Explore every episode of the podcast Chicago's Very Own Eats with Kevin Powell and Michael Piff

After 3 weeks of voting on 64 Chicago area “Mom & Pop” Italian Beef places, we finally have a new champion of our annual Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament, sponsored by Turano Baking Company and Caruso Provisions. John Williams was joined by Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast cohost / WGN Radio bracketologist Michael Piff to call […]

For the three years that we’ve held our annual Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament, Turano Baking Company has been gracious enough to support it as a sponsor. Mario and Giancarlo Turano joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk about this year’s tournament, the history of their family’s business, […]

What’s the Chicago version of peanut butter and jelly? Well, Italian Beef and giardiniera, of course! But even as a co-sponsor of our 2025 Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament, Caruso Provisions aims to be more than a condiment for your dipped sandwich. Peter Caruso, co-owner of Caruso Provisions, joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the […]

Before the 2025 Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament kicks off on Thursday, Rich Bartell from Bob-O’s joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk about defending their championship title. Rich shared with Kevin and Michael what it was like from a business owner’s perspective being on the competing end […]

WGN Radio’s Senior Digital Strategist and co-host of the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast Michael Piff joins Wendy Snyder (in for Bob Sirott) to talk about the third edition of WGN’s ‘Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament’, sponsored by Turano Baking Company and Caruso Provisions. Michael details this year’s bracket which features 64 mom-and-pop restaurants from the […]

What began as a day to celebrate “the most Chicago food item of all,” has now expanded into a month-long celebration. The family behind the winner of our inaugural Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament, the Buonavolantos, joined forces with the Scalas and Pacellis (from Al’s Beef) to petition for a National Italian Beef Day, and this […]

Like many of us pizza lovers, Jerry and Nancy Czerwinski had “Pizza Fridays” with their family, picking up Lou Malnati’s and Pequod’s every week. When they moved to Cary, Jerry bought a 25-pound bag of flour, and began making his own pizzas at home, which slowly well known throughout the community. Located in the heart […]

After 4 weeks of voting on 128 Chicago area pizza places, with more than 95,000 votes casted by WGN Radio listeners and pizza lovers, we have a new Chicago Pizza Madness Champion! The championship was down to Uncle Jerry’s from the North Region and Rosati’s from the Local Chain Region. Jon Hansen was joined by […]

WGN Radio and Chicago’s Very Own Eats Podcast listeners may know Wings and Rings for winning our Chicago’s Best Wings Tournament in 2023, and it’s beloved among diehard White Sox fans who go before and after games. New owner Gustavo Espinosa is reintroducing the Bridgeport establishment with renovations and a menu fit for sports fans […]

Host of WGN Radio podcast “Chicago’s Very Own Eats” Mike Piff joins Bob Sirott to talk about his 2025 Pizza Madness bracket, as well as how a winner will be determined and how he helps to maintain the integrity of the tournament. Freelancer Samantha Nelson also joins Bob to share details about Lent specials around […]

Chicago Pizza Madness returns to Chicago’s Very Own Eats and WGN Radio on Thursday, March 6th, and it’s bigger than ever. Literally. Hosts Kevin Powell and Michael Piff preview this year’s tournament, which has now doubled from 64 to 128 Chicago area pizza places. They discuss the 60+ new participants, how to vote, the round-by-round […]

Piece Pizzeria & Brewery owner/operator Bill Jacobs returned to the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast, and he brought a special guest with him. Bill and Doug Sohn of Hot Doug’s have teamed up to kickoff the annual ‘Slice To Meet You’ campaign, supporting PAWS Chicago. From January 9th to February 8th, you can order their […]

As the year comes to a close, Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast hosts Kevin Powell and Michael Piff look back at their favorite meals, restaurants and Chicago experiences they had in 2024. Find out about… …and more! Listen below to hear their answers. And Happy Holidays from the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7116868/7116868_2024-12-18-140308.64kmono.mp3 Stay […]

Fourth-generation owners of the The Italian Village and siblings Giovanna and Jonathan Capitanini are opening a new restaurant in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, combining Italian bar and Chicago tavern culture. It will be the first concept to open in the basement of the Italian Village complex (71 W. Monroe) since 1955, and the goal is to […]

The 2024 edition of the Chicago Pizza Summit, Chicago’s original pizza festival, takes place Sunday, November 3rd. Organizer Anthony Spina has been there since the beginning in 2016, and has seen both the festival and the Chicago pizza community evolve over the years. Anthony returns to the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to chat with […]

Michael Piff, Senior Digital Strategist for WGN Radio, joins Lisa Dent on the show to talk about his Chicago Food Truck Summer project and the 30 different Chicago area food trucks he tried. Listen below to hear some of the favorites!

One of the most anticipated seasons in Chicago Bears history begins this Sunday at Solider Field when they host the Tennessee Titans. The fanbase has been salivating over their new franchise quarterback, additional playmakers on offense, and a defense that finished as one of the best units in the sport last season. The concession stand […]

Home chef, Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast All-Star, and Muscular Dystrophy Association ambassador Billy Zureikat brought football and pizza fans together with his weekly ‘Chicago Squares’ series last year. Every week, he created a new tavern style pizza with ingredients inspired by the Bears’ opponents. If you followed the Chicago Squares series last year and […]

Of all the amazing restaurants in Fulton Market, you can consider Carnivale to be the ‘OG’. Many Chicago food lovers know it for its pan-latin fusion cuisine and flair-filled entertainment, but soon you can have your very own ‘Chef’s Table’ experience. Chef Carlos Garza joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own […]

As Italian Village Restaurants nears their 97th year in business, the new generation is putting as much love and hard work as ever into their business. The siblings, Jonathan and Giovanna Capitanini, grew up in the restaurant and have seen how it has evolved over the years since they were little. Having taken the reins […]

The 2024 Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament, sponsored by Turano Baking Company and Mauro Provisions, started on June 27th in conjunction with ‘The Bear’ season 3 dropping on Hulu. The field expanded from 16 of the Chicago area’s favorite Italian beef places, a year ago, to 64 this year. Updated Best Beef Tournament graphic by Michael Piff / […]

Food Network host, Chicago chef, CEO/Founder of Mauro Provisions, podcaster, musician and all-around-good-dude Jeff Mauro joins Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast! Jeff is one of the busiest people in the food industry and when you listen to this episode, you’ll find out why. We learn how Mauro Provisions […]

National Fried Chicken Day is Saturday, July 6th and what better way to celebrate than with a Nashville hot chicken sandwich! Photo provided by Craveworthy Brands The Budlong Southern Chicken is commemorating the holiday AND their 8th birthday by offering $5 Budlong Original Chicken Sandwiches for the enter month of July. Craveworthy Brands CEO Gregg […]

The inaugural Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament featured 16 of the area’s best Chicago beef places. This year, we are extending the tournament to 64 competitors. The 2024 Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament is sponsored by Turano Baking Company and Mauro Provisions. Joining Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats to talk about it and […]

WGN Radio’s Mike Piff joins Wendy Snyder, in for Bob Sirott, to talk about the Second Annual Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament and how it highlights small businesses. He also shares details about his summer dedicated to trying foods from Chicagoland’s food trucks and where you can find regular updates. The Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament starts […]

Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament, sponsored by Turano Baking Company and Mauro Provisions, returns on June 27th, and Buona Beef is ready for their title defense. Jimmy Buonavolanto and Andrew Regalado from Buona joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk about the history of Buona, Chicago’s love for […]

Ahead of Cinco de Mayo, daVinci Group owner Paul LoDuca joins Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast. Paul owns two restaurants that have been staples in the Old Town neighborhood for decades now, Adobo Grill and Vinci. Adobo Grill and Vinci restaurant owner Paul LoDuca with Kevin Powell and […]

After 4 weeks, 7 rounds and 271,351 votes, the 2024 Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament sponsored by Career Vision has its champion. Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast co-host Michael Piff joined John Williams to call the owners of the winning pizza place. Listen to the segment below: https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4591566/4591566_2024-04-04-151706.64kmono.mp3 Antioch Pizza Shop won by just 1% of the […]

Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani and his team at Fabio Viviani Hospitality have opened more than 60 restaurants and concepts across the country, including Chicago favorites Sienna Tavern, Prime & Provisions, and Bar Sienna. Now Chef Fabio has opened a modern Italian steakhouse in his own backyard, Lago in Lake Zurich. Chef Fabio joined Kevin Powell […]

With the 2024 Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament (sponsored by Career Vision) underway, John Williams was joined by Chicago’s Very Own Eats co-host and WGN Radio “bracketologist” Michael Piff on Monday to discuss the details for listeners to vote. To kick off the tournament properly, John also spoke with Courtney Miller, general manager of the 2023 […]

The Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament is back and it’s sponsored by our friends at Career Vision! In 2023, we had 64 Chicagoland area pizza places face off alongside College Basketball’s NCAA Tournament. After 4 weeks and 330,000 votes, Georgio’s of Crystal Lake was crowned the 2023 champion. This year, we asked the WGN Radio audience […]

While Chicago prides itself on pizza and Italian beef, it’s also home to some of the best burger joints in the country. Chronicling Chicago’s best burgers is Samantha Esposito with her Chicago Burger Bible Instagram page and website. (Samantha Esposito / Chicago Burger Bible) Samantha joins Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very […]

What’s as “Chicago” as Italian Beef, deep dish and tavern style pizza? Giardiniera. And if you love giardiniera, there’s a home grown business with a recipe that tops Kevin Powell’s list of favorites. Kevin and Michael Piff talk with Chicago Pepper Bros. owner Thomas Romano on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast. They talk about […]

Kevin Powell and Michael Piff from the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast kickoff 2024, first by catching on how they celebrated the holidays and more importantly…what they had to eat. Kevin talks about his visit to RPM and Club Lucky, while Michael shares his experience introducing his daughter to Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Lou […]

John Carruthers has been very busy since Kevin Powell and Michael Piff last talked to him on Chicago’s Very Own Eats. The Crust Fund Pizza proprietor continues to make and sell pizzas for Chicago area causes from his alley. He competed on Chopped and represented Chicago tavern style pizza very well. He participated in Steve […]

The podcast for Chicago food lovers is back in time to talk about the holiday for food lovers. To commemorate their 50th episode of the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast, hosts Kevin Powell and Michael Piff share their Thanksgiving traditions, the unique foods their families enjoy, favorite sides, favorite pies, and whether they are for […]

To kickoff National Pizza Month properly, Lou Malnati’s and Portillo’s teamed up again to bring back the Lou Malnati’s x Portillo’s Italian Beef Deep Dish pizza. Lou Malnati’s owner and chairman Marc Malnati joins Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk about how the collaboration between the two […]

The goal of the 2023 Chicago’s Best Wings Tournament was to promote local businesses in and around Chicago, and we had 32 of them that competed over the past month. Our competitors were chosen by Chicago’s Very Own Eats hosts Kevin Powell and Michael Piff, various wings enthusiasts on the WGN Radio staff, and WGN […]

Chicago’s original pizza festival makes its return on October 15th! The Chicago Pizza Summit began in 2016 as a way to bring pizza lovers from the world’s greatest pizza city together and to celebrate different styles and brands from across the area. Between 2016 and 2019, the Pizza Summit grew and evolved…like the community that […]

Friend of the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast and home cook Billy Zureikat joins Kevin Powell and Michael Piff to discuss his latest project that football fans and pizza lovers will enjoy. Each week of the Bears’ season, Billy is making a tavern style pizza that is inspired by the city or state that their […]