Joseph Hernandez – Page 12

Kusanya Cafe is the kind of place where you can get a cup of coffee, check out the community board, print a school paper or simply jump on the internet. You'll see people huddled together over papers strewn across the wood tables or someone walking in simply to say hello to the small staff. Because the nonprofit cafe roasts its own coffee on-site in small batches, don't hesitate to order that lavender iced latte ($3.49) or a plain cup of coffee. The breakfast and lunch menu is lush with references to famous musicians, like the Lupe Tabasco breakfast sandwich ($2.29). It features a thin egg patty, with melted cheese and Sriracha on ciabatta, and you can add sausage, spinach and tomato for an extra charge. The cozy and brightly lit environment is exactly where you want to catch up on some work or meet up with friends. 825 W. 69th St., 773-675-4758, <a href="http://www.kusanyacafe.org/">kusanyacafe.org</a> — Grace Wong

Chicago-area bars and restaurants organize specials to aid in Hurricane Harvey relief

July 2, 2019 at 3:59 p.m.

The effects of Hurricane Harvey are still being felt a week later, with thousands displaced from their homes. Following the lead of Monteverde chef Sarah Grueneberg, a Houston native, area...

Beet hummus is topped with blue cheese, fried chickpeas, roasted pepitas and drops of fragrant basil oil.

1st look at Beatnik, opening Wednesday in West Town

May 2, 2019 at 12:59 p.m.

In the 1950s and '60s, led by the likes of Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, the countercultural, soul-searching Beats traveled the globe to experience new cultures and define their own...

19th-century Viennese chef Franz Sacher would be pleased, I think, by the version of his eponymous chocolate cake served at Café Selmarie in Lincoln Square. First, the top of each slice of Sacher torte is decorated with his name, elegantly written in chocolate script. Second, the cake is a real looker: Layers of chocolate cake are mortared with raspberry preserve and chocolate buttercream; the whole thing is then frosted with more buttercream and wrapped in a smooth sheet of bittersweet chocolate — firm enough to be eaten on its own, if you like, with a fork. Third, every bite is delicious. The devil's food cake is firm and pleasant, while the raspberry offers a deep berry counterpoint to all the chocolate. $4.20. 4729 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-989-5595, <a href="http://cafeselmarie.com/" target="_blank">www.cafeselmarie.com</a>. — Bill Daley

Try this barrel-fermented cider, at The Northman for a limited time

June 2, 2018 at 7:55 p.m.

Time to bust out an unpopular opinion: I can't wait for summer to be over. Look, I get it, Chicago summers are magical and all that, but honestly I'm tired....

Guide to Chicago sausages — from brats to longanisa to barese

July 2, 2019 at 3:59 p.m.

How is it that the world over, most every culture has some version of sausage? Think about it. Who's the genius who decided to mince some meat, throw in some...

5 things to eat, drink, do this weekend

June 2, 2018 at 9:24 p.m.

1) Trash Tiki, a traveling event that promotes less waste behind the bar, returns to Chicago this weekend. Fords Gin has teamed up with London-based bartenders Iain Griffiths and Kelsey...

5 things to eat, drink, do this weekend

June 2, 2018 at 11:28 p.m.

1) Get your fix of fruity wine punch at Chicago's second Sangria Festival. Taking up a corner of Humboldt Park, the outdoor fest will feature many varieties of sangria (pomegranate,...

Six wild Burgundian snails are the star of the wood-grilled escargot ($12) at Le Sud. The Roscoe Village restaurant's version of this dish is not hiding in a pool of garlic butter or served in a scalding hot dish. Presented on a skewer, the mollusks are brushed with olive oil infused with herbs de provence before they're grilled, absorbing a delicate smoky flavor that lingers in your mouth. Tender and buttery, the snails are served with a few generous pats of herb butter that melt, adding another layer of fragrance and lusciousness. A side of green salad dressed with olive oil, lemon and salt provides a bright contrast to the skewer and a hearty country bread serves as a foundation for assembling a makeshift toast point. The portion is small, so make your dining companions order their own. $12. 2301 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-1985, <a href="https://lesudchicago.com/">lesudchicago.com</a> — Grace Wong

Heritage Restaurant and Caviar Bar is ‘a love letter to Chicago’

May 2, 2019 at 12:58 p.m.

Some of the most successful restaurant openings this year have been deeply personal concepts, borne of vision, not an investor's bottom line. "Personal," in this case, means food with insight,...

Chef of Philadelphia’s Zahav, Federal Donuts to take the stage at Metro

June 2, 2018 at 11:24 p.m.

Philadelphia chef Michael Solomonov, who won outstanding chef at the 2017 James Beard Awards for his work at modern Israeli restaurant Zahav, will visit Chicago next month to talk about...

Traveling Beer Mansion bringing interactive Brooklyn Brewery festival to Fulton Market

July 2, 2019 at 3:59 p.m.

"Beer" and "mansion" aren't words you normally see consciously coupled, but we can thank Brooklyn Brewery for the stroke of genius. It's more than just wordplay, though: The popular brewery...

Rick Bayless, Sarah Grueneberg, Michael Muser and more to perform at Victory Gardens this weekend

June 3, 2018 at 12:41 a.m.

Michael Muser, general manager and partner at Grace in the West Loop, is as big a booster of Chicago's restaurant scene as they come. Find out for yourself this Sunday,...

All Stories