“British food is a celebration of comfort eating. Our traditional savory recipes are all about warmth and sustenance, our puddings a roll call of sweet jollity, our cakes are deep and cozy. We appear to be a nation in need of a big, warm hug.”
— Nigel Slater, British food writer

After the annual long, long build-up, the holidays are finally over. As we drag our dried-out Christmas trees to the curb and regard our bathroom scales (and credit card statements) with mingled horror and regret, most of us in the frigid Midwest are facing, as English poet Christina Rossetti wrote, “the bleak midwinter.”

Not so fast… 

The seven-day celebration of Kwanzaa is held annually from December 26 through New Year’s Day. Its name is derived from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, which means “first fruits.” It was inspired by Zulu and Ashanti harvest celebrations.

As you have surely heard, it’s Christmastime! And like millions of happy celebrants all over the globe, you are likely making the rounds of holiday parties and indulging freely in a wide variety of rich foods and lavishly decorated sweets.

Hello! “Roister” means to enjoy oneself or celebrate in a noisy, boisterous way, and the restaurant by that name fits right into the bustling Fulton Market area of the trendy West Loop. Unpretentious, yet serious about standards of excellence, it was awarded a Michelin star in its first year and has retained it since. Chef Andrew Brochu has spent time in some of Chicago’s most illustrious kitchens, but Roister is where you see his creative culinary point of view flourish. I spoke to Andrew to learn about his influences and inspiration.