The slide guitar!  Read more

I’m sure you’ve heard it, but Colin Meloy Sings Live is a great sorta companion album to the full band’s discography. Read more

If they get rid of the spicy potato soft taco, my wife might just lose all hope in humanity. Read more

Counterpoint: All meat is weird. We take the muscles and skin and marrow, etc. from other animals and eat it. Read more

A good chef’s knife is essential. I am partial to my Global Classic, but any decent (and sharp!) knife that feels comfortable in your hand should be one of your first buys.

A good chef’s knife is essential. I am partial to my Global Classic, but any decent (and sharp!) knife that feels…

Let me know when they get Forky shoes. Read more

I, for one, am appalled that Charles Entertainment Cheese would do something so shady.  Read more

Does flipping over my handlebars while transporting a quesadilla back home and cutting my ankle count? Read more

I encountered the Tamale Guy three times in the 4ish years I lived in Chicago and every time the reaction to his appearance was the same: cheers around the bar. I miss hearing “Tamales! Tamales!”
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I appreciate that criticism, sincerely! It definitely walks that line of being its own thing, but it’s got just enough of a kick and is delicious enough that I thought it merited inclusion.  Read more

Black Label Reserve is... polarizing. A lot of people have issues with the texture, which I’ve never had. I definitely understand why people don’t love the smoke-bomb-ness of it, though. It’s got its time and place. But I like literally any of their sauces.  Read more

Last Dab XXX still has a hell of a kick, but it’s less mind-bogglingly painful than I expected. Thunder Juice is a better sauce for that sort of pain. Read more

Would that I could wish it away. But I saw Shakshuka more times than I wanted that night. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Read more

My wife and I both used to love making Shakshuka. Then we paired it with a nice mixed-greens salad right at the start of the Romaine e.coli breakout a couple years ago. I can barely even think about Shakshuka anymore. Read more

I remember dropping my first plate at my first restaurant job. I felt awful, but even the very strict boss said “Don’t worry about it. Things happen.” If this boss is that worried about a broken glass or 10 even, they probably need to not be in the restaurant business.  Read more

Marnie nearly had me with the Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip (try Graeters’ version!) and butter pecan, but Aimee’s picks are undefeated. Read more

This is prose-cursing on the level of Veep. Made me chuckle. Read more

My wife texted me yesterday: “I can’t remember all the cookies I make. Everything I have is shortbread based.” Read more

My local running community got together for one of these over the weekend. One of our fastest runners (she ran a BQ a couple months ago) came in last. The Beer Mile is truly something different.  Read more

Growing up in Indianapolis, I had never heard of a Kringle. I think Indy was just a bit too far south to be within the cultural belt of Kringle-ness. Not too far off of the whole Paczki Day territory. When I moved to Chicago, I noticed it and was drawn to it immediately. When I moved farther south, I wasn’t able to… Read more