Category: Best Bites

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Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #16: Elotes, Cherubs at Logan Square Farmers Market

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.

Elotes, Cherubs at Logan Square Farmers Market
Elotes with mayo, butter, cheese, and chili powder

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: The Logan Square Farmers Market has been one of my most cherished Sunday traditions for as long as I’ve lived in the neighborhood. All the way at the eastern edge of the outdoor market lies Cherubs, a purveyor of tacos, horchata, and these elotes. It was an indulgence, for sure – the ear of corn was brushed with both mayo and butter before receiving its coating of chili powder and cheese – but such a spicy, creamy, and delicious way to eat corn.

The details: Logan Square Farmers Market (location varies seasonally), Chicago.

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Best Bites

2014 Best Bite #14: Salted caramel pretzel shake, Steak ‘n Shake

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.

Salted caramel pretzel shake, Steak & Shake
Salted caramel pretzel milkshake with salted caramel syrup and sweet ‘n salty caramel pretzel pieces

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Steak ‘n Shake is one of those places that I’ll always associate with fond memories from childhood and college alike. On this occasion, when a Indy-native friend and I needed to quell our nostalgic cravings, I went for a newer shake offering that tasted even better than I’d expected. Rich and salty caramel was swirled in with heaps of pretzel pieces for a treat that made me feel like both a grown-up and a kid.

The details: Steak ‘n Shake, 2209 Oakton St., Evanston.

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Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #13: Potato pancakes, Bohemian House

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.

Potato pancakes, Bohemian House
Potato pancakes with cured salmon, apple preserves, kohlrabi, and dill

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: These miniature potato pancakes were a bright, balanced way to start dinner at this eclectic River North newcomer. The crunchy kohlrabi mimicked the texture of apple – which instead appeared in the form of sweet preserves – and both flavors fit beautifully with the salmon and dill.

The details: Bohemian House, 11 W. Illinois St., Chicago.

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Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #12: Smoked salmon bagel plate, The Local

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.

Smoked salmon bagel, The Local
Smoked salmon bagel plate with chive cream cheese, tomato, and red onion

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: I love a good bagel and lox, so was drawn to this creative presentation of swirls of smoked salmon alongside all the other fixings. I appreciated the luxury of assembling the bagel according to my own ideal proportions, especially out on The Local’s sun-drenched Streeterville patio.

The details: The Local, 198 E. Delaware Pl., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #11: Goat cheese and fig jam crostini, Blue Door Farm Stand

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.

Goat cheese and fig jam crostini, Blue Door Farm Stand
Goat cheese and fig jam crostini

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: These crispy crostini made a picturesque afternoon snack, each with a generous knob of goat cheese and slathering of fig jam. I also loved Blue Door’s airy interior, with reclaimed wood and other rustic touches that made it feel like a trendy farmhouse.

The details: Blue Door Farm Stand, 843 Armitage Ave., Chicago.

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Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #10: Fried chicken and waffles, GT Fish & Oyster

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 chicken and waffles, GT Fish & Oyster
Fried chicken and waffles with Burton’s maplewood farm syrup

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Tucked amongst GT Fish & Oyster’s menu of generally seafood-leaning brunch dishes is their perfectly executed version of chicken and waffles. The generously battered chicken stayed exceedingly juicy atop fluffy waffles, all drizzled with pure maple syrup.

View another brunch Best Bite from GT Fish & Oyster.

The details: GT Fish & Oyster, 531 N. Wells St., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #9: Spring vegetable orecchetti, Summer House Santa Monica

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.

Spring vegetable orecchietti, Summer House Santa Monica
Spring vegetable orecchietti with ramps, favas, asparagus, and pecorino

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Within Summer House’s bright, beachy environs, this pasta dish celebrated the peak of spring’s green vegetables. Fresh orecchietti pasta mingled with favas, peas, asparagus, and ultra-seasonal ramps, plus pecorino cheese and pickled onions to bring it together. And although they aren’t pictured here, it’s a crime to leave Summer House without at least one of the gigantic, freshly baked cookies at the front counter (I’ll admit that I’ve stopped in on multiple occasions just for the cookies alone).

The details: Summer House Santa Monica, 1954 N. Halsted St., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #8: Mapo tofu, Lao Sze Chuan

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.

Mapo tofu, Lao Sze Chuan
Mapo tofu

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: This silky tofu, bathed in a fiery sauce flecked with green onions and lots of chiles, is my go-to tofu dish. It’s available at any of Lao Sze Chuan’s locations – perhaps the best Chinese food franchise in Chicago – but I was especially happy to try it out at the relatively new location in my college town.

The details: Lao Sze Chuan, 1633 Orrington Ave., Evanston.

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Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #7: Blue Cubby Crunch ice cream, Bobtail Ice Cream Company

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.

Blue Cubby Crunch ice cream, Bobtail Ice Cream Company
Blue Cubby Crunch with vanilla ice cream, sprinkles, Oreo, chocolate chips, and toffee

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Bobtail makes some of the best ice cream in the city, so I’m always excited to see what special flavors are in the case when I stop in. Cubby Crunch is a common offering, but this brilliant shade of blue was only available for a week or so. With a vanilla base that tasted almost like cake batter, the ice cream’s Smurfy hue belied all the other ingredients packed inside: Oreo, sprinkles, toffee, and chocolate chips.

The details: Bobtail Ice Cream Company, 2951 N. Broadway, Chicago.

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Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #6: Grilled cheese flight, Bar Pastoral

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.

Grilled cheese flight, Bar Pastoral
Three-part flight: traditional grilled cheese made with Widmer’s one-year cheddar and served with tomato tapenade; Castelinhos grilled cheese served with charred scallion pepper jelly; and Scharfe Maxx Extra grilled cheese served with chocolate ganache

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Bar Pastoral offered this flight back in April to celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month, a worthy promotion for a restaurant that’s adjacent to a cheese shop. Each of the three melty sandwiches was paired with a dipping sauce, and although the tomato tapenade and charred scallion pepper jelly both worked well with their respective cheeses, it was the chocolate ganache that struck me as most inventive and delicious.

The details: Bar Pastoral, 2947 N. Broadway, Chicago.

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