6 glasses, 6 napkin rolls, plant, salt, pepper. 1523 N. Kingsbury (Across from the mega-Whole Foods)
On the table: Kingsbury Street Cafe
Filed under cheap, tasty brunch, new restaurants, on the table
Chocolate parfait at Balsan
A Feast on Fashion luncheon at Balsan in the Elysian had me both drooling over the fall clothes that’ll be available at the soon-to-open Gold Coast location of Perchance boutique, as well as the chocolate parfait I ordered for dessert. Served in a mason jar, silky smooth cool chocolate custard was mixed with thick chunks of chocolate brownies and crispy chocolate candy pieces. Slowly melting over it all was a quenelle of super-fresh housemade mint chip ice cream and a green mint sprig. Of you don’t need an exclusive fashion lunch to dig into this dessert perfection, head to Balsan to dig in and get your drool on…maybe after fall clothes shopping… 11 E. Walton.
Chocolate parfait
Filed under Best bite, I like to eats, thick
Guest blog post: JenyLee CupCakery
Last Friday night I attended my friend’s birthday party where his fiance surprised him on stage of the show she was performing in with a song, and a cupcake topped with a plastic Superman ring and a lit candle. Yes, we are talking about a 37-year-old man, but it wasn’t the superhero theme of it all I was hating on, it was the store-bought cupcake. Dry, crumbly, bland, almost cornmeal-y, with sticky strangely red frosting.. we all unfortunately got one. Luckily our own superhero accessory on top saved the day (I rocked my Spidey ring for the rest of the night). But it reminded me of two things: one, that that no matter their age, guys will always be obsessed with Superheroes, and two… that I hadn’t had a good cupcake in far too long..so when Amber Gibson decided to blog about Naperville-based JenyLee CupCakery for her second guest post..I was thrilled…and even more so that she did her post interview-style… and ps..how cool is the word “cupcakery”?
Hazelnut mocha
“I’m obsessed with cupcakes and I’m kind of a floozy when it comes to Chicago’s cupcake bakeries. I’ll try any and all of them, and if there’s a new flavor, I’ve got to have it too. I never thought much of the suburban cupcake scene though. That is, until I tried my first JenyLee Cupcakery delivery-only cupcake. I was impressed by how moist all of her cakes are and her creative flavors.
Of the cupcakes I sampled, Peanut Butter Candy and Key Lime were my favorite. Key Lime was the perfect ode to the end of summer, while the peanut butter, which I was afraid might be too rich, was just right. Reese’s pieces inside and on top were the perfect touch to this decadent cupcake.
Cherry Chocolate Chip was like Cherry Garcia (my favorite ice cream flavor) in a cupcake and inspired me to do some baking of my own with fresh cherries. Next time, I need to try her Tiramisu, Pistachio and Salted Caramel flavors. Salted Caramel is JenyLee’s flavor of the month, with a portion of the proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Jeny Lee of JenyLee CupCakery
Past life: Project manager at Tellab’s for 13 years
Café du Monde moment: Jeny was inspired by the success of New Orlean’s famous Cafe du Monde, which sells just beignets and coffee. “Why do I have to do cakes? Dinosaurs and Dora? I don’t have to do any of that stuff. I can do what I do best.” Mardi Gras colors also inspired her website.
Milestone: June 2011 marked her one-year anniversary, and JenyLee Cupcakery is still a one-woman show. “ It’s still hard, I’m still at a make or break point. Cash flow is becoming an issue, but I’m going to stick it out as long as I can.”
Brick-and-mortar: While her own bakery is still in the works, you can soon taste JenyLee’s cupcakes at the SciTech Hands On Museum. The perfect solution for those who want to buy just one or two cupcakes as opposed to ordering by the half-dozen.
Favorite Chicago cupcakery: Molly’s Cupcakes. “Molly’s has not failed me ever.”
New flavor: French Toast. “There’ll be maple syrup and bacon. I want to get it out there before anyone steals my idea!”
Peanut butter candy
Filed under guest blogger, red velvet cupcake report, thick
Culture fro-yo
Out of all the street trucks roaming around the city, I think I have randomly seen the new Culture truck the most lately. And it’s a good thing because I miss Berry Chill something terrible and I am so glad the tangy, citrus-y fro-yo is back with the same yogurt chip, crushed Oreo, carob chip-topped loveliness. So it’s not as good as holding court on State Street, but at least this truck makes its rounds. Speaking of food trucks, I feel like I spot a new one every day (I saw the tamale guy’s today!), but does anyone remember Fan Si Pan spring rolls that used to occupy the Hoosier Mama space on Chicago Avenue? I would follow the shit out of it if they ever returned on four wheels to doll out fresh spring rolls, honeydew-melon juices and Vietnamese bahn mi..
Fro-yo on wheels
Filed under ..and more
On the table: Rustic House
4 glasses, 4 forks, 4 knives, 4 napkins, 4 menus, salt pepper, specials. Rustic House, 1967 N. Halsted.
Filed under great for date, new restaurants
Speaking of Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse…
A tour and tasting there this week had me salivating over shrimp and grits, crispy chicken and waffles, juicy bone-in rib-eye and a shrimp “garbage” salad with 23 ingredients, but my favorite bite by far was the crispy, golden, buttery and extra garlic-y garlic bread doused with a melty Wisconsin blue cheese fondue. Besides the fact that MJ’s is a pretty stunning restaurant with a contemporary bridge that brings you up and close and personal with the InterContinental’s historic lobby ceiling, and separates the dining rooms, it may be the best reason to make a reservation. Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, 505 N. Michigan Ave., 312.655.2300
Garlic bread with Ader Käse Reserve Blue Cheese fondue
Filed under Best bite, new restaurants, thick
On the table: Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse
3 wine glasses, 3 water glasses, 3 napkins, 3 plates, 3 knives, 6 forks, salt, pepper, votive. Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, 505 N. Michigan Avenue (began dinner service tonight, Aug 23, of course).
Filed under great for date, new restaurants, on the table
Himal Chuli, Madison, WI
State Street awning
Chicken sikar
Being a rare visit, I had to stick with what I knew, but I’d happily return to try lamb sikar, a bison meat stew called hyala and rice pudding with flax seeds, orange rinds, coconut and almonds. But if there is anything you road trip it up to try, it’s the dal. The mixed bean soup tastes like a lemon-kissed lentil and white bean, and is almost too pretty to eat. The texture is silky and light rather than hot and brothy or thick and stew-y.
Dal
Filed under eliz-a-trip
ELIZABITES 