Recent Episodes

 

Dwight Furrow, the author of American Foodie: Taste, Art, and the Cultural Revolution, talks about the philosophy of food. We discuss everything the impact of everything from automobile to Alice Waters to the Slow Food movement have shaped the way Americans think about food.
 
 
 
 

 

Inbal Baum, the Founder of Delicious Israel, joins us to talk about where foodies should eat when they travel to her country.

• Shakshouka is a popular dish in Israel
• Israeli Breakfast is a distinct and important meal
• The modern cherry tomato has roots in Israel
• Tel Aviv and Jerusalem top the list of cities you should visit
• Beach season runs from April to October
• Rosh Hashana is a great time to visit Israel
• When you visit Tel Aviv, go to the Carmel Market, the Levinsky Market
• Try the date syrup, Silan

 

 

Food for Thought

• Q: After pita bread, what is the most common food used to “wipe” humus?
• A: Raw onion.

 
 

Out of the Frying Pan

• Favorite Spot for Outdoor Dining: Milgo & Milbar
• Favorite Place to Buy Spices: Cafe Arma in Levinsky Market
• Herbs to Try: Za’atar and Hawaij (in Yemenite Coffee)
• Favorite Winery: Sphera
• Favorite Place for Dessert: The Malabia
• Favorite Food Experience for Kids: Max Brenner
• Chef to Watch: Eyal Shani
• Dish to Try at Different Places: Shakshouka and sabich

Bennet Jacobstein, author of The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine, talks to us about what foodies can find at different baseball stadiums around the country.

• Hot dogs and sausages are not the same thing.
• The quality of ballpark food was elevated in the 90s as new stadiums were built and food television shows took off.
• Stadiums have highlighted regional foods.
• Gordon Biersch‘s founder Dan Gordon introduced garlic fries at Candlestick Park in 1994.
• The song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was written in 1908.
• The Yankees replaced Cracker Jacks at one point, but brought it back after a public outcry.
• 

  San Francisco Giant Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries

  Veggie Happy spearheaded the movement to get veggie dogs sold at ballpark stadiums.

• Andrew Zimmern has a stand in the Minnesota ballpark.
• Rocky Mountain Oysters are bull testicles.
• “The Big Six” are the food companies that service the major ballparks.
• As you go from ballpark to ballpark, try the hot dogs at each to see how they’re done differently.
• Proceeds from Bennett’s book go to Second Harvest Food Bank.

 

Food for Thought

• Q: In what year were Cracker Jacks first served at a baseball game?
• A: 1896 in Atlantic City.

 

Out of the Frying Pan

Here’s what Bennet recommends you try at each ballpark:

• Yankees Stadium in New York City: Chicken and Waffles.
• Fenway Park in Boston: Lobster Roll and a cuban sandwich.
• Wrigley Field in Chicago: Chicago-style hot dog with Vienna beef.
• Turner Field in Atlanta: Boiled peanuts.
• Marlins Park in Miami: Cuban dishes.
• Safeco Field in Seattle: The Ivar’s hot dog (with fish) and cream cheese hot dog.
• Nationals Park in Washington D.C.: A cauliflower hot dog and presidential cupcakes.
• 

  Chicago White Sox Chicago-Style Hot Dog

  Busch Stadium in St. Louis: The BBQ.

• Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles: Tommy Lasorda Spumoni ice cream.
• AT&T Park in San Francisco: Crab salad, lamb sausages, and Gordon Biersch garlic fries.

Try a Food Tour

More in this City

Chicago. The Windy City. The City of Broad Shoulders. Whatever you’d like to call it, I just call it home. It is a city known for its skyline, architecture, and especially the food. The dining culture in Chicago is unique due to a variety of factors, but I plan on highlighting the cultural diversity that contributes greatly to the food scene throughout our great metropolis. Although there are numerous communities scattered throughout Chicago, I only have room for five ethnic groups, so get ready for some great Italian, Polish, Chinese, German, and Mexican dishes.
 
 

1. Al’s Beef

When most people think of Italian food, they think of pasta or pizza, but how about beef? Italian beef is a Chicago invention that originated in the Little Italy neighborhood on the Near West Side on Taylor Street. Like many great dishes, it was born out of necessity in hard times. During the Great Depression, Italian families had to make the most out of the cheap cuts of beef they were able to afford. Therefore, they first soaked it in spiced broth to soften up the tough pieces of meat, and then they cut it into razor thin pieces to be eaten on a roll. Thus the Italian beef sandwich was born.
 
Today, there are many Italian beef sandwiches throughout Chicago and the Chicagoland area, but Al’s Beef on Taylor Street is the original sandwich stand starting all the way back in 1938. It has been featured on the Today show, Man Vs. Food, the History Channel, and even Good Morning America as one of the best sandwiches and restaurants in America. Al’s Beef may have a big reputation, but it is an extremely simple establishment. It’s a modestly sized building with a small parking lot alongside it. Upon walking in, you’ll be greeted with a simple menu that includes not only Italian beef sandwiches but also other Chicago specialties like Chicago Polish sausage, Chicago style hot dogs, and Italian sausage. I always go for the Italian beef sandwich since that is Al’s specialty, and it’s prepared the same way they did back in 1938.
 
You can order it depending on what kind of toppings you like: plain, sweet (grilled mild green peppers), hot (giardiniera or pickled vegetables), or cheese for an extra charge. Once you’ve picked your topping, then you have the option of how much of the seasoned beef broth you’d like on your sandwich. It ranges from dry (obviously with none) to wet (a little bit on top of the sandwich) to dipped (the authentic Chicago experience with the whole sandwich dipped in the broth). Once you have your sandwich, you can either order a soda or water to drink. Not much selection here, folks.
 
When it comes to actually consuming the meal, Al’s Beef is interesting in the sense that there are no traditional tables to sit at. Instead, there are only chest high counters that go around the inside of the establishment. Therefore, you must master the Italian stance. What this consists of is putting your forearms on the edge of the counter and moving your feet back about two feet. This provides stability and avoids getting any of the sandwich on your clothes. If you have room, I’d recommend walking across Taylor Street to Mario’s Italian Lemonade for dessert to taste another relic of Italian American pride in Chicago. So, if you want a one of a kind piece of Chicago Italian culture for a great price, check out Al’s Beef.

 

1079 W Taylor St, Chicago, Illinois
(312)226-4017
http://www.alsbeef.com/

 

 

RELATED: Check Out These Top Five Places to Eat Around Wrigley Field

 
 

2. Podhalanka

I stumbled upon an intriguing infographic that showed the top language, excluding English and Spanish, in all 50 states in the United States. Illinois’ third biggest language and ethnic group is people of Polish descent. At one time, there were more Polish people in Chicago than the Polish capital of Warsaw. While this is no longer true, Polish cuisine and culture is extremely strong throughout the city. I am one of the millions of people of Polish descent in Chicago, so I only felt it necessary to highlight a restaurant representing this community.

 

While there are tons of Polish restaurants I’ve tried around my grandparents’ neighborhood surrounding Midway Airport, I’d like to tell you more about a hidden gem on the North Side called Podhalanka. It is located in the Polonia Triangle, considered the oldest and most prominent of Chicago’s Polish enclaves. Therefore, Podhalanka is the real deal when it comes to no-frills Polish food for a great price. If you’ve never tried Polish food, this would be the most authentic you could get without hopping on a plane and landing in Krakow. This restaurant may have never been on the Food Channel or on Good Morning America, and frankly, Podhalanka doesn’t really care. They just care about providing scrumptious food with plenty of love to their customers.

 

While the inside and outside of the restaurant might lack of cutting edge design, it more than makes up for it through the food that is spectacular and the overall atmosphere. Podhalanka is filled with plenty of local flavor as the walls are festooned with various artifacts of Polish culture, and the bar is often occupied by old timers taking down some soup with a beer. The wait staff is also colorful as they are gruffer than your average American waiter, but they aren’t mean spirited.

 

Looking over the menu, they have a variety of soups, salads, and meat dishes. The wait staff might also just tell you what to get if you’re overwhelmed with the selection of foreign dishes. I’d highly recommend the Kotlet Schabowy which is a breaded pork cutlet that is huge and has a perfect, golden-brown bread crumb crust around a tender piece of pork.

 

Another great dish would be the żurek or sour rye soup. It’s not as gross as it sounds. Rather it’s more like a creamy soup filled with large chunks of hearty Polish kielbasa and a slightly sour aftertaste to offer a little zing with every spoonful. I had for my entree the Sztuka Miesa W Sosie Chrzanowym or boiled beef with horseradish sauce when I visited Podhalanka, and if you like cleaning out your sinuses while chowing down on a stick-to-your-ribs type of meal, I’d highly recommend it. So if you’re looking for a great Polish diner with giant plates for tiny prices, checkout Podhalanka.

 

1549 W Division St, Chicago, Illinois
(773)486-6655
http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/podhalanka/menu

 

 
 

3. Cemitas Puebla

The Mexican community in Chicago has steadily been growing in the past couple of decades, and now one can find tacos, burritos, and quesadillas in restaurantes throughout the ciudad (city, for those of you who don’t habla espanol). However, there is one Mexican restaurant in a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood, Humboldt Park, that really took me by surprise. I’m talking about Cemitas Puebla.

 

I originally saw it on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and I vowed that I had to visit it after seeing these mouthwatering sandwiches being made. They’ve also been featured on the local ABC News Chicago branch’s “Hungry Hound” segment and PBS.

 

So why choose Cemita Puebla over all the other Mexican taquerias in Chicago? Because they offer a unique dish from Puebla, Mexico that I have not seen anywhere else in the country. There is only street parking for this establishment, so make sure to get there before the lunch crowd rushes in. The outside of the restaurant is simple and advertises their appearance on the Food Network, and the inside operates on a typical line up and “Can I take your order?” system. The clientele are mostly families and locals from nearby businesses.

 

Their menu has a range of different cemitas along with other Mexican staples like tacos, burritos, and chalupas. However, I went for the signature cemita atomica or “atomic cemita” along with a cup of agua de jamaica or “hibiscus water”, a popular drink throughout Latin America that is kind of like sweet, red Kool-aid. The cemita I ordered consisted of a grilled, sesame topped bun piled high with breaded pork, roasted pork, and plain ham along with queso fresco, fresh avocado, and two complimentary bottles of mild and spicy tomatillo sauce on the side. I was living in hog heaven south of the border with this pig-tacular sandwich. It is a great place for lunch or dinner that is a bit out of the way, but it is a piece of Mexico that isn’t often represented in the Chicago culinary landscape.

 

3619 W. North Avenue, Chicago, Illinois

http://www.cemitaspuebla.com/

 

 
 

4. The Berghoff

I chose the Berghoff since it is a pillar of Chicago’s ethnic and culinary background. Germans have resided in Chicago since the 1800s. Although their presence isn’t as large as it once was, the German community’s identity still remains strong especially during Oktoberfest when everyone is a little German to celebrate the harvest and that delicious beer that Deutchland makes.

 

What makes the Berghoff so unique is that it is a purely Chicago institution that opened in 1898 as a men’s only saloon that served free corned beef with the purchase of a stein of beer. Their beer sales were severely affected during the era of Prohibition, but when the ban was repealed in 1933, the City of Chicago issued the Berghoff liquor license number 1.

 

This tradition continues even today along with still being run by the Berhoff family in the form of the great-granddaughter of the Berghoff’s founder, Herman Berghoff. While they maintain many of their traditions, the menu has expanded to feature more contemporary favorites, including gluten-free dishes, which are side by side with typical German meals.

 

The interior is amazing with the rich, dark wood carvings and stained glass windows. It is a slightly more formal place, so I’d recommend not walking in with torn jeans or tank tops. They also do group events in their cafe and even cater for parties if you want to host a large party.

 

When I was there, I got and highly recommend the seasonal ox joint with pumpkin gnocchi. It was large, hearty, and had fall-off the bone meat. I haven’t tried their other plates, but if you’re a beer lover, they have a wide range of lagers, pilsners, and seasonals to quench your thirst. I’d also suggest visiting this German restaurant for their Oktoberfest celebration that is one of the best in Chicago. For the kids, The Berghoff makes their own root beer which became popular at The Berghoff during Prohibition, and there are other non-alcoholic drinks for those who would rather not imbibe while dining. So if you’re looking to raise a stein of beer with a friend or go out with a special someone while sampling some Old World fare, I’d highly recommend The Berghoff.

 

17 West Adams, Chicago, Illinois
(312)427-3170
http://www.theberghoff.com

 

 

RELATED: What Foods You Should Try During Your Trip to Chicago

 
 

5. Three Happiness

Chinese food is a cuisine of fusion and variety due the presence of numerous ethnic groups within the country along with traders from other lands over centuries bringing their own ingredients from their homelands to the Middle Kingdom. In the United States, we are used to the American Chinese classics like orange chicken, sweet and sour pork, and various fried rices. These dishes have their roots in Cantonese cuisine since most of the Chinese immigrants who emigrated to the USA during 1800s came from this southern region of China. However, there is much more to Chinese food than just fried meats covered in sweet sauce and cookies containing often cryptic fortunes.

 

I’d like to talk more about the Chinese tradition of dim sum which can be found throughout Chicago’s Chinatown. Although it is not as big as San Francisco’s Chinatown, Chicago’s Chinatown is the second oldest in America after Chinese laborers fled violent clashes with white settlers on the West Coast. It has plenty of great sights to enjoy like the Chinatown mural, the square, and the Chinese New Year celebrations. However, I’d like to highlight Three Happiness as a great restaurant for both traditional American Chinese fare and delicious dim sum.

 

There are two Three Happineses: the original next to the Chinatown gate or the new one next to the Chicago fire department. I’ll be talking about the new Three Happiness. I’ve been going there since I was little, and they have plenty of space for big parties or just a table for two. It gets pretty loud inside during peak hours, so it wouldn’t be the best spot for a romantic, candlelit dinner.

 

When it comes to the typical American Chinese dishes, I’d recommend their shrimp fried rice since it isn’t very greasy and the shrimp are plentiful and large. Their sweet and sour pork is great too because of the slightly spicy kick to the thick sauce that coats every piece.

 

I also would suggest trying dim sum which is like Chinese tapas where you have to order a few small dishes and then share them with everyone. How it works is that you’re given a list with pictures of the small plates, and you check off what you want. The server then takes it, and your plates come out to you in waves. Out of all the dim sum plates I’ve tried I’d recommend the sesame buns which are small pieces of fried, rice dough coated in sesame seeds. Inside there is a slight dab of red bean paste that isn’t overwhelming like how other places do these sesame balls. I’d also get the pork bao which are fluffy, white buns that are steamed and filled with barbecue pork. Watch out for these because they are addictive!

The last dim sum plate I’d recommend are the chicken feet just because they are not for the faint of heart and quite unique. While there isn’t a lot of meat on these poultry tootsies, it is entertaining to eat them while trying to strip the meat off the cartilage while savoring the sweet, orange marinade. Brush up on those chopstick skills! (seriously though, they have forks). So, if you want to taste a bit of authentic Chinese culture and take a walk on the wild side beyond Panda Express, check out Three Happiness and Chicago’s Chinatown.

 

2130 S. Wentworth Ave, Chicago, Illinois
(312)791-1228
http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/new-three-happiness/

 

 

 

 

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About Mark Temenak

Mark Temenak has been traveling the world since in utero and trying unique and fantastic foods since forever. He started blogging about his food and travel adventures in 2011, and you can read his restaurant reviews and travel entries at Mastication Monologues.

 
In this episode of the Find Dining podcast,  we talk to Grant Achatz, acclaimed chef/owner of Alinea, Aviary, and Next in Chicago.  We discuss building his first car, molecular gastronomy, and surviving tongue cancer.
 

• Chef Achatz was honored by the James Beard Foundation as a  “Who’s Who Inductee” in 2012
• Read  Life, on the Line: A Chef’s Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat  or Alinea
• 

  Chef Plating Chocolate

  
  3 Michelin-starred Alinea is among the World’s Best Restaurants and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2015
• Follow some of  The French Laundry‘s other notable alumni:  Eric Zeibold, Ron Siegel, Gregory Short
• Get progressive with WD~50 and Eleven Madison Park
• Buy a ticket to experience time and place in the menu at Next

 

RELATED: Where to eat in Chicago.

 
 

Food for Thought

 

• Q: What is the difference between shoyu and tamari soy sauces?
• A:  Shoyu is made from soy and wheat; tamari is only soy

 
 

Out of the Frying Pan

 

• If I want to do molecular gastronomy at home, where do I start: Le Santuaire, and 100% Chef
• Favorite cheap eats in Chicago: Pot Belly
• Weirdest thing you’ve ever made: a one-bite lozenge of frozen mango, bonito, and sesame oil


Scallop

• Chefs to watch:  Blaine Wetzel and Alex Stupak
• Plans for new restaurant: still working it out, but due to open in early 2015
• Favorite Cocktails to order at Aviary: In the Rocks or Green Thumb

 

 

RELATED: Meet Chef Jimmy Banos of The Purple Pig in Chicago

 
 
 

Balloon, Helium, Green Apple

 

 
 

 

Every year when spring rolls around Chicagoans have three very specific things that they look forward to: the end of snow, the warming up of frigid temperatures, and opening day at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are like a religion here in Chicago with thousands of devoted fans flocking to Wrigley Field and the surrounding area all spring and summer long to cheer them on. Win or lose, you won’t find a fan more loyal than one that roots for the Cubs. And whether you’ve got tickets to the game or you’re just looking for a great place to catch it on TV, there is nothing like Wrigleyville.
 
The neighborhood is made up of tons of sports bars and pubs and each one is packed full of fans on game day. As you might expect, a lot of these places are the typical old fashioned, no frills, leaning toward the dive-y end of the spectrum bars that you’ll find in stadium-centric neighborhoods across America. They are a ton of fun, of course, but the food selection can be dicey, if they serve food at all. I love a good dive bar (especially pre- or post-Cubs game!), but I love my food more and there are a few real gems in this neighborhood– places where you (or a foodie like me) can still cheer on the Cubs, drink a good beer, and enjoy some really good food. These are 5 of my favorite places to eat in Wrigleyville:
 

1. Lucky’s Sandwich Co.

 
This is one of my favorite places for good food in Wrigleyville. Lucky’s is home to crazy big overstuffed sandwiches that are essentially an entire meal between two slices of bread. These sandwiches are loaded up with your standard ingredients like sliced deli meats and tomatoes and are topped with a generous helping of tangy coleslaw and a heaping portion of hand-cut fries inside two thick slices of French bread. These sandwiches have become a local legend in the short 10+ years that they’ve been around and have been featured on shows like Man vs. Food and Sandwich King.
 
They are virtually impossible to eat with your hands and not make a complete mess, but they are really tasty and Lucky’s has a ton of different options available: from standard turkey or ham to veggie, Buffalo chicken, and fried fish sandwiches. The sandwiches aren’t fancy, but they’re made with quality ingredients so they’re just really fresh tasting and delicious. And as a coleslaw snob, I can assure you that this is good stuff– and probably my favorite part of the sandwich! In addition to their vast sandwich menu, Lucky’s also serves a great selection of craft and imported beers. These can be hard to come by at most Wrigleyville bars! So, stop into Lucky’s with an empty stomach and enjoy an overstuffed sandwich and a beer before the game– or anytime!
 

$
3472 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 549-0665
http://www.luckysandwich.com/

 

2. Sheffield’s Beer & Wine Garden

 
Sheffield’s is located just a little off the beaten path of Wrigleyville (a.k.a. the few blocks of Clark Street immediately south of Wrigley Field), but it’s a great option for sports fans, foodies, and beer lovers alike. This is a big bar with several different rooms for drinking and game watching and as the name might suggest, there’s also a great beer garden that is the perfect place for enjoying some drinks al fresco in the summertime. Sheffield’s serves around 200 different varieties of beer, so there is truly something for everyone on the menu here and it is the ideal bar for the beer enthusiast. And for those foodies, I can vouch that Sheffield’s serves up some great food too.
 
They are known for their barbecue and they actually smoke all of their meat in-house, so it’s the real deal. I’m a huge fan of the smothered nachos at Sheffield’s– a perfect marriage of my favorite bar food and their signature ingredients. The nachos are piled high with your standard topping in addition to an awesome IPA queso sauce, cumin crema, tomatillo & avocado relish, BBQ sauce, and your choice of their housemade pulled chicken or pork, chopped brisket, or veggie chili. The Armadillo Eggs are another standout menu item: pickled jalapenos filled with chopped brisket, pepper jack cheese, and BBQ sauce, deep fried and served with BBQ ranch sauce for dipping. Healthy? No. Delicious? Yes.
 

$$
3258 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-4989
http://www.sheffieldschicago.com/

 

3. Flaco’s Tacos

 
Flaco’s is one of my favorite local spots for fast casual Mexican food and I was so excited to find out that they have opened a third location in Wrigleyville. There are tons of places all over Chicago (and Wrigleyville) to grab a quick taco or burrito, but I think we can agree that they aren’t always very good. Flaco’s prides itself on serving homemade Mexican food with fresh ingredients in a quick and casual environment.
 
This is a great place to grab a quick meal that is really tasty, quick, and cost effective. They have excellent fresh guacamole here and I love their nachos, tacos, and especially their tortas: Mexican-style sandwiches served on soft fresh baked rolls. And my husband orders a burrito every time we stop into Flaco’s. This isn’t a place where you’ll pull up a chair at the bar and watch the whole game, but it’s a great place to get a quick and satisfying meal en route to your game watching. Rest assured though, they do serve alcohol. Flaco’s Tacos serves a variety of flavored margaritas, housemade sangria, and a selection of Mexican beers too.
 

$
3530 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 975-8226
http://www.flacostacosonline.com/

 

4. Rockit Burger Bar

If you’re looking for the full Wrigleyville bar experience, but with really good food, then Rockit is the spot for you. This bar and grill is located just across the street from Wrigley Field and is the sister location to the very successful Rockit Bar & Grill located in Chicago’s trendier River North neighborhood. Wrigleyville’s Rockit specializes in all things ‘burger’.
 
Rockit Burger Bar serves up over a dozen different gourmet burgers– each with their own flavor profile and personality. I like the sweet and savory Johnny Apple, a burger topped with smokey bacon, brie, Gala apples, pecan aioli, and served with a side of cinnamon and sugar spiced sweet potato fries. My husband, on the other hand, enjoys the rich and spicy Huevos Ranchero which includes a fried egg, chihuahua cheese, corn tortilla strips, roasted salsa, and jalapeño aioli. The atmosphere at Rockit is a great mix of casual restaurant (serving delicious burgers and bar food) and energetic bar with loud music, TVs playing every game that’s available, and a DJ later in the evenings. It’s a great place to visit during a Cubs game and the off season alike.
 

$$
3700 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 645-4400
http://www.rockitburgerbar.com

 

5. Blokes & Birds

Blokes & Birds is another rare Wrigleyville find. It’s got a modern sports bar meets old fashioned English public house vibe, which is not unique in Chicago but definitely unique for the neighborhood. The place is covered in sleek smooth wood with some big lounge areas in the basement (which is more lounge versus the upstairs, which is more restaurant) punctuated with their signature quirky handlebar mustache throughout the decor.
 
The food here is great. It’s a little more upscale than your usual Wrigleyville bar, but it’s still casual and comforting like you’d expect at a traditional pub. Their fish and chips are really delicious: deep fried and crunchy served with a tangy tartar sauce for dipping. And the bacon mac and cheese is creamy and decadent— perfect for sharing with your table or to just enjoy as your entree. I am also a huge fan of their beet salad, which is served with arugula and goat cheese, dressed in a very British Pimm’s vinaigrette dressing. The food here is satisfying enough for you to enjoy after a day of drinking and cheering on the Cubbies, and the place itself is cool enough to be the perfect location for an evening celebration or get together too.
 

$$
3343 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 472-5252
http://www.blokesandbirdschicago.com/

 
What’s your favorite restaurant for a pre- or post-game meal?
 

 

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Anne has been writing her food-focused blog A Squared for 2.5 years. Cooking, dining out, traveling, and exploring Chicago are Anne’s favorite ways to spend her free time. On A Squared she shares recipes, restaurant reviews, and the highlights of living in the fabulous Windy City.