Chicago Foodies

High Mercury Levels in Chicago (and National) Sushi Restaurants

Almost all pregnant women hear from their docs that sushi is not a good idea for among other reasons mercury levels. The website Got Mercury.org has written up a report on Chicago sushi places measuring the mercury levels. It's not just Chicago with this problem. They compared similar numbers in San Diego and L.A. Given that many restaurants in Chicago use the same supplier, in spite of a small test group, there may be more of a commonality here.

Restaurants in the study include Japonais, Benihana (two locations), Heat, Matsuyz, Ra Sushi, Sushi Wabi and Mirai. They tested across tuna species including yellowfin, bluefin and albacore.

One should note that the FDA warnings should (and do) apply to all restaurants. This test group was specific but the message is that fish on the whole seem to be pushing excessive mercury levels and the solution is federal regulation similar to that in Canada and the E.U.

La Tasca - Arlington Heights

Another great Tapas place - this time in the northern suburbs, close to a movie theater, and there was NO WAIT on a Saturday night. That alone is reason to go back (I hear their Park Ridge location has 2+ hour waits on the weekends).  But the food was also excellent. 

Goat cheese in tomato sauce (and I normally don't even like goat cheese), beef tenderloin, tomato salad in a vinagarette, and all the usuals were tops. The croquets were nothing special, but the refreshing Sangria made it all go down smoothly.

Unique So Chique

Unique So Chique is a boutique and teahouse located unexpectedly in Uptown. It is a quaint pocket of serenity amongst the bustle of students from Harry Truman College across the street and busy EL traffic from the Wilson stop just blocks away.