This week I spoke with Briana Cardone, chef and owner of Mambo Italiano, about growing up Italian and about her restaurant.

Is there anything more quintessentially American than a good old-fashioned diner? A place that is always open, 24 hours a day, with a friendly waitress who makes small talk, keeps your coffee cup full, and nudges you toward her favorite things on the menu?

Do you love sushi and ramen but want to try some other Japanese classics? Are you wondering what all the fuss is about Japanese whisky? Read on as this week I chatted with Momotaro’s executive chef Mark Hellyar and beverage manager Lance Gresak about all things Japanese.

"At its best, Japanese cooking is inextricably meshed with aesthetics, with religion, with tradition and history. It is evocative of seasonal changes, or of one’s childhood, or of a storm at sea.” — Food writer M.F.K. Fisher

Hello and Happy New Year! I hope everyone had wonderful holidays and you are all hungry for some new episodes. This week we visit The English Room, Gundis Kurdish Kitchen in Lakeview, and L’Patron in Logan Square. The English Room is located in the historic Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest and boasts an award-winning wine list. This week, I get the scoop on the place from Liz Weeden from The English Room and Deer Path Inn.

Cat: The Deer Path Inn is a historic place. Can you tell us a bit about its history?