Food & Drink
If you’re hungry for new dining spots or itching to try a new beer, then belly up to the Gozamos Food & Drink section. Read what our expert reviewers have to say about Chicago’s best restaurants, recipes, bars and diners. Find reviews of Latin, Italian, Hawaiian, Mexican, American and other cuisines.
Fat and Happy: Smoked Salt and Caramel Rice Krispy Treats
By Monique Costello on January 29, 2012 | Leave a comment!
Using a caramel marshmallow base was pure genius (yup, patting myself on the back for this one) – the treats stayed soft for a week! Adding the smoked salt really put it over the top. It’s almost like a salted caramel with crunch, but really more like a caramel-y rice krispy.
Fat & Happy: Balsamic Beet Salad with Toasted Macadamia Nuts
By Monique Costello on January 22, 2012 | Leave a comment!
Beets: The New York Times is calling them “the new spinach.” Monique is calling them pure yummy in this week’s newest recipe!
In Praise of Drinking Alone
By Nicole Cipri on January 21, 2012 | 1 Comment
What’s a booze-loving, mildly-misanthropic introvert to do?
Fat & Happy: Crispy Microwave Potato and Turnip Chips
By Monique Costello on January 16, 2012 | 1 Comment
A little slicing, a few minutes in the power zapping machine and the resulting potato chip is better than any greasy bagged variety. The turnip chip even won the heart of Dave – who doesn’t like chips or turnips! Feel like you’re cheating even when you’re not with these Fat and Happy homemade chips.
Fat & Happy: Healthy Spinach Soup
By Monique Costello on January 8, 2012 | Leave a comment!
Now is not the time to wrinkle your nose and hide behind that bulky sweater. Eating light and healthy doesn’t mean eating cardboard rice crisps but rather enjoying simple tasty fair that isn’t loaded with fats and sugars. Behold the spinach soup!
Beer of the Month January: Lakefront Brewery Fixed Gear American Red Ale
By Jay Barzyk on January 7, 2012 | Leave a comment!
The long wait has come to an end. You can now get Fixed Gear in six-packs!
You spent how much on cheese?!
By Jen López on January 6, 2012 | Leave a comment!
What would drive a perfectly sane woman to spend $1,400 on a huge chunk of cheese? While there are many foodies and cheese lovers out there, only one was driven to this most unique point of purchase. This is her tale.
Fat & Happy: New Year’s Eve Spicy Cheesy Beef Tator Tot Casserole
By Monique Costello on January 2, 2012 | Leave a comment!
The blurry eyes. The pounding head. The layer of fuzz on the teeth. And the confetti and party paraphernalia stuck in your hair. Could be New Year’s morning… or just another Sunday. Either way, sooner or later you are going to need hangover food. Tots anyone?
Food & Drink Best of 2011, Part Dos
By Corey Nuffer on January 1, 2012 | Leave a comment!
It’s been two years since we’ve been covering Chicago’s culinary scene. Here’s another look at some of our best work over the past year.
Food and Drink Best of 2011, Part Uno
By Corey Nuffer on December 29, 2011 | Leave a comment!
It’s been two years since we’ve been covering Chicago’s culinary scene. Here’s some of our best work over the past year.
Fat & Happy: Roast Beef for New Year’s Eve
By Monique Costello on December 26, 2011 | Leave a comment!
New Year’s Eve is a wondrous night, but it does not have to be a china-only night. It’s possible to have a simple dinner party without the fuss. A roast beef allows for the option of a super sit down meal or simple sandwiches to nosh on all night long.
Reviewed Food: Jam in Logan Square
By Corey Nuffer on December 21, 2011 | Leave a comment!
Jam has moved to a new location. Too bad for folks on North Damen as the move means amazing food and unbelievable prices for those lucky enough to live near Logan Square. No matter the proximity, a trip to Jam seems less like a visit to a restaurant but an adventure where gastronomy doesn’t necessarily mean expensive.
Fat & Happy: Holiday Sangria
By Monique Costello on December 18, 2011 | Leave a comment!
Who knew National Sangria Day is December 20th? How exactly do we, as a Nation, decide on these special ‘days’? Is it on the yearly ballot and I’m just missing it? Did I not see the poll on Facebook? Or perhaps I missed the Tweetup?
Let It Rise: Baking in a Prepackaged World
By Nicole Cipri on December 17, 2011 | Leave a comment!
There is a saying in French: Être bon comme du bon pain. To be as good as good bread, or unable to do wrong.
Beer of the Month December: Goose Island Christmas Ale
By Jay Barzyk on December 16, 2011 | Leave a comment!
This holiday, share some festive ale with those you care for.
Fat & Happy: Homemade Marshmallows
By Monique Costello on December 11, 2011 | Leave a comment!
One of the great rewards about making homemade marshmallows, besides wowing your friends and family with your mad skills, is that you can flavor them. Peppermint, vanilla, almond, cherry, caramel, chocolate, maple – pretty much anything is doable.
Munch: The New Comfort Food
By Corey Nuffer on December 11, 2011 | Leave a comment!
In the post-Thanksgiving weightloss haze that is my life, I’ve discovered and redefined what comfort food eating means in an Oak Park restaurant called Munch. And like most gems, there is much more than meets the eye.
Vino: What is wine-food pairing anyway?
By Corey Nuffer on December 9, 2011 | 1 Comment
By now, most of us know the hard-fast rule about pairing: White wine with white meat, red wine with red meat. But are there exceptions? And what if you’ve never had a bad wine pairing?
Fat & Happy: Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake
By Monique Costello on December 4, 2011 | Leave a comment!
The edges of this cake become slightly crunchy while the inside stays moist from the cherry filling. The frosting becomes a filling to emulate the gooey insides of a chocolate covered cherry. And just a little layer of chocolate on top rounds out the mouthfeel. How can you resist trying to make this?
Cheesy Leek, Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna
By Monique Costello on November 27, 2011 | Leave a comment!
For most people, 3-days after Thanksgiving is about the time they can’t imagine eating another bite of turkey. They clearly have not tried my white lasagna with oozing, cheesy buttermilk sauce and fresh pasta filled with layers of leeks, mushrooms, spinach and turkey.
Fat & Happy: Grilled Turkey with Apple-Jalapeno Glaze
By Monique Costello on November 20, 2011 | Leave a comment!
I decided to recreate this dish for the blog because it’s a perfect crowd pleaser for holiday festivities. This works as a simple dinner as well. If there is any leftover turkey, it’s fantastic on sandwiches.
Reviewed Food: Alverre café bistró in Coyoacan, D.F.
By Jose Luis Benavides on November 19, 2011 | Leave a comment!
Get ready for a fruity feast, Gozamos goes all the way to Frida’s house and back for this wild fruit pasta dinner.
Beer of the Month November: Fest Review
By Jay Barzyk on November 18, 2011 | Leave a comment!
Feature image kellbailey This month I had the pleasure of trying something new. Actually, I had the pleasure of trying a bunch of beers I had never had before! The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild presented the 9th annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer, and it was like no beer fest I had ever been [...]
Fat & Happy: Squash Soup with Stuffed Onions
By Monique Costello on November 13, 2011 | Leave a comment!
Cool fall weather just screams for soup, and squash is a classic choice. Sometimes soup doesn’t feel like it’s a full meal so I wanted to add a little something to it. These stuffed onions make use of lots of the fall vegetables and give the soup a little life.
