These psychedelic stairs appear in what Chicago bar? 
Crispy pata at Sunda
The crispy pata pork shank at Sunda may look like it was plated by a caveman, but chef Rodelio Aglibot’s entrée is nothing but refined. I already reviewed Sunda, but didn’t try this Filipino-inspired dish until my third visit to the River North restaurant last week, and thought it was worth its own post. You may not know where to begin with the Fred Flinstone-affixed shank, but go ahead and knock it over (watch out for the watercress salad) and start digging in. It’s actually a confit pork shank that’s boiled then fried so the outer layer is crispy and flavorful while the pork is tender and falls right off the bone (or can be gnawed off neanderthal style if you so desire). Once it does, send it into the ramekin of garlic-foie gras fat gravy off to the side and devour. 110 W. Illinois, 312.644.0500
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Filed under great for date, I like to eats, new restaurants
On the table: Luxbar
4 glasses, 4 napkins, 6 forks, 4 knives, salt, pepper, Tabasco sauce, maple syrup, sugar packets, white tablecloth. Luxbar, 18 E. Bellevue, 312.642.3400
Filed under cheap, tasty brunch, on the table, quick lunch
Playboy mixologists
Not only is it Friday, but the too-cool-for-school mercury has finally decided to grace the 70-degree mark with its presence. I plan to get my cocktail on this weekend at some rather interesting hidden-gem bars I’ve recently heard about (will report back), but in the meantime, satiate your happy-hour cravings with this story I did for Playboy.com on the top ten mixologists in the U.S. It was quite hard to narrow it down to 10, especially when I could only pick one from each city. For Chicago there were many strong contenders but I went with Toby Maloney from the Violet Hour. I never did get to try the new spiked tea punch bowls he served up this winter, but I’ll be in this spring to sip the homemade Italian amari (herbal liqueurs) cocktails and drinks with more of his tasty housemade bitters like the Pimms Cup variation; St. Germain, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, peychauds bitters and grapefruit bitters.
Filed under boozeworthy
Chicago Bagel Authority
“So what the hells is that schlocky mess?” you might be thinking when you look at this photo. Well, all you need to know is that Cocoa Puffs and Golden Grahams cereals morphed together Rice Krispie treat-style to form this pretty awesome dessert I spotted on the counter of the Chicago Bagel Authority. If my confectionary calculations are correct, the hybrid of the memory-inducing sugar cereals incorporates the flavors of graham crackers, chocolate, and um, marshmallows…did someone say Rice Krispie s’mores? Anyway, I didn’t get one, but I sure was fascinated. I do love everything else in this Armitage Avenue steamed bagel sandwich lunch mainstay. With most sandwiches still under $6, it’s a steal, but sadly enough, the restaurant seems to be the only thing still bustling on the strangely ghost-town-esque Lincoln Park strip. Chicago Bagel Authority, 953 Armitage Ave., 773.248.9696
Filed under ..and more, quick lunch, random spottings
On the table: Tocco
2 place mats, 2 plates, 2 glasses, 2 napkin rolls, 1266 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.687.8895
Filed under great for date, new restaurants, on the table
Burger Baron
In an ongoing effort to try to pay more attention to details around me, I continue to wonder about places I pass on an almost daily basis. Like Burger Baron. It’s one of those breakfast, lunch, dinner, salad, gyro, burgers (duh), chicken, hot dogs, “beefs” places that seems too good to be true, yet I have never ventured inside. Easily mistaken for Burger Barn, the Baron is never empty, so someone’s eating there. If you actually have, give me the scoop. In the meantime, I do like how their Web site tells you to “have fun,” but the highly random music reminiscent of Enigma circa 1997? Um. Yeah, you’re going to want to turn down your speakers. Burger Baron, 1387 W. Grand Ave., 312.733.3285
Filed under ..and more, quick lunch, random spottings, thick
ELIZABITES 