Category: Chicago

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

This week’s Best Bite: Salted Carame’L’ concrete, Shake Shack

This Best Bite is one of the 20 foods and 15 drinks I’ve set out to taste and document in 2015. View the full list to see my plan and progress.

Salted Carame"L" concrete, Shake Shack
Concrete with vanilla custard, banana, and Glazed & Infused salted caramel old fashioned doughnut

Why it’s this week’s Best Bite: I’ve never had the wear-withal to stand in line at the original Shake Shack in New York’s Madison Square Park (or any other location, for that matter), so I was happy to finally make it to the 2-month-old Chicago outpost. On this visit, I had my eye on dessert; specifically, the creamy frozen custard that’s just as beloved as the burgers and fries. The Salted Carame”L” concrete was spun with sizable hunks of banana and salted caramel doughnut, but still kept the focus on the sublime vanilla custard base. As one of the Chicago-exclusive concrete flavors – which explains its punny name – the doughnuts are locally sourced from Glazed and Infused, and a portion of sales support the Greater Chicago Food Depository. My only regret is that I didn’t snag a few of Shake Shack’s crinkle-cut fries to dip into the custard, Wendy’s Frosty–style, for the ultimate in sweet and salty.

The details: Shake Shack, 66 E. Ohio St., Chicago.

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #30: Fried brussels sprouts, The Radler

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Fried brussels sprouts, The Radler
Fried brussels sprouts with apple mayo, butternut squash puree, gingersnap cookie, and candied ginger

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: In its first year open, modern beer hall The Radler has been a welcome addition to Logan Square. While the house-made sausages are certainly delicious, I more often pair my stein of beer with these crispy fried brussels sprouts. Sweet and gingery from crushed gingersnaps, squash puree, and candied ginger, they’re like none I’ve had anywhere else and let me enjoy the flavors of fall year-round.

The details: The Radler, 2375 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

Powered By OpenTable

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #29: The Grill Club, Standard Market Grill

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

The Grill Club, Standard Market Grill
The Grill Club with brie cheese, toasted everything bagel, shaved turkey, avocado, oven-roasted tomato, bacon, and honey mustard

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: This sandwich came as sustenance after a few hours of walking around BrewLights at the Lincoln Park Zoo (holiday beer samples in conjunction with the zoo’s annual light display). It was the little lavish details that made it go above and beyond a typical club sandwich: brie cheese, roasted tomato, avocado, and of course a toasted everything bagel instead of bread. A side of top-notch sweet potato fries also didn’t hurt.

The details: Standard Market Grill, 444 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Chicago.

Powered By OpenTable

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #28: The Gobbler burger, DMK Burger Bar

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

The Gobbler burger, DMK Burger Bar
The Gobbler burger with turkey patty, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, celery, and cranberry relish, DMK Burger Bar

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: In the sea of Chicago restaurants who specialize in burgers, DMK consistently serves some of the very best. I’m also a sucker for any Thanksgiving-themed special, so ordering The Gobbler was a no-brainer on this visit. The crunchy celery and tart cranberry squished into a mound of mashed potatoes, all atop sage-laden stuffing and turkey patties. With a side of DMK’s sweet potato fries – which are delicious in any season – this burger felt as festive and filling as the holiday meal itself, and made a fitting prelude to the real feast three days later.

The details: DMK Burger Bar, 2954 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago.

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #27: BBQ brisket bibimbap, Smalls Smoke Shack & More

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

BBQ brisket bibimbap, Smalls Smoke Shack and More
BBQ brisket bibimbap with soy/maple/sesame glaze, assorted vegetables, steamed rice, fried egg, kimchi, pickled daikon, and Korean chile paste

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Much like yesterday’s post, this dish represented a partnership between two foods I’m crazy about: Korean bibimbap and BBQ beef brisket. The brisket came glazed with a umami-rich blend of soy, maple, and sesame, and was joined by pickled veggies, crunchy kimchi, and the healthy dab of gochujang-style hot pepper paste that’s always necessary when mixing bibimbap together. I was just as impressed by the other side of the tray: the rice was flavorful and pleasantly sticky, and the egg on top may have been the most perfect consistency I’ve ever had on bibimbap, with a soft, well-seasoned center and lots of crispy pieces around the edges.

The details: Smalls Smoke Shack & More, 4009 N. Albany Ave., Chicago.

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #26: Turkey pot pie poutine, The Bad Apple

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Turkey pot pie poutine, The Bad Apple
Turkey pot pie poutine with turkey, cheese curds, veggies, and gravy

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: While I had fully intended on blogging about one of The Bad Apple’s elaborate burgers, I instead went with this hearty appetizer special (which I ate on the same day as yesterday’s post). Pot pie and poutine just make so much sense as a mashup: a peppery gravy base, skin-on fries as the crust, and cheese curds mixed in among the meat and veggie filling. And thankfully, the portion was reasonable enough that we still had a little room for burgers.

The details: The Bad Apple, 4300 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #24: Skate wing, Mexique

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Skate wing, Mexique
Achiote-and-tequila pan-seared skate wing with cauliflower, plantains, pickled grapes, spinach, and tomato-habanero beurre blanc

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: I first dined at Mexique the weekend of my culinary school graduation, and it was such a memorable meal that I can’t believe it took four years to make it back. On both occasions, skate wing was the standout dish for me. In this year’s version, the seared skate had an incredibly velvety texture, punctuated by pickled grapes, plantains, and watermelon radish. And while a plate full of sauce would usually seem like overkill, the added heat and creaminess here was just right.

The details: Mexique, 1529 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago.

Powered By OpenTable

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #23: No. 21 juice, Owen+Alchemy

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

No. 21 juice, Owen and Alchemy
No. 21 juice with blueberry, basil, grapefruit, and lime

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Owen+Alchemy opened in Logan Square this year as the first “juice apothecary” of its kind, with a staggering selection of sleek glass bottles filled with concoctions of every color. My first selection was Number 21, a blend of blueberry, basil, grapefruit, and lime. Every sip began with a punch of basil, which I loved, and then glided into a delicate balance between sweet blueberry and tart citrus.

The details: Owen+Alchemy, 2355 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #22: BBQ jerk chicken with mac & cheese, Uncle Joe’s

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

BBQ jerk chicken with mac & cheese, Uncle Joe's
BBQ jerk chicken with mac & cheese

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: I visited this Bronzeville gem with a group of girlfriends one Saturday, eager for spicy Caribbean cuisine. This BBQ jerk chicken combined two delicious styles, boasting a layer of fiery seasoning underneath sweet, tangy BBQ sauce. The mac ‘n cheese on the side was creamy and comforting, and the white bread served its purpose to temper the heat of especially pungent bites.

The details: Uncle Joe’s, 4655 S. King Dr., Chicago.

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #21: Red chile enchiladas, Dove’s Luncheonette

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Red chile enchiladas, Dove's Luncheonette
Corn tortillas and roasted chicken thighs with guajillo-ancho chile sauce, queso oaxaca, queso fresco, cilantro, onions, and pickled serrano chiles

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: I usually don’t visit restaurants in their first week open, but I suspected that Dove’s – adjacent to Big Star – would already be excelling at its retro-Mexican-diner concept. These soulful enchiladas were all the confirmation I needed. The guajillo-ancho chile sauce that smothered the tortilla-wrapped chicken thighs was deep and smoky, with contrast from the pickled chiles, cilantro, and two styles of cheese on top.

The details: Dove’s Luncheonette, 1546 N. Damen Ave., Chicago.

Powered By OpenTable

[googlemaps width=300 height=300]