Ep 10. Chicago

In season 2 episode 10 of Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations, host Andrew Zimmern takes viewers on a culinary tour of Chicago, the Windy City, known for its deep dish pizza and hot dogs. However, Zimmern shows viewers that there is much more to Chicago's food scene than these famous staples.

The episode starts with Zimmern exploring a Chicago institution, Portillo's, where he tries a classic Chicago-style hot dog with all the fixings, including mustard, relish, onions, tomato, pickle and celery salt. He also tries a cheeseburger and a beef sandwich dipped in au jus. Zimmern then heads to the Maxwell Street Market which he describes as a "foodie paradise." Here, he checks out some of the market's long-standing family-run businesses serving up traditional Mexican and Polish fare including tacos, tamales, mole, and pierogi.

Next up, Zimmern heads to the Pilsen neighborhood, a predominantly Mexican neighborhood known for its street art and murals, to try some authentic Mexican food. He learns about the history of the area from a local tour guide while snacking on elote, Mexican street corn smothered in mayonnaise, cheese, and spices and a cup of churro bites with chocolate dipping sauce.

Zimmern then heads to a brewery in the northside neighborhood of Ravenswood where he learns about the craft beer scene in Chicago. Here he tries a flight of beers and a delicious avocado and shrimp toast, made with local ingredients.

The episode then takes a turn towards more adventurous dishes with Zimmern visiting the Russian Tea Time restaurant to try Eastern-European specialties like beef stroganoff, chicken Kiev, and pelmeni (Russian dumplings). He then visits a dim sum spot in Chinatown, where he tries chicken feet, beef tripe, and shrimp dumplings, as well as a few desserts.

Zimmern's next stop is Little Goat Diner, a retro diner located in the West Loop neighborhood, where celebrity chef Stephanie Izard is head chef. Here, Zimmern tries their famous Fat Elvis Waffles, stuffed with bacon and banana, and topped with peanut butter maple syrup and whipped cream.

Finally, Zimmern ends his food tour by exploring the food culture of Chicago's southside neighborhoods with a visit to a soul food restaurant. He tries some classic dishes like macaroni and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, and fried chicken, and speaks with the restaurant owners about the importance of family and community in their business.

Overall, this episode of Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations showcases the diverse food culture and rich history of the city of Chicago, highlighting both its classic dishes and lesser-known gems.