Honorable Mention: Gino’s East. If you enjoy reading, the walls here provide plenty of material.

10. Pizzeria Uno. The one, the only, the original. Loosen your belts now.

9. Piece. These very non-Chicago-style slices are simply delicious.

8. Home Run Inn. This old neighborhood tavern offers the #1 selling frozen pizza in the city.

7. Coalfire. Don’t worry; your pizza is supposed to come a little burnt.

6. Lou Malnati’s. If you’re going to have deep dish, you might as well get it straight from the man who invented it.

5. Giordano’s. Both the thin-crust and deep-dish are excellent at this spot just off the Magnificent Mile.

4. Pequod’s. The crispy, caramelized deep-dish crust is unforgettable.

3. Art of Pizza. Despite its humble appearance, the great deals here are not to be overlooked.

2. Vito & Nick’s. The décor may not be pretty, but the pizza looks (and tastes) darn good.

1. Aurelio’s. This huge restaurant has been full of loyal regulars for over 30 years.

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

I also want to extend my sympathies to many in the Chicagoland area. The hurricane’s residual effects brought two days of steady, pouring rain. Rivers and creeks overflowed their banks, and many communities were flooded. Streets, cars, and hundreds of homes were submerged in several feet of water. Families were encouraged to evacuate their homes and take shelter in locations designated by the American Red Cross.

In Northbrook and Prospect Heights, firefighters had to rescue people from their submerged cars, and in Franklin Park, they rescued dozens of people from their homes. In some residences, the waters were waist-high.¹

The rain also affected those trying to travel in and out of Chicago. The Interstate 94 (Bishop Ford Freeway) was closed between 95^th Street and I-80. U.S. Route 45 and Illinois Route 102 were closed in both directions at various locations. A few feet of standing water made the Edens Expressway impassable at Golf Road for several hours. Metra suspended South Shore Line service because rails were under water in many places, and the CTA had to delay service on the Blue and Yellow Lines. Even one of the terminals at O’Hare had to be evacuated because of flooding!²

Thankfully, the worst of the rainfall has passed, but it could be a day or two before water levels return to normal.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Chili bob (1, 2, 3, 4)

1 Weekend rain leads to four deaths, floodings and rescues. (2008). Retrieved September 15, 2008, from Chicago Sun-Times Web site: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1162884,weather091408.article
2 Jordan, K. (2008). Flooding creates headaches for travelers. Retrieved September 15, 2008, from Chicago News – abc7chicago.com Web site: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6389779

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

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 next get-together. Or take out your frustrations with the other political party by taking a fierce (and delicious) bite into the opponent’s head.

Each cookie is just under $3, and you can order them in person, by phone, or online. And if you’d rather get someone else’s face on a cookie (or even your own), that can be arranged too.

So, just which cookie is more popular? Well, this is Illinois after all, Obama’s home state, so Obama cookies are outselling the McCain cookies 20-to-1.

And if you have a taste for the not-so-sweet side of politics, check out fellow b5media blog, Sirened.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Andrew Huff

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

The Chicago-style deep-dish pizza was invented by chef Rudy Malnati at Pizzeria Uno in 1943. It begins with a thin layer of dough which is laid in a deep round pan and pulled up the sides. The dough is then partially baked and then lined with cheese, vegetables, and meats. Crushed tomatoes and sauce are poured on top, and the pizza is baked to completion. Deep-dish pizza is so thick and hearty, it must be eaten with a knife and fork, and it only takes one or two slices to fill you up.

Lou Malnati worked with his father Rudy at Pizzeria Uno and decided to open his own restaurant in 1971 in Lincolnwood, a northern suburb of Chicago. After being blessed with incredible success, he opened another pizzeria in Elk Grove, which nearly financially ruined him. He pressed on however, and now there are over 25 locations in the Chicagoland area.

Along with some of the best deep-dish pizza money can buy, Lou Malnati’s also serves up pan and thin-crust pizzas, along with a large selection of soups, salads, pastas, and sandwiches. For an appetizer, you have to have the stuffed spinach bread, a unique Malnati creation: a handmade loaf stuffed with a blend of cheeses, fresh spinach, and chunks of tomato. For folks who want to have Chicago-style pizza but have to follow a gluten-free or low-carb diet, Lou Malnati’s offers a Crustless Pizza which looks, bakes, and tastes just like a regular deep-dish pizza. The “crust” is made from a lean, flavorful sausage. And if you’re not in the mood for pizza, try the parmesan chicken sandwich or antipasto salad, voted one of Chicago’s best. Finish everything off with the Chocolate Chip Pizza, a giant chocolate chip cookie prepared in a deep-dish pizza pan, topped with ice cream and whipped cream.

You don’t even have to be in Chicago to enjoy Lou Malnati’s deep-dish. The restaurant ships pizzas overnight to anywhere in the U.S. Just call 1-800-Lou-To-Go or visit Tastes of Chicago.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) justinhenry, dyobmit

Lou Malnati’s ($): 6649 N Lincoln Ave (Lincolnwood); 847-673-0800
Mon – Thurs: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 11:00 a.m – 12 midnight
Sun: 12 noon – 11:00 p.m.
Free parking lot
Public trans: Bus # 210
http://www.loumalnatis.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler