#chicago restaurants

[publiccollectors]

A vintage brochure for Cap'n Nemo's giant party subs, from Chicago, unearthed in the papers of my wife's late uncle. It's such a great thing that he preserved this for future generations. Does anyone know what year this is from?

[hugh-heffner-son]

🔥🥹🤤

[ryanbluestone]

Unwrapping Tradition: Ryan Bluestone on Chicago's Top 5 Iconic Food Gifts

Ryan Bluestone notes in the vibrant tapestry of Chicago's culinary landscape, some food gifts transcend the realm of mere edibles and become iconic representations of the city's rich gastronomic heritage. Join us on a delectable journey as we unwrap the stories behind Chicago's top five iconic food gifts—delights that not only please the palate but also encapsulate the essence of the Windy City's culinary prowess.

1. Garrett Popcorn Shops (Multiple Locations)

Ryan Bluestone explains that since 1949, Garrett Popcorn Shops has been a Chicago institution. Founded by a Chicago female entrepreneur by the name of Gladys Garret, a gift of Garrett’s Popcorn is a true Chicago tradition. Renowned for its irresistible mix of sweet and savory flavors, the Garrett Mix—caramel and cheese popcorn—is a signature blend that has become synonymous with Chicago snacking, capturing hearts and taste buds alike.Garrett’s has festive tins that can be shipped to your entire Holiday list.

2. Portillo's Hot Dogs (Multiple Locations)

With humble beginnings in Villa Park in 1963, Dick Portillo's eponymous hot dog stand has grown into a Chicagoland empire. Famed for its Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and chocolate cake shakes, Portillo's iconic food gifts can be cold-packed and shipped. Ryan Bluestone believes they embody the city's love affair with hearty, classic comfort foods.

3. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (Multiple Locations)

Established in 1971 by the Malnati family, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria has become a Chicago pizza legend. Loved for its deep-dish pizza with a buttery, flaky crust, Lou Malnati's has turned pizza into an art form. The Malnati Chicago Classic, with its signature sausage and vine-ripened tomato sauce, is a must-try that has solidified the pizzeria's fame. Lou’s can also be shipped.

4. Al's Italian Beef (Multiple Locations)

In 1938, Albert Ferrari opened the first Al's Italian Beef stand in Chicago. Since then, Al's has become a go-to spot for the city's iconic Italian beef sandwiches. Slow-cooked beef, thinly sliced and piled high on a roll, and the option to add "hot" or "sweet" peppers make the Italian beef sandwich a celebrated Chicago food gift. Al’s ships sandwich kits and merchandise through Gold Belly and Ryan Bluestone can’t recommend this gift enough.

5. Eli's Cheesecake (Dunning)

Founded by Eli Schulman in 1980, Eli's Cheesecake has become a sweet symbol of Chicago indulgence. The Original Plain Cheesecake, known for its velvety texture and rich flavor, is a classic favorite. Eli's Cheesecake is a staple in the city's dessert scene, making it a cherished food gift for both locals and visitors. Eli’s website has multiple mouth-watering, traditional cakes as well as gluten-free and plant-based options.

As Ryan Bluestone wrap up our exploration of Chicago's iconic food gifts, it's clear that these culinary treasures are delicious representations of the city's history, culture, and culinary innovation. Whether it's the addictive mix from Garrett Popcorn Shops, the comfort of Portillo's hot dogs, the indulgence of Lou Malnati's deep-dish pizza, the savory satisfaction of Al's Italian Beef, or the sweet elegance of Eli's Cheesecake, each food gift tells a story of Chicago's diverse and delicious offerings. These iconic treats aren't just enjoyed; they're shared, gifted, and celebrated, making them a unique and enduring part of the Chicago food experience.

[restauranthistorian]

Status in a restaurant kitchen

Interesting nuances in food preparation status in a large restaurant kitchen closely observed by a sociologist in the 1940s.

The status hierarchy in a restaurant kitchen depends on a variety of factors. Skill is clearly one of them, but, historically — if not currently — there have been others, some of them surprising. In 1944 and 1945 sociologist William Foote Whyte spent time observing kitchens in a number of Chicago restaurants. To one of them he gave the fictional name “The Mammoth” because of the size of its…

[dontforgetukraine]

Chicago-based Ukrainian cuisine restaurant Anelya is now Michelin-recommended. It’s the first Ukrainian cuisine restaurant to make it to the guide.

Source: Euromaidan Press

[vintagepromotions]

Cover of the drinks menu at the Ricketts bar, Chicago (c. 1930).

[ohpuckno]

[x]

Happy American Thanksgiving to all my American moots :)

[emmieexplores2]

1964, Sky-Hi Drive-In Restaurant, Monroe and Cicero, Chicago. The restaurant was built inside a converted body of a 1950s DC-6.

[transmascpetewentz]

just had some really good falafel from jerusalem cafe.

[williammarksommer]

The Berghoff

66 series 

Hasselblad 500c/m

Kodak Ektar 100iso

[emaadsidiki]

Childhood memories, forever cherished. 🍹🍕🍟🍪

[fiftysevenacademics]

I thought this might interest some of you. This little restaurant is a big slice of history. Recent research proved it's probably the oldest Chinese restaurant in the US, and to tell its story, you have to tell the story of the Chinese Exclusion Act, "paper sons," and the hardworking family that persevered.

[deepestconnoisseurmoon]

The Bear (2022)

[tierras]

cdmx recs?

[coolthingsguyslike]

[copperbadge]

SAM SAM SAM CORNER BAKERY JUST FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY

This is, pun intentional, so delicious.

For those of you who may be new, my feud with Corner Bakery goes back at least a decade at this point because they kept selling me food that made me sick. But the reason this is delicious is not that I am witnessing the fall of a worthy foe -- it's because I think this confirms my theories about its business model, since Corner Bakery explicitly failed because a) trends were shifting before the pandemic and b) Corner Bakery lost revenue that other places didn't due to people working from home.

My theory has always been that Corner Bakery's model was to situate itself in places where there were no other strong options. Corner Bakeries tend to exist in business districts or tourist districts where people are just far enough away from other good food options to make a reasonably priced soups-and-sandwiches place look appealing. They went into museums, or near museums and other tourist destinations, where the other options were either very high-end or McDonalds. Their locations in Chicago's downtown are near skyscrapers full of people who want fresh, "healthy" food quickly on their lunch break but don't want a grocery-store sandwich.

And then they serve the absolute cheapest, poorest-prepared food possible. Tiny expensive bags of cheap chips, the lowest-quality deli meats and condiments, gross bread used even after it goes stale, elderly veggies used after they start wilting. The last time I got a sandwich there, it was made with the heels of the bread, unripe avocado, and deli turkey that was uncomfortably wet. The last time I ate there ever, I got food poisoning from a slice of lemon pound cake.

I didn't know that this was true but I suspected it, and the coverage seems to be confirming that their brand of swindle, which was highly vulnerable to a drop in tourism, turns out to have been even more vulnerable to mass work-from-home than most restaurant chains.

Corner Bakery traded explicitly on the desperation of the people it served and made me sick multiple times before I stopped eating there. Good riddance, I hope its holding company lets it die completely, and I'm going to take credit for it personally if it does. :D