I have to say I really enjoy shooting Chicago's Best. It's a blast hanging out with Ted, Brittney and the rest of the crew (usually a field producer and an intern.) I mean our job is to drive around and discover the BEST of the BEST in the BEST city in the country! And most of what we see is food...sweet, savory, spicy F-O-O-D.
My job is to make the food look good. Now I'm not a food stylist by trade...those guys are worth their weight in gold. I use what limited knowledge I have as a seasoned commercial photographer to make the viewers at home salivate. One of the ways I do that is by producing what the photography world calls "Food Porn."
If you've ever seen a Red Lobster commercial you know what I'm talking about. It's the sweeping shots of king crab being cracked open and drizzled with butter. The mountainous portions of shrimp doused with the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon. A haze of steam rising over a glistening lobster centerfold as a fork enters the frame to steal a bite. Like real porno, these shots arouse the senses and stimulate the mind to WANT what's on screen. What's great about food porn though is that its fun for everyone and you won't get in trouble if your wife catches you watching it on the family computer.
Sadly we don't have the million-dollar budgets of big production companies to create grand landscapes of food at the restaurants we visit....but we make due. Creative lighting, high depth of field, smooth tripod movements, and a little slow-motion editing help us get there.
Here's a mix tape of some of our best "food porn" so far. You may need a napkin.
Besides watching our show there are plenty of ways to fulfill your food fetish without stalking your favorite chefs. Foodporn.net and Foodporndaily.com post new photos everyday. Chicagoist.com even has a Food Pr0n tag for his blog. No binoculars required.
The place looks like a giant barn, decorated with North American wildlife mounted all over the place. My first impression: The Old 96-er steak challenge. Nope.
This is Nick's Pizza and Pub,
990 S. Randall Rd., Elgin. I was invited to bring the family out for dinner a couple weeks ago so my wife and I, our youngest son and our friends the Rickarts loaded up the Brunson family truckster and headed west.
Pretty cool story about the owner Nick Sarillo. For years he worked construction building homes and businesses. Finally, one day Nick decided "that's it."
He came up with a business plan and erected his first monstrous facility himself in Crystal Lake.
Of Italian descent, Nick's family knew a thing or two about pizza. Things went so well, he opened second location in Elgin and it too is a success.
The pizza is unique with a very thin, crisp crust, all natural ingredients and plenty of them. We tried their special and also went with the "double decker"... Yup, twp pizzas stacked and molded together! If the first layer doesn't hit ya, the second one will! Try the beer nuggets and the calamari for an app... fresh and good! Additionally, they have a nice beer selection and smoothies.
Nick's is a great place for families and it was clear how popular this joint is since it was packed on a Monday!
Gallery sneak peek (9 images):
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Your Monday lunch plans are set! Chicago's Best has an exclusive offer just for our FANS. This Monday only (tomorrow, 7/26), head to Chickie's on Taylor (2253 W. Taylor) for a Chicago's Best exclusive deal.
When you ask for the "Chicago's Best Special," you'll receive an Italian Beef, Fries and a Drink for only $5.25. That's a $1 off the regular price.
This offer is valid on Monday, July 26th from 10am until 7p at the Chickie's on Taylor Street location only. Valid only for dine-in or carry-out customers. No deliveries.
You must say the phrase "Chicago's Best Deal" to get this special offer.
It's 10am and I'm starving. The reason? I just took a look at the "must-try dishes" in Chicagoland according to the Tribune foodies.
I think I want to try every one of them. In fact, I've tried a few. Check out the photos below showcasing some of my favorite ones. See the full list here.
We all have a favorite dish we crave. So tell us what your "must-try dish" is in the area that all of us need to try. Make sure you give us a compelling reason to try it!
Gallery sneak peek (5 images):
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Because we LOVE our viewers so much, we decided to turn this show completely over to you! This week it's all about what you think is BEST.
Episode: Best of Viewer's Choice: The CB team checks out 5 food spots that our viewers say are the BEST. We look at the BEST burger bar, ice cream parlor, Mexican sandwich, Italian beef and caribbean food.
Gallery sneak peek (12 images):
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Episode: BEST Late Night Eats: Our team searches Chicagoland for the BEST places to eat late. Plus, Brittney and Ted show off their singing skills! 
Chicago's been invaded by Transformers. Where's the BEST location in Chicago to shoot a movie! 
