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…

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Desire 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…

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5 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…

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Chicago 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…

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Looking 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…

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Chicago 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…

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Iconic 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…

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Calling all Coffee Lovers!

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. While being delicious and versatile, there are also several health benefits that come along. Its high level of antioxidants and beneficial nutrients make this quite a healthy choice. As we all know, coffee can improve energy levels. This is because it contains a stimulant…

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Support 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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St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations 2021

St Patrick’s Day in Chicago is unlike any other holiday. As the local restaurants and bars prepare for the Irish celebrations, it’s important to get a game plan set. This year the celebrations will look a little less traditional. This means no official bar crawls or dyeing of the Chicago River. If you are new…

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