Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday after Halloween and New Year’s Eve because the entire reason for this day is the feast.  Being with family is wonderful, the absence of the frantic need to shop for gifts is even better, and of course we’re all told that the point of the day is the giving of thanks for our blessings, hence the name.  But let’s be honest: the thing we’re most thankful for is that after hours of waiting, that blasted turkey is finally done and we can stop having Cheese-Its for lunch. 

 This was my third or fourth time making dinner for my roommate and parents.  Since Christmas is zooming up sooner than we’d like, I thought I’d list some of the things I’ve learned to assist those trying to host their own holiday feast. 

  1.  Appetizers, Pfft!

Appetizers need not be fancy.  Put out some nice bowls of chips, a few dips or salsas, and you’re set.  If you put things in nice bowls people will overlook the fact that the dip is still in the same shape as the plastic tub it came in.  For something a little more exciting, I recommend ordering bacon jam from Skillet Street Food, a mobile restaurant based in Seattle.  This delightful concoction (high on Santa’s naughty list) is meaty, sweet, and pretty addictive.  Smear it on wheat crackers if you’re watching your weight. 

  2.  Cooking the Turkey.

·      Always defrost the bird way ahead of time.  You may think that turkeys stored in the fridge for five days will spoil, but you’ll likely be brushing ice chips from it, even after all that time. 

·      Always remove the bag of guts.  Really, it’s in there – check the other end.

·      Pop-up timers are a gag gift from the meat industry and are akin to hood ornaments – pointless excuses to raise prices.  (The holidays haven’t made me bitter!)  Whole turkeys come with their own, nature-made timers: when the bones of the legs start to protrude, dinner’s ready.  You can use a meat thermometer to check – when the stem is inserted into the thigh, it should read about 175 degrees.

·      Don’t bother using a roasting rack – noshing on the bits of meat that sat for hours in their own juices is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

·      Metal roasting pans can be a godsend.  Just set it inside a rimmed baking sheet to make lifting easier and carving less messy.  Invert a second pan over it to keep leftovers warm.  Which brings us to the next tip… 

  3.  Covering the Cooked Turkey Does Nothing to Deter the Cat.

A kitty that once seemed terrified of aluminum foil thinks nothing of pushing a foil pan away from a freshly roasted turkey.  Some people think cats are dumb.  I disagree.

4.  The Absence of Pumpkin Pie Makes People Cranky.

5.  Starve Your Guests.

If you burned the meat, your gravy ended up with more lumps than the taters, the pie overflowed and you somehow made a complete failure of canned cranberries and boxed stuffing, have no fear.  Sit back with a glass of Scotch and wait.  Eventually your guests will be so hungry, they’ll be grateful to be served anything that resembles food.

After living only one mile away for the last seven years, my dining companion and I decided it was about time we tried Smak-Tak!, a tiny Polish restaurant on the northwest side.

The dining room was just as adorable as my drive-by encounters hinted: the cozy, ski-lodge motif and warm lighting made it look like the perfect place to curl up with a book and a warm bowl of czarnina. Mistletoe and pine garlands adorned the ceiling beams, a tiny fireplace sat in the corner, and each table was decorated with bank lamps, vinyl placemats, a wooden duck napkin holder, and rubber coasters-—very much the way I remember my grama’s kitchen table. I half expected her to come out of the kitchen with a pack of cards and a Hershey bar.

Although I’m not much of a beet lover, I thought I’d try something different: Red Borscht with Mushroom Pierogi. The bright red broth (which stained the perfectly cooked pierogi a cheerful, rosy pink), was a little sweet, a little sour, and very addictive.

I decided to try one of the two entrée specials: Pork Meatballs with Dill Sauce. The two sizeable meatballs were accompanied by (counterclockwise) scoops of mashed potatoes sprinkled with parsley, a delicious carrot slaw, and cabbage slaw that was even better the next day.

My companion’s rich Hunter’s Stew was chock full of onions and veal and was especially tasty accompanied by the complimentary light rye bread.

We both received slices of chocolate-cherry cake for dessert. Sadly, this was not the highlight of the meal. It tasted bitter and was soaked a little to heavily in liqueur for our tastes.

At just over $30 for two mighty tasty meals, we decided we could overlook the non-so-tasty cake and come back soon for pickle soup and sausages.

Smak-Tak! (that’s Polish for Delicious—Yes!)

5961 N. Elston Ave.

Chicago, 60646

(773) 631-6171

www.smaktak.com

Open everyday 11am-9pm

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Thanksgiving was over for only three days, I was running out of turkey leftovers, and I was planning to come home to a nice, fairly healthy bowl of canned soup for lunch. Oh, what I good girl was I! But I had a bit of a downfall, and I blame my boss.

As a Christmas gift last year, I was given a collection of the best food writing of the previous year. The silly editor of this book put three articles about taquerias and taco trucks in a row! The pressure was too much. The ever-present voices in my head screamed taco! taco!

On the way home from work, I spotted 4 Hermanos Too, the second location of the storefront Mexican diner in Jefferson Park. This location is much smaller than the original, but just as homey and welcoming. I never really noticed this location before, which sits directly across from Target and the Leaning Tower of Niles. (It’s like the Leaning Tower of Pisa but smaller and more mysterious. The reason for its existence is the mystery).

The prices are the best part of 4 Hermanos. I decided to try two tacos—one chorizo and one seasoned pork—and the total came to $3.31 with tax. They may be small (about 4 inches in diameter), but they pack a wallop. They are piled so high with meat, fresh onions, and fresh cilantro that you can’t close the tortilla around the filling. Do not attempt to eat these on the car ride home. Trust me.

The pork was quite good, but the chorizo was definitely the highlight – drippy, highly seasoned, and a perfect match for the onions and cilantro. This particular nosh was what brought me back with a group of friends in tow. The special of the day, three tacos with rice and beans, came to a grand total of $5.51. The beans and rice could have used more seasoning. But the portions were huge, much bigger than you’d expect for lunch, and the tacos were as good as they were the first time.

4 Hermanos Too

6145 W. Touhy Ave., Chicago

(773) 775-2550 or (773) 775-3130

4 Hermanos

5239 N. Central Ave., Chicago

(773) 545-2294 or (773) 545-9596

Never one to pass up free chocolate, I was the first person to snatch up some truffles donated by a coworker from Cacao, a ritzy European chocolate company based in Maryland.

The truffles were beautifully decorated and showcased Chocolatier Jacques Poulain’s artistic talents. My first sample, Armagnac Thyme Ganache (not shown), had an incredibly delicate, decadent filling encased in rich bittersweet chocolate.

I allowed a day to pass before my next taste (such restraint!) but made up for it with a White Chocolate Raspberry heart (pictured top left), which surprised me with a dark chocolate filling…

…and Dark Chocolate Ganache with Fresh Pear Puree (middle right), a rich, satisfying bite enrobed with milk chocolate. I much prefer this to the real fruit.

Although by now it’s too late to order for the holidays, these cold months make chocolate perfect for shipping. A four-piece box is only $5.50, and you can choose the pieces yourself or have the chocolatier choose for you. Either way, it’s a steal.

When my roommate’s sister requested I bring Thai-Style Roti for Christmas dessert, I scratched my head and thought, whaa?

We were having a multi-national celebration with traditional ethnic dishes. This particular one is a standard treat during Loy Krathong, an annual holiday held to thank the water goddess and float away ill fortune.

I’ve had roti, a crispy, fried flatbread, with Indian meals, but I never heard of a sweet version. The dough for both is almost identical, but the sweet version is sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. The dough is made much like a pie dough, rolled in oil and formed into balls, then left to rest for about three hours. Then, each ball of dough is rolled flat and pan-fried, making a slightly puffed disk that shatters into layers of flaky pastry. I cheated and bought the frozen kind at an Asian grocery, but the result was just as good. The roti was then drizzled with a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk (we omitted the sugar). It was delicious! Here is the recipe in case you want to try it from scratch:

Thai-Style Roti
2 cups wheat flour
1/4 cup ice cold water
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
oil for rolling and frying (veggie or canola oil will do)
sugar for sprinkling
sweetened condensed milk for drizzling

1. Sift flour into large bowl. Make a well and add ice water, egg, melted butter and salt. Use your hands to incorporate mixture into dough. Knead until soft; form into balls about the size of small eggs. Roll lightly in oil; let rest three hours.
2. Roll balls of dough as thinly as possible on lightly floured surface, forming flat disks.
3. Warm frying pan at high heat; add oil to depth of 1/2 inch. Add roti, one at a time, flattening with tongs. Fry until light golden brown; turn and repeat (about 2 minutes each side). Remove roti from the pan; drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with sugar and drizzle with sweetened condensed milk.

‘Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house, this creature was stirring, well, because she was really, really hungry. I hadn’t eaten since midnight the night before, so by ten-thirty in the morning, it was time for breakfast. Santa had already left me some nice goodies and was already back at the North Pole (I assumed), so I figured it was as good a time as any to go out and eat some reindeer.

To be fair, I assume this is not one of the reindeer. I assume this particular specimen was one of the fat, slow critters that did not make the cut to Santa’s legendary team, otherwise why didn’t he escape the hunter’s bow by dashing away? Anyway, it’s too late for Santa to retaliate, and not only do I have a year to make up for this ultimate wickedness, but if I’m wrong, he has a year to recruit more employees.

I heard about fRedhots a while ago but decided to wait until they offered the Alaska Reindeer meat hotdog. It’s a little pricey ($8.50) but worth it. I ordered it “the Alaskan way” with grilled onions, mustard, and pickle. The dog was juicy and had that nice characteristic snap of natural casing. Although it tasted a lot like a beef wiener, there was a strong gamey kick and it was also a bit fatter than a basic hot dog. This meaty delight is only available for a limited time, so don’t wait too long! I also urge you to splurge a bit and order the fries. I haven’t tried them, but they come with an extensive selection of dipping sauces like garlic, spicy aioli, and chipotle, all seemingly

Although I usually celebrate Christmas, I like reveling in all sorts of holidays. Limiting oneself to one set of festivities is silly! Especially when there are good eats out there, like Roti for Loy Krathong, cashew-laden treats in honor of Diwali, and latke-flavored sodie pop for Chanukah.

That’s right, Jones Soda Co. put out another box set of wacky flavored sodas just in time for the Festival of Lights. They offered the set in 2006, as well as a Thanksgiving themed one with flavors like Turkey and Gravy. Mmm! So why wouldn’t I jump at the chance to snatch up the 2008 Chanukah Pack?

I tested them out with my ever-adventurous roommate, in order of tamest to wackiest, on December 29th, the last day of Chanukah.

#1 – Jelly Doughnut. This was actually not bad. It was mostly just sugary sweet but with a twist of strawberry. We gave it three dreidels out of four.

#2 – Chocolate Coins. Whoever digs Kayo will love this. It tasted just like a chocolate phosphate. Sadly, this is only available seasonally! Four dreidels out of four.

#3 – Apple Sauce. This one was pretty good too, and really did taste remarkably like applesauce. Fans of green apple soda should find this equally tasty. Three-and-a-half dreidels out of four.

#4 – Latke. Naturally, we saved this one to pair with the Apple Sauce. Not surprisingly, it was incredibly vile and tasted nothing like the tasty potato treats we all know and love. If it could be compared to anything palatable, I’d say it reminded me of Perrier – bitter, flavorless, and downright unpleasant. Zero dreidels out of four. Back to the drawing board, guys!

Speaking of dreidels, the pack comes with a free tshatshke – a genuine dreidel! Now we have a fun way to ring in 2009. That makes up for the Latke pop.

For those of you that grew up around Norridge/Harwood Heights/Chicago near the Harlem Irving Plaza shopping mall (the HIP), it’s a sad, sad time of year. The Maurice Lenell Cookie Company (4747 N. Harlem Ave., Norridge) filed for bankruptcy last year, and has now officially closed. The factory is relocating to Indiana, according to the Chicago Tribune. However, other sources say the new location will be in Mexico or “overseas”. Still others say the future of the company is undetermined, as Consolidated Biscuit Co., the company that bought Maurice Lenell, isn’t talking. Luckily, after Maurice Lenell relocates, their online store will reopen (their website promises sometime in February 2009) and at some point, a retail outlet will open at in the Chicagoland area.

If you have driven past the old, run-down Norridge theatres this past year, you’ve probably noticed that the lower 5 listings on their gargantuan sign have been painted over and only 5 movies are listed at the top. That’s because a Vernon Hills real estate company purchased the theatre and the cookie factory in order to put up a Costco or Wal-Mart. Because Norridge is too pretty, Harlem Avenue too deserted and there aren’t nearly enough strip malls and retail outlets, goodness knows! Costco may be a decent place to shop, I’ve never been there, but really, do we need another Wal-Mart? Another giant retail space? More traffic? The HIP purchased the bank just to the north and their adjacent parking lot, which means they’ll be adding more stores as well.

Maurice Lenell had two cookies I loved: Pinwheels and Jelly Stars. Honestly, most of their cookies tasted pretty much the same, but they were a staple during snacktime and parties at school. My mother’s old boss used to give them as gifts. They were the ultimate dipping cookies; you could dunk away and it wouldn’t break apart or turn mushy like so many other brands. The Norridge factory has been there since 1937; it was a fixture of the neighborhood and Chicago itself, like Brachs, Frango, and Marshall Field’s were.

I’ll always remember the places that have given me so many good memories: the old-fashioned theatre where I saw some of my first movies, including the first I saw all by myself (for $4.25 or less!), while on my first date, and with my girlfriend after walking over to Maurice Lenell for free samples and a box of Pinwheels to share. We needed something tasty to sneak into the movies.

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The Choo-Choo, an adorable little train-themed diner just off Rte. 14 in Des Plaines, is in danger of being derailed. There is hope that it may be moved to another, more visible site, but for the time being, the Choo-Choo may lose it’s original, old-fashioned location that has drawn thousands of children and train enthusiasts for the last 57 years.

I thought I’d make a trip while I still had the chance. I ordered a cheeseburger with all the trimmings and a banana malt topped with whipped cream. Fries come with all sandwiches. Luckily, I was able to sit at the original formica counter and be served by the toy locomotive that makes a trip around the kitchen to pick up orders and stops in front of the guests to deliver its cargo. I may be an adult, but I was beyond tickled.

The burger was thin and extended way past the bun, and was topped with lettuce, tomato, and pickle. They’re a little stingy on the pickles, but that’s getting off track. Burgers are made by hand from fresh beef instead of factory-pressed frozen patties, and you can tell the difference. They’re messy, cheesy, perfectly seasoned, moist, and the perfect size to hold in one hand. Plus, take a look at that crisp, fresh lettuce! The fries were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, burly enough to handle a scoop of ketchup or malt (yes, I dip my fries in my malt), and only a little greasy (perfectly so, in my book). The banana malt was massive and impeded my ability to polish off the fries, but it was so creamy and rich that I brought the rest home with me. The meal was only about $10 and was enough to last most of the day.

If only I was ten again…kids can enter the birthday club and win a free meal. Birthday celebrants get a free cupcake too, and a birthday song punctuated by toots of an old train whistle. The cupcakes are even topped with a little toy whistle to keep! Cupcakes are for sale for non-birthday boys and girls too for $2.25.

So if you’re near Des Plaines (the diner is a stone’s throw from the Metra station), please stop by and give The Choo-Choo some love. And try to scam a seat at the counter. There’s nothing better than a meal and a show. To petition to save the restaurant, please visit the following link to leave a comment. Tootle-oo!

The Choo-Choo

600 Lee Street

Des Plaines, 60016

(847) 391-9815

I always thought this statement was the equivalent to “where’s the love?” and meant to express offense. In the past few days, however, I realized it makes no sense. Chopped liver is one of the finer things in life. It’s not pretty, that’s certain, but what it lacks in beauty it makes up for in taste.

My first taste of chopped liver came as a part of the amuses bouche (basically, free appetizers) at Myron & Phil’s, an old-school steak house in Lincolnwood, on New Year’s Eve. One tray—“the pickle tray”—contained fat slices of pickled red pepper, whole pickled green tomatoes, and…pickles. Then there was the breadbasket with raisin-studded pumpernickel and challah, among others. And last but not least, there was a tray with raw onions and one fat scoop of chopped liver with bits of hard-boiled yolk tossed in. I couldn’t believe how tasty it was, and how rich and smooth. Liver? Really? After all the reports I’ve heard though the years of liver and onions being a repulsive combo? Maybe this was just a fluke.

After a few days, I could not get the thought of this grayish chow out of my head. I thought if I didn’t get another fix I would surely die. So off I went to The Bagel, a huge Jewish deli at Old Orchard that specializes in deli staples and old-timey favorites like chocolate phosphates (yes, I ordered one of those too).

I ordered the liver on challah, just like I had it at Myron & Phil’s, and it too came with a pickle and a side of coleslaw. This combo came to a grand total of $8.75, which seemed a bit pricey. That is, until I got it back home.

Imagine the scoop of chopped liver as a wee meaty bomb detonated inside eggy, buttery walls of challah. It exploded over the cut sides and edges of the bread so that biting into it was impossible without having it squirt everywhere. Good times. I only wish I had time to take a photo before I snarfed it down. My only complaint is that the coleslaw portion was way too small in proportion to the sandwich. There were about three forkfuls in a little plastic container the size of a shot glass. I’m a firm believer in having copious amounts of slaw with deli sandwiches, but at least I got a pickle.

The Bagel’s version of chopped liver was as rich and meaty as Myron & Phil’s, but without the yolks, the flavor was also quite strong. The yolks rounded out the flavor and made it more satisfying and creamy. Though I liked Myron & Phil’s better, they were both delicious in their own way. Maybe my first taste of grilled liver and onions isn’t too far behind.

Myron & Phil’s

3333 W. Devon Ave.

Lincolnwood, 60172

(847) 677-6663

The Bagel Restaurant & Deli

50 Old Orchard Center (north end near Lord & Taylor)

Skokie, 60077

(847) 677-0100