Still waiting on the coat hooks, but the street sweeper mystery art location was guessed correctly by Mark Rumble. A fellow writer, Mark often tells me the answers to my mystery spots without guessing in the comments (yeah, one of those), so I’m glad he took a shot at correctly guessing a restaurant he’s never been to, Room 21 at 2110 S. Wabash. Look for Mark’s post soon on one of his favorite neighborhood spots.
Le Bar at Le Bouchon
A (mystery) sign behind the bar at Le Bouchon, photo by Tonia Kim
If you’ve never been to Bucktown’s French bistro, Le Bouchon, you’re missing out on one of Chicago’s best neighborhood restaurants. Truly. I know, I know, to some extent, every casual restaurant can be considered a neighborhood restaurant of sorts. They’re in a neighborhood, indeed, but are they the kind of place you crave on a weekly basis? A place you know is going to be so solid, so not pretentious, so homey and warm and softly lit that you literally go through withdrawal if you haven’t been there in a while? You can be there at 10:30PM on a Thursday and it’s still crowded with bustling waiters and late-night diners, yet you feel right at home and aren’t ready to call it a night? You just want to stay there in the casual bistro setting and chat with your friends over another bottle of wine? Yeah, OK, maybe you found a place like that in your ‘hood, but the best one I’ve found is Le Bouchon. But I’m not the only one as the restaurant is usually packed, especially on the weekends, and if you walk in on a Saturday night around 7PM, prepare to wait for a table or be booted to the bar, (which we discovered last Saturday night isn’t a bad thing). Our bartender (like the entire staff) was friendly and attentive, our barmates (regulars, no less) were chatty and entertaining. One declared to us that he knew we were just starting our night when he was heading home after dinner (ironically, everyone in my party was heading on home too). And the food, still delicious sans table-space, my regular order is white wine, salad Lyonnaise, steak frites with garlic butter sauce and profiteroles for dessert (like a cream puff stuffed with vanilla ice cream and topped with warm, decadent chocolate sauce). My dining companions got mussels, French onion soup and crème brûlée. Truth is, you should all know about this place, and most of you probably do. Guys, take your dates here, everyone else, take your parents/friends/business associates here, or just sit at the bar by yourself and enjoy. 1958 N. Damen Ave., 773.862.6600
Le bar at Le Bouchon (photo by Tonia Kim)
Filed under I like to eats
The Return of Dodo?
I was overjoyed to notice this sign on Fulton and Damen a few weeks ago. I loved brunch/lunch spot Dodo when it was at 935 N. Damen for what seemed like about a year or so before it shut down last fall. That space, which was also home to Grasshopper coffee shop, was tricky and they always seemed to have A/C problems, but the food was solid and cooked in a tiny home-style kitchen right in front of you. I hear January for a reopening, and I’m happy it’s still in the ‘hood.
Filed under new restaurants
Friendship Chinese Restaurant
I knew the Chinese food from Friendship restaurant was going to be good when they handed me my take-out order in a cardboard cake box rather than a grease-spotted lunch bag. I was even more surprised when I found the fluffy white rice packed in a round, microwavable container, my orange chicken in a separate plastic box and the lightly fried, almost flaky egg rolls in a hot dog container rather than half falling out of a greasy wax paper bag. I’ve heard that Friendship was a great spot for years, and was reminded once again when chef Shawn McClain of Spring restaurant mentioned it as one of his favorite local restaurants in the Q & A posted last week. It’s always been a struggle for me to find good Chinese food ever since the Milwaukee-based China Palace closed last year, much to the dismay of my siblings and I (15 years of Sunday night dinners!). In Chicago, I had to either schlep out to Chinatown or reluctantly settle on River North’s Yu Choy (I’ve been ordering from this place for years like a bad date that I just kept saying yes to for no good reason). But, the Chinese food mystery has been solved now that I’ve found Friendship. Of course, I drove by about 5 times on Friday before I finally spotted it, and had to battle a doorway-full of waiting customers to pick up my take-out, but it was all worth it for lightly fried and fresh egg rolls with pork, shrimp and vegetables with sweet and sour sauce, and the spicy, sweet and tangy honey orange all-white meat chicken tossed in Grand Marnier and Szechwan red chili with orange slices. Although more contemporary than a classic Chinese restaurant, the rest of the menu was right up my alley with tasty-sounding items like curried basil chicken, honey walnut shrimp and spicy merlot beef. And with their delivery zone ending two measly blocks from my house, I’ll definitely be back for more take-out or to experience the restaurant (which was the only thing going off on a sleepy strip of N. Milwaukee Ave.). Don’t get me wrong, I still loves me a Chinatown feast (at Lao or Joy Yee), but if I’m looking for something closer, I’ll opt for a newfound Friendship. 2830 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.227.0970 (be ready for a busy signal during dinner)
Filed under I like to eats
The Straight-Away Café at The Cell
I meant to post this weeks ago, but keep getting sidetracked by mystery posts and guest bloggers. I hadn’t been to a White Sox game in 10 years when I was invited to make the trek down to U.S. Cellular Field mid-September for a game that ultimately ended up being rained out. But, I did get a kelly green “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” Sox hat, and chance to try a killer brat from the Straight-Away Café on the first level of the Field (the best in the park, I was informed by my Sox fanatic friend, John MC). The rain poured down long after the game was called off, but we stuck around in it to sneak down to the Straight Away and experience the divine, buttery Hillshire Farms brat resting inside a steamed bun (I get it now!) and covered with a mound of juicy grilled onions. Speaking of onions, I also spotted an onsite onion dispenser, which didn’t photograph as well as I would’ve liked, but was cool nonetheless. With the Sox making the play-offs, I felt this post became timely again, but Northside readers take note: I really don’t favor either Chicago baseball team. In fact, I’m not into baseball at all, but I’m definitely into brats. Anyone know of the best brat at Wrigley? I was only there once this summer, and it was pre-Elizabites.
They may be hidden by juicy grilled onions, but they're in there
An onion topping dispenser with an old-school crank..genius!
Filed under hot dog hunt
Mystery art
What restaurant has an art installation made from street sweeper bristles?
Filed under mystery spot
On the table: Nomi
Two glasses, two plates, two forks, four knives, two knapkins, Raynaud salt and pepper holder with three salts (Murray River, Jurassic and Welsh) and three peppers (Szechuan, Muntok White and Tellicherry Special Extra Bold). Park Hyatt, 7th Floor, 800 N. Michigan Ave., 312.329.4030
Filed under on the table
Salted caramel hot chocolate at Starbucks
As I’ve expressed in past posts, I’m digging on some of the recent additions at Starbucks (don’t hate), and I was recently informed of their new salted caramel hot chocolate. Anyone try it yet? I picture something overly sweet and headache-inducing, but maybe the salt cancels all that out. I’ll give it a try and report back. And speaking of hot chocolate weather, I figured I throw out some of my other favorite hot beverages around town. And by hot I mean caffeinated.
DRINK: Sencha green tea
WHERE: Work of Art Cakes, 1332 N. Halsted St.
WHY: It’s the real deal and pretty potent. Ask them to throw in a slice of lime to cut the chlorophyll factor.
DRINK: Taro or almond milk tea with tapioca
WHERE: Saint’s Alp Teahouse, 2131 S. Archer Ave.
WHY: It’s heavy, bordering on bloat-inducing, but still makes a great sweet ending to a big meal, plus you get your own individual pot and a little spoon to scoop up the tapioca (see pic).
DRINK: Double soy medium latte
WHERE: Sip Coffeehouse, 1223 W. Grand Ave.
WHY: Sometimes the top of the foam comes with a cool espresso leaf design.
DRINK: Regular coffee
WHERE: Atomix, 1957 W. Chicago Ave.
WHY: It’s the cure to writer’s block. Be prepared to be wired. For a long time.
Tea from Saint's Alp
Filed under ..and more
ELIZABITES 