The Eatathon: One Week in Chicago

ExtraMSG Blog Link

I've finally started on my blog entries for the week I spent in Chicago. Thanks to all here who helped me. Special thanks to Erik, Cathy, Gene, and Ronnie. I'll talk more about their generosity in reports to come.

I've attached a link to the introduction which has a link to the general photo albums for Chicago. I took over 1,000 pics and will be putting many of those up. However, as you can imagine, it takes a lot of effort to rename, sort, and size all those, so not all of them are up yet. I'll be linking to specific albums for specific entries as I post those.

I'll post links to specific reports and albums as I finish them. I've already finished one on the South Side of Chicago and will be putting it up later. Expect ones on Mexican food and neighborhoods, Thai food, Indian food and Devon, the Green City Market and markets in general, among others.

I hope they'll be useful. I'll try to put up an eating log, too, and link to it since some of my reports will probably be more entertainment (I hope) than information.

Thanks for reporting back, I look forward to the report (though I already heard a little) and photos.

[edited to delete side conversation about post formatting]

Here's my link to my report on the south side.

South Side Report

I went to Lem's and Army and Lou's, and really enjoyed both. There's a link to pictures, as well. For those who read my BBQ trip report, I'd say Lem's is right there with the Kansas City places I went, LC's and Arthur Bryant's. That wouldn't make them the best I've had, but it makes them good. I like the rib tips concept, too.

Nick, I looked at a bunch of your photos -- they are fantastic. I'm looking forward to reading more of the text that goes with them as you get it posted.
How did you manage to eat that much in 7 days?!?

thanks for such wonderful documentation of the gastronomic delights of Chicago!

Amata

I once had a waitress at a restaurant that had a mandatory gratuity ask me, "Where do you put it all?" Well, I can tell you. I've got this storage area around the middle of my body called a "fat gut". It stores it quite well. And that's why I'm back on a diet.

Thank you. As I type, I'm uploading the Indian photos.

My God man, you live well. And you share it with everybody. You stand on the shoulders of giants, certainly, but you bring a camera.

Thanks JeffB. Too bad I didn't get a digital camera earlier and start doing my blog. Some great trips are missing from my site.

Here's my report on the Maxwell Street Market. Unfortunately, the Ricos Huaraches people and the El Colonial people, both highly touted, weren't there. But I really enjoyed myself anyway.

My favorite things of the day were the masa at Rubi's/Manolo's, the freshly made churros, the arrachera under the bridge, and the fried antojitos and bananas. Oh, and I did eat a taco de ojo to explore my Bourdain side. See below and my report.

extramsg wrote:I like the rib tips concept, too.

"Rib tip concept"? Huh? I don't get it.

Nonetheless, enjoyed meeting you at TAC, and glad the rest of the trip went well for you.

Okay, finally put up my Thai report. If there are any inaccuracies, contact me privately and I'll fix them. Also, feel free to disagree with me. I just try to be truthful in my perceptions. I've received some negative emails about some of my opinions. I encourage you to set the record straight publicly. I'm basing my opionions on only a visit or two, so...

Thai and SE Asian Report

There's a link to photos there as well. I'll probably try to be quicker with my next few reports, probably making the next one less...literary.



PS: On rib tips: They're not sold at all BBQ places, probably not sold at most BBQ places. But I like them and the idea of them, taking a "throw-away" and making it the most highly prized menu item. Like I said, it's the burnt ends of pork ribs. It was nice meeting you as well. That was a great meal.

Very nice report on Thai!

I thought the point of pork neck vs. ground pork was for a bit extra fat.

I have said this before, the one harrowing fact about eating Thai in Chicago, and perhaps even elsewhere (I had a very dissapointing meal at LA's famous Renu Nakorn) is the volubility from meal to meal. You are so dependent on factors seeming outside your control. It's like, will my Penang curry taste like his Penang curry? I know it is a frustrating debate, and I know it is an issue that some people detest on its face--why should there be any secret menu they claim.

Rob

I know, I'm being totally slow about putting these reports out and you may be sick of them, but here's another quickie I wrote on sweets focusing on Italian ice:

Chicago Eatathon Sweet Thangs



(In case you're wondering, I'm planning on still doing one on Mexican and Mexican neighborhoods, one on ethnic markets, and one on the Charlie Trotter's kitchen table. Eventually.)

Okay, I'm back at it (damn, you were hoping you got rid of me). Here's my report on Devon, the fifth installment in the ongoing struggle of a man and his waistline.

Not one of my best efforts, but there's pictures.

I usually avoid the stretch of Devon between Western and California when I drive due to the crazy traffic (I live just north of there), but it is nice to see some of the shops I've always bypassed in the past (especially because I've never taken photos of the area). Thanks for the memories. I hope comparable shops open up for you back home.

Eatathon 6: A Tale of Two Pueblas.

Well, I must have been channeling Homer when I wrote this, because it's *huge* -- a frickin' epic. Hopefully it's closer in readability to Homer's Odyssey than Joyce's Ulysses, at least. I'm not so sure. But there are links to the different sections if you want to skip ahead. Here's what I covered:

* Taqueria Puebla
* Humboldt Park
* Pilsen
* La Villita
* Alta Cocina (esp, Bahena's places)
* Some misc spots, such as La Unica

This is the main reason I came to Chicago, Mexican and Latin American food. The choices are still astonishing. I wish I could have had a chance to eat a cachapa and some Caribbean stews, too. Next time. And there's plenty more Mexican I would love to try.

My favorite spot of the trip was Taqueria Puebla (although, if the huaraches would have been available at Maxwell Street, that might have trumped Puebla). It just fits my sensibilities perfectly. I still left Chicago a bit disappointed with the upscale Mexican, but I'm willing to try it again on my next trip.

Thanks for all the help in planning the trip.