My own private Chicago, and yours

I've decided to launch a project to visit all of the pushpins on my own personal map of Chicago restaurants and resources. I don't think I'll finish this by the end of the year, but the important thing is to start.

In addition to the map I keep (in Microsoft Streets and Trips), the last few years, I've bought Time Out Chicago's "Eating and Drinking" edition, to gather more ideas and tips (and addresses and costs and hours). This is a tangent, but I'm a bit disappointed, for several reasons, with the 2011 issue that I picked up the other day. One, I don't know how long it's been out, but there are some changes of the past few months that aren't reflected: places closed, chef changes, etc. Maybe it was on the stands in late 2010 and I just didn't notice for 3 months. Two - and maybe this is just an indication of the time I spend on LTH and my growing awareness of the Chicago food environment, but - I'm disappointed that they give space to describing places they really don't recommend and leave out places they ought to recommend, or at least mention, given their popularity. (No Malnati's in the Italian/Pizza section? Where does a place like Mrs. Murphy's and Sons go, if there's no Irish section and anyplace Irish is lumped in with "Bars and Lounges"? Why are Gabriel's in Highwood and Big Ed's in North Chicago the only two places north of Lake-Cook Road worth mentioning? Not even Carlos's, in the French section? Many of the inclusions and exclusions of this 2011 edition mystify me.) Three, having all college-age men described as "frat boys" gets tiresome. Fourth, even more tiresome, crowded places described as "asses to elbows." Is that a familiar expression to everyone but me? But those are just my gripes. I'm curious to hear if anyone else has opinions to share on the latest Eating edition of TOC.

So, anyway, I went through it with a highlighter and Post-its, as I do every year. But it's organized by cuisine, which is of course very useful in some respects, but not so much for exploration or systematic research. I don't foresee My Unadventurous Eater enjoying everything I bring home for dinner for a month being Vietnamese, or Greek, or Indian/Pakistani. I also don't see how we're going to be able to afford the Steakhouse month. So though I view the Time Out guide as a useful reference, I'm going at this by neighborhoods and areas, 'cuz I'm a map-loving kinda geek.

Here's the first zone I'm going to explore for this project: for my convenience, I'm calling it South Side Irish, and no, they're not all Irish places, and no, you don't need to tell me where the South Side Irish are really located, that's just what I named the map. These places are located fairly conveniently to my drives home from Champaign on I-57, around the confluence of I-57, I-294, and I-80. I have never yet been to any of these places.

1. Galway Tribes, Frankfort, IL
2. Nancy's Pizza, New Lenox, IL - because I love Nancy's stuffed pizza and haven't had it in years; yes, there are other locations, but this is in the zone

3. Czimer's Game and Seafood, Homer Glen, IL
4. Winston's Market, Tinley Park, IL - Irish foods
5. Traverso's, Orland Park, IL - Chicago tavern-style
6. Maple Tree Inn, Blue Island, IL - Cajun/Creole
7. Nick's Tavern, Lemont, IL - burgers
8. Carraigh Pub at Gaelic Park, Oak Forest, IL
9. Louisa's, Midlothian, IL - deep-dish pizza

I can see it might take me a month or more to be able to hit all these spots, as they're all far from where I live so I can only stop by there on the way home from my trips to Champaign. But I am looking forward to visiting them all.

In the meantime, til I post the results, I'm curious to hear from others how you go about planning to visit places you've heard of and are interested in. It's one thing to have a place "in the rotation"; it's another thing to working your way through the rotation. I'm one of those people who always intends to go to many more places than I ever do actually getting around to going to. So this project is intended as a way to push myself to get out and GO! And EAT! And TAKE IT HOME!

I haven't been to any of the places you listed, so I'm looking forward to seeing what you think. As for the Time Out Chicago Eating & Drinking Guide, it was on bookshelves in November, so yes, it's been around for several months .

1. Galway Tribes, Frankfort, IL

Long time reader, first post!

Thought I'd chime in to let you know that Galway Tribes moved to Mokena and is now called Tribes Alehouse. I've been once and really enjoyed most everything I tried. The lamb lollipops were perfectly cooked and seasoned for my taste, although my dining companion thought they were a bit too heavy on the rosemary. I also had my first bison burger and it was perfectly pink and juicy. The burger is served on a pretzel bun and topped with a fried onion ring. They had a great selection of beer as well.
I wasn't as impressed with the chicken pot pie that my friend ordered. The pot pie gravy didn't taste homemade to me. Worth a visit for a good beer and the bison burger though. Good luck with your project!

Tribes Alehouse
11220 West Lincoln Highway
Mokena, IL 60448-8208
(815) 464-0248

Thanks to you both for your help and encouragement.

A couple of other things so far that I meant to mention: I am also using the books Slow Food Chicago and Secret Chicago as sources of inspiration. And of course, the GNR's, as they fall within the zones I'm planning to explore. I could be wrong but I don't think there are any GNRs in the zone I'm calling "South Side Irish," in the I-57/284/80 area. Other than Cajun Connection, which is farther out, a separate trip. Another place I'm really psyched to get up of the couch and GO to.

Another comment on Time Out Chicago: Twisted Kilt? Really? Twisted Kilt and not Hooters? I don't get the logic in that.