As the man behind The Fooditor, Michael Gebert talks to chefs about what they do, he reviews, he comments and he documents his meals, like we all do, taking pictures and offering his opinions. Unlike most writers in Chicago, he actually goes deep into the neighborhoods – which is why Rick and Steve get along with him so well. His new book out, The Fooditor 99, chronicles some of this beloved city’s best eats, from high to low.

On this week’s show, we discuss some of Chicago’s greatest ethnic eats with a guy who eats out as much as we do, exploring pretty much every nook and cranny of the city’s 77 neighborhoods.

When buying ground beef at the store, should you treat it the same way as you going to make burgers? That is, a beef-to-fat ratio of about 80-20? And what about grass-fed v corn-fed? Same rules as buying steaks?

On this week’s show: an Ingredient Challenge with chef and co-founder of Quartino restaurant here in Chicago, John Coletta stops by, to show what is his idea of a quick, weeknight meal is, using just five extra ingredients. The challenge is, of course, is to finish the dishes in 15 minutes or less.

This week we begin an occasional series on Iconic dishes, beginning with tender Barbacoa and meaty Italian Beef Sandwiches.

There’s a reason political candidates are always seen taking bites of Ben’s Chili in D.C. or Giordano’s pizza in Chicago, it’s because those iconic dishes are woven so tightly into the fabric of a city. If an outsider can be photographed enjoying something so locally beloved, they’ve gotta be decent, right?

We were thinking about what constitutes an Iconic dish, and decided we would take an occasional look at how that dish has come to define a certain place.

No surprise here, but Rick chose barbacoa from Mexico City and Steve tastes the Italian Beef sandwich in Chicago over the beloved iconic stuffed pizza.

Coming up on this week’s show vermouth takes center stage behind the bar. Not just in a supporting role, as a wingman in your favorite cocktails, but also as the star of the show, especially if you’re Spanish.

It’s kind of like the John C. Reilly of spirits – always playing a supporting role, rarely taking the lead. But if you’ve ever been to Spain or France, you know this is not the case. Peter Gugni is a Bartender in Chicago, as well as the Brand Ambassador for Fratelli Branca, and like a lot of spirits professionals, he enjoys the odd, the esoteric and the little-known.