Stories by Meredith Francis

Writer and muckraker Upton Sinclair was born on this day 144 years ago. He was a prolific writer and political activist whose most notable work, The Jungle, had a transformative impact on the meatpacking industry in Chicago and nationwide. 

An ongoing exhibition at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie tells the story of how a unit of artists, engineers, and other soldiers deceived German troops using inflatable tanks, weaponry, phony radio calls, and other artistic effects.

Apples, tacos, and plenty of Oktoberfest celebrations are just some of the food events to look forward to in September.

Jessica Pamonicutt is the owner and executive chef of the catering and pop-up business Ketapanen Kitchen, which specializes in indigenous ingredients and cuisine––a focus that is currently rare in Chicago and the rest of the United States. 

Chef Jessica Pamonicutt shared this recipe for traditional Menominee wild rice and berries, which was historically served at ceremonies and feasts.

Chicago's Greektown may be a smaller community than it was several decades ago, but the owner of neighborhood mainstay Nine Muses Bar and Grill says it's still the place to go for authentic Greek food. He shares his restaurant’s famous Village Salad recipe – which involves a little bit of “measuring from the heart.”

If you like garlic, corn, ribs, sangria, and much more, there are a variety of food events in and around Chicago this August.

Mead is one of the world's oldest alcoholic beverages. The owner of a meadery in Beverly shares insight on mead flavors, offers tips for those who are hesitant to try the beverage, and talks about what makes mead so environmentally friendly.

Lake Michigan's "playpen" inspired Chicago brothers Joseph Moton and Ted Robinson to launch their own vodka company. They talk about how they got started, their love for the versatility of vodka, and what it's like to work as brothers.

When Chef Manny Gonzalez had his mother's tacos de canasta at a party, he knew he wanted his restaurant to be centered around the popular Mexican street taco. Gonzalez owns Guapo Taco in Brighton Park, and he explains the origins of "basket tacos."

FoodLab Chicago has been working with restaurants in South Side neighborhoods in the hopes of uplifting Black restaurateurs, especially after the pandemic brought new challenges for local business owners. Their goal is to make major corridors, like 75th Street, an established culinary destination for locals and tourists alike.

Community-supported agriculture is a “mutually beneficial relationship” between the farmer and the consumer that allows a person to buy a share of a local farmer's product. We've got an explanation of how it works, along with a list of some of the CSAs that serve the Chicago area.

There will be plenty of beer, tacos, and even hot sauce to go around this July. Here are 14 food events in Chicago and the suburbs to add a little flavor to your summer.

Chicagoland pretzel enthusiasts, take note. Gnarly Knots Pretzel Company is moving to a larger space in Lombard this summer, and their stuffed pretzels are still the main event.

Damarr Brown, the Chef de Cuisine at Virtue in Hyde Park, wasn't sure he wanted to do Top Chef at first. But after his mentor, Chef Erick Williams, encouraged him to take the opportunity, he went far in the competition. Brown discusses representation in the Chicago restaurant industry and shares his recipe for Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya.