Check, Please! host Catherine De Orio welcomes guest reviewers Keden Williams, Jennifer Zhang, and James Malnati who weigh in on Chicago area eateries A10, Taste of Thai Town, and JAM.

Matthias Merges, Chef & Owner of Hyde Park's A10 in Chicago

Hello! We visit A10 in Hyde Park, JAM in Logan Square, and Taste of Thai Town in Albany Park, and I was excited to talk with Chef Matthias Merges, who gained recognition as former executive chef at Charlie Trotter’s and has since become an award-winning restauranteur in his own right. Matthias adhered to and promoted farm-to-table principles long before they became ubiquitous in the industry. We chatted about opening his first restaurant on Chicago’s South Side and he shared recipes that are sure to take your Thanksgiving entertaining from simple to spectacular. 

Malted Custard French Toast at Lincoln Square's JAM restaurant in Chicago

If there was ever a word that could make you forget that Monday morning is lurking right around the corner, it’s brunch. Yes, that convivial, starch-and-protein-laden repast that allows you to sit back, indulge, enjoy the company of friends and family in a cozy atmosphere, and recharge for the week ahead. And just maybe, dull the aftereffects of the night before.

Check, Please! host Catherine De Orio welcomes guest reviewers Lee Salzman, Gil Cagua, and Charles Drayton who weigh in on Chicago area eateries de Quay, Artango, and Mott Street.