Learn about our hometown contestants, the show's new features and more - and be sure to watch tonight! more ›

Yesterday, we discussed the smoking process used at Calumet Fisheries, Chicagoland's premier location for smoked fish and shrimp. Today, we'll talk about history, stories and fried fish. more ›

Our opinion of Anthony Bourdain shifted over the course of two hours on Saturday night. more ›

• Sky Full of Bacon's Mike Gebert offers up his Rules for Dining (inspired by/apologies to Michael Pollan) [SFoB]
• Chicago Eats TV launched this week, promising "hot and fresh videos about some of the most unique places around." So far their curioaity has taken them to Yak-Zies, Jake Melnick's, McGee's Tavern, Cans and Redhots and Fries. Way to take the road less traveled. [Chicagoeatstv.com]
• Bleeding Heart Bakery starts a bread co-op this Saturday with Polenta Asiago Roasted Garlic Bread. Orders must be received no later than 7 p.m. every Friday (order by calling 773-327-6934 or via e-mail) and will be ready for pickup 1 p.m. Sundays. And it's only $5 a loaf. [Inbox]

As if the wait wasn't already long enough, you might want to start packing a snack before heading to Hot Doug's since the line is probably going to be growing ever longer whilst you wait to order your lunch. Anthony Bourdain has just named Hot Doug's as one of "13 places to eat before you die." [Men's Health] more ›

In case you haven't heard (and as we mentioned in our inaugural podcast earlier today), the long-awaited Chicago episode of "No Reservations" airs 9 p.m. tonight on Travel Channel. This means that, in addition to seeing the already obnoxious lines at Hot Doug's grow even longer by lunchtime tomorrow, the BOURDAIN Midas touch could also convince some folk to get off their duffs and actually head out south for a mother-in-law at Fat Johnnie's, smoked chub at Calumet Fisheries, or the best chili in the city at Ramova Grill (the full rundown of what made the cut during filming is here). more ›

It is our extreme pleasure and privilege to present to you, Ever Present Reader, a new audio outlet for Chicagoist. This podcast series has been in the pipeline for a long time, and now it's ready to be birthed unto the world, pink and naked and here for your entertainment. We'll be providing you a new podcast each Monday to start your week off with Chicagocentric information that probably isn't being covered on local radio and TV. more ›

What have the intrepid local food writers and bloggers of Our Town and elsewhere been up to this week? more ›

Phil Vettel writes that Anthony Bourdain is filming at moto today and will be at Matchbox and Silver Palm (768-770 N. Milwaukee) from 8-10 p.m. this evening. Make us flip a coin between stalking BOURDAIN and watching "One Tree Hill" reruns. [The Stew] more ›

• From the "DUH!" Files: Apparently fast food meals aren't good for kids. The Center for Science in the Public Interest released a report this week that concluded that kids meals at fast food chains exceed the 430 calories-per-meal limit. Among the worst offenders, Chili's makes the list twice with kids meals at or over 1000 calories each. [via MenuPages Chicago]
• "Rock Star Chef City" alert: BOURDAIN is in town through next week finally filming for the No Reservations Chicago episode. He's got the venerable Louisa Chu in tow, who'll be escorting him to Calumet Fisheries, Burt's Place in Morton Grove and L2O, among other places. We're so stalking this weekend. [Food Chain]
• Lori Barrett writes about cold soups. [Drive Thru]
• An argument for frozen fish [Washington Post, via]

Stolpman is in Europe for the next two weeks (lucky), so I'll be handling the recap duties until she gets back. Fear not, dear readers, for those of you who'll miss her as much as I do right now, I have two words for you. more ›

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Yes, that's a CPD horse in a Santa hat. If Chicagoist staffers put together a list of the Sexiest Men Alive, Anthony Bourdain would be waaaaay high on the list. Like, Ron Huberman high. Bourdain is reading at the Borders at 830 N. Michigan tonight at 7 p.m. Is it gross if we say "delicious"? Maybe? OK. Everybody's got a hobby ... but whittling instruments out of vegetables and playing them in an orchestra?... more ›

There's a fun little story that's been making it's way around the internet over the past few days. Blogger Rob Donaghue went to hear bigtime Chicagoist crush Anthony Bourdain speak last week in New York. Bourdain, ever-wry, suggested that the best way to find a great restaurant in today's internet savvy age, is not to read Zagat or Michelin guides, but rather, to provoke the nerds. He writes, His answer was to take the city... more ›

Author Michael Ruhlman more ›

Greg Christian used to be a rock-star chef. Think Anthony Bourdain before he stopped doing the partying and started writing books and appearing on the Food Network. Christian cooked hard, partied hard and essentially lived every chef's dream; working at the now-closed Gordon’s restaurant under executive chef John Terczak and then ultimately starting his own catering company. Hungry Mag has a great profile of Christian up, in which his story of discovering the organic food... more ›