An al pastor taco with a wonderful freshly made tortilla at the stand next to El Huarache Chilango about 3:00 this afternoon. Beautiful Sunday at the end of October.

Cannoli from Pasticceria Natalina - decadent and wonderful (sorry for the phone photo)

Stephen wrote:Cannoli from Pasticceria Natalina - decadent and wonderful (sorry for the phone photo)

my neighbors are good friends with Nick and Natalie. They have them over to hang out sometimes.

Liver and onions, today for lunch at The Ohio House Restaurant. I like my liver well-done, and onions fried to the heavenly carmelized level - and Carlos the OHR cook was in his element today . . . the meal was perfect for my taste buds.

Bill wrote:Liver and onions, today for lunch at The Ohio House Restaurant. I like my liver well-done, and onions fried to the heavenly carmelized level - and Carlos the OHR cook was in his element today . . . the meal was perfect for my taste buds.

It was Carlos' birthday yesterday. My lunch partner and I got cake. (He's 34)

kafein wrote:

Bill wrote:Liver and onions, today for lunch at The Ohio House Restaurant. I like my liver well-done, and onions fried to the heavenly carmelized level - and Carlos the OHR cook was in his element today . . . the meal was perfect for my taste buds.

It was Carols' birthday yesterday. My lunch partner and I got cake. (He's 34)

I arrived too late, and Carlos' cake was gone. The two of you got the last of the cake!

Today I had the fried egg sandwich and the blackberry bliss cakes from m.henry, both absolutely delicious. I can't remember the last time I had such a good breakfast.

Delicata squash and shrimp soup at Frontera.
Don't let anyone say they've lost it.

The Birria de Chivo was amazing too (if they canned the broth it was served with, they could probably put Campbells out of bizness), and a great followup to a preview of "The Men Who Stare At Goats" (verdict: thumbs waaaay up on the movie and the meal)

Vacio for two (really feeds about 4) at Tango Sur last night along with a deep, inky Malbec from Alta Vista. What a combination.

Too full to order dessert, the house comped us some flan that is probably the best I have had in Chicago.

I love Tango Sur. Once a year it really really really hits the spot like no other steakhouse in Chicago IMHO.

Stephen wrote:Today I had the fried egg sandwich and the blackberry bliss cakes from m.henry, both absolutely delicious. I can't remember the last time I had such a good breakfast.

That's my go-to. I have it almost every time. It's SO GOOD. The bliss cakes are maybe a third, my second choice is Bread Pudding - but I usually get some to split anyway

Habibi wrote:Vacio for two (really feeds about 4) at Tango Sur last night along with a deep, inky Malbec from Alta Vista. What a combination.

Too full to order dessert, the house comped us some flan that is probably the best I have had in Chicago.

I love Tango Sur. Once a year it really really really hits the spot like no other steakhouse in Chicago IMHO.

mmmmmmmmmm...... I always get the Churrasco special with the potatoes. Usually have leftovers.

Bistec tico from Irazu and the leftovers I've been polishing off. Definitely did not bring a big enough portion to work today. Om nom nom.

French onion soup at Paramount Room. It was just really on last night. Very beefy broth and onions topped with a dark piece of bread crisped at the edges, covered with the perfect amount of cheese, and seasoned perfectly.

For me it was the cebiche chifa at La Mar in San Francisco:

Mahi Mahi with peanuts, scallions, ginger, pickled carrots and daikon, habanero pepper, wonton strips and cilantro in sesame leche de tigre.

I could eat it every day. Fan-freakin-tastic chain. Hope they make it to Chicago.

Best thing I've eaten lately? Lunch, today - which I brought from home.



Sandwich: Cajun-spiced shaved turkey breast with provolone cheese on an onion bun, with Boston lettuce and mayo.
Soup: Roasted organic red pepper and tomato
Other: Lime-salt/dusted tortilla chips; medley of olives and cubed feta cheese
Dessert: Blueberry yoghurt
Beverage: Triple filtered water (Lake Michigan)
Location: Café in my office, overlooking the city

Chitown B wrote:

Stephen wrote:Today I had the fried egg sandwich and the blackberry bliss cakes from m.henry, both absolutely delicious. I can't remember the last time I had such a good breakfast.

That's my go-to. I have it almost every time. It's SO GOOD. The bliss cakes are maybe a third, my second choice is Bread Pudding - but I usually get some to split anyway

Thanks for the recommendation, guys! I had the fried egg sandwich this morning. It rocked, big time! Nice brioche cinnamon roll, too. What didn't rock was paying $2.25 for a can of Diet Coke.

ouch. why are you drinking diet coke from a can for breakfast in a restaurant anyway? lol. coffee? OJ?

they do a mean cafe au lait.

I would have gotten the fabled bread pudding but I didn't see it on the menu. Is it a brunch-only thing or should I have just asked?

Bill wrote:Location: Café in my office, overlooking the city

Hell of a picture Bill, lunch looks good as well.

Nice view of the East Bank Club pool.

Stephen wrote:I would have gotten the fabled bread pudding but I didn't see it on the menu. Is it a brunch-only thing or should I have just asked?

for M. Henry, sorry, it's Sundays only (Brunch). Next time!



btw, here is a pic of one of their egg sandwiches. usually (the best when) runny too:

The sweet potato bisque offered at brunch today from Sweets & Savories. It's now at the front of the pack for best soup of the year & therefore in my 10 best things eaten list for the year.

Dairy Maid Ravioli, a Brooklyn institution:



About $4.00 for 36.

Dairy Maid Ravioli Mfg Co.
216 Avenue U,
Brooklyn, NY 11223
(718) 449-2620

Stuffed pheasant thighs at Hopleaf. Stuffed with gorgonzola and golden raisins, then wrapped in their house-made bacon and grilled to perfection. Served with squash puree, and a frisee salad with pecans, honeycrisp apples, and sage brown butter. I walked in simply seeking my bi-weekly fix of St. Feuillien Triple, Kwak, frites, and Belgian style mussels … walked out wishing someone would bet me a couple grand that I couldn’t eat only these stuffed pheasant thighs for a month straight.

The Hopleaf Bar
5148 N. Clark St.
Chicago
773-334-9851

While in Vancouver I ate a couple of memorable places:

1) Tojo Sushi - the inventor of the California roll served us the best meal of my life. Even the rock band KISS dined there that night and asked to have their pic taken with Chef Tojo. . this was the freshest fish i've ever eaten. The 5 course meal included Tojo Tuna, Scallops, Halibut in an light citrus cream sauce, red tuna, and then a tray of single pieces of his 6 favorite maki rolls, some of which had king crab and lobster.

This was a religious experience. Despite being a headbanger I only sought Tojo's picture, and didn't blink twice at KISS. . or Shannon Tweed who was with them.

2) El Medina Cafe - very solid meal of lamb sausage, short ribs and lamb meatballs. Lavendar coffee and white chocolate hazelnut rosewater latte were excellent, as were the dessert waffles.

3) Market - apparently this is a 3 star Michelin (sp?) restaurant that is going at half price until the Olympics to get up to speed and spread the word. The best lamb chops of my life, but the lobster was below average. Beef short ribs, oysters and carpaccio pizza were very good.

4) La Casa Gelato - 218 flavors. the Fig-almond gelato was sent from God, and was chunky and amazing.

inter4alia wrote:Stuffed pheasant thighs at Hopleaf. Stuffed with gorgonzola and golden raisins, then wrapped in their house-made bacon and grilled to perfection. Served with squash puree, and a frisee salad with pecans, honeycrisp apples, and sage brown butter. I walked in simply seeking my bi-weekly fix of St. Feuillien Triple, Kwak, frites, and Belgian style mussels … walked out wishing someone would bet me a couple grand that I couldn’t eat only these stuffed pheasant thighs for a month straight.

The Hopleaf Bar
5148 N. Clark St.
Chicago
773-334-9851

wow that sounds amazing. I live really close to Hopleaf but I always forget to go there. I liked their duck reuben a lot. I'll have to stop by for that pheasant!

Ghazi, you dined at the place that invented the California roll, with KISS and Shannon Tweed??? I hope you were wearing you Members' Only jacket and throwback Pumas.

I punished about 3 pounds of all you can eat crablegs at Glenn's Diner. Best thing I've eaten in a while!

pasta pronto wrote:I punished about 3 pounds of all you can eat crablegs at Glenn's Diner. Best thing I've eaten in a while!

my wife wants to go there bad, she keeps talking about seeing it.

Great meal last night at MK's weekly Wine on Wednesday, which my husband and I agree at $25/person is one of the best values in town. Last night's menu and wine pairings were individually fine, together a knockout meal:

2008 shaya, verdejo, rueda, spain
pan seared skate wing, braised fennel, rosemary scented orange purée

2008 st. urbans-hof, ockfener bockstein, kabinett, mosel, germany
foie gras profiteroles with red onion marmalade

2007 two hands, shiraz, angels share, mclaren vale, australia
roasted bison ribeye, brussels sprouts, tokyo turnips, juniper reduction

The skate wing was particularly well done...perfectly cooked and complemented beautifully by the heady orange puree. This is our second Wine on Wednesday dinner, and we've left both times asking ourselves why we don't do this every week. Service in the bar is relaxed and comfortable, and Chef Erick Williams and Sommelier Patrick Ewald seem to really enjoy visiting tables to talk about the food and wine. Great food and great experience.