ELIZABITES

December 31, 2011 · 5:45 pm

2011 in Review

The folks at WordPress generated this nifty year in review of elizabites. Thanks to all for reading, commenting and checking out my recommendations. Have a safe, happy and healthy new year. Here’s to a fantastic 2012!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 19,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 7 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

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December 30, 2011 · 11:39 am

My Best Eats of 2011

Smoked steak tartare at Henri

So another tasty year is coming to a close, and while my newfound hobby of cooking at home has certainly caused my dining out habits to suffer this year, I definitely had my fill of best bites in Chicago and beyond. It’s so hard to recall them all..but here are the top ten in no particular order…here’s to more delicious bites in 2012!

1. Reese Pieces macaroons by Sweet spot macaroons.
2. Bittersweet chocolate cake with shiitake gelato at Girl and & Goat
3. Baja shrimp bruschetta at GT Fish & Oyster Bar
4. Duck breast at Next, Paris 1906
5. Hors d’œuvres tray at Next, Paris 1906
6. Turkey leg at The Purple Pig
7. Green Day Live juice at Peeled
8. Smoked steak tartare with quail egg at Henri
9. Lamb shank, Central, Las Vegas
10. Salmon rillets, everything bagel at Ardeo & Bardeo, Washington, D.C.

Turkey leg excellence at the Purple Pig

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Filed under Best bite, I like to eats, thick

December 16, 2011 · 12:05 am

Henri

How do I just make a passing reference to dining at Henri and not post some photos? The place had me at smoked steak tartare with a quail egg, and kept me pretty captivated all the way through to the dark chocolate tart. Did I mention we also had cobia gravlax on grain bread all for the three-course prix fixe lunch price of $25? The room itself is elegant without being stuffy, and each dish is dotted with lovely details, from flower petals to dried fruit slices and generous pepper cracklins’. Lunch, dinner, date or just to perch with wine and some Michigan Avenue people watching, I heart Henri, 18 S. Michigan Ave.

Petite Niçoise moderne

mussels

Cobia on rye

Smoked steak tartare with quail egg

Crème brûlée

Dark chocolate tart

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Filed under Best bite, great for date, Take the 'rents

December 14, 2011 · 12:05 am

Chicago Hilton gingerbread house

A friend staying at the Hilton Chicago joined me for lunch at Henri a couple weeks ago, but before we set out for mussels and smoked steak tartare, I got a glimpse of Chicago’s largest gingerbread house under construction. A team of chefs balanced on metal ladders to affix tasty gingerbread bricks to the chimney of the nine-foot-tall house, and slap sweet panels on the slanted roof. I think a white picket fence and poinsettias now surround the sweet crib, so head up to the 2nd floor lobby to catch a glimpse and the awesome aroma. Chicago Hilton, 720 S. Michigan Ave.

Gingerbread house in action

Sweet crib

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December 7, 2011 · 12:05 am

On the table: Henri

4 napkins, 4 bread plates, 4 butter knives, 4 forks, 4 wine glasses, vase, flower, 4 water glasses. Henri, 18 S. Michigan Ave.,

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December 5, 2011 · 12:05 am

Magnolia Bakery

Sure, everyone knows that NYC-based Magnolia Bakery (which landed in the Windy City’s Block 37 early fall) is all about the line-around-the-block-wait-worthy cupcakes, but what about mini red velvet cheesecake, old-fashioned ice box cake and the famous banana pudding? Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of Devil’s food cake cupcakes with meringue icing, but within the pastel-hued old-school bakery confines of this bakery are so many other sweet treats…and espresso to boot, it’s worth a stop before your next holiday shindig. Magnolia Bakery, 108 N. State Street.

Devil's food cupcakes with meringue icing

Hannukah cupcakes...who knew?

Chocolate cookies

Banana pudding and red velvet cheesecake

Ice box cake

Mini cheesecakes

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Filed under great for date, I like to eats, red velvet cupcake report, Take the 'rents

December 2, 2011 · 12:05 am

On the table: Bite Cafe

I liked the old Bite, I loove the new one. 4 napkins, 4 forks, 4 spoons, 4 knives, salt, pepper, hot sauce, sugar packets. Bite Cafe, 1039 N. Western Ave.

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Filed under cheap, tasty brunch, great for date, new restaurants, on the table

November 22, 2011 · 12:05 am

Chocolate bark at Whole Foods

Are these new? Eh maybe not. Either way, I spotted an entire luscious bakery case at Whole Foods devoted to a mess of assorted chocolate bark studded with chopped nuts, dried fruit etc. Love the texture, crunch and flavor, and versatility of sweet bark, which I predict is the new cupcake/doughnut/pie…you heard it here first.