Sweet Home Chicago: Chocolate and Confectionery Production and Technology in the Windy City

Lecture and exhibit tour by Beth Kimmerle,
Exhibit curator and author of  Blommer: An American Chocolate Legacy,

Chocolate: the Sweet History and Candy: the Sweet History

John Crerar Library
The University of Chicago
5730 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL

Podcast courtesy of WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified

Wrigley’s gum, Fannie May chocolate, and Cracker Jack are just some of the confections that have been created and manufactured in Chicago, a major center of candy production in the 20th century. Drawing from items in the substantial cookery collection at the John Crerar Library, this exhibit explores the history of chocolate and confectioners in the city and the science and technology of the candy making process. Continue reading

Eat, Play, Love Our Neighborhoods

Talk by
Alan Solomon

Podcast courtesy of WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified

Chicago is often called “The City of Neighborhoods” – from Rogers Park to Hegewisch, Austin to the Loop, and everywhere in between, treasures await discovery in every part of the city. Last year, research teams scoured every neighborhood in search of restaurants, shops, landmarks and other tourism sites. Over 2000 such attractions are featured in new content and engaging essays by award winning journalist Alan Solomon on ExploreChicago.org, the city’s official tourism website. Continue reading

Comfort Food (and Wine) in America

Presented by:
Chef Susan and Drew Goss,
Owners, West Town Tavern
and Introduced by
Nancy Ross Ryan
Food journalist, editor

West Town Tavern
1329 West Chicago Ave., Chicago

Podcast courtesy of WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified

A conversation about comfort food in America must start with the gathering of Europeans in the southeast portion of the country. There, British landowners, Scotch and Welsh sheepherders, Irish farmers and African slaves first stirred the melting pot that would become American cuisine. Continue reading

Lost German Chicago

Lecture and tour
with Joseph Heinen

DANKhaus
4740 Western Avenue (south of Lawrence)
Chicago, IL

Podcast courtesy of WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified

The DANK-Haus in historic Lincoln Square presents “Lost German Chicago” in its newly created museum space. This exhibition features art, artifacts and memorabilia from Chicago’s German American community. Continue reading

Appetite for Africa

presented by:
Robert Launay, PhD
Program of African Studies, Northwestern University

Sikia Restaurant
Washburne Culinary Institute of Kennedy King College
740 W. 63rd St, Chicago

Podcast courtesy of WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified

It is hard to imagine two culinary traditions so different and yet so intimately related through history as the cuisines of the United States and of West Africa. Yet African cuisine remains a total mystery to most of the American public. Continue reading