Zareen Syed – Page 9 –

Asher Asif, center, gathers with friends over tea at Matari Coffee on April 18, 2025, in Lombard. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Lombard’s booming Yemeni coffee shops underscore demand for ‘third places’ and culturally appropriate nightlife

July 10, 2025 at 11:54 a.m.

These “third places” have become popular hangouts for immigrant and Muslim populations, but they also attract a diverse group of customers looking for alcohol-free spaces that are open past 10...

Students reach out for slices of pizza during lunch time at Hadley Junior High School in Glen Ellyn on March 28, 2025. Glen Ellyn School District 41 rolled out what it referred to as “halal-friendly” options in April. School officials said they are working to implement halal-certified meals. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai)

Advocates look at next steps after Illinois law requiring halal, kosher options at state-run facilities left out of budget

July 1, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Part of the intention of the mandate is to make kosher guidelines possible for school cafeterias and make halal meat options available to students who request them.

Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina in Season 2 of “The Bear.” (FX)

‘The Bear’ Q&A: Liza Colón-Zayas on playing Tina, a chef rooted in reality

June 25, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Liza Colón-Zayas spoke about learning how to play a chef on "The Bear," and how she's "glad Tina wasn't sanitized and sugar-coated."

Lionel Boyce in “The Bear.” Boyce went through culinary training that included working with various types of bread dough to play the character of Marcus. (FX)

‘The Bear’ Q&A: Lionel Boyce dishes on what it takes to play pastry chef Marcus

June 25, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Lionel Boyce spoke with enthusiasm and thoughtful detail about his training as an actor to portray a pastry chef on "The Bear," staging at restaurants and learning skills and techniques...

Julia Momosé, creative director and mixologist at Kumiko in the West Loop, after winning outstanding bar at the 2025 James Beard Awards at the Lyric Opera House, June 16, 2025, in Chicago.(Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

James Beard 2025: Here are Chicago’s winners

June 17, 2025 at 8:36 p.m.

Chicago added two new James Beard award winners to its list of more than 50 winners Monday night at the Lyric Opera.

A bicyclist passes by the arch on the Northwestern University campus on March 31, 2025, in Evanston. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Northwestern announces cost-cutting measures amid growing financial pressures

June 11, 2025 at 10:16 a.m.

Northwestern University announced several cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze and budget cuts, due to rising costs and uncertainty at the federal level.

Northwestern doctoral student Lichao James Tang, left, and research associate Eric Rytkin at The Efimov Lab inside the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center of Northwestern University in Chicago on May 30, 2025. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Worried Northwestern lab directors describe ‘bleak’ atmosphere in wake of Trump research funding freeze

June 14, 2025 at 10:54 a.m.

The Trump administration’s freezing of $790 million in federal research funding for Northwestern University has left concerned lab directors without key grants and forced the university to spend millions to...

KFire employee Alexis Ortiz, cooks an order of kalbi beef at on June 2, 2025. The food delivery company Grubhub gave the restaurant an “Established 2020” award because it was started during COVID and made it to its fifth anniversary. Ortiz has been with the company since the beginning. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

Grubhub honors pandemic-born Chicago restaurants for reaching 5-year milestone

June 3, 2025 at 9:01 a.m.

Grubhub's Established 2020 program recognizes 31 pandemic-born restaurants in Chicago.

Outdoor seating at il Carciofo in Chicago’s Fulton Market, May 23, 2025. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Patio guide: 25 patios in Chicago for 2025

May 28, 2025 at 1:32 p.m.

We dive into patios across the city that are worth exploring, from recently opened spots to patios featuring pizza under sparkling lights.

Chef Jonathon Sawyer and chef Bryan Voltaggio on Season 2 of "24 in 24: Last Chef Standing." (Food Network)

This Chicago chef just won season two of Food Network’s ’24 in 24: Last Chef Standing’

May 26, 2025 at 10:56 a.m.

Food Network’s latest high-stakes cooking competition series brought together 24 chefs from across the country to battle it out over a grueling 24-hour period, aptly named "24 in 24: Last...

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