Happy One Year Anniversary, LTH Forum

Happy One Year Anniversary, LTH Forum

It slipped my attention yesterday (nearly drowning, as I was, in sparkling water), but Feb 6 was the first anniversary of the LTH Forum, which I count as the day that someone actually joined beyond his eminence, GWiv.

The first member of the LTH Forum: the august Harry V, who though an infrequent current contributor is well remembered as an articulate, amusing and (I mean this in the very best sense of the word) eccentric commentator on the Chicago food scene.

Hammond

Although May 27 is the real date that LTHForum got going as a public concern, as that's when an announcement went out to the old LTH list-serve, and almost 70 people registered that day. So if we're going to declare something International LTHForum Day, that's my nomination.

(What is/was the LTH list-serve? When folks here were mostly on another board, it was started to facilitate social gatherings, since those posts weren't allowed on that board. It is essentially defunct now.)

As noted above, May 27 is when we celebrate LTH Day in my family. Happy Anniversary! I am wowed every day by the things people know, the generosity with which they share them, and the mere fact that a few hundred people have managed to use the Internet so pleasantly and even-temperedly 99.9% of the time. Thank you, welcome, and here's to many more.

Congratulations and thanks to the many moderators here who keep the community exactly that. I suspect I'm glad that I can't see how you people make this sausage but I'm always happy to dig in. And I decline to extend the metaphor any further.

Mike G wrote:As noted above, May 27 is when we celebrate LTH Day in my family. Happy Anniversary! I am wowed every day by the things people know, the generosity with which they share them, and the mere fact that a few hundred people have managed to use the Internet so pleasantly and even-temperedly 99.9% of the time. Thank you, welcome, and here's to many more.

I

I noticed this holiday is not on my LTH Calendar. I assume proper notice will be make in the next version!

Wow. It's been a year (or more) already? Happy birthday to all of us! Let's all go out and eat something good and post about it today. Call it our LTH Forum Birthday Meal.

I love the flashing "Happy 1st Anniversary" image and request it stay up for a week (it's a good reminder for me to try to drink more beer!)... LTH week?... 27 May - 3 June... By 3 June last year, there were already 200 people registered... And maybe within the week this year we'll hit a thousand... A full week's celebration also allows for more flexibility in arranging appropriate festivities...

Per ardua ad alimenta!
Antonius

Antonius wrote: A full week's celebration also allows for more flexibility in arranging appropriate festivities...

Though let me note that the A&A family celebrated LTH Forum Eve with a nice dinner last night at Ed's Potsticker House...

Amata

JiLS and I plan to celebrate at lunch today with a sampling of items from the La Cabanita truck on Canal and Monroe!

I plan to celebrate at GNR nominee Freddy's Pizza with OPMark today (noonish if anyone wants to join).

Rob

Actually, rob, I was going to go to Freddy's today also. But I'm planning on getting there at around 10:30 or 11, so I can get one of the first loaves of pepperoni bread.

Who am I kidding. Three of the first loaves of pepperoni bread.

Happy Birthday ,Congratulations and thanks to our hosts and the great moderators here. In over 15 years of fooling with online BBS's and message boards I must say this is one of the most pleasant and professional boards I have ever been particpated in. I can't beleive a year has gone by already.

I spent years browsing food message boards and never found one with the right balance that was interesting enough for a daily read. I consider myself lucky to have landed here just as I lefft another forum in frustration.

Before LTH I did beefathons either solo or with my friend Ed (our friends thought we where crazy) so when I first started logging in here and reading that you people where on the same page as me I knew I had found a home. Here's to many more years of LTH Forum!

Bob

Thanks for all the work put in by the moderators to make this the fantastic resource that it is.
I celebrated today with a stop at Hot Dougs for lunch before the Cub game and picked up pork neck and issan sausage from TAC afterwards. My son insisted on some wings from Great Sea so we made a stop there as well.
Without LTH I'd probably just've had some crappy ball park food and called it a day.

Happy Anniversary!!

Hi,

I just missed celebratory leftover chicken yesterday, though I am sure it was quite delicious.

I've been bringing 'Stirring Things Up' Chicago program brochures everywhere I go recently including my exercise class. One of my class members learned I like to try new food and inquired if she could come along sometime. She is somewhat reticent about going around the city, so I gave her a best-of tour today to wet her interest.

Just before running out the door, I grabbed about 75 'Stirring Things Up' programs, which refer people to food and restaurant websites. Absent is LTHforum, so I created stickers and affixed them to these programs to distribute during the day. Sometimes you have to fate a little push!

First stop was Spoon Thai for some one-bite salad, banana blossom salad and fried chicken; remember I was going for obvious crowd pleasers. This lady was over the top delighted with the food. She was also quite surprised I knew the owners who dismissed the waitress to wait on our table. They certainly expected we would eat more food, but I explained this was just our first stop.

We then walked over to the Cheese Stands Alone, where I dropped 25 programs in the front window ledge. They were pretty busy with at least 4-5 customers before us. Since we didn't bring any cooler this day nor plans to go home soon, we admired the cheese and planned to come back another day.

This was duck fat fries day at Hot Doug’s, which I had not yet tried. So we trooped over there to buy duck fries, a Thuringer, a Sonoran Hot Dog (1/4 pound hot dog wrapped in bacon dressed with jalapeno mayonnaise, pinto beans, tomatoes and chopped onions) and drinks. Doug remembered me from Bloomingdales and thanked me for the Sonoran Hot Dog idea. As much as I would have loved to take a bow, I said that was probably my friend Peg’s idea, of Sundevilpeg fame on this board, though he underlined he appreciated the suggestions. We split everything 4 ways (I had my Mom and another friend, also) and reveled in the food options this new friend never dreamed existed. At this location, I dropped my other 50 ‘Stirring Things U’p programs, which were already being snapped up by those waiting in line. Ah, but there is more.

Thinking I had sort of topped off their interest in food, I suggested getting an Italian Lemonade from Mario’s. It's a small quantity, only a dollar and will fill in the cracks. However, I took the longest route to Taylor Street via Wrigley Field, Lake Shore Drive past McCormick Place. I drove her a bit around Bronzeville showing her the Monument to the Great Northern Migration with the shoe soles, some with holes, representing the great migration of blacks from the south to the north. We drove past one of Chicago's oldest homes called the Widow Clarke House, the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, Glessner House and the mansions of Prairie Avenue.

Driving toward Chinatown, I pointed out Chef Luciano'splace and how we really need to visit there soon. Our ReneG plucked this gem quite sometime ago, whose fried chicken was mentioned in John T. Edge’s book, which really needs a visit. I then did the nickle tour of Chinatown, which really comes down to: I ate there, there, there ... and there, but I really need to go there someday! We almost stopped but I proposed a detailed run around when we had a stronger appetite. Instead we parked illegally in front of the brand new, just opened May 21st, Chinese American Museum of Chicago. They recently had an 'Insiders' Guide to Chinese Barbeque' lecture and tasting, which I missed. The French couple went and raved about it. They were especially thrilled since it included a kitchen tour. I am inquiring with them to do a second lecture and tour sometime this summer, which I will advise.

Remembering we are still on our way to Taylor Street. I drive over to 18th Street for a brief tour of Pilsen. I point out Carnitas Don Pedro as a very good source for brain tacos, then raved about the large cooking vessels in the rear. Just then a parking space opens right in front, so I took it. I dragged my friends past the carnitas and dining room directly to the kitchen to see those three enormous cooking vessels. The cook smiled, “Nice to see you again!” I thanked him for allowing me to impress my friends with his large pots. I then went front where we bought chicharron. They gave us generous samples of roast pork and instructed to me phone ahead if I want brain tacos this late in the day. If I had brought my cooler, we would have bought more, but there is always tomorrow. I then drove over to Nuevo Leonand Bombon, where we bought flan and cakes to eat in the car. I asked for a menu of their cakes. They have (finally!) prepared one which will be available next week. As we sampled, I told them of Laura Cid’s journey to being a pastry chef in Chicago, which I learned when she visited Culinary Historians several years ago.

We jumped on to Halsted where we visited the new Maxwell Street, checked out Jim’s Original which on this occasion had more customers than Maxwell Express. I noticed rounding the block the Maxwell Express sign next to Joy Yee’s has come down. I wonder if someone finally came to their senses to leave those two places where they are today. We then drove past the Catholic Church at Halsted and Roosevelt, which was slated to be decommissioned but a prolonged sit-in, and new money, changed its’ fate. We also passed by Holy Family Church further west on Roosevelt, which survived the Great Chicago Fire when the winds changed as it approached. It almost had a catastrophic fire last year but the Fire Engine Company across the street quickly extinguished it largely due to intimate knowledge of the building.

Finally, I brought the faithful chariot to Mario’s where we enjoyed two lemonades, a lime and a watermelon ice. We all wished to have the watermelon the very next time we visited. We were sorry our friend who manages the place wasn’t around. On chilly evenings when business is slow, he is fun to chat about restaurants.

We now moved up Halsted to Greek Town, then over to Chicago Avenue to Baba’s Palace. I drove up Orleans to show the other Indo-Pakistani hang-outs. Especially where my sister and I surprised everyone by ordering and eating on the premises. We almost went to Peoria Packing but my new friend seemed queasy about checking out a room filled with pig parts. I have to remember what I think is nifty is not always someone else’s cup of tea!

We then went west on Chicago Avenue to admire the statue atop the old Montgomery Ward headquarters administration building (until 1974) now condominiums. We turned toward Goose Island past Kendall College and took the Y-intersection to the right to show them Berger Brothers Charcoal, where I buy wood charcoal. We then jumped on the expressway to head back to home.

My new friend was discussing the politics of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. Costco wants to open in Lake Forest and the not-in-my-backyard crowd is opposed citing traffic. She indicated someone with the last name Walgreen wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. He indicated there would not be the traffic impact of a corporate park where everyone leaves at once. He suggested people really had other concerns, which he did not choose to specify. Since she had never been to a Costco, this turn in the conversation caused us to divert to the Glenview Costco. A quick call home and I had my list of things to buy. Touring around she indicated she could now understand why people would want it and why others would not. There is fear some small grocery stores like Sunset or Don’s would close, which I must admit I sincerely doubt. These two stores are so customer-service oriented, and while Costco has great prices in a very limited spectrum of grocery items, it is certainly not as service oriented as Sunset or Don’s.

On the way home, I made a small diversion for my cat’s food. I pulled in front of Best’s Kosher Outlet Store to see it had closed permanently on May 23rd. There was a letter on the door, thanking us for our business suggesting we go to their Pershing Road Store in Chicago or the many fine food stores, which carry their product. Huh? I was there only ten days ago, there was no hint of a closing. I asked the pet store manager what happened to Best’s? The stock boy looked up shocked as I was to learn it closed Monday. The property owner wanted double the rent and a year’s rent up front. On Monday morning Best had a half price sale and was cleaned out by 2 PM. On Tuesday, they collected their fixtures. Poof! Gone!

I'm not so sure my day was exactly a celebration of LTHforum. However the information learned here, plus what I already knew, allowed for us to enjoy the best of Chicago. There would be no LTHforum if there wasn't this fabulous metropolitan city: Chicago. Perhaps I was really celebrating the great life we have together! We are indeed so lucky!

Baba Palace
334 West Chicago Avenue (at Orleans)
Chicago, IL 60610
Tel: 312/867-7777

Berger Brother's Charcoal
1176 N Cherry Ave
Chicago, IL 6062
312-642-4238
Lump Charcoal

Bombon Bakery
1508 w. 18th st.
chicago, il 60608
312-733-7788

Carnitas Don Pedro
1113 W 18th St
Chicago

Cheese Stands Alone
4547 North Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773-293-3870

Chef Luciano
48 E Cermak Rd
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-0062

Chinese American Museum of Chicago
238 West 23rd Street
Chicago, IL
312/949-1000
Open Friday – Sunday presently

Glessner House is located in the South Loop at
1800 South Prairie Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60616
312/326-1480

Holy Family Church
1080 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 226-7575

Hot Doug's
The Sausage Superstore and
Encased Meat Emporium
3324 North California, Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: (773) 279-9550
Fax: (773) 279-9553

Jim's Original Hot Dog
700 West O'Brien Street
Chicago, IL 60607
312-733-7820

KENDALL COLLEGE
SCHOOL OF CULINARY ARTS
Room 636.
900 N. North Branch St.
(Immediately West of Halsted St., North of Chicago Ave --Free Parking-)
Chicago, Illinois

Mario's Italian Lemonade
1068 W Taylor St
Chicago
(no phone)

Maxwell Street Express
Next door to Jim’s Original

Montgomery Wards Headquarters
618 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL

National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum
1801 South Indiana Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616
312-326-0270 phone

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

Peoria Packing Butcher Shop
1300 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60607
312-738-1800
Monday - Saturday: 6am-5pm
Sunday: 9am-3pm

Spoon Thai Restaurant
4608 North Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
http://www.spoonthai.com
773-769-1173

Widow Clarke’s House
1855 S. Indiana Ave
Chicago

Cathy,

Truly an amazing post!

I too celebrate, and appreciate, the joy, friendship and culinary goodness a year of LTHForum has brought and look forward, with great enthusiasm, to the future.

Enjoy,
Gary

Doug used my Sonoran Dog suggestion?!?! WHOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOO!

I am just tickled to death, seriously. Son of a gun!

Peg

Aren't all Doug's dogs "Sohn"oron ?

Mr. Hammond,

Thank you, sir, for your kind words.

Regards,

HV

I just returned from a lengthy work related road trip. Yesterday, I had breakfast at Edgebrook Diner (directly from the airport) and dinner at Marie's Pizza in hono(u)r of the LTH 1st Anniversary. BTW, both of these restaurants are worthy of nomination as Great Neighborhood Restaurants. Since I have already used up my one nomination for Manny's, maybe someone else could do the hono(u)rs for these neighborhood and LTH stalwarts.

I just noticed that not only are we over a year old, but we now have over 1000 registered users. Congratulations and delicious thank yous to everyone who made this happen (all 1000 of us - and the ever moderate and viligent moderators and Major Domo)!

Official notice of the fact of 1000 registered members is on its way...

Update: Happy 13th Anniversary!

Enjoy reading the happy voices when we accomplished our first year (without killing each other!).

I love this. LTH is like an old friend. Always there when you need it. Certainly a microcosm, subculture (which I love), a slice of a Chicagoland-and beyond-that is centered on sharing, friendship, acceptance, sustenance, indulgence. What makes that happen is the glorious food and cool people from all angles. LTH highlights so far for me in 2017 are contributing to Soup & Bread at the Hideout and a family style meet-up at White Fence Farm. What's next? Is that not the beauty of it?

Cathy2, just wondering how your exercise buddy has fared since your 2005 post about taking her around town to sample the city's diverse eats?

excelsior wrote:Cathy2, just wondering how your exercise buddy has fared since your 2005 post about taking her around town to sample the city's diverse eats?

That was a very short lived friendship. It all began to cave when I commented she looked like a lobster when exiting the steam room. I did not know this was a deal killer.

She actually tried to divide and conquer with a friend whom I have a long standing relationship. We did not let her play games with us.

She had that one glorious day in the sun!

***

Yesterday, I had one grand day, too. I went to the Milwaukee Public Museum to see the travelling exhibit on food and culture.

We went to the Spice House, where they showed us the grinding room. This original outpost is where they service Kosher clients. The spice jars with red tape are not Kosher or at least certified Kosher. There was a lot there for the Kosher enthusiast.

AFterwards, we went to Usingers for sausage. Thankfully I brought two coolers, because both were filled with four people's purchases.

We went to Asian Market on 76th Street to eat Hmong specialties of stuffed chicken wings, sausage with sticky rice, soup (I am not sure what it was), Spring rolls, egg rolls, corn bread and steam eggs.

Next stop was House of Corned Beef for their version of Gym Shoe. Friends who arrived earlier immediately left believing no good corned beef could be found there. We caught up with them at Jakes.

Drove by Northern Chocolate, which is closed Thursdays. Impulsively someone decided to look through the windows anyway. Guess who let us in? We were asked to guess what happened on June 1, 1967? After tripping over my tongue, "Dr. Pepper! No, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Band was issued." We were then treated to an impromptu concert of songs from the album.

Returned to the Milwauke Public Museum for a two hour tour highlighting food and culture. There were a few games mixed in, too. Walking through the prehistoric era, we were supposed to pick out something we might want to cook and eat. I won the prize for my scenario: Two dinosaurs had battled it out. The victor was eating his conquest's intestines. I suggested I would wait for the victor to get his fill, then circle back to grab the intestines and meat to make sausages. I now have a tiny plastic elephant for my nephew.

Ended the day with soft custard from Leon's.

If it were not for the resources and friendships made on this board. I might have just stopped at the museum, had a polite lunch and gone home.

Thanks for asking!

Cathy2

I'm glad I asked!!! So many local places everywhere to discover!

If I had a friend who was willing to chauffeur me around the city and feed me too, I would not mind being called a lobster (it probably would just make me hungry for lobster).

Cathy2 wrote:

excelsior wrote:Cathy2, just wondering how your exercise buddy has fared since your 2005 post about taking her around town to sample the city's diverse eats?

That was a very short lived friendship. It all began to cave when I commented she looked like a lobster when exiting the steam room. I did not know this was a deal killer.

She actually tried to divide and conquer with a friend whom I have a long standing relationship. We did not let her play games with us.

She had that one glorious day in the sun!

***

Yesterday, I had one grand day, too. I went to the Milwaukee Public Museum to see the travelling exhibit on food and culture.

We went to the Spice House, where they showed us the grinding room. This original outpost is where they service Kosher clients. The spice jars with red tape are not Kosher or at least certified Kosher. There was a lot there for the Kosher enthusiast.

AFterwards, we went to Usingers for sausage. Thankfully I brought two coolers, because both were filled with four people's purchases.

We went to Asian Market on 76th Street to eat Hmong specialties of stuffed chicken wings, sausage with sticky rice, soup (I am not sure what it was), Spring rolls, egg rolls, corn bread and steam eggs.

Next stop was House of Corned Beef for their version of Gym Shoe. Friends who arrived earlier immediately left believing no good corned beef could be found there. We caught up with them at Jakes.

Drove by Northern Chocolate, which is closed Thursdays. Impulsively someone decided to look through the windows anyway. Guess who let us in? We were asked to guess what happened on June 1, 1967? After tripping over my tongue, "Dr. Pepper! No, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Band was issued." We were then treated to an impromptu concert of songs from the album.

Returned to the Milwauke Public Museum for a two hour tour highlighting food and culture. There were a few games mixed in, too. Walking through the prehistoric era, we were supposed to pick out something we might want to cook and eat. I won the prize for my scenario: Two dinosaurs had battled it out. The victor was eating his conquest's intestines. I suggested I would wait for the victor to get his fill, then circle back to grab the intestines and meat to make sausages. I now have a tiny plastic elephant for my nephew.

Ended the day with soft custard from Leon's.

If it were not for the resources and friendships made on this board. I might have just stopped at the museum, had a polite lunch and gone home.

Thanks for asking!

Cathy2

Best post I've read in a looooong time. All of it. Need to figure out a day and group to try and recreate the Milwaukee food tour part!!

Cathy2 wrote:That was a very short lived friendship. It all began to cave when I commented she looked like a lobster when exiting the steam room. I did not know this was a deal killer.

Was this the red-headed swim instructor?

stevez wrote:Was this the red-headed swim instructor?

No! It was one of her students.

The final stroke to end this friendship: This woman thought a certain spot in the pool was hers. She'd arrive late, then muscle others out of there. I knew about this from watching this over time. So I decided to take that spot one day. Even when there was some traveling in the pool, I just stayed in this location. This was usually how she'd take over 'her spot' from others. She blew up screaming it was her spot, which nobody else agreed, then left and never returned.

The red head and I are still buddies after all these years.

Regards,
Cathy2

I remember celebrating the first year at the now closed Garden Buffet, an all-you-can-eat Korean spot on Lincoln. Great food. Great company. And here we still are, all these years later.