Chicago's 2019 James Beard Awards Winners
The James Beard Awards, a coveted achievement among America's chefs and food industry, were held tonight. Out of fourteen Chicago finalists, four took home an Award.
Chicago's 2019 James Beard Award Finalists
This year's finalists for the James Beard Awards, often called the Oscars of Food, have been announced. As usual, Chicago has its fair share of nominees: fourteen, in eight distinct categories, plus two more for cookbooks. Find the list, plus reviews, interviews, and recipes from the finalists here.
Representing Her Community Through Baking: Stephanie Hart's Southern Desserts at Brown Sugar Bakery
Stephanie Hart, a semifinalist for the national James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker, conjures up childhood memories with her luscious cakes at Brown Sugar Bakery – and she's trying to use her success as a prominent African American bakery to revitalize neighborhoods.
The Origins of the Food Hall and Its Booming Popularity
Food halls are proliferating in Chicago – why are they suddenly so popular, and how are they any different from food courts, markets, or old-school cafeterias? The answer lies in their clever adaptation to a millennial age.
How to Make Chocolate Hearts for Valentine's Day
Instead of buying chocolates for Valentine's Day (whether for a loved one or for yourself!), why not try making some delectable chocolate hearts studded with cranberries, with a recipe from Chicago's Bittersweet in Lakeview?
From Sheep's Head to Pheasant: Food in Victorian England
While wealthy Victorians hosted elaborate, multi-course meals with expensive ingredients, the working class stretched the rare piece of meat as far as they could. Watch the owners of Pleasant House Pub prepare wealthy and working class Victorian meals – and yes, there is a sheep's head.
Phil Ponce's Favorite Cookie Recipe
Try a recipe for Phil Ponce's favorite cookie, his wife's oatmeal cookie. "This has been my go-to cookie throughout my adult life. Ann knows if she makes these I will be happy for days," he says. "Definitely my death-bed cookie."
From the Archive: Tour a Chicago-Based Candy Factory
The Chicagoland-based Ferrara Candy Company has announced that it's moving into the Old Post Office downtown. Take a tour of their factory, where even the air tastes sweet, in a segment from a 2004 episode of Chicago Tonight.
Best Chicago Cookbooks for Your Chicago-Loving Chef
Chicago is a great food city, and, over the years, we've produced a bounty of cookbooks. Local chefs, restaurants, organizations – even baseball teams and politicians – have gotten in on the action. Behold, the cream of the Chicago-made cookbook crop.
Warm Up with Mexican Chicken Soup from 'Milk Street'
Now that it's cold outside, there's a good chance you're making and eating a lot of soup. If you're looking for something a bit different from your typical chicken soup, something that has a nice hit of heat, try this recipe from Christopher Kimball's Milk Street.
Julia Child Teaches You How to Make the Best Turkey
Most people only make turkeys once a year, and they're notoriously difficult to prepare well (hence the Butterball turkey hotline). Before confronting the culinary challenge this year, get some tips from the masterful Julia Child, in this archival episode of The French Chef.
Spice Up Your Mashed Potatoes with This Recipe from 'Milk Street'
Not that mashed potatoes aren't delicious on their own, but sometimes you want to spice them up a bit for something a bit more special. Try this version from Christopher Kimball's Milk Street that incorporates a technique learned from Indian cooking.
Vivian Howard's Pickled Beets
Vivian Howard's A Chef's Life has ended after five seasons, so celebrate the seasonally focused cuisine of the series with a simple recipe perfect for brisk fall weather: pickled beets. Plus, stream the finale of the show here.
Make Your Own Street Food: Singapore Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
The popular street food, which is also often found in Thai restaurants in the United States, is traditionally cooked over hot coals. But Christopher Kimball's Milk Street has come up with an ingenious method to make it in your oven with your broiler without dangerous smoking.
Alpana Singh Returns to 'Check, Please!'
After five years immersing herself in the food world away from Check, Please! – opening three restaurants, helping bring the James Beard Awards to Chicago – Alpana Singh is back as host. "I know a lot more sitting here at 41 than when I started at 26," she says.
