There’s been a lot of talk recently about the increased popularity of Mexican food in the U.S., so Rick and Steve invited Andrew Knowlton, Restaurants and Drinks editor at Bon Appetit in New York City and Besha Rodell, Restaurant Critic for L.A. Weekly, to see if there is a revolution in high-end Mexican Food, and to discuss the state of Mexican food in the three largest U.S. cities.

Being inspired by two new Southern themed cookbooks, Steve heads to Big Jones, in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood to speak with chefs Hugh Acheson, author of The Broad Fork - Recipes for the Wide World of Vegetables and Fruits and Paul Fehribach, author of The Big Jones Cookbook about taking the flavors of the south to the next level.

The U.S. confections industry generates about $35 billion worth of business, and every year, the The National Confectioners Association (NCA) holds its annual Sweets and Snacks Expo at McCormick Place, in Chicago, adjacent to the National Restaurant Show. This week, Steve roamed the show floor to talk with attendees as well as some buyers, to learn about what’s new in sweet and salty snacking.

Steve travels to the 9th annual Terroir Symposium in Toronto, where a (mostly) Canadian group of chefs, business leaders, writers and food & beverage professionals talk about the state of the industry. Filled with motivational speeches, informational seminars, cooking demos and wine classes, the day-long event is typically sold out. Steve also had some time to explore a few of the newer restaurant gems in Toronto.

The James Beard Awards were just held in Chicago this past weekend and even though only 3 Chicagoans claimed awards, as Steve Dolinsky reports, the city is still a big winner.

We try to class up the joint and go a little Downton Abbey with some cognac.  James Bube, Director of Education at Heritage Wine Cellars joins Steve, Lindsey and Rick for some delicious sips.

The James Beard Awards are coming to Chicago next week, so Rick and Steve ask Steve Koch, Deputy Mayor for the City of Chicago and Kevin Pang, Cheap Eater columnist at the Chicago Tribune "Where to Eat?”.

Revolutionary restaurateur and founder of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Richard Melman, is going to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the James Beard Foundation Awards and talks about his successes, concept and chef-driven restaurants and what is next for him.

Then, Rick takes on chef Kevin Hickey of Bottlefork and The Duck Inn in our Ingredient Challenge with the trendy roughage kale. 

We try to class up the joint and go a little Downton Abbey with some cognac.  James Bube, Director of Education at Heritage Wine Cellars some delicious sips for us.

And some people get very passionate about this place or that place and for our Final Bite, Steve heads up to Argyle Street for this traditional Vietnamese Dish, Pho at Hai Yen.

Revolutionary restaurateur and Founder of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Richard Melman, is going to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the James Beard Foundation Awards next week in Chicago.  Rick and Steve sit down to talk to him about his successes, concept and chef-driven restaurants and what is next for him. 

The James Beard Awards are coming to Chicago in May, so Rick and Steve ask Steve Koch, Deputy Mayor for the City of Chicago and Kevin Pang, Cheap Eater columnist at the Chicago Tribune "Where to Eat?".

For our 12th Episode, Rick heads to Bangkok for a taste of Thailand with Jarrett Wrisley of Soul Food Mahanakorn.  Then chef Beverly Kim of Parachute in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood joins Rick to tame the Brussels Sprout while reliving their Top Chef experiences. Jill Gubesch, Wine Director at Frontera Grill and Topolobampo explores Lindsey's drink of choice, red wine.  Food 52 founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs talk with Rick and Steve about creating a food community online that helps people become better, smarter and happier cooks.  And for our Final Bite, Rick shares the taste of Bangkok in the curried noodle dish, Khao Soi.