I’m just back from 5 days in Chicago visiting a food writer friend who has courageously started a non-profit to educate kids about tasting real food The Good Food Project. Go Susan Taylor!

Susan conducting an apple tasting for fourth graders. We tried Cameos, Granny Smith's, Fujis and Golden Delicious. Cameos won that day.

It was a fun immersion into local food culture and all that’s happening in the Great Mid-west.

Here are a few highlights:

Best Food in Chinatown — Seven Treasures Restaurant. Amazing $4.00 bowl of soup with handmade shrimp and pork dumplings, gorgeously seasoned with white pepper. We also indulged in old-fashioned egg rolls sealed with peanut butter. Yum!

Favorite local-ish beer was Founders Imperial Stout. Great depth of flavor — coffee notes, dark molasses.

Best new restaurant – the PUBLICAN

Designed like a German beer hall with long tables and striking modern glass globe lighting, this is the “it” place for fantastic upscale pub fare (I refuse to use the word gastro pub, I think it sounds like you need an antacid). Try the boudin blanc and the ricotta with roasted butternut squash. Belgian list is fantastic, although we were steered to an odd Lambic, not my favorite beer of the night.

Best New (opens in mid-March) pie shop. Hoosier Mama. The chef/owner has a huge pedigree but a tiny ego. The goal here is world-class pie with a cup of Joe for $5.00.

Susan interviews Paula Haney for the Chicago Tribune while I eat pie and shoot photos.

Best Neighborhood Lunch spot lula. I loved the roasted veggie eggs benedict and the blackberry bellini. This place has an Alice Waters meets indie rocker vibe. Fantastic menu.

Best breakfast in Greektown, Meli Café. Wasn’t crazy about the oversized omelette but loved the cornmeal “meli cakes”.

Best breakfast in Andersonville (where I stayed). M. Henry. Yes, more coffee please.

Best bottle shop in Fine Spirits. This shop specializes in well-chosen artisan beer, wine and spirits. Its shelves are merchandised like a Barneys window and its selections reflect a palate that’s after flair and value.

Ciao for now.