Chicago aka, Chi Town, the Windy City, the Big Apple... oh hang on, thats not right.

It might not be as iconic or even as cool New York City, it has to compete with the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, countless movies and The Avengers. But Chicago has the Sears Tower, Lake Michigan, Al Capone and is Gotham for crying out loud. The USA's second city is wicked and vying with NYC as my favourite place in the USA.

We arrived on a Sunday afternoon as the sun was setting, my hotel room overlooked Lake Michigan and I had one thing on my mind... FOOD.

Over the week we were there filming we had some great grub, but the one that stands out in my mind isn't a posh, gourmet meal, its quite the opposite!

The Billy Goat made famous by a Saturday Night Live sketch and for being a boozy hang out in the 1920s for heavy hitting journalists, can be found in a dingy underpass where you'd expect to find trolls not billy goats.

Not famous for their hospitality, the front door doesn't really look like a front door and there is a sign that says enter at your own risk! Once inside you can forget the American welcome of big smiles and a friendly host, you grab a seat anywhere thats free and contemplate the menu. That takes about 5 seconds, just as John Belushi screamed in the SNL skit, you have the choice of a CHEEZBORGER! Or a DOUBLE CHEEZBORGER! Dont even think of ordering fries, they dont have those and if like me you dont like cheese, you will be looked at like you are a crazy person complicating things. 

The burger was great, it's served with a shout and left for you to collect from the counter. Then you build it (sauces, relish, tomatoes etc) on your way back to your table. We ate, lit by unforgiving neon lights surrounded by workers straight off the building site, pictures of famous Chicagoans and baseball on the tv. The Billy Goat is kind of like a British greasy spoon, but with beer.

I have to say I loved it, despite all evidence to the contrary, I guess the fact that the Billy Goat just doesn't care what you think and carries on regardless I couldn't help but admire. 


Slightly posher was the Grand Lux Cafe, well just the fact it is above ground trumps the Billy Goat before you see its high ceilings, elaborate lighting and its grand art deco design. It was described to me as a tourist trap, but I think that does it a diservice. 

The menu was huge, and international, I went for the fried chicken. It was as perfectly golden as a californian sunset, as tender as a freshly spanked bum and juicier than a News of the World headline. 

I have to say it was great, massive though, they basically deep fried an entire chicken. Oh and I tried fried gherkins which surprisingly were ace.

On my final day in Chicago just before we flew out I stumbled on a little place called Downtown Dog just in time for lunch. The place was wallpapered in photos of dogs and packed, a city tour guide had stopped by with his group to get them all fed, a good sign if ever I've seen one. 

Copying the locals, I ordered... "One Downtown Dog please and take it for a walk" this was a big meaty sausage with EVERYTHING on it, relish, multiple sauces, a pickled chilli and more. This I have to say trumps the NYC hotdogs I've munched in the past, so chalk that one up to Chicago.

Other honorable mentions go to Niu Sushi - amazing calimari. Heaven on 7 - cajun food with an artists palet of hot sauces. Q - a very plush, very cool BBQ joint. I'd recommend the Q2 with the sweet and spicy BBQ sauce.