Highwood Stop-over: Il Mulino and Miramar

Highwood Stop-over: Il Mulino and Miramar

On Saturday, Lucantonius, Amata, and I went on an outing to the north with the intention of a) getting a chance to spend a little time walking in a wooded setting and perhaps also visiting a nice spot on the lake front and b) going to Kenosha and, among other things, visiting a couple of food destinations there. Having gone to Kenosha several times over the past few months via the Eden's and therefore being bored with the prospect of seeing that route again, we decided to go at least much of the way north along Lake Shore and then Sheridan road. Once that was determined, it occurred to me that we would be travelling fairly near Cathy2's stomping grounds and, in particular, the Sicilian bakery in Highwood that she had written of in the best. Highwood, Illinois thus became for us an interim destination on our trip to Chenoscia.

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Il Mulino is a small bakery -- the actual shop is in any event quite small -- but one which offers a good range of Italian baked goods and even a smattering of Italian grocery items. The two display cases are filled with all manner of delicious looking cookies and pastries and cakes. On a table behind the counter there was a group of large squares of foccaccia dressed with oil and tomato and along the back wall a set of shelves with several piles of Italian bread of various forms.

Our purchases we're: 1) cookies with M&Ms on top, which did not escape the keen eyes of Lucantonius; 2) a filone (long loaf of basic bread -- flour, water, yeast, salt) which, when sampled later that night back at home in Chicago, turned out to be of excellent quality; 3) two arancini, that is, balls of rice (saffron coloured) with at the centre a spoonful of a ragù with tomatoes, ground beef and peas and a chunk of mozzarella, dredged in bread crumbs and fried in olive oil. These arancini were quite delicious and remarkably un-greasy.

All in all, Il Molino looks to be an Italian bakery of high quality and deserving of being more widely known in Chicagoland. Thanks to C2 for bringing this place to our attention.

***

Upon leaving Il Mulino, we all felt it would do well to get something to drink before continuing on our journey. We turned southward, back toward what seemed to be the centre of town and went just a couple of blocks before noting a place that proclaimed itself to be a cafè named the Miramar.

What drew my eye to Miramar was the lengths to which the management had tried to make the place look like a French cafè. And once one enters the establishment, one sees that this desire to recreate a piece of France in Highwood has been taken to almost absurd -- though also pleasantly musingly -- lengths. The floor tiles, the tables, the chairs, the wait station with piles of baguettes and other breads out in the open, the bar, the hard-boiled eggs on the bar, the cigarette display over the bar, the brands of cigarettes offered in the display over the bar (a couple of kinds both of Gitanes and Gauloises), all the signs, the menu, the sink in the bog, the urinals in the men's bog, etc. You get the picture. The only thing missing was the cleaning lady in the rest room with a dish set out on which to collect the bog-fee.

But there's an odd wrinkle thrown in, namely the sub-theme of things Cuban: in one corner of the place, to the left of the bar, is a corner with some signs referring to Cuba and things Cuban, a picture of Che Guevara and what look to be a beret and Castro-hat hanging up. On the menu, which is almost entirely French in character (bistro style food, especially as imagined in this country) and with a number of the items offered being presented under their French name (e.g. gratin de macaroni, poulet rôti, etc.), there also appears a 'Cuban Sandwich', on which Cathy2 has reported not too long ago. They also offer a few drinks (mojito, 'Hemingway daquiri') which share in the Cuban sub-theme. Amata also noted that the wait staff was dressed in guayabera shirts (not so typical in France, at least in my experience!) and the Buena Vista Social Club was the musical background to our visit.

All we had was a Perrier, a juice and a double-espresso. The double espresso was delicious but at $4.50 rather overpriced to my mind. Positive reviews have been posted about the food on egullet and the menu certainly includes lots of nice, fairly simple classic French dishes that I would happily order.

One can't help but wonder why the owner decided to graft the Cuban sub-theme onto this otherwise obsessively French place. I suspect it may just be a little private joke, building on the fact that the name 'Miramar' ('Seaview' in both Occitan/Catalan and Spanish) is the name of a famous hotel in Provence and also a place near Havana.

If we're in the neighbourhood again, we will likely visit both places again.


Antonius (Amataque)

Il Mulino Bakery
530 Sheridan Road
Highwood, IL 60040
847-266-0811

Miramar Bistro
301 Waukegan Avenue
Highwood, IL 60040
847-433-1078
www.miramarbistro.com

I was at Miramar shortly after it opened (stumbled on it bicycling up from here - it's just off the funky sculpture at the end of the bike path going north from Highland Park). Sandwiches, sides, all were great. Especially liked the thin, crisp frites. At the time, I thought the prices were surprisingly reasonable, but I wouldn't be surprised if they've risen since, given its apparent popularity and all the good press it's received. And I believe I read somewhere that the chef is Cuban; thus the Cuban influence.

Hi nr706,

I bike past there often. Is this a spot that a cyclist could comfortably stop at for lunch? Is there outdoor cafe seating? Is management lycra-positive?

Thanks,

Alex

HI,

Gabe Viti is an Italian-American, the Viti family is quite large so my family and I know various members of the family through school and social organizations. Gabe has spent sometime in Cuba, obviously liked it and tries to emulate the experience with Miramar.

I went to Miramar once and posted on my experiences. It is indeed quite popular, a place to be seen and very noisy on weekends. I'm sure I will be there again, though it will be at someone else's initiative.

Antonius and Amata, I would have gladly met you in Highwood. Though I am glad you finally made it up here and from your comments, I know there will be another time.

I biked there, had lunch, ate outside on the sidewalk, although I don't remember what day of the week it was. I tried going back later - on a bike - for lunch on a Sunday, and they weren't open. I don't do lycra when I bike, but my ladyfriend does, and it was not an issue. (Our alternate biking lunch destination - also very biker friendly - is South Gate in Lake Forest.)

Gotta say that I LOVE Miramar. Been there about a half dozen times and I've found the food to be consistently excellent Bistro fare. Service, even during peak hours, was thorough and professional, if not overly warm. The bar is great but a bit pricey at the high end ($9 for a glass of Santa Margherita Pinto Grigio).

I like the Cuban bent of the place but didn't love the Cubano I ordered...probably the one item I liked the least in all my visits there.

However, do try the pate' app, the onion soup, escargot, steak frites, rack of lamb, steak au poive and most definitely the Skate, which is the best I've had anywhere. I thought all these dishes were excellent and good values as well. I have heard some negative reports as well (both upthread and from friends), so I wouldn't say the place is infallable, by any means--only that the upside is excellent and that my experiences there have been relatively consistent.

I posted a bunch of stuff about Miramar here:

Miramar

=R=

At Il Mulino I'd also recommend the sf-something-or-other, a vaguely croissant-like pastry with some cheese (ricotta, maybe?) and orange worked into the dough. I realize I'm describing this badly, but when I gave the description to an Italian friend, she immediately knew what I meant and I think the folks at Il Mulino could work off that description, too. In any case, that pastry is absolutely sublime, especially straight from the oven.

Sfogliatelle? mmmm.....

If they make great sfogliatelle I'm taking the fast road up there next time!

(See this thread for discussion of sfogliatelle from Lezza's and Ferrarra's.)

That sounds right! I should forewarn you that it was the first one of these I've had, so I don't know how it compares, but it tasted awfully good to me. I also don't know that they have them every day, so it might pay to call first.

Treasure Island, at least the Clybourn store, carries bread from Il Mulino. Some loaves have the Highwood address on the bag, others are labled IL Mulino di Valenzano with a Franklin Park address while still others have bags with the Highwood address and a sticker with the Franklin Park address. The breads are generally quite good. Does anyone know the story on this. It sounds as if they have a second wholesale bakery in Franklin Park. The address apears to be in an industrial area. Carnation parallels Manheim Road one block west with street numbers the same as Chicago for north-south streets.

3849 Carnation Street
Franklin Park IL 60131

Hi,

Il Mulino does have a larger bread bakery, which you have identified. When you talk to them, there are things made on premises in Highwood and others which are not.

Several years ago, I brought a Muffuletta sandwich to a party. While collecting the ingrediants at other Italian shops in Highwood, I casually dropped in at Il Mulino to purchase a round loaf of bread. None was available, though they had round bread loaves rising in the rear. If I came back in 90 minutes, then I could pick up a fresh loaf.

I will try to stop by there at lunch tomorrow to learn more.

Regards,

HI,

Yesterday I went over to Il Mulino to see what is available for Christmas. They had a marzipan wrapped fruit cake, which they suggested was the perfect hostess gift. They had three different themed Buche de Noel.

There were several items new to me:
- Bakery pan pizza
- Ham and cheese croissants
- Apple and cherry strudel. Years ago there was a bakery where Gabriel's is located today. They offered apple and cherry strudels, which look very much like was offered years ago. If they place wasn't so busy, I would have chatted up the owner more. Maybe it is wishful thinking on my part, I was wondering if someone from this long gone bakery was now on board.

I took home an artichoke calzone, which was a snack yesterday and breakfast today.

This tiny place has more of a bakery feel than most bakeries in my area.

Regards,