October 7, 2009 · 12:05 am

Suds and sausage!

I love the idea of laundromats with food/drink offerings that go beyond the vending machine or a neighboring Subway, but this just may be too much munchie multi-tasking at once. I’m thinking if only the word “sausage” was written in different font, moved to the side and given some cartoon representation, it could up the appeal of this place. Maybe a little? OK, yeah, no.

Spotted in San Francisco's Union Square

Spotted in San Francisco's Union Square

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Filed under eliz-a-trip, random spottings

October 6, 2009 · 12:05 am

Chinatown San Francisco

We didn’t hit up Empress of China or the especially intriguing Floating Sushi Boat Restaurant (see below pics) spotted in San Francisco’s Chinatown last night, but we did go a little nuts with the family-style at Oriental Pearl. I loved the prawns in candied almonds and orange rinds, and the chicken in a crispy potato nest (literally), but my favorite shots of the night emerged on the walk over.

Floating sushi boat?

Floating sushi boat?


Hopelessly drawn to strings of lights

Hopelessly drawn to strings of lights

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Filed under ..and more, eliz-a-trip, random foto, random spottings

October 5, 2009 · 12:05 am

Bar Tartine

Sunny, honey

Sunny, honey


Just when I finish gushing about how much I adore Chicago in October, I’ll actually be spending a few weeks of the month in California for work-related events. I was in San Francisco this weekend (LA and San Diego next) and finally got to check out Bar Tartine, after an amazing experience at Tartine Bakery last fall. I’ll write more posts later this week about Tartine’s awesome bread, sardine and citrus-beet appetizer and ridiculously good cod dish we had, but the Sunny, Honey cocktail deserves a post of its own. The name intrigued me at first, followed by the simple ingredients, Sonoma-based Sutton Cellars dry vermouth (made with a variety of botanicals and herbs) shaken with ruby grapefruit and star thistle honey. Like all the best pre-dinner cocktails, it’s simple yet complex, and not too sweet, with hints of herb, citrus, and sweet that subtly take turns on your palate rather than ruining it before dinner.

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October 2, 2009 · 12:05 am

Mystery bottles

IMG_0227

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October 1, 2009 · 12:05 am

October!

Today is the first day of my favorite month of the year. October means it’s not quite cold enough for annoying hats, gloves, 10-minute car-defrosting sessions or teeth-chattering, shoulder-hunching why-the-f-do-I-live here trots to the car, but there’s enough of a chill in the air to constitute leather boots, long scarves and hair virtually unscathed by humidity. It means thermostats switched off, a sort of rich, golden light that fills the air on sunny days, and all things pumpkin. Speaking of which, October also means hot chocolate from Xoco (yeah, yum), bubble tea from Saint’s Alp, and homey, comforting dishes on restaurant menus. There’s plenty to taste around town this fall, and I’m open to hearing your suggestions, comments, concerns and general observations. Drop a line in the comments if there’s something you want more of, less or (more mystery? less random tables?), or a place/drink/vino I’ve got to try. Also! In honor of my favorite month, look to the right, scroll down and take a second to subscribe to the blog via RSS or email. It’s fun, free, and you’ll won’t miss a bite all fall.

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September 30, 2009 · 12:05 am

New brews take 2

Rader blonde

Rader blonde


Last spring I did a post on Blanche de Bruxelles and Goose Island Pere Jacques, two new brews that had recently captured my palate and became my favorite food-pairing selections. This week, I’ve discovered two more to add to the list, Radermacher blonde (experienced at The Bluebird and Rootstock in the same weekend!) and an amazingly random and delicious brew called Coney Island Albino python. Spotted at Rodan, the name caught my eye first, followed by the description which included white ale lager with spices of orange, ginger and fennel, and six different types of malt. If that wasn’t intriguing enough, the menu also said that a portion of the profits go towards restoring Coney Island..cool but creepy? When our waitress informed us there was only one 22 Oz. bottle left, we had to have it. Where had it been all my life? The beer had all the light-yet-robust notes of a Belgian white ale, with a spicy finish and easy drinkability (although it poured on the foamy side). After the initial sip and a rest on your palate, the spices and herb flavors are subtle and slightly fragrant. Right along with it was the Radermacher blonde from one of Belgium’s oldest distilleries (founded 1836). With hints of gin (from the juniper berries) and lemon and a slightly tart and an almost effervescent mouthfeel, this would be amazing with spicy or greasy foods. Or, as I indulged, all on its own.
Coney Island Albino Python

Coney Island Albino Python

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September 28, 2009 · 12:05 am

On the table: State and Lake

State and Lake, in the Wit hotel

State and Lake, in the Wit hotel

5 glasses, 5 napkins, 1 candle, salt, pepper grinder, 5 forks, 5 knives. The Wit Hotel, 201 N. State St., 312.467.0200

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Filed under new restaurants, on the table, quick lunch

September 25, 2009 · 12:05 am

Farmer’s cheese biscuits at Hot Chocolate

Farmer cheese biscuits and honey butter

Farmer cheese biscuits and honey butter


I’m such a sucker for a great bread basket. I seriously think it’s what sets apart solid, memorable restaurants from drecky places that offer a stale hunk of crust you could crack your teeth on, and then kick you while you’re down with a soul-less little bowl of golden topped plastic butter pads. I’m talking real bread baskets..the pretzel rolls at Rockit, the bread with butter and three tasting salts at Duchamp, dark pumpernickel slices at Twin Anchors, sour dough with butter and honey at Coerper’s Five O’Clock Club. I could go on, but what’s even better for bread and butter fanatics like me is the bread course, a not-so-new but delicious trend I’ve seen lately. Eat at Alinea or Avenues and you’ll get a different house-baked bread with every course. Or just go to the Bristol and and get hooked on the monkey bread with dill butter like I did long ago. (An obsession I’ve gushed about on this blog again and again). But the latest crust crush happened last weekend at Hot Chocolate. I love everything at the Bucktown hotspot, from the milkshakes to the desserts and entrées, but truly found a special place in my heart for the house-baked Farmer’s cheese biscuits. Served in a staub pot, they come out golden brown and hot from the oven, creamy enough (from the farmer’s cheese; a cross between feta and cottage cheese) to stand on their own without the honey butter on the side. But slather it on anyway, it’ll melt right into the moist and light bread and hold up to the chewy, buttery outside. Rather than just fill you up before dinner, the sweet-savory combination of a cheese biscuit with sweet honey butter prepares your palate for what’s to come. The way a real bread course should. Hot Chocolate, 1747 N. Damen, 773.489.1747

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