The Slow Food Guide to Chicago: Restaurants, Markets, Bars

From Publishers Weekly
Think "Chicago food" and the first things that come to mind might be fattening, greasy dishes: deep-dish pizza, hot dogs and sausages. But, according to slow foodies Gibson and Lowndes, Chicago is also home to a lush "food landscape" that’s keen on sustainable agriculture and local food traditions, a place with culinary artisans "who practice their craft in much the same way their parents and grandparents did." To that end, they give the nitty-gritty of the city’s best eateries, specialty shops and drinking establishments. There are reviews of the best barbecue joints (places that smoke pork spareribs slowly over fragrant wood), Polish places (go to Halina’s Polish Delights for borscht and blintzes that "sing with flavor") and hot dog venues (such as Little Louie’s in Northbrook, where, if you ask for ketchup on your dog, you "just might get kicked out"). In addition to traditional Chicago food, the authors also discuss Mexican taquerias and haute cuisine meccas, notable dairy and cheese shops, and classic meat markets. Comprehensive, engaging and friendly, this is an indispensable book for visitors and locals.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Alice Waters, Founder and Owner, Chez Panisse Restaurant
"Let this book be your guide."

Book Description
Slow Food is here again! From the eco-gastronomes who brought you the best cuisine in New York comes The Slow Food Guide to Chicago. Researched and written by a talented team of Chicago locals and Slow Food members, The Slow Food Guide to Chicago is the most readable and discriminating guide to the city’s diverse food scene. From the best cafés and take-out shops to farmers’ markets and high-end restaurants, this book has something for every budget and every taste. The second in a series of fresh, alternative food guides to North American cities, The Slow Food Guide to Chicago contains more than 500 entries chosen with the principles of Slow Food firmly in mind: conviviality, tradition, sustainability, and an emphasis on artisanal and homemade foods. Those restaurants and shops that go the extra mile (supporting local producers and using organic, regionally grown ingredients) have been honored with the coveted "Snail"--a symbol of the rapidly growing international Slow Food movement. Aimed at locals and visitors alike, this book contains more than 50 sections that reveal fascinating details of the city’s culinary and human histories. From the German-speaking merchants of Lincoln Square to the Hispanic neighborhood of Pilsen, all of Chicago’s ethnic and local food traditions are celebrated and explored.

About the Author
Editors Kelly Gibson and Portia Belloc Lowndes are longtime Chicago residents and co-leaders of the Slow Food Chicago chapter or "convivium."


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A worldwide movement, Slow Food is dedicated to preserving culinary regional traditions by supporting small farmers who grow local produce and the restaurants that use it (see Carlo Petrini's Slow Food: The Case for Taste and www.slowfoodusa.org). This title's over 500 eateries and shops following the principles of Slow Food are categorically arranged under cuisines (e.g., Greek, vegetarian), special foods, and nightlife (e.g. French Fries, Bars and Pubs), and food shops, markets, and producers (e.g. bakeries, chocolate). Each entry contains the address, telephone number, approximate cost, and a well-written quarter- to half-page description containing a brief history and highlighting the food and ambiance. Maps of Chicago's neighborhoods and suburbs are included, although more maps showing the locations of the 500 entries would have been helpful. This title will serve as an excellent supplement to Zagat Survey's annual Chicago Restaurants. Recommended for all public libraries in Illinois and surrounding states and for large public libraries in the rest of the country. [Also available in this series is The Slow Food Guide to New York City.-Ed.]-John McCormick, Plymouth State Univ., NH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.


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