It’s been a hot minute since I got my hands dirty at a seafood boil place. And a visit to Lincoln Park’s Jumbo Crab fixed that. For this one, I took my seafood-loving neighbor Sue with me, and together we had a blast.
With lots of beachy cocktails on their menu, we opted for the Pina Coladas. It was the week of spring break so we wanted to be in spirit.
This Cajun eatery serves seafood by the pound, and everything is made fresh to order. Now I’ve enjoyed most seafood boil places I’ve visited in the city, so what then is the distinguishing factor for me?
Two things; the freshness of the fish and the sides! At Jumbo Crab, the sides and appetizer options are just as good as the main entrees!
The Hushpuppies were golden fried, savory delights with hints of buttermilk. And a sizeable portion for the price.
The Fried Oysters were interesting. I personally prefer them raw, but I like to change it up and quite enjoyed the uniqueness of it. They had a delectable crunchy coating that went well with the briny bivalves.
Let’s talk about their Shrimp Fried Rice on special. It’s the healthier version than you’ve seen, non-greasy, simple, and extremely flavorful. Chef does not shy away from using copious amounts of ginger and garlic in this dish.
The process for the seafood boil itself is same as other places; you order your meat, choose your seasonings, roll up your sleeves and go for it. We asked for a medley of their Snow Crab legs, shrimp and clams. A nicely laid tray of the meat arrived covered in Cajun spices and garlic butter. With it, came all the paraphernalia, including the bibs.
My favorite aspect of this was that even the boiled corn and potato mixed in had flavor. All the meat was fresh and had sweetness to it.
The ambiance at such places matters too. I always love the nautical theme and an atmosphere that’s conducive to letting patrons sprawl out and make their mess.
At one point owner Rocky stopped in and personally greeted us, then gave us a little run down of their newest location after all the success they’ve had at their first one in Tinley Park.
Jumbo Crab is a real score for Lincoln Park! And you should stop in soon!
If you’re in the mood for feel-good food that’s made purely from locally-sourced ingredients, you should not miss LYFE Kitchen. With several locations in the city, LYFE Kitchen makes sure their food is healthy and irresistible.
Recently, I got to visit their River North location located on Clark Street and was again reminded that wholesome, balanced food can be delicious.
LYFE stands for ‘Love Your Food Everyday,’ and Chef Marco Bahena makes it easy to love everything you eat there. With a passion for building relationships with local farmers and food companies, he ensures only the best produce to cook with. That means, only the best in your belly.
All their eateries are over-the-counter, made-to-order food. There are a couple stands of organic drinks and desserts, including an incredible vegan Whoopie Pie, that I almost about died when I saw. This is what dessert should look and taste like, decadent!
All kinds of dietary preferences and sizes accommodated on their menu. Plus, a specially featured seasonal menu. I ordered the Roasted Cauliflower & Crispy Chickpeas as a starter with a side of their warm Sweet Corn Chowder. The soup had hints of curry and cumin and that always takes me back to my roots, while the Dijon vinaigrette was fantastic in the cauliflower starter. The portions weren’t bad either. All of this could’ve sufficed, but have you ever known me to stop at appetizers?
I skipped the salads and flatbreads and went in for the bowls, a pescetarian and a vegetarian one. The Roasted Salmon came with Soba Noodles, while the Thai Tofu Bowl on a bed of brown rice. Both had cashews and edamame for crunch. The Thai almond butter curry sauce was lip-smacking good and super gourmet in taste. Both bowls were hearty and filling leaving you with pleasant feelings of what you just ate.
The Tofu Bowl had a kick to it so I washed it down with the Blueberry Oat Smoothie from their Smoothie Bar. But really, it was just an excuse to try one. With oat milk, blueberries, acai, banana and high fiber steel cut coats, this would’ve sufficed as my entire meal. I saved most of it for breakfast the next day and was very grateful in the morning.
Whether you’re on the go or on a casual lunch or dinner date with friends, Lyfe Kitchen will put you in a good mood with good food!
Known as one of Chicago’s culinary landmarks, Russian Tea Time has been serving authentic food and experiences since 1993. Not only do they serve food from various regions of the former Soviet Union Republics, but they also have a daily afternoon tea service from 2:00-4:30pm. And having been there now, I wish I knew that sooner.
I have walked by the restaurant several times, as I’ve admired the beautiful Russian ‘Matryoshka’ dolls in their window display, which only heightened my intrigue on what it would be like to dine in the restaurant. So, I jumped at the opportunity to experience their Afternoon Tea with a friend, this month.
We opted for the Vegetarian Afternoon Tea menu after I quickly learned of their extensive vegetarian and vegan offerings, and the menu looked too good to pass up. As much as I love fish, I also love creative vegetarian fare.
The ambiance is just perfect and everything I had envisioned for this place. Birchwood décor all around and brass samovars adding to the vibe, as guests dine to tunes of beautiful Balalika music in the background. The restaurant was packed and pumping with energy, yet they managed to give me and my friend a coveted table in the restaurant, to accommodate all the ordering and picture-taking that would happen. I thought that was very thoughtful!
And thus we began our high tea tasting…
For the tea service, each patron gets one pot of tea of their choice from an assortment of nine exotic teas, including their specially brewed house black tea, infused with black currant. While we didn’t order that, I’m definitely saving that one for next time. I got overly excited when I saw my absolute favorite Gen Mai Cha Pop green tea on their menu. I mean it is infused with popped rice and popcorn. You got to try it! With the tea comes the cutest plate of white and brown sugar cubes. We were like kids dropping them into our tea risking making it too sweet.
Along with the tea came a basket of house made Pumpernickel Bread with whipped butter. I was smart enough to not fill up on these although very tempted.
The tower of savory and sweet snacks arrived shortly after. On the top tray of the tower were mini raisin scones with lemon curd, raspberry jam, and whipped cream to smear them with.
The middle tray had all the savory tea sandwiches, little canapes with Russian salad, egg salad sandwiches, mini toast points with hummus, another one with a special tomato preserve and several others. Every bite was a flavor bite!
On the bottom tray was all the dessert. I’m glad that these were the most accessible. We actually started with dessert, just like everyone should. A grand variety of mini tiramisus, apple strudels, cheesecakes and other sweet treats were laid on here.
Despite this wonderful spread, something was missing for me. Ah! I know, fish! Before I could utter the word, the manager sent out the Seafood Platter from their lunch selections. I was thrilled. An astounding platter (meant for two), of smoked Norwegian Salmon, salmon caviar, sardines, four fresh crepes with a garnish of chopped onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, Tashkent carrot salad, capers and Russian style potatoes. We had a blast rolling many combinations of crepe sandwiches for ourselves.
Portions are plenty at Russian Tea Time, and you willleave stuffed. But, you will also leave extremely happy and satisfied, and will be looking at your calendar to schedule your next visit.
What a great restaurant for downtown Chicago to have!
The weather can get hot or cold, but Italian food never disappoints! Especially food at Formento’sin the West Loop. I’ve been coming here for many years, so I was excited to return for a tasting this month.
I simply love their ambiance. It’s festive with a homely feel. The menu has all the Italian classics you would expect, but with Chef Todd Stein’s modern twist on them.
A good friend went with me to the dinner and we both reminisced several birthday celebrations there. My history with Formento’s is certainly longstanding.
A fun wine list to choose from as we both settled for the B Side Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Smooth, full bodied and a nice accompaniment to a delicious Italian meal. I’m getting a bottle of this, like now!
It’s been a while since I’ve had Artichokes and Formento’s version was just the place to break that streak. Grilled, whole artichoke with Parmesan and garlic bread crumbs served soaking in lemon herb butter. We inhaled the aroma, then we scooped the artichoke heart out before devouring it.
An order of Octopus was definitely warranted, especially after I had read the description. Tasted even better than it read; the meat came wood-grilled with giant white beans and a brown butter vinaigrette (minus the fennel sausage).
We got a little “health-conscious” and ordered their delicious Brussel Sprouts that were drizzled with a lip-smacking balsamic hot honey, then sprinkled with golden raisins. You put that sweet and sour combination on any vegetable, and I’ll eat it! The sprouts were crispy and I can’t say I didn’t fill up on these.
The pastas were next! How could I not order the Strozzapreti with cuttlefish ink pasta, lobster and spicy crushed tomatoes. I love a spicy pasta that can give my sinuses a run for their money.
The Occhi was ravioli stuffed with kale, potatoes and pickled ram bathing in a lemon ricotta cream. We left out the Duck Prosciutto, although my friend asked for it on the side. My stomach was in heaven, and leftovers went home with me!
I highly recommend the Arctic Char, a fish you don’t see enough of in the Midwest. It was nicely cooked with cauliflower, a caper berry relish and more of that yummy brown butter vinaigrette. This dish was gone even before it was served!
My carnivorous friend certainly had her meat-fill with the giant Veal Parmesan which came bone-in with melted mozzarella on top. Safe to say, she had food for the whole week after.
Formento’s is one of those few restaurants that’s known for its desserts as much as for its mains. And of course it would, with Chef Julia Fitting heading B. Hospitality Group’s dessert program. I met her recently at another food event, and this tasting was a result of that meeting. One of the sweetest chefs I’ve known. No pun intended!
To end on a sweet note, we ordered their famous Chocolate Cake with hazelnut praline (aka, also my favorite cake in the city), and the Lemon Curd with fig compote and passion fruit. We were full beyond words!
Formento’s is not your typical red sauce Italian restaurant, because they’ve managed to maintain tradition with creativity. I also want to give a shoutout to the service; we had at least five people check on us at any given time. But maybe they were worried if we’d be able to stand up after all that food!
What a wonderful visit!!!
Life is about timing. And the time had come for me to finally visit one of Chicago’s locally owned steakhouses, Benny’s Chop House which is located in the heart of River North.
Known to offer the broadest selections of wines and steaks in the city, you may ask what Iwas doing there? Wait till you’ve read my entire blog to know what all I ate there.
As soon as we arrived, we were given one of the best seats in the house adjacent to a giant bay window looking into the city in their intimate dining room with exquisite décor and piano playing in the background. It was all much too romantic.
We were feeling more hot than cold appetizers, so kicked-off with the Lobster-Crab Ravioli and Shrimp DeJonghe on the menu. The former, a nicely sized portion of giant raviolis sitting in brown butter with saffron and dill. Every bite of this dish was melt-in-your-mouth good and disappeared quickly on your tongue. Yes, it was that tender.
The Shrimp DeJonghe were jumbo shrimp blanketed in moist and garlicky breadcrumbs with butter drizzled all over. It made me proud that this dish originated in Chicago.
I will always try the Beet Salad when I can. A gorgeously plated ricotta salad with red and golden beets, peach saffron jam, thyme vinaigrette and candied pecans was laid in front of us. It definitely made for a cool and refreshing break between the heavier dishes.
With portions being generous, we were already getting full, so we decided to share the Whole Dover Sole, which was fileted tableside. This gorgeous flat fish was cooked simply, and served with a lemon and caper sauce on the side. The entire ensemble was light and refreshing! And I went home with enough fish for a few meals!
I cannot comment on the steak of course, except to say that my friend ordered he 8oz Filet Mignon and scarfed it down. I think its safe to say that she liked it!
Now you know that at steakhouses the sides are well thought of and usually just as good as the entrees. Benny’s excels in that category.
We tried their Twice Baked Truffle Potatoes (not on the menu, so you have to know about them to ask), and you’re welcome. These were creamy, cheesy taters cradled in crispy skin, with a mound of truffle paste on top. It was tough to put my fork down!
The new Romanesco on the menu, was broiled cauliflower with sun-dried tomatoes and lemon. Another simple dish perfect for the warm weather we are going to have soon. I’ve decided to remain optimistic about the weather.
I thought we were done, but then I saw the dessert menu. Their famous Banana Cream Pie was a little slice of heaven. Not only a beauty but also a redefinition of the classic versions I’ve had in the past.
Then, there was the Lemon Crème Tart, another unimaginably tasty treat and the Wild Berry Sorbet, offering a little tart to the sweeter desserts that preceded it. The tart will actually be featured in James Beard Eats Week next week!
It was time to stop or I was going to explode. Exploding from happiness is one thing, but from food could be messy. Benny’s Chop House is not a restaurant to be missed!
What if I told you that you could have all your grandma’s favorite dishes in the most fun and chic setting? I would imagine that you would be stoked!
Make Room For Truman (MRFT) launched about seven months ago in Park Ridge, and is the first concept store for the Houlihan’s Restaurant International group. Their space is cozy with an open kitchen expanding across one side of the restaurant.
A sizeable beer, wine and cocktail list exists, and if you do indulge in libations, may it be their Poker Night in Mexico with Sombra Mezcal, tamarind simple syrup and Tabasco 11. Not for those with a timid palette because it is spicy! And I loved it for that reason.
One thing you should know about MRFT is they believe and practice in local sourcing. So, everything that’s not made in-house is brought in locally; whether it is the meat, seafood or baked goods. The Skillet Cornbread which you should not miss also comes with local honey butter and is the ‘moistest’ version I have eaten.
Our very cheerful and enthusiastic server, Jacob could not stop talking about their Crunchy Spicy Shrimp so we decided to see what the fuss was all about. Gorgeous pieces of shrimp came dressed in chile aioli and were laid on banana ginger Napa slaw. Ah! I wanted someone to stick me on a beach while I ate this dish, and inhaled all its tropical flavors.
It’s been a minute since I’ve had crab cakes, and the Real Deal Crab Cakes like their name are, the real deal. So real, that they come apart with one tiny fork poke just for being so authentic. They’re made with jumbo lump crab and no binding ingredients. Flavorful, purely from the meat, with any additional flavors only from the delicious creole remoulade and mustard aioli on the side. And I found out that their new lunch menu featuring next week, will have a Crab Cake sandwich so I can’t wait!
You cannot partake in comfort foods without a classic grilled cheese. Their mind blowing Vegetarian Grilled Cheese was an ooey-gooey sandwich with a five cheese blend, grilled asparagus, poblano peppers, oven dried roma tomatoes, and garlic herb spread on triple-stacked buttery bread. My love for grilled cheese after this one, will only run deeper.
Chef James Keane stopped by our table to say hello and it also gave us a little breather from all the eating. After our chat, we went straight for our entrees. Because, there was more!
Da best Shrimp Pasta ladies and gentleman is in Park Ridge! I loved that it was made with capellini noodles, cooked in a smooth tomato-basil broth, and spiced with ancho chile butter. Hearty shrimp strewn all over the pasta too.
The Mahi Mahi was the wood-grilled fish of the day. Also nicely cooked with a medley of spring onions, brussel sprouts and fennel. Any fish lover would be content with this dish.
At MRFT you have to make room for dessert, just like their name suggests. The Truman is actually a rotating dessert and on our visit was a delicious, piping hot skillet pancake that came with a tower of sweet and savory condiments. I lathered mine with hot fudge, mascarpone, boozy berries and hot honey. I don’t think the combination mattered because you can’t go wrong with all of that.
And it ain’t over till you’ve also tried their famous Carrot Cake Cupcakes. These were to die for, and that cream cheese frosting with a delectable sweet and sour taste. Oh So Delicious!
With all this food, there were also a lot of leftovers. We were still in disbelief at the sheer extravagance of our meal. Comfort foods are called that for a reason. We left feeling full and thankful and our bellies very comforted.
Okay MRFT, when are you coming to Chicago?
I think it would be fair to say that I love good vegetarian food almost as much as I love fish. True story.
So the opening of several Veggie Grills around city naturally has me very excited. This casual eatery aims to deliver the most delicious plant-based food that’s chef-driven, seasonal and wholesome. Although the city has seen other places similar to this, Veggie Grill really knows how to make vegetables look and taste good!
Each dish feels like a well-thought of combination of veggies, fruits, nuts, and grains. Even the sides have been carefully crafted so you can enjoy clean eating to the fullest.
I attended a food bloggers event at their River North location this month to try their new Spring Menu, where guests walked in to the cutest set-up of a spring-decorated table with fresh flowers. We were given a cup to fill with of their freshly squeezed drinks and after sampling a few, I went in for the Raspberry Lemonade. What a refreshing, sweet and tangy beverage!
Also refreshing at the table was their Gazpacho, a raw vegetable soup served cold. It was loaded with fresh herbs and was the perfect way to cool down on a hot day.
There were plates of fresh pea guacamole also adorning the table. The toasted sunflower seeds in the dip added a nice crunch, and it was served with plantain chips on the side.
My favorite item on their new seasonal menu will have to be their Chili Cheese Fries. They were crispy and smothered in cheese sauce, with “taco meat,” black beans and enchilada sauce on top. These were a complete meal in itself.
The Fajita Burrito was a spicy one. Another nicely executed vegan dish with “carne asada” and grilled peppers to give it that extra kick.
So you can imagine how the Raspberry Cake came in handy after a little zing.
So many more items on the menu I want to try, including their popular “chicken wings”. They even have a pick-up stand for when you’re in a major hurry, and even a casual, fast food counter won’t do.
I loved my visit to Veggie Grill and it sure will be a regular pit stop for me from now on. Infact, I’m going back tonight!
Welcome to town VG!
Andersonville’s favorite neighborhood restaurant might also have become one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Hutch American Kitchen and Bar (Hutch) is the cutest eatery; rustic and chic, serving an array of cocktails and food.
I had the privilege of dining there this month and took along with me one of my funniest friends, who made the experience that much more memorable.
When you go, I suggest you start your meal with the Gin Tini or the Marco (with tequila), both were the perfect kick starters.
We also decided to start with something vegetarian, and boy was the Blackened Cauliflower a great choice. Bite-sized seasoned cauliflower were served with an avocado ranch dip. I tell you it’s dangerous when you start out that good!
For seafood starters, I would highly recommend the Mex-Spicy Shrimp. It comes in a little skillet with sautéed shrimp, garlic, white wine, tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Served on the side are rustic toast points to provide a nice base to the brothy shrimp. This dish was my favorite.
The Tuna + Avocado Poke was phenomenal. As you’d probably agree that the real key to good poke is fresh meat. The tuna here was great quality and loaded with cucumbers and jalapeno. My personal preference with poke is always wonton chips over tortilla chips, so this dish was a winner!
You know what else I love? When restaurants agree to do half and half pizzas to accommodate two varying dietary preferences. We got the Margherita Pizza on one side, and the Avocado and Chicken on the other side, for my friend. Hey, I never deprive my meat-loving friends. My friend couldn’t stop raving about her half!
Another favorite for me was the Pan Blackened Tuna that came over white rice. Tender tuna with a pink color I am yet to see on any piece of fish. Loved the pineapple salsa with this too!
Their Crispy Fish Tacos definitely quieted my taco cravings. Battered cod folded into taco shells, with slaw and jalapeno aioli was entirely satisfying.
Hutch features daily pie specials too. Two of my favorite pie flavors were both on special that night, the Cherry Pie and the Coconut Cream Pie. Lucky me! I was so happy I got a combination of tangy and sweet for my dessert. Now that’s how you end your meal!
Whether its brunch, lunch or dinner, you’ve got to hit a Hutch in your neighborhood soon. If not, you’re seriously missing out!
One of my favorite things about being a food blogger is discovering new cuisines I wouldn’t otherwise have tried. I’ve always grouped Egyptian food with Middle Eastern cuisine, but that was before I visited Cairo Kebab in Lincoln Park, and learned just how varied and flavorful it is!
In addition to discovering new cuisines, I also love visiting those smaller, family-owned restaurants that serve authentic food. Cairo Kebab is that kind of place. Owned by the Saleh family, Ahmed Saleh is the owner and chef, and all recipes are his own.
I sat down to talk to him before I embarked on my exotic food experience, and was beyond impressed that everything is fresh-made at the restaurant. In Saleh’s words, “I never re-heat anything and make all food is made here from scratch.” That is unheard of in today’s world!
While the regular Mediterranean dishes like Hummus and Baba Ghanouj do grace the menu, some of the traditional Egyptian items I thoroughly enjoyed were the Ful, which is a warm dip made from broad beans mixed with special spices and topped with olive oil. Unlike other Mediterranean dips, it has no tahini and is entirely vegan. But before I ask other dips to step aside, I’d like to add that their Baba Ghanoush is in fact the best I’ve ever had.
The Lentil Soup, which I understand is a house favorite in Egypt, especially in the winters, is also yummy. Made with lentils, this garlicky soup has loads of onions, celery and potatoes. Reminded me of Indian ‘Sambhar’ and made me nostalgic all at once. The soup is served with pita bread on the side and makes for a nice meal itself.
The bread I must mention, is brought in from a local bakery and panini pressed in-house!
The Falafel was also unique. The clear distinction with Egyptial falafel is that it is made with both ground fava beans and ground chickpeas, kneaded with parsley and cilantro, molded into balls and deep fried to perfection. These little dough balls literally disintegrated when you broke them into half. Don’t ever serve me non-Egyptian falafel ever again.
Then arrived Egypt’s favorite national dish dating back to the 19th century called, Koshary. A hearty dish mounted on a plate is composed of rice, macaroni and vermicelli, topped with a savory tomato sauce and garnished heavily with fried onions. It is also considered one of Egypt’s favorite street foods. There ain’t nothing like it!
All the meat looked tempting too, especially as patrons trickled in to feast on fresh lamb, chicken and beef Shawarma and kebabs. I actually relished the aromas.
Dessert and Turkish Tea was served in the prettiest presentation. In an ornate tray arrived warm Turkish tea with mint leaves on the side to aid in digestion. I needed all the aid I could get! With it, were fresh ‘Mamoulas,’ buttery cookies stuffed with dates. You can just imagine how full I was, and there wasn’t even any fish involved!
If you’re Egyptian, you have to visit Chicago’s only Egyptian restaurant in the city. And if you’re not Egyptian, you still do!
Thank you Cairo Kebab for your hospitality and for showing me the deliciousness that Egypt has to offer!
I ate the most creative breakfast/brunch at Orange Restaurant recently at their Roscoe Village location, and it has changed me forever! I took along with me my good friend Shayna and we had a fun and adventurous Sunday Funday. Yes, we may have stayed the entire day, because at some point we were too full to stand up.
The place was packed, but luckily Joseph (the Manager) had saved us a nice table by the window. Perks of being a food blogger that I am very grateful for.
Coffee was on our minds when their orange roasted coffee showed up. Guys, this coffee is made from real orange peel and may have been the best thing I drank this month!
Immediately after Joseph brought out a Frushi tray. I don’t know about you, but I have never had Fruit Sushi before, so I was stoked. We had a Tamarind Mango rice roll stuffed with grape and orange Nigiri with coconut flavored sweet rice. What a super fun snack and delightful spread. If there was a race, we would’ve won at how fast we ate these.
On a fruit kick, so we also tried their Fresh Juice Menu, where you choose your base fruit/s, the mix-in fruit and any extras. My medley was orange, apple, mango, pineapple and ginger. Holy Tropicana!
The juice was so great but I was smart enough to sip and not gulp it. After all, we needed to save room for the Guava Peach French Toast that was supposed to arrive next. For a girl who doesn’t like French Toast, I had no problems devouring this guava crème anglaise, fresh peach, basil and raspberry sauced dish. It’s heaven on a platter!
We were smart enough to alternate the sweet and savory, so the Omelet No. 16 that Joseph recommended was an awesome transition. A pesto omelet (which we requested with egg whites), came stuffed with zucchini, baby spinach, kale, herb Boursin cheese, feta, and balsamic reduction. Tender and fluffy, and eggy without being eggy, if you know what I mean.
We went back to the sweet stuff, and what came next will knock your socks off. I promise. The Pancake Flight has weekly themed pancakes a Chef’s tasting of four stacks of silver dollar pancakes. Ours had the Raspberry, Blueberry, Cherry and Banana cakes. All had fresh fruit, I it and on it, sweet glaze, and whipped cream on top. I’ll need an order of these every weekend, please!
I never pass on a benedict if it’s on the menu. Their Crab Cake Benedict is Fine! Two pan-seared crab cakes with poached eggs on top, slices of avocado, chili-garlic cabbage slaw and herb hollandaise. You can’t get it better than this! Potatoes on the side too.
And we still had a little more sweet craving left in us (don’t judge), so we said yes to a mini version of their Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, with cinnamon brown sugar and vanilla glaze. I have no words, except, go try it!!!
Joseph wanted us to try something from their lunch menu too, and suggested the Veggie Melt Sandwich. I never say no to food, especially good food. And I was already sold, so we ordered the Veggie Melt Sandwich with roasted veggies and oregano with melted smoked gouda and aged white cheddar. It was to die for!
We finally stopped, only because our bellies begged us to. Some side notes; service at the restaurant is super attentive, even when it is crowded. Their space is newly remodeled and the ambiance is cute and cozy. Breakfast and lunch are served everyday from 8am to 3pm.
The best motivation to rise and shine early on a Sunday or any other day really!
As a pescetarian, BBQ places are tough for me to visit because there’s usually not much I can eat there. But that has now changed and I might be inclined to actually seek out all the best barbeque places in the city, and the reason for that is
I had the pleasure of visiting with a friend recently and experience the talent of critically acclaimed Chef Art Smith who used to cook for Oprah Winfrey. Chef Smith AKA King of Southern Food (in my opinion) offers at this eatery some of the best house-smoked Southern barbeque you can imagine, and that includes fish!
The ambiance is also upscale which is not typical of barbeque places, and also offers a full service brunch and happy hours. So as you can tell, not your average BBQ joint.
All meats (including the fish) are cooked with house-made rubs and come with an experience you’ll never forget.
Libations included a Lavender Grey Gin & Tonic for me and a Chicago Sour for my friend. We were both very happy with our choices.
Shortly after settling in, we started our lavish journey. Manager Ben came in to talk to us, and then began the feast. Of course it had to begin with the Hush Puppies. These deep-fried cornmeal based fritters were the best I’ve had. They offered the perfect saltiness from the cheddar and came with chipotle aioli on the side for dipping.
With a very extensive salad menu, we opted for their Kale Salad. It was fruity and I loved that about it. Apple, carrot, strawberry, raisin and oranges generously disbursed with the greens, parmesan and a savory cilantro-sesame dressing.
The Grilled Salmon Salad was fantastic also, as the fish came pan-seared with a habanero glaze, the spiciness of which was allayed by the spring greens and candied pecans. I purposely didn’t finish this to have leftovers.
You’ll agree that at Southern food places, the sides could comprise an entire meal if needed. We ordered both the Poblano Cheddar and the Honey Butter cornbread, Brussels Sprouts and Mac and Cheese for our sides.
Both breads came piping hot in a skillet, were fluffy and flavorful, and were inhaled in moments from arrival.
Now our stomachs were well-laced for the mains. We obviously tried the Shrimp and Grits, made minus the ham cream for me. The shrimp were jumbo-sized and evenly seasoned with housemade Cajun spices. The grits were cheese-flavored topped with scallions; and together it was just down-home comfort food.
The Market Fish was Blackened Mahi Mahi that night, with a side of sweet corn maque choux. Guys, get this if you go!
We were just getting started and believe me when I say that. As soon as Ben learned that my friend was a carnivore, he started sending out a variety of meats, AKA, the entire menu!
She of course was in heaven. I watched her ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over the Wagyu Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork and Smoked Wings. I was happy for her, although also happy for me to take a break from all the eating. So meat lovers, you’re in for a super treat!
Ben also introduced us to some fine whiskey giving us small tastes of the Pappy and the Rip Van Winkle. I went from a bourbon infant to a bourbon snob all in one night. And realize now that I was wrong when I said that ii didn’t have a palette for bourbon. The right bourbon went down just fine.
The whiskey also helped make room for dessert because I think it just burned all my calories off. Before we could choose, Ben sent out four giant desserts. Each one was the size of my head and I’m not joking. We tried their Dark Chocolate Cake ala mode, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Mousse Pie and a platter of mammoth cookies and milk. Everything is made at the restaurant!
I think I may move to the South. If this is how they eat, I need to be a part of it. Chicago Q is all about food and service. Lucky for us, there was also live music that night. The whole mood was perfect for a Southern food adventure and it goes without saying that, I will be returning.
Thank you Chicago Q for putting BBQ on my food map!