Patricia Cobe

Chefs strut their creativity with small plates, playing up lighter ingredients and global flavors.

At one time, Chicago was the candy capital of America, home to many iconic brands. Although most of the production has moved elsewhere, it's possible to retrace the city's sweet history through a walking tour.

Snacking is on the rise, with 51 percent of consumers saying they snack at least twice a day, according to Technomic’s Snacking Occasion Consumer Trend Report. That’s up from 48 percent in 2012. Yet restaurants are not taking full advantage of this trend. Technomic reports that 80 percent of snacks are sourced from retail stores, while only 20 percent are purchased from restaurants.

Rohini Dey, owner of the Vermillion restaurants in Chicago and New York City, never thought her girlhood passion to save the world would land her in upscale dining. Now that she’s here, Dey is shocked that there are so few women leading the industry.

A health-forward superfood salad, built with seasonal produce, hits the menu at Boloco.

After more than 60 years in business, Sonic adds an indoor prototype for cold-weather markets.