Stories by Maggie Hennessy

Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Illinois in 2020 brought broader cultural acceptance, stricter guardrails, and $1.6 billion in sales in 2023 alone, the bar has gotten higher on cannabis-infused food and drinks, from cake mix to drinks to gummies to hot sauce.

Omarcito's in Logan Square, which recently won the Jean Banchet Award for Best Counter Service, serves up home-style Latin American plates and handhelds. Owner and chef Omar Cadena, "a big softie with big energy and a big voice," wants everyone to feel loved and included when they walk up to the window.

El Alebrije in Irving Park highlights Mexico’s less-understood regional specialties with an artfulness and attention to detail that suggests we still have much to discover – and eat.