Bin 36, A Mano and Bin Wine Café wine director talks about the coolest vino for the dog days of summer.
Getting cheesy at Green City Market
Brunkow Cheese of Wisconsin
My healthy side says to take advantage of the abundance of fresh sustainable fruits and veggies at Green City Market, but the Wisconsin gal in me tends to make a beeline to the Brunkow Cheeses booth. Crafted in Southeast Wisconsin, Brunkow uses milk from 25 local dairies to make a few dozen cheeses, including a raw milk Cheddar, creamy cold-pack flavored cheese spreads and the heavenly Brun-uusto baked cheese seen here smoking on the grill. It’s made from cheese curds (can you go wrong?) pressed flat and then slow-baked and browned, so it doesn’t melt when warmed up. Smokey, creamy and rich, it’s the best grilled cheese you’ve ever had, without the bread and tomato soup. The Green City Market is located in Lincoln Park, between Clark and Stockton, and is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7AM to 1:30PM. Stop by the Brunkow booth for a sample, but don’t hover, buy a brick of your own for $10.
Filed under I like to eats
Let them drink cake
If there’s one thing that makes me cringe more than olives, tomato juice or green peppers, it’s taking shots. Even in the prime of my college experience, I became a master shot passer (“here, I got you another!”) or just stuck to the ones that tasted like melted Fudgesicles. So when a “chocolate cake shot” was put down in front of me this week, I was skeptical. Not only because of a name that sounded too good to be true, but because its light brown color was just too tequila-esque. The shot instigator couldn’t tell me what was in the thing, but assured me I would be happily surprised. So, I took my requisite first sip and immediately wanted a glass of milk. Not because it was harsh, but because it indeed tasted like the heavenly food of the Devil, right down to the texture. Just like this and this, it’s a brilliant celebration of the world’s best dessert.
- Chocolate cake shot
Chocolate Cake Shot
1 part vanilla vodka
1 part Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur)
A sugar-coated lemon wedge (Mine didn’t have this, but apparently it ups the cake-factor even more)
Filed under boozeworthy
Chicago Ave eats
While I still lament the loss of tiny Vietnamese spring roll spot, Fan Si Pan, I welcome the new guard of fatty-take-out goodness that’s recently graced West Town/East Village’s Chicago Avenue. OK, so maybe light-as-air chicken spring rolls have made way for foot-long Tommy Lee hot dogs from Rock Star Dogs and massive (I mean like 1/4 of a pizza) slices from the weeks-old and truly delicious Paula & Monica’s Pizzeria (1518 W. Chicago Ave., 312.929.3615), but at least these new (albeit highly caloric) establishments remain small and locally owned (no DQ, yet!). Other new Chicago Avenue spots include Mexique, a Mexican-French concept opened by a husband and wife duo and The Old Oak Tap (2109 W. Chicago Ave., 773.772.0406), which will boast a 1,500-square-foot beer garden when it opens in August. It’s from the guys behind bars The Continental (2801 W. Chicago Ave., 773.292.1200) and Darkroom, both located, well, just down the street.
Filed under I like to eats
Real Tenochtitlán
The soon-to-be-packed dining room at Real Tenochtitlán
The door was open and the tables were set at Real Tenochtitlán on Friday night, but it looks like it’s going to be a few more weeks before Executive Chef Geno Bahena officially opens the doors of his latest Mexican restaurant. The chef was meeting with his staff and let us snap a photo before we left, but we’ll just have to be patient before we can try the daily made-from-scratch moles (like Wednesday’s chicken, duck, quail, chile ancho, sweet potato and chorizo) and entrées like Maple Leaf Farm duck breast with chile guajillo and fresh cilantro sauce. Check out the Web site for a strangely scary intro and the full lunch, brunch and dinner menus. 2451 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.227.1050
Filed under new restaurants
Fierce!
I know, I know, it’s a dining blog, but can I briefly express my excitement for Project Runway winner Christian Siriano’s collection on bluefly.com? I am hot-tranny-mess excited and want the whole thing. Thank you. OK, now, focus.
Filed under ..and more
To the far corners…
Cozzi up to this
So there’s a sign on the door that says “No Bare Feet” and little to be desired in the way of customer service, but a friend swore by the steamed hot dogs (and buns) at Cozzi Corner Hot Dogs and Beef in Downer’s Grove, so I had to check ’em out. The Vienna beef dogs were pretty good, but what with steamed buns? I didn’t get it. I also didn’t get some other items on the menu like “pizza puff,” “gravy bread” and “tamale on a bun,” but did it really matter? They had Green River on tap. Serious. 75th and Lemont, Downer’s Grove, IL 630-241-4799.
Fountain of youth
Filed under hot dog hunt
Garden in the park
Garden fresh at North Pond
North Pond chef-owner Bruce Sherman heads to Green City Market for a lot of his summer produce, but some of it grows right outside the restaurant. Anise hyssop, fennel, chives, basil, lovage and other fresh herbs are all hiding amid the flowers, and often find their way onto the menu. 2610 N. Cannon Dr., 773-477-5845
Filed under random spottings
ELIZABITES 