Tag: evanston

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Best Bites

2014 Best Bite #25: Southern Tier Crème Brûlée imperial stout, World of Beer

Merry Christmas! 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.

Southern Tier Crème Brûlée imperial stout, World of Beer
Southern Tier Crème Brûlée imperial stout

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: I stopped into World of Beer for the first time with a good friend before a Northwestern football game this fall. I’d heard about their vast selection, but didn’t expect to love my beer quite this much. I chose a draft of Southern Tier’s crème brûlée imperial stout, laced with vanilla bean and roasted caramel malts. It had all the sugary splendor of its namesake custard dessert, but was toasty and dark enough to still hold its own as an imperial stout.

The details: World of Beer, 1601 Sherman Ave., Evanston.

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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 #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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Categories
Best Bites

2013 Best Bite #14: Fried green tomato benedict, Lucky Platter

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Fried green tomato benedict with poached eggs, fried green tomatoes, spinach, hollandaise, and roasted tomato sauce on toasted cornbread
Fried green tomato benedict with poached eggs, fried green tomatoes, spinach, hollandaise, and roasted tomato sauce on toasted cornbread

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: Whenever people ask me where to eat in Evanston, this quirky eatery typically makes the list. I love that the menu is unapologetically eclectic, as evidenced by this eggs benedict. The cornmeal-battered, well-seasoned green tomatoes were the star, with texture from the crumbly cornbread and depth from the chunky roasted tomato sauce. Much like a French-style benedict from last year, I appreciated that this Southern-slanted combination was inventive without sacrificing all the elements of a great benedict.

The details: Lucky Platter, 514 Main St., Evanston.