Vending machines have come along way in the past 2,000 years. According to the National Automated Machines Association, the first "vending machine" was put into use in 215 B.C., a device to dispense holy water used in the temples of Egypt. Uh, huh. Some other fun vending machine facts:

- The vending industry is a $30 billion a year industry, employing 700,000 people who work at an estimated 13,500 companies.

- 100 million Americans will use on of 7 million vending machines each day.

- 16.3% of all vending machines are located in schools and colleges. Most vending machines are located in manufacturing settings (30.2%)

NAMA will be set up in Navy Pier over the next two days, with dozens of vendors set up to show off their latest creations. Among the machines we caught - a cotton candy machine that whips up the sugary snack in seconds. The sticky will set you back $2.

Another is a futuristic, iPhone like machine called the Digi-Touch. This one was on display by Kraft Foods, who demonstrated how the flat-screen, Samsung created front allowed customers to touch their choice. If you insert a $20 bill, you'll get paper money in return. The machine also accepts credit cards. And in between orders, the flat screen turns into a large animated advertisement for the various products inside.

Kraft's Mike Miller told us about the various challenges the creative team had when designing the machine - which houses plenty of chocolate products.

"The heat from the screen was beginning to make the chocolate soft and melt a little bit," Mike told us. " What we've done, is we actually have two fans. One at the bottom to push the air out over the screen. One at the top to suck that air out of the top, so we don't have any issues anymore with soft or slightly melted chocolate."

Other machines include the Akoona Ice Machine, a behemoth of a product that pumps out bags of fresh ice for just 75 cents. It's a big improvement from gas station ice, which, according to Akoona Reps, often comes trucked in from large factories that use chemicals during the production process. Akoona's ice is chemical free and never touches a human hand. Pull your cooler up, and with three gushes, it's full to the brim.

The NAMA convention runs through Friday, but it's only open to vendors. Check out my video above to feel what it was like to be there. Plus, you'll get to keep some change in your pocket.

 

My toughest assignment yet? Following up on metromix.com's Best Wings feature (read it here). Seriously. Who wants to travel all over the city and eat wings all day? Oh, right. I do.

After narrowing the list down to 16 finalists, metromix asked Chicagoans to vote for their favorite - in Chicago, suburbs not allowed. The result was a crowning achievement for the Fifty/50 in Wicker Park, who was named the big winner. The tri-level sports bar has commanded plenty of attention since opening on Division Street a few years ago. Their wings are plenty meaty and smothered in your choice of sauce, all made right there in house. They'll cost you $9 for 8, but they boast only the best quality ingredients.

Another spot on the list that didn't even place or show - Abeng Stuart's Wings Around The World. I love this place on 75th Street. Abeng moved it there after the rent at his 35th street location became way too costly. The result is a smaller spot, but the same signature sauces remain. He makes them all from scratch, different varieties representing countries all over the globe. There's the award-winning honey lemon pepper (U.S.A.), Parmesan garlic (Italy), mango jerk (Jamaica), and so many more.

And to conclude, I have no idea how metromix.com left these wings off their list. I have to assume they've never eaten the Little Hotties at Take Me Out, Let's Eat Chinese on 18th Street in Pilsen. Other publications have referred to these wings as "chicken crack," and while I would never make a joking point about such a devastating drug, I have to concede the point. These wings are indeed chicken crack.

Karen Lim's family owns Great Sea Chinese Restaurant in Albany Park. The same chicken wings have been captivating locals for decades. Karen decided to franchise them out and stuck with the Take Me Out concept after a fire next door caused her to close and remodel. I find the wings at Take Me Out even better than the original - they're crispier, but still come slathered in that unbelievable asian sauce. Dare I say the Little Hotties are my favorite quick snack in Chicago?

If you're looking for the hottest wings in town, I've got you covered there as well. About a year ago, Jake Melnick's Corner Tap in River North unveiled their H-O-T Wings. These wings are SO hot, they claimed, customers would have to sign a waiver before eating them. Yeah, right. Nice gimmick. I went to try them myself. Here's what happened:

 


I know you all have an opinion, where can I find your favorite wings in Chicago? Leave a comment and let me know. Here are more details on the spots featured on tonight's segment:

The Fifty/50
2047 W. Division St.
773.489.5050
www.thefifty50.com
Monday-Thursday 11am-2am; Friday 10 am-2am; Saturday 10am-3am; Sunday 10am-2am
$9 for 8 wings

Wings Around The World
510 E. 75th St.
773.483.9120
www.flavorstoinfinity.com
Monday-Tuesday 2pm-12mid; Weds 12noon-2am; Thursday-Friday 12noon-4:30am; Saturday 12noon-5am; Sunday 12noon-7pm
$6.99 for 10

Take Me Out, Let's Eat Chinese
1502 W. 18th St.
312.929.2509
www.takemeoutchinese.com
$6.39 for regular order, $11.99 for family size
11am-9:30pm daily

 

Rick Bayless can cook. Chicago didn't need a reality show to tell us that. Bravo's "Top Chef Masters" let America in on our not-so-secret master of all things Mexican.

His resume speaks for itself. In the late 1970's, Rick hosted the PBS television series "Cooking Mexican." He would spend time after that researching the culinary arts in Mexico. To this day Mr. Bayless still frequently travels down south, sampling authentic eats from roadside vendors and the finest chefs in Mexico. He's won the James Beard Award (like a culinary Oscar). He was one of the first chefs to open a fine-dining Mexican restaurant (Topolobampo). Last August, Rick was named Top Chef Master in Bravo's star-studded cooking show.

His latest restaurant Xoco, a quick-serve Mexican street-eats spot located next door to Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, opened just this week. The spot took two years to conceive and construct, which means Rick was in no way planning on the outpouring of popularity that has come since his "Top Chef" win. The lines for Xoco have been out the door, probably due to the fact that customers can get a taste of Bayless for just $8-$13.

I brought a WGN camera into Xoco today and grabbed a few minutes of Rick's time. He told me he's pulling 16 hour shifts this week, working the line with his new staff to make sure everything goes to plan. If you want to check out Xoco for yourself, here's some information:

Xoco
449 N. Clark Street
Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
http://xocochicago.com
312.334.3688
The lines might look long, but most customers are waiting 20 minutes at the most
 

Our feature on Xoco from tonight WGN News is above. I'll be posting my entire talk with Rick on the blog tomorrow. For now, check out Kevin Pang and Monica Eng's trip to Xoco on The Stew.

It was 1948. Maurie Berman had returned from World War II. He was going to college, and he and his new bride Florence (Flaurie) were looking for a way to help pay for his schooling. They decided to open a small hot dog stand on Chicago's northwest side. 61 years later, Superdawg (6363 N. Milwaukee, Corner of Milwaukee & Devon) still stands, offering up its vintage drive-in flair and jumbo dawgs in a box.

A few things different about the Super-dawg. It's a tad thicker than your standard wiener. Oh, that's another thing, don't call them wieners. They don't like it. The dawg comes with all of the standard Chicago style fixings - neon/alien relish, onions, pickle spear, mustard. They do include a tomato in the box, but it's a pickled green tomato. Lip puckering good.

I know what you're thinking - I'm different, I like ketchup on my hot dog. Here's my advice. Don't ask them for ketchup on your hotdog. They won't do it. However, they'll gladly provide a side of ketchup for your fries, and as their operations manager Don Drucker told me, what a man does with ketchup in his private dining area is his own business. Personal privacy is key at Superdawg.

But back to the matter at hand. Superdawg will be opening a second drive-in location, much bigger than the first. It'll feature their car-hoppers delivering grub right to your car window. All of the Superdawg menu will be there. It'll be just like hitting the original spot, but right in the backyard of Northwest Suburbians. Here's the location:

Superdawg Drive-In 2
333 S. Milwaukee
Wheeling, IL

They're aiming for a mid-November launch. We'll be sure to keep you posted, in the meantime, check out the Chicago Tribune's writeup on Maurie, Flaurie, and their new location.

Afternoon tea just got a lot BIGGER. The enormous floral centerpiece at the Drake Hotel is the most photographed of its kind, at least according to staff there. Now, Chicagoans can get a chance to see the massive creation put together in person by Kevin J. Herman, head designer at Mangel Florist, located just steps from the Drake's famous lobby.

I got a chance to sit in on the demonstration for the first time, and to be honest, I was thinking it might be a little bit dry. But watching Kevin start with a vase full of 30 gallons of water and turn it into a beautiful blast of color was surprisingly thrilling. It's like watching an artist paint on a blank canvas. It starts out extraordinarily dull, but ends iconic.

If you are any kind of afficianado of greenery, it's well worth the hour of your time. The Drake had about 15 people show up today, but they're hoping positive word of mouth spreads. It costs $35 and features tea and sandwiches in their Palm Court afterwards. If you'd like to book a reservation, contact the Drake's special events manager Shaun Rajah at 312.932.4619.

 

 
It's a North Shore greasy spoon legendary for its cheap eats, scrambled eggs, and disasters. Josh Alomia was always a big fan - he went to New Treir High School, and recalls the days of heading to Sarkis before the first bell. He approached them with a grand vision, to provide the greasy goodness of Sark's all over Chicagoland and beyond. They accepted...and Chicagoans have been lining up at the corner of Clark and Fullerton ever since.

One thing I had to try at Sarks - the Bacon Loretta. It's a hogie sized sandwich, with bacon, cheese, green pepper, tomato, onion, and mayo - all smothered between two toasted pieces of French bread. I ordered mine with a side of "loaded hash browns," which also come with cheese and veggies. Both are extremely tasty - and $5.50 for the sandwich is a total steal. You won't stay skinny eating at Sarks everyday. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it back to the station had I finished it all. Here's the location...
Continue reading Sarks in the Park: Sarkis Cafe slides down to Lincoln Park »

 

At least according to Chicago Magazine it is! In their August "Best-Of" issue, the mag cites the village's great mix of young and old, and it's walkability as strong points. It's pretty neat how chains have managed to converge on the area without forcing out the mom and pop shops. A few of the places we visited:


LaGrange Theatre
80 S. LaGrange Road
(708) 579-2173
www.lagrangetheatre.com

Horton's Ace Hardware
60 S. LaGrange Road
www.hortonshome.com
(708) 352-2110

Knead Marketplace
13 S. LaGrange Road
www.kneadmarketplace.com
(708) 482-7909

So what do you think - does LaGrange have the best downtown in all of suburban Chicagoland? Do you have a favorite downtown that must be seen? Leave a comment and let me know!

Just what Chicago needs, something else to do this weekend. On tonight's WGN Evening News at 5:30, I'm checking out a brand lip-smacking new ribs fest to hit Chicago. We'll see what makes the Windy City Ribs Festival different. Reading their press release, it sounds like they'll be featuring vendors from here in Chicago, as well as a few from out of town, even as far away from Texas.

You'll be able to vote on your favorite vendor at the fest, and the big winner will be announced on Sunday. If I had to vote without even tasting yet, it would be a toss up between Old Town's Fireplace Inn and Uncle Bub's in Westmont. Here's all the info about the festival:

Windy City Ribs Festival
Union Park - 1501 W. Randolph St.
Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 12 noon - 10 p.m.
Click here to visit the official website

You've seen him on Top Chef Masters, maybe you've been to his restaurant. Celebrity chef Graham Elliot Bowles is known to make a big impression on the plate. This weekend he's been giving his biggest task yet, cooking meals for a few of the headliners at this year's Lollapalooza.

It's a big honor for the chef. I caught him with my rain-covered Flip cam earlier, and we talked about how he's getting through the weekend, his life in music, and what all of those tattoos are about! Please excuse the poor quality, quite a bit of rain came down while I was walking the grounds!

Chicago's Dog House
816 W. Fullerton (right near the intersection of Fullerton/Halsted/Lincoln)
Chicago, IL
(773) 248-3647

Last Thursday I went to check out Chicago's Dog House after plenty of positive buzz was showered my way. It's the creation of two recent college grads (Ryan D'Arcy of Depaul, and Aaron Wolfson of Columbia College). The Dog House offers your traditional Chicago style hot dogs, but also a few specialty dogs and sausages.

The specialty dogs run $3.50 and include my favorite so far, the French Poodle - which features brie cheese, a sliced pear, and a zesty, Grey Poupon like mustard. It has a little spice from the mustard that is offset by the pear, but the brie cheese is the real star. A fun, yet tasty creation.

They also offer dogs with a sense of humor to them, like the Mayor Daley, complete with Irish cheddar and caramelized onions. Then there's the Blagojevich - a Chicago style hot dog featuring one strange ingredient - ketchup. It looks all there, but there's just something that ain't right.

As for the sausages, they feature an alligator, a prime rib, and the regular variety. All come with different toppings that are made fresh in house. Chicago's Dog House is definitely unique, but the first comparison has to be Hot Doug's, whose owner Doug Sohn has carved a niche in the specialty encased-meats market.

Owner Ryan D'Arcy told me that he respects Hot Doug's, but he's not in direct competition with them. Doug's is a little ways up the road, and he hopes there is more than enough room for two fancy-schmansy doggie shops to succeed in such a big hot dog market. If the positive reviews all over the internet are a sign of things to come, Chicago's Dog House won't have to worry.

Watch my visit to Chicago's Dog House on tonight's WGN News at 5:30 and 9:00.

Tonight on the WGN Evening News at 5:30, I took a tour of the legendary S. Rosen's bakery - where they make their famous hot dog buns. These aren't just any hot dog buns, S. Rosen's supplies 90% of Chicago's hot dog stands with their buns. In fact, they make about 90,000 buns an hour at this place. It's pretty amazing. Above you'll see a video I put together of our entire tour, how they make the buns from start to finish.

It's the latest of our "We Made" series. A few weeks back I showed you how they made Gelato at Ristorante Al Teatro.

We were at S. Rosen's because this week they're fronting a major charity initiative. In honor of their 100 year anniversary, all week long they're donating 10 cents of each bun they sell to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Northern Illinois Food Bank, America's Second Harvest of Wisconsin, Northwest Indiana Food Bank, and the Chicago Anti-Hunger Foundation. They're hoping to sell 1 million buns, which would raise $100,000 total. You can buy S. Rosen's buns in most grocery stores, and in more than 1,700 hot dog stands across Chicagoland. It's national hot dog month, so grab a dog for a good cause.

Uhhhhhh, no it's not, but all of your friends can try their hand at Rock Band all week long. And trust me, you're probably much better than these two....



My favorite part is the little kid drumming, staring in the opposite direction. I think we might be hearing about a "rock band breakup" soon. Hilarious.

This probably has something to do with it. Suddenly, the large crowds have descended upon Grant Park. The last few days have been pretty nice, but it looks like people are taking long 4th of July weekends. Here's a little video of me trying to walk through the masses...



I don't know what's worse, the people eating while walking the wrong direction, or the TV guy holding his camera running into them. Sorry!

It's Taste of Chicago Thursday, and the crowd is officially pouring in. I thought I'd compile three "taste portion" meals you can have here at the Taste for a total of 12 tickets ($8). You can blow your entire 12 ticket strip on a Celebration Funnel Cake if you want (not recommended), but I think you should get those legs moving and hit at least three booths. Here is a short list of a few three-course "taste portion meals" for you.....oh, and don't forget to bring your own water!
Continue reading Taste for $8: Three-course "Taste Portion" meals... »

 
There are 56 vendors at the Taste of Chicago, and only one of them is serving a hot dog. Hard to believe, right? But the encased meat goodness doesn't stop there. In honor of July being National Hot Dog Month, I thought I'd list some of my favorite booths to grab a dog or a sausage throughout the taste...

Vienna Beef / Gold Coast Dogs
Various Locations
Booth 27

Again, Gold Coast is the only booth serving up a traditional hot dog. You can get one Chicago Style, or even order their Fire Dog. But whatever you do, do not ask for any ketchup!

Continue reading The Taste's Encased Meats - in honor of National Hot Dog Month! »

The ambush review - you eat, you decide. I spotted this lucky group chomping down on a beef on a stick and corn on the cob, stuck a camera in their face, and now....they're food critics!

I noticed Marvelous the Clown set up next to a pair of giant 21 sized shoes, and thought he might be worth a question or two. He even made a balloon animal for us. No need to be jealous folks, he'll be here all week.

I love me some hashbrowns, ironically I've never been to Hashbrowns (731 W. Maxwell). But that's why they're at the Taste, right? Walking by I noticed a sign for a Taste Portion of their Sweet Potato Hash Browns, and I couldn't resist.

The first thing I noticed about the browns? They kind of look like Spanish rice. More notably, they look just like the ones I cook at home. Even more notable, they taste just like the ones I cook at home - dissapointing. I prefer my hashbrowns a little bit more crisp, I found these very soggy. The portion isn't all that big, and they're surprisingly bland. I know what you're thinking - "Marcus, they're hashbrowns. Relax!"

Well, I like my breakfast sides to offend me a little bit. Wake me up, you know? I'm still going to check out Hashbrowns and see what they're all about, but I'd recommend taking a pass on their 4 ticket ($3) Taste Portion.

2/5

You read that right, laddie! The Abbey Pub is staked out at the Taste of Chicago with an Irish Egg Roll. Forgive me if I sound ignorant here. I've been to the Abbey a few times and never noticed the Chinese-influenced Irish delicacy.

Thankfully, it comes in a Taste portion for just 4 tickets. Inside of the fried shell you'll find cabbage, cheese, and corned beef. Get it now? The throw a dollop of mustard into the dish for dipping, but I found it too overpowering. On it's own the Irish Egg Roll makes a neat snack but not much more. What's next, Corned Beef dumplings with a Guinness chaser?

I'll give the Irish Egg roll a 3/5 - fun and satisfying, but somewhat forgettable.

Yes, Manny's Deli BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich will set you back 10 tickets (roughly $7). But boy is it a big one. I made the mistake of making this my first order of the day. Now I'm looking for a tall tree with some comfy grass to rest it off (please don't tell the boss).

Maybe because it was one of their first sandwiches of the afternoon (I ordered at 11:15), but the Manny's beef was surprisingly tender. The sauce could use a little more kick for my taste, but if you prefer milder you'll really enjoy it. The only real trouble I had was fighting off all the gulls trying to get a piece when they noticed I was laboring. Where's Hitchcock when you need him?

I'll give Manny's Deli BBQ Sandwich a rating of 4/5 - too bad it doesn't come in a smaller taste portion. It's a little pricey, but it's massive, and will leave you VERY full. Bring a cot.

I'm going to try and collect as many recipes or preparations as I can from restaurants I visit across the city. Here's a little montage I cut together of the folks at Ristorante Al Teatro & Caffe Gelato, showing off how they prepare their signature Italian dessert.

On tonight's WGN Evening News, I checked out a new restaurant in Pilsen that's aiming pretty high. It's called Ristorante Al Teatro, 1227 W. 18th St. Owner Dominick Geraci and his son Vince have created a homage to Chicago's historic past. The building dates all the way back to 1892, just one year before Chicago landed the World's Columbian Exposition, or the World's Fair. Dominick scoured the city and found some amazing photographs from the time. He had them blown up and colorized, and they're on display all over the restaurant.

While there we had a chance to sample a few dishes. One a mushroom tortoloni - he corrected me when I referred to it as tortellini. These noodle pockets are much larger and handmade, each stuffed with a large portion of mushroom, and smothered in a mushroom sauce. Delicious and very filling.

Then, there are 20 different variety of pizza. I'll recommend the pizza galeto - a combination of garlick, shredded chicken, pesto, and goat cheese.

The restaurant is open daily - 4-10pm Sunday through Thursday, 4-11pm Friday and Saturday. Visit them online at alteatro.us.

The 3rd Annual Chicago Arabesque festival is back in Daley Plaza - celebrating the finest in Arabic music, cuisine, handicrafts, clothing and more! I'll be checking it out on tonight's WGN Evening news at 5:30. If you're wondering what kind of specific events you'll find at the festival, check out some of these highlights from the program guide....
Continue reading Chicago Arabesque festival hits Daley Plaza! »

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I'm a Cubs fan. It's hard to hide the frustrated look on my face these days. But like many other fans, I still find myself glued to the television hoping they can pull out a victory. When I get out to watch a game I like to hit places with fans who enjoy watching baseball. I'm not looking for a dance party on game day - just a place with a seat, some good eats, and a few cold ones (and I'm not talking about $6 cans of Bud Light, shame on those guys). Here are a few places Cubs fans might run into me at during a ballgame.
Continue reading Crosstown Classic: Where to watch the Cubs beat the White Sox! »

Admittedly, baseball hasn't been that much fun to watch on either side of town, but it's time for the rare mid-week Crosstown Classic. Maybe the brother-against-brother battle will lead to less bloodshed on a work day? Yeah, I doubt it. But many of you are going to be getting out of the house this week to catch YOUR team take on its cross-city rival. Sox fan - this blog is for you. If you want to get out of the house and cheer on the pale hose with your fellow black shirts, here are a few options for ya!
Continue reading Crosstown Classic: Where to watch the White Sox beat the Cubs! »

So I'm awake and can't sleep, probably due to the entire can of Amp I drank at the Taste preview this afternoon. Thanks Mountain Dew! Anyhow, I was looking over CT.com and came across this great article by Monica Eng about the unhealthy slop children are eating in Chicago Public Schools. The most popular item?

"...the longest line leads to lunch workers grabbing paper dishes full of yellow corn chips, topping them with a ball of ground meat and then smothering the ensemble in hot orange cheese product."

Right, the "meat" topping on those stellar campus nachos. Is that what they're calling it these days? Reading this article brought back memories of my favorite lunch time specialties at good old Schaumburg High School. Here they are....
Continue reading Memories from high school lunch »

The city hosted a special preview of the big event in Daley Plaza today, and for the first time it was open to the public. There were 6 booths in the plaza, showcasing restaurants from across the city. Among those you saw on our broadcast were.... Continue reading 2009 Taste of Chicago Preview! »

If you tuned into the WGN News tonight, you saw my piece on the Frozen Yogurt craze sweeping Chicago. I checked out a couple places that are doing an alternative to ice cream with a unique twist. First up, we had.....
Continue reading As seen on TV: Ice cream alternatives! »

It's another big (almost) summer weekend in Chicago. On tonight's WGN News at 5:30 p.m., we're breaking down the best things to get out of the house and do. First up, a music fest celebrating 25 years:

Chicago Gospel Music Festival
Millenium Park
Saturday and Sunday, 12-9:30 p.m.
50 artists on 3 stages
Free!
Full Lineup here.

Big shows have to be Donnie McClurkin closing out Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Also, you have Kirk Franklin headlining Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. Beforehand, look for American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, performing with her mother Diane. That goes down at 7:20 on Sunday.

But wait! There's more....
Continue reading Weekend Haps 6/5: Gospel Fest, Hyde Park Art Fair, Garage Sales and more! »

On the WGN Evening News, we checked out a couple places to get some unusual pizza toppings here in Chicago. Websites, addresses, phone numbers, and my thoughts on both Piece and Ian's Pizza is right after the jump!
Continue reading Chicago's most unusual pizza toppings »