Michael Mech

The Bungalow Chef

Michael Mech was born and raised in the heart of small-town America in Blue Island, Illinois. A bedroom community of Chicago, the town has a long and rich history to the early 1860s. Perhaps this is why classical methods of preparation and vintage recipes influence his cooking and baking so strongly to this day.

Chef Mike has always been a booster to small-town life and bungalow living, but he’s no stranger to the big lights of the city. Mike has been featured in Chicago magazine, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the New York Times, and recently in Who’s Hungry magazine. The Emmy-winning, PBS television show Ask This Old House featured his home to restore the kitchen to its historical roots, and Mike demonstrated his culinary skills on the show.

A natural with the food landscape of Chicago, Mike served as the guide to the wide variety of cuisine of the Windy City to world famous chef David Rosengarten, as documented recently in Forbes magazine. Mike keeps a blog and website as The Bungalow Chef, where he shares “food stories,” vintage recipes, and the “art of real, American cuisine.”

The Latest

RecipesAugust 1, 2018 5:55 pm

Summer Berry Upside-Down Cake

My childhood summers are relived with this great summer berry snack cake! Family trips to Michigan’s berry belt, roadside farm stands (…)

27 Jun

RecipesJune 27, 2018 2:56 pm

Rhubarb Custard Pie

With summer here, one of the first garden and kitchen food memories I have is the rhubarb plant. Otherwise known as the (…)

28 Apr

RecipesApril 28, 2018 9:00 am

Chicken Liver Paté

This recipe for Chicken Liver Paté is a classic/retro appetizer for sure! Rich in flavor and super easy to prepare. Great to serve with (…)

28 Mar

RecipesMarch 28, 2018 12:01 pm

Baked Apples with White Wine

Do you remember baked apples as a child? I do. My Mother would bake them as a “sensible” dessert in the fall and winter (…)

28 Feb

RecipesFebruary 28, 2018 3:26 pm

Bungalow Chef Roast Chicken

Truly one of my favorite simple meals is a great roast chicken. So easy, flavorful, and everyone thinks you slaved for hours. I believe (…)

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Heart Cookies

06 Feb

RecipesFebruary 6, 2018 12:50 pm

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Heart Cookies

The pairing of peanut butter and chocolate has been one of America’s favorite flavor combinations for years, and my Chocolate Dipped (…)

05 Feb

RecipesFebruary 5, 2018 5:31 pm

Chocolate Cognac Truffles

It seems that I just finished Christmas Chocolate production for “House of Fine Chocolates” and now I’m working full steam ahead (…)