The General and Mercantile in Logan Square bills itself as providing Southern comfort food along with tacos. On a recent outing with a dining companion, I was underwhelmed. First, since this was a last minute outing and a Saturday, I tried to call to see if reservations would be necessary…

Broccoli and shells is one of the simplest dishes you can make. If you can boil water, follow package directions for pasta, and the simple directions for the rest, you can be a kitchen hero is less than one-half hour. The longest time is how long it takes to boil the…

My daughter recently informed me she tried Lengua and Menudo at some Mexican restaurants. She loved the dishes. For the uninformed, Lengua is beef tongue, Menudo is tripe soup. She also told me she wanted to make beef tongue. I will giver her my recipe. My daughter is a chip off the old block….

I remember eating Czernina years ago in Polish restaurants. Czernina, also called Czarnina, is a sweet and sour duck blood soup. It is made with duck blood, poultry broth, vinegar, sugar, and other flavoring ingredients. I also eat blood sausage when I can find it. One of the ultimate blood…

One thing missing downtown for decades was a good, standalone, Mexican restaurant. Broken English Taco Pub on Lake Street, between Wabash and Michigan Avenues, brings Mexican food to the Loop. Unlike Chicago’s traditional Mexican restaurants, the menu is limited to what they do well. Looking at other diners, the tacos…

Blood sausage sounds weird but tastes good. I have been eating it in one form or another for as long as I can remember. Blood sausage is made from animal blood, usually pork, and filling. The filling can be oats, barley, rice, onions, offal, or other local cereals, vegetables, or…

“…so much of life…is about trying to grab and hold memories…” (Rick Kogan/The Maestro/Chicago Tribune Magazine) As we get older we cherish memories. They are our lifeline to our past. This is especially true during holiday seasons. Our grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and others are gone. Cousins are spread across the…

Chicago is a great food town. We have food choices from the four corners of the world. From great steak houses to hole in the wall joints serving just one or two items. When I go out to eat, I only expect three things. No matter if it is a…

Mac and cheese is one of the staple comfort foods. From the Kraft boxed version to the numerous variations of stovetop and baked. It is creamy, cheesy and filling. The basic recipe is cheap eats, as are the boxed versions. Mac and cheese recipes date back to 14th Century Italy….