- Want to know what's (coming) in season now at the Farmers' Market? Check out this Serious Eats article for pictures and a list of what to put in your shopping basket.
- If you're making your Mother's Day reservations, Zagat has some specials at nice places you should know about.
- Chaos Theory Cakes OUT. Smash Cake IN. Michelle Garcia is still in charge.
- Serious Eats examines where we got the term foodie.
- Alice Waters will be coming to the Green City Market to sign copies of her new book, The Edible Schoolyard. (Previously)
- Don't throw away that leftover, cheap vodka. Lifehacker tipped us off to these other uses for the stuff. Also, check out their article on growing indoor herbs.
- Off the Broiler got a sneak peek inside D'artagnan. If you're thinking of cooking a homemade meal for mom on Mother's Day, get yourself some quality meat.
- Third Coast Toast tosses its hat in the ring with its own Alinea review.
- Want to mix a cool effin' drink at your next party? Get a vortex mixer.
- Now, you can inhale your chocolate.
- Helen Rosner at Menupages tipped us off to NewCity's list of 100 Essential Chicago Restaurants.
Photo by L. Stolpman.



Thanks for the shout out! :)
L Stop.
I didn't want to reveal this super natural phenomenon to so many limited midwestern Chicagoist minds. But you have left me no choice by failing to read in between the lines at my numerous public pleadings.
Any way,
Your great great great GrandMa comes to me almost nightly in dreams like King Hamlet.
Crying ike a banshee in the howling rainy winds of Scotland she says and I quote
"Tell my dear little L-Stop to ask her mother or father or uncle about the best Korean BBQ in Illinois and share it with the one called Spook!
She speaks to me in Korean which I understand during the dream.
Hate to tell you this Spook, but the only way you're ever going to eat this magical Korean barbecue is if L Stop's gmaw invites you over to her house to eat, because every time I've ever asked someone of a specific ethnicity where is the best place to eat that specific type of food they all say the same thing: At their mom's house.
And I've got first hand experience in this as my ex-hus. is not from this country.
Dream on!!! :)
My Dear Spook,
Your pleadings have not gone unheard. Last night, I revisited San Soo Gab San to see if it was as good as I remember and this marks the start of a Korean restaurant tour.
Two things:
1. You said 'in Illinois' so I take it you're okay hoofing it to the suburbs for good Korean? Because my parents live in the suburbs and my mother is familiar with places in the burbs. For example, I always eat at the same Korean place when I'm shopping in Woodfield. (Koreana - 1123 N Salem Dr, Schaumburg)
2. You said you wanted spicy. I think the spice level really depends on what you order and not as much on where you order it. If you get soondoobu (a spicy, seafood soup with tofu), you'll get some of the spice you crave). The panchan at San Soo Gab San had some spicy dishes - all of them different varieties of kimchee.
Did you happen to see Andrew Zimmern in Korea? Gah, I can't stand that guy.
So, my dearest Spook, I am working on finding your ideal Korean place but I am concerned about your need for heat.
xo,
L-Stop
L'LLLLzzz Stop, for good Korean indeed the burbs is included because I've been testing you. Word on the streets is that the best Korean spots are in the burbs. Don't worry about hot, I want real.
But where ever it maybe be, I want to see some old Korean ladies and men wearing funny hunting caps chow'n down. Feel me?
Yer darling Spookie