Stories by Daniel Hautzinger

Erling Wu-Bower's mother made elaborate feasts for Chinese New Year. He's joining with chefs from HaiSous and Momotaro to celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake, and shared one of his mother's recipes with us. 

January 17 is historically the coldest day of the year, but that isn't stopping the floating wetland the Wild Mile from enjoying food and drink in an outdoor festival on the river.

After several killings, Max and Oskar go undercover at a casino to try to track down the government enemy Mephisto.

Helen, Mrs. Hall, and Mrs. Pumphrey do their part on the home front while James confronts an illness during pilot training and Siegfried starts to give Richard more responsibility. 

With William staying in New York permanently, Eliza tries to impress his replacement so she can continue working with the police. But Alexander Blake refuses to hire private detectives.

Australian cafés are often cited as responsible for the rise of avocado toast, the flat white, and the refined all-day café. Now Chicago has one in Chapel Street Café.

From January 24 through February 9, hundreds of restaurants offer special fixed price menus during Chicago Restaurant Week. Here are some participants that opened or revamped last year. 

A prominent criminal is captured and offers information about an enemy of the Empire, whom Oskar begins to suspect is a high-powered government traitor.

Acclaimed for their beer and pizza, Middle Brow has begun applying its local, sustainable approach to wine, sourcing grapes from Michigan and experimenting with hybrid varietals tailored to the climate there. They're opening a second location in the state.

Comfort seemed to be the through-line of our most viewed recipes this year, whether it was a simple dish or an elaborate classic that still warmed the home and heart.

The porky rice-and-pea dish Hoppin' John is often eaten on New Year's Day in the South. Try Cook's Country's adaptation of Gullah Geechee cook Emily Meggett's original version. 

A flu epidemic complicates the holidays in Poplar as medical staff in addition to residents are felled by the illness, while a prisoner escape frightens the community.

Add peppermint flavor to homemade thin mint cookies reminiscent of Girl Scout Cookies with this recipe from PBS's Adrianna Adarme of the Fresh Tastes blog.

Try something a little bit different for the holidays with this rich, slow-cooked northern Italian dish that's similar to boeuf bourguignon.

The fifth seasons of both shows return to WTTW and PBS in January, and we have new previews of both.