Author Archive for Jennifer Dunham Luby

Five New Cars to see at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show

The 2010 Chicago Auto Show can be a daunting exercise in information overload.  Before your eyes start to water from the sea of glittering chrome and your feet ache from too many laps around the 1.2 million square feet floor, consult this guide of Five Production Debut Cars to Watch.  All are expected in dealerships [...]

The Birth of a Perfect Gift Basket

Looking for a great hostess or holiday gift? How about a gift basket…the sort filled with gourmet goodies you’ve no doubt seen in big box stores like Target and Costco. But wait, you don’t have to run out to the store to buy one of these bounteous baskets. Design Pac in west [...]

Luxe food products at wholesale prices – this weekend!

You probably realize that your favorite restaurant doesn’t get its exotic meats, cheeses, and pastries from the local grocery store…but where do they find these culinary treasurers?
European Imports, Ltd is one of the largest wholesale distributor of specialty products in the area.  Chances are you’ve had some of their Spanish serrano ham or English stilton [...]

Sample neighborhood history & cuisine with Chicago Food Tours

Whether you’re entertaining out of town guests or you’d just like to be a hometown tourist, Chicago Food Tours is a unique way to explore neighborhoods off the beaten path while sampling delicious Chicago cuisine.
Earlier this month, I was invited to experience their Bucktown/Wicker Park “food tasting and cultural walking tour”.  Admittedly, I’d already been [...]

August Grocery Store – a shop for cooks!

It’s no secret that I love food, and that I love to cook.  Despite this, I don’t enjoy grocery shopping.  The fluorescent lighting,  kids screaming over cereal choices, the aisles upon aisles of preservative-laden food…it’s enough to make me open a Peapod account!  In a perfect world, I’d have a small neighborhood grocery store that [...]

Creating a Delicious Dessert Buffet

Want to give your guests a sweet surprise?  Treat them to a dessert buffet!
With an infinite number of possibilities, deciding what to serve can be a daunting task.  Consider a good mix of flavors (i.e. not all chocolate…unless you want this to be a chocolate buffet!) and a variety of textures (i.e. not just cupcakes).
How [...]

A “Julie and Julia” Feast for Friends

If you love food, you’re no doubt excited about the release of Julie and Julia, the movie chronicling the early lives of chef Julia Child and blogger Julie Powell.  You may be surprised, however, to find that the movie is about far more than cooking.  Have you ever felt that your life is off track?  [...]

Easy/Easier Brunch

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but want to know my favorite meal of the day?  Brunch.  There’s something about this lazy mealtime that seems a bit decadent.  You want eggs and dessert?  And a cocktail?  Go right ahead – it’s brunch!
While fabulous brunch places abound, there are times you [...]

How to Rock your Block (Party)

Want to get to know your neighbors a little better?  Time to throw a block party!
The “block” in Block Party can be whatever you define.  Maybe it’s your whole street or subdivision, or maybe it truly is just your block.  If you think you might get some party crashers, use a check-in station and give [...]

Sophisticated Spin on Popsicles

When you hear the word “popsicle” do you think of the syrupy grape, orange, or cherry flavored pops of your youth?  If you want to cool down with something different, try a sophisticated twist on this summertime classic – tea and coffee ice pops you can easily make at home!

At the top is an ice [...]