Never mind the underside of this counter at Rockstar Dogs and pay attention to the hooks. Man, do I love it when a bar or restaurant installs hooks in front of the bar stools. Such a simple, little, inexpensive detail that stays hidden and completely changes your wining/dining experience. They are especially great in winter when you don’t particularly want to sit on your massive coat, or when you just want to keep an eye on your purse or bag. I noticed hooks at the bar at new Bucktown hotspot The Bristol last week (more on that amazing dinner to come in a later post), and I know there are a smattering of other local spots that are down with the bar hooks as well. You’d think they’d be a Chicago bar standard, like a huddle of smokers shivering out front or original tin ceilings, but alas, they are not. At least not yet. Here’s to more bars and restaurants hooking it up.
On the hook
Filed under random spottings
On the table: The Fireplace Inn
Two water glasses, two napkins, two knives, two forks, small lamp, salt, pepper, bottle of Fireplace Inn signature barbecue sauce. 1448 N. Wells St., 312.943.7427
Filed under on the table
Brunch at Mexique
When it comes to weekend brunch destinations, I tend to hover around my old neighborhood standbys where I know the food is worth the wait (Milk and Honey Cafe, Lula, Flo) but after this weekend I added French-inspired Mexican restaurant Mexique to the mix. I’ve driven by this place a hundred times and finally had a chance to stop in over the weekend for brunch. The whole fusion concept can be tricky and suspect, but chef-owner Carlos Gaytan keeps things balanced and delicate with fresh, seasonal items like croque monsieur, sharing menu space with corn masa boats with homemade chorizo and chilaquiles. We dug right into the flaky puff pastry of tartara de salmon haumado starter with smoked salmon, gruyère, lemon confit, large capers, chipotle aïoli and red onions, as well as the delicious Grand Marnier French Toast with caramelized apples, pumpkin sage atole and toasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top.
Puff pastry with smoked salmon, gruyère, capers and lemon confit
Brioche French toast in Grand Marnier with apples and pumpkin sage atole
Fresh corn masa boats with spinach, oven-roasted tomatoes, poached eggs and corn salsa
Just like you can judge a restaurant by its bread basket, I think you can also judge a brunch spot by its breakfast potatoes (please don’t call them smashers), and Mexique offers lightly fried diced potato that aren’t doused in herbs, salt, oil or are too well-done. Everything has a light and delicate touch and most dishes come with a healthy stack of watercress, haricot verts or something intriguing called “guacasalsa” on the side of the plate. There’s also a daily quiche, goat cheese and asparagus frittatas and barbacoa for breakfast! The dinner menu looks equally as delish with coffee-braised lamb shoulder and a roasted pork tenderloin with potato poblano pepper galette and ratatouille. The space is minimalist and calming with exposed brick and an autumn color palette, and I caught a very pretty “On the Table” which I’ll post later this week. For a Saturday at noon, the place was a little empty with nary a guest ousted to the corner to wait for their table with a mug of coffee, but it’s relatively new, a little hidden and I think the fusion thing can throw people. I know I’ll be back to see what Franco-Mex items Gaytan has up his sleeve for lunch and dinner.
1529 W. Chicago Ave., 312.850.0288
Filed under new restaurants
Hot dog hunt
You voted (all 9 of you) and the results are in. Elizabites will go to Hot Doug’s for the next hot dog hunt. But we knew this already, didn’t we? The dudes at Doug’s decided to take a two week hiatus (cause they can) and reopen this Wednesday. I’m going to try to hit it up this week, so watch for pics and a full report as I finally get to check out my first encased meat emporium. ‘Bout douggone time.
Filed under hot dog hunt
Peep quiz
Unordinary peeple
Much like Xerox has cornered the market on “photocopy” and Kleenex has taken over for tissue, marshmallow Peeps are synonymous with pink or yellow sugar-coated Easter bunnies or chicks. They just are. So when I see bright orange Jack-O-Lantern Peeps in the store (still strangely in the shape of bunnies..hmmm) it throws me off a little. I checked out the surprisingly awesome Peeps Web site only to discover that pretty much every holiday has an icon that can be sugar-coated and marshmallow-a-fied (hearts for Valentine’s Day, snowmen for Christmas, yadda to the yadda). But in my mind, Peeps only seem truly fitting for Easter. Anyone disagree? Let me know in the comments along with the answers to the following Peep quiz.
1. Jack-O-Lantern peeps are:
A) Strange and forced
B) Cute and festive
C) Delicious
2. Peeps in general taste best:
A) Fresh from the package
B) Stale, like a week or two out of the package
C) Never
3. What year were the first Peeps created?
A) 1953
B) 1974
C) 1947
4. How long does it take to make one Peep?
A) 23 minutes
B) 6 minutes
C) 2 minutes
5. Just Born Confections, the makers of Peeps, also makes what candy?
A) Mike and Ike
B) Starburst
C) Junior Mints
Filed under random spottings
On the table: Rock Star Dogs
Three bottles mustard, one bottle ketchup, hot sauce, salt, pepper, napkin dispenser. 801 N. Ashland Ave., 312.421.2364
Filed under hot dog hunt, on the table
Mystery sign revealed
OK, I swear I was numbering these at one point..anyway, I’m still waiting on a answer from a few past mystery posts, but the mystery coffee-cookie-cupcake sign was revealed this week by Vella Cafe co-owner Melissa Yen. The sign points to Sweet Cakes Bakery at 935 N. Damen Avenue. I fell in love with Sweet Cakes when they put a hard-boiled egg smack-dab in the middle of a corn muffin, but I’ve also always been a fan of Vella Cafe, which is quite literally tucked under the blue line Western stop at 1912 N. Western. They do great paninis, brunch items like amaranth pancakes with cinnamon whipped cream and starting mid-November, a menu of pizzas, including an especially intriguing one called the Bacon-egger with fresh tomato sauce, caramelized onions, bacon, fresh mozzarella, Romano and a cracked egg. Look for Yen’s post on where she likes to eat when she’s not cooking at Vella.
Filed under mystery spot
Mystery sign
What Chicago restaurant offers up this simple, one-word suggestion?
Filed under mystery spot
ELIZABITES 