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User:Banff33/Culture of Chicago

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Food and drink

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See also: Chicago farmers' markets, Food manufacturers of Chicago, and Cuisine of the Midwestern United States

Chicago lays claim to a large number of regional specialties that reflect the city's ethnic and working-class roots. Included among these are its nationally renowned deep-dish pizza; this style is said to have originated at Pizzeria Uno. The Chicago-style thin crust is also popular in the city. A number of well-known chefs have had restaurants in Chicago, including Charlie Trotter, Rick Tramonto, Grant Achatz, and Rick Bayless.

In 2003, Robb Report named Chicago the country's "most exceptional dining destination" and in 2008, Maxim awarded Chicago the title of "Tastiest City."

Local specialties

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Chicago-style hot dog

The most popular Chicago-style foods are:

  • The Chicago-style hot dog, traditionally a steamed or boiled, natural-casing all-beef wiener on a poppy-seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, chopped onion, sliced tomato, neon-green sweet-pickle relish, sport peppers, a dill pickle spear, and a sprinkling of celery salt—but never ketchup.[1][2][3]
  • Chicago-style pizza includes deep-dish pizza with a tall outer crust and large amounts of cheese, with chunky tomato sauce on top of the cheese instead of underneath it.[4][5] Similar to this is stuffed pizza, with even more cheese, topped with a second, thinner crust.[6] Also very popular in Chicago is a type of thin-crust pizza called "tavern style", which has a very thin, crispy crust and is cut into squares instead of wedges.[6][7]
  • The Italian beef, a sandwich featuring thinly sliced roast beef simmered in a broth (known locally as "gravy") containing Italian-style seasonings and served on an Italian roll soaked in the meat juices. Most beef stands offer a "cheesy beef" option, which is typically the addition of a slice of provolone or mozzarella. A "combo" is a beef sandwich with the addition of grilled Italian sausage. Italian beef sandwiches are traditionally topped with sweet peppers or spicy giardiniera.[8][9]

Other Chicago-style dishes include:

  • A francheezie is a variation of the Chicago-style hot dog. The hot dog is wrapped in bacon and deep-fried, and either stuffed or topped with cheese.[10][11]
  • Maxwell Street Polish, named after Maxwell Street where it was first sold. It's a Polish sausage made with beef and pork, and with garlic and other spices, served on a bun with grilled onions.[12][13][14][15]
  • The jibarito is a specialty sandwich that originated in the heart of Chicago's Puerto Rican community. Invented by Borinquen Restaurant in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, a jibarito is made with meat or chicken, and condiments, placed between two pieces of fried and flattened plantain instead of bread.[16][17][18]
  • Chicken Vesuvio, an Italian-American dish made from chicken on the bone and wedges of potato, celery, and carrots; sauteed with garlic, oregano, white wine, and olive oil, then baked until the chicken's skin becomes crisp.[19][20]
  • Shrimp DeJonghe, a casserole of whole peeled shrimp blanketed in soft, garlicky, sherry-laced bread crumbs.[21][22]
  • The mother-in-law is a tamale on a hot dog bun, topped with chili.[17][23]
  • Chicago also has its own unique style of tamale, machine-extruded from cornmeal and wrapped in paper, and typically sold at hot dog stands.[24]
  • Gyros is popular in Chicago. While some restaurants still make their own gyros cones, Chicago is the hometown of mass-produced gyros.[25][26]
  • Flaming saganaki was popularized by restaurants in the Greektown neighborhood. A square piece of kasseri, kefalotyri, or a similar cheese is fried in a small, two-handled pan, topped with a splash of brandy, and served flambé-style, traditionally with a cry of "Opa!" from the waiter.[27][28][29]
  • A pizza puff is a deep-fried dough pocket filled with cheese, tomato sauce, and other pizza ingredients such as sausage. Indigenous to Chicago, pizza puffs can be found at some hot dog restaurants.[30][31][32][33]
  • A pepper and egg sandwich combines scrambled eggs and grilled bell peppers, served on French bread. Originally eaten during Lent by Italian immigrants in Chicago, it now can be found in some casual dining restaurants.[34][35][36]
  • The big baby, a style of double cheeseburger with the cheese in between the hamburger patties, ketchup, mustard, and pickle slices underneath them, and grilled onions on top; said to have originated at Nicky's The Real McCoy in the Gage Park neighborhood.[37][38][39]
  • The breaded-steak sandwich, a specialty particularly found in the Bridgeport neighborhood, which consists of a flattened inexpensive cut of beef that has been breaded, fried Milanesa-style and served on an Italian bread roll with marinara sauce, topped with optional mozzarella cheese and/or green peppers.[40]
  • The Freddy, a sandwich consisting of an Italian sausage patty topped with green peppers, mozzarella and marinara served on a bun. It is typically found in sandwich shops and pizzerias on the South Side and its adjacent suburbs.[41][42][43]
  • Pork chop sandwiches, served bone-in with mustard and grilled onions, are popular on the South Side.[44]
  • The gym shoe (sometimes spelled Jim Shoe or Jim Shoo), a submarine sandwich made with a combination of corned beef, gyros, and either roast beef or Italian beef.[45][46][47][48]
  • Aquarium-smoked barbecue, particularly rib tips and hot links. This is barbecue that has been cooked in a rectangular indoor smoker with glass sides and a large compartment for a wood fire under the grill.[49][50][51][52][53] Barbecued ribs are also very popular in Chicago.[54][55]
  • Mild sauce, a condiment made with barbecue sauce, ketchup, and hot sauce, and sometimes other ingredients such as honey or sugar. Mild sauce is used as a topping on fried chicken and other foods, and was popularized at fast food restaurants in Chicago's African-American community including Harold's Chicken Shack, Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken, and Coleman's Barbecue.[56][57][58][59]
  • Giardiniera – spicy, chopped, pickled vegetables in oil – is popular as a condiment in the Chicago area. For example, it's commonly used as a topping on Italian beef sandwiches. Giardienera was brought to the city by immigrants from Sicily, where it's served as a side dish. Chicago-style giardiniera has vegetables that are chopped very finely, and uses oil and not vinegar as a base.[60]
  • Popcorn from Garrett Popcorn Shops, including their "Garrett Mix" flavor that is a combination of cheddar cheese popcorn and caramel popcorn.
  • Atomic cake, featuring banana, yellow, and chocolate cake layers alternating with banana, strawberry, and fudge fillings.[61][62]
  • Chicago Brick ice cream, a Neapolitan-style three-flavor ice-cream with orange sherbet, vanilla, and caramel flavors.[63][64]

Restaurant scene

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See also: List of Michelin starred restaurants in Chicago

Chicago features many restaurants that highlight the city's various ethnic neighborhoods, including Chinatown on the South Side, Swedish/Nordic Andersonville on North Clark street, Greektown on Halsted Street, and Little Italy on Taylor Street and the Heart of Italy. The South Asian community along Devon Avenue hosts many Pakistani and Indian eateries. The predominantly Mexican neighborhoods of Pilsen and Little Village are home to numerous eateries ranging from small taquerías to full scale restaurants. Several restaurants featuring Middle Eastern fare can be found along Lawrence Avenue, while Polish cuisine is well represented along Milwaukee Avenue on the Northwest side and Archer Avenue on the Southwest side. A large concentration of Vietnamese restaurants can be found in the Argyle Street district in Uptown.[65]

Along with ethnic fare and fast food, Chicago is home to many steakhouses, as well as a number of upscale dining establishments serving a wide array of cuisine. Some notable destinations include Frontera Grill, a gourmet Mexican restaurant owned by chef and Mexico: One Plate at a Time host, Rick Bayless; Graham Elliot's eponymous restaurant, Graham Elliot; Jean Joho's Everest, a new-French restaurant located on the top floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange building downtown, and Tru from chefs Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand.

Chicago has become known for its ventures in molecular gastronomy, with chefs Grant Achatz of Alinea,[66] Homaro Cantu of Moto,[67] and Michael Carlson of Schwa.

Black restaurants

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Many African American migrants who were entrepreneurs would open restaurants, female entrepreneurs especially. Food-related businesses had a low threshold for entry because many African Americans were raised in environments where food was a central part of life.[68]

The Chicago Tribune in 2019 identified five "iconic black restaurants" run by five families as having some of the best food in the city. They were Harold's Chicken Shack (founded 1950), Lem's Bar-B-Q (founded 1954), Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken (founded 1963), Taurus Flavors (founded 1966) and Old Fashioned Donuts (founded 1972).[69] The city is also home to many fried-shrimp shacks.[70][71][72]

Conferences & events
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Taste of Chicago is a large annual food festival held in early July in Grant Park in downtown Chicago. It features booths from dozens of Chicago-area restaurants, as well as live music.[73]

Beginning in 2015, Chicago Black Restaurant Week is an annual celebration of various Black cuisines where more than 20 different restaurants come together in February during Black History Month to share their foods.[74]

In 2001, the Culinary Historians of Chicago held a ‘Grits and Greens’ conference at Harold Washington College. The conference was focused on highlighting the contribution of African-American women in shaping the culinary culture of Chicago's black community. Over the course of two days, the event brought together an array of people, including authors, chefs, and professors. The programming of the event featured a variety of activities, such as a gala held at Roosevelt University and tours of the southwest neighborhoods of Chicago.[75]

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References

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  2. ^ Zeldes, Leah A. (July 22, 2010). "Do Only Barbarians Put Ketchup on Hot Dogs?", Dining Chicago. Archived from the original on December 30, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  3. ^ Adams, Cecil (August 30, 1991). "Why Is There No Ketchup on a Properly Made Hot Dog". The Straight Dope. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
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  7. ^ McClelland, Edward (June 30, 2020). "Tavern Style Isn't Just Chicago's Signature Pizza, but Its Signature Food". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Pang, Kevin (December 6, 2015). "Hunting the Best Italian Beef in Chicago", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
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  12. ^ Eng, Monica; Leroux, Charles (October 1, 2004). "The Original Maxwell Street Market", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
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  16. ^ Eng, Monica (June 18, 2003). "Saga of a Sandwich", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
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  18. ^ Anderson, Lindsey (August 23, 2017). "Eight Places to Eat Puerto Rican Jibaritos in Chicago". Eater Chicago. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  19. ^ Sarazen, Raeanne S. (June 13, 2001). "Would Appreciate It If You Would Send Me a Recipe For...", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  20. ^ Royer, Blake (December 15, 2011). "Dinner Tonight: Chicken Vesuvio", Serious Eats. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  21. ^ Camp, Paul A.; Brownson, JeanMarie (January 27, 1985). "The Heavenly Recipe That Helped Make Henri De Jonghe Immortal", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  22. ^ Olvera, Jennifer (February 23, 2013). "Sunday Supper: Garlicky Shrimp de Jonghe", Serious Eats. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  23. ^ Edge, John T. (May 19, 2007). "Making a Mother-in-Law Sandwich". NPR. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  24. ^ Zeldes, Leah A. (December 18, 2009). "The Unique Chicago Tamale, a Tuneful Mystery". Dining Chicago. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  25. ^ Segal, David (July 14, 2009). "The Gyro's History Unfolds", New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  26. ^ Kindelsperger, Nick (July 19, 2018). "Best Gyros in Chicago? Look for the Pork". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  27. ^ Roy, Joe (February 10, 2012). "TGI Fry-Day: Saganaki at the Parthenon", Serious Eats. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  28. ^ Johnson, Charles J. (September 8, 2014). "Parthenon Blazes a Trail", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
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  36. ^ Vettel, Phil (February 18, 2015). "Go Meatless with These Pepper and Egg Sandwiches", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
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  38. ^ "The Big Baby – The Chicago Classic You May Not Know". Eater Chicago. January 26, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
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  40. ^ Berg, Ted (March 3, 2015). "Chicago Has the Best Sandwich in the World and Most People Don't Even Know It". USA Today. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  41. ^ G., Renee (August 31, 2007). "The Freddy, Another Little Known Southside Sandwich". LTHForum. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  42. ^ "City of the Big Sandwiches: Four Uncommon Chicago Meals on a Bun". Dining Chicago. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  43. ^ "Calabria Imports". Food Network. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
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  45. ^ Konkol, Mark (June 5, 2015). "Decadent 'Gym Shoe' at Stony Sub Might Be South Side's Best Sandwich Ever". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  46. ^ Kindelsperger, Nick (June 2012). "Standing Room Only: In Search of the Gym Shoe, Chicago's Unsung Sandwich". Serious Eats. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  47. ^ Chillag, Ian (August 12, 2013). "Sandwich Monday: The Jim Shoe". NPR. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  48. ^ Nolledo, Michael (April 7, 2017). "The Anatomy of the Gym Shoe, Chicago's Unsung Sandwich Hero". InsideHook. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  49. ^ Zeldes, Leah A. (2008). "Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em". Dining Chicago. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2015. On the West and South sides, barbecue joints tend to be strictly take-out places, and the style is typically smokier and chewier, cooked in aquarium smokers. (Developed in the 1950s and unique to Chicago, these rectangular cookers with transparent doors get their name from their resemblance to fish tanks.)
  50. ^ Freeman, Sarah (June 15, 2016). "What Is Chicago-Style Barbecue, Anyway?", Chicago Eater. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
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  53. ^ Kindelsperger, Nick (June 26, 2019). "Where to Find the Best Barbecue on Chicago's South Side, Where the Rib Tip and Hot Link Combo Is King". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
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  56. ^ Daley, Bill (June 24, 2017). "What's the Story? Answering a Reader's Questions About Mild Sauce, the Condiment You'll Find Only in Chicago". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  57. ^ Jackson, Scoop (November 6, 2019). "The Beauty and Mystery of Mild Sauce". Newcity. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  58. ^ Burress, Hannibal (February 13, 2017). "The Simple Genius of Mild Sauce". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  59. ^ Infante, Dave (November 20, 2017). "Chicago's Most Underappreciated Food Icon". Thrillist. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  60. ^ Kindelsperger, Nick (May 19, 2017). "How Giardiniera Crossed an Ocean to Become Chicago's Favorite Condiment". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  61. ^ Chu, Louisa (June 12, 2013). "Chicago Food and Drink Destinations: The Intangible Cultural Heritage List", WBEZ. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  62. ^ Chu, Louisa (March 10, 2017). "Celebrating Atomic Cake, the Iconic South Side Creation That Defies Gravity". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  63. ^ "Dean's Country Fresh Classic Chicago Brick Ice Cream". Dean's Dairy. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  64. ^ Gunderson, Erica (July 9, 2020). "Ask Geoffrey: The Scoop on Chicago's Brick Ice Cream". WTTW. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  65. ^ Thompson, Aimee (March 16, 2014). "Little Saigon: An Afternoon Exploring Chicago's Vietnamese Neighborhood with Your Family", ChicagoNow. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  66. ^ "Staff". Alinea Restaurant. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011.
  67. ^ "Review". metromix.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011.
  68. ^ Poe, Tracy N. (1999). "The Origins of Soul Food in Black Urban Identity: Chicago, 1915-1947". American Studies International. 37 (1): 4–33. ISSN 0883-105X.
  69. ^ Chu, Louisa (June 25, 2019). "The founders of 5 iconic Black restaurants in Chicago, and how they helped form a culinary culture". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  70. ^ Ruscitti, Titus (July 2, 2014). "The 10 Best Fried Shrimp Shacks in Chicago", Thrillist. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  71. ^ Dolinsky, Steve (February 10, 2011). "Top 5 Shrimp Shacks in Chicago", WBEZ 91.5. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  72. ^ "The 15 Best Places for a Fried Shrimp in Chicago", Foursquare, January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  73. ^ "History of the Taste of Chicago", City of Chicago. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  74. ^ "Chicago Black Restaurant Week: Steeped in history, the event is ever-evolving". Chicago Sun-Times. 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  75. ^ Smith-Colin, Mattie (June 20, 2001). "`Grits And Greens' conference celebrates African American women". Chicago Defender. Real Times, Inc. p. 13. ISSN 0745-7014.
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