Things are getting saucy in Chicago. Chef-made bottled sauces are more prominent than ever, allowing customers to take a piece of potent restaurant flavor home to their pantries. Or if they’re feeling generous, to give as gifts. From a bourbon barrel-aged barbecue sauce to a whole line of zesty hot sauces, here are some saucy bottles to pick up this weekend.

The onset of December means comfort food intake must escalate drastically in order to endure another overwrought Chicago winter. But there’s much more to wintry comfort food than egg nog and second servings of pie. Comfort food takes on a variety of shapes and flavors in Chicago restaurants, from porcine cazuelas and red wine-braised short ribs to outre pot pies and lots more.

Chicago’s Italian (and foodie) scene is about to explode like never before, with the simultaneous arrivals of two of the most anticipated openings of the year Eataly and Nico Osteria on Monday, December 2. Both boast Italian philosophies, but they’re worlds apart in terms of style, atmosphere, and approach. Here’s a sampling of what to expect from these forthcoming Italian juggernauts.