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Secret Chicago

publisher · 7.1K followers

Chicago’s crown jewel of pan pizza just earned another national nod—thanks to its legendary caramelized crust

Chicago hardly needs another reason to defend its pizza credentials. But we’ll happily take this one. Pequod’s Pizza—the local favorite known for that exquisite ring of caramelized cheese —has been named Illinois’ pick in Food & Wine’s “50 States of Award-Winning Pizza.” And while the national recognition is nice, the real draw is waiting around the edge of the pan. What makes Pequod’s crust so special? At Pequod’s, you don’t leave the crust behind. As Food & Wine explains, t he pizzeria places a ring of mozzarella around the inside edge of the pan. As the pizza bakes, that cheese caramelizes, creating the signature rim that sets these pies apart . A deeply browned cheese surrounds a generously topped Chicago-style pizza. The menu starts with a cheese pizza, with toppings available so you can build your own order. Sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, giardiniera, and more are among the options—but that caramelized edge is something you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished the meal. Why Food & Wine picked Pequod’s Food & Wine assembled its state-by-state guide using existing accolades, including international pizza competitions, restaurant rankings, local journalism, and readers’ choice awards. For Pequod’s, the magazine points to two major wins:

Chicago, IL · 6d
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everafterinthewoods.com

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This Illinois All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Restaurant Has A Conveyor Belt And Unlimited Rolls

Real truffle on all-you-can-eat sushi sounds like a menu typo. At one new spot in Illinois, it’s the whole point. Plates glide past your table on a moving belt. Special orders zip over on a tiny bullet train, and robot servers roll in to help. I like how this...

Lombard, IL · 1d
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unearththevoyage.com

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For Two Decades, Illinois Families Have Picked Apples and Eaten Cider Donuts at This McHenry Farm

Some of the best days in Illinois start with a simple plan to grab a bag of apples and end with sticky fingers, a full trunk, and kids who refuse to leave. That is exactly what happens at one farm market tucked along a quiet country road. From the outside...

Mchenry, IL · 7d
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nrn.com

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Trending this week: Portillo’s to shutter five to nine restaurants outside Chicago

This week on Nation's Restaurant News, the top story was “Portillo’s to shutter five to nine restaurants outside Chicago.” Portillo’s plans to close a "mid- to high-single digit" number of underperforming restaurants outside Chicago, mostly in the fourth quarter, as part of a turnaround plan. The company did not say which restaurants are scheduled to close or where specifically.

Chicago, IL · 2d
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allamericanatlas.com

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5 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois that Will Make You Feel Like You’re in Rome

Chicago is a city that sings in many tongues—where the L rumbles above streets lined with brick and glass, where the lake wind tangles with the scent of roasted garlic and sweet basil, and where every neighborhood is a patchwork of stories. Here, the skyline rises bold and blue, but it’s the warmth of the people—Polish, Mexican, Black, Irish, Italian, and every dreamer in between—that gives the city its pulse. This is a place where food is memory, migration, and celebration, and where the table is always set for one more.

Chicago, IL · 3d

unearththevoyage.com

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Fried Chicken Comes Out In Family-Style Platters At This Old Illinois Inn Off Route 66

Some of the best meals in Illinois hide in places you would drive right past without a second look. Picture a modest roadside building, a gravel-and-asphalt lot, and then a plate of golden fried chicken that makes you forget every fast food stop you ever made. Add warm biscuits, sweet...

Willowbrook, IL · 2d

Parade

partner publisher · 866.0K followers

In 1893, a Woman Born Into Slavery Made Pancakes at the World’s Fair and Became the Country’s First Living Brand Ambassador; She Was Buried in an Unmarked Grave

Born into slavery in Kentucky. Made pancakes at the 1893 World’s Fair for 27 million visitors. Became the country’s first ever living brand ambassador. Buried in an unmarked grave. The brand she made famous lasted 130 more years.

Chicago, IL · 7d

Secret Chicago

publisher · 7.1K followers

Free turkeys at 5 Chicago-area McDonald’s are here: 3,000 up for grabs, one location per day through Saturday from 8 a.m.

A Thanksgiving turkey giveaway is making five stops across the Chicago area this week. The Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana plans to distribute 3,000 turkeys , along with gift cards to help families buy additional holiday groceries. The 26th annual Food for the Body & Spirit giveaway runs November 10–14, with a different McDonald’s hosting each morning. Distributions begin at 8 a.m. and continue while supplies last, so organizers recommend arriving early. The first stop took place in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on Tuesday morning. The remaining giveaways are scheduled for Maywood, Grand Boulevard, Auburn Gresham, and Chicago Heights through Saturday. Where and when to get a free turkey Each restaurant hosts the giveaway on one scheduled day—not throughout the week. Here’s the full lineup: Tuesday, November 10: 5015 W. Madison St., Chicago Wednesday, November 11: 11 N. 1st Ave., Maywood Thursday, November 12: 740 E. 47th St., Chicago Friday, November 13: 8321 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago Saturday, November 14: 19767 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights All five distributions begin at 8 a.m. and continue until supplies run out. Veterans can use a priority line Veterans can receive VIP line entry by showing proof of military service.

Chicago, IL · 3d

Yahoo!

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2 IL pizzerias serve some of the best pies in US, report finds. Where to go

Two Illinois pizzerias earned spots on The Infatuation's recent analysis of the best pizza places in America. Both are in Chicago and serve distinctly different styles. FULL STORY: These 2 Illinois pizza shops serve some of the best pies in America, report says Here are key takeaways:. The Sept. 22...

Chicago, IL · 8d

Secret Chicago

publisher · 7.1K followers

Bears star D’Andre Swift names his 3 favorite Chicago restaurants—and launches a limited-time Philly-meets-Chicago menu

Caleb Williams has already made it known that his favorite restaurant is Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna, calling his love for it “ the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. “ Now, fellow Bears star D’Andre Swift is sharing his own go-to Chicago restaurants —and his list offers plenty of inspiration for your next dinner out. D’Andre Swift shares his favorite Chicago restaurants While Williams’ pick might settle your next pizza order, Swift’s shortlist gives you a few more options for a night out: West Loop steakhouse Adalina Prime, Lincoln Park steakhouse & cocktail lounge The Bull Moose , and Asian bistro & nightclub TAO . For something a little more game-day-ready, though, you can try a menu the running back helped create himself. What’s on D’Andre Swift’s menu at Jake Melnick’s? Swift has teamed up with Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap on “Da Swift Picks,” a limited-time lineup that mixes Philadelphia-inspired flavors with Chicago favorites. Here’s what’s on the menu: High Step Hoagie Dip ($12.95): Salami, prosciutto, hot peppers, provolone, and cream cheese, served with fresh Sidewinder Fries. Swift City Wings ($19.95): Long hot pepper-garlic butter, giardiniera rub, parmesan, and a Cooper’s Wiz sidecar. Hometown Fries ($9.95): House-cut fries,

Chicago, IL · 1d

Fox 32 Chicago

publisher · 67.1K followers

List of holiday themed bars and restaurants in Chicago

CHICAGO - It's just about time for holiday cheer to spread across the Chicago area. There are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday season in the area with several festive bars and restaurants popping up. Chicago holiday bars and restaurants. Local perspective:. All throughout the Chicago region there are...

Chicago, IL · 2d

Timeless Dishes

partner publisher · 11.8K followers

8 Regional Hot Dog Styles and Stands, From Chicago to Seattle

From Chicago's garden of toppings to Seattle's cream cheese, eight regional hot dog styles and stands, each with its own bun, sauce and story. The post 8 Regional Hot Dog Styles and Stands, From Chicago to Seattle appeared first on Timeless Dishes .

Chicago, IL · 2d

unearththevoyage.com

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This Family-Run, Cash-Only Illinois Bakery Still Draws Fans For Its Famous Cheese Sticks

Some of the best food in Illinois hides behind plain storefronts you could drive past a hundred times. I almost did, until the smell of warm bread and the line at the door made me pull over. Inside, there were trays of pastries, towering cakes, and a buttery, cheesy treat...

Chicago, IL · 8d

fox32chicago.com

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Free turkey giveaway begins at five Chicagoland McDonald's locations

CHICAGO - A holiday food giveaway is bringing support to families at five McDonald’s locations across the Chicago area this week. The Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana is holding its 26th annual Food for the Body & Spirit giveaway from Tuesday through Saturday. The...

Chicago, IL · 3d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Unassuming Illinois Spot Piles Pizzas High With Toppings And Serves Wings Worth Licking Your Fingers For

Sixteen first-place wins at Chicago’s WingFest is a lot of hardware for one modest neighborhood grill. Add four Best of Fest awards, and that shelf starts looking crowded. The place doesn’t stop at wings, either. Homemade tavern-style thin crust pizza comes out of the same kitchen, along with garlic buffalo wings that seem to have their own fan club.

Palatine, IL · 2d

fastfoodclub.com

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Chicago Has 7 Old-School Italian Red-Sauce Joints Where The Waiters Remember Your Order

Some Chicago restaurants chase trends, and some have been serving the same lasagna and chicken Vesuvio for generations. This list is about the second kind. These are the red-sauce rooms with checkered tablecloths, framed photos, old-world murals, and servers who treat regulars like family. A few have been around since the 1930s, and a couple sit right across the street from each other in Heart of Italy.

Chicago, IL · 19h

Siliconera Nandemo

partner publisher · 340 followers

Chicago couple opens pizza from Keith Lee-recommended restaurant. Uh, that definitely shouldn’t be in there: ‘And its a knockoff? im ccryyinnn’

'I need ANOTHER pizza for FREE.'

Chicago, IL · 1d

rolling out

publisher · 196.4K followers

James Sanders on the best BBQ in Chicago that never reheats

James Sanders started his career at Ryan’s Steakhouse the day after he graduated high school. He set cooking aside to join the National Guard, then studied at Southern Illinois University, where late night backyard barbecues for friends turned a passion into a plan. Back in Chicago, he attended culinary school and worked as a prep cook for the Chicago Bears. He went on to own and oversee 22 Harold’s Chicken locations across the country, then launched Fuze Catering, the first African American owned catering company to cater events at the Art Institute of Chicago. Fuze also catered the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Chicago, IL · 2d

dairyprocessing.com

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Caputo rolling out burrata in smaller format

MELROSE PARK, ILL. — Caputo Cheese introduced a 2 oz burrata format for retail and foodservice customers, expanding its fresh mozzarella portfolio with a smaller, individual portion. The new product features a fresh mozzarella exterior filled with stracciatella, a mixture of shredded mozzarella and cream. Its smaller size offers...

Melrose Park, IL · 2d

The Takeout

partner publisher · 38.3K followers

The Tangy Dipping Sauce You'll Find At The Best Chicken Shops In Chicago

Chicago may be famous for pizza and hot dogs, but residents also love a sweet, tangy dipping sauce on their chicken. Learn about this Windy City favorite.

Chicago, IL · 5d