Chicago Foodies

Haitian Restaurants in Chicago

One of the best ways to experience a culture is through their food. Ironically in a city founded by a Haitian, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, I could only find one Haitian restaurant still open (please correct me if I'm wrong), Sweet Nick's Caribbean in Evanston. At a time when Haiti is top of mind for heartbreaking reasons, food can be a connection that provides real insight and empathy that you can't get from all the news in the world. Most importantly, it might be something positive at such an unfortunate time for the Haitian people.

Sweet Nick's Caribbean
741 Howard St
Evanston, IL 60202
847-869-7172

Eating Greek in Evanston

I’d never think to eat Greek in Evanston but I’ve been to two places so far that have proven you don’t have to go to Greektown to get good Greek food.

The first place I was taken to was Cross-Rhodes Restaurant, which has been an Evanston staple for years.  Gyros are the thing to get here.  My dining partner (who had been coming here since she was a kid) impressed me with the vegetarian salad that she easily made non-vegetarian by topping it with Gyro meat.  The salad came piled high with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, oil and vinegar dressing, Greek fries, Tsatziki sauce, Feta cheese and the added Gyros slices.  I had never seen Greek fries before on a menu so we decided to get an additional side order.  They were steak cut fries topped with a lemon-herb dressing that despite the dressing were very crispy.  A great twist on the common fry.

Mediterranean Oasis Mart in Naperville Not Just a Grocery

I'd heard of the famous dish "Imam Biyaldi" before, but never really knew what the hype was all about.  Being a Sicilian who also loves Turkish and other Mediterranean foods, I thought I had tasted just about every dish where peppers, eggplant and garlic were smothered in olive oil. For some reason, the one I've just tasted was different- in a totally delectable way.

Ruby of Siam Skokie

The only thing harder than collectively deciding on what movie to see at Old Orchard on a Saturday night was what restaurant to go to first for dinner.  The mall does provide a convenient yet extremely unappealing variety of chain restaurants to choose from like The Corner Bakery, Johnny Rockets and the Cheesecake Factory.  Although we were all willing to compromise on the movie we weren’t ready to compromise our food choices and decided there just has to be something worthwhile to eat close by that wasn’t a chain. 

Kow Kow Restaurant - Lincolnwood

Driving north of the city through Lincolnwood we used our trusty iPhone to locate a suitable spot to satisfy our hunger pangs.  Being in the mood for Chinese we were directed to a tried-and-true neighborhood spot – Kow Kow Restaurant – on the corner of Pratt and Cicero.  The original Kow Kow opened in 1949 on Devon as a Chinese take-out joint and then moved to the Cicero location in the 80s. It is still family owned and operated by the original proprietor’s son.

Rama Thai Kitchen – The Edible Art of Sushi

I recently returned on a trip from La Jolla, California where I satisfied my craving for the freshest sushi I could get my chopsticks on. Rappungi Sushi Bar, centrally located in the heart of downtown La Jolla, was the place of choice.

 

Reminiscent of the days years ago that I spent working in the great food city of San Francisco and being spoiled by the delights of this new-to-me cuisine, my earthy Midwestern food roots were instantly replaced by tiny raw-fish I could shove into my mouth in one bite. Who would’ve thought?

 

Prairie Moon

So much food, so little cost.  Prairie Moon offered a large amount of really good food for little money.  Our bill for the night before Thanksgiving was under $50 for two fish entrees, a beer and a martini (and good, warm, sourdough bread at the table).  I could have made two meals out of the plate had I exhibited any self control, but when the food is that good, why bother.

I enjoyed the fish and chips - buttery soft fish in a crisp, deep-fried breading  Served with skinny skin-on fries and yummy tarter sauce, who can beat it?  Complemented by a good cold Stella Artois,  I was happy.

Olive Mountain Restaurant

In need of food we picked Olive Mountain over Mount Everest having never been to either. A quickly served appetizer of falafel suggested we made a good choice. Olive Mountain is a few blocks from the Evanston theatres and it is a great way to have a reasonable and what could be a rather quick meal (if need be) before a show. What's best about Olive Mountain is that the food is really good.

Long John Silver's Lobster Bites - Langostino

Through driving rain I took a fairly significant detour to snag a box (two really- snack size) of the brand-new "Buttered Lobster Bites." Well they were worth the drive. To be quite honest they could be the salvation of the franchise. They're that good.

On the downside it is yet ANOTHER fried item on a menuboard that's virtually completely fried. While the flavor of the langostino is evident and completely satisfying, the "butter" flavoring when combined with the seasoned breading almost competes too much. It almost hides the langostino flavor that you want.

The Pasta Shoppe & Café

I was in Oak Park this past Sunday and went door-to-door at 3pm-ish looking for lunch. We actually walked in and out of several spots... we were really just checking things out. Then we came to the Pasta Shoppe and on walking in saw fresh pasta in a chiller case and desserts... and sauces... and things I've never seen before - Arancini, which are saffron rice balls stuffed with spinach and cheese. The Shoppe does catering, trays, carry out, and there's a Café to eat in. We ate in.

So we sat down in the back. We ordered an appetizer portion of the arancini - three smaller sized balls instead of the slightly oversized baseballs upfront. They were crispy with creamy rice, mozzerella and spinach inside. They were delicious in a fresh tomato marinara.

Renga Tei

I have pestered my wife to go to Renga-Tei by imitating Jodie Foster in Nell and saying it fast... Renga-Taaaay... after our suprise bank-busting trip to Katsu she was worried that we'd have to break into triple digits for dinner again. Fortuantely not.

Renga-Tei is on Touhy just past Wholly Frijoles. Considering the delay for a table at Wholly a 5 minute walk west will land you a spot that not only has a firm grasp on sushi but cooked Japanese options as well.

Wholly Frijoles

There is something about Mexican food that puts me in a good mood.  Maybe it's all the wild and bright colors usually painted on the walls, or the up tempo music piped through the dining room, or the spicy flavors that remind me of how much fun I always have in Mexico.  Whatever it is, I usually crave Mexican food daily for these reasons however, I've found most of the local Taquerias fall short of imagination and taste. 

Frontera Grill has been a long time favorite and in my opinion Rick Bayless does everything right, but I can not afford that luxury as often as I would like until now....I've fallen in love with Wholly Frijoles - a Mexican Grill that to me rivals Frontera - at last! 

Mitsuwa

It used to be called Yaohan. It is a Japanese grocery/kitchen store/food court. They have stores in California, New Jersey and Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Before I really got into food I was somewhat-obsessive about toys. So up until 4 years ago I had been buying udon in the food court and Godzilla bandai snap-together candy toys at the grocery store known now as Mitsuwa.

Instead of Tetsujin pariphanallia I buy dumpling sauce, dried noodles, frozen noodles, mushrooms, and things that I can't explain.

Davis Street Fish Market

I enjoy fresh fish so at first glance the menu at Davis Street amazed me. There was no fish (or is it there were no fish). I quickly figured out that the specials were on a big blackboard on the wall behind me. Grouper, redfish, mahi-mahi, tuna, tilapia, monkfish, snapper, and others all sounded good. Some are broiled, some are panfried. A few come with a more special preparation.

The table ordered, starting out with the smoked salmon spread. It arrived as two scoops on top of salad greens which made me think immediately of tunafish. Not appealing to me so I reluctantly tasted it to find a terrific creamy smokey spread. Merle's apparantly smokes the fish for them (same ownership) and it is wonderful. The one member of the party who was unenthused by the order admitted it was great. I even bought the wife a 1/2 lb to take home. (she left it in the car and is afraid of "the possum" - so there it stays)

Blind Faith Café

I think I'm the only person who hates going out for Sunday brunch.  The thought of getting up and first thing in the morning stuffing myself with a butter soaked omelet, lard coated hash browns or sticky sweet french toast is completely unappealing.  If I'm going to expend calories I want a Gorgonzola cream sauce over pasta, chicken, beef, potatoes, just about anything will do.  Also, if I'm going to spend money on food I'd like it to be something mildly adventurous.  I've been able to make flap-jack's and scrambled eggs myself since the 6th grade.  I do make an exception however, and happily, for brunch at the Blind Faith Cafe in Evanston.  When I invite people to go to Blind Faith, and then tell them it is a vegetarian restaurant, they are immediately turned-off.

Sparky's is Over Medium

A "lunchcounter" could, these days, be misconstrewed as the diet crazy. It's a shame nobody has revived them ala Starbucks... or maybe it's better they didn't.

If you head west from the lake on Oakton you drive past McCormick and industry until, a beacon to bellies, Sparky's appears. It's not much of a sight. A chameleon on the industrial stretch that includes masons, auto-related shops and other unknown buildings ostensibly packed with industrial equipment and electrical from the 70's.