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.

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 of Cary, Jerry and Nancy’s pizza shop, Uncle Jerry’s, shares a space with multiple businesses and has Chicago area pizza lovers flocking to try it. They have also been runner-up in back-to-back years of our Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament, and have become beloved by those in their area and across Chicagoland. If you’ve tried it, then you know exactly why.

Jerry joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk more about the story of Uncle Jerry’s, the support they get from the community, how they are looking into expanding, and much more! Before National Deep Dish Day on April 5th, take a listen and check out the below photo gallery to see why you need to get up to Cary, IL.

Jerry and Nancy were gracious enough to treat our WGN Radio team to their famous pizza, making us all believers in what they do.

• Jerry Czerwinski cutting up Uncle Jerry’s deep dish for our WGN Radio staff. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The hot honey pepperoni and veggie pizzas from Uncle Jerry’s. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Jerry and Nancy Czerwinski with Cary’s Very Own (and WGN Radio), Kevin Wells! Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Jerry and Nancy Czerwinski with John Williams in the WGN Radio studio. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Jerry and Nancy Czerwinski from Uncle Jerry’s with Chicago’s Very Own Eats host and 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.

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 Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast host and WGN Radio bracketologist Michael Piff to announce and call the winner on WGN Radio! Listen below:

Congratulations to Rosati’s for winning this year’s tournament, joining Georgio’s (2023) and Antioch Pizza Shop (2024) as Chicago Pizza Madness Champions!

Graphic and photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio

Also, congrats to Uncle Jerry’s Pizza Company for making the championship for a 2nd year in a row. Ahead of National Deep Dish Day this weekend, you have to go try them 133 W Main St, Cary, IL.

For round-by-round results, check back to our main Chicago Pizza Madness page. 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.

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 and families.

Gustavo joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the latest CVOE Podcast to talk about his story, the amazing food, the “new and improved” shuttle to take Sox fans to the ballpark and back, how important the community is to Wings and Rings’ success, and much more.

As Gustavo says in the episode, mention “WGN Radio” or the “Chicago’s Very Own Eats Podcast” and you’ll be entered to win a catered Final Four party for 8 AND a ride by their “Wing Express Shuttle Bus.”

Also worth noting:

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.

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 the Chicagoland area. Some of the places include Shaw’s Crab House, Fabulous Freddy’s Italian Eatery, and Bonefish Grill.

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 schedule for voting, and so much more. Take a listen and get your first look at the 2025 edition of the bracket below:

The Chicago Pizza Madness remain the same (City, North, Local Chains and South/West), with 32 pizza places in each region.

Click to see better. Graphic by Michael Piff / WGN Radio

Voting begins Thursday, March 6th, at 10 AM. Voting for this year’s tournament will all take place on the same web post this year, which will live on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats page and WGNRadio.com’s homepage. Once the tournament begins, tune in to WGN Radio 720 or stream on WGNRadio.com for updated scores, results and reaction.

Full round-by-round schedule below:

One last thing, there are no seedings in Pizza Madness. Just good matchups and quality fun.

Stay updated on all things Pizza Madness and 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.

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 ‘Bill and Doug’s Excellent Adventure’ pizza, a white New Haven pizza with sliced Yukon potatoes, Hot Doug’s Hungarian sausage, scallions and Pecorino, horseradish cream sauce. A vegetarian option is available as well. With every purchase of the $35 pizza, $70 will be donated to PAWS Chicago, the Midwest’s largest no-kill shelter. Orders and donations can be made on PAWSChicago.org. Adoptable dogs will be featured on the Piece pizza boxes. Since 2023, ‘Slice to Meet You’ has raised $90,000 for PAWS Chicago.

Bill and Doug joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff to talk about the ‘Slice To Meet You’ project, how they first met over a decade ago, meeting Anthony Bourdain, shout-outs to some of their favorite restaurants, and yes, the Chicago Bears. Bill also breaks some news on who he will be collaborating with for Part II and Part III of the of the Slice To Meet You campaign. Listen for more below:

See the photos below to get a better idea of how fun it is to be around Bill and Doug.

• Bill Jacobs and Doug Sohn prepare to put their “Excellent Adventure” in the oven. Photo via Bill Jacobs / Piece
• The “after” photo of Bill and Doug’s Excellent Adventure. Photo via Bill Jacobs / Piece
• Three Chicago legends in one photo. Photo via Bill Jacobs / Piece
• You’ll often find these two at Wrigley Field. Photo via Bill Jacobs / Piece
• …as well as the rotating Hot Doug’s sausages in the Wrigley Field bleachers. Photo via Bill Jacobs / Piece
• Bill Jacobs and Doug Sohn with the late and great Anthony Bourdain. Photo via Bill Jacobs / Piece

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.

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.

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.