Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s was a time of both prosperity and violence. Prohibition had made the sale of alcohol illegal, but it had also created an enormous black market for booze that was controlled by organized crime. Gangsters like Al Capone, Bugs Moran, and Frank Nitti rose to power, controlling speakeasies, bootlegging operations, and other illegal businesses. They were known for their violence and ruthlessness, but also for their sense of style and glamour.
This cookbook is a celebration of the food and culture of Chicago's gangster era. It's a tribute to the speakeasies, nightclubs, and restaurants that were the gathering places of the city's most notorious gangsters, as well as the ordinary citizens who wanted to escape their everyday lives for a night of drinking, dancing, and socializing.
Inside these pages, you'll find recipes inspired by the food of the era, as well as stories and bios of some of the most famous gangsters of the time. From classic cocktails like the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned to hearty dishes like spaghetti and meatballs and chicken Parmesan, these recipes will transport you back to the era of Prohibition and the glamour of Chicago's gangster scene.
So come on in, pull up a chair, and take a taste of Chicago's gangster era.