It was a few months ago that fellow foodie blogger Jill Blacketer (aka “Cupcake” on ultra-yum Toronto-based food blog broccoli and prosecco) guessed the mystery sign for Five Star Bar. For her guest blog, she had brunch on her mind from day one, hoping to write about the rumored reemergence of the long-lost Dodo (sniff) or her go-to spot Jane’s. She settled on Glenn’s Diner, a northside gem with all you can eat shrimp, killer potato pancakes and cereal served in chilled bowls. Sounds like brunch to me. Her post and pics to follow.
“One of the things I love about Chicago is its abundance of great brunch spots. After living here for almost 10 years, I still discover new places to try.
An organization I belong to gets together one Saturday a month for a brunch meeting. In February, we convened at Glenn’s Diner. From what I had read, this spot stays busy all day and is a neighborhood favorite. And why wouldn’t it be with seafood specials like Thursday’s all you can eat “U-Peel-Em Shrimp”?
Back to brunch…It was a busy Saturday brunch crowd as advertised, and we were lucky to get a table for 6. Their breakfast menu is available ALL DAY (Yippee!) and has a diverse menu of egg dishes, pancakes, French toast, corned beef hash and daily menu specials that you can find on the two chalkboard menus. My order? Scrambled eggs with fresh chives and fresh Parmesan cheese with a side of bacon. All their egg dishes come with your choice of toast and an “in-house potato pancake.” They are fantastic, rich and creamy, and I suggest ordering a round for the table. What you’ll want to keep for yourself is a selection from the famous wall of cereal. Choose from 25 varieties of cereal served up in a chilled bowl with fresh fruit and milk on the side. Can you say worth the trek?” Glenn’s Diner, 1820 W. Montrose, 773.506.1720
Guest blog spot: Glenn’s Diner
Filed under guest blogger
On the table: The Gage
4 wine glasses, 4 napkins, salt, pepper, 4 bread plates, 4 butter knives, 4 forks, 4 knives, 1 votive. 24 S. Michigan Ave., 312.372.4243
Filed under on the table
Mystery sink
This is one of my favorite bathroom sinks in the city. Anyone know what restaurant it can be found in?
Filed under mystery spot
A question of calories…
One of WordPress’s nifty functions is revealing what search engine terms led readers to the blog, and they range from the obvious (cupcakes at Sweet Mandy B’s) to the awesome (Fruity Pebbles cupcakes). For some reason, a search for “salted caramel hot chocolate at Starbucks” was coming up like once a day for months, and other popular ones have been “ice box cake,” “chef Frank Brunacci” (of 16 restaurant in Trump Tower) and “Berry Chill.” But I found it especially interesting when a search for “calories in Twin Anchors ribs,” led a weight-watching soul to my bloat-promoting blog. I write about the Twin a lot, but the reader must’ve been pretty disappointed to find nary a mention of the nutritional facts of their rib dinner. All they need to know is that it equals fatty fatness. And when you’re talking Twin’s zesty sauce, really, who’s counting?
Filed under random spottings, thick
New brews
Maybe it’s the balmy weather or the frosty Hitachino ale I got to sip last night, but I’ve been meaning to write about a couple of killer beers I’ve recently discovered. I pretty much can’t go to Avec without ordering the wood-roasted chicken thigh, and the Blanche de Bruxelles is the perfect beer accompaniment. A suggestion from our server, I loved its slight orange flavor and custom glass, and even though it’s on the heavier side and slightly cloudy because of the wheat percentage, it didn’t fill us up before dinner. I discovered another star-crossed beer pairing more recently at The Publican when Goose Island Pere Jacques met the house pork rinds. Any other food-friendly new (or new to you) brews?
Filed under boozeworthy
Geja’s chocolate fondue
Tropical breezes are supposedly on the way this week, but we still got our flame on with Geja’s chocolate fondue. The beauty of an expanded restaurant week means getting to visit all of the old favorites around town on the cheap. I actually hadn’t been to the classic fondue spot in years, and forgot about the mini-spectacle that is the flaming chocolate fondue dessert. Kicked off by flaming marshmallows presented by the server, a platter of fruit, chocolate pound cake and not nearly enough marshmallows are slated to be dipped in melted chocolate flamed with orange liqueur. Now if we could only leave reeking more like that and less like hot bubbly oil. Geja’s Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., 773.281.9101
Filed under ..and more, great for date, I like to eats, random spottings
On the table: Paramount Room
4 plates, 4 napkin rolls, candle. 415 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312.829.6300
Filed under on the table
Bread pudding at Tavern at the Park
Apple and blueberry bread pudding
It’s bread puddin’ weather. No doubt about it. It’s hard to resist a decadent bread puddin’ on the dessert menu when you’re dealing with like the 13th straight week of bitter cold. I happily warmed me bones recently with Tavern at the Park’s awesome warm blueberry apple bread pudding with fresh blueberries and lemon sauce, easily tackled with a knife and fork. And with three more weeks until the first “official” day of spring, better throw in their warm fudge brownie as well. Think freshly baked fudge brownies pulled right off the sheet pan and served up sundae-style—in other words, a great way to get you through the 10 weeks we really have until it’s warm. 108 E. Randolph St., 312.552.0070
Chocolate brownie
Filed under I like to eats, quick lunch
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