Category Archives: ..and more

If you haven’t noticed the eliz-a-bit and eliz-a-tip listed off to the side yet, keep on eye on these relatively new blog bits as I try to change them out every few days. I was about to change the Heinz 57 tip out tonight, but spotted someone over the weekend at Milwaukee’s historic hamburger destination Solly’s Grille whose face was turning redder than the ketchup that wasn’t coming out of the glass Heinz bottle as he repeatedly and violently smacked the thing from the bottom. After what seemed like five cringeworthy minutes, he resorted to the effective, but highly unsanitary knife-in-the-bottle trick. So, I’ll keep the tip for now, and throw in a report this week of something much less frustrating that I experienced at Solly’s, the award-winning and artery-clogging butter burger.

I don’t think a weekend goes by where I don’t totally crave the yogurt parfait from Milk & Honey Cafe in Wicker Park, and I’ll happily brave the sometimes ornery line to get one to go. The best part about it is chef-owner Carol Watson’s addictive homemade granola, which first showed its sweet self in the parfait in 2002, and has since spread everywhere from the shelves of Whole Foods to the topping bar at Berry Chill. So, I was overjoyed to discover on my last visit to the café that Watson’s expanded the selection to include reduced fat cinnamon raisin, chocolate banana, blueberry pecan, and pumpkin spice, and I can’t wait to try ’em all, with or without yogurt. 1920 W. Division St., 773.395.9434

I always wondered about Skewerz, that strange Pacific Rim-themed meat-on-a-stick spot that opened at 1560 N. Damen in the old Half & Half space over the summer. While driving through the intersection of Milwaukee/North/Damen this weekend I noticed that the place is closed. I have to admit, I never had a desire to venture inside once Half & Half shut down and took their egg and cheese croissant sandwiches with ’em. I really have no idea how it fared with the sauced Estelle’s crowd, but I never thought of meat or veggie skewers as a satisfying post-bar bite. They’re great at summer street festivals or as an hors d’oeuvre at a party, but after a Double Door show in the dead of winter? I’m thinking more along the lines of La Pasadita. Speaking of cold weather and Wicker Park’s six corners, I was craving hot tea all weekend and found myself desperately missing Filter coffee shop, which sadly left the ‘hood over a year ago.

Earlier this week I reported on my sweet adventures at San Francisco’s famous Tartine Bakery. Vella Cafe co-owner and recent guest blogger Melissa Yen revealed in a comment that Sandra Holl of Chicago’s Floriole bakery used to work at Tartine, and is still on the hunt for space to open her own bakery. Holl sells her goods at the Green City Market, but while it’s chilly out, you can find Floriole’s famous oatmeal cookies, tea cakes and shortbread at the Chicago Downtown Farmstand through mid-December. I’ll be the one in line for the shortbread.