Category Archives: ..and more

Out of all the street trucks roaming around the city, I think I have randomly seen the new Culture truck the most lately. And it’s a good thing because I miss Berry Chill something terrible and I am so glad the tangy, citrus-y fro-yo is back with the same yogurt chip, crushed Oreo, carob chip-topped loveliness. So it’s not as good as holding court on State Street, but at least this truck makes its rounds. Speaking of food trucks, I feel like I spot a new one every day (I saw the tamale guy’s today!), but does anyone remember Fan Si Pan spring rolls that used to occupy the Hoosier Mama space on Chicago Avenue? I would follow the shit out of it if they ever returned on four wheels to doll out fresh spring rolls, honeydew-melon juices and Vietnamese bahn mi..

I’ve never experienced juice bar cravings until I went to Peeled. And I have a feeling those cravings are going to be kicking in especially hard later this week after I’m two or three boozy days into the Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans. I love fresh fruit and vegetable juices, but sometimes find it hard to justify the cost for the small portions at some juice bars around town, and frankly can’t deal with Jamba Juice’s orange and purple sugar explosion in a cup (OK, I haven’t stepped foot in a Jamba for years, but I picture 15 different kinds of sugary sweet OJ). But when I tried Peeled post-workout one day, I knew it would be become a regular spot. What I love most about the place, besides the raw, made to order juices, are the drink combinations themselves, pink Himalayan sea salt and avocado tone down kale, parsley and other greens in the Green Day Live (embarrassing to order, but fresh, healthy and energy-inducing), and you can hardly taste the kale in the Rapper’s Delight, with mango, almond butter, coconut milk, agave and cinnamon. I also love the Berry Bonds if you’re not in a greens mood; berries, bananas, coconut water and blue-green algae. I have yet to try the Greenpeace with mango, cucumber, coconut water, cilantro and lime, or all of the breakfast smoothies, which are spiked with things like flax meal, hemp protein powder and raw oats. Of course they have simple juices (like beet, apple and ginger), booster shots (a convincing friend got me to pound a “Status Update” shot with ginger, lemon, chlorophyll, wheatgrass and a dash of cayenne and I actually could’ve had a whole glass), and a popular juice cleanse. I will say that each labor-intensive drink can take a while, so don’t go if you’re in a rush, and be aware that the closest parking spot seems to be right outside of Joe’s on Weed around the corner, but it’s all more than worth it for healthy goodness served straight-up. Peeled, 1571 N. Sheffield Ave.

In about a month, this caloric little food blog will turn 3. I got to hand it to wordpress for offering up all kinds of interesting stats along the way, from blog hits to incoming links, and sometimes, the most fun of all…the random search terms that led people here. I can’t really judge the person who googled “pickle in a pouch” or “clear jello” as those very topics were covered in some capacity on my blog. But it’s still fun to see how they found me…more from the search engine stats…

A surprising number of people are very curious about the calories in Molly’s Cupcakes. They were out of luck when the came upon this, but I mean..at this level of decadence, what’s an extra ass cheek?

People wanted to find out more about tiny Japanese food toys, dining pods and whipped cream logs (no idea)..and an unexpectedly high number of google searchers wanted to know how long it took to make a Peep. I mean, has anyone really attempted this? Holla back and tell me if you have!

The most searched term (besides the blog name-ranging from eliza bites to elizabytes) was Hot Doug’s..the least? Jello moulds (sadly, 5 people spelled it that way).

When I first heard of the idea of the Dose Market, a monthly European-style market of local fashion and foodie finds, I thought of the Brooklyn Flea and other NYC markets I’ve been lucky enough to stumble upon. I looove covering local artisan confectioners, roasters, chocolatiers, jam, syrup and preserves gurus, tea companies and other tiny companies started by one or two people that simply had to find a way to jar, can or serve up their culinary passion, and I’m all for getting them together in one place (get your next Dose July 10). I couldn’t wait to check out the yesterday’s kick-off event, where companies like Rare Tea Cellar, Truffle Truffle, Rare Bird Preserves, Sofia Vintage, Seedling Fruit, Chicago Honey Co-Op, Suitor, Sprout, Blis, and dozens of others took to a table with their wares…from which I scored a jar of Rare Bird preserves and bottle of Blis Tahitian vanilla maple syrup (try it drizzed over strawberries and chocolate ice cream)..a few pics of other favorites spotted below…Dose Market, River East Arts Center, 435 E. Illinois