Former food service director of Harvey school district charged with stealing $1.5 million worth of...

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/31 10:01A Sun-Times Wire

The former food service director of a south suburban school district has been charged with stealing about $1.5 million worth of chicken wings over a 19-month period. Vera Liddell, 66, who worked for Harvey School District 152 for more than 10...

CFM Asks: Oaken Bistro + Bar's New Executive Chef Christian Alejandro

Chicago Food Magazine 1/31 9:24A Emily Larsen

Oaken Bistro + Bar, the restaurant within Lake Forest's, The Forester Hotel, welcomed Chef Christian Alejandro as their new Executive Chef this past November. Over the last decade, Chef Alejandro has...

‘Father of Peeps’ marshmallow candies Bob Born dies at 98

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/30 3:11P Dee-Ann Durbin | AP Business Wri

As a young man, Bob Born applied for medical school, but while waiting to enroll fell in love with the candy business owned by his father. Just Born makes about 2 billion Peeps a year. AP Photos Ira “Bob” Born, a candy company executive known as...

Is tipping getting out of control?

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/28 9:44A Associated Press

Some fed-up consumers are posting rants on social media complaining about tip requests at drive-thrus, while others say they’re tired of being asked to leave a gratuity for a muffin or a simple cup of coffee at their neighborhood bakery. AP NEW...

Oreo-stuffed Oreos promise more of, well, Oreos

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/26 1:05P Mike Snider | USA Today

The Most OREO OREO Cookie features more creme filling and ground Oreo cookies mixed in. Mondelez International We’ve enjoyed rainbow-filled Oreos, latte-flavored Oreos, white-chocolate-fudge-covered Oreos, mint-flavored Oreos and confetti-infused...

Chipotle looks to hire 15,000 amid continuing labor shortage

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/26 12:04P Dee-Ann Durbin | AP Business Wri

Chipotle’s hiring campaign will feature employees talking about their career progression in the company in an effort to hire and retain new workers. AP Photos Restaurants are beginning the new year with a recurring problem: labor shortages....

Fireball maker accused of false advertising over sales of mini bottles sold sans whisky

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/26 11:51A Emmanuel Camarillo

Miniature bottles of Fireball Cinnamon are the focus of a lawsuit filed in Illinois alleging misleading advertising. U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois A lawsuit filed by a Chicago woman accuses the maker of Fireball...

Fireball maker accused of false advertising over sales of mini bottles sold sans whisky

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/26 11:00A Emmanuel Camarillo

Miniature bottles of Fireball Cinnamon are the focus of a lawsuit filed in Illinois alleging misleading advertising. U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois A lawsuit filed by a Chicago woman accuses the maker of Fireball...

Transport to the Warmth of the Greek Isles with Weekend Brunch at Nisos Mediterranean

Chicago Food Magazine 1/26 3:05A Emily Larsen

As if any of us need a delicious excuse to get out of the house this winter, Nisos Mediterranean in the bustling West Loop launched their weekend brunch menu in early December. Upon entering, guests...

Some Chicago restaurants are still adding surcharges of up to 20% to your bill. Should they?

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/25 12:41P Bob Chiarito | Special to the Su

Frontera Grill is adding a 20% surcharge to all checks for its Restaurant Week promotion. Nearly 10% of Restaurant Week participating eateries are imposing the additional fee, ranging from 3% to 20% (excluding gratuity). Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times...

Construction to begin on new permanent home for Common Pantry

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/25 11:26A Ilana Arougheti

Volunteers box a load of groceries at the Common Pantry. The pantry has shared space with Epiphany Church of Christ for 35 years. Its new home will be 1,000 feet away. Joe Cyganowski/Pioneer Press. File photo. After 56 years of operation,...

James Beard Awards 2023: Chicago semifinalists

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/25 6:28A Miriam Di Nunzio

Damarr Brown, the chef de cuisine at Virtue, is a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist in the category of Emerging Chef. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced the list of semifinalists for its 2023 restaurant and...

Healthy cheese? Some low-sodium, low-calorie, low-fat options

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/25 2:19A USA TODAY

When creating a charcuterie board, there are healthy options when it comes to the cheese. stock.adobe.com While the internet remains agog over the new viral butter board trend , snack board purists will remember the blueprint: the charcuterie...

CFM Asks: Complex Executive Chef, Tim Letsos, of Depot 226 at the Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central...

Chicago Food Magazine 1/23 9:52A Emily Larsen

The Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop hotel (226 W Jackson) is host to a stylish bistro, Depot 226, which offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and a happy hour to locals and hotel guests alike. We...

Lunar New Year — Chicago’s Asian communities celebrate, reflect and feast

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Food and Restaurants 1/20 6:51A Bob Chiarito | Special to the Su

Red lanterns symbolizing good fortune hang near the Chinatown Gate. Lunar New Year is Jan. 22 this year. The annual Chinatown parade will be held Jan. 29. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Red lanterns symbolizing good fortune are strewn above and along...