Deborah Pankey

Food Editor

As food editor since 1997, Deborah Pankey has seen readers' interest in all things culinary grow faster than butter burns in a hot skillet.

Pankey writes weekly about food news and trends that touch suburban readers, providing insightful commentary, helpful advice and approachable recipes. She has followed local cooks to the Pillsbury Bake-off and suburban chefs to the hallowed kitchen at the James Beard House in New York City. She has watched tiramisu go from a treat known only in fine Italian restaurants to the freezer cases at Trader Joe's, and chefs like Rick Bayless, Gale Gand and Mario Batali rise to mega-star status.

Pankey also edits popular Food columns including Cook of the Week, Lean & Lovin' it, Good Wine and Baking Secrets; under her watch, the Food section has earned top honors from the Illinois Press Association (2007) and the Association of Food Journalists (2003, 2006).

In her dual role as restaurant critic, Pankey keeps tabs on the ever-evolving restaurant scene. Her monthly restaurant reviews offer readers a taste of ethnic gems, mom-and-pop eateries and bustling bistros throughout the collar counties.

Interestingly, her first restaurant review (Barn of Barrington) appeared during her junior year at Palatine High School, though she never gave critical writing a second thought as a journalism major at the University of Illinois in Urbana. She went right from the student newspaper at U of I to the Daily Herald's DuPage bureau where she covered the police beat and all aspects of local government before joining the Features staff.

Today, she lives in Palatine with her husband and two boys. Her guilty pleasures include Elburn honey, home-grown strawberries, butternut squash soup from Le Titi de Paris in Arlington Heights and Moon Man Pale Ale from New Glarus, Wis. Be her friend on Facebook at Deb Pankey Daily Herald or follow her on Twitter at Pankey's Plate.

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Libertyville chef gets ‘Taste’ of reality TV

Feb 05 2013 | 12:29 pm - Paul Caravelli, executive chef at Libertyville's 545 North Bar & Grill, appears tonight on "The Taste," ABC's new reality competition show that puts home cooks and professional chefs through a series of culinary challenges. The Palatine High School...

Make your favorite Chinese takeout at home

Feb 05 2013 | 6:25 am - Want to stay huddled indoors, yet still want to celebrate the Chinese New Year? Make your take-out favorites — like egg drop soup and moo shu pork — at home. Local expert Ying Stoller and cookbook author Diana Kuan give their tips for...

Mini corn dog muffins score big on Super Sunday

Jan 30 2013 | 6:02 am - Somehow a little football game turned into a national holiday. At least it sure feels that way. Every TV ad, whether for furniture or Fritos, and grocery store flyer reminds us that the Super Bowl will be played on Sunday (Yes, it particularly...

Park Ridge native following in father's footsteps

Jan 29 2013 | 4:10 pm - Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr grew up with a famous chef father -- Heaven on Seven founder Jimmy Bannos -- but he has stepped out of his father's shadow, earning accolades from local and national media for his culinary prowess at The Purple Pig in Chicago.

New Lake Zurich location breathes life into Bacchus Nibbles

Jan 24 2013 | 6:22 am - For 20 years Bacchus Nibble occupied an aging building at Quentin and Rand roads in Kildeer. Late in 2013 the owners moved a few miles west to Route 22 (Main Street) and Rand Road in Lake Zurich. This new spot at 800 W. Main St., blew me away. Yes,...

What's cooking with past Almost Famous Chef winners

Jan 23 2013 | 2:44 pm - Earlier this month Deborah Pankey sat on the judging panel for the S.Pelligrino Almost Famous Chef competition held at Kendall College in Chicago. Besides tasting the creations of eight taleneted students from around the Midwest, she had the...

Beef, pork, chicken, veggie all take a turn in chili

Jan 23 2013 | 6:32 am - Chili and football go together like baseball and hot dogs. Deborah Pankey shares some recipes for beef, pork and chicken-based chili that are sure to please the gridiron fans at your Super Bowl party. They're also good for weeknight meals.

Fruit tops on study, but teens still not biting

Jan 15 2013 | 2:19 pm - Here's some food news: fresh fruit beats out chocolate and potato chips as the snack of choice among children and those over 65. Now for some bad news: fresh produce costs are expected to climb faster than that of sugary snacks in 2013. What's a...

Thousands vie to be 'The Voice' at Rosemont auditions

Jan 12 2013 | 6:53 pm - Melissa Hallman, a self-taught singer from Barrington, was among some 4,000 people who auditioned Saturday for "The Voice" at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. "I really just want to make it past the first round," said Hallman,...

From the food editor: What’s trending for 2013?

Jan 08 2013 | 10:06 am - Consumer trends expert Phil Lempert shares his predictions for 2013 food trends (frozen veggies and mini-meals, really?) while food editor Deborah Pankey's family stavs off winter colds with Aroniaberries -- or is it just a coincidence?

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