Recently in Odds and Ends Category

The nuts and fruit section at Andy's "ethnic" grocery store -- a great place to shop!

Tammy and I are cosmopolitan eaters. But when it comes to ethnic food, we don't always know what's best. That where you come in. Know the "it" place to chow down on your favorite ethnic cuisine? Send us a suggestion! We're looking for places off the beaten path that serve authentic food.

Recently, we've tried a variety of Ethiopian and Peruvian places, and now we want to branch out. Puerto Rican or Cuban restaurants maybe? Have ideas? We'd like to hear from you!

You don't have to go South to get a rainbow cone. Just head to the Taste!

Check out our Flickr set for inspiration about what to try and what to see at this year's Taste of Chicago!

Cupcake research is underway. More details to come!

Instead of recording yesterday, Tammy and I got busy in our search for Chicago's best cupcakes, site improvements, and social networking opportunities. Stay tuned for more details, and expect a return to our regularly scheduled programming next week.

In the meantime, here's a list of my top ten tips for dining out in Chicago in no particular order... tricks-of-the-trade that I've learned on our quest to become more seasoned diners:

10. Call ahead. Even if a restaurant doesn't officially take reservations, some will let you put your name in when you're on your way there. Shorter wait times are good. When you call, also double check wheelchair accessibility. Just because Metromix says a place is accessible, doesn't mean it is.

9. Order the staff favorite. If all of the waiters are eating a particular dish, it's likely the freshest and most flavorful on the menu. Asking a waiter what he really thinks can improve the entire evening!

8. Ask about special discounts. Many Chicago restaurants offer tasting menu and drink deals on weeknights that aren't well advertised. Expensive menu options can be made affordable.

7. Expand your horizons. Food in the city’s ethnic neighborhoods is almost always 20-times better than what you'll find at a Gold Coast chain. Period. Something on the menu kind of scare you? Order it! I ordered gizzards once, and Tammy tried them too. I liked them!

6. Plan for the occasion. The type of place you'd want go on a date is likely very different from the place you'd take a party of 30 for a Birthday dinner. Think about what kind of restaurant really fits the bill.

5. Make a change. Don’t eat at the same place every Tuesday night. Spread the wealth, and try the place next door. It's always worth it.

4. Set dining goals. Trying one new restaurant every month is a good place to start.

3. Get a tip card. It's not only handy… it's my favorite accessory.

2. Don't hesitate to send food back. I'd never done it until recently, and although it is something I don't enjoy doing, I always have a good reason for it.

1. Be honest. When servers and chefs ask how my meal is, I tell them. I try to be respectful and courteous, but also bluntly honest. That’s because Chicago's restaurant scene is cutthroat, and I’m not doing anybody any favors by sugar-coating my experience.

For some reason, iTunes absolutely refuses to pick up the correct feed for our second Austin podcast. So I’m reposting it here for those who downloaded our first Austin episode twice. Sorry about that! Here’s part two.

Bridget and I are shelving our podcasting efforts until we get back from SXSW Interactive. While in Texas, we plan to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and of course, eat our way through Austin!

If you're around for SXSW, leave a comment on the site and we'll try to catch up with you. Otherwise, look for our recap when we return.

Thanks and happy dining!