Chicago chefs tackle rare Arctic char

Cambridge Bay wild Arctic char is a rare fish with a short season. The fish, related to salmon and trout, spend most of the year under the ice caps of the Arctic Circle. In mid-August, they instinctively return to the waters of Cambridge Bay in Nunavut, Canada, for about two weeks, just before the bay [...]

Bring on the Chicago barbecue bonanza!

I can see that, when even Mr. Zee’s, a Greek snack shop in Morton Grove has rebranded itself as Mr. Gee’s B.B.Q. on Demand, the barbecue trend might be getting a little ridiculous. But I think it’s fantastic — bring it on! All styles, all flavors, the more the merrier. Let’s have Kansas City-style, St. Louis-style, Texas-style, South Carolina-style, you-name-it-style … heck, we can even encompass Western Kentucky barbecued mutton.

Origins of neon relish and other Chicago hot dog conundrums

The Chicago hot dog — with the white of the onions, the red of the tomatoes, the brilliant green relish — “It’s like a work of art.” A look at the condiments. (Part 6 of a series in honor of National hot dog month.)

Chicago helps the Gulf

Help wildlife and families affected by the BP disaster and enjoy some of Chicago’s best eats. A $50 donation to Gulf Coast oil spill cleanup gets you into a benefit hosted by some of some of the city’s hottest eateries. The event takes place 5–7 p.m. Sunday, July 25, at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum [...]

Liberté, égalité, fraternité! Bastille Day Chicageaux-style

On July 14, 1789, revolutionary troops stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress and prison in Paris, bringing down harsh rule of France’s Bourbon monarchy. The first Fete de la Federation, on July 14, 1790, celebrated the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in France. France — and Francophiles — have been toasting the day ever since. Here are a few events around Chicago.

Know your wiener!

A top-notch Chicago-style red hot is more than the sum of its parts. Nevertheless, you can’t achieve a great banquet on a bun without a fine frank at its core. (Part 3 of a series in honor of National Hot Dog Month.)

Eat this! The Chicago hot dog, born in the Great Depression

The “banquet on a bun” had its origins in a Maxwell Street vegetable cart. (Part 2 of a series in honor of National Hot Dog Month.)

The Chicago-style hot dog: ‘A masterpiece’

“A hot dog is a masterpiece,” says Jim Photopoulos, proprietor of Photo’s Hotdogs. (Part 1 of a series in honor of National Hot Dog Month.)

Friday food porn: Boning up at The Bristol

Sensually unctuous roasted beef marrow bones, served with toast for smearing and a seasonal garnish at The Bristol in Bucktown, $12. Bone appetit!

Join the fight for life: Dine out on Thursday

The single largest HIV/AIDS benefit in the country, the 17th Annual Dining Out for Life, takes place Thursday, April 29. A portion of your meal check at a variety of Chicago and suburban restaurants will benefit AIDSCare Progressive Services, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Chicagoans with HIV/AIDS through housing,