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One of the greatest things about Chicago is that no one here does anything halfway. When Chicagoans have a particular interest — whether it's music, art, theatre, sports, architecture, literature, street festivals, their ethnic backgrounds, their neighborhood, their booze or their entire city — they immerse themselves fully in it.

Chicago's a city where you can do that — and one where you don't have to limit yourself to a single pursuit. Chicago's accessibility, Midwestern sociability, lakefront geography and cultural mix makes it the ideal place to engage in everything — so you can eat Indian food for lunch on Devon Ave., go to a Cubs game in Wrigleyville, take in a Broadway-style show downtown, view Monet and Manet at the Art Institute and finish with dinner at a five-star restaurant, all in a single day. (Although I wouldn't recommend that unless you don't require sleep.) It's atypical for Chicagoans to turn other Chicagoans away from reveling in their particular passions, which is why every resident of the city of Chicago becomes Irish every year on March 17.

I have many passions and enjoy much of what this city has to offer. I visit the museums, go to plays and concerts (I've even been to the ballet), enjoy the lakefront, embarrass myself on golf courses, appreciate the architecture and take in the occasional Cubs, Sox or Bulls game. But to be completely honest, the aspect of Chicago I have enjoyed most in the nearly 13 years I've been a transplant here are the city's culinary and — shall we say — intoxicating offerings.

Let's start with the culinary, since I suppose that seems more refined. Chicago eateries run the gamut: The finest of Chicago's restaurants rival those of any other cosmopolitan city in the country — if not the world. At the other end of the spectrum, even Chicago's hot dog stands have a notoriety and character distinctly our own.

If you want to spend a lot and eat the best cuisine Chicago has to offer, visit the highest end of the city's high-end places — notables like Charlie Trotter's, Tru and Everest, to name only a few. Places like that have the best food and service in the city — but at some of the highest prices They're great for occasional splurges, but if you're looking for mid-priced places in the general downtown area with good food, check out places like Keefer's, MK, Catch 35, Brasserie Jo, Shaw's Crab House, Cocco Pazzo or Blue Water Grill. Just west of the Loop, in an area I like to call “Highwayside” but that's really called West Loop Gate, lies a string of restaurants that are similarly excellent and basically affordable — among them, Blackbird, Avec, Nine, Marche, Sushi Wabi and La Sardine.

Then there is steak, which I enjoy greatly. It's tough to give a recommendation for a steak joint in Chicago because each has unique characteristics that make it enjoyable. Here, it's not just about the food — it's about the atmosphere, the Chicago style and the bar. I'll go out on a limb and say that the best cuts of meat are at Gibson's on Rush, but the fact that it's almost always jam-packed makes it a little less enjoyable dining experience. Gibson's abuts Hugo's Frog Bar, which acts as a kind of waiting area but also shares a kitchen and serves a Gibsonesque menu. There's also the Chicago Chop House, which rivals Gibson's for food quality and is (sometimes) a little less crowded. I'm also a fan of Smith & Wollensky, not just for the good steaks and sides, but also for the proximity to my office and the ever-friendly bar staff, particularly in Wollenksy's Grill downstairs.

Now, on to the booze. It goes without saying — or at least it will as you read further — that all of the above eateries boast good bars and decent wine selections. I've been known to enjoy a drink or two, at one time mostly in the north side neighborhoods where I spent my early adulthood (and paychecks). It's worth checking out if you have time, but a long cab ride from McCormick Place — though if you're a Guinness drinker, want to venture north and don't mind a loud, crowded and smoky dump, I recommend Gunther Murphy's on Belmont for the best pint in Chicago.

Downtown, I recommend (and frequent) the aforementioned Wollensky's Grill, and my current pub favorite (rivaling Gunther Murphy's for the Guinness pour) is the Pepper Canister on Wells — which is across the street from Sushi Samba Rio, the city's one-and-only spot for Japanese-Brazilian fusion. (In fact, it's a safe bet that if you hang around the Pepper Canister long enough after show hours this week, you'll spot at least one member of the Telephony/Wireless Review editorial staff.) Other places I enjoy (and also frequent) downtown include Bin 36, O'Callaghan's and the oyster bar at Shaw's Crab House, to name only a few.

There are far too many great places in this city to name, and space doesn't allow me to venture much outside the greater downtown area on my culinary and cocktail cruise. But if you have time to explore the city further after Supercomm or at any other time, be sure to check out the varied and excellent dining and drinking options available in all of Chicago's great neighborhoods. I promise you won't leave our city hungry — or thirsty.