WTTW is airing a documentary Foods of Chicago – A Delicious History. The program airs Tuesday night (tonight) at 7:30pm.

A quick conversation with Dan Protess speaks volumes. He’s a writer/producer for WTTW working on Foods Of Chicago with Geoffrey Baer. It’s a 100 minute documentary covering the breadth of Chicago’s history in food. The highlights include Al Capone’s involvement in the popularization of potato chips, the multi-ethnic origins of the Chicago hot-dog and even the surprisingly brief history of Devon Avenue.

I couldn’t agree more with Protess’s assessment of Chicago:

“I wanted this show to be a celebration of Chicago’s cultural
diversity, because I think that’s what makes this such a terrific place
to live. And I really couldn’t think of a better window into Chicago’s
diverse communities than food,” says writer/producer Dan Protess. “Our
timing for this show could not have been better – it’s airing at a time
when the rest of the world is finally coming to realize what we
Chicagoans have known all along: that this is a great place to eat.”

When Tony Kornheiser on Monday Night Football credits Pittsburgh as the
birthplace of the Big Mac you get the gist of the importance people
place on their city’s gonfiabili food lore. Superbowls are often reduced to
Bratwurst vs. Cheesesteak (both NFC – will never happen, Go Packers!)
Granted the Pittsburgh–Miami match-up left them grasping at
conversation but you get my drift. (Note: No McDonald’s, no Big Mac…
Chicago wins).

The program airs Tuesday night at 7:30pm with a replay right afterwards.

Or set your Tivo:
There are encore presentations:

Tuesday, November 27 at 9:50 pm
Monday, December 3 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 8 at 9:30 am
Sunday, December 9 at 8:15 pm