Nicole Schnitzler

Nicole Schnitzler is a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune and the founder of Doors Open Dishes, a nonprofit that partners with chefs to benefit those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Jesus M. puts a ball of cookie dough on a baking sheet with an ice cream scoop at Gateway to Learning in Lincoln Square, Sept. 9, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Doing it my way: How Illinois programs help build confidence in the kitchen for those with disabilities

September 22, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

The Illinois Assistive Technology Program and Gateway to Learning are two programs that seek to help individuals living with disabilities in all aspects of their daily life, including cooking in...

General manager Anna Rafalski and sous chef Jason Garland, right, add coarse salt to family-style platters of the season's first tomatoes with peaches and kale pesto during a supper in a greenhouse at Granor Farm in Three Oaks, Michigan, on Aug. 7, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Culinary road trips: 5 farm dinners worth the drive

August 18, 2025 at 3:12 p.m.

Farms across the Midwest are inviting us to come to them, opening their dining rooms and barn doors for immersive, communal feasts that offer what we crave most: connection to...

Wagyu beef Chawan at Omakase Shoji in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Chef’s choice: From Omakase Shoji to Bonyeon, Chicago embraces omakase menus

November 13, 2024 at 1:16 p.m.

Translating to “I leave it to you,” the omakase menu has been sweeping Chicago’s dining scene in recent years.

Aerial view of Old Market Place in Madison, the capital city of Wisconsin. (Getty)

6 Midwest culinary road trips for fall: Where to eat and stay, from Michigan to Iowa

September 20, 2024 at 6:46 p.m.

From college towns to beach towns, here are six spots to visit now for a culinary adventure — plus where to stay and stop on the way.

Uzma Sharif makes chocolates in heart-shaped molds in her Pilsen shop, Chocolat Uzma, on Jan. 21, 2024. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

7 chocolatiers to spark the wonder of ‘Wonka’ — and evoke Chicago’s sweet origins

February 12, 2024 at 11:18 a.m.

From a family-run sweets haven on the South Side to a Belgian-inspired favorite in Evanston, here are seven spots with chocolate capable of evoking Chicago’s bygone candy era.

Le Diplomate has spent the last decade gaining a loyal following for its French brasserie fare.

Checking the pulse of D.C. during an election year with a weekend trip

January 24, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Washington, D.C., which is home to some of the nation's most iconic sites, monuments and museums, has always been a destination for those looking to learn about the origins and...

Guests at The Gwen can choose from four different tea packages, each one featuring bottomless beverage service and a tower of treats, including chocolate-peppermint cheesecake, spiced shortbread and almond meringue cookies.

A steaming kettle awaits you in Chicago at 13 hotels and restaurants with holiday teas

December 12, 2023 at 5:12 a.m.

One of the best ways to savor the holiday season is with afternoon tea, when piping hot refills and an ornate display of pastries feel even more festive. Thankfully, several...

Stephen Tai, from left, Will Schejbal, Jackie Hammond, Julia Gleason and Zane Green, the staff at Will's Place, a nonprofit cafe opened by Will's mother, Joan Hallagan, and aunt, Cathy Maassen, to employ people with developmental disabilities, as seen on Nov. 28, 2023.

Pastries for a purpose: 4 Chicagoland bakeries and cafes supporting the disabled community

December 4, 2023 at 2:44 p.m.

When her physically and intellectually disabled son William was aging out of his high school vocational training program, Joan Hallagan was concerned about his future — and that of his...

Dear Margaret restaurant executive chef Ryan Brosseau and his grandmother, Margaret Tetreault, make pies. Brosseau named his restaurant for Tetreault.

What’s in a name? The stories behind 7 Chicago restaurants named for women

March 28, 2023 at 3:23 p.m.

Growing up, I didn't really understand a small plaque in my grandmother's kitchen on Chicago's South Side. It read "Grandma Spells Love." Eventually, I connected the saying with its location,...

A menorah's candles glow in front of a Christmas tree.

Nicole Schnitzler: How ‘Christmas Carol’ revealed my dad’s dedication to keeping my mom’s holiday spirit alive

December 24, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

When I decided to see "A Christmas Carol" at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, I knew I would ask my father to join me. I didn't know if he would say yes....

All Stories