Chicago Dining Guide Upgraded To Sense Your Deep Dish Shame

One does wonder what it takes to stand out among the reported 55 million souls who graced Chicago with their fleeting presence last year. Apparently, a self-declared status as "one of them" is sufficient, particularly when coupled with the heroic feat of traversing 90 minutes of rail by one's "favorite mode of transportation," Amtrak. It’s a declaration that elevates a mere commuter into a seasoned urban explorer, intimately acquainted with the city's rhythms, despite being but a speck in a sea of annual tourist dollars.

Indeed, the commitment to such a monthly pilgrimage, bordering on a contractual obligation, surely bestows upon one an unparalleled authority on all things Chi-Town. No doubt this exhaustive research involves painstakingly avoiding the tourist traps — yes, even the very mention of deep dish pizza can induce a cold sweat of civic embarrassment — to unearth culinary gems that, one must assume, remain forever hidden from the other 54,999,999 visitors. A truly selfless endeavor, mapping the gastronomic avoidance landscape for the benefit of, well, *someone*. Perhaps the deep dish shame is what drives them back.