Category Archives: mystery spot

How cool is it that not only did Elizabites reader and blogger Jacky Hackett guess last week’s mystery face, but she was actually at Ditka’s once for a wedding in the company of da’ coach and wife? For her guest post, Jacky choose Pastoral, a Loop cheese shop I can’t believe I’ve never visited. The pig and fig sandwich sounds delish, as does the goat cheese-almond butter one-two punch in the Cali Chevre. Here’s her take and scrumptious pics…

Pastoral is one of those hidden gems in the Loop. While it may not be hard to find, it is easy to overlook in the hustle and bustle of the commute. I quickly became hooked and find myself in there often, even if it is just to browse. In addition to the fabulous cheese selection, they have cured meats, bread, wine, olives, pickled vegetables, jams, the list goes on. They even offer wine and cheese pairing classes. The loop location makes for a perfect place to stop and pack a picnic for Millennium Park events or the beach. Pastoral is a popular sandwich spot too. It gets crowded during the lunch rush, if you are in a hurry call ahead to order. Seating is limited, but in the warmer months they do have additional outdoor seating. The sandwich menu changes often and includes vegetarian and vegan options. The Blue Pig n’ Fig sandwich is a delicious combo of salty meat, sweet jam, and strong creamy cheese. The Cali Chevre is a unique vegetarian option with goat cheese, almond butter and red onion. They have a few locations in the city though I am partial to the Lake Street location, the people that work there are so friendly and helpful. Pastoral Artisan Cheese, bread and wine, 53 E. Lake St. (between Michigan and Wabash).

Pig and Fig sandwich

People really do win on elizabites. Melissa Yen, previous co-owner of the beloved and sorely missed Vella Cafe is an expert when it comes to guessing my mystery posts. With three correct guesses under her belt, it was time for her guest blog for a second time. Yen is the flavorful mastermind behind 361 Syrups; a line of specialty flavored syrups (used in the Italian sodas at Cippolina, the lattes at Milk & Honey) that’ll be sold this fall at local cafes, bars and stores like Provenance Food and Wine, also writes her own food blog. For her post, she wrote up a mouthwatering taqueria called Carmela’s, where it’s all about the pastor…her post and pics below…

Al pastor at Carmela's Taqueria

“I don’t know what compels one to pick one hole-in-the-wall taqueria over another. I’ve been driving by Carmela’s Taqueria for years and have always wanted to stop in. Even from the outside it looked enticing. So, finally, I did it. The place is tiny, with a counter and maybe six tables. It’s painted bright, inviting colors and although a bit worn, it’s clean. The menu is simple, with eight taco choices, burritos and tortas. While the horchata was on the watery side, the fresh carrot juice was a steal at $2.50 a glass. I sat at the counter, which is about a foot from the flat top and rotating spit in which the pork for the al pastor tacos is sliced from. Unfortunately the day I was there, the spit was empty, but I got to watch as one of the cooks layered pork marinated in chilies and pineapple with raw onion slices onto the giant skewer which would then be placed on the spit. That layered creation of pork, onions and pineapple must have weighed 100 pounds…no joke. Tacos al pastor are the item to order at Carmela’s. I ordered three tacos, carne asada, chicken, and al pastor. While the chicken and carne asada were fresh, they paled in comparison to the al pastor. It had been shaved from the spit, and then griddled on the flat top so the outside was crunchy and caramelized from the sweet pineapple drippings and the inside was tender and chewy. Oh the flavor! This taco, served with cilantro and onion, did not even need salsa. That is a lot for me to say, as I love to slather on the sauce of any kind. Salsa would have just masked the already perfectly melded flavors of the spicy/sweet pork, the bite of the raw onion and the freshness of the chopped cilantro. I have always been a big carnitas (slow roasted pork) fan, but Carmela’s won me over to al pastor. Carmela’s Taqueria, 1206 W. Lawrence

Inside Carmela's