Two cherished Chicago statues were plucked from their shared pedestal — and in Wednesday’s broad daylight.Where could the plump, flirty figurines — beacons of bunless beef — have gone? “Maurie” and “Flaurie,” the 12-foot-tall hot dogs atop the Norwood Park Superdawg restaurant on the Northwest Side, are getting a “spa” treatment, say the owners, Don and Lisa Drucker. The figurines — originally made from chicken wire and a paper-mache-type material — will be repainted, reinforced and put back in three to four weeks, the Druckers say.“They’ve been up there 25 years since the last time they were down. In Chicago,…

The Bay Area restaurant scene is humming again as a new roster of restaurants is ready to open this fall across San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. Some familiar faces are returning for their second go-around — in some cases, the fourth, maybe fifth property — but all are focused on providing locals with stellar food and drink options for the fall. Here are the biggest openings to look out for in the upcoming months. Is there a restaurant or bar opening before the end of the year that we should know about? Email us at sf@eater.com. Dave…

Foodies and Friends – HRW- Tavern by Hearsay Still going strong Houston Restaurant Weeks continues with Katie Stone visiting the Tavern by Hearsay. HOUSTON – One of the newest restaurants in the Hearsay group, Tavern by Hearsay is located downtown at 737 Preston between Houston’s Theater District and Market Square (where there is another Hearsay GastroLounge at 218 Travis Street) The Tavern is offering $25 2- course brunch, $25 2- course lunch and $39 3- course dinner menus for HRW 2024. Katie Stone chats with Hearsay CEO Joseph Natale, about creating the “Pub”, the food inspiration and other Hearsay restaurant plans. She…

10.9% of North Carolinians don’t have enough to eat. GREENSBORO, N.C. — September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about hunger and inspire action. The fight to combat food insecurity is happening in North Carolina.  Governor Roy Cooper declared September 2024 in North Carolina as “hunger action month”. He’s calling on people in North Carolina to help end hunger by volunteering in food banks, learning more about hunger in communities and spreading awareness.  Food insecurity in the Triad Guilford County: 13.7%Forsyth County: 14.5%Randolph County: 16.1%Rockingham County: 17% Combating food insecurity in the Triad Greensboro Urban Ministry is…

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — September is Hunger Action Month and Feeding Kentucky is taking action by encouraging people through education and events.Of the four-and-a-half million people living in the Bluegrass, more than 700,000 are food insecure.Kentucky has the 8th highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. Nearly 21% of all children are food insecure, and nearly 16% of all residents of the state.Kristin Ingwell-Goode is the development director for Feeding Kentucky, a charitable organization that serves 120 counties in partnership with more than 800 local food pantries and shelters.She tells me there are many contributing factors to food…

NEW YORK — Parisa Imanirad, a scientist and cancer researcher from San Francisco, is married and has a wide circle of friends. But once or twice a week, she goes to a restaurant by herself.Imanirad said dining alone gives her time to think or read. She tries not to touch her phone and relishes the silence. “It’s like a spa, but a different type,” Imanirad said during a recent solo lunch at Spruce, an upscale restaurant in San Francisco.Imanirad isn’t alone in her desire to be alone. In the U.S., solo dining reservations have risen 29% over the last two…

New Orleans is known for its rich culinary heritage, where every corner offers something delicious. While the city’s restaurants are a massive draw, the food truck scene is equally vibrant, providing locals and visitors with a convenient way to enjoy some of the area’s best flavors. From classic New Orleans fare to fusion delights, food trucks in New Orleans provide a range of mouth-watering dishes on the go. Here are some of the standout food trucks worth tracking down. La Cocinita: La Cocinita, translating to “The Little Kitchen,” offers Latin American street food with a gourmet twist. Known for its…

These two stand tall above the rest.Think Ali and Frazier or maybe Sonny and Cher, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Simon and Garfunkel, Felix and Oscar, Abbot and Costello, Thelma and Louise, or even Batman and Robin.These are all great twosomes that have worked together hand in hand for many years and have gained almost iconic status in the world upon which they played. Now, as another award-winning edition of one of Chicago’s great summer events, Taste of Chicago prepares to begin on Friday. Maybe we can add these two long-time “taste” stalwarts to that “rare air” from the list…

Chef Chris Bleidorn and partner Aarti Shetty’s chicken shop Birdbox is ending its hiatus for one single day, serving the popular Claude the Claw sandwich once again in San Francisco. The South Park location of Birdbox closed in May as the team focused on opening a New York City outpost, but on Sunday, September 8, they’ll hold a pop-up at the Mission Street location of Square Pie Guys from 11:30 a.m. until sold out. “We miss frying chicken ever since we closed on Second Street,” Bleidorn says. “Since it’s been out of operation, we’ve been getting all these messages, like,…

The renowned Michelin Guide’s arrival in Texas, with Houston restaurants and hotels finally being rated for the first time, is something of a cause of celebration. With countless food “experts” taking a shot at their best predictions, the anticipation for which Houston restaurants will be awarded a coveted star or three is high. While the anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors are already in the field, inspecting restaurants all over the greater Houston area (The Woodlands included) the first awards will not be revealed until later this year. Michelin’s methodical processes and historic criteria will decide which Houston restaurants stand a cut…