JeffB wrote:

Choey wrote:

JeffB wrote:Birria empanada at Cafe Tola...Cafe Tola is way under-appreciated.

Since I saw your note I've made three stops at Cafe Tola, including a couple hours ago, just to try the birria: No queda ninguno. But after spending nearly a $hundo and trying almost all the empanadas, I agree it's a gem of a place. Now if I could just figure out this social networking business and get a birria bat-signal from Tola....

Best thing I've had this week was the chorizo hash topped with a couple eggs over easy at Danny's Egghead Dinner. Another small gem in the neighborhood.

Danny's Egghead Diner
2012 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60618
773-857-0171

Nice to see, Choey. Keep looking for the birria...

I must've lucked out on my second trip to Cafe Tola and found the birria empanadas. I loaded up. That was months ago and haven't seen them since. Solid place all around and I enjoy their cafe con leches as well.

Twice-cooked pork fried rice at Szechuan Cuisine in Chinatown, packed with pristine leeks, fermented black beans, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, and chili oil, $6.50 as a lunch special plus $1 for a runny fried egg on top.

Wentworth is completely torn up for most of the main strip for at least the next month, so it's nice having something this far south still parkable at lunchtime. Might even force me to re-explore Evergreen (last visit about 18 years ago).

Cope Grass culatello from Salume Beddu. Absolutely insane stuff. Acorn fed pigs, I think Mangalitsas. The flavor is so intense and rich and goes on forever.

Birria empanada. Tola. Just now.

Head on whole shrimp at Angry Crab (Bi-Polar=Hawks). Can't get enough of this place. The boiling liquid is nothing short of spectacular.

Toasted Marshmallow shake at Good Stuff Eatery (22 S. Wabash, I believe). Oh, mama. Reminds me of Greg's in Toronto. Ah, that takes me back.

This is the type of simple pleasure that I picture being served at a little trattoria in Tuscany, that I never seem to have the time to put together here at home. A pity. Sliced German Pink heirloom tomato, minced Purple Stripe garlic, run-of-the mill basil--all from my garden. Dressed with Sicilian olive oil, sea salt & cracked black pepper. An explosion of flavor.

i always like to take out of town visitors to publican quality meats (unless they're vegetarians) to share the hot and cold charcuterie platters. yesterday, 3 of us shared 1 of each type, and we all just sat there stuffed, and swooning. the choices are always changing, so it's always new. each visit seems to be the best ever, and yesterday's was no exception. the cold platter included a gorgeous blood mortadella, a creamy lamb pate, a luscious head cheese with a great, non-gelatinous texture, a coarse duck/pork rillette with blueberry jam. the hot platter was 3 large sausages, kindly cut into thirds for sharing- a mild, but delicious boudin blanc, a spicy cajun and..... i can't ID the third. alongside was bright yellow pickled cabbage, that i couldn't get enough of; their grilled bread; and the sausages were served on a bed of dark red beans. again, i've never had anything quite like it, so i'm not sure what they were. they tasted like a non smoky, only lightly sweetened new england style baked bean... this place is a treasure chest of good eating.

The pork at White Oak Tavern. One of the best piece of pork I've had anywhere in the world. Had some visitors in town from NYC and Asia with me - the one from Asia has eaten at many Michelin starred places there. Their reactions immediately biting into it were telling and hilarious.

Char hot dog and fries from Poochies. The.best.

I tried poutine from Q-tine. I really didn't want to. It was excellent. Much better than all the drunks in there deserved Curds so fresh they were squeaking on my teeth. I can only speak for the classic model.

Chicken schwarma sandwich at Schwarma Inn, 5523 N Lincoln Ave. The chicken bits were perfectly charred and crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Will want to try the beef next time but darn that chicken was tasty, and I don't say that very often.

Salmon Burger at The Fish Guy. What a fantastic northwest side, off the beaten path lunch spot.

Pork shoulder at Radler--nice fatty hunk of meat set off very well with an accompaniment of tart cherries among other things.

Choey wrote:
Danny's Egghead Diner
2012 W Irving Park Rd

Haven't been to Cafe Tola yet, but agree Danny's is solid as a rock. Clean, fast, friendly, tasty, verging on innovative with not a whiff of my provenance is bigger than yours.

With apologies to my friends down 25th (still love you, Chaparrita!), shout out to the "pork guts" (i.e., tripe) tacos at Taqueria Los Barrilitos. I asked the cook for them well done and was sent out a taco with gnudi-sized nubbins of tripe that were powerfully porcine--stunning stuff, really.

Al pastor here--which looks and tastes more like Chinese-style twice-cooked pork than anything--is still money.

chezbrad wrote:With apologies to my friends down 25th (still love you, Chaparrita!), shout out to the "pork guts" (i.e., tripe) tacos at Taqueria Los Barrilitos. I asked the cook for them well done and was sent out a taco with gnudi-sized nubbins of tripe that were powerfully porcine--stunning stuff, really.

Al pastor here--which looks and tastes more like Chinese-style twice-cooked pork than anything--is still money.

Just for clarification - tripe or tripas?

Stopped at Zingerman's Roadhouse on my way home from Michigan. Had the ancho, chuck steak, and black bean chili. Amazingly good.

Biscuit and Gravy from Baker Miller (add sausage). Perhaps a pepper overload on the very good gravy, but my, what a biscuit.

Black truffle gnocchi at Vivo yesterday. Rich and extravagant, and really delicious.

Pulpito a la Plancha at Tapas Barcelona yesterday - tender, with escarole and a savory olive oil sauce.

Pici with prosciutto ragu and Parmesan at Anteprima - absolute perfection; one of the most delicious pasta courses I have ever had. The rest of the meal was delicious too.

In St. Petersburg, FL, at Sea Salt -- seared sea scallops with sautéed leeks and Tasso ham in truffle cream sauce. Incredibly good.

rtb178 wrote:Biscuit and Gravy from Baker Miller (add sausage). Perhaps a pepper overload on the very good gravy, but my, what a biscuit.

Came in to rave about this. Had the "Peachy Keen Biscuit Sandwich" this morning and my world was rocked by it. Same DNA as the Bang Bang biscuit, obviously - but on steroids. Crunchier/crispier crusts, more buttery (almost too much) center and about 10-20% larger. Topped with goat cheese, peach jam, caramelized onions and a fantastic sausage patty - one of the better breakfast sandwiches I've had in quite some time.

Last week had a Gym Shoe from Southtown Sub. Amazingly unhealthy, but totally worth it!

Bibim bop with bulgogi beef at Susie's Noon Hour Grill. There were 3 of us so we also shared the Korean pancake. Very fresh and delicious. I loved the sauce with the pancake which included a healthy dose of dark sesame oil.

Susie's Noon Hour Grill
6930 N Glenwood

Bolognese The Kitchen washed down with a bottle of 2014 Dirty and Rowdy Especial ... just color me happy.

sundevilpeg wrote:Black truffle gnocchi at Vivo yesterday. Rich and extravagant, and really delicious.

This used to be my favorite place. I wonder if that is still on the menu.

sundevilpeg wrote:

Black truffle gnocchi at Vivo yesterday. Rich and extravagant, and really delicious.

Pairs4Life wrote:

This used to be my favorite place. I wonder if that is still on the menu.

I would imagine so - it appears to be a specialty. You should make a return visit, I think.

There were many "wow i'm going to remember this for a long time" moments during the recent #lthindysupereats roadtrip, but my top 3 were:

1. lamb chops and paan from Bombay Bazaar
2. chili chicken and chive pockets from Asian Snacks
3. one particularly porky bite of the pork tenderloin sandwich from Pawn Shop Pub