I am one of the world’s biggest fans of mom and pop businesses of any ilk, and that goes double for the restaurant biz, a segment so terribly difficult even under the best of circumstances. Kookers has served the posh Chicago suburb of Barrington for at least thirty years, that I am aware of, perched… Continue reading Kookers Review – Barrington, IL
Category: Sausage
Papa Saverios Pizza Review
There is some relationship between two Chicago-based chains, Rosati’s and Papa Saverio’s, but there aren’t any clues to that online. I don’t think they share any ownership, but they both list the same Italian immigrant Papa Saverio Rosati,as their inspiration and recipe source. Probably some sibling or cousin dispute, but no matter. Rosati’s has really… Continue reading Papa Saverios Pizza Review
Braaitime South African Foods
South African meat treats available by mail in the US.
Home Cookin’ – Lasagna Recipe
I don’t remember the last time I made lasagna at home….it’s been years. During the reign of the late Mrs BurgerDogBoy, the dish was pretty much her purview. Before she set out to actually try and kill me, she messed with me once by trying to sneak turkey Italian sausage past me in the dish,… Continue reading Home Cookin’ – Lasagna Recipe
Big Skillet Review – Elgin, IL
Another suburban Chicago breakfast, this one in the town of Elgin, far west of the city straddling the Fox River. The 8th largest city in Illinois, it was founded as a dairy center (there was a Borden factory) and home to the Elgin Watch Company, maker of timepieces big and small. It was the largest… Continue reading Big Skillet Review – Elgin, IL
Sams Choice Original Smoked Sausages Review
Right off the bat, even before trying them, I liked these better than the McCormick’s Grill Mates sausages I looked at this week (scroll down to next story). Reason? First two ingredients are pork and beef, and not a mechanically separated poultry bit in sight. Also? No “corn syrup solids.” Sam’s Choice Original Smoked Sausages… Continue reading Sams Choice Original Smoked Sausages Review
McCormick Grill Mates Sausages Review
With over 8,000 employees and $4 billion in revenue, McCormick & Company is one of the undisputed leaders in the production and sale of spices and herbs. They have been on an acquisition and strategic partnership tear as of late,which really appears to have been jump started in 2003 with the purchase of New Orleans based… Continue reading McCormick Grill Mates Sausages Review
Pie Five Pizza Review
Arguably at the top of growth chain for the fast casual dining segment, the relatively new “made on demand” concept pizza places appeal to customers on three points: value pricing, quality ingredients, and fast service. There are quite a few entrants into the category already, including Blaze, MOD, and Pie Five, which was started and… Continue reading Pie Five Pizza Review
Vernon Manor Pepperoni Review
One of my local groceries seems to get more than their share of ‘scratch and dent’ foods. That’s my term for products that aren’t regularly stocked or are on the shelf at a deep discount. They do have a close-out bin, as well, which is odd, because the products in there are rarely products… Continue reading Vernon Manor Pepperoni Review
White Castle Chicken Waffle Review
White Castle has been trying on a lot of different dishes for size lately. Jalapeno and siracha everything, for example. Tonight I went for the “Chicken & Waffle Slider,” a take off on the current chicken and waffle craze sweeping the country. Used to be you could only get that dish in about three restaurants… Continue reading White Castle Chicken Waffle Review