First Look - The Beat Cop's Guide to Chicago Eats

By Anthony Todd in Food on Nov 12, 2010 7:20PM

Lake Claremont Press, the publisher of Dennis Foley's The Streets & San Man's Guide to Chicago Eats, is set to come out with another guide to the best of the city's cheap eats. David Haynes, a sargeant with the Chicago Police Department, has penned "The Beat Cop's Guide to Chicago Eats," a guidebook detailing the special spots where Haynes and his colleagues get their grub. Haynes, asked why his book was better than the previous guide, responded "We're funnier, better-looking, and have the street smarts, girth, and weaponry to meet [Foley] in any alley, taqueria, or rib joint."

This book is not written by a food expert, and you won't find many fancy spots among it's pages - the goal was to find great lunch spots that cost less than $10. The book is filled with stories, recipes and a lot of humor of the gruff cop variety. Even if you're not a huge fan of the CPD, the book covers a lot of the more obscure ethnic and neighborhood restaurants all over Chicago, especially in some neighborhoods less-travelled by other food writers. "The Beat Cop's Guide" will be published in January, and available anywhere Lake Claremont Press guidebooks are sold.

The book is also being promoted through an innovative "Kickstarter" program. If, in addition to purchasing the book, you'd like to make a pledge to support it, you can get some pretty cool bonuses - including lunch with the authors, free copies of other Lake Claremont Press books and other great gifts.

We have a special preview for Chicagoist readers - a few sample reviews from the book. Download them here.