Evanston Lunch Group, Simple Gourmet, Friday July 17 12:30

Hi, all - hopefully, July weather will continue to improve, so I propose we eat at one of Evanston's outdoor-only places: Simple Gourmet. I've enjoyed my couple of stops there for take-out.

They have several tables immediately outside, so if the weather cooperates we should be able to eat right there. If the weather isn't cooperating (within reason) I propose we view the menu online ahead of time, y'all place an order with me, I'll pick it up and meet you at the Lagoon picnic shelter at relatively nearbyDawes Park, Sheridan Rd. at Church St. by the lake.

Hope to see you there!

Simple Gourmet
1459 elmwood avenue
evanston, illinois 60201
847.332.2100

Sounds good and count me in. JOJO

I'm in.

Hope to be able to make it but,now we are also in search of an appartment.I am really thinking of moving back to France,at least there I have a house and medical insurance !!!Catherine

Ten-day forecast is now in our favor. Look forward to seeing you all there!

Hi, I'm looking forward to joining you.

Evy

Hi''this is what I would like if you are still taking orders!
NOT SO SIMPLE SANDWICH choice of carved turkey with brie and cranberry fig chutney on a baguette with the rest of the stuff....


I'll make some gogi lemon tea with honey for anyone who wants to try it. Please bring your own cup/etc.

JOJO.

I guess I was stilll looking at the rain forecast. Be glad to order there. Still will bring the gogi lemon tea. JOJO.


I am at Wellness House in Hinsdale before,s o I might be a tad late--depending on traffic. JOJO.

Tell you what - since the weather seems to be so changeable, I will make a determination that morning and post whether we will brave the outdoors or hide in the picnic shelter and will post here, so if you're planning to come, check the thread at around 9:30 am. (I do note that the current weather forecast says no rain, but it will be a bit chilly) However, JOJO, your order is noted if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Lemon tea sounds lovely...

I'll be there. I'm banking on no rain...

My schedule finally cleared out, and I'll be able to join you Friday at Simple Gourmet--looking forward to it!

The latest weather forecast I saw moved the chance of rain from Friday to Saturday, so it looks like we might be able to eat outside at SG. Hope so, as I don't know what the parking situation is at Dawes Park.... I was also wondering whether we would have access to the picnic shelter there on Friday, as the Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday around the lagoon, and they could be setting up on Friday. I'll drive by today to take a look "just in case."

As of 3:30 this afternoon, the picnic shelter by the lagoon (behind the snack bar--this is the space we're talking about, right?) looked like it was piled high with parking/no parking signs and the international flags they put around the lagoon for the festival. I tried to find someone to ask if the shelter would be usable on Friday, but couldn't find anyone who knew anything. Is there another shelter that I missed? (BTW, the parking lot there is with boat launch permit only.)

No, that would be the one - at this moment, it looks like we're OK, weather-wise. There is a parking lot on the street side of the picnic shelter, though. If it rains, I'll do some fast thinking at 9:30am...there's a shelter at Lighthouse beach, but it isn't really close...

OK, folks, I think it's safe to call it not rainy (duck) I'll see you all at 12:30 at Simple Gourmet!

It was very nice to see some ELGers and to meet Jojo. We were able to sit outside at Simple Gourmet even though there was a tiny bit of rain. This take-out food business with a few tables outside across from the Evanston police station had several soups available (gazpacho and shrimp bisque), several sandwiches, a panini special, and some cooked dishes, several of which are vegetarian. I tried both soups, which were good. The bisque was rich and creamy; the gazpacho was made without bread, as MHays pointed out, but it was tasty if a little bit bland. The zucchini pancakes were surprisingly zingy--probably my favorite dish. The raw beet salad was blah--and I'm a beet lover. Cookies were very good--I took two along to my next appointment. It's a fairly small operation, not as big as the similar A la Carte in Wilmette, but it's a nice option if you're in the area and want a good takeaway.

Thanks, everyone, for coming out and braving the sprinkles! I liked all the food I had quite a bit - I had the panini of the day - a fried green tomato BLT, which was good enough that I plan to imitate it at home (hey, fried tomato, fried bacon, how could it be wrong?) My potato salad with green beans, dill, and feta was also tasty. (Since I don't really like beets, I did like EvA's salad of raw beets) However, the star of the show for me was EvA's generously shared shrimp bisque, which made me go back for a cup of my own that was eaten in the car as a Red-Hen-baguette-dunk while we were running errands (not while we were driving, don't worry - we know delicious soup+moving car=inevitable disaster) And I think I owe EvA some lunch...

Things can be pricey here, but there are values to be had if you want a light lunch - before I saw the fried tomato sandwich, I had my eye on a mini-artichoke-parmesan quiche for $2.50; I think the soups were relatively inexpensive. Things move a bit slowly - there's a surprisingly large staff (I think there were 3, maybe 4 people behind the counter?) but in part that's because paninis are pressed fresh and things are assembled as you order them - though in part, they obviously aren't used to a lunch rush, which there was today - another fairly large group arrived at the same time as we did. Fortunately, there are quite a number of tables and chairs and a reasonable amount of parking; after the food arrived it was very nice to eat outside with such pleasant company - at least, until it started to sprinkle.

I've been remiss in posting photos.


Spicy Beef with roast peppers


Salad Niçoise


Beets and Potato Pancakes


The tidy interior


One of the dessert cupcakes


which Alice, the guest of honor, seemed to enjoy wearing.