Yesterday's RIA Daily Digest wrote:Bourbon Cocktails with Midwestern Names at Big Star

New bourbon cocktails at Big Star borrow names from Midwestern cities for
a fresh batch of libations made with Michigan cherries, housemade lemonade
and ginger soda.

Berrien County Youth Fair is a blend of Elmer T. Lee bourbon, angostura
bitters and, in honor of the state fair it's named after, Michigan cherry
juice. The Berrien County Youth Fair is an annual festival of
entertainment, animal attractions and art exhibits that takes place in
Berrien Springs, Michigan, amid the heart of Midwest cherry country.

Big Star serves an adult rendition of a quenching summer standby with its
Lawrenceburg Lemonade. Named after a town in Tennessee, the drink features
housemade lemonade spiked with Wild Turkey 101 bourbon.

The Winchester cocktail takes its name from a town in Kentucky where a
ginger soda called Ale-8-One was first invented in the early 1900s. The
libation is made with Old Charter 101 bourbon, angostura bitters and spicy
Ale-8-One.

I could be off but I bet the Lawrenceburg Lemonade is actually named after Lawrenceburg, Kentucky which is where Wild Turkey is made.

Bourbon

Probably, but the name may also be a play on "Lynchburg Lemonade" which is a lemonade/Jack Daniels mix named after the town in Tennessee where that unholy concoction is dredged from the abyss. So I guess it's an easy mistake to make

http://www.bcyf.org/index.php

^^ The Berrien Co. Youth Fair is a real thing and it's happening next week. Don't know if they would mind the B.S. homage, but I can vouch for the use of local sour cherry juice concentrate in bourbon drinks. I have a quart in my freezer now. It's expensive but lasts forever in the freezer (it doesn't solidify) and you don't need much. Supposedly very good for you, too.

I had a sip of the Berrien County a couple weeks ago -- it's very good.

Along similar lines, I was interested to learn that DeKuyper actually makes a Michigan cherry liqueur. I've noticed that some Michigan bars have been using it like water. (Jeff - Have you come across it in Michigan?) It's sweeter than what I usually like in drinks, but I appreciate the pungent cherry aroma and robust flavor.

Folks that know me know I really like Big Star(as expressed in this thread). Today we decided to hit there since were were up in Niles for a function and basically in the neighborhood.

Sat outside for the first time, and enjoyed some more of this beautiful mid-August weather. Great service as always, and a cheap light, late lunch. A shot of Herradura Plata, and 2 High Lifes, as well as 2 fish tostadas, a pork belly taco, some chips, and the serrano pepper onion mix. Total tab before tip $24, cant beat it.

Food was good as always, I now have a new favorite, I thought the fish tostadas were top notch, and I had to fight our 3.5 y.o. for the fish. Just a perfect mix of ingredients, I have said it before simple is better, ingredients, presentation, etc. Other items were solid as well.

I think I spyed some of those darned "hipsters" many post(complain) about, as well as some jocks, nerds,yuppies, breeders, suburbanites, and any other demographic that may be found in a big city & can be stereotyped( ). Folks kept to themselves, and all seemed to be having a good time. Music flowed: Jackson Brown, Bob Dylan, CNSY, etc.

I have to give a big tip of the Sox hat to p_g for taking me to Big Star a few months ago, I have gone back quite a few times since, and loved every time. I prefer sitting inside personally as you get more of the vibe of the place, but I would sit outside again. Like most places, take tips on what to order & when to go and you wont be steered wrong. Beer, tequila & bourbon for drinks. Pork belly, fish tostadas, maybe guac to eat. You will leave happy.

Admitted former Napervillian(I lived there when it was still a farm town) enjoying life & Big Star:



fish tostadas:



shaymeister going after the fish:



We will be back again and again.

jimswside wrote:Folks kept to themselves, and all seemed to be having a good time.

That's too bad; at a wild west saloon, folks keeping to themselves is probably preferable, but at an urban bar, you'd hope people would socialize with each other.

aschie30 wrote:

jimswside wrote:Folks kept to themselves, and all seemed to be having a good time.

That's too bad; at a wild west saloon, folks keeping to themselves is probably preferable, but at an urban bar, you'd hope people would socialize with each other.

Um, definitely not all of them.

In all seriousness, my interactions with folks I didn't already know at Big Star have been positive. One occasion in particular, we needed 2 seats together at the bar and there weren't any. Seeing this, a nice patron offered to move without us even having to ask. I offered to buy his next round and he kindly accepted.

=R=

I was kidding and responding to "reassurances" about the clientele at Big Star -- I don't think anyone ever said (or implied) in the thread that the people at Big Star (hipsters though they may mostly be) were unfriendly or that it was some type of a shark tank where you have to watch your back. It's a bar that attracts a certain clientele. (I mean, Opie was there last week. Could it get any hipper?) People neither keep to themselves nor act like it's the happiest place on Earth.

aschie30 wrote:That's too bad; at a wild west saloon, folks keeping to themselves is probably preferable, but at an urban bar, you'd hope people would socialize with each other.

Or at least text the person next to them.

Jim's fish tostadas look tasty and Shay appears to be having a heck of a good time. Nice sunny day, family, good food and drink, a nice afternoon for the Quinn's

We had some brief interaction with a group near us, all good.

We were there as a family, not out networking.

aschie30 wrote:It's a bar that attracts a certain clientele. (I mean, Opie was there last week. Could it get any hipper?)

It can totally get hipper: Christopher Kimball was there a couple weeks ago.

gleam wrote:

aschie30 wrote:It's a bar that attracts a certain clientele. (I mean, Opie was there last week. Could it get any hipper?)

It can totally get hipper: Christopher Kimball was there a couple weeks ago.

There you go. A real country boy like Kimball just doesn't go anywhere.

N.B. To give some perspective on Big Star, I was there late afternoon Saturday, and we were part of the oldest demographic there -- and we're in our mid- to late-30s. Most clientele was far younger -- don't mean to start a debate about how welcoming it is -- I'm just offering a data point. Make no mistake: this is the hippest place in Chicago right now for the under-30 crowd.

RIA Weekly Digest for September 6, 2010 wrote:New Tostada, Taco and Sonoran Hot Dog at Big Star

Chorizo tostadas, chicken tacos and Mexican-style hot dogs are new to the
menu at Big Star.

Crunchy flat tortilla shells are topped with spicy chorizo, potatoes,
refried beans, crema and queso fresco for the new tostada, while the tinga
de pollo features chicken, chipotle, chorizo, garlic and tomato folded in a
soft corn tortilla and garnished with crema, lettuce and queso fresco.

The big addition to Big Star is the Sonoran hot dog, a bacon-wrapped
all-beef sensation stuffed into a toasted Mexican bolillo roll with
mayonnaise, yellow mustard, jalapeño sauce, pinto beans, onions and
tomatoes.

Hit the take-out window on Sunday night to try a couple of the new items. The chicken thigh/chorizo taco is even better than the pork belly in this chorizo-lover's opinion. I found the potato/chorizo tostada good as well, though it was eclipsed by the taco and was somewhat difficult to eat.

happy_stomach wrote:

RIA Weekly Digest for September 6, 2010 wrote:The big addition to Big Star is the Sonoran hot dog, a bacon-wrapped
all-beef sensation stuffed into a toasted Mexican bolillo roll with
mayonnaise, yellow mustard, jalapeño sauce, pinto beans, onions and
tomatoes.

Word of the bacon-wrapped all-beef sensation ($6) was enough to lure me back to Big Star after a 10 month absence.



Sensational. Or at least very good. One thing that sets this dog apart from LA street dogs or those here on 26th (I haven't been to Tucson) is the quality of ingredients. The beans, the tomatoes, the bolillo—all stood out. The bolillo might have been a bit too crusty for this application but that's a minor quibble. I hope the Sonoran dog will stay on the menu because it's pretty much unique in Chicago (quite different from the bacon dog at Delicias Mexicanas). A glance around to see what people were eating showed lots and lots of tacos but no hot dogs. It might be a hard sell when you can get three tacos for the price of one hot dog but hopefully word will get around how tasty these things are.

Rene G wrote: I hope the Sonoran dog will stay on the menu because it's pretty much unique in Chicago (quite different from the bacon dog at Delicias Mexicanas). ...

FWIW, Doug has one too:

I had the Sonoran Dog last week and thought it was outstanding, as did my buddies. All components work perfectly together. I love the crispy beefy dog and the crusty bread with all the toppings drooped over it. The salsa has some nice heat and the raw onions give you some stanken' breath, but provide a nice oniony crunch. It's a beautiful mess. The best of all is that the dog actually fits in the huge bun with little extra breading at the end. It's the priciest thing on the menu but its also a pretty darn big sammich.

I've been there a few more times since ordering it, I live in the hood, and as Rene G stated have never seen anyone else order it. When I got it one of the bartenders wasn't selling it very well to some guys so when I was close to done I looked over and said, 'This is amazing'. He said, "It looks like it". But still haven't seen anyone else try it. I hope it stays on the menu, at least for awhile. Gotta get back for another.

thepld wrote:I had the Sonoran Dog last week and thought it was outstanding, as did my buddies. All components work perfectly together. I love the crispy beefy dog and the crusty bread with all the toppings drooped over it. The salsa has some nice heat and the raw onions give you some stanken' breath, but provide a nice oniony crunch. It's a beautiful mess. The best of all is that the dog actually fits in the huge bun with little extra breading at the end. It's the priciest thing on the menu but its also a pretty darn big sammich.

I've been there a few more times since ordering it, I live in the hood, and as Rene G stated have never seen anyone else order it. When I got it one of the bartenders wasn't selling it very well to some guys so when I was close to done I looked over and said, 'This is amazing'. He said, "It looks like it". But still haven't seen anyone else try it. I hope it stays on the menu, at least for awhile. Gotta get back for another.

thanks for the info, I hope they keep it on the menu, at least through next Saturday when I am going to Big Star next.

not mentioned in this thread (I think), but the new taco and tostada replaced the braised lamb taco and the chicken tostada.

I preferred the chicken tostada to the new chorizo tostada, but I haven't quite decided on the new tacos.

That is all.

i have been wanting to get a glimpse of the Sonoran hot dog since hearing of its arrival.

Checking out the Big Star website today they have a nice picture of it(scroll down the main page a little). Looks like a heck of a snack. I cant wait to try it Saturday. I dont think $6 is too outrageous.



im sure their is a link to their website somewhere else on this thread, but here it is again.

http://www.bigstarchicago.com

That Sonoran dog is bloody excellent. It will end up covering most of your hands and face by the time you're done, but it's totally worth it.

cilantro wrote:That Sonoran dog is bloody excellent. It will end up covering most of your hands and face by the time you're done, but it's totally worth it.

thats great to hear, and has me craving the Sonoran dog even more.

jimswside wrote:i have been wanting to get a glimpse of the Sonoran hot dog since hearing of its arrival.

Rene G has a Sonoran hot dog pic just upthread. Looks tasty.

G Wiv wrote:

jimswside wrote:i have been wanting to get a glimpse of the Sonoran hot dog since hearing of its arrival.

Rene G has a Sonoran hot dog pic just upthread. Looks tasty.

In case one is not enough . . .

So far the sonoran hot dog has been the only clunker I have tried @ Big Star, nice bun, good quality char dog, nice beans). TOo much mustard, chewy undercooked bacon, and just too damn much going on imho.

Drinks, atmosphere, music, and company were as good as ever, and others enjoyed their assortment of tacos. I enjoyed a glass of mezcal neat, and a couple High Lifes.

I will not order the Sonoran dog again, just didnt work for me.








I still love me some Big Star.

Stopped in last night with my wife, crowded as ever (the nice-for-early-October evening undoubtedly contributing). We grabbed two seats at the bar. We ordered one of each of the four tacos and two tostadas.

Plus: the beer and whiskey selection (even though they were out of like three beers I tried to order), the al pastor taco is delicious (and at 2 bucks including tax competitive with the price of a taco at a place like Las Asadas, which is impressive give their location near Milwaukee/North/Damen), the chicken and chorizo taco (tinga de pollo) was probably my favorite of everything. Really, all the tacos were good, but those two stood out over the other two. Music was good, and love seeing that turntable in there. I liked their salsas and ended up eating more of the salsa with the chips than the guac.

Meh: I wasn't overly impressed with the chorizo tostada. Absolutely drowning in crema and cheese. I wouldn't turn it down, but I much preferred all of the tacos

Not so good: the fish tostada was REALLY fishy tasting. The guac was extremely overloaded with lime juice (it overpowered everything else in the guac, about all you could taste was lime) -- my wife guessed that it might be because the avocados weren't good/ripe enough and they were trying to hide that, and upon getting that fish tostada she was proven correct -- the avocado on it did not look right, and didn't taste all that great either. I'm assuming with as much as some others like the fish tostada that this was an off night, but I'm not sure I'd want to give it another chance, it was not pleasant.

The absurd/laugh-inducing: sitting at the bar, two young women stood next to our seats and were loudly talking about all the guys they'd slept with over the summer.

All in all, a good experience -- I now know what I'll order in the future (though I'll always try something new on the menu). Maybe someone can convince me to try that fish tostada again.

Just left. It's a lovely day and I was able to get a seat at the bar immediately.

Service was deft. I had the chard taco. I never would have put chard in a taco. The greens were cooked in a thin pepper/tomato sauce with lots of garlic & a bit of heat. Then topped with a thin slice of cheese that was melted.

A very simple preparation for chard but, really, really good. I could eat that every day.

I also ordered the much loved dulce de leche milkshake. This had to be sent back. It's way too salty for my taste. The woman next to me also thought it was too salty but said that mine wasn't an error and apparently that's how folks like it. This just had too many similarities to non-food & that's all I'm going to say about it.

I will be back again for the food.

aschie30 wrote:

jimswside wrote:Folks kept to themselves, and all seemed to be having a good time.

That's too bad; at a wild west saloon, folks keeping to themselves is probably preferable, but at an urban bar, you'd hope people would socialize with each other.

I had to have it again. It was even more packed tonight (a bit after 7, than yesterday afternoon at 1 pm). My food was there so quick I couldn't believe it. This time the chard was with oyster mushrooms.

People didn't keep to themselves. I got kissed by beckoning a guy(who had earlier asked if the seat next to me was empty) to my seat at the bar when I was ready to go.

Bonus- It was Mick & the Boys on vinyl. "Miss You" is such a Chicago cut, huge in the House Music community.

Filed in the WTW Category: I also got carded. Is there a full moon?

What is up with their "no modifications" policy? I tried to order a couple of tacos today without cilantro and was abruptly told "no modifications". I completely understand declining to modify menu items significantly, but I've never had a problem withholding one ingredient from a dish anywhere from Blackbird to Las Asadas. Also, the place was not at all busy when I was there and there was nobody else even in line at the take out window. I find this rigid enforcement of policy to be puzzling, extremely off-putting and kind of pretentious. I have a strong dislike of cilantro so I made do with a delicious carne asada burrito from La Pasadita...