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Biscuits at Bang Bang Pie Shop

They’re known for their pies, obviously, but Bang Bang Pie Shop in Logan Square is also rightly beloved for its biscuits. Unlike the pie crusts (which have lard in them) they stick to butter for the biscuits. But oh, how their heft and density boggle the mind. I could eat these everyday for breakfast, with a … Continued

Fish Taco Heaven

SAN DIEGO – This town doesn’t get a lot of love from the national food press, but if there was one dish this perpetually 70 degree city could lay claim to, it would be the fish taco. Like a New Orleans po’boy or a St. Louis toasted ravioli, the fish taco was born here, and … Continued

Macarons at La Fournette Bakery

I doubt The Twisted Baker in Old Town is going to be sending any holiday cards to La Fournette. The latter  opened up two doors away from the former, and the (relatively) new kid on the block is doing hardcore French pastry, baguette, croissant and one of my favorite macaron (not macaroons) in the city. … Continued

An Ode to Russ & Daughters

 On the Lower East Side you live, where you’ve been since 1914, you’ve seen the city through highs and lows, from behind a façade shaded white & green. Unpretentious, never boastful, just a neon-lit fixture along Houston Street, Let the tourists go to Katz’s, when I’m in town, I know where to eat. I get … Continued

My Favorite New Korean BBQ in Chicago

Normally, I approach new restaurants on an empty stomach. But last Thursday night, after devouring a few bowls of ramen at the excellent Misoya in Mount Prospect (thanks, Mike Sula for that tip), I convinced our friends to try this new place I had heard about, Gogi. I figured we’d stop in for a quick … Continued

J.P. Graziano’s Gelato

There are only a handful of gelato producers in Chicago, and most of the time, they have brick-and-mortar stores set up from which they can sell their product. Sometimes, they start out just doing wholesale work, as Jesse Oloroso did with Black Dog Gelato after she left Stephanie Izard’s employ at Scylla. Other times, they … Continued

Crawfish Cakes from Wishbone

I’m definitely in a southern state of mind this week. In Chicago, finding some of those familiar flavors, such as pimento cheese, fried chicken livers or shrimp & grits, isn’t as easy as, say, a great som tum. I’m a fan of the Carriage House, where Mark Steuer recreates the familiar flavors from his native … Continued