A Hidden Novel Between the Pages of a Chicago Loop Cocktail Bar Menu

In the heart of Chicago’s loop lives a pair of spirit guides who stepped away from the past and blended their lives with our present. These muses glide through a room where warm lamps bathe leather arm chairs and sofas. They run their fingertips across the walls studded with leather-bound books. They weave between men and women... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
March 7, 2018 at 4:27 pm • 

6 Steps for a Successful Work Environment from One of Chicago's Fastest-Growing Restaurant Groups

With 17 restaurants to their name (four newly opened in 2017), the Boka Restaurant Group continues to pave their way to greatness in Chicago’s dining space. Newly-opened Somerset is on the lips of every informed diner in the city, while institutions like Boka and the Goat restaurants continue to dazzle and draw crowds from around... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
January 2, 2018 at 8:37 am • 

Chicago's Top Ten Most Exceptional Food and Drink of 2017

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from working with Chicago’s best chefs over the last year, it’s that the perfect plate of food consists of three elements: Good ingredients Good technique Good vibes (temperament makes all the difference when cooking) As I ate my way around this great restaurant city of ours this year, it was clear... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
December 29, 2017 at 12:16 pm • 
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Reactions to a Memoir of Food, Faith & Enduring Love (with Recipes)

How many of us have ever really tasted olive oil as if we were tasting it for the first time? Picture the whites of an egg bubbling up, the yolk doing a gentle jiggle as the pan hisses and sputters with beautiful, real olive oil. Granules of salt shower down in the perfect even coating.... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
December 20, 2017 at 3:18 pm • 

Discover Rioja Wines and Cuisine at Omni Hotel Chicago

“A lot of chefs think that fine dining can only be Michelin-star type things. But hotels give a lot of diversity.” So says Chef Joshua Hasho, of 676 Restaurant in Omni Hotel Chicago. The 29-year-old chef who sharpened his culinary teeth at The French Laundry and once worked with the Ritz Carlton is quietly stirring... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
October 30, 2017 at 2:16 pm • 

JBF Greens hosts their best event yet at Prime & Provisions

Chef Joe Rizza, of Prime & Provisions, is a Chicago kid through and through. Unlike many city chefs, Rizza made the choice to train and get all his work experience right here in Chicago. Growing up in a family that was already ingrained in the restaurant business, his training started early. His formal training was... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
October 26, 2017 at 7:47 am • 
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Top Chef's Gail Simmons is "Bringing It Home" to Chicago

“I read Talking with My Mouth Full this past March while I was working in advertising and living my most miserable life,” I say to Gail Simmons (iconic judge on Top Chef, Food & Wine special projects director, and food writer) as I sit in my living room wearing pajamas on a cold and rainy Chicago Monday.... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
October 24, 2017 at 7:53 am • 

Green City Market dinners at Travelle Kitchen + Bar

The food scene in Chicago is very different from the food scene in other big cities in that it highlights the food community. Chefs across our city are constantly involved in collaborations with each other as well as local farmers or producers. Small businesses are celebrated often and charitable efforts frequently bring together the biggest... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
October 10, 2017 at 1:44 pm • 

There Can Only Be One Pork King or Queen...And It's Going Down At Grand Cochon This Weekend in Chicago

If you’re a lover of pork and high-steaks (ha ha) competition, buckle up for what’s hitting Chicago this Sunday. Some may say that even Iron Chef pales in comparison to Grand Cochon, the grand finale to an epic 14-city nose-to-tail pork competition. Earlier this year, chefs competed from restaurants all around the country, aiming to... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
September 27, 2017 at 6:41 pm • 
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Chicago's Best Chefs on Cooking Up a Cure

Bringing together 20 of Chicago’s best chefs for one night in a city like Chicago is always a challenge. But, when it happens, it’s an unbeatable event. September 14th was one such night as chefs, restaurants, and food & beverage brands came together to raise awareness and funds for scleroderma, a lesser-known but sometimes fatal... Read more »
By Sabrina Medora,
September 26, 2017 at 8:20 am •