Chicago's Very Own Eats with Kevin Powell and Michael Piff

The Chicago's Very Own Eats Podcast with Kevin Powell and Michael Piff from Chicago's Very Own, 720 WGN. From long-time favorites to newly opened locations, Italian beef joints to pizza places, burritos to sushi... 'Chicago's Very Own Eats' celebrates a WIDE range of food and restaurants in the greater Chicagoland area.

Chef Thai Dang brings a celebration of Southeast Asian cuisine to River North with Crying Tiger

Crying Tiger is Lettuce Entertain You’s newest restaurant, located in River North in the old Hub 51 space. Chef Thai Dang describes it as a celebration of Southeast Asian culinary traditions and cuisine, and brought some of his favorite dishes for Kevin Powell and Michael Piff to try at WGN Radio. On the latest episode […]

10-30
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Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steaks & Stone Crab celebrates their 25th anniversary with a party and a special menu

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steaks & Stone Crab is a staple to the Chicago and River North food scene, and they have been for 25 years. It’s a testament to their culinary excellence, warm hospitality and the family traditions that they have become a part of for so many Chicagoans. To celebrate 25 years in River […]

10-16
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United Center rolls out new menu for sports events

Host of WGN Radio podcast “Chicago’s Very Own Eats” Michael Piff joins Bob Sirott to talk about the United Center’s new menu items for Blackhawks and Bulls events and the prices for the items. Some of the new food options include Centennial 6 Stack Burgers, Mozzarella Pucks, Rotating “Chapter” themed Jumbo Hot Dog Series, and […]

10-10
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Pickles are having a moment in Chicago, and so is the Puckered Pickle Company

With the inaugural Chicago Area’s Best Burgers Tournament behind us, Kevin Powell and Michael Piff talk to co-sponsor/Puckered Pickle Company owner Chuck Newman on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast. Chuck talks to Kevin and Michael about the story of his company, the process of diving into the pickle business, all the products that Puckered […]

09-30
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Chicago Culinary Kitchen knows how to have fun

On the heels of the inaugural Chicago Area’s Best Burgers Tournament, tourney participant and northwest suburban, award-winning favorite Chicago Culinary Kitchen wanted to show Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast hosts Kevin Powell and Michael Piff how good their burgers really were. “Special Operations” Manager Jay Goldberg joined Kevin and Michael for a very fun conversation, […]

09-26
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The 2025 Chicago Area’s Best Burgers Tournament winner is…

After 4 weeks of voting on 64 local burger businesses, the inaugural Chicago Area’s Best Burgers Tournament, sponsored by Turano Baking Company and The Puckered Pickle Company, has its champion. The announcement was made on The John Williams Show, as Chicago’s Very Own Eats co-host and WGN Radio bracketologist Michael Piff joined John to call […]

09-25
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Chicago has chosen their final four in the Best Burgers Tournament

Host of WGN Radio podcast “Chicago’s Very Own Eats,” Michael Piff, joins Bob Sirott to talk about the final four contenders in the Chicago Area’s Best Burger Tournament, sponsored by Turano Baking Company and Puckered Pickle Co. He discusses how he monitors the incoming votes, how each of the burger places are spreading the word to their fans, […]

09-19
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A ‘Best Burgers Tourney’ breakdown and gameday eats with Paul Pabst

With the Chicago Area’s Best Burgers Tournament, sponsored by Turano Baking Company and The Puckered Pickle Company, and football season both underway, WGN Radio sports correspondent and Dan Patrick Show executive producer Paul Pabst joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff for a very fun episode of Chicago’s Very Own Eats. As deep into sports Paul […]

09-05
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The Chicago Area’s Best Burgers Tournament starts on Sept. 4th

What better way to celebrate National Burger Day than announcing our new Chicago’s Very Own Eats Podcast tournament! The Chicago Area’s Best Burgers Tournament, sponsored by Turano Baking Company and Puckered Pickle Co., will launch on Thursday, September 4th. Kevin Powell and Michael Piff discussed all the details on a brand new CVOE episode. Listen […]

08-28
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Find out where Billy Zureikat’s ‘Tripping Billy Chicago Tour’ is going next

Billy Zurekait first joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast in February of 2023, and now has been on 5 more times since then with their latest episode. As he raises awareness and funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Billy has grown from a home chef to an in-demand […]

07-25
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Chicago Pizza Tours: One of the best ways to experience Chicago

When you have out-of-town company visiting the Chicago area, what’s the one thing you make sure is part of their experience? If your answer isn’t “pizza”, you’re a bad host and you need to fix that. Taking them on the original Chicago Pizza Tour is a great way to do so. Chicago Pizza Tours founder […]

07-16
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The winner of the 2025 Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament is…

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 […]

06-26
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Why Chicago rolls with Turano Baking Company

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, […]

06-25
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How Caruso Provisions giardiniera ‘elevates everything’

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 […]

06-18
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Bob-O’s is ready to defend their Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament title

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 […]

06-03
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Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament returns for Year 3

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 […]

05-30
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National Italian Beef Month: A history lesson with Joe Buonavolanto Jr. and behind-the-scenes look at Buona in Berwyn

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 […]

05-15
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Why you should go to Uncle Jerry’s for National Deep Dish Day (and beyond)

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 […]

04-04
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The winner of the 2025 Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament is…

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 […]

03-31
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Wings and Rings Bridgeport is your spot for March Madness and White Sox games

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 […]

03-25
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