WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Savory crepe from Crepes A Latte (photo: Joseph Storch)They remind us of those carefree backpacking trips through France, or, if you're from the Midwest, perhaps a trip to The Magic Pan as a kid.

 Like a lot of successful executives, Wayne Cohen was looking for a change of pace and a new beginning for a career that started feeling flat. He had already made money in the software industry, and was, for a short time, the head of Chicago's iconic Maurice Lenell Cookies.

Chicago's Goose Island Beer Company is shifting some production to New Hampshire.Goose Island brews popular beers like 312 and Honker's Ale, as well as specialty beers like Matilda, and limited-editions like its Bourbon County Stouts.Brewmaster Greg Hall says production grew more than 20 percent la

All of the talk about Big Star has centered on its brown liquors, crafty cocktails and ridiculously inexpensive-yet-highly-delicious tacos and other Southwest honkytonk fare.

Last week, the James Beard Foundation announced its list of "semi-finalists" for the exhaustive, annual list of chef and industry awards. Routinely called the "Oscars" of the food world, the Foundation began handing out awards in 1990.

  The 4th Annual Restaurant Week (Feb 18 – 27) kicks off today featuring discounted dining at more than 200 of Chicago’s finest restaurants.

Now in its fourth year, Chicago Restaurant Week (Feb. 18 - 27) was originally created to help generate business at a typically slow time of year. This time around, more than 200 restaurants will be offering a 3-course prix-fixe meal for the same price -- $22 for lunch, and $33/$44 for dinner.