It’s Chicago, Baby! Home of the famous Chicago Bulls and the great Michael Jordan. And how about the amazing, the incredible Luc Longley, who played alongside Jordan? And Luc’s beautiful foodie wife, Anna Gare. This is all potentially helpful information for quiz night at your local.

Okay, first up, Chicago is a massive city and, yes, it’s super windy.

Stay at the awesome hotel St. Jane (230 N. Michigan Ave). The concierge is brilliant and the building is spectacular. It’s also close to loads of great places – including the ‘silver bean’ (Cloud Gate sculpture), which is a must-visit. Also, you have to go for a morning walk along the river, especially if you’re jet lagged!

To eat, try The Publican (837 W. Fulton Market). They have great cured meats and awesome beers, if you love beer.

Big Star is a chain… and a very good one. They do delicious tacos and it’s super cheap, super fun and super simple.

Band of Bohemia (4710 N. Ravenswood Ave) is a fantastic pub, and if you’re into Michelin stars, these guys have one.

Roister (951 W. Fulton Market) is one of my favourites. Part of the Alinea Group, it delivers a primal open-kitchen experience. I would travel back especially for its grits and XO sauce. OMG!

Speaking of Alinea (1723 N. Halsted St), as a young chef, it was a dream of mine to eat there, and I finally made it. It’s an experience – very theatrical and way more than simply food on the plate. The result is very thoughtful and very fun.

Lastly, for food, a must (even though I’m not a fan) is to eat a Chicago deep-pan pizza. The place to do this is at one of the many Giordano’s. Be sure to allow plenty of time, as the dish takes about 30 minutes to cook. Also, make sure you have time afterwards to sleep – you’ll need to.

For a caffeine hit at various points around town, check out Fairgrounds and Intelligentsia.

When it comes to bars, The Aviary (955 W. Fulton Market) is an experience you must have. The team there take cocktails very seriously, but know how to have fun while they do. They do great food, too. The pork crackle is incredible and the size of your head. Seriously!

The Violet Hour (1520 N. Damen Ave) is the opposite to The Aviary – a sexy, cool and classic bar that’s worth a visit.