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Giordano’s Famous Stuffed Deep Dish Pizza

The deep secrets to cloning one of Chicago's best pies

Deep dish pizza is traditional flat pizza’s heftier cousin. The crucial elements are still there—crust, sauce, cheese, toppings—but there’s more of it,…

• Todd Wilbur
• Entree Hacks
• November 1, 2019
• 131 Comments

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McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce

Hacking the delicious dipping sauce that sparked multiple riots

In 1998 McDonald’s created a delicious Asian-style McNugget dipping sauce to promote the release of Disney’s new film, Mulan. The limited-time-only Szechuan…

• Todd Wilbur
• Sauce/Dip/Blend Hacks
• April 27, 2018
• 21 Comments

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In-N-Out Burger Double-Double

Re-create a masterpiece with the "smile," and other freshly discovered secrets

If there is such a thing as hamburger perfection, In-N-Out Burger has achieved it.

The 330-unit West Coast family-owned chain learned a long…

• Todd Wilbur
• Burger/Sandwich Hacks
• March 24, 2018
• 41 Comments

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Butterbeer

Hacking the magical drink using clues from the creators

Muggles like you and me (non-magical folk) pack themselves into wand shops, candy stores, and thrill rides throughout the impressive re-creations of…

• Todd Wilbur
• Drink Hacks
• February 10, 2018
• 76 Comments

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Barney’s Beanery Texas-Style Chili

Unlocking the secrets to perfect chili con carne

If Barney’s Beanery never existed, where would Janis Joplin have taken her last drink? Where would Quentin Tarantino have written his most…

• Todd Wilbur
• Entree Hacks, Soup/Salad Hacks
• January 6, 2018
• 23 Comments

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Nestle Drumstick

The accidental confection can now be made at home on purpose

To completely commit to Drumstick lore, you must believe the unlikely story of its creation.

According to Nestle, one of the women making…

• Todd Wilbur
• Dessert Hacks
• December 15, 2017
• 13 Comments

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Portillo’s Italian Beef

The easiest way to make Chicago's favorite sandwich

Thin-sliced roast beef is dunked in herbed gravy to soak up the flavor, then it’s stacked on a warm Italian sandwich roll…

• Todd Wilbur
• Burger/Sandwich Hacks
• December 1, 2017
• 80 Comments

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Haribo Gold-Bears Gummy Candy

They're called gummies, so where's the gum?

Hans Riegel took the first two letters of his first and last name and the first two letters of Bonn, the German…

• Todd Wilbur
• Candy Hacks
• November 17, 2017
• 251 Comments

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Cafe Du Monde Beignets

Cracking the 150-year-old secret recipe

When you’re having beignets in New Orleans, you’re either eating them at Cafe Du Monde, or you wish you were.

The traditional square…

• Todd Wilbur
• Breakfast Hacks
• November 3, 2017
• 75 Comments