I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TIRE!

On November 17th, the Michelin Guide will publish its first Chicago edition. The Michelin star rating is the most recognized rating system in the culinary world for all of Western Europe; chefs live and die by the number of stars the guide awards them. In anticipation of their major ratings, Michelin did an early release of their Bib Gourmand restaurants. Introduced in 1997, the label is described by Michelin as, “The Bib Gourmand designation denotes good cuisine at a reasonable price in a variety of comfort categories. Defined as “Inspectors’ Favorites for Good Value,” Bib Gourmand restaurants offer two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less (tax and gratuity not included), and are often of most value to a city’s residents, who regularly dine in neighborhood restaurants.” (www.facebook.com/MichelinGuides) Many wonderful reasonably-priced restaurants are not on the list, so I think the tire is full of hot air!

Most people do not realize that the Michelin Guide was created in the 1990’s by Andre and Edouard Michelin as a car and road trip guide. The brothers wanted people to drive around a lot so they would use up the treads on their tires. It is now the oldest such publication and is considered the most well-known and influential guide in the culinary world. Certainly by food snobs, not necessarily by “regular people.”

One of my reasons for being upset at Michelin is, because in an effort to publicize each restaurant’s designation, the company, according to their own press release, “commissioned a street team to travel to each Bib Gourmand restaurant in the Chicago guide. The team applied a stencil of the Bib Gourmand symbol to the sidewalk facing each restaurant. The Bibendum outline will remain in place until weather or foot traffic cause it to fade.” Maybe a good stunt, but totally illegal. It is graffiti! For their first foray to our fine city, Michelin should treat our sidewalks with dignity and respect. The PR firm that came up with the idea should be fired!


A gourmand is a person who takes great pleasure in food. The pleasure does not come from the price, but from the flavor. Michelin takes into account many characteristics that don’t matter to me, but might matter to gourmets. I know what I enjoy and I have reasons for liking a particular restaurant that have nothing to do with snobbery or a particular “famous chef.”


On the less expensive end, I love Dick’s Last Resort at 315 N. Dearborn, (www.dickslastreosrt.com) and TGI Friday’s at 153 E. Erie, (www.tgifridays.com)

For 19 years, Dick’s has been sponsoring a holiday party that I run for 75 underprivileged children. Not just some ordinary party with Santa, but every child gets a new bicycle! Its not just some ordinary holiday party with Santa -- every child gets a new bicycle! How can one not LOVE Dick’s just for that reason alone? They also underwrite Wing Madness for me, the chicken wing eating contest between police and firemen that benefits a local charity, and have never said “NO” when I have asked them to cater various other not-for-profit events for me. If their community service were not enough, they make the most fabulous “regular people” salad (no fancy field greens with stems) with honey mustard dressing to die for. Their barbeque ribs are dry rubbed and the meat falls off the bone. The bourbon glazed salmon is moist and flaky and the rib eye is perfection. It will never make a Michelin list, because it is not an “uppity” place. Tell manager Richard Fulghum that you are a “Friend of Kathy” (FOK.)

The same is true for TGI Friday’s; certainly not fancy, but a restaurant with a heart. They sponsor a breakfast for 100 underprivileged children for me every December at the 18th District police station. The event Cops, Kids and Kindness allows children an opportunity to hang out at the station, become friends with the officers and decorate the walls for the holidays. TGIF also serves a “regular people” salad with honey mustard dressing. The Jack Daniels glazed chicken breast is fabulous! I have my favorite waiters and eat there a few times a week. FOKs should ask for manager Corey and let him know who sent you.


If want something fancier, I actually travel to Evanston (don’t be shocked that I leave my zone!) to eat at Pensiero located at 1566 Oak Avenue (www.pensieroitalian.com). This restaurant is located in the Margarita European Inn and one feels as if they have entered an establishment in Rome. To validate how delicious the food is, I took Mancow and his Italian wife one evening. Mancow loved it so much, he has gone back and PAID for his meals! Since restaurants always comp him, the fact that he is using his OWN cash confirms how great this establishment is. Owner of the Inn and restaurant Michael Pure has seen a lot of FOKs recently. Use my name when you make a reservation.

If I want to stay in my zone and eat a bit upscale, nothing beats Capital Grille at 633 N. St. Claire (www.thecapital.grille.com) I have named one booth “The Cardinal’s table” (because that is where the Cardinal sits when he dines there, duh!) and it is mine as long as his Eminence is not in attendance. Manager Jim Lyman makes sure there is caffeine free Diet Coke for me and the food is delicious! Nobody serves a better steak in Chicago no matter what Michelin might decide.

So when it is time to make your dining decision, refer to the FOK dining guide. I’m fat, so obviously I know food!