Perfect half day adventures: Veterans, Filberts, Eds, BomBon

I have not taken a Saturday off of home chores or work (other than days out of town) for some time and it was long overdue.

After reading Rene G’s posts on Tamales, and in particular following the link to his post on Veteran Tamale Shop, I knew it was time for a little trip to the Southside.

Even after making a few batches of hommade soda that morning (See Process Here), I also wanted to hit Filbert's for some insiration, backup and general summer stockup for my nephews.

Round that out with lunch at Ed's Potsticker House...post here more times, than you need links to....we had the perfect makings of a Half Day Chow Adventure.

Rene G describes the VTS in as much detail as you need; however, I would add that they have plenty of catering supplies if you are throwing a party...this could be a one-stop party shop. The folks that were behind the counter were extremly pleasant...more so than I would be working on a Saturday.

The guy at Filbert's pop shop said business was slow all day...given one of the first hot weekends, I thought this a bit strange. I'm not sure if they raised the prices, but I paid $9 a case, still worth the fun of picking them out. Better still, I managed to snag some grapefruit soda, which there never seem to have had any other time I stopped.

We finished up with lunch at Ed's. Spot on as usual. An Asian gentlemen even leaned over when he saw that I had ordered the pork and scallion pancake and remarked that we ordered some good stuff. I said it was one of my favorites....I need to go more often.

You can hit all three of these places in the span of an hour and a half with lunch. We busted the time budget and headed to BomBom for dessert. Kahlua Tre Leches, carmel empanada and a lemon merinuge tarta that rocked.

Perfect half day adventure.

pd


Veteran Tamale Shop
"A Chicagoland Favorite Since 1947"
3133 S Archer Av
(a very short walk from the Orange Line Ashland stop)
Chicago
773-927-1282
Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm; Sat, 8am-4pm

Ed's Potsticker House
3139 S. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60608

Filberts Pop Shop
3430 S. Ashland
Chicago, IL 60608

BomBon Bakery
1508 W. 18th St.
Chicago
312-733-7788

pdaane wrote:The guy at Filbert's pop shop said business was slow all day...

Peter,

I'm guessing business is slow is the norm at Filbert's and, for the life of my I don't know why. $9 for a case of 24 bright flavored sodas in glass bottles, with Black Cherry worthy of national recognition, warehouse/factory of the type that's on the endangered species list, and a cool old time production line that would make Rube Goldberg smile.

Filbert's







The fellow on duty was quite helpful, giving us a Filbert's history lesson, custom packing a case of 24 sodas, just generally friendly, an honestly nice fellow.



Enjoy,
Gary

Filberts Quality Beverages
3430 S. Ashland
Chicago, IL 60608
773-847-1520

As Gary's pictures show, Filbert's has an impressive display of beverage cans and bottles. The display was put up in the last year so I hadn't seen it before and spent a fair bit of time admiring it. I was particularly fond of the G-H section of soda bottles.

Anyone happen to know if Filbert's is still open on Saturdays? I called, but they were already closed and the recording doesn't say.