed to the real McCoy of international flavors and textures really comes down to one simple formula: fresh ingredients and simple preparation.
Read More
Rebecca Taras | November 8, 2011 8:00 am
I've been going to Chicago's Chinatown since I was little. My brother and I never got sick of the mocktails and "surprise" packages in one of the little hole in the wall shops — even if the contents were only garage sale type items like an oriental fan, back scratcher, and out-of-date calendar (for real). As an adult, those mocktails turned into Mai-Tais and my curiosity was more for the different restos than my beloved fan.
Read More
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