Five Days of Gluttony

My brother's coming to visit from NYC this summer. The last time he was here, Fogo de Chao and Gibson's were about the upper-end of my dining experience. I plan to make up for my past sins. For starters, I convinced him to schedule his visit during the GCM Chefs Barbecue (Jul 21).

Anyway, I'm trying to hash out a potential eating plan, and was hoping for some feedback. (And maybe some lipitor, if you've got any handy.)

Thu - Hot Doug's, GCM Summer BBQ
Fri - Graham Elliot
Sat - Tank Noodle, David Burke Primehouse
Sun - North Pond (Brunch), Spacca Napoli
Mon - Purple Pig
Tue - ??? (see below)

Hoosier Mama and Black Dog will probably be sprinkled in there at some point, assuming we're not in the emergency room.

Anyway, my questions/comments:

1. I've tried to arrange our Days Of Meat! on alternating days. My biggest worry is Hot Doug's on the same day as Porkfest 2011, but I also don't want to deal with the hour-long lines on the weekend. What is it like on a Thursday afternoon?

2. Friday & Monday are 'stay home & grill' days, probably including a stop at the Paulina Meat Market for sausage. Mmmm - sausage.

3. I'm uncertain about North Pond for brunch. I've heard it's great, but I admit I was disappointed with my dinner there a year ago. It was good, but not especially memorable; I just got the uneasy sense that people were there for the location more than the food. I looked up the LTH thread, which was mixed but generally positive, and indicated the summer menu is far better than other seasons (I went in late Fall).

4. The current plan is for my brother to fly home on Tuesday night, but I'd like to close strong - something a jaded New Yorker would find worth staying an extra night for. I don't think he'd go for Alinea, but what are some other good options? Charlie Trotters? Schwa? Tru? I would like to book 12 weeks in advance, which would be about two weeks from now.

For "brunch" on Saturday or Sunday I would make a trip to Birrieria Zaragoza. It's the best possible start to the day and something quite unique to Chicago. I'd also attempt to make a trip to Great Lake for pizza. You could leave your phone number and head over to Hop Leaf or In Fine Spirits. Two very unique places here in Chicago.

I'd also possibly sub TAC Quick for Tank. And I love Blackbird. Just my two cents. Cheers, Doug.

Humble answers to your points:

1. I'd stick to Thursday for Hot Doug's--I biked by there on a recent Friday at 11:30 or so and the line wasn't at all bad (a few people outside, but not down the block), but I believe during the summer months it will be considerably busier.

2. I grew up a block away from Paulina Market. Good choice.

3. Can't help; never been to North Pond.

4. What is it about Alinea that your brother wouldn't go for?

Love,
John

I'm a fan of Spacca Napoli, but it won't wow a New Yorker -- unlike Zaragoza, TAC, Spoon, Khan, Smak Tak, XOCO, etc.

I guess if he's coming from NYC, you don't need to worry about Chinatown.
Does the Bayless empire have a place in your schedule? Certainly a strong, Chicago voice.
Time for any Middle Eastern-Kedzie excursion?
And what about Devon Ave.? (NYC certainly has Indian, but a trip up to Devon is a whole experience along with some great food.)
Just thoughts, which may not really address your specific questions.

deesher wrote:For "brunch" on Saturday or Sunday I would make a trip to Birrieria Zaragoza.

There's also the Maxwell Street option
on Sunday as well.

Re: North Pond

I was also somewhat disappointed in North Pond's dinner--excellent food, but the portions were small for me and the presentations too 'precious'.

We went back a year later and found it much more enjoyable. The price point is more reasonable and the food seemed to better fit my mood. We reserved again for brunch this year.

Thank you, everyone, for your replies.

deesher wrote:For "brunch" on Saturday or Sunday I would make a trip to Birrieria Zaragoza. It's the best possible start to the day and something quite unique to Chicago. I'd also attempt to make a trip to Great Lake for pizza. You could leave your phone number and head over to Hop Leaf or In Fine Spirits. Two very unique places here in Chicago.

I'd also possibly sub TAC Quick for Tank. And I love Blackbird. Just my two cents. Cheers, Doug.

Thank you - Birrieria Zaragoza was completely off my radar; I just searched the thread, and now I might head down there this weekend myself to scout it out. I thinK I'd prefer Tank to TAC Quick, just because I don't think he's ever had Vietnamese. Shocking, I know.

Ideal Machine wrote:4. What is it about Alinea that your brother wouldn't go for?

He was underwhelmed by a business dinner at WD-50 a while back. He didn't hate it, but it wasn't his thing.

mrbarolo wrote:I guess if he's coming from NYC, you don't need to worry about Chinatown.
Does the Bayless empire have a place in your schedule? Certainly a strong, Chicago voice.
Time for any Middle Eastern-Kedzie excursion?
And what about Devon Ave.? (NYC certainly has Indian, but a trip up to Devon is a whole experience along with some great food.)
Just thoughts, which may not really address your specific questions.

Bayless is a great idea; I'm ashamed to admit it, but I think I'm starting to take him for granted. I think I might swap out GEB for Topo; I know for a fact he hasn't had that quality Mexican before. Thanks!

We're actually Chinese, and grew up in a very Indian neighborhood near Queens, so Chinatown & Devon won't be on the radar for this trip. Kedzie's a distinct possibility - I might sub in one of our grill days, depending on how we're feeling.

cilantro wrote:I'm a fan of Spacca Napoli, but it won't wow a New Yorker -- unlike Zaragoza, TAC, Spoon, Khan, Smak Tak, XOCO, etc.

It won't be anything new, but I think we will need a (relatively) light intermission. I actually briefly considered the Green Zebra for one night, primarily to mess with my carnivorous 220-lb. brother's head (please note, I LIKED the Green Zebra!), but decided to be nice instead. Anyway, I live about a mile from Spacca Napoli, so I'm thinking a caprese salad, a Neapolitan pizza, and a couple of brisk walks would be just about perfect for us on Sunday night.

If you do choose to go to a Bayless establishment, it is much easier to do at lunchtime, particularly if there are only two of you. If you sit in the bar (which you can usually do with no wait), you can order off of either the Frontera or Topolobompo menu. The wait for dinner at Frontera is ridiculous and I think Topolobompo is usually booked well in advance.

Sweet merciful crap, I don't know how I survived this past week. After some last minute tweaks, our five-day weekend shaped up like this:

Wed: Charlie Trotter's
Thu: Hot Doug's + GCM Summer BBQ
Fri: Hot Doug's + Topolobampo
Sat: Mader's (Milwaukee) + David Burke Primehouse
Sun: North Pond + Ba Le Bakery
Mon: DMK Burger Bar + some delicious Usinger's sausages
Tues: Piccolo Sogno (forthcoming).

No pictures, unfortunately (as we were far too busy stuffing our faces to pause for photographs), but we had some truly astonishing meals which I will describe in more detail later. I'd rate the worst meal of the week as an 8/10. Maybe 8.5. Suffice to say, my jaded NY brother was duly impressed.

Independent George wrote:Sweet merciful crap, I don't know how I survived this past week. After some last minute tweaks, our five-day weekend shaped up like this:

Wed: Charlie Trotter's
Thu: Hot Doug's + GCM Summer BBQ
Fri: Hot Doug's + Topolobampo
Sat: Mader's (Milwaukee) + David Burke Primehouse
Sun: North Pond + Ba Le Bakery
Mon: DMK Burger Bar + some delicious Usinger's sausages
Tues: Piccolo Sogno (forthcoming).

No pictures, unfortunately (as we were far too busy stuffing our faces to pause for photographs), but we had some truly astonishing meals which I will describe in more detail later. I'd rate the worst meal of the week as an 8/10. Maybe 8.5. Suffice to say, my jaded NY brother was duly impressed.

Nice work, IG! Looking forward to reading the reports.

5 days of gluttony? Try 5 years...