All posts tagged Food

West Loop Eats

Wow, what an amazing weekend!  I can’t believe it’s already the eve of the middle of the week and I’m just now getting a chance to share.  I’ve been having a sort of love affair with the West Loop for a few years now… along with pretty much every other lover of food and wine in Chicago and across the country.  There’s good reason, too.  This area is just booming and everything that’s good to eat seems to be housed here.

Saturday, Greg and I started with a java hit at La Colombe.  Put simply: it was amazing.  Greg is still raving about it today.  The coffee was great, the latte was phenomenal.  There were hints of caramel that just rocked our world.  Pastries are sourced from Hannah’s Bretzel and Alliance Bakery.  If you haven’t been yet, please do yourself a favor and go.  (And make sure you check out the pure black coffee while you’re there!)

Next we took a walk over to Publican Quality Meats to grab some goods for lunch.  This is the place to be although I’m sure most of you reading this already know that because I’m guessing you’ve already been ;-)   Walking through the door, we were greeted with a nice porky aroma and what appeared to be slight chaos.  Is there a line?  Do you get a number?  How do I order? What in the world is a pork pie?  Luckily, there were a few people who worked there helping everyone understand the procedure: wiggle your way up to the counter, get a number from the staff behind the counter, give them your name and place your order.  Ready, go!  We had the privilege of working with Earling who was super knowledgeable (so smart and helpful, I asked him his name just so I could tell you all about him).  We left with some Benton ham, a slice of porchetta, some hard salami, and a bit of terrine.  Their sandwiches look amazing (next time I go, which will hopefully be soon, I’m chowing down on their mortadella, that’s for d*mn sure!).  There’s ample space to sit which was surprising and the selection of prepared goods is outstanding.  I expect nothing less from you, Paul Kahan, but thank you for exceeding my expectations.

Finally, we made our way to D’Amato’s Bakery for some bread.  I should note that Publican Quality has really amazing bread too, but I had already set my heart on D’Amato’s.  (And for those who want to challenge my geography – yes, I think D’Amato’s is technically West Town but I’m lumping this into the West Loop because, really, it’s thisclose anyway!)  This place is the epitome of old school Italian: tiny shop, vintage cash register, frozen Italian foods in the freezer made by the chef downstairs in the basement… We went in for a small loaf of bread but I couldn’t leave without a bag of cookies as well.  The loaf was perfect – chewy on the inside, nice crunch on the outside, and sesame seeds that just pop in your mouth.  The cookies are the best Italian ones I’ve had thus far in Chicago.  The closest to my hometown’s La Guli Bakery cookies yet.  Mmmmm!!

Overall, we had quite a feast – cured meats, yummy breads, a nice bottle of wine (Ruta 22 Malbec, 2010,  from Patagonia), and some Italian cookies for dessert.  That’s my kind of meal!

And my love affair with the West Loop continues.

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by Jessy on February 21, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jessy on February 21, 2012

http://consumechicago.com/2012/02/21/west-loop-eats/

Crave: Friday, February 17

As I was skimming through my inbox this morning, I spied an email from Time Out detailing 5 things to make my weekend perfect. Sure, sure – there’s restaurant week happenings and some funky winter masquerade ball but I’ve already mapped out my plans and prixe fix menus or wearing a mask just don’t make the cut. What does? you might ask. La Colombe, D’Amato’s Bakery, Publican Quality Meats, and the Gourmet Grape all do.

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by Jessy on February 17, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jessy on February 17, 2012

http://consumechicago.com/2012/02/17/crave-friday-february-17/

Chubby Hubby Consumes Cozy Noodles and Rice

Ever since I lived in Evanston in the late 90′s and discovered red curry (panang), I’ve been addicted to Thai food.  My young palate saw it as kind of a bridge between Indian and Chinese cuisine – all the aromatic fragrance and complexity of Indian with many of the vegetables and meats I’d grown up getting delivered to my house in little white boxes with metal handles.

Truth be told, I never ventured too much past the red curry dish.  I loved it so much I thought about carrying it around in a thermos and drinking it like coffee.  That, alas, was when I was 20 years old, and couldn’t get past 145 pounds if you had me hooked up to an IV filled with brown butter.  Today, I have to be a little smarter.

Jessy and I live close to a little place called Cozy Noodles and Rice – on the corner of Sheffield and Cornelia, just a few blocks south of Wrigley Field.  There’s also one in Evanston, though I don’t think I ever ate there.  Not only is the Wrigley restaurant itself unique, but they make incredibly good Thai food that’s also amazingly cheap.  And they deliver.  I’ve expanded my love affair with Thai food and found the menu items that are a little less filled with coconut milk, sugar and vegetable oil and a little more filled with fresh vegetables and proteins.

The entire restaurant is painted a bright yellow color and is filled with a mix of mid-century toys and kitch.  Even the tables are converted from old sewing machines!

My new go to dish is the Pad See Ewe with Tofu (pictured left).  Even though this is the “health section” of the blog, I will say that there’s a decent amount of oil and simple carbs in this dish.  That being said, there’s also a ton of fresh broccoli and tofu, along with some of the chewiest noodles I’ve eaten.  I’ve had this dish a number of places and Cozy does it best.  Another dish we discovered is the Dumpling Noodles (pictured right).  These thin egg noodles are submerged in a aromatic broth filled with shrimp dumplings, broccoli, bean sprouts, and topped with a nice portion of “chinese style” BBQ pork.  I recommend eating the Dumpling Noodles in the restaurant, while the Pad See Ewe tastes just as wonderful when delivered.

Overall, I’ve tried about a dozen dishes at Cozy.  Many of their dishes are lightly pan-fried and are packed with spices, veggies, and, if you chose, lean proteins like chicken or tofu.  Most of their appetizers, which are also great, come both deep fried or steamed – and the steamed versions are always mildly flavored with the familiar notes of fresh Thai basil, bean curd and peanut.

My days of weekly panang Consume.ption are probably gone.  Luckily, with Cozy Noodles and Rice, I don’t miss it one bit.

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by Greg on February 11, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Chow, Chubby Hubby
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Posted by Greg on February 11, 2012

http://consumechicago.com/2012/02/11/chubby-hubby-goes-to-cozy-noodles-and-rice/

A prime dinner at David Burke’s Primehouse

Greg and I decided to indulge ourselves this past weekend so we visited David Burke’s Primehouse (in the James Hotel; Rush and Ontario). Simply put, it was phenomenal, exemplifying all of the reasons why this place has been around for a while and is considered a Chicago classic. Service was amazing, pacing of the courses was spot on, and every bite was delicious (and worth every penny). The noise level was great, too. I could actually hear my server – who answered all of our many questions without skipping a beat – and have a nice conversation with my husband. Finally, the bathrooms were great.

I haven’t divulged my bathroom theory yet so here goes. In my opinion, the greatest reflection of how much a restaurant truly cares about its guests can be seen in the bathroom. If it is freezing (my biggest pet peeve), sparsely stocked, too small, has bad lighting, etc. that really says something to me. This is a place where you want to feel comfortable and at ease. The restroom at Primehouse was very nice. Very clean, well lit, stocked with soap and lotion, and had two options for drying your hands (towels or a drying machine). My only complaint was that the temp was a little cool but it wasn’t unbearable.

Back to the meal….

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We started with fresh popovers. Love the serving vessel.

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I finally had foie gras! Check that resolution off the list. It was delicious, served with quince paste and tiny cakes.

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Of course, we had to do the Caesar salad, prepared table-side.

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It was the best one I have ever had.

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Basil whipped potatoes and garlicky greens and beans. The beans were severely undercooked but the potatoes more than made up for it.

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55 day dry-aged ribeye. No fuss, just impeccably prepared meat on a plate.

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Look at how perfectly that is cooked!

Sorry to any vegetarians who I just grossed out but a meal at Primehouse is definitely worth it. I love when something so popular and so lauded is as good as you expect it to be. In this case, our expectations were highly exceeded.

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by Jessy on January 24, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jessy on January 24, 2012

http://consumechicago.com/2012/01/24/a-prime-dinner-at-david-burkes-primehouse/

Veg-friendly eats in Chicago: No struggles here!

A recent article in the NY Times has been making it’s way through the social media/twitterverse/blogosphere and I think it’s pretty interesting.  As a former vegan, I can empathize with the writer and some of those stories are identical to some of my own.  After reading this, I reflected on our dining options here in Chicago – which is part of the midwest but is left out of the aforementioned article.  Granted, I gave up veganism a year or so prior to moving to Chicago but I think, had I moved here still on the veggie train, I might have even stayed on it longer.  We have such a variety of dining options here and we are so fortunate for that.  Here are a few great vegan/vegetarian options around Chicago.  Some I’ve been to and love, some I’ve never tried but want to.

Fine(r) Dining

Green Zebra (1460 W. Chicago, 312.243.7100)
I’ve never been but it’s at the top of my list.  Interestingly enough, I’ve only heard of this place through my carnivorous friends.

Karyn’s On Green (130 S. Green, 312.226.6155)
Simply put, the food looks amazing but I love that Karyn is making it sexy.  It’s stylish and the bar scene is hip.  And you can eat food that you’ll feel good about.  What is better than that?  PS. Check out the other Karyn’s Raw on Halsted and Karyn’s Cooked on Wells.

Fast, Casual, and Fun

Protein Bar (locations in the Loop, we visit the one at Franklin and Adams, 312.346.7300)
My favorite thing about this place is that they give you options: meat or tofu.  Everything is packed with protein and super flavorful.  Read Chubby Hubby’s thoughts here.

Victory’s Banner (2100 W. Roscoe, 773. 665.0227)
Open for breakfast and lunch, this place is as zen as you get.  Menu items are classics and they promise that you won’t miss the meat.  I don’t get out for breakfast much but next time I do, this is where I’m headed.  Beware: they are closed on Tuesdays.

Handlebar (2311 W. North, 773.384.9546)
Handlebar supports bicycle advocacy, which I find interesting.  What I find more interesting, however, is the fact that they’re a bar (notoriously unfriendly to veg-minded folks) with a killer beer selection and even better vegan/vegetarian options.  And I don’t mean salads or plates of vegetables, I’m talking substantial menu options with tofu or  seitan like vegan biscuits and gravy and buffalo chicken wraps (made with seitan, of course).

Chicago Diner (3411 N. Halsted, 77.935.6696)
“Meat free since ’83″ this place is a classic in Chicago.  They’re completely vegetarian, mostly vegan actually, and are quite creative. The menu includes appetizers like “wings,” potstickers, and nachos, a variety of soups and salads, entrees like country fried “steak” and “meatloaf” dinner and sandwiches like the gyros and the philly “steak” and the famous “radical reuben.”  You won’t go hungry here!

Remember, you don’t have to be a veg to eat like one.

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by Jessy on January 16, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jessy on January 16, 2012

http://consumechicago.com/2012/01/16/veg-friendly-eats-in-chicago-no-struggles-here/

My plea: I need girl scout cookies.

My plea: I need girl scout cookies this year.
The finer print: I’d prefer to buy them from an actual girl scout.
The question: Can you help?

[The past few years I've picked some up from this random shop on Armitage that sells them but I'd much rather support a local troop. And I don't really want to visit some table at Dominick's either but I will if I have to provided they have a good selection. If you know any girl scouts, comment below or shoot an email to Consume.chicago@gmail.com. Pleaseandthankyou.]

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by Jessy on January 8, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jessy on January 8, 2012

http://consumechicago.com/2012/01/08/my-plea-i-need-girl-scout-cookies/

Crave: Friday, January 6

When we were planning our honeymoon we couldn’t decide whether we wanted fun in the sun and relaxation or history and culture and tons of sightseeing so we picked a country that allowed for both: Greece. We expected we’d get our history and culture in Athens then finish with some R&R in Mykonos and Santorini. What we didn’t expect was the culinary delight the Greeks had to offer. Of course, I went with a list of foods I wanted to try (Does baklava made in Greece taste like baklava from Artopolis in Greektown?) but we discovered so much more. One thing that stuck with me was how healthy you could be. Some of their basic methods – like using yogurt instead of sour cream or the absence of butter – turned out to be my favorite souvenirs. I’m missing Greece today with its warmth and good food and cappuccino freddos in the afternoon but I know I can recreate some of that deliciousness right in my own kitchen. That’s one of the reasons I love Greek cuisine – it’s simple and straightforward (and really good for you). I’m thinking some sort of lemon-y roasted chicken and I saw dandelion greens at whole foods the other day. And we will definitely have to round out all this healthiness with a decadent dessert. Yum!

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One of the many plates of boiled greens we Consumed.

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Decadent desserts can definitely be found here in Chicago. For my fix, I head over to Artopolis on Halsted (between Jackson and Van Buren). And if I happen to grab a cappuccino freddo and Kourabiedes? Well, don’t mind if I do!

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by Jessy on January 6, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jessy on January 6, 2012

http://consumechicago.com/2012/01/06/crave-friday-january-6/

New Year’s Resolution: Consume. More Whole Foods One Plate At A Time

It’s pretty cliché but it’s also true: I’m guilty of making resolutions every year, year after year, about eating better, working out more, yadda, yadda. I make like, ten million resolutions every year. Okay. That’s actually an exaggeration. But I do make a lot of them. This year is no different but I’ve made them more achievable. Instead of “I’m going to eat less sugar” or “I’m going to snack less” or “I will not eat an entire bag of corn nuts in one sitting” I have decided to focus instead on what I will do, and not what I won’t do. I will Consume. more whole foods. No more of this processed junk. No more fast foods like Taco Bell, no more cookie dough and cake mixes with crap I can’t pronounce. Just good stuff that is good for me. I was also inspired by Bon Appetit’s Food Lover’s Cleanse and so I’m also making some of those principles my own: less caffeine, more water, less processed sugar, more healthy fats, and reduced dairy (there’s no way in Hell I’ll ever give that up but I know my digestive system does not need three huge glasses of milk a day especially given that I’m, um, lactose intolerant and, yes, I’m serious).

Grocery shopping yesterday was interesting because we actually started reading the labels. It is absolutely insane what the ingredients are in the majority of the products we were eating. It was almost humorous… in a scary “what have we been ingesting?!” kind of way. It was also kind of sad because it started to feel like everything we reached for was doomed. Then we came to the Frontera products and hallelujah for Rick Bayless!!! While I expect nothing less from the man who embodies all that is farm-to-table fresh and good, I was pleasantly surprised to see this philosophy retained in mass production where preservatives and multi-syllable ingredients typically abound. Check this out:

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If you are anything like me and want to do good for your body, keep reading. I’m going to work harder to feature more wholesome great finds here in Chicago as I come across them.

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by Jessy on January 3, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jessy on January 3, 2012

http://consumechicago.com/2012/01/03/new-years-resolution-consume-more-whole-foods-one-plate-at-a-time/

Top 3 Foods I’m On a Mission to Consume. in 2012

Greg likes to tease me because I’m usually thinking of what I want to eat next while already eating something.  It’s not that I don’t savor what’s in front of me but there’s just so much out there and I want to try it all.  I was planning to do the quintessential “where to eat in 2012″ post but it occurred to me that, while there are a ton of places we want to check out, there is an equal number of foods I want to Consume.   But where?  That part I’ve yet to figure out.  Here’s my hit list:

Honorable mention:  Venison.
My switch from almost 14 years of veganism to carnivorous gluttony doesn’t come with a great story.  I just converted.  The instigating moment, however, came when I was flipping channels one night and caught an episode of Iron Chef America: Battle Venison.  Mind you, I was SO not into food at that point and never watched Food Network.  I paused for a minute to check out the show and there was an image of mid rare venison being sliced and I thought “oh, that looks good.”  I was so shocked I’d had that thought that I thought about it over and over and over again for days until I finally started eating meat again.  It’s pretty weird now that I think about it that I haven’t ever had venison in the almost 4 years given it’s importance.  Definitely must have soon.

Third:  Foie Gras.
Yes, yes, I know.  For someone who loves food, how have I not tasted foie?  I don’t know either.  That’s why it’s on this list.

Second:  Oxtails.
They just sound exotic, don’t they?  I see them in recipes all the time and I drool over them at Paulina Market but, for my first time, I want them to be cooked by someone who knows what they are doing (i.e., not by me).  Soups and stews are traditional, I’ll take them whichever way  is tastiest.

First:  Headcheese.
I have been thinking about this for a while and I’ve come thisclose to getting some but to no avail.  Where to go?  How to have it?  These are things I still don’t know but it’s first on my list and must happen soon.

——–
Interestingly enough, Greg stumbled upon this little food list challenge app for Facebook the other night.  It’s a list of 100 things you’re supposed to eat before you die.  It’s completely arbitrary – I have no idea what makes these things necessary – but I’ll go with it.  I’ve eaten 71 of those things off the list.  Everything on my list above is on the list of 100 things but the other 25 things were interesting too.  I still need to eat abalone, bird’s nest soup, black pudding, borscht, carp, crickets, currywurst, dandelion wine, durian, frito pie, frog’s legs, fugu, goat’s milk, goulash, haggis, kangaroo, nettle soup, pavlova, phaal, pineapple and cottage cheese, prickly pear, shark, snake, som tam, and umeboshi.  I’m on a mission to eat as much of it as possible this year.  Frito pie, anyone?!

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2012 and lots of good consumption!  Remember, there’s always room for another serving.

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by Jessy on December 31, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jessy on December 31, 2011

http://consumechicago.com/2011/12/31/top-3-foods-im-on-a-mission-to-consume-in-2012/

Most Unusual Foods Consumed During 2011: My Top 3

Let’s be clear about a few things. Consume. is about the good stuff (according to me, anyway). I don’t want to fill this space with crap – we’ve got enough of that in our daily lives – and I don’t see the point in sharing things that I think are bad/gross/unworthy of my time or yours. Frankly, if I wouldn’t want to Consume. it again, why would you? That said, the list below covers three of the strangest things I ate this year. Some, I would definitely try again. Some (well, one in particular) I most definitely would not. Regardless, they were all memorable and are worth sharing and trying for yourself so here they are:

Third: Lamb hearts with strawberries and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember from Girl & the Goat (809 W. Randolph). I love Girl & the Goat and I love Stephanie Izard. We’ve been a few times and the majority of the menu is what I would consider unusual, strange, and out there but it’s all absolutely delicious. The last time we dined, we tried a dish of lamb hearts and strawberries. True to Izard’s style there were quite a few other ingredients but, sadly, I can’t remember what they were. The combination of lamb hearts and strawberries, however, was absolutely delicious. Totally weird but totally yummy. She changes the menu all the time based on what’s in season but if you’re there and it’s on the menu, go for it. In fact, you should just follow this rule (and this is usually what I tell anyone who is planning to eat there) — the weirder it sounds, the better it will be. At least, where Stephanie Izard is concerned because she’s a genius. I’m not sure I’d follow that rule everywhere…

Second: Chicken feet from Sun Wah (5039 N. Broadway). Blegh! We took a few friends to Sun Wah once to enlighten them and show them the goodness that is their BBQ duck and, feeling daring, I decided to try the chicken feet. I’ve heard on a few TV shows about Chicago food and from a few Chicago food writers that, if you wanted to try the chicken feet, Sun Wah is the place to do it. And I did. And I will never ever EVER do it again. I don’t want to go into too much detail and and I think that, if you’re interested, you should definitely give it a try but maybe you should wait until you can wash it down with a side of duck or something…
Sidenote: I didn’t realize how much of an impact Sun Wah has had on my culinary experience this year but writing these top 3 posts over the past few days and watching as Sun Wah has popped into my head for almost every category has been telling. It really is a great place and I highly recommend it. The end.


This was posted to Facebook by my husband shortly after my first (and yes, last) bite.

First: Rush Creek Reserve from Uplands Cheese Company (Dodgeville, WI; procured at Pastoral). This cheese was hands down, the strangest thing I have ever Consumed. in my life. I couldn’t put my finger on the flavor, the texture – nothing. I’m honestly still not sure if I even liked it. But I would eat it again… For the full report, check out this previous post and, next Fall, you can decide for yourself.

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by Jessy on December 30, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jessy on December 30, 2011

http://consumechicago.com/2011/12/30/most-unusual-foods-consumed-during-2011-my-top-3/

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