Author Archive
Now in Season: Farmer’s Markets
As a strong advocate for seasonal eating and cooking, I am very excited about the next 4-5 months of outdoor markets. Below is a partial list of local farmer’s markets and neighborhoods. For more markets (especially the independently operated ones), check out the City of Chicago’s web site.
Sundays
Beverly: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
City Parking Lot – Southeast Corner
9500 S. Longwood Dr.
Wicker Park/Bucktown: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
1500 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
Erie Street: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
500 W. Erie St.
Chicago, IL 60654
Tuesdays
Lincoln Square: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
parking lot next to Brown Line Station
4700 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
Streeterville/Museum of Contemporary Art: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
MCA Plaza
Chicago Ave. & Mies van der Rohe Way
Chicago, IL 60611
Wednesdays
Pullman: 7 a.m. – noon
Arcade Park
11100 S. Cottage Grove
Chicago, IL 60628
Green City Market: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
1799 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
Thursdays
Uptown: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Weiss Memorial Hospital
4646 N. Marine Drive
Chicago, IL 60640
Hyde Park: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Harper Court
5200 S. Harper Ave.
Chicago, IL 60615
Saturdays
Green City Market: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
1799 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
Southport: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Blaine School
1420 W. Grace St.
Chicago, IL 60657
Division: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Division btwn. State & Clark
50 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL 60610
Printer’s Row: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Parking Lot
Dearborn & Polk
Chicago, IL 60605
Tale of Two Burgers: M Burger & Epic Burger
Burger joints seem to be popping up all over the place in Chicago. Who can resist a comforting meal of a juicy burger, hot fries, and a cold beverage or smooth shake. I recently visited two quick service businesses to see what all the fuss is about: M Burger and Epic Burger.
M Burger is one of the more recent burger businesses to open. Located in part of Tru’s kitchen, M Burger delivers on a tasty fast food experience using quality ingredients. With a short regular menu and a secret menu, there have been many comparisions to In & Out, a West Coast chain with a cult following .
In the brown bag, I ordered the M Burger that has cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a spicy mayo-based sauce; said sauce could be slightly compared to another burger giant that has served billions & billions … the fries were pipping hot and seasoned well. To round out the lunch, I tried the peach iced tea that wasn’t too sweet or too peachy: it was just right. Other M Burger options are a chicken sandwich, a chopped chicken salad, and shakes. For the vegetarian eaters, there is a veggie “burger” of sorts that involves a thick slice of tomato, guacamole, mayo, and pickles.
M Burger’s popularity doesn’t seem to be losing any steam as the lunch-time lines are strong but the friendly crew keeps folks moving. Keep M Burger on your list of places to visit after power shopping along Michigan Avenue!
South Loop’s Epic Burger considers itself to sell a mindful burger and operates by a list of rules. Burgers are made with 100% all natural beef chuck and cooked only upon ordering. Buns are baked by local bakeries, and fries are fresh cut & cooked. Produce, organic eggs, Wisconsin cheeses, and nitrate-free bacon come from producers in the Chicagoland area. With all these rules, does the food actually taste good? Why, yes it does and has kept feeding my burger craving for well over a year.
On a sunny Friday, I stopped by the restaurant for lunch wanting to try something new, but stuck to my typical order. Epic Burger’s menu is slightly larger with combo meals, customized sandwiches, and smoothies. Burgers include the traditional beef or turkey along with a chicken sandwich, portobello mushroom sandwich, and a BLT. Toppings range from a fried egg to bacon to blue, Havarti, or aged cheddar cheeses. White & wheat bread buns are offered as are raw or grilled onions. Fries and soft drinks are add-ons plus create-your-own fruit smoothies.
There is plenty of seating, and with close proximity to the DePaul “super dorm” there is always a crowd of diners. Look for Epic Burger’s second location coming soon to the North Avenue & Sheffield neighborhood.
———-
M Burger: http://www.mburgerchicago.com/
161 East Huron, between Michigan Avenue & St. Clair
Epic Burger: http://www.epicburger.com/
517 South State Streetnnear Congress
Teaism: DuPont Circle
Fresh off an airplane and hungry with an impending afternoon of rain, I was determined to have a satisfying lunch at a familiar restaurant, Teaism. Previous experiences at the DuPont Circle location included breakfast (fluffy scrambled eggs with chives plus ginger scones) and chai tea, but this time around, I wanted to try a sandwich.
Two ladies opened the first Teaism in DuPont Circle in 1996 and have since launched two other locations: 800 Connecticut Avenue near Lafayette Park and 400 8th Street near Penn Quarter. Dozens of loose leaf teas compliment the Asian flavors in Teaism’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings. The environment is quiet and provides an enjoyable atmosphere to work, read, or dine.
I decided to order the Vietnamese wrap with ground chicken, carrots, cucumber, lettuce, and cilantro in a whole wheat wrap with a spicy lime mayonnaise. It was difficult to resist the ginger scones, so I ordered those as a snack to have later in the afternoon.
The wrap was fresh, fresh, fresh and the mayo provided a subtle kick of spice with a refreshing lime perk. The torilla was larger than expected, and the ratio of chicken to vegetables was just right. It was exactly what I needed to power through the rest of the day. The gingers scones did not disappoint with the small pieces of candied ginger and crumbly texture. I could see why customers were enjoying a cup of hot tea and these scones while watching the rain pour outside. Regardless of the time of day, Teaism aims to please for any meal.
Teaism: http://www.teaism.com
Fritz Pastry: Sweets on Diversey
It was only a matter of time before I stopped reading the mouth-watering tweets from @fritzpastry and actually went to the bakery to try some of the sweets.
I was not disappointed.
One sunny Sunday afternoon, I decided to hop on the El and check out Fritz’s offerings. A ten minute walk from the Diversey Brown Line, the bakery looks like a former residence at the corner of Southport. Warmly greeted, I studied the chalkboard menu and peered into the case of cakes, pies, and tarts. Macaron flavors rotate on a regular basis, and for those customers that have more of a savory appetite, lunch options include soups and sandwiches.
Wanting to try one of each item, the baskets of freshly baked donuts, croissants, and brioche were calling my name, so I decided to try a cinnamon & sugar donut (donut hole included!) along with a latte. I also purchased a cinnamon brioche and two macarons (raspberry & chocolate) to take home and enjoy later.
The donut was yeasty and dusted with just enough cinnamon and sugar and paired nicely with the creamy latte.
The macarons lived up to the phrase “you can’t just eat one” with their natural flavors and slightly chewy consistency. The brown paper box with the blue Fritz was also a nice touch. I would be very happy giving this treat as a gift.
My only complaint is that I wish lived closer to this gem of a bakery to try more of Fritz’s daily pasteries and breads!
1408 West Diversey Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614-1112
(773) 857-2989
http://fritzpastry.com/
Border Grill Taco Truck
I am spending the week in LA for a business trip. The sunshine is a nice diversion from the Chicago fickle weather. A meal of tacos from a cart was high on my list of options, but wanted to find some serious Mexican eats. The Border Grill ladies, Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, also own Ciudad but have a much more casual way of reaching customers: a rovering taco truck with locations known to Twitter followers (@bordergrill).
The truck was parked in front of an office building and had a short line gathered along the side. A very friendly lady took our orders; it took a while to decide what to select as the smells of steak, red onions, and green chilies were wafting through the air.
I ordered the potato & rajas (roasted onion & peppers) taco, a carne asada taco with guacamole, and roasted poblano quesadilla. All three of these items were well prepared, highly seasoned, flavorful, and worth the trouble of finding the location. I recommend taking the time to search for the truck and enjoy this casual meal.
Chicago’s Chef Week: Vie
I left the familiarity of Chicago to take a field trip to the ‘burbs (specifically, Western Springs) for dinner at Vie for Chef Week. My friends and I probably would not make a reservation for dinner at Vie due to its distance from the city, but being that a special menu with a special price (three courses for $30) was beckoning, it was on the radar. The chef, Paul Virant, is known for his seasonal American cuisine using local sources for his ingredients.
The menu offered two choices each for the first & second courses and only one option for dessert. The extra wine pairings were a nice treat and really complimented the flavors of each dish.
The service was either prompt or it lagged. The timing between the first and second courses was off which made everyone at the table question whether or not our order was placed. However, when we had a question about one of the dessert components, our server quickly asked the pastry to come to our table to personally give an answer. Nice touch!
While it was worth the drive to experience Vie during Chicago’s Chef Week, I would return for a special occasion dinner rather than making this a regular destination.
First: Burrata, tomato jam and basil pesto crostini, growing power watercress, lemon olive oil.
2007 Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy, Sancerre Rose, Loire Valley
Second: Amish chicken breast milanese, three sisters garden polenta, werp farm arugula, pickled garlic, garlic & herb viniaigrette
2008 Quattro Mani, Montepulcianno d’Abruzzo, Italy
Third: Warm gooey butter cake, tahitian vanilla ice cream, brittled peanuts, chocolate sauce
Lustau, East India Solera Sherry
Breakfast at IKEA
Shoppers might not consider a hot breakfast before power buying at IKEA. When I arrived at the Schaumburg store, the doors were only open for the restaurant; this location opens the restaurant 30 minutes prior to the rest of the store. Customers driving from far & wide were quickly walking across the parking lot and hurrying up the escalator to get in line for breakfast. I wasn’t sure if this was a game to see who could get to the counter the fastest or if some item was being given away for free.
Turns out, I was right on the latter. IKEA gives away free coffee till 11:00 a.m. every day plus a plate of eggs, potatoes, and bacon is 99 cents … the platter in the picture below was $1.99 due to the French toast sticks.
Total cost of my meal including free java and tax: $2.20. The bacon was crispy, the potatoes had just enough seasoning, and the eggs were fluffy (despite being dished out from a large ice cream scooper). This was not a bad way to start the day!
The Publican
The Publican, part of the family of restaurants that includes Avec, Big Star, Violet Hour, and Blackbird, doesn’t disappoint. Located in the Fulton Market area of the West Loop, the restaurant could easily be missed — look for the wrought iron pig sign hanging on the corner of the building. Going in the late afternoon before the dinner rush is the prime time to go: no wait, an attentive staff, and a fast arrival of dishes. Sitting at the shiny golden bar provided an excellent point of view to the kitchen, beer taps, and stand-up tables. Staffers folded napkins and sliced bread; servers met to discuss the menu and taste beers; the kitchen had a similar pre-service huddle. A funny yet resourceful feature to each chair is a small “cubby” underneath the seat to hold menus or perhaps purses and small bags; it is reminiscent of grammar school.
The pre-dinner menu is limited but offers a taste of the best that the Publican offers:
To Eat:
Spicy pork rinds (with a dusting of spicy cheese): snap. crackle. pop; there is a reason why customers return for this fried treat
Beer on the left: Hennepin (farmhouse saison) Brussels, Belgium
Little Gem salad: basil, fennel, pig’s ear & buttermilk-Muscatel vinaigrette: provided a foil to the pork & fried elements from the other dishes; salad included beauty-heart radishes
Rillette sandwich with apples, apple-pepper jelly, arugula & onion: rillette on toasted bread — the apple & arugula cut some of the richness for satisfying sandwich
Frites with Louis’s organic egg: what’s more comforting that fresh fries with a fried egg on top?
Details:
837 W. Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
312-733-9555
M-Th: 3:30-10:30pm
F-Sat: 3:30-11:30pm
Sun: 10am-2pm (brunch) & 5-10pm
Dill Pickle Food Co-op
I was in the Logan Square neighborhood and knew that the Dill Pickle Food Co-op was nearby and decided to make a quick stop before going home.
The small but deep store had everything from fresh breads to vegetables to loose leaf teas to canned tomatoes. The narrow aisles take some side-stepping and several “pardon me’s” to/from other customers. There is a good mix of local companies and producers in addition to the usual suspects of grocery brands. I liked the variety of fruits & vegetables as well as the special deal on tortilla chips. The co-op employees mentioned the bakeries deliver fresh bread very early each morning.
Customers are a mix of members and non-members; prices are the same for both groups. Speaking of pricing, the store isn’t any more expensive than Whole Foods or other smaller grocery stores. For shoppers that mainly make purchases from national grocery stores, there might be a bit of a surprise.
While I would not make the Dill Pickle Co-op a regular store on my list as I don’t live in the neighborhood, I would go the next time I am in the area. It is a wonderful and welcomed addition.
Store Details:
3039 W. Fullerton Ave (near Sacramento)
773-252-2667
http://www.dillpicklefoodcoop.org
