Chris and Mary Spagnola cook for a living, which means they lack the time—and the expendable income— to waste money on pricey branding advice. Given the choice between cleaning out…
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The Bold And The Beautiful
Say what you will about Fabio Viviani—celebrity chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and pin-up dreamboat for an incredible number of middle-aged amateur cooks—the man has no interest in being “dull.” Ever…
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Gateway To Another World
I have become what some might refer to as an “inquisitive diner,” which is a polite way of saying I often fire questions at poor unsuspecting servers with an intensity…
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A True Romance
There was a time, not too long ago, when I would’ve recoiled in horror at the sight of any menu that included the phrase “cauliflower polenta.” Where I’m from, such…
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Italian Lessons
Much like Dean Martin ballads and old Lou Costello flicks, I’ve got a soft spot, squishy as a warmed caramel, for Italian restaurants that don’t take themselves too seriously. Being…
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Vie For Victory
When chef Paul Virant announced this past summer that his flagship restaurant, Vie, in Western Springs was celebrating its 15th birthday, he marked the occasion by running a limited-time menu…
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Crate Expectations
Midway through a recent meal at The Table—the new restaurant embedded in the Crate & Barrel in Oakbrook Center—a young girl sitting a few tables away from us made a…
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Fashion Plates
Given the steady flow of flashy new restaurants that are moving into Oakbrook Center, no one would have blamed the good folks at Ruscello if they decided to dial down…
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Castle In The Clouds
Never mind that El Tapeo, the stylish tapas bar on the ninth floor of the Le Méridien Oak Brook, stares down from the clouds onto its more famous neighbor—the low-slung…
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Back In The Saddle Again
The way we see it, good servers are a lot like great cab drivers. We’ll take someone who’s succinct and honest over a slick chatterbox with a polished delivery any…
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