Cathy's Ultimate Soul Food Diner

Reading today's Sun Times online, I was perusing it's soul food recommendations when I ran cross the following blurb for Cathy's which, honestly, Ihave never tried:

Cathy's Ultimate Soul Food Diner
5638 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL
(773) 287-9510

http://www.cathysultimate.com

Hours: breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday

It's fitting that this West Side restaurant is dedicated to the owner's late mother, a former Board of Education cook; the banquet hall schools patrons daily in traditional soul-food dishes. Beef ribs, pork chops and chicken (smothered in Southern-style gravy) top the menu, but don't forget to take a gander at the side dishes, especially the inimitable smoked turkey potato salad.that doesn't suit you, Cathy also serves up "monster" sandwiches, "super" salads (including the Junk Salad, with sunflower seeds and raisins) and "mega" desserts, plus a full breakfast menu. Nothing will run you much more than $10.

I was wondering if anyone had tried it or had any good feedback on it.

Hi,

I had heard of it, though hadn't yet gone. Of course, anything named Cathy does arouse my interest. This is at least the 3rd soulfood eating establishment I have encountered where it is named after a deceased relative.

Thanks for the reminder!

Regards,

Weird how it works, I just drove past this place the other day and was very intrigued but could not remember reading about it on the forum. After browsing through the menu ill have to give it a try soon, looks good. The "jerked spare ribs" sound very intriguing. The jerked pork found at the jerk stands throughout Jamaica is my death row dinner. Its impossible to find anything close in Chicago.

The only place I can find for this dish is my backyard, where I smoke a bunch of jerk rubbed rib tip slabs (a recipe I got on a trip to Negril) from Peoria packing and after a few hours in the smoker and a trip to my chopping block, where I chop them up bone and all with a machete and you got a little taste of the Islands on Chicago's northside.

Da Beef wrote:Weird how it works, I just drove past this place the other day and was very intrigued but could not remember reading about it on the forum. After browsing through the menu ill have to give it a try soon, looks good. The "jerked spare ribs" sound very intriguing. The jerked pork found at the jerk stands throughout Jamaica is my death row dinner. Its impossible to find anything close in Chicago.

The only place I can find for this dish is my backyard, where I smoke a bunch of jerk rubbed rib tip slabs (a recipe I got on a trip to Negril) from Peoria packing and after a few hours in the smoker and a trip to my chopping block, where I chop them up bone and all with a machete and you got a little taste of the Islands on Chicago's northside.

Anything that manages to meld pork, woodsmoke and machetes into a single dish has easily captured my interest.

The Wife and I stopped in last Sunday and had some soul favs like smothered chicken with greens and yams (all good, and a helluva deal at about 10 bucks).

Sunday is church group day, and they were out out of lots of stuff, including service (in a room of four tables, two tables just up and left when they were not served).

One thing I really liked: caramel cake, just simple yellow cake layered and topped with what seemed melted Kraft caramels.

I would not place this joint in the upper echelon of soul restaurants in Chicago, but it ain't bad and for the price, it's attractive.

PS. Pete, I wouldn't count on much woodsmoke at Cathy's -- there was no evidence of a smoker; I was planning on getting the jerk, but it's not offered on Sunday (specials change daily).

Thanks, Hammond. Did either of you get to try the potato salad with smoked turkey?

YourPalWill wrote:Thanks, Hammond. Did either of you get to try the potato salad with smoked turkey?

They were out of it. I wouldn't recommend going on Sunday, as we did.

Da Beef wrote:The only place I can find for this dish is my backyard, where I smoke a bunch of jerk rubbed rib tip slabs (a recipe I got on a trip to Negril) from Peoria packing and after a few hours in the smoker and a trip to my chopping block, where I chop them up bone and all with a machete and you got a little taste of the Islands on Chicago's northside.

Hey Da Beef,

I'm just hoping against hope that you have found a source for pimento wood to duplicate the true Island flavor of jerk pork. I've been looking for this wood stateside for a number of years and have come up empty.

stevez,

Still no luck, I actually searched the internet for about an hour yesterday trying to find a good priced source that can supply quantity. All the leads led me back to that place in Minnesota, linked below. A few chunks of hickory with some allspice berries thrown on top is as close as I have gotten to re-creating the flavor.

I just might have to order a "complete jerk kit" for use this summer, not priced great but when you are the only supplier on the block I guess that's to be expected.

http://www.pimentowood.com/Pimento_Wood ... _Wood.html

Da Beef wrote:I just might have to order a "complete jerk kit" for use this summer, not priced great but when you are the only supplier on the block I guess that's to be expected.

I can try to ask the jerk store -- I was told they called and left a message, but I haven't been able to find out what it was.

We went there last year (or was it the year before?) for my birthday. We had the fried chicken (yummy, juicy, and incredibly tender; not greasy; could have used salt), corn muffin (good flavor but too dry), beans (so delightfully spicy!), greens for me (too vinegary for my taste but I'm not familiar with the preparing of greens), and fried corn for my Date (heavenly and slightly peppery). Then they came out with a giant on-the-house slice of red velvet cake, 4 layers high, with cream cheese frosting and walnuts. That was a great topper to an already belly-busting meal (they really do feed you a lot for not much money). Supposedly The Date didn't tip off the kitchen that it was my birthday, it was just a coincidence that they brought the piece out. And it was so tender and buttery. Please go, the service is very friendly and the place is attractive with plenty of parking. You won't be disappointed.

I drive by this place all the time and have been itching to try it out for at least a year now. I will definitely take the plunge now.

Anybody know what the deal is with this place? I tried going online to see if they make special order cakes, but their website is "not found".

Here's the original thread (in which you posted last year):

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=18066

It's very close to home for me, so I may drive past tonight and let you know if it's still active.

I've had two wonderful meals recently at Cathy's. I thought the food was way better than what I've had at MacArthur's nearby. This is what I liked the most:

lemon pepper grilled catfish--delicious, light seasoning yet very tasty with great texture.
fried chicken--I really liked the chicken as it was crispy, juicy, and not too greasy
collard greens--loved them. Cooked just right, very flavorful, not too salty, and with a slight vinegar taste that I appreciated
green beans--extremely tender, rich in flavor, delicious (perhaps cooked with ham hocks as well)
hot water corn bread--very moist, best corn bread I've had in a while, and I like this a lot better than the regular corn muffins

I've not yet tried the desserts, but I hear the Caramel Walnut Cheesecake is very popular. I would also like to return for the oxtail stew (served Wednesdays). I believe Cathy makes everything on the menu in her own kitchen.

Anyone been here lately? I drove by today and it looked closed down.

Their website still is not found and their phone number is disconnected. Noooooooo! They had the moistest red velvet cake that we got for free at my birthday dinner (they didn't even know!). And I never got to try the buffet.

One to take off my "good GNR candidate list."

cilantro wrote:

Da Beef wrote:I just might have to order a "complete jerk kit" for use this summer, not priced great but when you are the only supplier on the block I guess that's to be expected.

I can try to ask the jerk store -- I was told they called and left a message, but I haven't been able to find out what it was.

Had to laugh when i read this - it reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Costanza waits all day for the perfect response to embarass the coworker who had previously embarrassed him. . . ."Well. . the Jerk Store called. . . and they're out of you!"

Anyone? Bueller?

Ghazi wrote:

cilantro wrote:

Da Beef wrote:I just might have to order a "complete jerk kit" for use this summer, not priced great but when you are the only supplier on the block I guess that's to be expected.

I can try to ask the jerk store -- I was told they called and left a message, but I haven't been able to find out what it was.

Had to laugh when i read this - it reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Costanza waits all day for the perfect response to embarass the coworker who had previously embarrassed him. . . ."Well. . the Jerk Store called. . . and they're out of you!"

Anyone? Bueller?

HA HA HA HA! The Jerk Store called. That cracks me up every time I think of it. One of the Top 5 episodes of the series. Very Nice !!!!