Category: Restaurateurs
BACK IN THE CAR with Hushdrops and Village Inn Pizzeria (Episode 682)
After a false start this summer, Car Con Carne is back in the car! This episode finds the car parked outside Village Inn (8050 Lincoln Avenue in Skokie) for a conversation with John San Juan of the long-running Chicago band…
Bhoomi makes Indian cuisine accessible for Chicago (Episode 679)
Now that Bhoomi is up and running in the Urbanspace Food Hall (15 W. Washington), I’m catching up with Co-Founders Sukhu and Ajit Kalra to talk about their approach to Indian cuisine.
Welcome to ‘Septemburger’ (Episode 653)
Three chefs, one show! Chicago Gourmet’s “Hamburger Hop” event is happening right now, and joining me to talk about it are Chef Daniel Pineda (Whiskey Business), Chef Yani Sanchez (Takito) and Chef Michael Hernandez (Azul). We’re talking burgers. We’re talking…
BEHOLD… THE GIANT PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH from The Rambler Kitchen + Tap (Episode 644)
The Rambler Kitchen + Tap (4128 N. Lincoln) has become a fast favorite over the past two years. Owner Kyle Bagley is here to talk about his business, and to show off THE GIANT PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH. We also sampled…
Episode 600 (Part One) Josh Caterer, Martin Atkins, Broken Robots and more!
“The Night of 1000 Stars” was a live, 5-hour podcast recording that included dozens of guests who’ve appeared on the show through the years. In this first segment, JVO is joined by Josh Caterer (Smoking Popes), Tyler Wildey (Epic Deli),…
Claudia restaurant has a new ‘forever home’ for Chef Trevor Teich’s culinary innovations (Episode 561)
Award-winning chef Trevor Teich is opening a new, permanent location for his celebrated restaurant, Claudia, in Bucktown this summer. He joins me tonight to talk about Claudia’s path from its pop-up beginnings through the present. Be prepared to drool as…
Sicilian street food hits Chicago streets. Meet Sfera owners Steven and Daniela (Episode 552)
What is ‘Sicilian street food?’ The answer’s being cranked out nightly by Sfera, operating out of a ghost kitchen on the northwest side. Steven and Daniela of Sfera Sicilian Street Food join me tonight to talk about bringing those flavors…
Let’s drink Soju and bring on the new year! Miki’s Park in River North (Episode 526)
Miki’s Park opened in River North in March, 2020… mere days before it would be forced to close for a couple weeks. Miki’s Park’s story isn’t unique or special, but it is emblematic of what a challenging year it’s been…
From ‘The Last Dance’ specials to ‘Pizza and Parm’: The year in dining innovations from Cornerstone Restaurant Group (Episode 524)
What keeps Cornerstone Restaurant Group COO Danny McGowan hopeful for the service industry? What types of innovation and creativity kept restaurants moving forward this year? What can independent restaurant owners do and think about, heading into 2021? Danny’s one of…
Wine, Andersonville and community: A visit with Lindsey Anderson-Perez of Uvae (Episode 519)
Christmas is 10 days away. Log off Amazon and shop local! Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar is hosting a holiday pop-up retail market that features premade gift baskets as well as DIY “gift baskets” you can create with products from…