As Seen on TV with the Food Network
Why not challenge yourself to eat your way through Print09 by visiting all of the Food Network’s favorites of Chicago?
photo by Karen Horton
Best Thing I Ever Ate
- The Publican – for Spicy Pork Rinds
- Frontera Grill – for Carne Asada A La Oxaquena
- Gino’s East – for Sausage Patty Style Pizza
- Ann Sather – for Cinnamon Rolls
- Tru – for Chocolate Bar Dessert
Rachel Ray’s Tasty Travels
- Garrett Popcorn – Buttery, velvety, smooth and it’s popcorn.
- Encore – A place to see and be seen. Advance mixology.
- The Village Tap – A tavern/beer garden. Goose Island is also a favorite.
- Piece Brewery & Pizzeria – Nuevo Chicago pizza. I would start with the traditional (above) before graduating.
- Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co. – Eat the grinder here, save the pizza for the big names.
- Gioco – Italian for those tired of deep dish pizzas.
- Cafe Laguardia – A taste of Little Havana in Chicago.
- Bourgeois Pig Cafe – Sandwhiches, salads, and more.
- The Smoke Daddy vs. Smoque – Pizza isn’t the only thing debated in the Windy City. BBQ is on the list too.
- Volo Restuarant and Wine Bar – Calling all wine connoisseurs or at least those who think they know.
- Hot Chocolate Chicago – Chocolate for before, during, and after for your guilty pleasure and expanding waistline.
Giada’s Weekend Getaways
- Intelligenstia Coffee – Replace the Starbucks habit with this local brew. The Millennium Park and Monadnock locations are the closest to downtown.
- Uno’s Chicago Grill – Pizza and such. Alternatives include Gino’s East and my favorite Giordano’s.
- Green Zebra – Haute vegetarian and a James Beard award winner.
- The Signature Room at the 95th – As in the 95th floor of the John Hancock building.
- The Chicago Chop House – One of the most celebrated of Chicago steak houses. I haven’t personally eaten here, but I’ve heard positive reviews. Nearby Carson’s, known for ribs, has some excellent chops from the sow.
Guy’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives
- White Palace Grill – always open, always good
- Smoque vs. The Smoke Daddy – Guy was a patron of Smoque while Rachel Ray went for Smoke Daddy’s. You decide.
- Cemita’s Pueblo – on the “Grabbin’ a Sandwhich” episode.
- Glenn’s Diner – Seafood and cereal under one roof, now you’re talkin’.
The Hungry Detective
- Calvin’s BBQ – Straight from a St. Louis expat. Near the suburb of Bucktown.
- Hot Doug’s – French fries deep fried in duck fat for those artery clogging days. Limited hours.
- Greek Islands Restaurant – Cleanse your duck fat, fried french fry gorging with some lite Mediterranean fare.
- Myron and Phil’s – A Citysearch 2008 best steak winner.
Unwrapped: Chicago
- Moto Restuarant – mad scientists of molecular gastronomy.
- Vienna Beef - one of the country’s best hot dogs. Any self respecting carnivore must try a Chicago style dog at Portillo’s or Superdawgs!
