A month ago, I went to a new European-style café that had opened up here in Chicago.  Their coffee was decent, service was excellent, but the food I found fascinating.  Zuzana and I had crepes filled with tilapia, which were delicious, but I also tried my first taste of Balkan cuisine.  A meat dish known [...]

The first cold air of autumn has been generally known as the season for chili, but I’ve come to know this American dish all year round. Simple in nature, but open to many variations, it’s a dish that works for all seasons and all tastes. I personally love it any time of the year, even [...]

I’ve mentioned my father many times in this site, but this article is really about giving praise to my mother.  While my father was the restaurateur and creative cook in the family, mom had her moments in the kitchen as well.  My brother and I still think she can make sandwiches better than any deli [...]

For many years we’ve known Sicily mainly through mobster movies like the Godfather series, and while some of those stories strike similarity to reality in the region, there is so much more to Sicily than the mafia.  This quaint island off the tip of the Italian peninsula is an interesting meld of Italian, Greek, Arabic, [...]

It’s summer time, and grills all around the world are firing up for the weekly (and for some people daily) return to how our ancestors cooked food…over an open flame. Charcoal, propane, or even wood, herds of cattle will be transformed into delicious meals for the millions. Most favored around the US is the hamburger. [...]

Yeah, I couldn’t help myself with that title, but we are taking a journey to Hungary.  While my initial visit was to the beautiful city of Budapest, Hungary is best known for its goulash.  If you don’t know, that’s ok.  Goulash is basically a stew, or at times a thick soup. The rich tradition of [...]