Tell us about your food favorites, either in cooking or eating

Newspapers and magazines frequently end one year or start a new one by revealing their critics' top picks of the year. (You might recall we revealed our top restaurants of 2009 in the Dec. 25 Time out!).

After paging through Saveur magazine's top 100 issue (on newsstands now), I've been inspired to copy its format. Instead of having its food and wine writers reveal their favorite things, the magazine departed from the 11-year tradition and asked readers to share their favorite ingredient, chefs, tools, tips and more.

Here's your chance to share that food or food-related item that you can't live without. Maybe it's the Peanut Butter Pie that you clipped from the Herald back in 1970; the pad thai from Bangkok Cafe in Arlington Heights (pictured), the tomatoes that your neighbor shares every summer or the Double Barrel Oatmeal Stout from Emmett's Brewing Co. in West Dundee.

For the Saveur list, for instance, Marsha Pederson, of Roselle, sang the praises of Wall Walla Onions from Washington State while Linda M. Yardley, of Wilmette, touted Pyrex measure cups as "the little black dresses of the kitchen."

My focus will be on local businesses and people and items that are produced or grown locally (in the six-county area) or easily obtainable in our coverage area. The final list will not be determined by how many "votes" an item gets, but rather on the merit of the submission.

To submit an item for consideration, e-mail food@dailyherald.com and put Favorite Things in the subject line. Then, in 50 words or less, make your case; provide price, availability, address, phone number where pertinent. Include your name, town and phone number so I can contact you if your submission makes the cut.

To get an idea of what I'm striving for, check out the Saveur article at saveur.com; scroll down and click on "current issue". I'll take entries through Feb. 3.

- Deborah Pankey

• Contact food editor Deborah Pankey at food@dailyherald.com or (847) 427-4524. Listen to her discuss food and restaurant trends during Restaurant Radio Chicago, 5 to 6 p.m. Saturdays on WIND 560 AM.