Author explores the partnership between Chicago chefs and the farmers who grow food for them

Profiling 25 Midwestern farms in her book Locally Grown: Portraits of Artisanal Farms from America’s Heartland, Anna Blessing tells us the story of each.

Chicago's famed Charlie Trotter's serves last meal

Award-winning chef Charlie Trotter, right, listens as his staff delivers a pre-dinner briefing at his restaurant in Chicago as his wife, Rochelle, looks on.

Chicago's famed Charlie Trotter's serves last meal

Award-winning chef Charlie Trotter, left, talks to former protege chef Reginald Watkins at Trotter's restaurant in Chicago. Trotter is closing his iconic restaurant after 25 years to return to college and study philosophy. The final service at Charlie Trotter's was Thursday, followed by a so…

Chicago's famed Charlie Trotter's serves last meal

CHICAGO | Award-winning chef Charlie Trotter is closing his iconic Chicago restaurant after 25 years, setting out on a new path as bold and surprising as many of the dishes he served to the world of foodie fans he helped foster.

Feature Focus

Trotter gets honorary street sign

Countdown to a monumental closing

It's mere days away from the closing of one of the world's most acclaimed culinary havens.

Foraging in the Michigan wild, somewhere near Wyncroft

Wyncroft Winery itself is probably one of the more difficult places to find, despite its longtime reputation as a quality producer and about as high a profile as you can get outside of California, with top tier restaurants in the Great Lakes region. The entrance is just off the main street d…

Foraging with Wyncroft and the Charlie Trotter Folks

Keep your fingers crossed for decent weather this weekend when I am scheduled to accompany chefs led by Eric Lester searching for edible plants in the wilds of southwestern Michigan.---Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore magazine.

April 2012 Shore magazine's letter from the editor

Chicago chef Trotter looks ahead to returning to school

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. | As he prepares to quit the kitchen for the classroom, chef Charlie Trotter makes it clear that he won't be just nibbling around the edges when it comes to graduate school.

Famed Chicago chef Charlie Trotter looks ahead to returning to school

Chef Charlie Trotter listens to a question during an interview with The Associated Press on Friday in Miami Beach, Fla. Earlier this year, Trotter announced that he will close his acclaimed eponymous restaurant in Chicago after it celebrates its 25th anniversary in August. He plans to return…

Small plates at the Heritage and Millar scores in James Beard

Incredible food lineup for Saturday night at the Heritage Center in St. Joe includes chocolate-covered bacon mousse and Reserve Chef Matt Millar is in James Beard semifinals. --Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore magazine

True comfort of corned beef hash and eggs

A few years have gone by since I was in the right place--six.one.six in Grand Rapids in winter--at the right time to have corned beef hash and eggs. --Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore magazine

Going gourmet the green way

When Dean Zanella, executive chef at Rhapsody in Chicago's Loop, started asking about the origins of the seafood he was buying for the restaurant, he wasn't pleased with the answer.

Eating in the woods in winter

By not spacing out on the time zone and other mishaps of previous years, we managed to arrive at Bev's Second Season Ball in LaPorte Saturday almost an hour early. --Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore magazine

The first of many Titanic centennial dinners

I have officially received the first announcement of 2012 for a Titanic dinner, a memorial for the centennial year of the disaster. The last dinner for first class passengers was 11 courses. --Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore magazine.

Going gourmet the green way

When Dean Zanella, executive chef at Rhapsody in Chicago's Loop, started asking about the origins of the seafood he was buying for the restaurant, he wasn't pleased with the answer.

Chef Jean Joho and Everest awarded Michelin star

Chef Jean Joho and Everest are awarded 3 Michelin stars and Wyncroft Winemaker Jim Lester reaches out with news about what happened in 2011, vintages on last call and an invitation to stop by. --Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore magazine.

February/March 2012 Shore magazine's letter from the editor

Last year was a traumatic year in food. Cantaloupe made people sick. Charlie Trotter decided to close his restaurant. Even Mario Batali lost weight. I believe I'm beginning to make a separation in my mind between what tastes good, what is good and what becomes not so good when you have it to…

The Year of the Dragon Starts Monday

The Chinese New Year begins Monday, January 23rd and, for those who keep track of baroque personality quirks and tendencies, it is the Year of the Dragon. Count on plenty of drama, especially if you have friends and family turning 24-36-48, etc. in 2012 ---- Pat Colander, Associate Publisher…