Chicago Foodies

Uncommon Ground & Finch's Beer Company – Beer Dinner Oct. 27th

Uncommon Ground is hosting Finch's Beer Co. for a beer dinner Thursday the 27th.
Three courses, three beers... $25.

Uncommon Ground
3800 N. Clark St.
773.929.3680

 

Get Introduced to Fall Wines at Kafka Wine Co.

Now that fall has officially begun, the bright, citrusy wines of summer are out, and it's time to try some different varietals.  What better place to prep your palate and your wine rack than at a fall wine tasting? While these can often be pricy, if you get a group together for a tasting, the prices at Kafka Wine Co. in Lakeview are more than reasonable. A huge selection of wine is provided, and it's Bring Your Own Food, which makes for cheaper prices and a larger choice of snacks.

Northdown Cafe and Taproom – Recently Opened

North siders who like good beer and pub food have new reason to get excited as the Northdown Cafe and Taproom is now open on Lincoln Avenue in West Lakeview.  Northdown just opened three months ago in the space formerly occupied by Bourbon Restaurant.  This area of West Lakeview is dominated by more sports-oriented bars such as The Pony and Beckett's and was begging for a quality beer bar. The Three Floyds neon sign in the window which replicates the Alpha King logo is, as I'm informed by the cafe's owner, a special design by the mad geniuses at Three Floyds themselves, and is said to be the only one of its kind.  More importantly, like a barber's pole, it signifies that there is some serious action going on in there; it's beer, that is, not blood, although some serious beer lovers equate the two.

Corona's Cafe

The other day I stumbled upon a great little spot on Irving Park. Corona's Cafe serves up sandwiches, wraps, coffee drinks, and smoothies.

Eddy ordered a turkey and bacon club sandwich and I ordered the tomato and mozzarella foccacia. I also got a pineapple and coconut smoothie.

The staff was friendly and accommodating. The restaurant is small and cozy and has unique decorations.

We sat in the front by the window in comfortable cushioned love seats.

Blokes & Birds

Is it a club, a speakeasy, or a hat shop? I wasn’t too sure when this restaurant was under construction last year. Looking seemingly out-of-place in the casual block of Clark street, I was intrigued for the opening.

While I was far off from attending opening night, I heard a strong buzz around this new Lakeview restaurant.

Offering their spin on English pub fare, I was thrilled to experience Blokes & Birds for myself.

Kanela Breakfast Club

I recently tried the latest breakfast spot in Lakeview, Kanela Breakfast Club. Over the past year, this location has housed multiple breakfast joints. I have a feeling Kanela will stay.

Kanela has an inviting interior with tall-backed booths and an intimate seating arrangement. For those interested in grabbing a quick espresso drink, they also offer bar seating.

Their menu consists of gourmet breakfast and lunch options, as well as fresh squeezed juice and espresso drinks. Everything sounded delicious. I had a hard time narrowing my options down.

Fish Bar: The Real Deal

Editor's note– Welome to our new writer, Ashley Streichert, a Loyola grad who loves food and the conversations food creates.

If you love seafood, then you must check out Lakeview's new restaurant Fish Bar. The owner's of DMK opened up this restaurant in the beginning of March and they really hit the nail on the head. The concept is simple, the food is fresh, and the prices are right.

I went to Fish Bar on a Thursday evening and waited an hour for a table. The wait was tolerable. You can grab drinks from the bar, hang out and peruse the menu. They have a nice selection of craft beers, including Blanche de Bruxellea Witbier for $5.50 a pint. They also had Bloody Mary oyster shooters for $4, which I couldn't pass up.

TAC Quick: A Welcome Variety of Thai Food

Usually I like picking out restaurants due to word of mouth, but in this case I credit the feedback from food writers for sending me to this place.   My big gripe with Thai food is that it's almost all the same stuff: pad thai, pad see ew, red curry, yellow curry, panang curry, etc.  After a while it begins to taste the same, though of course there are variations in quality.

2002 Domaine Weinbach Cuvée Laurence Gewurtztraminer Altenbourg

I had a half bottle sitting around the house, something I wish more producers would make more widely available to consumers.  Half bottles are perfect for the occasional dinner for two, especially because you neither want to polish off a bottle over dinner, nor try to drink it in the future with half the nose and a deterioration of the flavor.  (Yes, I do use a wine pump and even put reds in the refrigerator to stop oxidization.  The only open bottles I find that hold up over time, though, are sweet and those with strong tannins.)      

Krotovina Cheese and Duck Rillettes mixed with Foie Gras

Every once and a while, I'll stop at Pastoral Artisan Cheese, my favorite cheese shop, and let the staff make any recommendations with regard to unusual cheeses.   This time I tried the Krotovina, a goat milk cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm,which also has delicious goat cheese mixed with herbs and a great   This unusual looking cheese is covered with a bloomy rind, meaning that the outside is covered in Penicillium Cadmium, a mold used to give that waxy outside seen in Brie and Camembert.    

U.S. Cattle Raised on Chicken Manure?

I am perfectly comfortable eating things like glands and fat. I eat fish skin. I even eat corn smut, and other molds and fungus. Spores can be good! But when I hear that U.S. cattle are being fed chicken manure I take pause.

The practice of feeding cattle chicken poop was actually banned in 1967 but in 1980 the ban was reversed. When the mad cow epidemic was in full tilt the FDA again considered a ban because, and this gets better, the chicken poop can contain cow proteins which then lead to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow). But they did regulate the feed so the risk was all but eliminated... thus they still allow for chicken shit in cow's food.

Phoebe's Cupcakes in East Lakeview

Sometimes stores or restaurants open up and serve incredible food initially, but then over time the quality fades, perhaps due to cost-cutting, the crowds disappear, and suddenly there is an empty storefront.   This happened to the beloved Cupcakes on Briar off of Belmont, which started out making fantastic cupcakes that had the richest frosting and the densest cake dough--probably my favorite even today.   There was a line out the door, and the place had an appealing indie-kitsch charm.    The last few visits, though, were increasingly disappointing, there was a change in ownership, and finally the place folded.  

Crisp, the New KFC

In Chicago, the Korean fried chicken craze has not quite approached the madness of say, haute cupcakes, but we do have a number of options for Asian-inspired fried chicken. Prompted by Josh's newfound love for Korean fried chicken, I went to investigate Lakeview's Crisp, which does the honors of putting the Seoul in soul food.

Southern-style fried chicken relies on dredging the chicken in a thick crust, sometimes made thicker through a buttermilk soak. In contrast, Korean-style chicken is unique in its very thin flour coating and twice-cooked frying process. The first round of frying renders out most of the fat, and the second round turns the skin crisp, almost translucent. This results in an unbelievably crunchy exterior that is not greasy. After frying, the chicken is given a light coating of sauce, which is absorbed into the crust. Done well, you will have flavorful, but not soggy chicken.

At Crisp, just approach the counter to place your order for a half ($9) or whole chicken ($13), and in a few minutes, your name will be called out to pick up your food. I clutched the basket of Seoul Sassy chicken, expertly seasoned with ginger, soy and garlic flecks. The meat was juicy, sizzling hot, and perfectly crisp. I am proud to say that I gnawed away until the bones were picked clean.

HB: Home Bistro... In the words of Britney Spears, "Gimme More"

I say “Gimme More”, not because I was disappointed, but rather I cannot wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. This past Wednesday, another self ordained Foodie and I ate at HB: Home Bistro on Halsted Street. For $29 per person (3-course menu), we enjoyed one of the best meals in a long time!  HB is also a BYOB, so the bill for the 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts was $64. Value, leftovers, and satisfying/memorable food…very nice!  HB offers a variety of dishes that can be categorized as American cuisine with East Coast and European influences.

Gluten Free for You and Me

'Tis the season for Christmas stollen, holiday cupcakes, and rum cakes, too. Now many people who cannot tolerate gluten can grab a cupcake with friends or enjoy an easy dinner out in Chicago. Luckily there are many great resources and eateries for those who have Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance.

A few suggestions around Chicago include the following: Chicago Diner (www.veggiediner.com) in Boystown offers a vegetarian menu, but also has an entirely gluten free menu. Swirlz Cupcakes (www.swirlzcupcakes.com) in Lincoln Park makes at least one flavor of gluten free cupcakes each day of the week. My favorite blog for gluten free recipes and ideas is www.tamaraduker.com . The blog is rife with humor, honesty, and creativity in gluten intolerant cooking!

Panes Bread Cafe: Gourmet Lakeview Sandwich Shop

I've walked by this tiny sandwich shop near the corner of Sheffield and Wellington several times, and it looked appealing, though from the outside you would have thought the place was dead.  The sign outside said it had been open since 1994, usually a good sign but sometimes a result of restaurants that have came and gone and now are hanging on for dear life.

Bittersweet. is all "dulce" no "agri"!

The Spanish word for Bittersweet is agridulce, but there is nothing agri at 1114 West Belmont in Chicago. It's full of dulce, but the not just for pastries! Bittersweet's soup, salad, and sandwich menu is tiny, but tight! I enjoyed the vegetable soup, half of a tuna melt, and a dark chocolate cake, too.

The veggie soup was not what I expected. It was better! Delicious, in fact. The thick veggie puree with a touch of creme fraiche felt healthy, under the guise of "veggie", but  I'm guessing it was more creme than veggie. That said, it was worth all possible calories.

Chilam Balam: Local, fresh interior Mexican food

Only open for over two weeks at the time of this writing, Chilam Balam is an East Lakeview gem situated on the cellar floor of the former  La Tavernetta.  The brightly colored walls and exposed brick make for a very intimate feel that a lot of restaurants strive for but seldom live up to.  Co-owner Soraya Rendon greeted us, and her brother took care of our order.   We were instantly charmed by the friendliness and enthusiasm, and even the details, such as the menu that appeared to be wrapped in something like corn husks, were a welcome part of the atmosphere.

Ribfest Chicago - Friday the 12th-14th

From their website:

`Averaging 65,000 pounds of ribs and featuring 25 bands in 25 hours, more than 50,000 people are expected to kick­off summer at the three­-day long Ribfest Chicago. Proceeds of the festival are utilized to fund community activities, area greening efforts and local outreach programs such as the innovative School Grant Program.

Hearty Boys Brunch in East Lakeview

I've written before that east Lakeview seems to have a dearth of really good brunch places.   The closest I have found, so far, is Nookies, which as a diner is not saying much.   There are some "popular" brunch places in the neighborhood, though I've not managed to really find out what gives these places broad appeal.

I think I've found my calling in Hearty Boys, though.  I'm a big fan of HB Home Bistro, though I unfortunately missed my chance to eat at the old Hearty Boys.   Currently most of their energy is spent on hosting team building exercises in the kitchen, as well as catering and even taking a course on hosting a cooking show.   Thankfully they have, since February, been hosting brunch.  Unfortunately I waited until now to discover it.