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John Kessler

@jdkess

Dining Critic for Chicago Magazine and other food writing; Secular Jewmanist, political progressive, henna gaijin, reflexively jokey, I try to be a good person. jdkess.com

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13.11.2024
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Latest posts by John Kessler @jdkess

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"Jews don't belong in American society."

Imagine a sitting member of Congress tweeting that. You can't. Thankfully, it'd never happen. And *if* it did, it'd be the end of their career and the biggest story in America.

But Ogles can say this about Muslims without any censure.

09.03.2026 15:55 πŸ‘ 7338 πŸ” 2132 πŸ’¬ 332 πŸ“Œ 131

Thanks, I'll definitely check it out

15.02.2026 11:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
"SPIRIT HALLOWEEN COMING SOON" banner on Trump-Kennedy Center

"SPIRIT HALLOWEEN COMING SOON" banner on Trump-Kennedy Center

stealing from Reddit

02.02.2026 01:53 πŸ‘ 7081 πŸ” 1246 πŸ’¬ 109 πŸ“Œ 55
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Yes.

25.01.2026 13:42 πŸ‘ 12328 πŸ” 2855 πŸ’¬ 411 πŸ“Œ 148

I will for them: 16% are racist xenophobes who thrill to cruelty, and 16% are talking about their investments.

22.01.2026 17:26 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Review: Class Act Stumbles Over Its History Lesson The dinner party experience is fun. Unfortunately, the food ranges from cute to dismal.

β€œIt’s pure hokum,” writes @jdkess.bsky.social. β€œBut it’s also kind of fun to meet people and engage in a novel group activity. Unfortunately, the food ranges from cute to dismal.”

14.01.2026 18:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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WELKER: Do you bear any responsibility to bring down the temperature?

FREY: Of course. But I dropped an F bomb and they killed somebody. I think the killing somebody is the inflammatory element here and not the F bomb.

11.01.2026 15:42 πŸ‘ 13484 πŸ” 2735 πŸ’¬ 1274 πŸ“Œ 579
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Dining critic @jdkess.bsky.social visits the latest two pizza joints making waves in the city: Pizz’amici in West Town and Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna in River North buff.ly/rDKzpMY

16.10.2025 17:04 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I feel like dispensaries are this year’s yogurt shops.

24.08.2025 02:20 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Case for Reviewing While High <em>Chicago</em>’s dining critic explains why cannabis makes him better at his job.

Our dining critic John Kessler (@jdkess.bsky.social) explains why cannabis makes him better at his job. buff.ly/tWHjAJd

29.07.2025 13:50 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Review: Cafe Yaya is Becoming Our New Standby Though still a bit uneven, Cafe Yaya, an all-day spot from the Galit team, keeps this critic coming back.

"After all those meals, though, I still consider Cafe Yaya a work in progress. ... Nonetheless, if you’re contemplating a spontaneous meal and Cafe Yaya pops into mind, go."

Read the full review from @jdkess.bsky.social

10.07.2025 16:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Guy looking back at someone else meme except his gf is Brandon Johnson and the other person is zohran mamdani

Guy looking back at someone else meme except his gf is Brandon Johnson and the other person is zohran mamdani

Chicago progressives like:

25.06.2025 17:28 πŸ‘ 571 πŸ” 52 πŸ’¬ 11 πŸ“Œ 5
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Ep. 4: Summer Patios and Seasonal Dining John and Amy discuss their favorite spots for outdoor dining in Chicago, the dishes and drinks they look forward to each summer, and the best places for seasonal cooking.

In our latest episode of the Dish podcast, @amycavanaugh.bsky.social‬ and @jdkess.bsky.social‬ discuss their favorite Chicago patios, which restaurants nail seasonal cooking, and the dishes and drinks they look forward to each summer.

20.06.2025 17:03 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Great Giardiniera Taste Test What’s the best locally made jarred giard? Our dining critic did a blind ranking of seven top hot versions. The results might surprise you.

What’s the best locally made jarred giardiniera? Our dining critic @jdkess.bsky.social‬ did a blind ranking of seven top hot versions. The results might surprise you.

03.06.2025 20:00 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Episode 1: Chicago’s Best New Restaurants Hosts John Kessler and Amy Cavanaugh dive into <em>The Best New Restaurants</em> list, discuss what didn't make the cut, and describe the best thing each ate this week.

We've launched a podcast! 🎧️ Dish is a biweekly pod from our critic @jdkess.bsky.social & dining editor @amycavanaugh.bsky.social

This episode they dive into The Best New Restaurants list, discuss what didn't make the cut, and describe the best thing each ate this week.

06.05.2025 13:04 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Julie Andrews playing guitar and singing  to children in the sound of music

Julie Andrews playing guitar and singing to children in the sound of music

🎡HEAD LIKE A HOLE, BLACK AS YOUR SOUL🎡

01.05.2025 20:59 πŸ‘ 6577 πŸ” 942 πŸ’¬ 168 πŸ“Œ 195

Today would be a great day to ban members of Congress and their families from trading stocks, don't you think?

14.04.2025 17:14 πŸ‘ 2965 πŸ” 638 πŸ’¬ 94 πŸ“Œ 22

Dear Media,

πŸ—žοΈ A felon defying court orders to return people he has disappeared is illegal, anti-American, and against EVERYTHING millions of people have laid their lives down to protect in this country.

πŸ—žοΈSTART FUCKING REPORTING IT THIS WAY AND GIVE THIS HORROR THE WEIGHT IT DESERVES.

-Thank you

14.04.2025 15:45 πŸ‘ 1979 πŸ” 710 πŸ’¬ 59 πŸ“Œ 30
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Review: Il Carciofo Is an Uneven Roman Holiday Joe Flamm's latest venture β€” an exploration of the Eternal City’s cuisine β€” aims to make the best versions of iconic dishes.

This is the kind of cooking Il Carciofo’s chef-owner, Joe Flamm, does so well. He takes a familiar — even overplayed — recipe, then shows you what it can and should be.

@jdkess.bsky.social's review of the new West Loop spot.

11.04.2025 15:03 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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In his latest column, our dining critic @jdkess.bsky.social sizes up smaller (and more affordable) tasting menus, has a funny experience at a Bucktown bar, and celebrates the canning of a favorite cocktail. buff.ly/4fuUO8m

11.04.2025 17:01 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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World’s worst parent and it’s a high bar.

23.03.2025 13:29 πŸ‘ 40949 πŸ” 4743 πŸ’¬ 2416 πŸ“Œ 654
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Schoolchildren are routinely slaughtered by AR-15s. Hundreds die.

[*crickets* "Thoughts and prayers" *crickets*]

A couple unoccupied cars are set on fire. No one is hurt.

["THIS HORROR WILL NOT STAND!!! We MUST act to STOP it from ever happening AGAIN!!!!" We will pass new LAWS BANNING IT!!!]

20.03.2025 20:37 πŸ‘ 20754 πŸ” 7044 πŸ’¬ 1060 πŸ“Œ 472

I have to say, I was disappointed with the Ides of March this year.

16.03.2025 04:32 πŸ‘ 11334 πŸ” 1182 πŸ’¬ 485 πŸ“Œ 109
Wikipedia image of Major General (Ret.) Charles C. Rogers

Wikipedia image of Major General (Ret.) Charles C. Rogers

Defense.gov google return: Medal of Honor Monday: Army Maj. Gen. Charles Calvin Rogers

Defense.gov google return: Medal of Honor Monday: Army Maj. Gen. Charles Calvin Rogers

Defense.gov
404 - Page Not Found

Defense.gov 404 - Page Not Found

https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2824721/deimedal-of-honor-monday-army-maj-gen-charles-calvin-rogers/

https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2824721/deimedal-of-honor-monday-army-maj-gen-charles-calvin-rogers/

This is blood-boiling. Charles Rogers was awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam after being wounded three times leading the defense of a position.

Google his name and the entry below comes up. When you click, you'll see the page has been deleted and the URL changed to include "DEI medal."

16.03.2025 02:25 πŸ‘ 36309 πŸ” 14137 πŸ’¬ 2696 πŸ“Œ 2130

Hah! Got your back on this one

14.03.2025 19:59 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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This is totally me plugging the hose in my CPAP without cleaning it first.

07.03.2025 03:44 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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French Senator Claude Malhuret:

"Washington has become Nero’s court, with an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers and a jester high on ketamine... We were at war with a dictator, we are now at war with a dictator backed by a traitor."

05.03.2025 15:47 πŸ‘ 81746 πŸ” 25785 πŸ’¬ 1670 πŸ“Œ 2825

I follow French politics a lot, as many of you know. Any effort for mass layoffs of public sector employees there would create such huge strikes and marches, the level of disruption and paralysis would be biblical.

19.02.2025 01:31 πŸ‘ 15759 πŸ” 2961 πŸ’¬ 612 πŸ“Œ 324

Y'all need to check this place out.

14.02.2025 21:03 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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When the Wife’s Away, Take a Solo Dining Foray Revisiting three restaurants, but from the vantage point of eating dinner alone at a bar.

With his wife out of town, our dining critic @jdkess.bsky.social took the opportunity to revisit three restaurants, but from the vantage point of dining solo at the bar.

12.02.2025 19:00 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0