Jacquie Berglund CEO of Finnegans

    At the Table with Jacquie Berglund CEO of Finnegans

    In this, At the Table, we talk with Jacquie Berglund who is the CEO of Finnegans beer and Finnegans Community Fund. A dynamic public speaker and self-proclaimed rambunctious social-entrepreneur.

    Healthy Smoked Salmon Breakfast Toast

    Healthy Smoked Salmon Breakfast Toast

    I love lox and bagels for breakfast, the problem is it usually has more calories than I want for an everyday breakfast. This smoked salmon breakfast toast recipe uses smoked salmon, cottage cheese, and toast to create a healthier version with lots of great flavors.
    Dashi and dried shiitake mushrooms

    Discovering Umami – A History of the Fifth Flavor

    The history of umami, what it is, where it comes from, what it tastes like, and how Umami was discovered is a fascinating journey wrapped up in culture and chemistry.

    Better Eating with Bittman and Pollan

    Better Eating with Bittman and Pollan

    At the beginning of the year, I did what most Americans do; I made a resolution to clean up the food in my kitchen and to eat better. Over the next few months, I will be writing about the big ideas in Bittman and Pollan’s books and sharing how I’ve brought them into my kitchen.

    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.

    A sparkling sweet rosé can actually pair very nicely with chocolate desserts

    Wine Pairings for Your Valentine’s Day Dinner

    Valentine’s Day seems like it should be an easy one for pairing food and wine. To help out, we’ve compiled a guide to help you pick out wine pairings that will enhance your Valentine’s Day dinner, not overwhelm it.

    Coffee and Tea

    The Truth About Coffee and Tea and Which is Better for Your Health

    If you’re someone who drinks both coffee and tea, you understand what a tough choice it can be early in the morning. We know that for a lot of people the drink they choose is based on whether they think coffee or tea is best for their health.

    Spanish Rice

    Spanish Rice

    Making Spanish rice from scratch is easy to do, tastes better, and is a lot healthier than buying a mix full of words you can’t pronounce. This Spanish rice recipe gets its flavors from a few simple spices and sautéing the vegetables at the start.
    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.

    Classic Smoked Salmon Dip

    Classic Smoked Salmon Dip

    With its rich flavors and creamy texture, this smoked salmon dip recipe hits all the right notes in this classic appetizer.
    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.

    Xmas pants

    The Umami Guide to Giving by How Well Someone Cooks

    You want to get the cook in your life a present for the holidays, but you’re not sure what to get them. It’s a quandary. Here at Umami, we like to solve these very important problems for you; it’s kind of our thing.

    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.

    The grand dame all nicely tanned

    Thanksgiving Anarchy

    In my opinion, turkey, stuffing, spuds, dressing, beans are some of the easiest things you can cook for Thanksgiving. The food is forgiving and most basic cooks can get the meal together without too much fuss. It’s good, but cooking Thanksgiving dinner bores me.

    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.

    Farmer's market carrots

    Carrot vs. Carrot: Simplifying the Conversation about Organics and GMOs

    Recently I was teaching a group of people I work with what organics, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), rBST, artificial flavors, and colors are and why we are starting to talk about them as a company. My purpose was not to scare anyone or to take a political stance; I just wanted to share facts.