Restaurant week may be winding down, but it’s not over yet! Restaurant week runs until Sunday, Feb. 27, leaving you plenty of time to squeeze in a reservation or two. Still trying to decide which menu to take on? Read on for a review of one of Chicago’s best R-week deals: Topolobampo. more ›

Throughout the blizzaster, Rick Bayless was like a lighthouse in the storm. He kept his restaurants open, tweeting that anyone trapped downtown was welcome. In addition, he may be the only celebrity chef in history to brag about the accomplishments of his valet parking crew (Grover and Luis) - wonderful to give credit to everyone. And boy, do they deserve it! The valet parking crew created the official snowman, or "Blizzard 2011 mascot," for Frontera. Check after the jump for some great tweets. more ›

If the kitchens of Frontera Grill, Topolobampo and Xoco seem strangely devoid of Rick Bayless in the coming weeks, you can blame President Obama. Bayless has been tapped by Obama to head the kitchen for the upcoming state dinner with El Presidente of Mexico, Felipe Calderón. The New York Times reports that the celebrity chef will be helming the kitchen on May 19th, the second celebrity chef to run a state dinner menu. Marcus Samuellson, currently receiving the arrogant-jerk-edit on this season's Top Chef Masters, cooked for the Indian Prime Minister back in November. more ›

Today through Wednesday, we're counting down the top 9 stories of 2009 according to the Chicagoist staff. more ›

• As proof that the pen is mightier than the sword, or at least strong enough to have the Illinois Department of Agriculture overreact to Mike Sula's article on underground meat purveyor E&P Meats, Frontera Grill had to throw away 80 pounds of bacon after an IDA inspection. E&P is also ceasing operations. [Food Chain]
• Alan Richman names his 10 best new restaurants in America. The Bristol makes the list. [GQ]
• To Kiss the Cook shares her recipe for Kitchen Sink Farafelle [To Kiss the Cook]

In case anyone hasn’t gotten the memo, the economy sucks. In our beat, that usually means more coverage of expensive restaurants closing their doors, but there is a larger world beyond the reach of truffles and foie gras. Visits to the Greater Chicago Food Depository are up 35% this year, as more and more people need help to feed their families. Some of Chicago’s best chefs have decided to do something about it - and you can help them out. Plus, you can get some pretty amazing food. What could be better? more ›

Rick Bayless has consistently been in the news in recent weeks. First, there was his winning Top Chef Masters and earning a $100,000 check to his Frontera Farmer Foundation. After two years of planning, today Bayless opens XOCO (449 N. Clark St.). Inspired by the legendary Churreria El Moro in Mexico City, XOCO is Bayless's tribute to Mexican street food: tortas, hearty soups, churros and chocolate. Anticipation among food media and foodies, not to mention the pared down, simple menu, has primed XOCO to be the Publican of 2009. more ›

"That mole was the hardest thing I've ever cooked in my life, as I didn't have a recipe available. The 27 ingredients I used were from memory," Rick Bayless told the assembled crowd between commercial breaks at Frontera Grill last night. Bayless threw what was essentially a victory party last night, screening the "Top Chef Masters" finale to a host of media, VIP and haiku masters like Benjy. If you've never witnessed Bill Kurtis firing off the fiercest finger guns this side of Joe Biden, you're missing one of life's guiltiest pleasures. more ›

There are a thousand reasons why summer dining in Chicago is so fantastic. One of the best being fresh, locally grown ingredients and it doesn't get any fresher than when chefs grow their own ingredients in restaurant or home gardens. An increasing number of chefs are doing so including some of our faves: Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill, Paul Kahan of Blackbird, George Djurovic of August Grocery, (just to name a few.) more ›

Gourmet and Cookie Magazines are teaming up for Kids' Restaurant Week. Things kick off Saturday morning at Green City Market with cooking demonstrations from George Bumbaris of Prairie Grass Café, Rick Bayless and the Spatulatta girls, Olivia and Isabella Gerasole. Throughout the week, families may dine at participating restaurants from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Children ages 11 and under pay their age for dinner; all others pay $20.08. more ›

The New York Times Magazine ran an interesting interview yesterday with Frontera Grill's Rick Bayless, with accompanying photos taken at his Bucktown home. Bayless cops to not cooking Mexican at home, which makes sense since he's around it five days a week at Frontera and Topobolampo. Bayless also grows a substantial amount of the produce for Frontera - about $25,000 worth - in his backyard, which is in line with his localvore sensibilities. more ›

A couple weeks back we had the opportunity to sit down for a few beers with Jon Cadoux, founder of Peak Organic Brewing Company in Portland, Maine, at the Streeterville Elephant & Castle. Like many craft breweries, Peak evolved from both Cadoux's home-brewing hobby and commitment to organic and sustainable agriculture. He was in town making the rounds, help his distributor place his beers into some new accounts. He was pretty successful: in addition... more ›

Gourmet Magazine's September issue is a special "Latino America" issue, which means that not only is it chock-full of recipes for moles, tamales, and other delicacies, but that it also features multiple articles on Latino American cuisine in the U.S. Time Out Chicago food writer David Tamarkin has an article documenting the fantastic Mexican food scene in Chicago, highlighting specifically the number of regions and styles of cuisine our fair city offers. And while... more ›

The James L. Beard Awards — the Oscars of the culinary world — were handed out last night. Though Chicago didn't win a large number of awards, we did win one of the most important ones, so we can take solace in that. more ›

Some people have really tough jobs. Really tough. For example, we regular wonder how Chicago's public school teachers, police officers and sanitation workers get up day after day to do what we imagine are incredibly difficult and often thankless jobs that are non-the-less important. You know who Chicagoist doesn't worry about? Tribune dining critic Phil Vettel who had the taxing job of visiting 70 brunch spots over the past two months (with the help of some of his Tribune colleagues) in order to find the best brunches in town. And just in time for Mother's Day too! more ›

The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) is holding its annual Cookbook Expo this weekend in Chicago. And, for the first time, they're opening it up to the public. This is your chance to hobnob with some of your favorite cookbook authors and chefs, who will be on hand to sell and sign their latest books. The event runs from 5-6 p.m. tomorrow at the Hilton Chicago. Even though it's free, reservations are required; e-mail... more ›

Bridgeport, like many neighborhoods around the city, has a glut of Mexican restaurants with varying quality. So when we noticed on a cab ride home one night that Carbón (300 W. 26th St., 312-225-3200, open 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., 7 days a week), a “live fire” Mexican grill, had recently opened in a vacant-for-years storefront mere steps away from neighborhood mainstay Ricobene’s, we were skeptical. more ›

The James L. Beard Award nominees were announced yesterday and as in years past, Chicago represented. And the Chicago-based nominees are: Outstanding Restaurateur: Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Outstanding Chef: Jean Joho, Everest and Paul Kahan, Blackbird Outstanding Restaurant: Frontera Grill and Spiaggia Rising Star Chef of the Year: Graham Elliot Bowles, Avenues Outstanding Pastry Chef: Mindy Segal, HotChocolate Outstanding Service: Tru Outstanding Wine Service: Bin 36, Wine Director Brian Duncan Best Chef, Great... more ›

You know those restaurants where you could close your eyes, point to anything on the menu, and end up with an out-of-this-world dish? That’s Don Juan’s Restaurante in Edison Park. Frontera Grill, Salpicon, and Adobo Grill may hold claim to some of the best Mexican food downtown, but family-owned Don Juan’s has been an Edison Park mainstay for just as long, or longer. On most nights, a lively crowd packs the main dining room with... more ›

The restaurant was conceived in early 2004 through the partnership of Angel Hernandez and Luis Montero (previously of Mia Francesca), and Raul Arreola, a Rick Bayless pupil and Frontera Grill/Topolobampo veteran. Those are some pretty decent credentials, and the seasoned background definitely shows in every aspect of Fonda’s character. Warmly painted orange walls, covered with vibrantly colored paintings and photographs, mark the small, 60-seat dining room. The open, stainless steel kitchen is clean and remarkably quiet, and adds some buzz to the dining room. The muted lighting is perfect and won’t show the beads of sweat forming on your forehead once the chipotle glaze hits your palate. more ›

A consultant to McCormick Place recommended Tuesday that a food court with a "1900s Chicago" theme be added to the mammoth convention center. Citing the lack of dining options in the area, consultant William J. Caruso advised the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, who owns McCormick Place, that a food court be built at the front of the South Building, next to the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. McCormick Place, the country's largest convention center, can... more ›

No, "Chicago Treasures" is not a citywide treasure hunt. It’s a lecture series — spawned by the Chicago History Museum and hosted by "Eight Forty-Eight"s Steve Edwards — that brings together two influential Chicagoans for a conversation centered on a single theme. This Thursday’s segment will pair local chef Rick Bayless with Rafael Pulido, aka “El Pistolero,” a Spanish language radio personality, for a discussion about the deepening connections between Mexico and Chicago. Bayless is... more ›

Chicagoist's search for the best Mexican food in the city took an upscale turn with a trip to Old Town favorite Salpicon. Before dining there, we had never even heard of this gem of a restaurant, as whenever we heard "upscale Mexican," we would think of Frontera Grill, Topolobambo, or Adobo Grill. Salpicon is nestled on the south end of Wells, almost to Division St. The night we went it was gray and drizzling outside,... more ›

Famed Chicago chefs Gale Gand, Rick Tramonto and Rick Bayless are among those cooking sample dishes for the 13th annual Bag Hunger Auction. Held on Nov. 15 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the silent auction benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Gand and Tramonto co-chair the event, which features more than 25 chefs from notable Chicago restaurants including Tru, Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, West Town Tavern, TIMO, 160 Blue, Ina's and Heaven on Seven. Food and... more ›

Chicagoist can be a bit picky. We try to not be obnoxious about it, but we know what we like. This is especially true when it comes to caffeinated beverages. We enjoy both coffee and tea, depending on the day and our mood. We like our coffee strong, but not too strong. more ›

Fans of Food Network's "Iron Chef America" can expect to taste a decidedly Chicagoan flavor when the new season premieres next month. Two episodes to tivo or tape: Tru impressarios Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand (with executive sous chef Stuart Davis) against Mario Batali; and Homaru Cantu's "Team moto" faces of against Chef Morimoto. more ›

While most people think Cinco de Mayo is Mexican independence day, Chicagoist is telling you it's not. It's a day for eating food and doing tequila shots, silly! To figure out where to eat and drink tonight check out Citysearch, Metromix or do a search for Mexican eats on the LTH Forum. New City says Adobo Grill and Frontera Grill are the spots to hit for good guac and Citysearch has a good list of... more ›

Chicagoist totally &hearts's Iron Chef - we swear we've seen like every episode and we still watch it over and over. So it's only natural that we've been eagerly awaiting the debut of Iron Chef America. Gone will be the voice dubbing, exotic theme ingredients (shark fin, anyone?), and little asian actresses giggling (unless you count Julie Chen), but still.. we watched all of the American specials they broadcasted and we're sure we'll be watching all of this new series too. Any way you serve Iron Chef, we just can't get enough! more ›

Crain's released its Who's Who of Chicago business today, and it's going to take us a long time to plow through all those names and come up with jokes/information. more ›