Cathy2 wrote:Have you seen anyone in Chicago practicing this:

Art Smith?

Table fifty-two
52 W. Elm Street
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 573-4000

Cathy2 wrote:Have you seen anyone in Chicago practicing this:

"neo-soul" has several variants: 1) the same as "down home healthy"--making soul food healthy with ingredient substitutions and cooking method alterations; 2) deconstructing soul food by playing with its traditional forms, eg. "soul rolls" where seasoned black-eyed peas and rice are stuffed in a collard leaf; 3) the upscale "refinement" of soul food ingredients so that one can charge a lot of money, eg. using artisanal grits, heirloom meat and vegetables, adding lobster to mac n' cheese, etc. and 4) true fusion with other cuisines, eg. catfish tacos, jerk fried chicken.

Catfish tacos are not uncommon, I dont think. I believe I saw Jerk Fried Chicken on the menu at Uncle Joe's Jerk last weekend (IMHO the best Jerk Chicken spot in the city - in excellent surroundings where one can sit and sample some music on Saturdays now, at 47th and King - good live reggae this last Saturday).

As for 1) - to me it sounds suspiciously on a par with things like Turkey Ribs, Tofurkey Sandwiches, and Chicken Haleem. To paraphrase the immortal words of Captain Mal Reynolds, "every so often they come around to the view that they can meddle, and can somehow make humans... better. And I do not hold with that."

c8w

c8w wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:Have you seen anyone in Chicago practicing this:

"neo-soul" has several variants: 1) the same as "down home healthy"--making soul food healthy with ingredient substitutions and cooking method alterations; 2) deconstructing soul food by playing with its traditional forms, eg. "soul rolls" where seasoned black-eyed peas and rice are stuffed in a collard leaf; 3) the upscale "refinement" of soul food ingredients so that one can charge a lot of money, eg. using artisanal grits, heirloom meat and vegetables, adding lobster to mac n' cheese, etc. and 4) true fusion with other cuisines, eg. catfish tacos, jerk fried chicken.

Catfish tacos are not uncommon, I dont think. I believe I saw Jerk Fried Chicken on the menu at Uncle Joe's Jerk last weekend (IMHO the best Jerk Chicken spot in the city - in excellent surroundings where one can sit and sample some music on Saturdays now, at 47th and King - good live reggae this last Saturday).

As for 1) - to me it sounds suspiciously on a par with things like Turkey Ribs, Tofurkey Sandwiches, and Chicken Haleem. To paraphrase the immortal words of Captain Mal Reynolds, "every so often they come around to the view that they can meddle, and can somehow make humans... better. And I do not hold with that."

c8w

Wow! LTH poster......& Firefly/Serenity fan....I love this forum!

JerryD wrote:

c8w wrote:As for 1) - to me it sounds suspiciously on a par with things like Turkey Ribs, Tofurkey Sandwiches, and Chicken Haleem. To paraphrase the immortal words of Captain Mal Reynolds, "every so often they come around to the view that they can meddle, and can somehow make humans... better. And I do not hold with that."

c8w

Wow! LTH poster......& Firefly/Serenity fan....I love this forum!

Shiny. Now get your 笨天生的一堆肉 back to reviewin'.

c8w wrote:Catfish tacos are not uncommon, I dont think. I believe I saw Jerk Fried Chicken on the menu at Uncle Joe's Jerk last weekend (IMHO the best Jerk Chicken spot in the city - in excellent surroundings where one can sit and sample some music on Saturdays now, at 47th and King - good live reggae this last Saturday).

Speaking of catfish tacos and jerk chicken I saw a guy who'd set up shop in a vacant lot on Pulsaski around the Presidential streets selling both jerk catfish and jerk chicken tacos. Turkey fryer, steel-drum grill and all. Stopping at the moment wasn't a option otherwise I might of tried. Speaking of Soul Food, R U Hungry?


51st and Hermitage in Back of the Yards

Glad I decided to stop in here. It'll be in my regular rotation when in the area. Which isnt often but nonetheless, others are. "Fast Food with a taste of Soul" is what they do. As we got to talking the owner explained how aside from the gyro cone "everything we make comes from scratch". Menu has a few Chicago food staples including some Chicago Style Soul Food. Available in the winter the Pac Man is a sliced charred Polish sausage topped with chili and onions (option of cheese) served over Dirty Rice. Fish/chicken/pork sandwiches + burgers are all hand breaded/packed to order.


Chicken Sandwich

Wendy should be ashamed. This is the best damn spicy chicken sandwich I've ever had. Seasoned with spices mixed into a cornmeal coating this sandwich definitely had soul. It could of got a deal with Vee-Jay Records if it had been around back then. Soul Food offerings vary by day. A Mama someone comes in with her recipes on the weekends (Fri & Sat). I took a smothered chop with dirty rice and green beans lunch plate to go and enjoyed it. Both the sides shined and the chop was tender with the sauce similar to a gumbo base. For $10 total I thought the place was great. Real red Kool-Aid is available for $1 for an 8oz and $2 for a 16. If sugar water isn't for you I hope Wildwood pop will do. Some good ballistic glass dining.


Smothered Chop and Sides

R U Hungry
1724 W 51st St
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 434-4800

Da Beef wrote:51st and Hermitage in Back of the Yards

Glad I decided to stop in here. It'll be in my regular rotation when in the area. Which isnt often but nonetheless, others are.... Fish/chicken/pork sandwiches + burgers are all hand breaded/packed to order.


Chicken Sandwich

Wendy should be ashamed. This is the best damn spicy chicken sandwich I've ever had. Seasoned with spices mixed into a cornmeal coating this sandwich definitely had soul. It could of got a deal with Vee-Jay Records if it had been around back then. Soul Food offerings vary by day. A Mama someone comes in with her recipes on the weekends (Fri & Sat). I took a smothered chop with dirty rice and green beans lunch plate to go and enjoyed it. Both the sides shined and the chop was tender with the sauce similar to a gumbo base. For $10 total I thought the place was great. Real red Kool-Aid is available for $1 for an 8oz and $2 for a 16. If sugar water isn't for you I hope Wildwood pop will do. Some good ballistic glass dining.


Smothered Chop and Sides

R U Hungry
1724 W 51st St
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 434-4800

That looks excellent - thanks! Am often a couple miles away on weekends, will definitely try to stop in! (You wouldnt happen to know if its open on Sundays, or if its open for breakfast/evenings etc, would you? There is comparitively little to eat in the area on Sundays - Uncle John's, Abundance etc are all closed). The spicy-chicken sandwich looks excellent - and a great smothered pork chop is one of my fave things (tho this looks a little light on the gravy, going by the pic...)

Does anyone know of any really good soul-food places on the South Side that are open on Sundays, actually? (My fave soul-food spot is probably Macarthur's - but its not South Side anyway. Havent really lined up a regular soul-food spot in south side area yet...)

c8w

c8w wrote:Does anyone know of any really good soul-food places on the South Side that are open on Sundays, actually? (My fave soul-food spot is probably Macarthur's - but its not South Side anyway. Havent really lined up a regular soul-food spot in south side area yet...)

c8w

Saint Rest #2 Country Kitchen
727 E 87th St
Chicago
773-962-0700

Sula mentions Doggy's S.S. Soul Food in his review from a few years back. But, unfortunately, the place died.

c8w wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:Have you seen anyone in Chicago practicing this:

"neo-soul" has several variants: 1) the same as "down home healthy"--making soul food healthy with ingredient substitutions and cooking method alterations;

As for 1) - to me it sounds suspiciously on a par with things like Turkey Ribs, Tofurkey Sandwiches, and Chicken Haleem. To paraphrase the immortal words of Captain Mal Reynolds, "every so often they come around to the view that they can meddle, and can somehow make humans... better. And I do not hold with that."

c8w

Hi,

Culinary Historians had two symposiums on soul food called, 'Grits & Greens.'

Jessica Harris was the keynote speaker at the second. She was not appreciative of this effort to make soul food healthy.

Lake County Health Department (Illinois) was working with the few soul food restaurants on making their offerings more healthy. Most of it seemed to revolve using smoked turkey instead of pork products. Coincidentally none of the restaurants they highlighted are in business.

Regards,

Da Beef wrote:Speaking of Soul Food, R U Hungry?


51st and Hermitage in Back of the Yards

Thanks for the report. R U Hungry? opened a couple years ago where Leo's Castle used to be. Leo's is important (at least in my mind) because they sold Mother in Laws for a long, long time (some info in this old thread). I know it's stupid but I sometimes hold grudges against new restaurants that take over a legend's location. I probably wouldn't have visited before seeing your report but I might have to try RUH? now.

c8w wrote: - and a great smothered pork chop is one of my fave things (tho this looks a little light on the gravy, going by the pic...)

Does anyone know of any really good soul-food places on the South Side that are open on Sundays, actually? (My fave soul-food spot is probably Macarthur's - but its not South Side anyway. Havent really lined up a regular soul-food spot in south side area yet...)

PIGMON wrote:Saint Rest #2 Country Kitchen

Ditto. I also recommend Morrison's, quite similar and also open on Sundays (if you time your visit to when church lets out, you'll see some awesome hats). Both places regularly serve good smothered pork chops and both are "see-your-food" cafeterias so you can always ask for a little more gravy if you want.

Saint Rest #2


Morrison's


Saint Rest #2 Country Kitchen
727 E 87th St
Chicago
773-962-0700

Morrison's Restaurant
"Good Like Mama's"
8127 S Ashland Av
Chicago
773-892-1078