Chicago Foodies

Webster's Wine Bar: Great Neighborhood Spot

Webster's Wine Bar is one of those places where once you walk in you think to yourself, "Why have I waited so long to try this place even though I knew it existed and I knew I'd like it?"  Webster's is one of those places that still has appealing vintage details, such as tin ceilings, perhaps partially since it was founded in 1994, before gut rehabs became "trendy".  It also lays claim to being Chicago's oldest wine bar.

The wine list by the glass was, quite simply, overwhelming, though very refreshing.  Its focus on unusual and European wines was very appealing, and it probably took me at least fifteen minutes to make up my mind.  Being a Lopez de Heredia fan (a stubbornly--in a good way--traditional Spanish Rioja winemaker), I went straight for a half-serving of 2002 Vina Cubillo, a wonderful classic Rioja in the oxidized style with moderate sherry and cherry notes.

Lincoln Park Whole Foods is Now Open

To much buzz and ballyhooing, the new Lincoln Park Whole Foods is now open. At 75,000 square feet of space, it is the 3rd largest Whole Foods in the world (behind London and Austin), ironically on par with the size of many Wal-Marts. But let me put aside the question of whether Chicago needs such a monstrously large Whole Foods for now, and say that this one is Awesome. I will admit that I was hoping for a sushi conveyor belt (like the Bowery Whole Foods in NYC), but I quickly got over my disappointment when presented with a vast array of in-store take-out options.

Wally & Agador's Gourmet Cafe & Take Away

East Lakeview has plenty of places to grab a hot dog, a submarine sandwich, or a hamburger, but what it lacks is a truly good sandwich place.  Wally & Agador's is a place that seems to fit the void.  Newly opened on Halsted just north of Belmont, it offers such creations as a lobster and scallop sausage sandwich with tarragton mayo and Old Bay, as well as a duck pate sandwich  with chicken liver mousse and brie.    

HB Home Bistro: Fantastic Value in East Lakeview

HB Home Bistro is in the same location as the much lauded "Hearty Boys", and one of their cooks bought the place after they stepped aside.   HB is one of those great Chicago restaurants that serves gourmet food and has a BYOB policy.     Situated in the Boystown strip, HB has increasingly received recognition, and we have been turned away twice (whereas we used to walk in and get a table on a Friday night).   

Lately, HB has embraced the mysterious world of Dutch cooking.  Despite having been to the Netherlands I am hard pressed to identify a Dutch specialty, other than maybe their pancakes, their beer (Heineken, Amstel, and Grolsch) , and cheese (Gouda and Edam).    Chef Joncarl Lachman has enthusiastically thrown his Dutch roots into the kitchen by setting HB apart with its unusual offerings.

Monday Night Dinner Deal – Vines on Clark

There are so many great deals to be had during the week that it makes economical sense to go out big on a Monday night.  Walking up and down Clark street recently most places were dead or closed pre- baseball season except Vines on Clark, who was in full swing due to their Monday “neighborhood appreciation night” where you can enjoy three dollar drinks on just about anything – your call. 

Cozy Noodles & Rice

Do you like robots? Want curry in a hurry? Ever wondered what it would be like to use Pez dispensers as wallpaper?

If the answer is yes, then you should make plans to schlep to Cozy Noodles & Rice. With a kitschy, vintage decor and a coterie of classic Thai dishes on the menu, this restaurant certainly puts the "D" in cognitive Dissonance.

Upon entering, you are greeted with a dining room that is busier than Obama's team of economic advisers. In an offbeat cross between a '70s diner and a five-and-dime store, the walls are jam-packed with retro signs and the shelves are lined with all manner of wind-up cars, plastic rockets and robots. A grinning, life-sized model of Elvis stands in the corner, crooning into a microphone and pointing directly at you. Be careful not to kick the jewel-studded tables, whose bases are made from sewing machines and have some moving parts.

Best Bet $29 Prix-Fixe – Café Des Architectes

Due to the bad economy there is a surge of prix-fixe menu options at some of Chicago’s best restaurants.  For those that have extra cash to blow on food it is a great time to try some new places.  One such must try is Café Des Architectes in the Sofitel. Both Executive Chef Martial Nouguier and pastry Chef Suzanne Imaz were recently snatched from one sixtyblue to head up Café Des Architectes.  They’ve developed a family friendly menu using local ingredients from Chicago’s Green City Market.  The prix-fixe menu is offered Sunday and Monday night from 5PM to 11PM through April 27th.  The three-course offering is priced at $29.00. Children under 10 for $19.00 and children under five can enjoy a gourmet meal for free. 

Cocina Tarascas

While planning a birthday dinner for someone who enjoys Mexican food, I thought I'd hit upon the perfect location in Mixteco Grill. Unfortunately, I also severely underestimated the popularity of the restaurant because when I called to make a reservation, I was informed that the earliest time we would be able to get a table would be 9:30 pm. Oy veh, where else to turn on a busy Friday night for a dinner that was to take place in two hours? Someone suggested trying Cocina Tarascas instead, a Lincoln Park restaurant featuring "Mexican cuisine with a Caribbean twist." Oh, and let us not forget their most infamous claim to fame: the 45 1/2 oz. margarita. Well, I surmised that even if the food was mediocre, the excess alcohol would be enough to cover all sins. Cocina Tarascas it was!

Fat Willy's vs. Smoque Round 2

Okay, there really wasn't a round one... I have however made blanket statements about Smoque having the best pulled pork in Chicago and Fat Willy's brisket being the best. This time around it was different. I didn't eat any brisket at Willy's - they were out of it (a good sign). But I ate sausage at both. I'd like to say that one was better than the other and wile I had a preference for certain items, they both had their own successes and - oh my - disappointments.

The Counter

 Want to have it your way? Move over, Burger King, there's a new burger joint in town where you can have it over 312,000 ways. The Counter outpaces Mongolian grills at their own game by taking the do-it-yourself concept to new extremes, allowing you a vast array of choices for your burger's toppings, sauce and cheese. If you often find yourself in a quagmire of indecision, this may not be for you. If you have always felt stifled by the mundane, obligatory lettuce-cheese-tomato-onion combo on burgers, read on.

Riccardo Trattoria: As Real As Italian Can Get

My wife and I stumbled upon Riccardo Trattoria when we were checking out the line at Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder next door and decided instead to pursue other options.  We decided to eat there on a whim, and when we were done felt that we needed to return a second time.

All but one of the staff I have seen so far are Italian.  The passion for the food, the homemade pasta, and the attention to detail make this mid-priced restaurant an incredible value for money.  For an appetizer  I ordered the Honeycomb Tripe Florentine, which was braised with tomatoes, what I believe were basil leaves, and Parmesan cheese.  It was outstanding and exceeded expectations, and I would recommend it to those who do not normally care for tripe.   My wife ordered Minestrone Genovese, which was not your typically tomato and lentil soup, but rather a wonderful pesto and rice soup.

Coffee and Tea Exchange in Lakeview

I recently moved to East Lakeview, and when I am at home I tend to avoid Starbucks.  When I'm traveling on business, on the other hand, and I need strong coffee, I'm not going to spend another twenty minutes going out of my way every single day for an indie coffee shop, as much as it pains me to patronize the 'Bucks.

East Lakeview has the usual Starbucks and Caribou, but there are also some great indie options.  Intelligentsia is on Broadway between Belmont and Diversey, and the coffee there is very good, but I've taken a strong liking to Coffee and Tea Exchange. 

Apart Pizza

    After a night of holiday drinking we came home to find nothing in the fridge and a hankering for pizza.  Knowing that our favorite deep dish from Guillivers in Rogers Park would take much longer than our hunger could stand we decided to go in the opposite direction (both in location and pizza style) and order traditional Italian style pizza from Apart Pizza in Andersonville.  Since we had never ordered from there the guy on the phone was very helpful in making recommendations as they have 24 different varieties on the menu to choose from. 

Adesso: BYO Italian in Lakeview

Tonight I bought a bottle of red wine and went over to a restaurant with a curious, funky vibrant inside called Adesso.  With a striking brown floral motif, Adesso grabs your attention as you walk down the west side of Broadway a few blocks north of Belmont. 

Service is peppy, attentive, and not pushy or intrusive (though perhaps not quite as informative)   Since we were in the restaurant on a slow Wednesday we never had to wait for anything either.

Cyrano's Bistrot: Cozy French Restaurant

Cyrano's Bistro, a brightly colored restaurant in River North has an intimate feel to it.  When you walk in, you are greated with a "Bonjour", and the staff is predominantly French or attempting to speak French.  The wine list leans toward the Languedoc, the Southern region of France where much of its wine is produced.  (Languedoc is the highest-producing wine region in France, though most of its wine is consumed domestically.)   I ordered a delicious premier cru Burgundy off the wine list, and split a salad with spice walnuts, pears, blue cheese, haricots verts.  We were served by an American who called himself Marcel (and I'm betting that's his stage name).

Alinea: Another Peek

Alinea has made a name for itself in the Chicago food scene for mixing food and science.   For starters you actually order over the telephone when you make reservations--they offered the twelve-course chef's tasting menu  for $145 or the twenty-six course tour for $225.    Its Lincoln Park address is very discreet, and if it weren't for the valet parking men we would miss the front entrance.  Opening the doors you walk down this long, dark hallway highlighted in red, and once you get to the end a pair of automatic double doors opens in front of you, just as you ask yourself how to get in.  The actual entrance is a bit cramped, in spite of the long hallway, and I found myself dodging people serving food.   The host was able to find my reservation, and he reiterated our request that my wife didn't care for shrimp and olives.

Growing Power: My Favorite Greens

Green City Market is my favorite market in terms of quality and breadth of selection.  Many of the stands provide fresh basil, arugula, mescalin, and other types of greens.   But I have yet to find any stands that provide the freshness of Growing Power's greens.  Their mustard greens are extremely powerful and spicy, their beet greens taste like beets, and their amaranth gives a nice touch.  They also have a great sweet basil, which I mentioned before in my pesto posting.  Apparently they have a greenhouse, which gives them the ability to sell greens year round. 

The best thing about Growing Power's greens is that they require little or no dressing.   I believe that a vinagrette ruins these greens--I recommned nothing more than olive oil and Parmigiano-Reggiano.   The greens alone may not even require that.

Growing Power
Green City Market
Lincoln Park
Wednesday and Saturday

Bill Kim's Urbanbelly

It's hard to explain how my Friday was redeemed. It was a long day. I was graciously getting a ride home that was delayed an hour due to construction on the inbound LSD... are they kidding! Traffic outbound wasn't much better so I was needed something nice. I saw a listing on LTH for Urban Belly and made the Bill Kim connection and talked the driver into a detour to California, just North of Diversey. In a strip mall is Bill Kim's new diggs. Sure enough three weeks into the endeavor he was right there in the kitchen dishing out dumplings, rice dishes and bowls of noodles. Once you order at the counter seating is at one of four communal tables. It surely isn't Le Lan. But TGIF.

Rise Sushi and Sake Lounge

I’ve been to Rise Sushi and Sake Lounge on Southport a couple of times with large groups of people.  Last time was no exception as there were 8 of us in our party.  There were some things that Rise did well.  The menu is extensive, which was appreciated by several in our group that were not interested in sushi. Specialty entrées, noodle dishes and small plates proved to be more than enough for the non-sushi lovers to choose from.

en•Thai•ce – Ya get it?

I've driven past en•Thai•ce several times and shaken my head. It always reminded me of a hair salon's attempt to be funny. In any case months later I ended up getting delivery and it was terrific.