“It came to me in a dream,” explains Chef Scott Zwiezen about the name of his organic vegetarian restaurant, Elf Cafe. “I didn’t know what it was about, but that’s how it came to me. And then it just stuck.” With no actual sign in the front of the unassuming restaurant, this Echo Park spot is largely a word-of-mouth operation. [...]
Who doesn’t love a BYOB joint? Not only is toting your own booze cheaper, but you’ll never be at the mercy of a poorly chosen beer menu or wine list. In this series, we’ll be uncovering some of Chicago’s best BYOB restaurants, starting with the spicy stuff. These Mexican eateries encourage you to bring your favorite vino or a six [...]
There’s no shortage of sports bars in Chicago and there are plenty of Big Ten alums spending game day with a beer in hand among fellow fans. Not sure where to catch your team? We’ve got you covered. University of Illinois Joe’s Bar A sports bar in the front and a concert venue in the back, Joe’s on Weed is [...]
The pierogi is probably the most precious Polish tradition in my family. My grandmother crafts them from scratch and nothing beats a pierogi made by a babcia. There are Poles galore in the Chicago area where I am from, but it seems we are few and far between out in La La Land — making a homemade pierogi hard to [...]
Spice mixes can add that extra something that was missing to any dish and it seems each region has one that they hold in particularly high esteem. A little salt and pepper just can’t measure up to a quality spice mix, making these concoctions a staple in pantries across the country. Old Bay is a classic in the Chesapeake Bay [...]
It’s a hard decision to make, but if I had to choose only one food to eat for the rest of my life it would be some spicy, juicy buffalo wings. When done just right, nothing hits the spot like a nice hunk of chicken slathered in hot sauce that give my lips that satisfying burning sensation. In my opinion, [...]
Is there anything better than noshing on hot wings while watching a big game and throwing back beers at a bar? I think very few things measure up to the wonder of wings, as they are quite possibly my favorite things to eat. But with favoritism comes a certain level of elitism and I declare that not all wings are created [...]
The ‘burbs can be such a drag and oftentimes when one hears “Naperville, Illinois,” images of mansions in subdivisions and strip malls come to mind with the city’s inhabitants using their Mercedes and Lexus SUVs to go back in forth between the two. While that’s not so far off the mark, Naperville has a lot to offer in terms of [...]
Beer has been around for quite some time, making people the world over incredibly happy. So happy, in fact, that people couldn’t imagine their lives without it, which is exactly how India Pale Ale came to be. After long sea voyages ruined one too many beers, the British decided to find a solution. After all, what was the point in [...]
I still haven’t forgotten my first taste of rhubarb. I was 12 years old and my family was throwing a going-away party for ourselves before moving to a different neighborhood. One of the families in attendance was in charge of dessert and brought over a strawberry rhubarb pie. Chocolate fans that we are, I remember overhearing my father quietly telling [...]
