Serious Eats: ChicagoDrew's Profile

What's the worst/weirdest thing you found in restaurant food?

It's not weird so much as it is poor quality control, but I will never EVER eat romaine lettuce outside of my home. You see, unlike iceberg lettuce, romaine is VERY difficult to wash en masse, so here's a list of stuff I've found in it and where (Chicago area):

1) Chipotle - Large black housefly; I ordered the burrito bol, found the fly and threw it away. If I ordered the standard, wrapped-up tortilla, I would have eaten a large black housefly. Vom. Chipotle never replied to my email when I sent them a notice.
2) Boston Market - Little fruit flies
3) Leona's - Little fruit flies (these are way more common than I thought)

So that's it, I just won't order salad unless it's iceberg. Don't even get me started on Chinese take-out...

But since I piqued your interest now: pieces of plastic wrapper, hair strands, metal foil seal -- like the ones used to seal medicine bottles and food bottles, and finally, an aphid-related insect at the bottom of a vegetable carton I nearly finished. Awesome, I know.

ChicagoDrew at 7:00PM on 08/08/10

From Serious Eats

Do Drinks and Food Taste Better When They're More Expensive?

I wonder what the results would be if you took some of the decent fast food offerings out there and stuck them on a plate from Morton's or another costly joint. I have a feeling they would perform better than expected too.

CatBoy: I've once had filet mignon for like three days straight and I knew it was expensive (but we are indirect friends with a guy who owns a big meat company, so freebies rule!) The steak tasted like crap the third day because everything - including lobster - is not meant to be eaten often, regardless of price, etc. Your mind just becomes numb to the pleasure if it's used to it.

ChicagoDrew at 3:43AM on 02/26/10

From Serious Eats

McDonald's Sweet Chili Sauce for Chicken McNuggets: How Does It Taste?

I'm confused why some people are embarassed to try things from McDonald's? If you're a foodie, isn't their food just par for the course, especially since it's meant to be an affordable on-the-go option? I love trying new fast food intros, especially the *genuinely* new ones (McGriddles, for example).

ChicagoDrew at 10:17PM on 02/21/10

From A Hamburger Today

The Mac Snack Wrap, Big Mac in a Tortilla

I love the McWraps with chicken, especially when you want something semi-healthy AND cheap (compared to cheeseburger, anyways). Overall, McDonald's is pretty good for the money and the food beats my expectations of what a dollar can get you (Taco Bell always gives me indigestion for that same one dollar...)

ChicagoDrew at 10:07PM on 02/21/10

From Serious Eats

Cake Shake from Squareburger in Philadelphia

For Chicago land readers, Portillo's has an AMAZING new "Chocolate Cake Shake"... They take their standard chocolate milkshake, one slice of their delicious Famous Chocolate Cake, and then blend the two together. It's truly a miracle that this stuff flows within a straw, but the taste is worth it.

ChicagoDrew at 3:08AM on 08/29/09

From Serious Eats

Restaurant Gift Certificate Etiquette

I LOVE Red Lobster for quick, cheap seafood in the suburbs of Illinois and their coupons make it cheap. However, I would never EVER "show my hand" when it comes to coupons. When a waiter has a few coupon users pay lousy tips, they will categorize and underserve other decent tippers such as myself, so why risk ruining the service before it even starts?

Don't show your hand, people! Keep coupons and gift cards hidden until the end and for the commenter above who doesn't dare use coupons, WHAT is up with that? They are literally like money. Would you throw out $4.00 single dollar bills? That's the value of my Red Lobster coupon and to me, that's a lot of potential cash to throw away.

ChicagoDrew at 1:44AM on 03/03/09

From Serious Eats

Have a Cold? Soothe Your Throat with These Remedies

My mom, who is Polish, always chopped some fresh onions and added about 5-6 tablespoons of sugar; both get sealed in a jar. Come back about two hours later and the onion's chemical reactions with the sugar cause a tasty, sweet syrup to form that really ceases a cough. What can I say, natural is always preferred (and it just tastes really good too!)

ChicagoDrew at 8:09PM on 02/19/09

From Serious Eats

'Breaking News: Chipotle Employee Just Gave Guy In Front Of You More Rice'

Hello, do you NOT know how delicious their cilantro and lime-spiked rice is? You must try it and come back here to agree with me.

I love the Onion article because I've always made it a point to get extra rice. Some customer got extra this and extra that, so now I do the same with the rice (the most filling part).

P.S. The vegetarian burrito is the best deal because you get FREE guacamole! Otherwise, it's a $1.60+ surcharge on the meat burritos. Viva Chipotle!

ChicagoDrew at 10:26PM on 01/27/09

From Recipes