What's for Dinner?

A Taste of All We're Cooking, Buying and Eating Lately

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Entries Tagged as 'Chicago'

Wayne’s Pizza

November 29th, 2009 · 2 Comments · Chicago, Italian, appetizers, cheese, food, fun, junkfood, mozzarella, mushrooms, pizza, restaurants, sauces, sides, spinach

About six months ago, I found out my cholesterol was slightly high. That was the wake-up call that I needed to lose the last fifteen pounds of pregnancy weight. Coming off Thanksgiving weekend (okay, week if I’m being honest), I’m back to eating big salads and righting myself again. But the week sure was fun [...]

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Portillo's Chocolate Cake

April 29th, 2009 · 16 Comments · Chicago, Italian, chocolate, desserts, food, pregnancy, quick, restaurants, soul food, value

I’m somewhat back “on the wagon” right about now, watching my calories and portion sizes. Of course, this doesn’t apply to weekends, or holidays, or that time of the month. In fact, with all my trangressions, I’m really surprised that I’ve lost any of the fifty pounds that I gained while pregnant at all. Twenty [...]

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Marinara Sauce from Scratch

July 5th, 2008 · 7 Comments · Chicago, Dad, David, Italian, Ma, basil, cheese, food, leftovers, mozzarella, mushrooms, pasta, pizza, sauces, vegetables, vegetarian

I have some friends who, since the advent in recent years of competitive cooking shows, have flattered me by saying that I should try out for one of those shows. The truth is, I am really just someone who likes to eat, and experiment at home. I have no clue as to certain types of [...]

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Kinder Surprise

November 29th, 2007 · 2 Comments · Chicago, David, Italian, chocolate, desserts, eggs, food, fun, junkfood

I’ve told you how much I love Joe Caputo’s grocery store. Let me tell you how much. I dunno if you’ve read between the lines here, but Chris and I were seriously considering a move to Portland, which is just a wonderful place (now we’ll find out if Chris’ mom is really reading this blog.) [...]

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Mimi's Pumpkin Cookies

October 24th, 2007 · 12 Comments · Chicago, Thanksgiving, desserts, fancy, food, pumpkin, vegetarian

You all know how much I dislike baking. I dislike the powdery mess, the multiple dishes and bowls covered in the sticky mess, and most of all I dislike the measuring — which I normally do not do any of in my cooking. I also dislike the subsequent weight gain. If I’m gonna gain weight, [...]

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Resi's Bierstube

October 21st, 2007 · No Comments · Chicago, German, beer, drinks, food, restaurants

Happy Oktoberfest, if a bit late, to everyone! Chris and I love good beer, and we are lucky enough to have some friends that like the same types of dark brew that we do. Last year, we went to Resi’s Bierstube on Irving Park Road. We didn’t eat there, but we went after a meal [...]

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At the Bottom, on Top Chef

October 10th, 2007 · 10 Comments · Chicago, berries, celebrities, food, fun, parties, vegetables

One of my favorite shows over the last month has been Bravo’s Top Chef. I’ve watched every season so far (this is season 3), and this one has been, in my humble opinion, the best so far. So naturally, when my friend Jeff told me that his studio would be filming the finale in Chicago, [...]

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Buffalo Grove Days, or, "Had Enough Crap Yet?"

September 13th, 2007 · 11 Comments · BBQ, Chicago, Greek, appetizers, cheese, chicken, chocolate, desserts, drinks, food, fun, junkfood, pork, quick, restaurants, sandwiches, sauces, seasonings, sides, soul food

In September, nothing wraps up a summer of eating battered and deep-fried nitrites on sticks quite like the last big party, when Chris and I walk over to the Buffalo Grove Days. In the past, we’ve had chocolate and marshmallow-covered popcorn, had too much crappy yellow beer that was intensely overpriced, and witnessed the phenomenon [...]

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Jaenicke's Drive In

August 23rd, 2007 · 13 Comments · Chicago, Kankakee, appetizers, beef, breads, burgers, cheese, chicken, drinks, food, junkfood, pork, quick, restaurants, sandwiches, sauces, sides, soul food

When I was in high-school, I went over to my friend Lori’s house. Her older sister was settling in to some take-out food. “Watcha eatin’?” I asked. “Sauce buns” she said. “What’s a sauce bun?” I asked. She looked at me mid-bite like I was a frigging lunatic. “You’ve never had a sauce bun??” to [...]

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Christl's German Inn

August 8th, 2007 · 4 Comments · Chicago, David, German, appetizers, beef, beer, breakfast, dips, drinks, eggs, food, ham, leftovers, liver, pork, potatoes, restaurants, salads, sausage, sides, soul food, soups

Some time ago, Chris and I attended the First Annual Chicago Alefest, as you may or may not remember. (I know I remember very little of it. Ahem.) Anyhoo, after we had sat on the steps for a bit and sobered up a mite (he more so than me), we realized that what would make [...]

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