During the past decade, Chicago hasn't had much of a deli culture — but now, the bagel shop boom has begun. In this episode, host David Manilow talks with chef Sam Zeitlin about his brand-new Zeitlin's Delicatessen on Clybourn Avenue in Lincoln Park. Hear about the intricacies of making the perfect bagel, the key ingredients to deli hospitality and what makes an authentic nosh.

Host David Manilow is a huge fan of Ethiopian food. Spices including turmeric and cardamom are alluring, no doubt, but it's really the communal nature of Ethiopian dining that makes the meal special. In this episode, Manilow talks with chef Tigist Reda of Demera — an Ethiopian restaurant in Uptown — about her life in Chicago, how she became a revered cultural ambassador, and why you won’t need a fork to enjoy her food.

Chefs in Chicago are often generous with their time and resources in supporting their neighborhoods. That collaborative spirit also defines the city's dining scene. In this episode, host David Manilow talks with chefs Tony Montuano, Arshiya Farheen, Cliff Rome, Lacey Irby, Bill Kim and more about their favorite Chicago restaurants that they can’t stop recommending.

Jackie Jackson has plenty to say about mentoring. Her devotion to it is clear. In this episode, host David Manilow talks to Jackson about her journey of perseverance and the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur and mentor to young employees at her eight Chicago-area Kilwin’s candy and ice cream franchises. Hear about her devotion to quality and why the little things mean a lot to her. Jackson was also named the 2024 Illinois Small Business Administration’s Person of the Year.

In his youth, host David Manilow sampled a lot of sushi restaurants. Eventually he would tell sushi chefs to surprise him, even before omakase — a Japanese term that means "I’ll leave it up to you" — was all the rage around Chicago. Now, there's a new omakase spot everywhere you turn. In this episode, Manilow talks with Mari Katsumura and Adam Sindler, who just opened a new restaurant in Old Town called Shō. You’ll hear how they combine Japanese heritage with whimsical plating and inventive flavor combinations for a whole new experience.

Quality bakeries have been popping up all over Chicago. There's Fat Peach in Bridgeport, Sugar Moon in Logan Square and Umaga Bakehouse on the Northwest Side, to name a few that have popped up over the past few years. In this episode, host David Manilow talks with chef Arshiya Farheen of Verzênay, a French patisserie and cafe in Lincoln Park, about her journey to bring a slice of Paris to Chicago and more.

Host David Manilow has been running around town and trying a whole bunch of restaurants. In this episode, Manilow shares some that he can’t wait to get back to — and at least one stop where he’s one and done. Hear about his experiences at Cellar Door Provisions, Maxwell’s Trading, Nic + Junior’s, Piccolo Sogno and S.K.Y.

Chef Bill Kim joins host David Manilow to talk about his days cooking at the great Charlie Trotter’s. Kim is opening up a new place just down the block called Dimmi Dimmi. Cornerstone Restaurant Group CEO Josh Zadikoff also joins the conversation to share stories about their restaurant ventures in Chicago, across the U.S. and in Korea. Plus, you’ll hear how they got in business with Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

James Beard Award-winning and Michelin-starred chef Tony Mantuano brought Italian fine dining to Chicago for decades via the legendary Spiaggia, which closed in 2021. Mantuano then opened Nashville’s Yolan, which was ranked as Food & Wine’s top restaurant in the country for its inaugural reader’s choice awards in 2023. In this episode, host David Manilow talks with Mantuano about his new vision for the Purple Pig, which is opening a suburban location in Oak Brook. Plus, hear his praise for chef Joe Flamm's Roman cuisine at il Carciofo, the difference between eating Italian in New York versus Chicago, and what he sees for the future of Michigan Avenue dining.

Host David Manilow has been eating his way around town via sandwich shops, chicken places and taco joints. He’s also gone upscale at the Alston, a new French steakhouse in the Gold Coast. In this episode, Manilow catches up with two of the Alston partners, chef Jenner Tomaska and Scott Weiner of The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group. Hear why this isn’t your typical Chicago chophouse. Tomaska, the chef behind the Michelin-starred Esmé, also shares what he has planned next.

The food scene in Bridgeport has experienced a significant evolution in recent years. Chef Won Kim, who is changing the perception of Asian cuisine with his Korean-Polish fusion restaurant Kimski, has much to say about the neighborhood’s changing tastes. In this episode, host David Manilow talks to Kim about his chaotic journey as a chef, artist and DJ. Plus, we’ll celebrate Chicago’s James Beard Award winners.

Looking for the right spot for a memorable lunch meeting? In this episode, host David Manilow gives his recommendations for business-friendly lunches in the heart of the city. He shares half a dozen spots from the South Loop to River North to the West Loop; there’s a Thai spot, a Greek place, a French eatery, a couple Italian restaurants and more. Plus, we’ll hear some restaurant suggestions from Peach’s chef Cliff Rome and Shaw’s executive partner Bill Nevruz.

When host David Manilow can’t go all the way to Italy for a meal, he visits Tortello in Wicker Park. Chef Dario Monni handcrafts his pasta right in a window overlooking Division Street. In this episode, Monni shares his journey from Sardinia to Chicago as a restaurateur, why flour from Italy is his key ingredient and which regional Italian cuisine made “his brain explode.”

There are a multitude of neighborhood restaurants and taverns all around Chicago. So where do you go for an elevated dining experience — without sacrificing the homey neighborhood vibe? In this edition of “Where Dave Ate,” host David Manilow recommends three creative city neighborhood spots in welcoming settings. Plus, he says Dear Margaret in Lakeview is one of those welcoming places, and co-founder Lacey Irby explains how they brought that vision to life.

On this week's episode, we go from fried chicken sandwiches to what might be the most intimate tasting menu in Chicago. Chef Ethan Lim has created an homage to his Cambodian heritage in a little storefront on West Armitage. Host David Manilow talks to Lim about his long journey to create Hermosa. Plus, hear how his cultural roots fed his culinary dreams.

Alton Brown, one of the Food Network’s most prolific stars, says the best thing about the 1980s was living in Chicago. As the former host of "Good Eats," Brown has plenty say about the evolution of food television. In this episode, Dining Table host David Manilow digs into Brown’s favorite Chicago places and his dining pet peeves. Plus, you’ll hear about his culinary variety show "Alton Brown Live: Last Bite," which makes a tour stop in Chicago this weekend. Brown also discusses his new book of 39 essays and how it was inspired by a passion he shares with actor Tom Hanks.

This week we’re on a mission. Host David Manilow wants to learn why some of Chicago’s most decorated chefs are driving more than 150 miles to prepare meals at a barn in Michigan. In this episode, we’ll get the answer from James Gray, co-founder of Farrand Hall Hospitality. Plus, learn how this star chef series got started on a 12-acre farm in southwest Michigan — and where it goes from here.

When it comes to authentic Mexican restaurants in Chicago, it’s hard to know where to start — there are about a thousand of them. This is the April edition of “Where Dave Ate” and these are host David Manilow's recommendations. Get ready for a food journey from Little Village to Logan Square to the Dunning neighborhood, with more stops in between. In this episode, learn where to have great chilaquiles for breakfast, get a taste of tamales, hear from Chicago’s mole king and much more.

We’ve heard plenty about the development and design of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. But what’s going to be on the menu? In this episode, David Manilow talks with Peach’s chef Cliff Rome, the visionary running food services at the upcoming Obama center. Hear how he plans to honor his native South Side. Plus, hear about Manilow's connection to a younger Barack Obama, then a state senator.

There’s a term in sociology known as “third places” — they’re the spots that blend work and leisure. In this episode, host David Manilow talks with David Morton, the founder and CEO of Episcope Hospitality, previously known as DMK Restaurants. Morton has worked to build a multi-layered approach to hospitality that emphasizes human interaction. Plus, hear what it was like to grow up as the son of the famed Arnie Morton, in a family that’s been in the restaurant business since the mid-19th century.