2021 Trends
Product development au naturel
We devote a lot of product development hours working in the ‘natural’ and clean label space. Because that’s where our clients are, and of course, it’s driven by consumer demand. Over the past handful or so of years, the clean label trend has been fueled by a desire among younger generations to know how and…
Read MoreDesire for hospitality runs deep – pandemic or not
Our industry is in flux for sure. People have gone through a difficult time with the pandemic conditions over the past couple of years, and their behavior has changed indelibly as a result. Once again, people are comfortable cooking at home, enjoying their family while cooking and eating together. Yet, we all still yearn to…
Read More5 key points to consider in building new R&D kitchens
I’ve designed and assisted with the build out of several R&D kitchens in my career. Recently we built out our company’s product development kitchen. Here are the key points we considered in the design. Determine what’s important to kitchen users First, I interviewed my staff to make sure to understand what is important to…
Read MoreChicago B.Y.O.B. Restaurants
Chicago’s wide-ranging neighborhoods are full of amazing restaurants and cafes, and a ton of them are BYOB. You can bring your own drinks to all sorts of restaurants in Chicago. So grab your favorite bottle and a great group of friends, and head over to one of these restaurants. These restaurants are CBCI approved. Pizza Art…
Read MoreLooking for Barbecue in Chicago?
You can find all kinds of barbecue in Chicago from sweet and smoky to spicy. Make a pitstop at any of these barbecue hotspots, and don’t forget to bring a large appetite. Check out this list from CBCI. Honky Tonk BBQ Head over to the Pilsen neighborhood for some smoky goodness from Honky Tonk BBQ. Owner…
Read MoreChicago Breweries with unbelievable taprooms
Over the years Chicago has become well known for housing some of the best local breweries in the country. Several of these craft breweries have enriched the pride of locals. With amazing taprooms around the city, CBCI has created a list of some of the best breweries to visit this summer. Forbidden Root In Chicago’s West…
Read MoreIconic Chicago Restaurants
Chicago is a city well known for its variety of restaurants. This includes world-renowned fine dining, celebrity hot spots, and local favorites. Not to mention all the Michelin stars and James Beard awards the city has racked up over the years. Here you’ll find a list of some of Chicago’s most famous restaurants from cult…
Read MoreTikTok is Taking Over the Food Industry
The social media app TikTok has grown immensely in popularity and influence in the past year. Part of its rapid growth is a result of its friendly and short videos. TikTok is quickly taking over the culinary industry as a major source for new recipes, particularly for beginners in the kitchen. This short-form style of…
Read MoreAre Ghost Kitchens the Wave of the Future?
So, what are ghost kitchens? Ghost kitchens are essentially restaurants without dining spaces. Their focus is to sell and fulfill online food orders and to utilize third-party delivery apps, such as Grubhub, UberEats, and DoorDash. A ghost kitchen also allows for restaurants with dining-in services to expand their delivery operations without the added stress to…
Read MoreSupport Local Chicago Businesses This Restaurant Week
CBCI loves to support local businesses, and a great time to take advantage of great deals at amazing restaurants is during Chicago Restaurant Week. During Chicago Restaurant Week, diners can enjoy a special prix fixe menu with some of a restaurant’s most notable dishes. In most cases, these are multi-course meals available for breakfast, brunch,…
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