As temperatures dip and the city's infamous wind kicks up, Chicago's restaurants are looking for ways to provide outdoor dining in the face of a harsh winter. An unusual solution from Japan might help ...

A kotatsu is similar to an indoor fire pit — except that it’s meant to keep you (and your guests) warm while you’re dining. It’s usually placed in the center or the heart of the home and, simply put, ...

I’ve always found the ritual of a Japanese meal, with its orderly mindfulness and colorful little dishes, to be seductive when I’m being served at a restaurant, and yet too intimidating to attempt at ...