Recommendations for "weird" or unusual gratefully accepted

Any recommendations for "weird" or unusual gratefully accepted. I am specifically looking for Bosnian (is there any food identified with a that political entity? I think there was a post about Bosnian but that restaurant is long gone.) and Hmong (I have visited the two largest Hmong communities in the USA).

Carey Schug

Bosnian food has many similarities to Serbian food except that pork is rarely used due to the many Bosnian Moslems. There are at least three Bosnian restaurants in Lincoln Square.

Kiko's Market and Restaurant
5077 N. Lincoln Avenue
http://www.kikosrestaurant.com/index.html
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=360609

Restaurant Sarajevo
2701 W. Lawrence Ave.
http://restaurantsarajevo.com/
viewtopic.php?p=414335

Coffee Slasticarna Drina
2501 W. Lawrence Ave.
Facebook page but apparently no web site

Bosnian owned but primarily pizza from a wood-fired brick oven. Bosnian smoked beef can be substituted for ham on several pizzas
Pizza Art Cafe
4658 N. Rockwell St.
http://www.pizzaartcafe.com/

There is also a Bosnian meat market on Lawrence:
Azur Meat Market
2547 W. Lawrence Ave.
Facebook page but apparently no web site

Edit to note that this probably should be in its own thread.

ekreider wrote:Edit to note that this probably should be in its own thread.

Done - carry on.

=R=
for the Moderators

Bosnian food is a thing and a number of Chicago restaurants have offered it over the years, notably the long-standing Sarajevo in Lincoln Sq., as the name would suggest. I'd venture that the menu is similar to other former-Yugoslavian places in town, minus the pork.

I'm a little reluctant to recommend Bosna Grill, not because I haven't tried it yet, but because if it's any good, I want to be the first to claim discovery of it. Self centered, I know, but I can't be a magnanimous SOB all the time. Every once in a while it's gotta be about me.

Anyway, we've been driving past Bosna Grill, here in Des Plaines, for some time now, always saying, "we gotta try that joint sometime." And make no mistake, it is a "joint" and nothing more. Pictures on yelp (http://www.yelp.com/biz/bosna-grill-des-plaines) show it to be as close to a classic American diner setting as it can be, but serving traditional Bosnian dishes instead of cheeseburgers and hot beef dinners.

Part of the reason we've missed out on going there is that they're only open until 6pm. One day we'll make the effort to get there for lunch. Maybe you'll get there first.

Buddy

Bosna Grill
644 W Algonquin Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60018
Phone number (847) 593-7484

Just a quick note - in addition to Bosnian, there are many, many different food specialties in Chicago and its suburbs. These include international/ethnic cuisines from countries all over the world as well as other unusual types of food. They vary from Macao to the Basque Provinces of Spain, from Peru to Belgium to Ethiopian and many more. To find them, you can search the LTH forums for any particular type of food. You can also go to Metromix and click on "View More" under "Cuisine", which will display over 100 types of food on which you can filter their restaurant listings.

diversedancer wrote:PS any recommendations for "weird" or unusual gratefully accepted. I am specifically looking for Bosnian (is there any food identified with a that political entity? I think there was a post about Bosnian but that restaurant is long gone.) …

I don’t think you should have too much trouble finding some good Bosnian food in Chicago. You already got some excellent suggestions.

Since you’re looking for something a little different, I can heartily recommend Balkan Grill, a Bosnian truck stop just off I-80/94 in Gary IN. Very good food (limited menu, however) plus a glimpse into the Bosnian long-haul trucker lifestyle.

diversedancer wrote:… and Hmong (I have visited the two largest Hmong communities in the USA).

The Hmong are underrepresented in Chicago. If it’s feasible, I’d suggest a visit to Phongsavan in Milwaukee. This Hmong mall is small compared to the ones in St Paul, but there’s nothing like it in Chicago. Some gems can be found in the modest food court. A larger new building will open right next to the old one, but I don’t know its status (it’s been “opening soon” for several years now).

Gromperekichelchen!

Judd mat gaardebounen!

Kniddelen!

Where are Chicago's Letzebuergesch restaurants?

Roger Ramjet wrote:Where are Chicago's Letzebuergesch restaurants?

And what about Andorran restaurants, and what about Gibraltarian cuisine?

I would kill for a good Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster.

zoid wrote:I would kill for a good Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster.

If anyone finds a sample of this, please post in the "Beyond Chicagoland" page.

Tibetan anyone? Always reminded of this gap in Chicago when I visit Bloomington, IN and there are like 5 Tibetan places. Cumin does a few things sort of resembling Tibetan cooking, but that's about all I've found.

excelsior wrote:

zoid wrote:I would kill for a good Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster.

If anyone finds a sample of this, please post in the "Beyond Chicagoland" page.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy wrote:The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is an alcoholic beverage invented by ex-President of the Universe Zaphod Beeblebrox, considered by the Guide to be the "Best Drink in Existence". Its effects are similar to "having your brains smashed in by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick".

Here's a recipe.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/76897/pang ... leblaster/

whocanitbenow wrote:Tibetan anyone? Always reminded of this gap in Chicago when I visit Bloomington, IN and there are like 5 Tibetan places. Cumin does a few things sort of resembling Tibetan cooking, but that's about all I've found.

Is Tibetan similar to Nepali cuisine? We have six Nepali restaurants (Nepal House, Chicago Curry House, Mount Everest, Curry Hut, Masala, and Himalayan). Take THAT, Bloomington! (BTW Bloomington has three Tibetan places: Anyetsang's Little Tibet, Snow Lion, and Café Django, although the latter is more pan-Asian. And no Nepali restaurants.)

Carey,

I'd be interested in places you have found to be weird or unusual in the past, it may help gauge what you may really be seeking.

Regards,
CAthy2

There's also Taste of Himalayas in St. Charles. I have not been, but I wish I had.

Tibetan anyone? Always reminded of this gap in Chicago when I visit Bloomington, IN and there are like 5 Tibetan places. Cumin does a few things sort of resembling Tibetan cooking, but that's about all I've found.

Chicago went through a Tibetan phase about 15 years ago. There was a US government program called the Tibetan Resettlement Project, and a group of 60 or so Tibetans came to our town. One of a handful of Tibetan restaurants was by the Sheridan el stop. At the time, I was tutoring one of the new arrivals, and he got a job working at that restaurant. As much as I tried to love my student/friend's cuisine, it primarily consisted of bland dumplings and noodle dishes, with milky tea. Pretty disappointing cuisine, at least in my opinion (see also Nicaragua).

tcdup wrote:There's also Taste of Himalayas in St. Charles. I have not been, but I wish I had.

Himshikar on Cicero near Peterson does "Himalayan" (Nepalese/Tibetan), as does Mt. Everest in Evanston. Tava (Indian) in Morton Grove does a great momo.

OK, Please understand that I am not an expert, the following is "to the best of my knowledge", if some of these do not exist as identifiable cuisines, or are alternate names for others, please excuse. Sorry for the delay, I had problems logging on and then didn't see notifications there were responses to my post, etc. Since the original post, I have led the group to the BoodleBoodle at Bacolad and have another outing scheduled for this Sunday (nothing special, just to keep the momentum going).

While some popular types can be repeated, my goal is new when possible, for a dining group (subgroup of a Northern Illinois chapter of a worldwide society) of 15-30 that won't go to Milwaukee or Indiana, like some suggestions above were. There may be people in the larger group that would go there, but they aren't on the announcement list for anything I'd organize.

Some we've been to (when somebody else was organizing): Nepali (At Himalayan), Finnish (custom off menu dinner at Tre Kroner), Ethiopian, Eritrean, Nigerian, Peruvian, Afghan, "fancy" French (Le titi du Paris), Chinese, Greek, Malaysian, Georgian, Hungarian, Polish, Indian, Pakistani, Brazilian steakhouse, "the usual suspects" like Chinese, German, Irish, etc, and others the group went to that I missed.

I have personally been to one of the Yemeni restaurants, not ready to bring the group there, and probably should try the other.

Specifically seeking:
--regional Thai (NE Thai is the same as or similar to Hmong, also seacoast and mountain regions are identified as different in my Thai cookbook)
--regional Mexican, as maybe Mayan derived, etc
--Regional Japanese? (I know every area has their own speciality, but do any have enough specialities to make a whole meal, at least an affordable meal? Maybe at least Hokkaido?)
--Native (North) American (plains, others?)
--Peruvian serving guinea pigs
--"Peasant" French
--Brazilian native as well as other south American
--native New Zealand
--Pacific Islands?
--Other regional African?
--Regional Chinese (Sichuan, Hunan, Anhui, Fujian, Cantonese, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong) I am not aware of having had other than Sichuan, Hunan and Cantonese
--Regional Italian (one web page lists 20 regions, I am unaware of having had other than Sicilian and Northern as I think the typical Italian restaurant serves)
--Other regional varieties of what I think I know.
--Anything that would have qualified for the "Bizzarre Foods" TV series.
Carey

diversedancer wrote:Specifically seeking:
--regional Thai (NE Thai is the same as or similar to Hmong, also seacoast and mountain regions are identified as different in my Thai cookbook)

Nakorn, which opened recently in Evanston, OT1H isn't regional Thai, but OTOH is different from the standard Thai cuisine served elsewhere. My understanding is that it's similar to upscale restaurants in Bangkok.

Similarly, although I have not been to JJ Thai Street Food, it may be different also.

diversedancer wrote:--regional Mexican, as maybe Mayan derived, etc

You may have seen the new topic for the recently-opened Oaxacan restaurant in Uptown. Despite the name, Maya del Sol in Oak Park isn't strictly Mayan or even Mexican, it's more of a Latin fusion cuisine. I don't think there has been a Yucatecan restaurant in the area since Xni-Pec closed.

diversedancer wrote:--Brazilian native as well as other south American

John Manion covers a broad range of South American cuisines at both his West Loop places, La Sirena Clandestina and El Che Bar. And they're both wonderful.

diversedancer wrote:--Regional Chinese (Sichuan, Hunan, Anhui, Fujian, Cantonese, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong) I am not aware of having had other than Sichuan, Hunan and Cantonese

527 Cafe in Evanston serves Taiwanese cuisine. And of course Fat Rice in Logan Square has Macanese cuisine, from Macao.

Also, no mention yet of Dutch/Indonesian (e.g. de Quay).

diversedancer wrote:--Regional Chinese (Sichuan, Hunan, Anhui, Fujian, Cantonese, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong) I am not aware of having had other than Sichuan, Hunan and Cantonese

Have you considered Lao Yunnan in Chinatown for food of the Yunnan region?

--Other regional varieties of what I think I know.

Would Jibek Jolu (two locations - northwest side and near north) for the cuisine of Kyrgyzstan work for you?

Wow, lots of promising suggestions, thank you all, and ok to keep them coming. I will have to research. Perhaps I should have mentioned that the group shares dishes (family style) and is subsidized by the parent organization, so for up to $30 per person (what we pay plus subsidy) I can get pre-authorized, but if the cost will be over that, I have to apply specifically for each restaurant. And Sunday evening is preferred as that is what people are used to.
--Carey

diversedancer wrote:Sunday evening is preferred as that is what people are used to.

One quick point. If any of the really small restaurants you're considering are normally closed Sundays, don't rule them out; if your group size is towards the high end of your 15-30 range, a place may be willing to open on a Sunday night just for your group. It won't hurt to ask!

Of course, it has happened before.

Pride Powers Chicago’s First Kurdish Restaurant, Now Open in Lakeview

Thank you.

How about Sunset Pho? Combination Vietnamese and Croatian food. Cevepicci filled spring rolls and Bahn mi. There is a full straight Vietnamese menu with Croatian additions. On a cold night you can stop in for a warming bowl of pho and leave with a complimentary shot of Slilovitz. Super friendly and genuine owners. May not be the absolute best pho in town, but it's pretty good and I really like this place and the people there. It's two blocks south of Peterson on Western.

Sunset Caffe: I failed to identify anything Croatian except the sausage spring rolls, am I missing some clues or is it just my ignorance of Croatian vs Vietnamese food names? Or not going through the menu carefully enough? Certainly if I continue this long enough, we could go back to Vietnamese again, and this would be an interesting twist.

Gundis Kurdish: I'm guessing bill for family style group will run over $30 per person, which requires special approval... I think I want to try it for myself for sure, though since Eggplant and Lamb are among my favorite food ingredients.

diversedancer wrote:Gundis Kurdish: I'm guessing bill for family style group will run over $30 per person, which requires special approval...

The following comment is not specific to Gundis Kurdish, as it really applies to any restaurant you might be considering. With 15-30 people, you have a group that is large enough to qualify as a private party (and for a private room for your group, at those restaurants which have them). Many restaurants will be happy to make customized arrangements for your group, and the family-style dining you mention makes it easy for them as well as for you. Furthermore, most such restaurants will be happy to work with you on your menu plans and in doing so it is very common for them to be able to meet a specific price point for a group. So I wouldn't rule out any restaurant worthwhile of consideration that seems at first blush as though it might be too expensive for your group; rather, I suggest giving them a phone call and seeing what they can do. Again, this advice (based on my personal experience in arranging group meals) is applicable to any restaurant you might be considering.

diversedancer wrote:I think I want to try it for myself for sure

That too is a good idea for any place you might be considering for your group.