Meet Hercules, head cook to President George Washington, and almost certainly the first one-name celebrity chef in American history. 

“My boss is turning 60, what’s a good wine that I can give him as a gift?” The text on my phone was from my friend Steve, but perhaps you too have been stumped when it comes to finding the perfect bottle of wine to give as a gift.

Welcome to dinner-theatre, a relatively recent trend—as trends go—in which the Chicago area has played an important role.