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 Chicago Pizza Madness champion, Georgio’s in Crystal Lake, and tried their pizza as well.

Voting for the Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament is taking place on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast page. Find and try as many of the competing pizza places here.

Stay updated on the Pizza Madness Tournament 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.

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 on Facebook who we should include in this year’s tournament. Over 1,000 responses later by Chicago area pizza lovers, Chicago’s Very Own Eats hosts Kevin Powell and Michael Piff were able to put together the 2024 edition of the bracket.

[UPDATE] The field has been expanded to 68 competitors with the “First Four” play-in round having already officially begun.

And just like last year, the bracket is broken out into four regions: City, North Suburbs, Local Chain and South/West Suburbs.

Listen below as Kevin and Michael share more details and discuss the matchups on the latest episode of the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast!

We know that there are so many more Chicago area pizza places that could have been included, and it was very difficult to keep it to just 68. Interested in trying some for the first time? We encourage you do and find them here.

Stay updated on the Pizza Madness Tournament 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.

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 Own Eats podcast to talk about her favorite Chicago burgers, her journey from starting a blog to growing a following of 13,000 Chicago food lovers, becoming a 3-time judge of the Roscoe Village Burger Fest, how she’s not above a good chain burger, how she finds new burger places to try and much more.

Listen to the full episode below:

Kevin and Michael could have gone hours talking to Samantha about burgers, but they’d love to hear from you about yours. Tweet them at @KPowell720 and @Mike_Piff03. And you can see some of Michael’s favorites in his gallery posted back in 2022.

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 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 how Chicago Pepper Bros. began, how Tommy learned to make giardiniera, how he perfected his recipe, who has helped him along the way, and how you can buy your own jar of peppers. For more, go to ChicagoPepperBros.com and follow them on Instagram.

Because it’s almost Super Bowl week, Kevin and Michael discuss their plans for what their serving and having to eat during “The Big Game”. And they also have a special announcement regarding National Pizza Day and plans for the Pizza Madness Tournament. Listen for more below:

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.

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 Malnati’s. While they both went out to eat, they also did some cooking over the holidays that you may want to try for yourself.

Then Kevin and Michael started look toward 2024 and what they’re looking forward to trying. And yes, they are looking for recommendations! Listen below to find out what:

Have a new restaurant recommendation for Kevin and Michael? Or maybe a suggestion for when they bring back the Pizza Madness Tournament? Let them know on Twitter/X at @KPowell720 and @Mike_Piff03.

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.

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 Dolinsky’s Pizza City Fest. He’s directing communications for Revolution Brewing. And recently he has added Italian Beef to his Chicago food repertoire.

The Original C&D of Chicagoland, from John Carruthers and Crust Fund

Hear all about it as Kevin and Michael catch up with John on the latest episode of Chicago’s Very Own Eats.

Follow John on Instagram for everything he’s up to at nachosandlager. And you can find his “Pizza for Everybody” book on hi-buddy.org.

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.

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 or against turkey…

Kevin and Michael also discuss how early they each decorate for Christmas, what they do the day after Thanksgiving, and what they do with their leftovers. Listen for that and more below:

Kevin and Michael want to see what you’re having for Thanksgiving this year, so feel free to share your photos with them on Twitter at @KPowell720 and @Mike_Piff03.

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.

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 iconic Chicago brands happened. Marc also takes Kevin and Michael behind the scenes of the time he had to school longtime Daily Show host Jon Stewart in what good Chicago deep dish pizza is. He then weighs in on the tavern style vs. deep dish vs. stuffed pizza debate.

And as Marc Malnati says, “If you really like somebody, what better way to let them know” than shipping a Lou Malnati’s x Portillo’s Italian Beef Deep Dish to them as a gift (which can be ordered on TastesOfChicago.com). Both Kevin and Michael tried it and give it a thumbs up! Listen to the full episode below:

Let Kevin and Michael know what you think on Twitter at @KPowell720 and @Mike_Piff03. 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.

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 Radio listeners that follow us on social media.

After 5 weeks and plenty of passion from fans of our competitors, it came down to Wings & Rings and Timothy O’Toole’s in the championship. Kevin and Michael called the winner on the latest episode of Chicago’s Very Own Eats. Listen below to hear it:

Congrats to Wings & Rings for winning our inaugural Chicago’s Best Wings Tournament with 55% of the championship vote. They are locally owned and operated, and just 4 blocks west of Guaranteed Rate Field on the South Side. Also congrats to Timothy O’Toole’s for an incredible effort throughout the entirety of the tournament.

We also highly recommend checking out as many of the 32 competing locations as you can. You can find them here.

Thank you to everyone that voted, promoted and didn’t hold back your feelings about the results of this tournament. We hope you stay with us until our next big tournament 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.

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 developed around it.

courtesy of Michael Corrigan / Chicago Pizza Summit

Founder Anthony Spina joins Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk about the Pizza Summit’s return, what sets it apart from other festivals, why “Pizza is for everyone”, and how Chicago pizza enthusiasts can partake in the event.

The 2023 Chicago Pizza Summit takes place on October 15th at the Royal Palms Chicago. Tickets for both sessions are available on Bucketlisters.com. You can also look back at Michael’s experience at the inaugural Pizza Summit here.

Kevin and Michael also give an update on the 2023 Chicago Best Wings Tournament, and who has reached the Final Four. Listen for more below:

Join the conversation with Kevin and Michael on Twitter at @KPowell720 and @Mike_Piff03. Stay updated 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.