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SAVOR Proxi chef Jennifer Kim on newest endeavor, gender-identity journey
Chef Jennifer Kim (they/them) has already accomplished much in their life. A second-generation Korean American, Kim was born and raised in Chicago. After leaving the University of Illinois at Chicago, Kim enrolled in culinary school at ...
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SAVOR Nobody's Darling, pastry chef, The Albert and more
Congrats go to Daisies and Thattu. These two spots—in Logan Square and Avondale, respectively—were among the restaurants on a New York Times list of the publication's "50 places in the country [it's] most excited about right ...
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SAVOR REVIEW Wake 'n Bacon brings its enticing global style to dinnertime
When a spot is named Wake 'n Bacon (420 W. Belmont Ave.; https://eatwakenbacon.com/), you can pretty much expect that brunch is quite the specialty. (I haven't had the pleasure of trying that meal there, but I ...
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SAVOR Negroni Week, Equality Illinois brunch, new bakery and more
Negroni Week (Sept. 18-24) is returning. Restaurants and bars around the world are joining forces to celebrate Negroni Week—a global charity initiative in support of Slow Food, with Campari at its heart, that has raised more ...
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Lesbian chef Susan Feniger coming to Chicago for Reeling
Susan Feniger. FORKED—a verite-style documentary by award-winning filmmaker Liz Lachman that captures moments and the impactful career of her life partner: culinarian, author, entrepreneur and James Beard Award winner Susan ...
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BOOKS/SAVOR 'Made in Chicago' authors dish on stories behind local treats
When it comes to culinary scenes, Chicago is second to none, but do people really know the origins of local dishes—or even which ones have origins in this city? Revered food journalists Monica Eng and David ...
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SAVOR Upcoming events, including a wine dinner and a paella fest
The upscale Mexican restaurant Tzuco, 720 N. State St., will mark its fourth anniversary and celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Friday, Sept. 15. The event, "4 Anos, 4 Manos," will spotlight dishes by Tzuco Chef Carlos ...
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SAVOR Crumbl franchise co-owner talks about the sweet business of cookies
When it comes to success stories in the world of sweets, few companies and brands can compare to Crumbl and its signature pink box. Started by Jason McGowan (CEO) & Sawyer Hemsley (COO) in 2017 in ...
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SAVOR REVIEW Hoyt's: Very satisfying fare from a Loop fixture
You might have walked by Hoyt's American Tavern (71 E. Wacker Dr.; https://www.sonesta.com/royal-sonesta/il/chicago/royal-sonesta-chicago-downtown#) a thousand times, and not have been aware of it. But the dependable spot (situated on the ...
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SAVOR Japanese-inspired brunch, Jose Andres, cake decorating and more
Itoko, a Japanese restaurant courtesy of Chef Gene Kato and BOKA Restaurant Group that's at 3325 N. Southport Ave., is debuting its weekend brunch at 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Brunch is centered around Japanese-inspired dishes such as ...
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SAVOR Hawaii fundraiser, National Dog Day events, Chicago Gourmet and more
Remember when I said last week that August is National Sandwich Month? Well, here are a couple other items to keep in mind. Sunda New Asian, 110 W. Illinois St., is offering steamed bun sliders (scallion ...
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SAVOR LGBTQ+-owned Sfera co-owner talks menu, activism and more
Sfera Sicilian Street Food (5759 N. Broadway; https://www.sferachicago.com/) is the type of place where you can't help but get good vibes. This cozy Edgewater restaurant—owned by Chef Steven Jarczyk and Daniela Vitale, who are both member ...
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SAVOR Fulton Market taqueria Tacombi; upcoming events
The Fulton Market district of Chicago (just west of the Loop) has changed significantly over the past several years—and is altering more every day, with sleek and new office towers, condos and businesses populating the area. ...
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SAVOR Epic Burger CEO talks nutrition, money, upcoming specials
Epic Burger's David Grossman is probably one of the most affable and down-to-earth CEOs you're likely to meet. Grossman will talk about a variety of subjects (including some tumultuous days at his alma mater, the University ...
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SAVOR The Lunchroom, Signature Room, Martha Stewart and more
This week's SAVOR spotlight shines on The Lunchroom at SPACE 519. The Lunchroom is a bustling 40-seat restaurant/cafe within SPACE 519, a concept store in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood at 200 E. Chestnut St., adjacent to Water ...
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Sami White rules as king on Worst Cooks
Sami White is taking a whisk by competing on season 26 of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America and hopefully, it all pays off. She goes out of the frying pan and into the fire while navigating the new theme of ...
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SAVOR Provo's Bakery, exclusive dinners and more
This week's SAVOR with Andrew spotlight shines on Provo's Bakery. I discovered this bakery at the Division Street farmer's market (on Division Street between State and Clark streets every Saturday at 7 a.m.-noon). Master baker/founder ...
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Center on Halsted's Jenny Urban trains a new generation of chefs
Recently, Windy City Times chatted with Chicago chef Jenny Urban, the Director of Culinary Arts at Center on Halsted. Urban has been in the Chicago restaurant scene for more than a decade, and they've recently brought ...
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SAVOR Lunch at Lure Fishbar; restaurant fire and other news
The last time I dined at Lure Fishbar (www.lurefishbar.com/location/chicago/) was shortly after the River North spot opened. The dinner dishes were mostly good (with one being great), but it was apparent back in 2021 (when restaurants ...
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SAVOR Lakeshore spot, BBQ event, car-club gathering
On Monday, July 17, Korean-American spot Perilla, 401 N. Milwaukee Ave., will host a BBQ Night. The four-course meal will highlight Texas BBQ from Evan LeRoy, Chinese/Vietnamese offerings from Charles Wong and Korean-American dishes from Andrew ...
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SAVOR Owners of LGBTQ+-owned Wunderkeks talk activism, company and sweets
Anyone who considers himself/herself/themself a connoisseur of sweets has probably heard of Wunderkeks, the Austin-based company that has only been in the United States for three years. However, what some may not know is that Wunderkeks ...
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SAVOR Movie cookbook, 'A Night of Hope,' restaurant closings and more
This week, SAVOR with Andrew's spotlight is actually on a book—Scrounging: A Cookbook. This unique cookbook contains late-night, last-ditch recipes and ingenious back-of-the-pantry meals straight from movies. Scrounging includes an ...
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SAVOR Mango Pickle, Pride special, Laotian pop-up and more
Edgewater Indian restaurant Mango Pickle, 5842 N. Broadway, has some pretty unforgettable items—and, during June 23-July 2, people can take a five-course "trip" from Chicago to Pondicherry, India, with stops in Paris and Bombay. Dishes will ...
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SAVOR The James Beard Awards; Father's Day suggestions
The James Beard Awards took place June 5 at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago—and the city celebrated a couple winners. Chicago's Damarr Brown, who is chef de cuisine at Hyde Park's Virtue restaurant, was named ...
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SAVOR Restaurants mark Pride with various offerings
In honor of Pride Month, all Yardbird locations will be donating 50% of proceeds to the Human Rights Campaign from their specialty Pride menu items for the entire month of June. The James Beard Award-nominated Yardbird ...
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SAVOR Step into The Parlour at the Albion Manor...after crossing one hurdle
Okay, okay: I need to get one gripe out of the way concerning the Lincoln Park spot The Parlour at The Albion Manor. It might be in that tony area, but some may not consider it the easiest spot to get ...
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SAVOR Hamburger Mary's, Tom of Finland Vodka and more
—The Hamburger Mary's restaurant in Orlando—famous for its burgers and drag shows—is suing the state of Florida and DeSantis in federal court, claiming an anti-drag bill is a violation of ...
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Chef Art Smith talks upcoming dinner and activism
More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, including more than 230,000 Illinoisans. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends serve as dementia caregivers, with more than 383,000 caregivers in Illinois. Unti ...
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SAVOR Cafe Robey: Laid-back vibes and enticing cuisine
The junction of North, Milwaukee and Damen avenues in Wicker Park is probably one of the best-known intersections in Chicago. (Some refer to this intersection as "Six Corners" but others say this is incorrect, as that ...
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SAVOR 'Round Table II' brings chefs, nonprofits together to discuss collective vision
On May 15, the Avondale restaurant eden, 2734 W. Roscoe St., was the site of a rather extraordinary gathering of Chicagoland chefs, nonprofit CEOs and other business leaders in a moving discussion that centered on building ...
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SAVOR Say 'oui' to Francois Frankie
The last time I went to the French-American spot Francois Frankie was before the pandemic (2019, to be precise) and its brunch was one of the most impressive I had the pleasure of experiencing that year. ...
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SAVOR Mother's Day restaurant recommendations in Chicago
Mother's Day might be right around the corner (on Sunday, May 14) but there's still time to make reservations at some of the coolest spots in Chicago. Here are a few spots/ideas to consider for Mom's ...
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SAVOR Omi Hopper takes it to the 'Next Level' on reality-competition show
Omi Hopper knows all about changing one's life. During the COVID pandemic, she decided (out of necessity) to create a social-media presence involving her cooking Puerto Rican dishes. Since then, Hopper (best known as @CookingConOmi) ha ...
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SAVOR Chef aims to help youths in oppressed communities; Hotel Zachary space opens
The Evolved Network aims to help youths in systemically oppressed communities through gardening, culinary training and employment opportunities, among other ways. The organization is the brainchild of Sebastian White, a ...
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Lesbian-owned Taylor's Tacos opens shop on Chicago's Near West Side
In the world of brick-and-mortar businesses, Taylor's Tacos (1512 W. Taylor St.; https://www.taylorstacoschicago.com) is finally making its mark, as the place selling authentic street-style tacos with soulful twists is firmly ...
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SAVOR Levain Bakery; Barbie pop-up
Chicago, of course, has scores of bakeries—but there's certainly room for Levain Bakery (840 W. Randolph St.; https://levainbakery.com), which has a tasty brand-new offering. Levain also has spots in D.C. ...
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SAVOR The Albert stuns with Calabrian-inspired cuisine; Dolci Amori
The Hotel EMC2, in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood, certainly stands out in a city that's started with places to stay. Elements of arts and science are present throughout the hotel, from the room to the lobby to ...
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SAVOR Mexican spot Tzuco maintains high standards
Chef Carlos Gaytan has never failed to impress. He initially opened Mexique—with French-inspired Mexican offerings in Chicago's West Town—in 2008, running that spot for a decade. Along the way, he became the first Mexican chef to ...
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SAVOR Peruvian spot Tanta; fundraiser for The Evolved Network
One of the best things about Chicago cuisine is that you can travel the world without ever leaving the Windy City. The River North spot Tanta (118 W. Grand Ave.; https://www.tantachicago.com/) embodies one such example. Tanta ...
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Let's Talk presents "Let's Talk & Celebrate" foodie bash March 2
--From a press release
(CHICAGO) — Kick off Women's History Month with a "Let's Talk & Celebrate" Gold Glamour Gourmet bash by 35+ Chicagoland Let's Talk Womxn LetsTalkWomxn.com restaurateurs on Thursday, March 2, at Moe's Cantina in River North fr ...
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SAVOR Le Petit Chef: A singular, (literally) animated experience
There are experiences and then there are EXPERIENCES. If you're familiar with those recent Immersive Van Gogh and Kahlo events, imagine that transferred to a table setting and you have an idea of what's involved with ...
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SAVOR Bacon Lover's Brunch at Frontier; Chicago Restaurant Week
"Bacon's the best. Even the frying of bacon sounds like applause."—Jim Gaffigan Judging from that quote, revered comic Jim Gaffigan would certainly have had a lot of fun at the Bacon Lover's Brunch at Frontier (1072 ...
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SAVOR Uproar; Feb. 2 benefit dinner
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an uproar can be "a loud and impassioned noise or disturbance" or "a public expression of protest and outrage." Scott Horwitch—the owner of Old Town spot Uproar (1252 N. Wells ...
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SAVOR The Hen of Lincoln Park
There are several reasons that The Hen of Lincoln Park (2423 N. Clark St.; https://thehenoflp.com/) is a popular brunch spot. Nested in the heart of—surprise!—Lincoln Park, this casual spot is in a location that draws a ...
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SAVOR Celebrity Chef Ball; 'Chefsgiving'; Ralph's Coffee
More than 50 top Chicago chefs—including many Michelin, James Beard, and Bib Gourmand awardees—worked together to create a truly unique experience for supporters of Meals on Wheels Chicago (MoWC). Because of their hard work and the ...
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SAVOR Tabu
The West Loop has no shortage of tantalizing brunches to try each weekend. Add Tabu's (401 N. Morgan St.; https://tabuchicago.com/) to the mix. This pan-Latin spot ...
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SAVOR Matcha Cita
Just steps from the Morgan stop on the Pink and Green lines is a heavenly place. And if you don't believe this writer about Matcha Cita (1017 W. Lake St., with an additional spot at Studio ...
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Five Worth Finding: COVID book, 'Wicked' cocktails, 'A Taste of Hope' and more
—COVID-19, the LGBTQIA+ Community and Public Policy: As studies emerge to help us understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on every facet of modern life, it is critical that the effect of the pandemic on ...
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SAVOR Plant-based spot Planta Queen
I will admit it: I was skeptical about dining at the River North spot Planta Queen (413 N. Clark St.; https://www.plantarestaurants.com/location/planta-chicago/). Although I do love my meat, I have occasionally ...
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SAVOR Hundreds attend Chicago Gourmet
Hundreds of people attended this year's Chicago Gourmet, one of the nation's most distinguished culinary festivals. Founding partner Illinois Restaurant Association, along with presenting sponsor Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits ...
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SAVOR Latin Restaurant Weeks running Sept. 16-30
Latin Restaurant Weeks (LRW) will take place Sept. 16-30 in various cities, including Chicago. Illinois has the nation's fifth-largest Hispanic population; Chicago has more than 29% of people who identify as Hispanic. LRW partners with Hispani ...
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SAVOR Fogo de Chao; chef fundraisers
Brazilian steakhouses utilize that all-too-familiar U.S. restaurant theme: Eat until you can't consume any more. Fogo de Chao—roughly meaning "ground fire," a reference to the gaucho method of roasting meats over an open fire—is one of ...
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SAVOR Indian gastropub Bar Goa
The Indian state of Goa is known for many things, including tourism. Water-sport enthusiasts and partygoers often visit the area, partaking in activities such as jet-skiing, surfing, marveling at the wonders in the National Institute of ...
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Chicago Fire FC, Dawn to host Aug. 31 volunteer community event at Greater Chicago Food Depository
-- From a press release
CHICAGO (August 25, 2022) — Chicago Fire FC will host a volunteer event, alongside dish-liquid company Dawn® at the Greater Chicago Food Depository Club on Wed., Aug. 31, at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, 4100 W. ...
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SAVOR Whiskey distillery Judson & Moore
Along the north side of the Chicago River—in the event space known as Rockwell on the River—sits Judson & Moore (3057 N. Rockwell St.; https://judsonandmoore.com/)—a whiskey distillery full of welcoming ...
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STAYCATION REVIEW Sofitel Chicago
Bonjour! If you're like me, you've walked past the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile (20 E. Chestnut St.; https://www.sofitel-chicago.com/) a million times. You've probably also admired the hotel's unique architecture almost ...
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Taste of Greektown festival returns to Chicago Aug. 26-28
-- From a press release
CHICAGO—Greektown Chicago's Taste of Greektown festival returns for its 32nd year this summer with the city's largest celebration of Hellenic cuisine and culture on Friday-Sunday, Aug. 26-28 along Halsted Street from Adams to Van Buren. The ...
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UpRising Bakery allowed to hold drag brunch, other events
UpRising Bakery—a Lake in the Hills business extensively vandalized after scheduling a brunch event featuring drag performers—will be able to host the rescheduled event and other programs after reaching an agreement with Lake in the Hills ...
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'Dining Out for Life' taking place Aug. 11
The annual event known as Dining Out for Life will take place Thursday, Aug. 11. People can join the Chicago restaurant community in ensuring essential services are available to people living with HIV during the daylong ...
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SAVOR Museum of Ice Cream; Epic challenge; Cafe Sophie closed
After 2 million visitors across seven sold-out locations, the Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) has found its latest sweet spot in the historic Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave. MOIC can be distinguished by its pink ...
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SAVOR Travelle at the Langham maintains high standards
For years, The Langham has been considered one of the top hotels not only in Chicago, but throughout the world, with the luxury stop having stops from Hong Kong to Boston to Sydney. And for years, ...
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Chicago Gourmet reveals 2022 lineup
Chicago Gourmet, one of the nation's most distinguished food festivals, has revealed a lineup of acclaimed chef participants for the 2022 weekend culinary celebration. Founding sponsor Illinois Restaurant Association, together ...
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SAVOR Bird's Eye Bar & Grill; Sweet Mandy B's marks 20 years
Feast while dining among the beasts. Located in the heart of the Lincoln Park Zoo, Bird's Eye Bar & Grill (https://www.lpzoo.org/venue/birds-eye-bar-grill/; right above the venue's gift shop) provides a respite from walking around and seei ...
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Suburban bakery cancels drag event after controversy, vandalism [UPDATE]
After protests, controversy and repeated vandalism, a suburban bakery's planned all-ages drag show/brunch has been canceled, ABC 7 Chicago reported. ...
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SAVOR Kala Modern Greek
Kala Modern Greek (2523 N. Clark St.; https://www.kalachicago.com/) is a charming spot in the heart of Lincoln Park that attracts a mix of residents and workers. ...
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SAVOR Spanish spot Jaleo by Jose Andres
One of the best compliments I feel a restaurant can receive is if it can make items you previously felt indifferent about or even hated seem almost addictive. That was the case with ...
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SAVOR The return of NoMI
Michigan Avenue denizens and shoppers, rejoice! NoMI (800 N. Michigan Ave.; https://www.nomichicago.com/)—the upscale dining destination located at the Park Hyatt Chicago—has reopened after a hiatus of five months. The reopening ...
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Food website: Chicago bakery among top LGBTQ-owned spots in the U.S.
The food website Taste of Home has listed what it feels are the top LGBTQ-owned restaurants in the country—and a Chicago bakery is among the spots. Jennivee's Bakery, 3301 N. Sheffield Ave., "is a queer-owned and ...
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SAVOR VietFive owner Tuan Huynh talks cafe, equity, hot-dog empanadas
Located in an area of Chicago West Loop that includes various restaurants and several fitness venues, VietFive (1116 W. Madison St.; https://www.vietfive.com/) certainly stands out—for all the right reasons. According ...
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James Beard Awards: One Chicago chef wins, Nobody's Darling falls short
On June 13, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2022 Restaurant and Chef Award winners during the live James Beard Awards Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony presented by Capital One at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. ...
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City of Chicago announces complete 2022 Taste of Chicago schedule
-- From a press release
CHICAGO—Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) are pleased to announce the food vendor and entertainment lineup for the 2022 Taste of Chicago, presented by John Deere. Established in ...
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SAVOR Nautical-themed spots Lake House and The Hampton Social; restaurant news
Remember when you had that spacious second lakefront home that you could visit during the summer—dining on seafood and kicking back on those lazy afternoons? Yeah … me neither. However, the Fairmont Chicago has brought the ...
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SAVOR Coco Pazzo: Lunch at a longtime Italian favorite
The River North spot Coco Pazzo, 300 W. Hubbard St., is one of those spots I've always wanted to visit. I had heard some people rave about the restaurant but, for some reason, I never got around to visiting this Tuscan ...
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Queer college salutatorian plans to help community through food
Back in March, Jose Cueva got an unexpected phone call from the president of Kennedy-King College: Cueva's perfect 4.0 GPA meant he would be graduating as salutatorian. "I was in shock; I wasn't expecting that," Cueva ...
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SAVOR Cafe Sophie: Chef Grant talks about his European getaway in the Gold Coast
Chef Danny Grant wants to take Chicagoans (and visitors) to Europe—via his latest spot, Cafe Sophie, which opened April 14. Named after Grant's aunt, Cafe Sophie (a 2,500-square-foot space at 847 N. State St., in the ...
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