Dipsomaniacs Delight (Hangover Food)

LTH,

Friday evening was one of those nights, lasting well into the wee hours. With stops along the way at Hopleaf, Simon's, Carol's Pub and ending at LTH. Salt and pepper shrimp are truly a thing of beauty at 3am.


Even though we ended the evening at 'Little' Three Happiness, now open to 7am weekends, which I find oddly comforting, I found myself both hungry and hungover at Noon on Saturday.

For the past 4-5 years I have looked to Poochies grilled salami as my hangover cure. 5-6 inches of thick sliced salami, grilled and served on an Italian beef roll with sport peppers, raw and fried onions and a healthy shot of mustard. A cure ya or kill ya type of sandwich.

I've also gone the more traditional route with menudo, typically Nuevo Leon's, but this past Saturday I opted for Evanston Chicken Shack. Now I've been to ECS any number of times, but never in a 'delicate' condition, I am here to tell you ECS loaded with hot sauce, Zim style, is a sure-fire cure for what ails you.

I ordered a wing/thigh combo with added hot link, though I somehow managed to get leg/thigh, which was fine.


While the chicken is crunchy, juicy, perfectly delicious,


the link is just ok. Not overly spicy, with a perfectly acceptable texture. Chicken is the way to go, guess that's why it's called Evanston Chicken Shack, not Evanston Hot Link Shack.

OK, you've heard my 'Cure', any others out there?

Enjoy,
Gary

Evanston Chicken Shack
1925 Ridge Ave
Evanston, IL
847-328-9360

"Little' Three Happiness
209 W Cermak Rd
Chicago, IL 60616
312-842-1964

Nuevo Leon
1515 W 18th St
Chicago, IL 60608
312-421-1517

Poochie's
3832 Dempster St
Skokie, IL 60076
847-673-0100

It's more common than not as of late for my weekend evenings to extend into the daylight hours of the following day. Oftentimes the 'cure' is administered before sleeping. Depending on the mood and mindset of the people I'm sharing the morning with, this may or may not involve waiting for somewhere that serves liquor to open. (Hair of the dog, and all that.)

If you're still drunk at 11am on a Saturday or Sunday morning, there's simply no better place to find yourself than Twisted Spoke. Ginormous bloody marys replete with a skewer of meat, pepperoncini & cheese, $2 beam & cokes on tap, and monstrous plates of carb-laden food that'll help to sop up the vile concoction swirling in your belly. The best part? You won't be a bit out of place. Last weekend I had my waitress comment "I'd care if I was sober." after she dumped a portion of my bloody mary on herself while serving it.

My favorite is the corned beef hash made in-house. It doesn't quite compare to the magnificence that is Smith & Wollensky's roast beef hash - but it's 11am and I've got breath that just -might- be flammable - who am I to complain? It's tasty, freshly made, and has all of the requisite ingredients mixed in the proper proportions to taste great. It comes with two poached eggs on top.

Tuman's also does a serviceable brunch, made all the more serviceable because it's within walking distance. Stella Artois on tap, and the omelets and pancakes are entirely serviceable.

Salud recently started doing brunch as well. I'll fully admit that I was lured to try it because I had a 1/2 off coupon and I get airline miles for charging meals there - and hey, you can do shots of Patron with your eggs. The chiliquiles don't quite compare with the fare at Neuvo Leon, but the fried plantains are quite good and the location allows for several options if you're with a group that's being indecisive.

I'd have to say that overall the best hangover cure I've ever had was the day when I was called to help a friend move. Four hours of hauling her stuff down a flight of stairs and then up three flights and I was exhausted but felt great. Barring that, forty minutes of cardio really helps. But who wants to hear that? Bring on the booze and grease!

Twisted Spoke
501 N. Ogden Ave.
312-666-1500

and

3365 N. Clark St.
773-525-5300

Tuman's
2159 W. Chicago Ave.
773-782-1400

Salud
1471 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-235-5577

I must admit that when I have a really bad case of katzenjammer, the only solution is McDonald's. The remedy depends on the level of distress ranging from an Egg McMuffin, Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit to the Big Mac, large fries.

(And FYI I had a bacon, egg & cheese biscuit after Acqualina).

My cure for a hangover is miso soup with extra tufo. If I can't get miso , then a chocolate shake. Nothing that has chewing.

well, two of you have already mentioned one of my hangover correction faves: nuevo leon. i tend to go for the chorizo and eggs a la mexicana (with added tomato, jalapeno, onion). the chorizo/egg mixture has just the right amount of grease to make me sigh, but it's the refried beans, spread onto a corn tortilla and rolled, that really does the trick. of course, there's something about the kindness of being served a complimentary cup of soup (or other snack bite), that helps bring me back into the world of the living: as if to say, "here you go, looks like you need some help." indeed. and the pitcher of water on the table facilitates the ever-important rehydration process.

early in the summer i tried the breakfast special at el taco veloz, and i would wager it can fit the bill: two or three slabs of cecina/dried beef on top of eggs, with beans, rice, and tortillas (and i love their salsa and garlicky pickled carrots). i've yet to try it as a hangover cure, but i'll keep you posted.

of course, sometimes driving just isn't a mood friendly option after serious boozing, so the local standbys have always worked perfectly well: the valois and salonica. i stick to eggs and double hash browns, a meat of choice, and lots of not so good coffee.

jim

Hangover and I have know each other quite well, tho not so amicably, over the years. I try my darndest to stave him off before he visits. I do this by (miraculously, somehow remembering) drinking a full glass of water, taking a couple of ASPIRIN, and if I have it handy, a multi-vitamin or b-complex before I go to bed. Rarely ever fails. tho if this doesn't help (if i've passed out before applying remedy) - it's dark sunglasses and mashed potatoes w/gravy.

leesh

I enjoy the following, based on the rating system below:

1. a one star hangover, its a fruit smoothie, hit the weights, then sauna and I feel better.

2. This is where the Mickey Dee's comes in, I need grease to settle my tummy and salt to make me drink 9 quarts of water to re-hydrate.

3. Discount Chinese food, extra MSG. I need as much grease as I can handle and all the soy salts to make me drink water.

4. I want meat, doesn't make a diffence, I want pork, I want beef, lamb, goat or anything else.

5. Just a few alka seltzer please.




Hangover Rating System

Now, I know none of you fine people would ever get your selves into such a position as this, however, you probably know someone who was or will be!

One Star Hangover (*)

No pain. No real feeling of illness. You're able to function relatively well. However, you are still parched. You can drink 5 sodas and still feel this way. For some reason, you are craving a steak & fries.

Two Star Hangover (**)

No pain, but something is definitely amiss. You may look okay, but you have the mental capacity of a staple gun. The coffee you are chugging is only increasing your rumbling gut, which is still tossing around the fruity pancake from the 3:00 AM, Waffle House excursion. There is some definite havoc being wreaked upon your bowels.

Three Star Hangover (***)

Slight headache. Stomach feels crappy. You are definitely not productive.
Anytime a girl walks by, you gag because her perfume reminds you of the
flavored schnapps shots your alcoholic friends dared you to drink. Life would be better right now, if you were home in your bed watching Lucy reruns. You've had 4 cups of coffee, a gallon of water, 3 iced teas and a diet Coke --- yet you haven't peed once.

Four Star Hangover (****)

Life sucks. Your head is throbbing. You can't speak too quickly or else you might puke. Your boss has already lambasted you for being late and has given you a lecture for reeking of booze. You wore nice clothes, but that can't hide the fact that you only shaved one side of your face. Your eyes look like one big red vein, and even your hair hurts.


Five Star Hangover, (*****)

You have a second heartbeat in your head, which is actually annoying the employee who sits in the next cube. Vodka vapor is seeping out of every pore and making you dizzy. You still have toothpaste crust in the corners of your mouth from brushing your teeth in an attempt to get the remnants of the poop fairy out. Your body has lost the ability to generate saliva so your tongue is suffocating you. You don't have the foggiest idea who the hell the stranger was passed out in your bed this morning.

Death sounds pretty good about right now....

Jack Daniel's. No ice. No glass.

David Hammond wrote:Jack Daniel's. No ice. No glass.

We have a winner in the LTHForum Quote of the Day contest.

Congrats to Mr. Hammond.

pdaane wrote: Five Star Hangover, (*****)

You have a second heartbeat in your head...

Very entertaining post...

I'll just add: This and the night before the morning after are why mass transportation and cabs were invented. Thank god for cities.

Mr. Hammond... Keep that up and it'll be Wild Irish Rose in a paper bag...

(See you in Grant Park!)

A

Depending on the severity of the hangover I'll optionally down a beer - rapidly - and then grab a favorite bottle of hot sauce and head over to the Diner Grill. Really bad hangovers merit the Slinger ("Don't ask, just eat") with extra hot peppers (or bring your own).

Yes,

My favorite hangover cure if Flo's Huevos Rancheros accompanied by gallons of Flo blend Intelligentsia coffee.

If I'm still feeling awful, it's time to call out the big guns and write off the day. Obviously not to for everyone, but just a little maryjane will cure a hangover every time - hey there's a reason people are making a big noise about the "medicinal uses" of the stuff.

vegmojo