Hello! The suburban restaurant scene has sometimes gotten a bad rap for being stale, full of chains, or just unoriginal. But these days, many top chefs are bringing their unique flair to the ‘burbs, inspiring city-dwellers to venture out. One such restaurant is Milwalky Trace in Libertyville, north of Chicago. This week, I spoke to its chef/owner Lee Kuebler about his cooking, restaurants, and why he decided to pack up his knives and head to the suburbs. Here’s what he had to say:

Cat: What is your culinary philosophy and how does it play out in your menu?

Hello all! This week we visit Simi’s in West Rogers Park, Mexique in Noble Square, and Cellar Door Provisions in Logan Square. I wanted to share some of the interesting things I learned while researching and visiting Simi’s. Enjoy! 

Hello all and welcome back! I hope you are as excited as I am about the new season of Check, Please! In the season premiere, we visit Forbidden Root in West Town, a brewpub that opened in 2016. While Chicago has seen an explosion of craft breweries in recent years, Forbidden Root defines itself not just as a brewery but as a botanical brewery. What does that mean? Read on to find out from the team at Forbidden Root as to what they are all about. 

“The problem with eating Italian food is that five or six days later, you’re hungry again.” – George Miller

It’s an inexpensive snack food! It’s low-fat, cholesterol-free, protein-rich, and high in fiber! It’s also used in wearable fashion and home décor! What is it?

 

Popcorn, of course…the official state snack of Illinois.