Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 28: Chicago Is a Rough Place to Diet
I just came back from an overnight business trip to Chicago, a city I'm crazy about. How do I love the Windy City? Let me count the ways. It's a city of distinct and diverse neighborhoods; it's full of cool, architecturally interesting buildings; listening to Chicago blues helped get me through college; and yes, Chicago is a great food town.
So what's a serious eater to do when he knows he's headed to Chicago on business? Normally, I would just obsessively research the eating options and plot my days bite by bite. But knowing I had to post this morning and get on the scale to do so, I realized that was a recipe for disaster (pun intended).
So I tried to have my cake and eat it, too, diet-wise. That means my strategy was explore, eat in moderation, and exercise.
The eating was amazing. I had phenomenal cemitas, a Mexican sandwich on a sesame seed bun; excellent huaraches made on freshly fried masa boats; fine tacos; the best cannoli I've ever eaten; and a fine meal of small plates at a restaurant called Avec (if you go be sure to have the pork shoulder, the foccacia, and the bacon-wrapped dates).
I tried to pace myself, and I think I succeeded. I also exercised for almost an hour on Tuesday at a health club in the Loop. I have also played squash three times this week, which means I have worked out four times in a seven day period. But the key word in this paragraph is "think." We are about to find out if in fact I did succeed with my explore and exercise strategy.
I'm down a pound. Maybe I should move to Chicago.
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6 Comments:
That only works as a diet strategy if you do not go to Hot Doug's every weekend for the duck fat fries!
Mizbee at 10:28AM on 08/08/08
Chicago is my favorite city, for all the reasons you listed. It really is a rough place to diet. Then again, so is New York. Heck, to me, the whole world is out to sabatoge me. ;) Glad you're down a pound!
OneWallKitchen at 10:53AM on 08/08/08
Ed I just came back from Chicago and Avec as well. I'm with you on that crispy pork shoulder.
Margherita at 11:56AM on 08/08/08
Ed,
I am guessing your itinerary included:
Cemitas Puebla
Dona Chio and
Pasticceria Natalina.
Am I right? I'm sure folks will want to know.
fleurdesel at 1:22PM on 08/08/08
There is an article in the current issue of Bon Appetit about how food writers stay thin (written by, apparently, one who does). Granted, the secret isn't much of a secret: only eat what you love - and don't eat all of it.
sarahbeam at 4:07PM on 08/08/08
Chicago is the worst place to diet. When I was in art school, I gained over 25 lbs. Everything at a sandwich shack came with a free order of fries and portions were always ginormous and cheap. Dominick's had the worst grocery selection at the time. Vegetables and lettuces were either bad or went bad in a matter of days. I will always remember Chicago being the place where I gave up vegetarianism. It was a still a good place to live though. Mexican food there is much better than the stuff in New York and I always miss the signature. hot dogs. Plus they pronounce Gyro, Yeer-oh.
madebytam at 6:38PM on 08/11/08