This year, it’s twenty items for $20 or under. Enjoy!
Honey and honey mustard gift set - $12, Chicago Honey Co-op. Located on Chicago’s West Side, Chicago Honey Co-op practices sustainable beekeeping and honey production while providing jobs for the city’s underemployed. This gift set is a great way to sample their products and support the […]
Table Fifty-Two
52 W. Elm
312-573-4000
Chef Art Smith’s upscale Southern-inspired comfort classics and attentive service warm both heart and stomach. Dinner starts with a savory goat cheese biscuit baked in its own miniature cast iron skillet and ends with an array of decadent desserts to choose from. In between are hearty and familiar yet imaginative entrees such […]
HotChocolate’s hot chocolate is a chocolate and sugar addict’s downfall — my favorite’s the caramelly medium hot chocolate — but at $6 a cup, it’s an expensive and unaffordable habit. So I’m pleased to have found a new chocolate love: Cafecito’s hot chocolate. It’s similar to Mexican hot chocolate, laced with cinnamon and almond flavors, […]
Icosium Kafe
5200 N. Clark
773-271-5233
Crepe & Coffee Palace
2433 N. Clark
773-404-1300
Two names, two locations, double the crepe goodness. These cafes serve sweet and savory crepes with an Algerian twist, such as the Crepe Palace (raisins, pears, and rose water with pistachio ice cream) and the Crepe Marrakech, which includes olive tapenade, almonds, and mint.
Vibe: Warm, cozy, fragrant […]
The Obamas went to Table Fifty-Two for their Valentine’s dinner.
Mr. Beef faces foreclosure.
Starbucks is preparing to unveil soluble (aka instant) coffee.
Last month I attended a Google Authors talk featuring Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas, chef and co-owner of Alinea. It was fascinating to hear stories about the creative process behind the inventive food and restaurant concepts. I appreciated the obsessive amount of detail put into every aspect of the dining experience, especially this one: Alinea […]
…because it’ll be Christmas before you know it.
These exquisite animal shot glasses are a far cry from the college logo-emblazoned ones we’re all too familiar with. They’re made of black glass and pewter and are designed to balance on their noses or horns when filled with your beverage of choice. Head side up, they make […]
Here’s a little secret: I haven’t cooked a proper meal in weeks. But I’ve been hitting the farmers markets pretty hard and there’s plenty of fresh food that requires little to no preparation — perfect for my crazy schedule. We’ve supplemented our market finds with a few restaurant visits and have been eating and drinking […]
Kuma’s Corner
2900 W. Belmont
773-604-8769
With over twenty burgers to choose from — all with boldly-combined toppings and named after metal bands — this lively Avondale bar/restaurant is the Hot Doug’s of hamburgers. Some of the offerings are downright outrageous such as the Slayer, a “pile of fries topped with a half-pound burger, chili, cherry peppers, […]
This weekend, the City of Chicago presents the 10th annual Great Chicago Places & Spaces, a program that features more than 200 free tours covering a vast array of topics such as art and architecture, neighborhood history, shopping, and of particular interest for wasabigelatine readers, food. All events are free; the caveat is that you […]
A while back I wrote about blood orange juice, my favorite winter beverage. If you like it a little stronger, Sepia in the West Loop offers a couple of seasonal drinks that really showcase the flavor of this delicious purple-red citrus fruit.
The Blood and Stone, pictured above, is the blood and sand’s deeper, darker cousin […]
bin wine cafe
1559 N. Milwaukee
773-486-2233
bin wine cafe is the casual neighborhood outpost of River North’s Bin 36. The fare is basic, though not generic, and pairs well with the extensive, affordable wine list.
Vibe: Wicker Park hipsters and Bucktown yuppies in a loud, cozy space.
Cost: $5-$18 for appetizers and entrees; $13-$15 for wine flights
Must-try: Crispy […]
After Dale’s fantastic run all the way to the final last season, we’re rooting for another Chicago talent to take home the big Top Chef prize this year. My bet’s on Stephanie Izard, former chef/owner of Scylla in Bucktown (now occupied by Restaurant Takashi). I’d only been to Scylla once, but if the succulent roast […]
They made GQ’s list of 20 hamburgers you must eat before you die. Oprah’s BFF Gayle King loves them. And they’re only $2.50 every Monday night until April 14, so go out and get a Poag Mahone’s burger already!
Poag Mahone’s: 333 S. Wells, 312-566-9100
