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Pani Puri from Sukhadia’s

In honor of Lent this week, we are going vegetarian. I realize a lot of people will be ordering pepper-and-egg sandwiches from their favorite Italian beef stands until Easter, but if you’re looking for something a little more interesting, head to West Rogers Park. There, along Devon Avenue, you’ll find Sukhadia’s, a tidy little Indian … Continued

Gyros from The Parthenon

  Ever since I took a tour once of the Kronos Gyros factory, I now instinctively ask Greek restaurants if they make their gyros themselves. More than 95% of them buy the frozen cone from the factory. Stacking up the slabs of beef, lamb and fat, then trimming them to fit the vertical spit can … Continued

Hot Chocolate Mixes

While we usually reserve this space to recommend things we think are worth eating, this week, we’re turning to a favorite cold-weather remedy that’s drinkable: hot chocolate.  As a kid, my experience was limited to Swiss Miss (with water, thanks Mom).  But today, several pastry chefs have their own box of pre-measured mix that you … Continued

Vosges Boxed Mixes

We’ve all been guilty of baking something from a box at one point or another.  I have to admit, I made my fair share of Duncan Hines while in college, and as a result of having kids, I’ve worked from the back of a Nestle’s Tollhouse package on more than one occasion.  But Katrina Markoff … Continued

Ramen at Tampopo

If you’re at all a fan of Tampopo – and I mean the seminal cult film about the quest to create the perfect ramen shop – then you’re going to really appreciate the tiny restaurant of the same name on the city’s far Northwest Side.  The owners named it after the movie, afterall, and even though they’re Korean, they … Continued

Goat Burger at Burger Bar

  Stephanie Izard may have single-handedly made goat cool, but whether you give her credit or not, the lean meat is starting to show up in some unlikely places. Most recently, at the Burger Bar(formerly known as the Urban Burger Bar) on Clybourn – right across the street from the gleaming new Apple store – they … Continued

La Humita

  Steamed like a tamale, redolent with sweet corn and intense achiote oil, these Ecuadorian treats are hard to come by in Chicago. At La Humita, their namesake is worth the trip alone – unless you’ve decided to give up waiting in line at Smoque, just a few blocks up the street. ‚ You’ll probably want to … Continued

Flaco’s Tacos

  If you’ve spent anytime in San Diego, or along the Baja Peninsula, you’ve probably seen fish tacos. Typically fried, these regional specialties are also paired with an avocado crema of some kind, as well as crunchy cabbage. I’ve had a pretty good version of the original at Chicks ‘n Salsa in Glen Ellyn, but for a … Continued