While the book is best read as a narrative, it's fun to reread in bits and pieces and, of course, by favorites and curiosities.
The menu will feature options for each course, with favorites from the regular menu available as well as specialty offerings for the evening.
Of course, my favorite is Chinese painting.
Of course, your favorite tree may not be famous.
Of course, my favorite fiasco of all time is the first preview of "Spider-Man," which has given me plenty of mileage.
To get an idea of what we're talking about, think about Italian dressing, which was, of course, a favorite quick marinade in the old days.
That comes naturally to Mel Brooks, of course, whose favorite genre, in films like "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein," is parody itself, the most knowing of genres, always building upon the joke behind the joke.
The theme of artistic heroes with feet of muck is of course a favorite of potboiling novels by the likes of Jacqueline Susann, and Mr. McNally shares some of the heavy-breathing prurience of that genre.
Oh, and of course my favorite: 'He studied piano.' I had never realized that one of the prerequisites for being critically acclaimed was not knowing how to play your instrument.
Other standouts in the Windy City are the Ritz-Carlton Dining Room and, of course, hometown favorite Morton's of Chicago.
