Ep. 7: Reviewing While High Makes John a Better Critic
John explains how adding a little THC to his dining experience helps him de-stress and focus on the moment. Plus, Amy describes the perfect Filipino food crawl.
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Second Life
When we last saw John Avila, he was slinging Indonesian food at Minahasa in Revival Food Hall. The chef built a fan base there for beautifully seasoned dishes, but slow traffic forced him to close. It always felt like his food deserved its own space, which it now has in Rendang Republic, a counter-service spot … Read more
Ice Cream Dreams
From spicy sundaes to classic dips, soft serve seems to be everywhere this summer. Here are our four favorites.
Crust Fund’s Royko Pizza
If you ask John Carruthers, the best Friday pizza night starts on Monday morning. That’s because the tavern-style crust he’s perfected as the creator of home-based Crust Fund Pizza owes its cracker crunch to a dayslong cold dough fermentation followed by a 12-hour cure. “The cure dries the dough and ensures a crispy crust and … Read more
The 10 Hottest Restaurants in Chicago Right Now: August 2025
The city’s most buzzed-about restaurants this month, in order of heat
Jackman & Co. Will Bring English Pub Favorites to Glenview
The new spot from Ballyhoo Hospitality is slated to open this month.
The Great Suburban Migration
Top Chicago chefs have started opening restaurants outside the city. Here are three worth the drive.
How to Eat (and Drink) Your Way Through the Suburbs
From doughnuts with global flair to refreshing lychee martinis, there’s no shortage of bold flavors beyond the city limits. Here are our new favorites.
Best Way to Teleport to Maui During a Chicago Winter
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Nate Domingo, born in the Philippines and raised in Maui, lost his job as a chef at a Kaanapali Beach resort and so followed his wife, Diana, to Illinois, where she pursued a graduate degree and he got a job at a Highland Park car wash. His coworkers there … Read more