I love any kind of interactive food activity where I can chat with experts, learn little bits of info on how food is made and tips on how to make it better. Cooking classes, pairing dinners, mixology workshops, chef dinners, wine tastings - I'm there for all of it. So, I loved getting a sneak peek at the pizza making workshops that will be coming soon to SLYCE Coal-Fired Pizza in Rosemont. Located in the Embassy Suites Hotel in the shadow of O'Hare Airport, this new restaurant opened a little over a month ago. It's the fourth location for this local company that has roots in the restaurant in ..read more

Have to give a little recommendation, not on a place I've been to, but on a place I was introduced to at a Let's Talk WomXn event. The group is a collaboration of women restauranteurs working together to help each other advance, succeed and thrive. It's described as a "movement by women business owners as peers." The event I attended focused on female owned enterprises in Chicago and I sampled items from numerous places. The shrimp and rice dish I sampled was amazing, their staff was enthusiastic and super friendly and the experience made me add Bar Sótano to my foodie bucket list. Have you b ..read more

My sister lives in Central Illinois and on many trips down I watched the construction along I-55 in Pontiac wondering what would eventually be there. I was excited to make a stop there when Wally's finally opened up. It's now a regular place for a break when traveling that route. Even if you're aren't super hungry and have a full tank, it's the place to stop to visit the restroom because it's the cleanest gas station bathroom you'll find along I-55 for sure. And once you go in, you'll find something you have to have or will be lured by the smell of everything from freshly-popped popcorn to bbq ..read more

I'm a sucker for a good breakfast and I found a really good one at Third Coast Spice Cafe in Chesterton, IN. In the heart of Indiana Dunes territory, this place is just minutes from the beach and just two turns off of the I-94 exit. There's a large variety on the menu and if you're vegetarian or vegan, you'll find something you can enjoy. They focus on whole, real, fresh ingredients and you can taste the difference for sure. Toast is made from freshly-baked grain bread. Veggies are freshly chopped and everything is made to order. Omelets and skillets are my breakfast faves. Can't go wrong wi ..read more

There have been few sadder foodie days for me than when The Simple Greek closed their Munster, IN location. I'd been a frequent visitor since day one. I loved getting a loaded pita or a bowl filled with fresh ingredients and with yummy sauces.  As I started shifting to better eating habits and worked on dropping some weight and getting healthier, my doctor recommended following a Mediterranean diet. I was happy to hear that. I started going more frequently and for a while went once or twice a week, always ordering a whole wheat pita with grilled chicken and then loaded with veggies and a ..read more

I wanted to make a big grilled chicken pita loaded with veggies and tzatziki sauce. My son was heading to Aldi and I asked him to pick up some whole wheat pitas, a can of chickpeas and some tzatziki. They were out. I know I couldn't eat one without the sauce, so I scoured the internet to see what goes in it. I had all the ingredients on hand and combined a few different recipes I saw to make this. It was delicious and so easy! 1 cup whole milk Greek yogurt Grated cucumber (I used about 1/3 of a large cucumber, but add more if you'd like) 1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic 1 dash of olive oil 1 tb ..read more

My childhood was spent growing up in the south suburb of Dolton. However, it was well into my teens before I ever tried Italian Fiesta. Our family's pizzeria was Vesuvio's in Riverdale and we never strayed from it. When I had Italian Fiesta is was when I was in high school and it was delivered to an event I was at.  I didn't try it again until well into adulthood. When the Obamas were in office I ended up writing a food article on some of their favorite spots in the Chicago area and I learned that there had been an Italian Fiesta location on the city's south side that was the regular spo ..read more

My mom passed away in 2020. She cooked dinner for our family every night growing up - with the exception of Saturday night when we got our weekly pizza delivery. It didn't matter what we were having to eat that night - chicken and dumplings, salmon patties, pork roast, tacos, liver and onions - we always had a beautifully set table with pretty dishes, fancy goblets, cloth napkins, candles, a decorative centerpiece and usually some kind of plant or fresh or dried flowers. Many years ago, when my kids were young, mom gave me a set of dishes we ate off of daily for several years when we were kid ..read more

In downtown Lansing you’ll find an adorable little cafe called Kdulche Cafe that is a perfect backdrop for all of your instagram posts. Pretty little pastel seating spots, rose-filled photo set-ups and colorful food presentations make this the place that you need to have in your feed. With a number of Mexican-inspired entrees, specialty drinks, paninis and more, it’s the perfect spot for a breakfast or lunch meal, a cup of coffee or tea or a sweet treat. This breakfast and lunch spot is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and stays open until 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday ..read more

A few years ago, it was not unusual for me to consume a couple granola bars, inhale a bowl of sugary cereal, down a pop-tart or grab a doughnut or buttered biscuit in the morning - or skip breakfast altogether and then overeat on junk when I finally did take a few bites.  I've always preferred savory breakfasts, but in the business of raising a house full of kids and keeping up with work and all I had to do, I would sometimes grab what was quick and easily available. These days I'm much more intentional about what I eat and in how I start the day. I rarely skip breakfast now and I try t ..read more