Joseph Hernandez –

There's no better place to hike than in the Howth hills outside of Dublin, Ireland.

Wild and free in Ireland: A solo trip to Dublin unleashes the primal release of pure, chaotic solitude

March 15, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

I spent my winter holiday break trying to scream on an Irish cliff. I almost failed. I was wandering the cliffs just outside of the sleepy village of Howth. The...

The dining room at Embeya, a restaurant at 564 W. Randolph St., on Dec. 17, 2012, in Chicago.

Chicago restaurateur, former owner of Embeya in the West Loop, arrested in Spain on FBI request

May 31, 2019 at 4:03 p.m.

Attila Gyulai, who fled the country after his West Loop restaurant, Embeya, was shuttered amid a fraud scandal, has been arrested in Spain, according to Spanish newspaper Las Provincias. The...

Frappato and riesling are two grapes that pair well with a variety of cheeses. From Sicily, try Marchese Montefusco Frappato, left. From the Finger Lakes, try Hermann J. Wiemer's riesling.

What wine goes with what cheese? Stop searching for perfect match, just pick easy-drinking bottles

May 31, 2019 at 4:04 p.m.

I ruined all my future potential for joy that first time I tasted Roquefort with Canadian ice wine. I was on a trip with a then-partner in his home region...

Telling the wine retailer or the sommelier what you don't like in wine can narrow the field, leading to an understanding of what flavors, styles and textures you'll enjoy.

How knowing what wines you hate can lead to wines you love

May 31, 2019 at 4:04 p.m.

Editor’s note: Today we introduce a new column, “Modern Wine,” by Food & Dining’s Joseph Hernandez. When I was starting my wine career, I worked at and eventually managed a...

Chef Ashlee Aubin works in the kitchen at Salero, 621 W. Randolph St.

West Loop’s Spanish destination Salero to close New Year’s Eve

May 31, 2019 at 4:01 p.m.

After bouncing back from a fire in September, West Loop Spanish restaurant Salero (621 W. Randolph St.) will close its doors on New Year’s Eve. “It’s a bummer,” said chef...

The Chopping Block shop in the Merchandise Mart (and in Lincoln Square) is a go-to shop for avid home cooks and pros alike.

Where to shop on Small Business Saturday — and throughout the holidays — for local food gifts

May 31, 2019 at 4:04 p.m.

Forget Black Friday. On Small Business Saturday, it’s time to root for the home team. Rather than bemoan how Amazon is destroying the shopping experience, why not let your wallet...

From a honeymoon stay on an Italian island to working a grape harvest in Willamette Valley, Chicago sommeliers remember special wines they're grateful for.

Chicago wine pros share wines they are grateful for

May 31, 2019 at 4:02 p.m.

Get to know wine professionals long enough, and you’ll find out the bottle that “changed their life,” expanding their mind and propelling them into the profession. But what about a...

Bar Ramone, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises first wine bar, offers just 80 seats in the dining room.

Review: Melman plays it small with intimate Bar Ramone, but goes big on breadth, quality of wine

July 2, 2019 at 3:58 p.m.

The 400 block of North Clark Street is becoming quite the little drinking destination. At 435 North, there’s Three Dots and a Dash, the subterranean Tiki hideaway; at 445 North,...

Keep the tabletop simple. Everyone is there for the food and the camaraderie.

Everything you need to host a proper Friendsgiving

June 22, 2019 at 4:46 a.m.

I remember hosting my first Friendsgiving quite well. The year was 2010, and I was living in a tiny “three bedroom” apartment (one of the rooms was a glorified closet)...

Let these 14 bakeries and restaurants supply your Thanksgiving feast with pie

May 31, 2019 at 4:01 p.m.

Thanksgiving is one giant clock made up of never-ceasing gears and widgets — keep your eye on the bird, don’t let the gravy evaporate, drink enough to numb yourself from...

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