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 might be, he was clearly much more invested in the ‘Best Burgers Tournament’, giving Kevin and Michael his analysis and favorites in the 64-burger place bracket. They also talked about what makes a great burger and clear signs you’re in the right place for them. And as college football and the NFL kickoff their seasons, they talk about what they’re eating on gameday and where to go to enjoy sports. Listen below and don’t forget to vote for your favorite burger places in the Chicago Area’s Best Burgers Tournament!

Follow Paul Pabst on Twitter/X and Instagram. And TUNE IN to hear him weekly on The John Landecker Show!

Stay updated on tournament results and all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.

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 below:

Voting will take place on the tournament voting page (click here), starting at 10 AM on Sept. 4th. You’ll find it on the WGNRadio.com homepage, the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page, and WGN Radio’s Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.

Stay updated on tournament results and all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.

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 collaborator with famous Chicago restaurants and pop-ups across the city. His “Tripping Billy Chicago Tour” has made 20 stops, bringing his signature toppings of shishito pepper cream sauce sauce, corn, pickled jalapenos, scallions and mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheeses and serves them as pizzas, sandwiches, knishes and even a glizzy! Billy revels on the podcast where he’ll be taking his talents next. Hint: There are locations in Highwood and Lakeview. Listen below:

Billy also talks about his new podcast, ‘Over The Line’ with cohost Chef Dan Jacobs, his team-up with Lula Cafe, his pop-ups with Bang Bang Pie in Logan Square, what he has cooking for this coming season of “Chicago Squares” pizzas, and oh-so-much more. Follow Billy on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And plan on seeing him September 7th as the featured chef at Sportman’s Sunday BBQ.

Stay updated on all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.

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 Jonathan Porter joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk about celebrating the 15th anniversary of his company, how it began, the different experiences and corporate outings they offer, a history lesson on Tavern-style pizza, the Chicago pizza community, his upcoming collaboration with Chicago Fireboat Tours, and much more. Listen to the full episode below:

As mentioned on the podcast, Michael went on the bus tour with his dad and brother, and would recommend it to anyone, whether you’re visiting Chicago or you’ve lived here your whole life. Below are photos from Michael’s experience to give you an idea of what’s in store.

• Starting the Chicago Pizza Tour at Pizano’s (61 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60603) with both deep dish and thin crust options. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Chicago Pizza Tours founder Jonathan Porter and WGN Radio’s Michael Piff in the Pizano’s basement. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Chicago Pizza Tours guide James, sharing some Chicago history on the way to the next stop. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Tour Guide James and 3 glorious tavern style pizzas at Flo & Santo’s. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Close and personal with some of Chicago’s best thin crust pizza (at Flo & Santo’s). Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The pepperoni and whipped ricotta at Coalfire in West Town. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Tour Guide James checking on everyone to see if they still have room for one more stop. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The last stop: Bartoli’s in West Town. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• What a way to close out a pizza tour. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Experienced Chicago Pizza-eating veterans don’t mind one more slice of deep dish. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• WGN Radio’s Michael Piff with his Dad (John) and brother (Stephen) outside Bartoli’s. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The end of the tour, and we can’t wait to go on another one. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio

Learn more at ChicagoPizzaTours.com and follow them on Instagram.

Stay updated on all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.

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 the winner, live on the radio. Listen to the announcement and the 2025 champion’s live reaction below:

Congrats to Duke’s Drive-In for winning this year’s Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament! And great showing by Johnnie’s Beef and their incredibly well-earned Chicago area following for helping make the 2025 Best Beef Tournament so fun.

See the round-by-round results of the 2025 Best Beef Tournament on the original tournament page. The reason we do these tournaments is to support local businesses, so try as many of the participating Italian Beef places and check them out here.

Stay updated on tournament results and all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.

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, the variety of products they sell, the bakery you can find at the Turano headquarters in Berwyn, Mario’s “Lunch with Turano” video series, some of their favorite family spots growing up, and much more! Listen to the full episode below:

To see the videos and recipes we discussed follow Turano on Instagram and Facebook.

Stay updated on all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.

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 Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to tell the story of his family’s business, how they fine-tuned the recipe from their mother, the several products they offer, teaming up with Chicago’s Very Own Eats All-Star Billy Zureikat, what sets them apart from other giardiniera companies and more!

Listen below and “elevate” your next meal with Caruso’s giardiniera.

• The lineup of products from Caruso Provisions, found on arusoprovisions.com. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Caruso Provisions co-owner Peter Caruso with Chicago’s Very Own Eats co-host/WGN Radio bracketologist Michael Piff. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio

Stay updated on all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.

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 of one of our WGN Radio food tournaments, how new people were introduced to the 50-year-old Chicago establishment, the new location in Norwood Park that is specifically for Italian beef, and much more.

Michael also talked through all of the details for this year’s ‘Mom & Pop’ edition of the tournament, when voting starts, where to vote, how you can keep track of scores, how zero funny business will be tolerated, and how this is meant to support local businesses. Special thanks to our sponsors, Turano Baking Company and Caruso Provisions. Listen to the full episode below:

• An Italian Beef from Bob-O’s. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The Bob-O’s team with Chicago’s Very Own Eats cohost Michael Piff. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio

Get all the details and final draft of the 2025 Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament bracket here. See all the 2025 competitors and where to find them here.

Stay updated on tournament results and all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.

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 Chicagoland area. Wendy, Michael, and Andy Masur also talk about some of their favorite beef sandwiches, unique ways to have Italian beef, and preview season 4 of ‘The Bear’, which was originally set in an Italian beef sandwich shop in Chicago. Voting for Round 1 begins Thursday, June 5th at 10 AM.

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 month marks its 10th anniversary.

Founding member of the family, Joe Buonavolanto Jr. joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk about Italian beef’s rich history in Chicago, his family’s business and how it began, Buona’s specials and promotions during Italian Beef Month and National Italian Beef Day (May 24th), Buona’s collaboration with Giordano’s, and much more! Listen below and stay tuned for a Chicago’s Very Own Eats announcement that you don’t want to miss:

Michael was also invited for a behind-the-scenes look at Buona’s original location in Berwyn with GM Sinisa Podoreski. Michael learned more about what sets Buona apart from other Chicago food businesses, how they support the communities that their locations are in, what they really mean when they say “Buona means Good”, and more as you swipe through the photo gallery below:

• Buona’s original location at 6745 Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn, where it all began. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• How do you like your beef? Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Pull up a chair. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Buona GM Sinisa Podoreski, leading the Buona Team in Berwyn. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Ready to go behind-the-scenes at Buona. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The tools. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• And more tools. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Chilling in the fridge. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Buona’s homemade Giardineira. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• More ingredients from Buona’s authentic recipes. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• For slicing the beef. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Might need to get one of my own. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Getting to know the Buona employees across the Chicagoland area. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Getting a hot dog order (no ketchep). Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• How the process to making your Buona beef sandwich begins. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• First goes on the mozz. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Then the beef. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• A layer of hot peppers. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Then a layer of sweet peppers. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• A craftsman with his work. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The Buona Beef beauty shot. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Oh, and they have pasta too! Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The team at Buona in Berwyn! Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Go Mustangs! Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The Buonavolanto Family shows their appreciation to customers on their way out of each of their locations. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• On the way out, a customer stopped to tell me about how he remembered back when there was a gas station here, and how much he loves coming to visit this spot. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio

Stay updated on all things Chicago food by subscribing to Chicago’s Very Own Eats on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All episodes are available on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page at WGNRadio.com.