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 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.
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 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.
This is part of a series of posts about my vacation to Portland, Oregon, in late February 2013.
West coast oysters, Andina
This post is a bit of a catch-all, to cover the rest of the great food that didn’t fit into any of the other posts. We knew we had to experience a few food carts, which are a big part of Portland’s dining culture, and got to try an Indian naan wrap, a savory gourmet waffle, British chips with curry sauce, and Nong’s khao man gai, the simple Thai dish that came up in our research again and again. And the latter lived up to expectations: humble poached chicken, rice, and sauce, prepared with enough love and meticulous care to turn into something extraordinary. Happy hour and fresh seafood were two other must-dos; those endeavors resulted in boldly delicious Peruvian food and the best cioppino I’ve ever had, respectively. An incredibly decadent bread pudding was a pleasant surprise with our beer flight one evening – it helped that my favorite desserts include caramel, chocolate, or coffee flavors, and this one nailed all three. We also took the suggestion of my beautiful and talented friend by indulging in a biscuit swimming in staggeringly umami-rich vegetarian gravy at Gravy, and also made a few meals out of their fantastic smoked salmon hash.
Mixta Nikkei causa with Yukon Gold potato, spicy tuna and crab salad, and crispy breaded prawn, AndinaBread basket with three sauces, AndinaCioppino, Cabezon Restaurant & FishmarketVeggie wrap, Taste of India food cartSignature dish from Nong’s Khao Man Gai food cartABC waffle with arugula, bacon, camembert cheese, and fig jam, The Gaufre Gourmet food cartChips with curry sauce, The Frying Scotsman food cartCaramel mocha bread pudding, Deschutes BreweryBiscuit with vegetarian gravy, GravySmoked salmon hash, Gravy
This is part of a series of posts about my vacation to Portland, Oregon, in late February 2013. Jump to all posts.
Beer sample flights and caramel mocha bread pudding at Deschutes Brewery
I’m back from Portland, and let’s just say it far surpassed my gastronomic expectations. I was impressed by the quality and originality of everything I ate and drank, and generally had a blast. We got to explore the majority of the city – mostly on foot, to burn off at least a few calories! – and also ventured to nearby scenic areas during the last two days.
And now, a quick numerical breakdown:
Full days spent in Portland:4 Types of cuisine tried:9 Local beers sampled:29 Local wines sampled:7 Donut varieties tasted:4 Food carts visited:4 Coffee beverages consumed:8+ Sit-down meals enjoyed:7 Sales tax paid:$0!! Waterfalls seen:3
Wahkeena Falls
Needless to say, I have a lot to talk about here on the blog.
