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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.

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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.

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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.

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2014 Best Bite #20: Tagliolini nero, Balena

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.

Tagliolini nero, Balena
Tagliolini nero with crab, sea urchin, and chili

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: This year I found out why this pasta dish is still a fixture on the Balena menu: it’s equal parts lavish and simple, and captures the flavors of the sea in a remarkable way (Time Out Chicago evidently agreed, since tagliolini nero made its list of the 25 essential Chicago dishes and drinks). Twisting briny pasta around buttery urchin, tender crab, and spicy red chili peppers made for seafood pasta heaven.

View another Best Bite from Balena.

The details: Balena, 1633 N Halsted St., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #17: Bone marrow, Longman & Eagle

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.

Bone marrow, Longman & Eagle
Roasted marrow bones, bacon shallot jam, preserved meyer lemon, sea salt, and sourdough toast

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Longman & Eagle did a lot of things very well this year; the bone marrow appetizer is one of the dishes that still wowed me time after time. The roasted marrow itself was truly luscious, and the combination of bacon, shallot, and preserved lemon turned it into the perfect spread for toast. It was easy to miss the little spoon of sea salt, but trust me: a generous sprinkling on top of the toast was what launched this dish from great to extraordinary.

View two other Best Bites from Longman & Eagle: one at dinner, one at brunch.

The details: Longman & Eagle, 2657 N Kedzie Ave., Chicago.

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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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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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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 #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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