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Chicago Culinary Kitchen

Chicago Culinary Kitchen Chicago Culinary Kitchen is a distinctive American barbecue restaurant renowned for its engaging cooking classes that delve into the intricacies of BBQ, covering everything from nose to tail and sausage to brisket. Owned by Greg and Kristina Gaardbo, the culinary experience includes lessons on local beer pairings with various meats, featuring classes like Meat Church, Bitches That Barbeque, and the Complete BBQ & Craft Beer Experience. Beyond classes, CCK offers bespoke private events and exclusive "in the pit" experiences. Catering services are also available for a range of gatherings including bachelor/bachelorette parties, sports teams, office functions, school fundraisers, and alumni events. Operating Wednesday through Sunday until sold out, this Texas-style BBQ kitchen invites patrons to arrive hungry and ready to enjoy a culinary adventure.
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Recent social media posts

If you’re out & about this weekend, you may see this bad boy tearin’ up the streets (weather permitting)! Here’s where y...
06/27/2026

If you’re out & about this weekend, you may see this bad boy tearin’ up the streets (weather permitting)! Here’s where you can find us:

Saturday, June 27th: Join us @ Chicago Executive Airport for Rock the Runway! It's a killer concert featuring local legends, 7th Heaven & ARRA as well as an outstanding fireworks display, and of course: plenty of food! We'll have plenty of BBQ, Burgers, & more!!!

More info about this & other fun things @ www.chicagoculinarykitchen.com/events

Come on out to enjoy some great food, live music, & community fun!

Wanna know where we’ll pop-up next? Join the Heads Up List @ cckbbq.com

Wanna book us for your own event? Have any questions? Call 847-701-8243 or email [email protected] to make all your wildest fantasies come true 🛻 ❤️

06/26/2026

A Beef & Cheddar sandwich should definitely contain both Beef & Cheddar. If it happens to be made from smoked & grilled Prime Rib, melted Cheddar AND our homemade three cheese sauce AND horseradish cream AND onion rings on a toasted Onion Brioche Bun, then so be it. We can’t stop this sandwich from doing what it wants to do and we won’t even try.

Make you can.

Available today, June 26th while supplies last AND you can order online @ www.chicagoculinarykitchen.com

Don’t say we never did nothin’ for ya…

If we didn't always have something to do, we literally wouldn't know what to do...or would we? Maybe we always have some...
06/26/2026

If we didn't always have something to do, we literally wouldn't know what to do...or would we? Maybe we always have something to do BECAUSE we know what to do. What are YOU gonna do about the specials this weekend???

Friday: our Beef & Cheddar will flip the script on another classic sandwich utilizing Smoked Prime Rib drenched in our homemade Three Cheese Sauce topped with crispy Onion Rings on a toasted Onion Brioche Bun. We'll also have Grecian Smoked Salmon, Pastrami, The Super Katz, Pork Verde Tamales, Turkey, & more Fri-Sun while supplies last!

Saturday: Smoke-a-Fried Asian Chicken Wings are a pretty straight-forward pile of brined, smoked, & fried Asian-style Chicken Wings that'll be a perfect shareable with both family & friends! AND you can catch CCK Mobile @ Chicago Executive Airport for Rock the Runway! It's a killer concert featuring local legends, 7th Heaven & ARRA as well as an outstanding fireworks display, and of course: plenty of food! We'll have plenty of BBQ, Burgers, & more!!! More info about this & other fun things
@ www.chicagoculinarykitchen.com/events

Sunday: a Breakfast Burger may SOUND simple enough, but it's totally decadent & stacked with a 10oz smoked & grilled Brisket Burger, Hash Browns, Steakhouse Bacon, a Fried Egg, & Garlic Aioli on a toasted Brioche Bun.

Our Dessert Special this weekend will be an equally delightful & sinful Banana Split Layer Cake that contains plenty of potassium!!!

Need to feed a group? We can do that! More info about our award-winning Catering Menus @ www.chicagoculinarykitchen.com/catering

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! We're in the running for the 2026 Daily Herald Readers' Choice Best of the best in 17 categories & we need your help to take home BEST BBQ & BEST CATERER (among others) for a FIFTH year in a row! Here's the voting link: https://readerschoice.dailyherald.com/eating-and-drinking

Any questions? Email [email protected]

Until next time: keep calm & rock on!

XOXO,

Team CCK

It's real easy to get caught up in our Daily Specials & all the funky stuff we do. But it's the Bob's Honest Truth that ...
06/24/2026

It's real easy to get caught up in our Daily Specials & all the funky stuff we do. But it's the Bob's Honest Truth that no matter what we say or do, our Brisket is always the #1 seller. And there's a reason for it.

You see, Brisket is one of the ficklest of b*tches in the meat world. Brisket requires an extraordinary amount of money, time, & labor to turn it into something you can enjoy. Brisket is also totally unforgiving & it'll let you know you did something wrong.

Our Brisket is 100% USDA Prime Beef which means (among other things) it has a higher fat-to-meat ratio as compared to Choice Beef. BBQ Joints that feed you Choice Beef should be ashamed of themselves. Fat equals flavor. Fat equals moisture. Fat also equals nutrients.

For the uninitiated, here's some science to digest:
Brisket Fat contains monounsaturated fats, which can support heart health.
Brisket Fat also provides essential fatty acids that are important for brain function.
It's rich in vitamins A, D, E, & K, which are vital for overall health and it can enhance the flavor of meals, promoting satisfaction & reducing overeating.
It may also help in the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients from other foods.

Brisket Fat offers a high quality source of energy, particularly for those following a high-fat diet. Brisket Fat takes a deft hand along with a ton of patience to make palatable and incidentally: it's f🥩cking delicious! Some people have even attempted to bathe in rendered Brisket Fat. We don't necessarily recommend this, but we're not gonna stop you.

And hey, if you're one of those people who doesn't dig on Brisket Fat, just ask for a "lean" cut & while we may judge you a little bit, we'll still happily oblige. We're in the service industry, after all.

Have some Brisket for lunch. Order a couple pounds for Dinner. Grab a few slices for a midday snack or to feed your family & friends @ your next big to-do. Make Brisket a part of your day like we do!

Wanna bring our Brisket (or something equally delicious) to an upcoming event? Check out our award-winning Catering options @ www.chicagoculinarykitchen.com/catering

When life gives you Chicharrones, make Nachos. That's the saying, right? Well if it's not, it damn well should be! Today...
06/24/2026

When life gives you Chicharrones, make Nachos. That's the saying, right? Well if it's not, it damn well should be!

Today is an absolutely PERFECT day to smash an entire plate of these freshly fried Pork Rinds smothered in Pulled Pork, Green Hatch Chiles, Salsa Verde, Shredded Chihuahua Cheese, Sour Cream, Cotija, Cilantro, & Pickled Jalapeño. We recommend eating this alone or with a friend who won’t judge you.

This maddeningly delicious special is available today while supplies last alongside all of our other culinary delights like the Steakhouse Smash Burger, Char Siu Pig Wings, St. Louis Spare Ribs, Brisket, & more!

It's Wednesday, June 24th & we're open 11am-8pm. Order online & check out all the other fun stuff we've got on the Events calendar @ www.chicagoculinarykitchen.com

See you soon 👀

After what amounts to the busiest week we've ever had, you can forgive us a slight delay in the specials blast. Let's ju...
06/23/2026

After what amounts to the busiest week we've ever had, you can forgive us a slight delay in the specials blast. Let's just say y'all came out in force this weekend & wiped us outta damn near everything! We're absolutely over the moon about it, but that also means we gotta work just as hard to restock & recover so the party can roll on & on & on...

Wednesday: Chicharron Nachos are a pile of crispy fried Pork Rinds covered in Pulled Pork, Shredded Cheese, Salsa Verde, Peppers, & Sour Cream that'll make you rethink the way you've been eating nachos...

Thursday: there's no bologna about our Smoked Bologna Sandwich that's a certified classic loaded with savory & delicious Smoked Bologna, a Fried Egg, Mustard, & Mayo on a toasted bun.

Friday: our Beef & Cheddar will flip the script on another classic sandwich utilizing Smoked Prime Rib drenched in our homemade Three Cheese Sauce topped with crispy Onion Rings on a toasted Onion Brioche Bun. We'll also have Smoked Salmon, Pastrami, The Super Katz, Tamales, Turkey, & more Fri-Sun while supplies last!

Saturday: Smoke-a-Fried Asian Chicken Wings are a pretty straight-forward pile of brined, smoked, & fried Asian-style Chicken Wings that'll be a perfect shareable with both family & friends! AND you can catch CCK Mobile @ Chicago Executive Airport for Rock the Runway! It's a killer concert featuring local legends, 7th Heaven & ARRA! More info about this & other fun things
@ www.chicagoculinarykitchen.com/events

Sunday: a Breakfast Burger may SOUND simple enough, but it's totally decadent & stacked with a 10oz smoked & grilled Brisket Burger, Hash Browns, Steakhouse Bacon, a Fried Egg, & Garlic Aioli on a toasted Brioche Bun.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! We're in the running for the 2026 Daily Herald Readers' Choice Best of the best in 17 categories & we need your help to take home BEST BBQ & BEST CATERER (among others) for a FIFTH year in a row! Here's the voting link: https://readerschoice.dailyherald.com/eating-and-drinking

Any questions? Email [email protected]

Until next time: keep calm & rock on!

XOXO,

Team CCK

While we downright LOATHE using AI to generate food pics - except the cartoon ones cuz that’s fun - we’ll happily let it...
06/22/2026

While we downright LOATHE using AI to generate food pics - except the cartoon ones cuz that’s fun - we’ll happily let it describe us in a nutshell. Any. Time.

😎

It’s hard to believe that from the moment we opened until the moment we locked the doors that this place was literally F...
06/22/2026

It’s hard to believe that from the moment we opened until the moment we locked the doors that this place was literally FILLED with people, inside and out.

To say that this was our biggest ever would be putting it mildly.

To say we pushed more meat out the door than ever before would be a nice rhyme but still wouldn’t do it justice.

To say that we’re all super tired & ready to hit the proverbial sack is accurate 🎯

To say that we’re so incredibly grateful for all of you fine people who continue to show up for us day after day after day AND spend your important holidays with us would be the understatement of the year.

We love you all from the bottom of our pure brisket hearts.

And oh yeah, don’t forget to vote! https://readerschoice.dailyherald.com/eating-and-drinking

XOXO,

TEAM CCK

06/21/2026

Happy everyone! Today’s special will be a ridiculously mouthwatering 16oz Garlic & Rosemary Smoked Prime Rib with Italian Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & our homemade Horseradish Cream for $52.95 + tax

We’ll also have a ton of Brisket, Ribs, Tamales, Pastrami, Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Cake, & so much more!

Father’s Day is typically our busiest day of the year so please, no kicking or pinching or biting your brother or your sister and definitely no cutting in line or we’re turning this car RIGHT AROUND!!!!

Online ordering will be available starting at 11am until we decide we need to shut it down. Kitchen’s open til 7pm with as much as we can handle!

And Keithen Banks is live on our patio from 11am-2pm

See you soon 👀

06/21/2026

If these aren’t your , you need to be eating our rib tips. Because our rib tips are hip, hip, HOORAAAAYYYYY!!!!

06/21/2026

Smoked prime rib & potatoes will be the limited special for Sunday, June 21st which happens to be & happens to be our of the year. Help us really bring it home by bringing our food to your home or your home to our food - just be prepared for fight for a seat. To the teeth. Grrrrrrr 😬 😬😬😬

06/20/2026

Today’s limited special: The Hatch Chile Burger. It’s ridiculous. And for those of you about to make a comment, those burgers are hanging out in TALLOW before they get grilled. Because that’s how we roll.

Get some.

Somewhere, underneath all those Green Hatch Chiles, Smoked Bacon, Chipotle Ranch, & melted Chihuahua & Pepper Jack Chees...
06/20/2026

Somewhere, underneath all those Green Hatch Chiles, Smoked Bacon, Chipotle Ranch, & melted Chihuahua & Pepper Jack Cheese is a 10oz, handmade, smoked & grilled Brisket Burger.

Trust us.

We're open 11am-8pm today & we've got all sorts of yum yums for your tum tums like The Hatch Chile Burger, Grilled Ribeye Tacos, Fully Loaded Tamales, Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Cake, & a whole lot more than that!

Come on over or order online @ www.chicagoculinarykitchen.com

See you soon 👀

Address

2391 N Hicks Road
Palatine, IL
60074

**Driving Directions:**

1. Start by getting onto I-90 W from your location.
2. Continue on I-90 W for approximately 20 miles.
3. Take exit 68B for IL-53 N toward Palatine.
4. Merge onto IL-53 N and continue for about 5 miles.
5. Take the exit toward Dundee Rd/IL-68 E.
6. Turn left onto Dundee Rd/IL-68 E and continue for about 1 mile.
7. Turn right onto N Hicks Rd, and your destination will be on the right.

**Parking:** There is parking available on-site, so you should have no trouble finding a spot.

---

**Public Transport Directions:**

1. Begin at your nearest train station and take the Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line towards Crystal Lake.
2. Get off at the Palatine station.
3. From the station, you can either take a local bus (check schedules for routes that service N Hicks Road) or use a rideshare service to reach your destination, which is approximately 2 miles away.

Make sure to check public transport schedules in advance to ensure timely arrival!

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 8pm
Thursday 11am - 8pm
Friday 11am - 8pm
Saturday 11am - 8pm
Sunday 11am - 7pm

Telephone

+18477018243

Website

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What people say

At Chicago Culinary Kitchen, guests are treated to an unforgettable culinary experience that celebrates the art of barbecue and craft beer. The cooking classes offered here are truly exceptional, allowing participants to dive deep into the world of BBQ—from nose to tail, sausage to brisket. Owners Greg and Kristina Gaarbdo share their invaluable pitmaster secrets while guiding you through the intricacies of pairing local beers with various cuts of meat.

The diverse range of classes includes engaging themes like Meat Church and Bitches That Barbeque, ensuring there's something for everyone. Whether you're a seasoned grill master or a curious beginner, these classes promise not only education but also delicious samples that will tantalize your taste buds.

Beyond the cooking classes, Chicago Culinary Kitchen excels in customizing private events and hosting exclusive "in the pit" experiences. This makes it an ideal venue for bachelor/ette parties, sports team gatherings, office functions, school fundraisers, alumni events, or even a memorable Super Bowl celebration. With their expertise in BBQ and beer pairing, guests leave feeling well-fed and enriched with knowledge.

Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am until sold out, this Texas-style BBQ kitchen invites you to come early and hungry. The culinary team—comprising talented individuals like Kyle Winkler (the SLICER), Al Fleem (master expediter), and Miles Norquist (Bouncer Angry Elf)—ensures that every visit is filled with flavor and fun.

With options for catering, group dining, takeout, and walk-ins available on N Hicks Road in Palatine, Chicago Culinary Kitchen is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to indulge in mouthwatering barbecue delights paired perfectly with craft beer.

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