Longman & Eagle - Chicago, IL

One of my favorite favorite restaurants in Chicago is Longman & Eagle in Logan Square.  It's a gastropub and I know what you are thinking Chicago is full of gastropub so what's so special about this one.  The difference is that they actually fulfill on both fronts - great drinks and great food.  Maybe it was also that we came during a warm autumn night and got to sit outside and ate and drank to our heart's content, but I think the company that you're with can definitely make the food association that much greater and of course I was with Susan and Aleen.  

They had a bunch of interesting small plate options so we couldn't narrow it down so we got three to share.  This was the Ricotta Gnuddi with Asian Pear Black Walnut Jam, Butternut Squash Veloute and Brown Butter Sage Emulsion.  Basically imagine a ricotta gnocchi that is fried and you get the picture.  Yum is right.  

M Burger - Chicago, IL

Burger is Chicago's answer to In-N-Out.  Their first location on Huron Street shares a kitchen with its higher-end sister restaurant Tru.  You can peek into Tru's kitchen and see the chefs work their magic on creating multi-course dishes, all the while chomping on some great burgers and fries that will have you in and out in 15 mins.  

Unfortunately M Burger doesn't hold a candle to In-N-Out burgers but it doesn't mean they aren't good and you can't enjoy them from time to time.  It's obviously caught on with the rest of Chicagoans since they subsequently opened up three other locations in downtown.   Their most recent addition is in Water Tower Place.  

They all are housed in a fairly small space with a few counters and benches to sit on.  They offer a simple menu of hamburger, cheeseburger, fries and shakes.  

Kuma's Corner - Chicago, IL

I was warned that you would have to wait if you want to get your hands on a Kuma's burger, so my cousins and I made sure we made it in time exactly when Kuma's opened at 11:30 am on a Saturday.  Unfortunately we weren't the only ones who were warned, because by the time we arrived, the place was packed and several groups of people were ahead of us in line for the next tables to open up.  I think we waited close to 2 hours to get seated.  Thankfully you can order drinks at the bar, so that kept Jung happy but Julie and I were salivating watching other people chomp on their burgers for a solid 2 hours.  

Once we were seated, our eyes were bigger than our now shrunk stomachs, as we ordered a burger each and some macaroni & cheese and mussels to start.  

You customize your own macaroni & cheese so we chose bacon, jalapeño and scallions for ours.  The mac & cheese was really good and a really decent size to share.  We also ordered the PEI mussels, which had butter, garlic, leeks, crushed red pepper and allagash white ale in it (sorry I forgot to take pictures).  Needless to say we devoured the mussels and killed the mac & cheese.  

David Burke's Primehouse - Chicago, IL

David Burke is known for his whimsical interpretation of American classics.  So when I saw that David Burke's Primehouse was participating in Chicago's Restaurant Week last month, I had to get a group of us together.  Yeena, her husband Dave, Susan and I went there for lunch.  It was an awesome deal.  We each got a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert for $22.  

The great thing about their menu was that they also offered the ability to supplement appetizers, sides and even steak additions for a supplemental charge.

We each were served a popover that was baked in its own measuring cup.  Talk about cute!

Del Seoul - Chicago, IL

Del Seoul opened a few months ago in Lincoln Park and they serve Korean-style tacos.  Kogi truck in LA has spurned many similar restaurants or food trucks and it's about time, it's come to Chicago.  

I've since been to the actual store, but my first taste of Del Seoul came courtesy of our friend Gook.  He picked up some food for us to try since he had tried it a few nights before and loved it.  

Here are three of the Korean BBQ Tacos.  Gook got us one of each: spicy bbq chicken, kalbi, spicy bbq pork and sesame-chili shrimp tacos.  They each come with cilantro-onion relish, chili-garlic "salsa" and secret slaw.  Each taco is $2.50 or $2.95, which is a great deal for the size of these tacos.   

Ruxbin - Chicago, IL

When I heard about a new restaurant opening near my place, my curiosity was peaked.  When I found out that the chef and owners were Korean-American, I knew I had to get my butt over there.

If you read his bio, you can't help but be immediately impressed.  He's been Le Cordon Bleu trained and has worked in the kitchen of Thomas Keller's Per Se.  His dishes are a blend of French, Asian and American bistro fair.  I was expecting a lot Korean inspired dishes, but the K-town empanadas is the only item on the menu that seems to suggest his Korean background.  

Here's the outside of the Ruxbin kitchen on the corner of Ashland Ave and Pearson Street.

Inside, it's cozy and warm.  We came on a weeknight around 7:30 pm and it was packed.  We waited an hour and a half to get seated.  They don't take any reservations and the hostess told us it's really hard to predict how busy they will be.  She did mention that it's definitely easier to get seated with a smaller party, but there was four of us that night.  

Hot Doug's - Chicago, IL (finally!!)

Ever since I moved to Chicago, Hot Doug's has been on my to eat list. It's also on Anthony Bourdain's list of 13 places to eat before you die.

Bourdain says the following about Hot Doug's:

"This place convinced me the Chicago red hot is, in fact, superior to the New York hot dog. And it's home to two great innovations in American gastronomy: the "foie gras dog" and the weekends-only practice of cooking French fries in duck fat. It's proof that food doesn't have to be expensive to be great."

Here's a link to the article if you're interested in his other 12 recommendations.

Hot Doug's is notorious for its crazy long lines. Everyone says you end up waiting an hour and a half anytime you go. Given that he's only open Monday through Saturday 10:30 am to 4 pm, Saturdays are the only times I am able to go to Hot Doug's.

My friends and I all happened to be free one Saturday morning so we all decided to check it out.

We intended on getting there right when it opened, but by the time we picked up everyone we were late. By the time we got there around 11 am, there was a line around the building. One of my friends got there around 10:15 am and just when we arrived she had made it inside the front door, which was quite a feat in it of itself. We felt bad cutting in front of all these people that were ahead of us, so our group decided to go to the back of the line and just wait like all the other civilized people waiting for hot dogs on a Saturday morning. My friend had been waiting quite a bit for us and had another engagement she had to go to, so I kept her company and shared some hot dogs with her, then stood in line with the other group of friends to eat again. These are the sacrifices I make for my friends. :) It's a tough job but someone's gotta do it. haha.

Once you make it inside, an hour plus later, you will see this menu of all of their different types of sausages. In the center you will see their daily special hot dogs.

Here's a shot of Doug himself taking all of the orders. He's super friendly.

Now this hot dog gets lots of rave reviews so we had to try the Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage with Truffle Aioli, Foie Gras Mousse and Fleur de Sel ($9.00). You would think putting foie gras mousse on sausages is overkill, but oddly enough it works. The first few bites were great, but I have to admit, it was too rich for me. Caroline and I split this and thank goodness we did, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to finish it.

We also got the Keira Knightley (formerly the Jennifer Garner and the Britney Spears), a spicy hot dog ($2.50) with all the fixings. It included mustard, caramelized onions, relish, tomatoes, pickle and celery salt. I'm a big fan of pickles on anything.

This was a simple hot dog that was a nice balance to the rich, creamy hot dog that we previously tried.

We also got an order of the duck fat fries ($3.50), which are only available on Fridays and Saturdays. I wanted to love these but I didn't. They weren't served very hot, it felt like it was sitting out for awhile, which is surprisingly since the hot dog orders come out so fast. Had they been hot and fresh from the fryer, it might have been different.

Now for the battle of the duck fat fries vs. regular fries. I could barely taste the duck in the duck fat fries and couldn't figure out what the hype was about. I told my friends about our disappointment with the duck fat fries, so my friends got an order of plain french fries with cheese ($2.75). Only when I tried the regular fries could I taste the difference. It's so subtle and had they been fresh from the frier, they might have been spectacular. Don't expect to be blown away, but they are unique and a bargain at $3.50 for a huge basket full of fries.

My friends and I got a whole slew of different hot dogs to try. Here's a Bacon and Jalapeno Duck Sausage with Bacon-Garlic Mayonnaise and Smoked Gouda Cheese ($7.50). Hot Doug's speciality hot dogs stand out for their combination of savory sauces and rich creamy cheese toppings. This was no exception. Who knew Gouda cheese could be so good in a hot dog.

Here's another. The Black and Blue: Dark Beer and Blue Cheese Pork Sausage with Dark Beer Mustard and Raw Milk Garlic-Cheddar Spread ($7.50). This one on the left didn't have a textural element, which wasn't as satisfying to me. On the right was a regular hot dog with the standard fixings.

Now for my two favorite hot dogs. I was debating between this one and the Hot Sauce Chicken Sausage with "Buffalo" Mustard and Moody Blue Cheese. I asked Doug for his advice and he wisely led me toward the Smoked and Spicy Alligator Sausage with Shrimp Remoulade and Fontina Cheese ($8.50). When in doubt, ask Doug for suggestions. Now, I could not fathom eating an alligator anything, but in sausage form, with tons of toppings, I am game. The sausage was spicy and a bit salty, but the creaminess of the shrimp remoulade and the chunks of fontina cheese was a perfect complement. Doug sure knows how to match up sausages, sauce and cheese. It's a gift I tell you.

Another surprisingly favorite was the Antelope Sausage with Sweet Chili-Garlic Mustard and Chevre du Poitou Cheese ($8.00). Again the sweet and saltiness of the sauce was the perfect combo for this nutty, creamy goat cheese.

All in all, Hot Doug's lived up to the hype and I will definitely be back. He changes his daily specials from time to time so be sure to check his website before you stop by. Although you really can't go wrong with any of his regular hot dogs too.

Hot Doug's

3324 N California Ave

(between Henderson St & Roscoe St)

Chicago, IL 60618

Epic Burger - Chicago, IL

I've been hearing quite a bit about Epic Burger and I was so giddy when I stumbled upon it on my way to the gym. I don't know how I never noticed it before. And of course, I was left with no choice but to make a detour and try their burger.

They have a cool concept and emphasize being eco-friendly and use locally grown produce, fresh, not frozen natural meats, real butter, real cheese crafted by Wisconsin cheese makers, pure sea salt, cage-free organic eggs, trans-fat free oil, and nitrate free bacon. Their buns are baked fresh from local bakeries. I loved that they offer whole wheat buns too.

Their burgers come with lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled or raw onions and epic sauce (a tangy mayonnaise based sauce). Their burger selections are beef, turkey, chicken breast and portabella mushroom.

You also have the option of adding on extras like cage-free organic fried eggs, nitrate free bacon and three choices of Wisconsin cheeses (cheddar, buttermilk blue and horseradish havarti). I opted for turkey burger on wheat with all the fixings and a fried egg.

Here's what mine looked like. The turkey patty was thin but pretty wide. It was definitely bigger than the bun so it was pouring over to the sides. It made for a messy burger, but it was mighty tasty. Burgers range from $4.99 to $7.99 (for a double burger) and french fries are $1.99. Cheese, bacon and egg are all extra. They also had a bunch of smoothies and shakes, but I resisted, since after all, I was on my way to the gym. =) I felt like the freshness of the ingredients really shined through at Epic.

Their fries are cooked in transfat free oil and seasoned with pure sea salt. These fries had their skin on and were awesome. They tasted fresh and like a potato should taste. I actually enjoyed these without ketchup, which is very rare for me.

So far there are two locations, one in Lincoln Park and one in the South Loop. I'm in trouble now that I know it's so close to my gym. Needless to say, I was so full afterwards that I couldn't work out, so I went back home instead. haha. My stomach got a good workout though, it was quite happy.

It's not an In-N-Out burger, but it definitely hit the spot. Now it's time for a visit to Kuma's.

Epic Burger

1000 W. North Ave

Chicago, IL 60642

Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles - Phoenix, AZ

My girlfriends and I went on a weekend trip to Phoenix a few weeks ago and my job was to find yummy places for us to eat. I think it goes without saying that you cannot think of visiting Phoenix without going to Pizzeria Bianco. Apparently they have one of the best pizzas in the U.S. and as random as it was to end up in Phoenix, I was more than happy to use it as an excuse to try some of their famous pies. They are only open for dinner on Tuesdays through Saturdays and are notorious for their long lines so I knew Saturday night was our only chance to eat there. I was dreaming of my visit and got so excited, until I looked up their website and saw the following:

"Pizzeria Bianco will be closed June 15-19 as we are participating in the Great Chefs Event benefiting Alex's Lemonade Stand in Philadelphia. We will re-open Tuesday, June 22 at 5:00 pm. For more information, please go to alexslemonade.org. We apologize for any inconvenience."

What are the chances that they are closed the one weekend that we were visiting. Sadness.

After lamenting my loss, I looked up for some other eating options for us. I came across Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles. We have Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Southern California and from the reviews, some were saying it was even better than Roscoe's, so I had to see for myself. Thankfully there was a location pretty close to our hotel.

We sat down to huge mason jars of water. They also serve kool-aid and sweet tea in these huge jars.

We got a bunch of items to share. Here is a plate of the Baby Ray (3 pieces of chicken smothered with gravy and onions with 2 waffles). Susan thought the gravy with the chicken was not such a great idea because the crispiness of the chicken as well as the taste was masked by the gravy.

We also got the KK's ( 3 pieces of chicken, 2 waffles, grits and 2 eggs with cheese and onions).

I ordered the KK's solely for the grits and eggs. Look at that scoop of butter on my grits. No wonder it tasted so good.

We also shared an order of corn bread, which looked like a giant muffin.

We also got a basket of fries, which were perfectly seasoned. We found however that these were mighty tasty dipped in the gravy and onions.

So what was the verdict? I thought the chicken is better at Roscoe's, it's crispier and more flavorful from what I remember. The waffles however at Lo-Lo's are crispier, which I prefer. Roscoe's waffles are thinner and chewier, like Eggo's, but Lo-Lo's have a bit more texture to them. I guess it all depends on how you like your waffles. All in all, you really can't go wrong with fried chicken, waffles and maple syrup. I just found out that Chicago is also home to chicken and waffles and it's aptly called Chicago's Home of Chicken and Waffles. haha. I can't wait to pay them a visit soon.

Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles

2765 N. Scottsdale Road

Scottsdale, AZ 85257

Branch 27 - Chicago, IL

The girls and I went to dinner a few weeks ago to Branch 27, which is in West Town. It's been getting a lot of press recently since they brought on a new chef. The building used to be an old library, which they regutted into a restaurant. They have these great big windows that fold open to the side, letting you feel like you're eating alfresco but without the sun beating down on you. My kind of place! A little boy decided to sit on the ledge, facing inwards. Funny kid, little does he know that the view outward is far better.

We started off with some drinks. I got a glass of Sangria, which when it arrived, looked like water with cherries in it. I've never seen Sangria this clear looking before. I was expecting white wine but it tasted oddly like a cocktail. I thought the waiter mixed up my order, but he said that their version has St. Germaine in it. Weird. It was not quite what I was expecting. Maybe that's what I get for ordering sangria at a non-Spanish restaurant.

Susan got the Gin Blossom, which had Hendrick's Gin, St. Germaine, Grapefruit, Lime & Prosecco in it. It was quite amusing to see Susan drink her cocktail so she wouldn't accidentally swallow those cute flowers floating in her drink.

We started with some appetizers. We got an order of Spicy Pork Meatballs with Coconut Curry, Basil and Peas. It came in a cute little cast iron pan and it definitely had a Thai influence to it. It was pretty good.

I was looking forward to their Grilled Octopus and Braised Pork Belly Salad, I know, Pork Belly Salad sounds like an oxymoron, but the waiter told us that it's only on their menu every other week or so depending on the quality of the octopus that week. So we were out of luck because they didn't have it on their menu. They did have a butter lettuce salad and a grilled radicchio salad. We chose the later, which had shaved brussels sprouts, Pecorino Romano and Marcona Almonds. Aleen loved a Brussels Sprouts salad she had in New York recently and we were hoping this would rise to the occasion but Branch 27's version was a bit bland for my taste. It lacked a vibrant punch and acidity that would have made this a lot more tasty.

Aleen got the Branch Burger with Hook's 2 Year Cheddar, Spicy Aioli, Ramp Relish and Fries. I had a bite and it was pretty tasty. I loved the relish.

Susan had the Bucatini pasta, which looks like a thick spaghetti with a hole through it. (BTW, I highly recommend the Pasta Yia Yia at Lula Cafe, which uses bucatini pasta with browned butter, crumbled feta, browned garlic and Moroccan cinnamon - I know it sounds weird, but it works, trust me). Branch 27's version with Mushroom-Black Truffle Cream, Smoked Spring Onions and Dumbarton Blue is definitely more hearty.

Because I couldn't get my pork belly fill, I got the Chile-Cured Pork Loin, Truffled Great Northern Beans and Swiss Chard. I wish the pork loin wasn't as well done, because it wasn't a bit on the dry side, but I guess that's what the sauce was for. The beans and swiss chard were excellent.

We were too stuffed by the end, so we passed on dessert. I wouldn't mind coming back to try their octopus and pork belly salad (it just sounds so intriguing) or for their brunch, but there's so many other places to try first in the westside. Hopefully Branch 27 will make the cut in the second round.

Branch 27

1371 W Chicago Ave

(between Ada St & Noble St)

Chicago, IL 60622

BIG and little's - Chicago, IL

When Susan asked me what other place I've been wanting to try on my growing list of places to check out in Chicago, somehow BIG and little's came to mind. I couldn't remember for the life of me where I read about them or what was special about them, but I just knew we should try it.

We went after work one day and walked into this small restaurant. Half of the space was devoted to an open kitchen and there was a counter on the other side with bar stools where some people were eating their food. It was very bare bones, it literally felt like they just decided to set up shop one day and started doing business. There's a little chalkboard menu posted up on their wall.

Truffle fries were also listed on the menu so we got an order of that. Susan says she hasn't seen the soomeenshee facial expression of euphoria in awhile, but these fries brought it out of me. They cook all the food to order and you can see the chef literally toss these fresh from the fryer. These fries were perfectly seasoned and had just the right amount of truffle oil on them.

For our other side, we got the beet and pineapple salad. I love beets, but this was a big let down. This was basically canned beets and pineapples sprinkled with some black and cayenne pepper. Maybe it was a bit naive of me to expect to get roasted beets and fresh chunks of pineapple in a side salad that costs only $2.50, but what can I say, I've been spoiled. =) Susan, on the other hand, commented on how sweet the pineapples were. I had to gently break it to her and explain that it's because they are canned. Her response was that she needed to go buy some at the store next time. lol. Susan is so easy to please.

Although we were intrigued by the fried egg hamburger, the tacos and tostadas were calling out to us so we tried those instead. Here is a shrimp and fish taco. They were grilled and came with a tasty sauce and tons of cabbages or lettuce. I appreciated that there were different toppings for the different tacos.

Here is a picture of the squid tacos, also very good. It looks like I will be able to get my taco and truffle fry fix in Chicago after all.

This was the crab tostada. It was a fried tortilla piled high with fresh crab meat, some lemon juice, black pepper, cabbages and green onions. It was very mild in taste and a bit too bland for Susan, but I couldn't get over the fact that it was practically all fresh crab meat. I thought it was great. Yes, you might lose interest in eating it if this was the only thing you were eating, but steal a couple bites of tacos and fries here and there and it works.

So while we were eating, we saw some of the press that the place has garnered and it's because one of the chefs, Tony D'Alessandro, was a contestant on the sixth season of Hell's Kitchen. Duh! So that's why he looked so familiar! I actually chatted with him for a bit and he was super nice and really laid back. He said that they plan to put out some picnic tables outside during the summer. I told him I'd definitely be back to try some of their other offerings and that I loved the fries. The prices are reasonable and the food is tasty. If only this place was slightly closer, I'd be stopping by all the time.

BIG and little's

939 N Orleans

(between Walton St & Oak St)

Chicago, IL 60610

The Publican - Chicago, IL

We finally got to try Publican this weekend. The Publican is a new European-style beer hall/restaurant in the Fulton Market District from the creators of Blackbird and avec restaurants. Executive Chef Paul Kahan and Chef de Cuisine Brian Huston crafted an eclectic menu, which is categorized into three food groups (fish, meats and vegetables). The menu, which is inspired by simple farmhouse fare, is best described by Kahan and Huston as “pristine product, simply prepared.”

They have a communal dining area in the center, shaped like a big U, and more private booths and tables on the side. We came relatively early and so were able to snag a booth. Here's a picture on their wall, very indicative of what was to come.

Here's a picture of their adorable table setting, which was put to quick use when the bread arrived.

There's nothing like a crusty loaf of bread with some butter to wet the appetite.

My favorite dish of the night was the first dish that arrived. The burrata was unbelievably creamy and the beets were so sweet. Is it crazy that I secretly want to have a beet farm like Dwight Schrute? Aleen asked what the beets tasted like and Susan said, "these taste like pomegranate." Pomegranate? Really? The red fruit with the tiny seeds? I was trying to figure out how on earth beets taste like pomegranates and wondered if we indeed were eating the same thing ... until I prodded her more and figured out that she was referring to persimmons. haha. We got a good laugh out of that one. That definitely makes more sense. They had the same golden yellow color and tasted just as sweet.

Spicy pork rinds with the pork from Slagel Family Farm, Fairbury, Illinois were next. These come piping hot in a paper cone. These were so hot from the fryer that you could hear the fat crackling. I leaned in to hear the sound but jumped back a bit fearing the hot pork oil would go into my eye.

I've never had pork rinds before. I wasn't sure I would like them to begin with, but everyone raves about them, so I thought I'd naturally like them as well. It was like biting into a crunchy chip that sent fireworks exploding in your mouth. The downside however is that then you have the embers from the fireworks slowly collect in your mouth. It had the perfect amount of heat and spice, but it left an oily film in my mouth, which I didn't enjoy so much. I think one or two was all that I could really eat.

Jung - I thought of you when I ate this. I wished I could teleport this to you so you could taste it. I think you would have loved this. Here's an up close and personal shot. Can you believe this is from pork skin? How can you fry skin like this, I will never know.

The waiter told us that they were known for their seafood and pork dishes, but to balance it out, we decided on a chicken entree as well. We got the half order of the chicken from the Slagel family farm in Fairbury, Illinois, with summer sausage and frites. The chicken was moist and perfectly cooked, but I have to admit my favorite part was eating the fries soaked in the juices from the roasted chicken. The fries didn't look all that different from any fast food joint's, but man ... with the juices from the chicken, they were pretty darn amazing. I felt like I was eating food at a country fair, it was so simple, but so good.

Here was the golden trout line caught from Clear Springs, Idaho with trumpet mushrooms & fresh green chickpeas. The golden trout was pan fried golden yellow, but inside had the loveliest pink color. Clearly I need to eat more trout because this was delicious. I've never seen chickpeas this big, have you? I don't know what was in this sauce, but the trumpet mushrooms was the perfect accoutrement to soak up all the yummy juices.

When we asked the waiter which pork dish was the best, between the pork belly, country ribs and ham chop, he said the ham chop "in hay" was really good. We asked what the "in the hay" meant and he said that they put the ham covered in hay in a round bowl in an oven. The hay burns as the ham cooks and locks in the moisture of the ham. I was hoping for the pork to come with the residual hay, but no such luck. The Berkshire ham chop "in hay" from Heritage farm, Iowa, with ramps & grits was enormous. The waiter did mention the largest entrees were listed at the bottom. We somehow ended up ordering the biggest seafood and meat dishes. I was there was more grits in this dish, because what I did taste of it was fantabulous. They were so creamy and buttery. The ramps were pretty fantastic too. I can't wait to see them at the farmer's markets when summer approaches. I felt like I was eating an Easter dinner. To tell you the trust, I could have done with less ham and more ramps and grits. Grits and ramps were pretty outstanding in this dish.

We were so full, but desperately needed to get the pork taste from the pork rinds out of our mouths so we opted for a dessert of Seedling farm blueberry pie with pistachios & honey-black pepper ice cream. I was fully expecting a slice of blueberry pie, but it was two little empanada looking pies cut in half sitting on top of a layer of roasted pistachios. The blueberry pie was alright, but I was hoping for some chunks of blueberries in this. It almost tasted like they just use blueberry jam for the filling, which was kind of disappointing. The combination of the honey-black pepper ice cream with the salty roasted nuts below, however, was perfection.

Overall I wasn't as big of a fan of the pork dishes namely because it left such a porky aftertaste in my mouth, but I loved the beets and burrata dish and the fish and chicken dishes were pretty spot on too. I hear their brunch items are pretty fantastic too. I think it definitely warrants a revisit in the future.

I also saw the Charcuterie Chef Erling Wu-Bower walk in and out of the kitchen a few times. Is it possible to be a chef groupie? If so, sign me up. I think he's a hottie ... speaking of hotties, we need to make a trip here soon.