The mantra at the Harriet is that a dish should fall into place naturally

    Falling for the Harriet Brasserie

    I’ve been crushing on the Harriet Brasserie for a few years now; dinner with friends, lunch with my mother, dessert with the kids, beer, and fries (with béarnaise for dipping) at the bar with my husband. If anyone asks about my dining preference, the answer is compulsory: The Harriet, of course!

    Alex Gibney and Michael Pollan

    Review: Cooked, Michael Pollan’s New Netflix Series

    Cooked, a new documentary by Michael Pollan and Alex Gibney on Netflix is a beautifully filmed series about the role cooking plays in what makes us human.If you’re interested in seeing a show about food where you actually learn something new and are entertained Cooked is worth watching.

    Downtown Chicago on a fall evening

    At the Bar: What Umami is All About

    In this At the Bar column, I talk about Umami’s approach to storytelling, what our goals are, and how we’re working to become an essential publication for people interested in food and drink.

    The view from our morning hike

    Escape to a Polynesian Paradise in Fiji

    Traveling to Fiji for my honeymoon was the perfect way to disconnect from the world. Sitting on the deck of our overwater Bure my husband and I would take the time to enjoy the changing colors and pointing out the different types of fish that would swim underneath our hut and around the lagoon.

    Umami Year In Review

    Umami’s Most Popular Stories and Recipes in 2015

    As we finish up 2015, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at the most popular stories and recipes on Umami during the past year.

    persian love cake

    Searching for Persian Love Cake

    A story of a prince, a girl, and love nudged along by the magic of a delicate rosewater cake laced with saffron accompanies some recipes for Persian Love Cake. It’s an origin story shrouded in mystery that inspires images of two lovers hunched over a tiny table in a faraway place.

    I navigated the tunnel-like streets of Florence to my apartment on a curvy hill across the river.

    A Florentine Christmas with Risotto

    On Christmas Eve, long ago, I navigated the tunnel-like streets of Florence to my apartment on a curvy hill across the river. The risotto we cooked is normally too simple for a holiday feast, but that night no one seemed to care.

    Folks on a Chicago Food Planet Food Tour

    An Inside Look at Chicago Food Planet and What it Takes to Run A Food Tour In Chicago

    When you travel to Chicago these days, there’s a good chance that taking a food tour is somewhere on your list of possible adventures. What most people don’t know is everything that goes into starting a food tour.

    A vintage Jaguar on the street in the Vedado neighborhood

    Traveling to Cuba to Find the Heart of Havana

    My trip to Cuba was a bit to the left of legal. I visited two weeks before relations between the United States, and Cuba was restored, meaning I had to plan everything without any of my usual resources, like travel websites, where, if anything went wrong, we were, more or less, screwed.

    Cloud Gate

    Figuring Out What to Do in Chicago’s Loop

    There’s so much to see and do in Chicago’s Loop; there’s no way you’re going to do everything. So whether you’re going to Chicago to eat, check out the nightlife, see a show, shop on the Miracle Mile, or just explore, we’ve put together a guide for getting the most out your trip to Chicago.

    Crete

    ReCRETEing: Making Cretan Dakos at Home

    Travel to Crete to fall in love with Cretan Dakos and learn how to make them when you have to go home.

    Split Rock Lighthouse

    The Sleepover: Late Summer Along the North Shore

    As you head along the North Shore from Duluth, you reach a fork in the road that sets the tone for your trip. On the right, the vast blue waters of Lake Superior reach out before you along the Old North Shore Road that winds it’s way leisurely along the shore on your left is Hwy 61 that whisks along.

    Regional Cuisine Map

    Why Midwesterners Should Put Down Their Casserole Dishes and Create a Regional Cuisine

    I’ve been thinking about what it means to have a regional cuisine and where they come from. It can be a touchy subject coming from Minnesota and the Midwest, especially when everyone thinks our regional cuisine is hotdish and lutefisk.

    Northfield Olive Oils and Vinegars

    Northfield Olive Oils and Vinegars: Chemistry, Geography, and Making the Leap

    Gathered along the Cannon River, Northfield presents the quintessential Midwestern hamlet with pubs and restaurants with beguiling names like Froggy Bottoms Pub and tidy streets featuring artisan shops like Northfield Olive Oils and Vinegars.

    Paul Hogan slipping another shrimp on the barbie

    Before You Throw Another Shrimp on the Barbie Take a Look Back at One of the World’s Most Effective and Annoying Catch Phrases

    Before you throw another shrimp on the barbie take a look back at one of the world’s most effective and annoying catch phrases and how it changed America’s view of Australia.

    Vodoo Doughnut is a really unique doughnut shop

    The Sleepover: Discover Portland, Oregon, the Gem of the Pacific Northwest

    Traveling to Portland for the first time, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was instantly in awe of the scenic beauty and the thriving downtown.

    The Henry Ford Bungalow overlooks the Keweenaw Bay

    The Sleepover: The Keweenaw Bay in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

    For those seeking a deeper level of remoteness, a rustic nirvana awaits those who travel to Keweenaw Bay in Michigan’s the Upper Peninsula.

    Vikre is creating a new set of spirits from the flavors of the North Shore

    Vikre Distillery Creates Gins from the North Shore

    Tucked into a corner of Duluth’s Canal Park Vikre Distillery is creating a unique family of gins inspired by Lake Superior and the Northwoods.