Steve Dolinsky's Audio Podcast

Katie Das had a simple dream: to make the best caramels. She and her husband now produce an assortment of delicious caramels from their tiny business near the Illinois-Wisconsin border, which are gaining distribution - including Whole Foods. I visited the plant recently to taste for myself.

This year, two of the magazine's "10 Best New Chefs" are from Chicago. I spoke with both of them at a fabulous reception at the Aspen Highlands, as well as with Editor-in-Chief, Dana Cowin, about the burgeoning food scene in Chicago.

The authors of "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day" swept through Chicago recently, to tell me how to make delicious, homemade bread without the fuss. The authors spent years developing a fool-proof method that allows the home cook to keep plenty of dough on hand for last-minute baking. All you need are three tools: a bread stone, an oven thermometer, and, well, you better just listen...

In honor of this weekend's James Beard Awards, where excellence is honored, I salute one of my gastronomical heroes - the late R.W. "Johnny" Apple, Jr. - former New York Times reporter/editor and globe-trotting gourmand. Shortly before his death, he came to Chicago to promote his final book, "Apple's America," and we sat down to an incredible lunch at Topolobampo. I interviewed him right after our meal.