September 19th, 2008
As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I make a monthly trip to visit family in southwestern Michigan. The trip usually takes about three hours, and I pass through several small towns along the way. In fact, in that rural area, it is not uncommon for us to visit one town to go grocery shopping, […]
By Matt B -- 0 comments
September 10th, 2008
No matter what your beliefs, politics can be a nasty business. Max and Benny’s in Northbrook is featuring the sweet side of the Presidential race.
The suburban bakery is selling cookies bearing the faces of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain, and Sarah Palin. You can show your support by featuring these tasty treats at your […]
By Matt B -- 0 comments
January 23rd, 2008
Ah, family. There is a saying that goes… “Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts.” We here at the Travel & Culture Channel are celebrating our nutty families this month. And while my own family may seem especially eccentric at times, I still love them nonetheless.
For several years, my paternal family […]
By Matt B -- 2 comments
January 22nd, 2008
If you’ve seen one cupcake, you’ve seen them all, right? Think again.
Cupcakes puts together their namesake like no one else. Using the finest ingredients, these chefs bake the mini-masterpieces in small batches and frost each one by hand. The tasty treats have been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Food Network’s The Secret […]
By Matt B -- 3 comments
November 17th, 2007
Back to our International Tour, it’s time for Asia. While many may be familiar with Chicago’s Chinatown down on the South Side, there is also a New Chinatown developing and growing near the intersection of Argyle St and Broadway Ave. It’s a mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian, and Thai shops and restaurants. Because Asia […]
By Matt B -- 2 comments
October 7th, 2007
Pumpkin spice cupcakes, sweet potato pie, chocolate chip cookies, raspberry almond tea cakes… served in a homey, Southern kitchen setting… by charming bakers donning kerchiefs and aprons… wouldn’t it be lovely?
It is Lovely. This little bake shop on Milwaukee Ave (just down the street from Evil Olive) is a small piece of comfy country […]
By Matt B -- 0 comments
September 1st, 2007
When you’ve had a rough day, you need a great place to blow off some steam. Pressure Billiards & Café in Edgewater is a chill place where you can play a little pool, have a few laughs, and even grab a few bites.
Wahib Merchant, owner and avid pool player, opened this neighborhood favorite back in […]
By Matt B -- 0 comments
June 8th, 2007
Moist, chocolate deliciousness… who doesn’t love a brownie? One of the accounts of the brownie’s origin takes place right here in Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel. When Chicago hosted the World’s Fair in 1893, Bertha Palmer assigned her chef to create a dessert that was unique but that wouldn’t get her guests’ hands […]
By Matt B -- 4 comments
June 6th, 2007
Just a few blocks away from my home, I can’t help but notice the Angel Food Bakery every time I pass it. Cute, retro, and with a bright green sign, this corner delight is awfully tempting. It’s filled with lime-green walls, custom-made cakes, and wide-eyed, drooling customers.
Pastry chef Stephanie Samuels is a self-taught artist, and […]
By Matt B -- 0 comments
Recent Comments