It's difficult for me to think of Chicago as a "mid-western" city given the high-profile sports teams, night life and top-notch restaurants and bars. The hustle and bustle, many-storied buildings and fast pace make me think I'm somewhere akin to San Francisco or New York. The people, however, was what made it feel like the mid west. Their friendliness, helpfulness, hospitality and warmth kept a smile on my face and a lightness to my step. My recent visit was full of delicious food and easy conversations with next-stool bar patrons.
Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.
Enjoy this sky-lined picture of the harbor.
FEW Spirits
918 Chicago Avenue, Evanston
This is a local distillery that creates their spirits from start to finish; from making the mash to the fermenting to the distilling to the aging. This is, unfortunately, a bit rare these days with more mainstream distilleries. We were lucky enough to get a tasting of their delicious products and some of these are available online or at retailers in California and other states.
http://www.fewspirits.com
Below on the left is FEW's Barrel-aged Gin. This is an aromatic powerhouse full of woody, smokey caramel notes with the spiced juniper fruitiness of gin. The barrel aging mellows out the sharpness and makes for an excellent Manhattan. The Bourbon Whiskey (center) was made with rye and a touch of malt for a smooth, smokey taste and a long, sweet finish.
Koval
5121 N. Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago
This is another local distillery that takes their start-to-finish craft distilling very seriously. They are also an organic distillery using organic, local grains. With a stubborn determination to only produce the finest products, one can only gaze in awe of this vigilance while enjoying a pour of their fine products. These are, unfortunately, not as available online, but I would encourage anyone visiting Chicago to make a stop, go through a tour and take a few bottles home.
http://www.koval-distillery.com/newsite/
Below center is their Walnut Liquor. This was sweet, but not overly so, with a smooth nuttiness that does not have the bitterness of fresh walnuts. An excellent addition to any cocktail that needs a little extra something. On the right is their Bourbon Whiskey. The only whiskey made from millet, this has a lingering spiciness that has a rounded middle and a long, aromatic finish.
Little Goat Diner
820 W. Randolph Street, Chicago
http://littlegoatchicago.com/
An ode to the classic diner came in the form of counter seating and leather-bound stools, but the quality and ingenuity of the food was anything but. A long line on a Thursday morning let me know I was in for something tasty.
Cappuccino. I had some really good coffee in Chicago and this was one of the many fantastic cappuccinos I had while there. Creamy, full-bodied without the lingering bitterness and not overly caffeinated.
Cinnamon Sticky Bun. After one of the line cooks saw where our order fell in the long queue he was working from, he gifted us this warm, soft, sticky and sweet bun to hold us over until he got to our order. This was a really nice gesture from a really busy staff member and it was much appreciated and enjoyed.
This Little Piggy Went to China. A fantastic rendition of what to do with a biscuit. A flaky, buttery sesame cheddar biscuit was filled with a savory szechuan pork sausage, sweet strawberries, a perfectly fried egg and topped with an amazing tangy, spicy, sweet, sour and salty chili garlic sauce. All of the taste sections of my tongue became happy all at the same time.
Bull's Eye French Toast. Two thick slices of sweet onion brioche were stamped with an egg in the middle and fried in butter until golden brown, crispy on the outside and souffle-like on the inside. The crunchy fried chicken pieces, strawberries and bbq maple syrup on top just took it a couple notches higher. The combination of sweet mixed with savory are done very well at this restaurant.
Smoked Fries. As if all of the above wasn't enough food, I also decided to try these smokey, crispy fries. The smoke was noticeable but not overpowering. These were very addictive.
Mortar and Pestle
3108 N. Broadway, Chicago
http://www.mortarandpestlechicago.com/
Locally minded but globally inspired is this quaint establishment in a more suburb-like neighborhood. With an "everything from scratch" philosophy, this was a place I wanted to visit, especially when the two Chefs built the interior of the restaurant as well as the menu.
Cappuccino. Another great cup of coffee with beans from Big Shoulders Coffee.
Deviled Eggs. After a long wait, the staff gifted these little gems for us to nibble on while we waited for our food. The day's preparation included mixing some chipotle chili paste into the yolk mixture and topping them off with pickled relish and chicharrones tossed with smoked paprika. The bit of heat, with the tangy pickle and crunchy chicharrones made for a flavorful and texturaly-enjoyable bite.
Smash Burger. This juicy and meaty burger was expertly prepared and seasoned well. The fresh bibb lettuce, pickle, gooey house-made American cheese, bioche bun and "special" sauce tied each bite together very well. The crunchy, Umami Fries also paired very nicely with this burger.
Alaskan King Crab Benedict. This was topped with a Sriracha hollandaise, and layered underneath was watercress, poached egg, and English muffin. This tasted of the sea: briny and savory.
Side of Bacon. Their house-made, nitrite-free bacon was thick cut, smokey and full of porky, salty goodness. A really good bacon.
Xoctli Mexican Restaurant
1658 W. Cermak Road, Chicago
This was a little neighborhood spot that was about a 10-minute walk from the train station. I felt very welcomed and comfortable here with the friendly service and food that felt more like it came from someone's home rather than a commercial kitchen. The portions were also enormous and we left full and with leftovers in hand.
Chips and Salsa. The chips were crisp and still a bit warm from the fryer. The simple tomato, chili, lime salsa was also warm, which I found absolutely delightful.
Cecina Estilo Guerrero. The house specialty of salted beef dried in the sun was a very tasty dish. I'm not sure if this one was dried in the sun, but it was still very meaty and tasty along with the house made corn tortillas, guacamole and pico de gallo.
Stewed Beans. This was actually a side dish that came with the Cecina. They don't look like much, but these were very rich, savory and full bodied. They were probably the most flavorful and tasty beans I've ever enjoyed.
Fajitas Tricolor. A delicious mix of chicken, steak and shrimp cooked on a flattop to get a little smokey char. These were served with refried beans, sour cream and fresh, warm corn tortillas.
Jibek Jolu
5047 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
The only Kyrgyzstanian food purveyor that I have ever heard about anywhere, this type of cuisine melds the flavors of the Middle East with aspects of Asia and Russia. A bustling restaurant with two locations in Chicago, I was very happy to have been able to experience it.
http://jibekjolu.us/
Table Bread. Hot, fresh, pillow-like bread with a comforting nutty/yeasty aroma. This was great for sopping up leftover sauces or just eating by itself.
Stuffed Blini. This was a cheese-stuffed, pancake-like appetizer that was sweet and savory. The cheese in the middle was a farmer's cheese that was mild in taste, a bit sweet and very creamy. The blini it was encased in was light but still sturdy. This was probably something I could've eaten topped with fruit for breakfast or topped with chocolate and whipped cream for dessert.
Pelmeni. These homemade dumplings were stuffed with ground beef and onions that were fantastically seasoned with a delicious blend of herbs and spices. Served with a side of yogurt sauce, these were bite-sized pockets of goodness.
Lagman. The Asian influence comes out in this dish. The hand-pulled wheat noodles had a great chew and made for an excellent vessel for the topping of stewed lamb and vegetables. The broth it was soaking in was super savory, a little spicy and very comforting.
Middle East Bakery
1512 W. Foster Avenue, Chicago
This corner bakery had two parts; one side was a quick, hot-food, lunch area serving gyros and salads and through the back of that was a little grocery store/bakery. The baked goods were pre-prepared and pre-packaged, but made fresh each day. For a small store, they actually carried a vast array of items, including fresh baked breads, cookies, candies, nuts and imported olive oils. They even had coffee, tea and spices for purchase. I might have spent about an hour just looking through the aisles of goodies and had to think about and plan how much I was able to fit into my suitcase to bring home.
http://www.middleeastbakeryandgrocery.com/
Nougat Candy. This was one of my favorite types of candies and these, in particular, were a fantastic version. Individually-wrapped chewy nougat with pistachios and candied orange peel. It wasn't too sweet and satisfied that chewy, crunchy craving in a small size.
Ghorayebah. This was a densely-packed butter cookie with one pistachio nut for decoration. The very simple ingredient list included sugar, butter and flour. The butter that was used was very flavorful with a nutty aroma and the flaky, mildly sweet cookie went very well with coffee or tea.
Mini Mixed Nuts. Another treat that's on my favorite list. This candied nut bar was made with cashews, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, sugar and lemon juice. Sweet, crunchy, nutty, sticky and tasty.
Assorted Baklava. This variety pack of baklava had an assortment of different ways of putting together filo dough, nuts, sugar syrup and orange water. The flavors were similar aside from the different nuts used, but the many ways of using filo dough changed the texture and even how much sugar syrup the baklava was able to absorb. These were probably the best baklavas I've ever eaten. Very well crafted.
Assorted Mediterranean Cookies. Also made with minimal ingredients, these cookies incorporated flour, egg, vanilla, sugar, butter and shortening. The use of anise, coconut, sesame seeds, chocolate and white chocolate provided the different flavors and aromas. These were also not too sweet and I appreciated the use of spices to appeal to the different senses.
Irazu
1865 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
This casual joint served some very tasty Costa Rican food. Even though I cannot attest to the authenticity of the food, I can say that everything was incredibly delicious and the portions were enormous. The service was casual, friendly and comfortable and the indoor/outdoor type of patio was decorated like a vacation spot and had that "take me away" type of feel.
http://irazuchicago.com/
Chips and Salsa. Freshly fried corn tortilla chips were served with a green salsa that was tangy and spicy. I usually appreciate salsa served in a squeeze bottle; it makes it easier to pile it onto your chip or other food.
Coffee with Horchata. I think this is a great combination. The sweetness of the horchata balances the bitterness of the coffee, and the ice makes this a very refreshing beverage.
Empanadas. Five tasty fried half-moons of dough filled with a variety of fillings for $11 makes for a meal and a half. These were a variety pack of cheese, chicken, beef & potato, chorizo & potato and mushroom. Each had a distinctive deliciousness and the crunchy exterior with a warm interior made for a nice snack.
Steak, Chicken & Chorizo Burrito. It was amazing how much was stuffed into this flour tortilla. Three different meats along with beans, cheese, lettuce, guacamole and tomato melded together in a very savory combination. The fact that the burrito was then grilled on the flattop before serving added an extra layer of warmth and texture the the whole thing. Delicious.
I had a great time in Chicago. The people were very friendly and social. The food and drinks were well-crafted and I could tell that people took pride in what they did and how they treated others. "Integrity" actually means something in this big city with a small-town feel. I will definitely come visit again.
