Food and Drink

Jesse White — the longest-serving secretary of state in Illinois history — retired last month after 24 years in the office.

• But to focus solely on his time in politics would be a disservice to the 88-year-old who embodies Black history, because he lived it (and still does).

Food prices across Chicago were up nearly 8% in December compared with a year earlier, per a new analysis from Axios' Kavya Beheraj and Alex Fitzpatrick.

• The cost of food eaten at home was up 8.3%, while the price of food eaten away from home was up 6.7%, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As the Super Bowl approaches, we're prepared with our awesome lists of best local wings, nachos and pizza. But there's still one important thing left to do: Fight about our favorite guacamole!

Justin's pick: If you're like me and take your Super Bowl viewing seriously, skip the party and order guacamole from Mi Tocaya in Logan Square. It features muddled garlic, serrano peppers and chile ash.

I've always been fascinated that you can legally hunt for waterfowl in the Southeast side neighborhood of Hegewisch.

• But I recently went there to hunt for something else — Singapore Style Fries ($3.99) from Chi Burgerbabi.

When former WBEZ host Alison Cuddy isn't finding joy in a frigid swim, she's out exploring Chicago.

• So we asked her to curate her perfect day in the city.

When it comes to barbecue, you go to Texas for brisket, North Carolina for pulled pork and Kansas City for a slab.

• But in Chicago we don't need those fancy cuts. We take the chewy cartilaginous ends of the rib rack, known as tips, and turn them into gold — often paired with a side of juicy links.

Dreary weather this time of year has us hankering for a warm, crispy grilled cheese sandwich with soup.

• So we're seeking comfort in a food fight over the best grilled cheese in town!

👋 Hey, it's Monica! On a recent trip to the Northwest 'burbs for Asian noodles, I stumbled upon a treasure trove of Himalayan, Korean, Filipino, Iraqi, Indian, Japanese and Jordanian treats — including fettuccine crêpes and pancake balls.

The bites: A Jordanian spot in Morton Grove called Dot Sugar makes what I like to think of as spaghetti and meatballs for dessert.