Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Laura's Chicago Gluten-Free Survival Guide

I love the Grind!

happyscrappy at 10:11AM on 01/25/12

The Vegan Experience, Day 10: Surprise! 7 Foods You Thought Were Vegan!

@BettieSage: most vegans I know make exceptions for white sugar. Many also eat honey.

When I worked at a very well known, partially vegan bakery we used organic evaporated cane juice (vegan) for all the baked goods, but white sugar (not vegan) for the candies. My boss still labeled the candies as vegan. I would always tell customers about the sugar, and I would say 99% of them bought it anyway.

happyscrappy at 10:05AM on 01/25/12

The Over 21 Club: The Berghoff

Dennis Lee, I think I love you.

happyscrappy at 10:05AM on 01/19/12

Meet the Maker of Bleeding Heart Bakery's The Death of John Waters: The Divine Donut

FYI, the original shop was on Chicago Ave in the UK Village. They moved to Belmont in.. . 2007? I think?

happyscrappy at 4:17PM on 01/12/12

Serious Eats Neighborhood Guides: Nick's Logan Square

I literally gasped out loud at that Boiler Room pizza shot. Holy hell that is some fine lookin' pizza.

happyscrappy at 6:48PM on 01/11/12

From A Hamburger Today

New York's First Steak 'n Shake Opens Tomorrow

Is the burger meat always organic, or is that just an NYC thing?

happyscrappy at 6:45PM on 01/11/12

Standing Room Only: The Doughnut Vault

The chocolate cake doughnut is the stuff of dreams.

happyscrappy at 10:05AM on 12/16/11

The State Street Survival Guide: Where to Eat During the Holiday Shopping Rush

I would head a bit south for Epic Burger (517 S. State).

happyscrappy at 9:54AM on 12/05/11

Serious Streets: Western Avenue from Cortland to Belden

I love this column! Can't wait to see what other streets you hit.

happyscrappy at 10:39AM on 11/28/11

From Talk

Best place for brunch in Chicago?

City Provisions in Ravenswood has one of the best brunches around. Local, sustainable, modern take on traditional Jewish deli fare. The latkes and eggs are amazing, the duck fat home fries are. . . well, how could they be anything but amazing?

Also Angel Food on Montrose- super cute bakery, very retro (the owner has a collection of Easy Bake Ovens that decorate the place). Aside from the incredibly good baked goods (the challah literally gave me chills the first time I tried it), brunch is different and fun. Their French toast is more like bread pudding and is AWESOME.

happyscrappy at 8:18AM on 11/17/11

From Talk

Pizza suggestions for a trip to Chicago this weekend

@Editorkid- you reversed them: Crust is on Division, Coalfire is on Grand. I used to love Crust but the last couple of times I went I was not impressed. I still appreciate the local/organic aspect, but the pizza just wasn't up to snuff (especially at those prices). Plus I think most would agree that it's not really "pizza," in the traditional sense. But I do loves me some Coalfire, that's for sure.

For deep dish, however, I throw in my vote for Gino's, then Lou's. I just love Gino's cornmeal crust. Burt's is fab, but kind of a process for someone in town for a short time (esp. if they don't have a car). I'm actually having Pequod's tonight for the first time in years, so I'll weigh in on that later. :)

happyscrappy at 8:15AM on 11/17/11

Announcing Serious Eats Chicago

WOOHOO!!! I would happily be your sweets correspondent. :)

happyscrappy at 9:58PM on 11/08/11

From Serious Eats: New York

Candy a Day: Whoppers

Even though I make artisan candy for a living, I can still throw down on crappy Halloween candy. Whoppers have always been one of my favorites, though I have to say that as an adult, it's the one instance where the super low quality chocolate bothers me. I will happily eat Snickers, Reeses, Kit Kats, you name it, but that brown wax coating on the Whoppers gets to me. I mean, I'll still eat them, but I won't really enjoy them.

happyscrappy at 11:42AM on 10/29/11

From Drinks

From Behind the Bar: On Vodka Sodas and First Dates

I will admit that when I go out I either stick with a local craft beer, or if I'm in the mood for a cocktail, I go with a gin & tonic. Mainly for two reasons- 1) I like gin, and 2) I don't know any other gin cocktails. So unless the place has an actual drink menu, I don't know what to get. Any suggestions?

happyscrappy at 11:38PM on 08/06/11

12 Tourist Spots in New York That Are Actually Good

As a kid (from Jersey) we had a standing annual date with my dad's childhood best friend and his family when he was in the city for some medical convention. We always, ALWAYS went to Serendipity and got the frozen hot chocolate. Maybe it's just the nostalgia talking, and I wouldn't exactly recommend it, but I also wouldn't tell people to skip Serendipity if they were already planning on going. Especially if they have kids.

happyscrappy at 7:33PM on 07/25/11

From Slice

Poll: What Night Is Pizza Night at Your House?

I equate pizza with Fridays, but mostly because Friday was always school lunch pizza day. Growing up we probably had pizza mostly on Thursdays when my dad played golf in the summer.

Because I basically have to be on Weight Watchers forever if I don't want to gain weight, I don't get to eat pizza nearly as much as I would like to. Now it's mostly just saved for weekends. If I pull out a frozen pizza during the week, I feel a little dirty, like I'm cheating.

happyscrappy at 7:16PM on 07/25/11

What Happens When You Order Every Mix-In at Cold Stone Creamery?

Gross. I love ice cream, I love mix-ins, I love gluttonous junk food experiments. In theory, I love Cold Stone. In reality, Cold Stone is disgusting.

happyscrappy at 10:25AM on 07/21/11

Hangover Helper: Gypsy Skillet at Windy City Cafe, Chicago

Yay, Windy City Cafe! I've lived a few blocks from here for 5 years and finally made my fist visit a few months ago. Solid breakfast spot for sure.

happyscrappy at 6:44PM on 07/12/11

Introducing: Nick Malgieri Week

His Supernatural Brownies have made me famous among my friends for 'my' awesome brownies. They're pretty much the best brownies. Ever.

happyscrappy at 10:32PM on 06/21/11

We Try Every Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory

It's funny, I was never a fan of the CF cheesecake, but I freakin' love their chicken salad sandwich. Seriously, it has almonds in it!

happyscrappy at 10:29PM on 06/21/11

Snapshots from New Orleans: Willie Mae's Fried Chicken Is Still Awesome

One of my biggest regrets in life is the fact that I didn't go to Willie Mae's when I was n NOLA. I think about it every day. . .

happyscrappy at 7:05PM on 06/20/11

From Talk

Wedding Food HELP!

Tiny biscuits FTW! That is the best idea EVER. I also super love the mini croque monsieurs. . . we had mini grilled cheese w/ tomato soup shooters as one of our apps, and they were a big hit.

happyscrappy at 2:54PM on 06/19/11