Sicilia Italian Bakery Chicago Review

In this neighborhood that I have written about before, with great businesses like The Original Nottoli & Son, Italian-centric merchants flourish. One is the Sicilia Bakery, which sells all kinds of delicious goodies as you’ve never imagined, creative takes on the traditional Italian cannoli, plus cookies, Italian ices, coffee, a multitude of breads, and sandwiches.… Continue reading Sicilia Italian Bakery Chicago Review

Bonci Pizza Review New Orleans LA

Bonci Pizza Review New Orleans LA Gabriele Bonci. He’s from Rome. Has a popular pizza place there. Set his sights on the US market, and curiously, the place he chose to debut his concept was Chicago, arguably a population that has very strong opinions about their pizza. He opened one, then another. Added New Orleans.… Continue reading Bonci Pizza Review New Orleans LA

Please-U Restaurant Review New Orleans

Please-U Restaurant Review New Orleans Please-U Restaurant Review. “Since 1946.” Doesn’t that tell you all you need to know about the Please-U Restaurant, on St. Charles Avenue close into downtown?  Open from 6A – 6PM, this old-timey diner serves all the American favorites as well as traditional New Orleans sandwiches and hot plate meals. I… Continue reading Please-U Restaurant Review New Orleans

Hazels Diner and Bakery Review, Hebron, IL

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was convinced I had stumbled upon the best breakfast potatoes in the country. OK, it wasn’t a galaxy, it was a breakfast horseshoe in Springfield, and after breakfast at Hazel’s Diner and Bakery, Springfield has been relegated to second place. Located in the quiet ville of… Continue reading Hazels Diner and Bakery Review, Hebron, IL

Iras Bagels Review – Lake in the Hills, IL

Living in the suburbs most anywhere, your choice for bagels is pretty much limited to one of the chains (which are all commonly owned now), the grocery store “bakery,” or grocery store frozen. I think the first one I ever had was at a small deli across the street from my apartment in Minneapolis. I… Continue reading Iras Bagels Review – Lake in the Hills, IL

Jersey Mikes Subs Review – Nationwide Chain

So I saw this “pseudo-documentary” the other night, and one segment was on the founding of Jersey Mike’s Subs. After reading a bit on Wikipedia, one or the other took a little poetic license. No matter. The shop started in Point Pleasant, NJ, a seaside down equidistant between Manhattan and Philly. After 3 owners, long… Continue reading Jersey Mikes Subs Review – Nationwide Chain

Marie Callenders Biscuit Mix Review

Spoiler alert. I could give a shit about biscuits. One of my biggest fears is seeing them included with a menu item and the words “no substitutions” appear right beside that notation. I’d rather have toast. Under any circumstances. But you know, people come to be fed a lot around here and on occasion, they… Continue reading Marie Callenders Biscuit Mix Review

Anns Bakery & Deli Review, Ukrainian Village, Chicago

 The first time I was in Russia it was before “the change.” It was not unusual to see dozens or hundreds of people in line at food stores, even though they knew that probably there would be no inventory. Outside of each subway station there were long lines of people selling ‘silly’ things: one shoe, two inches of vodka in… Continue reading Anns Bakery & Deli Review, Ukrainian Village, Chicago