Hey everyone, the Scovies are out, the Scovies are out!

I am very sad to report that due to schedule conflicts this is the first year in many that I was *not* a judge, but I am so happy they got a great selection of both local foodies, reporters, and afficinadoes to taste and judge over 650 products. Wow!

In the end, there was a new first – a tie for the big champion and it was between two of my favorite things – horseradish and chocolate. Yes, you heard correctly. The champion was not a salsa or a BBQ sauce (yay!), but rather products that push the envelope of getting out tastebuds to feel the burn.

TIE: Barhyte Foods’ Saucy Mama Creamy Horseradish and Poco Dolce’s Super Chile Toffee Squares

If you are loving the cooler fall weather and just can’t get enough, take a quick drive to the East Mountains and you’ll not only find tall trees but a culinary scene that deserves more attention.

A previously loved-and-lost cafe is re-opening in a new space: Chilepeno’s opened its doors in the space previously occupied by Ming’s Chinese (which was a second location of Ming Dynasty on Eubank). I’ve raved about Chilepeno’s before as a staple of good hearty chile and egg dishes – I hope they’ve brought back the same cooks (Lawrence, you there?).

It seems like months, but THREE YEARS have gone by since Greenside Cafe started serving excellent simple food, providing a necessary alternative to the pizza/chinese/BBQ stalwarts of the North 14 corridor. You could say the food is “generically” American, but in reality it is just good. Hanger steaks, chicken piccatta, meatloaf, and some awesome eggs benedict are all on the menu augmented by homemade ice cream and wine & beer. I think their anniversary bash already happened, but swing by and thank Jay Wulf for his commitment to the area.

Finally EVERY SINGLE Thursday the Triangle Grocery holds a wine and cheese tasting to allow sampling of one of the best little liquor departments around. (take that, Edgewood Smith’s!)

East Mountains should be called the Eat Mountains!

Just in time for all my friends (and myself) who are traveling to Chicago for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on 10/10/10, I’ve created a whopper document with tips on finding great local eats.

It is based on my own experience with lots of additional research from local food bloggers, foodies, gastronauts, and food snobs in general.

You’ll find italian and pizza, yeah. But you’ll also find a place that sells duck hot dogs, S’mores pancakes, and the diner open 24 hours for all the late-night corned beef cravings you can dream up.

Download Chicago 2010 Eats Guide (PDF)