I’d like to add my thanks to Mike G for organizing a very interesting expedition to a street many Chicagoans probably never set foot on. I had a great time even though I ate very little, trying to save room for the Jain dinner at 5pm (a wise decision because that shockingly good meal consisted of over 16 dishes; there will be a report later).
Mike G wrote:The stars were the steamed meats like cabeza (head), and the suadero, all on freshly made masa tortillas, not the best I've ever had, a little lard would go a long way in increasing their flavor, but any fresh hot masa item is a friend on your plate.
Arandas/Elvia’s (two names because of licensing issues) was a worthwhile stop not only because they serve some less common items like tacos al vapor and suadero but especially because some are quite good. I agree the tortillas were good, not great. I don’t think it was the lack of lard (masa para tortillas doesn’t contain any, unlike masa para tamales) but because they use masa harina instead of fresh. You can see the bags of Maseca in Gary’s photo above.
Mike G wrote:Rene G has some interesting observations about why there are so many seafood/mariscos places on the south side, hopefully he'll share them.
Nothing very profound, I’m afraid. The southwest side is awash in mariscos places, many quite recent. There are at least five on W 47th alone. It seems to me that Las Islas Marias at 5401 S Pulaski was one of the first of the new ones and it’s packed them in since opening day (for good reason). It wouldn’t be surprising that other newer places hope to play to the same audience or try to draw some customers away.
La Muelle, with
two giant shrimps on its roof seems like the most obvious imitator.
David Hammond wrote:The highlight of my day was actually John's G.A.R. (Great Army of the Republic?). I've been intrigued by the Mom-in-Law since ReneG wrote about it, and I do like the concept of a cup of chili with an embedded corn roll tamale. Having had it, I can say with assurance that it was not bad. It would have been better with better chili (and of course a better tamale), but it was pretty much okay. . . . Even odder on the food scale was the tamale on a bun with flourescent relish. This tasted exactly as one would expect, with an imbalanced carb-to-flavor ratio, no need to have it again.
Few would claim John’s is one of Chicago’s greatest hot dog stands but it’s generally a likeable spot, the sort of place every neighborhood should have (and probably once had). You really ought to try Johnny O’s for a better rendition of the Mother-in-Law (in a cup) and Fat Johnnie’s for a better version on a bun (get it with onions and peppers only). I think you’d appreciate both of these.
Cathy2 wrote:Thinking there was a misunderstanding between us, I told her I thought the MIL came in a bun. "Oh, you want tamale in a bun then. Do you want the 3rd MIL changed to tamale in a bun?" "Sure."
Until Cathy figured it out on Saturday I didn’t realize John’s served it both ways. I only knew about the version in a cup. By the way, no one I spoke with at John’s has been able to offer any explanation of the term so I guess
Johnny O’s story still stands.
David Hammond wrote:Absolutely, and the giardiniera on the substandard hot dog was a good combo -- on a better dog it would have been, you know, better, and it raised the issue of putting this most excellent condiment on wieners, which ReneG told me is how he learned to eat Chicago dogs years ago at Solly's (ReneG, correct me if I'm not remember this correctly, but I believe you said you worked there).
I worked at the Finkl steel mill and would sometimes walk a few blocks to Solly’s on Clybourn—a shack back then—for lunch. I wasn’t very familiar with giardiniera or Italian beef in those days and would often garnish my hot dog with giardiniera from the bowls on the counter because I didn’t know any better. It was a good combination but I’d forgotten about giardiniera on hot dogs until
Gary’s recent post. I definitely agree the giardiniera at John’s G.A.R. was very good.
stevez wrote:The best I have had is at the TA on 26th St.
The numbers seem to rank the quality as well as order of opening: #1 on 26th is best, then #2 on 47th, followed by #3 on Kedzie.
Mike G wrote:Rene G says the stand (now closed) was called "Cinderella" but since that word is in the same size and placement as other individual food items, I wonder....
Believe me, I’d be thrilled if it was the Back of the Yards version of the Mother in Law or something but I think this entry in the 2002 phone book shows my boring explanation is probably correct. Of course it doesn’t rule out the possibility that Cinderella’s served a cinderella.

Seth Zurer wrote:Cuerditos – pickled Chicharron in a jar from a cart – didn’t look too appetizing to me. Anybody tried this?
Just the thing for Pickle Boy! I’ve seen this exact item (though in smaller jars) at the supermercado before but could never muster the enthusiasm to buy it. Want to talk appetizing? In the occasional jar you’ll see a big piece of skin with the bristles still on.
Seth Zurer wrote:Piezano’s Pizza – to my palate, not noticeably worse than 90% of all pizza in Chicago (and the world!)
I’m afraid you’re right, and this was the biggest disappointment of the day for me. I expected it to be much worse. Last year I had a truly vile slice from this place. I think the difference was our slices came fresh from the oven (Steve and I had to wait) while the one I had was sitting in the desiccator box until the cheese congealed and the crust hardened on the bottom and got soggy under the sauce. The sauce was the same—like Chef Boyardee—as I remember it. There’s another Piezano’s on the corner of 31st and Pulaski, should anyone feel the need to try it.
Bob S wrote:But the turnovers from Baltic Bakery really were amazingly light with a nice crunch (if hardly any filling), and the taste of their smoked pork shoulder was tantalizingly close to things I haven't tasted since childhood. Their cheese bread's interesting, but they have to tweak something; the bottom of my loaf is solid, as though the leavening was just too weighed down to work.
I’m a big fan of Baltic Bakery but will admit they’re not totally consistent. Sometimes their regular rye breads are a bit compacted at the bottom. I still think Baltic is tough to beat for widely available rustic breads at a very fair price. I had a nice chat with the owner while he was unloading crates of eggs. I learned they don’t bake Saturday morning (he practically apologized for not having fresh bread) so if you’re making a special trip you might want to do it any day but Saturday.