jeff_deff wrote:OK, I have a frequently recurring emergency. My wife is pregnant and chocolate peanut butter shakes are the food my baby craves. Anything on the west side, cicero, berwyn, oak park area? I'm not talking holy grail, just something better than your run-of-the-mill. Any recommendations? Oh yeah, late hours a plus!

This is the MacGyver approach, but how about re-blending a Portillos shake with some Skippy, or whipping some Paciugo (Forest Park) peanut butter and chocolate gelati with milk? For that matter, making your own scratch shakes? To impress me, a shake from out has to either have really unusual ingredients or really exceptional execution. I have my favorites, but haven't run into CPB as an exemplar on the West Side.

Brown Sack is a rarity worth exploring, but isn't open late or right on top of you. Best bet for late and fresh might be Oberweis on Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park. Congrats and good luck with the new development!

If you don't mind driving as far as Montrose and Elston, Suzie's is open 24/7 and includes chocolate/peanut butter on their extensive menu of shake flavors.

Suzie's Drive In
4126 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 283-6544

Over the weekend I had a pretty good chocolate malt (improbably, maybe) from an ice cream truck at Ribfest called The Malt Shoppe. They knew the secret of a good chocolate malt: not too much chocolate. I want to be able to taste the milk, the vanilla ice cream and the malt along with the chocolate in sweet-but-not-too-sweet balance, and with theirs, I did. I wasn't expecting much of anything, but was in the mood for a chocolate malt and took a chance. I was pleasantly surprised.

jeff_deff wrote:OK, I have a frequently recurring emergency. My wife is pregnant and chocolate peanut butter shakes are the food my baby craves. Anything on the west side, cicero, berwyn, oak park area? I'm not talking holy grail, just something better than your run-of-the-mill. Any recommendations? Oh yeah, late hours a plus!

Is there a Potbelly's anywhere near you? The chain keeps growing, so I have to assume one can't be too far.

They actually have a very respectable chocolate peanut butter milkshake, and, in my opinion, and even better chocolate peanut butter BANANA milkshake.

DClose wrote:

jeff_deff wrote:OK, I have a frequently recurring emergency. My wife is pregnant and chocolate peanut butter shakes are the food my baby craves. Anything on the west side, cicero, berwyn, oak park area? I'm not talking holy grail, just something better than your run-of-the-mill. Any recommendations? Oh yeah, late hours a plus!

Is there a Potbelly's anywhere near you? The chain keeps growing, so I have to assume one can't be too far.

They actually have a very respectable chocolate peanut butter milkshake, and, in my opinion, and even better chocolate peanut butter BANANA milkshake.

There's one on North Ave just east of 294.

gleam wrote:I can't imagine ever giving them another chance, and I have low standards.

How did this miss being the banner quote?

Wow! The MacGyver approach. Good tip. Of course, now I am thinking of the chocolate peanut butter bacon shake. Let's hope it doesn't end up being the MacGruber approach! I think making them from scratch is perhaps the best option where we are. Gotta get a second hand machine on craigslist and do it up!

Having had the same craving while pregnant, I highly recommend the Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream from Brown Cow in Forest Park, on Madison. I had my hubby buying it by the quart towards the end of my pregnancy. I am sure a shake made with that would be amazing.
Congratulations and good luck!
LO

jeff_deff wrote:Wow! The MacGyver approach. Good tip. Of course, now I am thinking of the chocolate peanut butter bacon shake. Let's hope it doesn't end up being the MacGruber approach! I think making them from scratch is perhaps the best option where we are. Gotta get a second hand machine on craigslist and do it up!

You don't have a Vitamix?

special at big star today: strawberry milkshake using local strawberries. a++ would drink again. $4. waitress says local fruits will be appearing in shake form all summer.

jeff_deff wrote:OK, I have a frequently recurring emergency. My wife is pregnant and chocolate peanut butter shakes are the food my baby craves. Anything on the west side, cicero, berwyn, oak park area? I'm not talking holy grail, just something better than your run-of-the-mill. Any recommendations? Oh yeah, late hours a plus!

I have that craving as well. Here is how I address it in a way that pleases both me and my doctor:

Dump 1/3 cup oats into a blender, and grate until it's a powder. Add a tall glass of milk, two frozen bananas, and two spoonfuls of chocolate Ovaltine (or other chocolate mixer of your choice). A spoonful of peanut butter is optional and delicious. Blend. The bananas and oats give this shake a texture that is very very close to an ice cream shake, with considerably less fat and fewer calories.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:The bananas and oats give this shake a texture that is very very close to an ice cream shake, with considerably less fat and fewer calories.

The wife in question has no fear of fat.

I usedto love the Blueberry shakes from Zephyr's on Wilson when they were still around. Another lost love from my youth.

Thanks a lot, guys, now I'm craving shakes all the time.
Yesterday I went to Suzie's after an abysmal shoe-shopping and shake-finding mission in the Oak Park/Berwyn area. Despite incredible unhelpfulness and disinterest from the staff ("Which one of these [5] mint shakes do you recommend?" "Oh, they're all good") I ended up with Grasshopper. It was very satisfying and refreshing, although with crushed Oreos in it, I can't imagine how it's different than the Mint Oreo. Whatever, it really hit the spot. I'm heading back today for Banana Rum. I wonder if I can get through the list of 60 flavors before the end of summer.

Say, NAV MAN...that sounds like a challenge...

Pie Lady wrote:I wonder if I can get through the list of 60 flavors before the end of summer.

Be sure to let us know how you like the mustard flavor shake.

stevez wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:I wonder if I can get through the list of 60 flavors before the end of summer.

Be sure to let us know how you like the mustard flavor shake.

Are you kidding?

Does this place remind anyone else of Shopsin's? I've never been there but I just finished Eat Me and it sounds familiar!

Pie Lady wrote:

stevez wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:I wonder if I can get through the list of 60 flavors before the end of summer.

Be sure to let us know how you like the mustard flavor shake.

Are you kidding?

Does this place remind anyone else of Shopsin's? I've never been there but I just finished Eat Me and it sounds familiar!

Shopsin's of I Like Killing Flies? I'd kind of like to go there for the mac 'n cheese pancakes, but I'm a sensitive West Coast sort and probably wouldn't make it in that atmosphere.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:Shopsin's of I Like Killing Flies? I'd kind of like to go there for the mac 'n cheese pancakes, but I'm a sensitive West Coast sort and probably wouldn't make it in that atmosphere.

I didn't see the movie but it's on my Netflix list. It's the same guy though.

Pie Lady wrote:

stevez wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:I wonder if I can get through the list of 60 flavors before the end of summer.

Be sure to let us know how you like the mustard flavor shake.

Are you kidding?

Does this place remind anyone else of Shopsin's? I've never been there but I just finished Eat Me and it sounds familiar!

I'm pretty sure Suzie's predates Shopsin's.

stevez wrote:I'm pretty sure Suzie's predates Shopsin's.

I dunno, the menu has a blurb from 1980, but I thought Shopsin's opened in 1976. Could be wrong.

Just finished off the banana rum at Suzie's...very tasty. It was so hot the whipped cream melted into the shake. Somehow it had a slight taste of toffee. Next I'll blindly try one of the mysterious flavors and report back.

Just polished off the Excalibur from Susie's. It was loaded with "fresh" strawberries and some other golden fruit (peaches?) that gave it a nice, slightly sour tang. I think this place is going to be trouble for me!

We stopped in at the Prairie Joe's diner in Evanston after a trip to the Evanston Farmers Market on a recent Saturday; we both opted for the choconut (coconut-chocolate) shake. Delicious, and subtle - like Edzo's, you get the shake canister. Recommended for its solid food, crazy friendly service, and the. . .unique decor. We particularly enjoyed the pastiche homage to Prince. Purple pride?

Prairie Joe's
1921 Central St.
(Prairie & Central, just west of Green Bay Road)
Evanston IL
(847) 491-0391


The new interim website - scarier than ever!

My wife's birthday is almost here. She loves milk shakes for her treat.

Any suggestions???
North side of the city and north burbs.

Thanks,

Wally Wade

Edzo's in Evanston (unless you decide to head further into the city-the Chicago location is in the heart of Lincoln Park). My favorite shakes in town and the rest of the food is just as worthy for a special lunch treat!

walter wade wrote:My wife's birthday is almost here. She loves milk shakes for her treat.

Any suggestions???
North side of the city and north burbs.

Thanks,

Wally Wade

Hot Chocolate makes a damned fine shake. And cold!

Also: Scooter's.

Irazu
get the oatmeal
Costa Rican food, BYO
Has outside seating, too.

IRAZU
1865 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL 60647
http://irazuchicago.com/‎

walter wade wrote:My wife's birthday is almost here. She loves milk shakes for her treat.

Any suggestions???
North side of the city and north burbs.

Thanks,

Wally Wade

GNR Brown Sack!