Category Archives: I like to eats

OK, so I found a new Goddess and Grocer obsession. The Crazy Rock chocolates by Chicago-based Oral Fixations. The hand-made milk, dark or white chocolate cocoa bean-shaped chocolates are filled with crackly Pop Rocks. Check out their site for a bevy of truffles and chocolate candies laced with lemon peels, gold leaf, black peppercorns and mint oil.

The machines at the new iCream (no pun intended with the coffee creamers under the sign) were down when I stopped in yesterday, but I did get a peek of the liquid nitrogen tanks in the back. Once you go through what seems like 10 steps and 100 different ice cream bases, flavors, sweetness levels and toppings, they use nitrogen to whip it all together. Is it the new Moto without the prix fixe prices? 1537 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.342.2834

A newfound obsession.

Cipollina, 1543 N. Damen Ave., 773.227.6300 (photo by Tonia Kim)

Does the question mark-like symbol on the end of the plastic Berry Chill spoon symbolize the swirl of frozen yogurt or the mystery as to why this stuff is so addictive? An especially long line snaked out the door tonight after the “original” flavor wasn’t working, forcing Berry Chill fiends to either wait until the machine was fixed or go for one of the not-as-popular specialty flavors like peach mango and chocolate amaretto. I always get the original, but gave the pistachio a whirl instead. A bit less tart than original,  I think I found a new B.C. favorite, along with the yogurt chip topping. But I still have one question on my mind: When will they open a location in my neck of the woods? 635 N. State St., 312.266.2445

Brunkow Cheese of Wisconsin

My healthy side says to take advantage of the abundance of fresh sustainable fruits and veggies at Green City Market, but the Wisconsin gal in me tends to make a beeline to the Brunkow Cheeses booth. Crafted in Southeast Wisconsin, Brunkow uses milk from 25 local dairies to make a few dozen cheeses, including a raw milk Cheddar, creamy cold-pack flavored cheese spreads and the heavenly Brun-uusto baked cheese seen here smoking on the grill.  It’s made from cheese curds (can you go wrong?) pressed flat and then slow-baked and browned, so it doesn’t melt when warmed up. Smokey, creamy and rich, it’s the best grilled cheese you’ve ever had, without the bread and tomato soup. The Green City Market is located in Lincoln Park, between Clark and Stockton, and is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7AM to 1:30PM. Stop by the Brunkow booth for a sample, but don’t hover, buy a brick of your own for $10.

While I still lament the loss of tiny Vietnamese spring roll spot, Fan Si Pan, I welcome the new guard of fatty-take-out goodness that’s recently graced West Town/East Village’s Chicago Avenue. OK, so maybe light-as-air chicken spring rolls have made way for foot-long Tommy Lee hot dogs from Rock Star Dogs and massive (I mean like 1/4 of a pizza) slices from the weeks-old and truly delicious Paula & Monica’s Pizzeria (1518 W. Chicago Ave., 312.929.3615), but at least these new (albeit highly caloric) establishments remain small and locally owned (no DQ, yet!). Other new Chicago Avenue spots include Mexique, a Mexican-French concept opened by a husband and wife duo and The Old Oak Tap (2109 W. Chicago Ave., 773.772.0406), which will boast a 1,500-square-foot beer garden when it opens in August. It’s from the guys behind bars The Continental (2801 W. Chicago Ave., 773.292.1200) and Darkroom, both located, well, just down the street.

Grilled Wisconsin Rainbow trout filet with lemon jam, beans and grenobloise garnish from North Pond’s lunch menu. Almost too pretty to eat.

A work of trout