"Every week, I find something I didn't realize was in season or I didn't realize was possible to grow here," explained Bruce Sherman, of North Pond Restaurant, as he picked over the produce on a recent Wednesday at Green City Market. Diners have gotten used to seeing producers and market names all over menus, and during the summer, Chicago restaurants are inundated with farm-to-table dishes. Sherman, and many other Chicago chefs, go a step further, and visit the market every week, talking to farmers (many of whom are now old friends) and picking up their orders themselves. We followed Chef Sherman through the market to learn how a chef shops for produce. more ›

I have a confession to make - this interview isn't even a little bit objective. North Pond has been one of my favorite spots in Chicago for years, and it was the first fine dining restaurant I ever wrote about. When I got a chance to interview Bruce Sherman, the chef and co-owner of North Pond, I screamed like a little girl at a Justin Bieber concert - though not in front of the chef. Despite my enthusiasm, I had some serious questions for Chef Sherman. We talked to Chef Sherman about staying relevant, the challenges of owning a restaurant on park district land and why he is not a locavore. more ›

Last weekend at North Pond, this drink seemed to jump right off of the cocktail list - and we were still sober! We'd never seen a Vesper (or a variation of it) on a menu, and after our previous attempts to popularize this glorious cocktail, we just had to try it. It was everything we'd hoped for. The gin and chartreuse (a classic combination) set each other off perfectly, and the fennel fronds added a surprisingly strong flavor element. The ratio of liquor to Lillet is a bit softer in this version, which is why this cocktail goes well with a meal - it doesn't kill your taste buds and you don't fall over drunk in your dessert. more ›

One of the most talked-about new restaurants in the Midwest is a road trip away in downstate Peoria Heights. June chef Josh Adams deftly meshes farm fresh food with progressive cooking techniques. It makes sense, since Adams has staged at Alinea and studied the localvore approach at the knee of Paul Virant at Vie. Adams recently partnered with a nearby farm to dedicate 80 acres of land for growing organic produce specifically for June. more ›

North Pond Restaurant will be hosting a dinner and discussion about the current economic situation on Wednesday, March 18th. While we can see the irony in spending money on nice food during a recession, the price is reasonable, the menu looks great and you might just learn something. The menu is 1929-inspired, and includes such tasty-sounding morsels as Caramelized Pineapple-Toasted Almond Upside-Down Cake, Lobster and Quail "a la King" Style and a North Pond "Bathtub Gin" cocktail. Speakers from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, as well as a banker and a Chicago Tribune reporter will discuss the current economic situation and then sit down to dinner with guests. The price is $59/person for 5 courses - at North Pond, a real bargain. Call the restaurant at 773-477-5845 for more information and reservations. more ›

Grill out and eat out, folks, while the weather allows. We're gearing up for Mexican Independence day by eating some pollo asados. Mmmmm. More fun ahead so get those calendars out. 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 ›

North Pond Restaurant, overlooking Lincoln Park’s North Pond, has become one of our absolute favorite restaurants in Chicago. We’ve dined there three times in the past six months, and have never had anything less than a perfect dining experience. more ›

Do you like taking quiet walks? Finding new coffeehouses to sit and read? Exploring lesser known parks and trails around Chicago? Finding tasty restaurants to visit with your sweetie? If you’re into anything on that list, Chicago’s 50 Best Places to Find Peace and Quiet is a great book to pick up. more ›

Some of you foodies may have heard that Alice Waters, the godmother of the American localvore and slow food movements, is in town this week. If you don't have reservations to Saturday's sold-out farm-to-table brunch at North Pond Restaurant, you can still catch Chef Waters at Green City Market at 9 a.m. Saturday, where she'll be signing copies of her book The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution. She'll... more ›

Or, since this will be an Oktoberfest-intensive installment, "Das Freitagsbüfett." Most of these are around the general vicinity of Lincoln Park, Lake View, and Wrigleyville. Things kick off this evening with St. Alphonsus' Sixth Annual Oktoberfest Chicago. Admission is $5, or free if you RSVP at going.com/oktoberfestchicago. First St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church hosts their Oktoberfest Saturday from 5-10 p.m. Cost is $20 ($15 for seniors, $10 for children under 12). St. Michael in Old... more ›

In case you hadn’t noticed, Chicagoist was a little cranky yesterday morning. After our second full day of the Green City Market Localvore Challenge, with our ‘allowed’ food pretty much gone, we were feeling a bit deprived. Once again, the feeling of only wanting what we can’t have was rearing its ugly head. Plus, we couldn’t shake the fact that if we knew how to really cook (sorry mom!) our localvore lives would be a... more ›

A good drink can improve the quality level of a meal. It can make a mediocre dinner tolerable, or raise the bar on a perfectly cooked entree. The best chefs, along with their sommeliers, wine stewards, and spirits experts, plan a meal and its pairings with meticulous detail. Although beer and food have complemented each other for centuries, restaurants in the States are placing an increased emphasis on offering beer pairings for those who don't... 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 ›

Executive Chef Bob Zrenner, Graze more ›

How would you like to have delicious gourmet meals delivered to your home several times a week? And even better, how would you like to know that the money you pay for the food isn’t going to some huge corporation, but instead towards feeding the hungry in Chicago? Meet First Slice, an innovative, self-funded, non-profit organization started by Mary Ellen Diaz, former chef at the acclaimed North Pond restaurant. The organization, which is profiled in... more ›

With an upscale, small-plate menu designed by Executive Chef Bob Zrenner (North Pond, Tru) complimented with a wine list complied by sommelier Amy Lewis (MK, Zealous) and a lush decor designed by Jeremiah Johnson and Francois Frossard, X/O Chicago is a new restaurant neatly tucked into the strip of nightlife that makes up Halsted Avenue in the heart of Boystown. Upon arrival, X/O Chicago feels purposely part-restaurant, part -lounge. While the dining rooms take up... more ›