In Episode 15 of Gourmet To-Go, a series on restaurants and chefs who’ve pivoted, we visit Sfera, a delivery and pick-up only restaurant in Avondale that offers hearty Sicilian street food.
Custom Placements: Dining Lead
Taqueria Chingón Will Put Anything in a Taco
The chefs at this new taqueria are tucking some fancy things into tortillas — but they still make a killer al pastor.
The 10 Hottest Restaurants in Chicago Right Now
10 places everyone’s talking about (in order of heat)
Make Brunch Like a Pro
Chefs and bartenders share their recipes and secrets for a spicy Bloody Mary, wild takes on French toast, an easy riff on chilaquiles — and even the perfect fried egg.
In the Kitchen: Zeeshan Shah’s Spiced Egg Sandwich
Zeeshan Shah of Superkhana International schools us on his spiced egg sandwich, which “you can make right when you wake up, as long as you’re planning to go right back to sleep after.” Read the full recipe here, and our guide to Chicago’s best sandwiches here. (Video sponsored by Turano Baking Co.)
Dining Vicariously Through Duncan Hines’s Restaurant Guides
With the world of restaurant dining on indefinite pause, a food writer journeys into the past with Duncan Hines.
Gourmet To-Go: Bianca’s Burgers
In Episode 11 of Gourmet To-Go, a series on restaurants who’ve pivoted, we visit Bianca’s Burgers, a delivery and takeaway spot serving Philly cheese steaks, Brooklyn chopped-cheeses, Wisconsin curds, and other regional favorites. Revival Food Hall, 125 S. Clark St.
How to Make Spinning J’s Saag Paneer Pot Pie
If pot pie is the cozy sweater of meals, then the version at Spinning J in Humboldt Park delivers comfort with style. Chef Dinah Grossman fills a buttery pie crust with saag paneer, the classic Indian mixture of spinach, spices, and cubes of paneer, a mild, creamy Indian-style cheese that miraculously holds its shape and … Read more
The Four Best Pimiento Cheeses
1 Big Jones Paul Fehribach layers textures and flavors in his superlative version. The thick, sharp spread (made with Hook’s cheddar, Duke’s mayo, house Worcestershire sauce, and roasted pimientos) comes topped with crisp, vinegary chow-chow and is served alongside crunchy benne seed crackers. $8. 5347 N. Clark St., Andersonville 2 Virtue Erick Williams’s tangy, herby … Read more
Two Newcomers Bolster Chicago’s Bagel Game
We’ve always taken a back seat to other cities when it comes to the iconic baked good, but these upstarts aim to change that.