After years of fits and starts, rumors and innuendo, Eater Chicago launched today with Foodie the App partner Ari Bendersky at the helm. more ›

• Casting is underway for the next season of "Top Chef." If you have serious kitchen majicks get to Wells on Wells (1617 N. wells) from 10a.m. - 2 p.m. on October 26 with these forms. Oh, and have a valid passport; if you're chosen, you might have to go abroad. [Inbox]
• "The Jungle" - 21st Century Edition. A harrowing New York times story on e.coli tainted beef. [NYT]
• The food at greatest risk for e.coli? Greens. [Tribune]

Former UR Chicago editor Ari Bendersky has been named editor of the long-awaited Eater Chicago. Eater and its real estate-focused companion, Curbed, are set to launch October 15. (Disclosure: I was also interviewed as a candidate for the Eater Chicago gig.) [TOC, via Menupages Chicago] more ›

A pound and a half filet of cod in the freezer and all out of ideas for what to do with it. Sure, we could grill it or pan fry it, or even bake it, but we've done all those things before. They're all delicious, but not new or exciting. And then along to the rescue comes Elise Bauer at one of our favorite food blogs Simply Recipes. For Lent Elise reposted a recipe for her dad's fish stew. Intrigued? Yes, we were. more ›

It's hard not to stumble across a food blog while browsing the web. Two recent newspaper articles shine a light on the positive and negative aspects of the rise of food blogging. The front page of the Sun-Times' food section this morning is all about LTHForum, from the origins of their formation, their wide coverage of neighborhood and off-the-beaten path eats, the immediate response that can make or break a restaurant, and their overall influence... more ›

This week Chicagoist bought pork tenderloin with the plan of writing about making it into a dish for the site. The only slight set-back we faced was that we had no idea what we were actually going to cook. We'd already done tenderloin this, rather classic, way and felt, at least at first, over-inspired. When cooking, we often start ourselves off with a main ingredient (often enough meat) then research all the ways others... more ›

It's Easter, y'all. That means, in addition to the re-enactment of the Passion happening as we write this in Pilsen, churches will be filled, families will gather, and restaurants will offer Easter Brunch specials. We have a few for you, in addition to the usual complement of food news and notable events. So sit back and unbuckle your belts. Who Comes Up With These Names, Anyway?: Leave it to us to be late to the... more ›

In the spirit of year-end lists, here are Chicagoist's top food events and trends (both good and bad) of 2006. more ›

With such a proliferation of food- and cooking-focused blogs and web sites out there, some days it's all Chicagoist can do to get to a handful of them to keep up. However, as is the case with the industry itself, the more the merrier. So in the same way we're always stoked to find a new approach to duck breast, we're equally as happy to find a blog with a different twist. more ›

As is the case with Jessa Crispin's literary/book blog, Bookslut, Saucy, Crispin's food blog, is sharp, thorough, and interesting. more ›

One the best sources for all-things-food is Michael and Jane Stern's Roadfood.com. In fact, word around the Chicagoist office is that one of us has planned entire vacations around the suggestions found in the Sterns' book and Web site. more ›