banks’s Profile
Recent Comments
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
I'm not here for an internet argument. I don't know a single Chicagoan under 30 who uses the term Deep Dish to refer to anything other than Dominos or Pizza Hut thick crust, thin topping travesties. I think if you did a man-on-the street poll, you'd find that regardless of the extra crust layer at Nancy's or Giordano's, Chicago pizza is called Stuffed by more people than me.
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
Regardless of whether Deep Dish is more common than Stuffed, Stuffed is indisputably a Chicago "thing", whereas Deep Dish is not. It feels akin to writing a food guide to Memphis and endorsing a Texas-style barbecue joint.
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
I'm sorry, but to write a Chicago food guide and omit Italian Beef, as well as endorsing Deep Dish over true Chicago Stuffed, you are leaving out a good helping of the indigenous food culture of this city. And Shui Wah over Phoenix? A travesty!
Also, although my first experience at Alinea was transcendent, my second visit fell a little flat with overly gadget-y, low flavor food. I'm still teetering on the border as to whether to endorse the place as a destination restaurant.
See more comments by banks »
Recent Posts
banks hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
banks hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
banks hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
banks hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
America's Regional Candy
Unfortunately, the area of Forest Park where the Ferrara Pan factory is located is also the location of a dozen or more other food manufacturing and packaging factories. I had the misfortune of working in the QC lab/test kitchen of one of those factories many years ago, and the actual smell in the area can best be described as "food hell". Every once in a while one factory will break through, and the area will smell tolerable for a day. Otherwise, it's the closest modern equivalent to the smell of an old-fashioned city meatpacking district.
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
I'm not here for an internet argument. I don't know a single Chicagoan under 30 who uses the term Deep Dish to refer to anything other than Dominos or Pizza Hut thick crust, thin topping travesties. I think if you did a man-on-the street poll, you'd find that regardless of the extra crust layer at Nancy's or Giordano's, Chicago pizza is called Stuffed by more people than me.
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
Regardless of whether Deep Dish is more common than Stuffed, Stuffed is indisputably a Chicago "thing", whereas Deep Dish is not. It feels akin to writing a food guide to Memphis and endorsing a Texas-style barbecue joint.
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
I'm sorry, but to write a Chicago food guide and omit Italian Beef, as well as endorsing Deep Dish over true Chicago Stuffed, you are leaving out a good helping of the indigenous food culture of this city. And Shui Wah over Phoenix? A travesty!
Also, although my first experience at Alinea was transcendent, my second visit fell a little flat with overly gadget-y, low flavor food. I'm still teetering on the border as to whether to endorse the place as a destination restaurant.
Food for Thought Lunchbox
Just as long as you don't put a banana right down the middle.
Corn on the Cob is best when ______
Screamingly fresh. Pick it while the water boils or the grill heats up.
I miss living next to a working farm.
Don't Want a Whole Bottle of Wine? Try a Can
Fairly nice looking design, but it would be a nightmare to manufacture, fill, and package. It looks like it's designed to be filled and lidded from the bottom of the can, but the "necked" top would make pressing the easy-open mouth and attaching the staytab a difficult proposition. The absence of a top lip would mean the cans would either be ringed and packed upside down, which consumers don't like, or packed in boxes, which no-one involved likes. I have to admit I'm surprised that this won a packaging award.
Photo of the Day: Bon Appétit
The eyes in the milk are creeping me out. I can tolerate all of the other eyes, but the milk ones... urgh.
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
also you can check out Flo, Toast, and Over Easy... All do a pretty good job. Have fun!
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
Gepperths is a wonderful place owned by wonderful people. Agreed.
My favorite breakfast is Lula Cafe up in Lincoln Square- food is great. service can be touch and go, but if you're out for a slow Sunday brunch, no big deal, have a cocktail, it's the weekend :) expect a wait, and don't be surprised by all of the too cool for themselves hipsters.
Lou Mitchell's is just ok- but gives fresh donuts on the weekend as you wait and milk duds to kids
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
Wow Mr. Nagrant you really got some stones thrown at you in the comment section. While I have only lived in Chicago for two years I think your review is really exceptional. The mentioning of pequod's, Al's and GEPPERTHS! I think you really got it down, awesome summary!
Please note indigenous Chicagoans there is no mention of LouMalnatis here. Mostly because its not good.
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
I am looking for a best breakfast place in Chicago . Funkyness encouraged since I am of the Friendly Toast, Portsmouth, NH school.
Corn on the Cob is best when ______
Grilled with the husk on! NO need to soak or remove the silk beforehand unless the husk is extremely dried out. Then, butter and seasalt and the shameful secret.
When it comes to corn on the cob--ONLY crappy powdered black pepper will do, in enormous stomach burning quantities. I will choose it over the finest fresh cracked in an instant. Only for corn...and sunny side up eggs.
Corn on the Cob is best when ______
@PerkyMac I agree Duffield's is good but Zimmermans Farm on Salina Road is much better. There is nothing like getting corn still warm from the field to eat a couple hours later. It's so sweet and perfect.
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
I am still looking for top steakhouses. What comes to mind is Smith and Wollensky, Chicago Chophouse, Gibsons, and Gene and Georgetti. Any others that I should consider?
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
I GREW UP AROUND 18TH AND ASHLAND
THERE USE TO BE AN ITALIAN RESTRAUNT ON THE NORTH/EAST CORNER OF ASHLAND AND 18TH NAMED
DV'S PIZZA ATTACHED TO FOREMOST LIQUORS
ON THAT CORNER.
THIS WAS DURING THE 50'S AND EARLY 60'.
DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHEN IT CLOSED DOWN OR IF IT RELOCATED.
A MUST PLACE TO EAT IS ON 1079 TAYLOR AL'S BEEF.
THE COMBO BEEF/ITALIAN SAUSAGE IS A MUST WITH GREEN PEPPERS/GIADANER AND DIPPED IN THE GRAVY. A MUST.PLACE TO EAT.
U MUST GO TO HALSTED AND 12TH STREET MAXWELL FOR THE OUTSIDE EATERIES ON A SUNDAY. ALL KINDS OF GOODIES AND GREAT BLUES MUSIC ON THE STREETS
I AM NOW IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS, BUT STILL SEE MY CUBS ON CABLE TV WGN. BEST EATS CHICAGO
Serious Eats City Guide: Chicago
Spacca Napoli. Got it, I'm on my way! We've been searching high and low for Neopolitan pizza and keep getting that cracker crust which as a true New Yorker means sacrelidge! And pan style makes me full and bloated just looking at it.
America's Regional Candy
I'm with the Gold Brick guy, but Gold Bricks were literally that...little bars of milk chocolate studded with toasted pecans, wrapped in gold paper...when I was a kid. D.H. Holmes (immortalized in "A Confederacy of Dunces") and other shops sold Elmer's candies including the Gold Brick, Heavenly Hash (a variation on Rocky Road) cut into big sticky squares, and something the company no longer makes, Mint Bubblettes. They were big red and white peppermint rounds the size of jaw-breakers, but they melted away to nothing you your mouth. The family moved the company to Pontchatoula, La. -- back in the '60s, I think -- and they still make Gold Bricks and Heavenly Hash. Great candy.
America's Regional Candy
I spent my undergrad years at MIT, just a few blocks downwind of the New England Confectionery Company. Every morning's walk to classes was scented with the smell of Necco Wafers.
The company relocated to Everett because the building and property had become so valuable they decided to sell. A condition of the sale was that the new owners had to preserve the water tank at the top of the building, which was painted to resemble a roll of wafers. The new occupants, Novartis, repainted the tank with a DNA double helix - with base pairs colored like the wafers: pink, purple, orange, and green.
America's Regional Candy
How about Coffee Crisp? I never really appreciated it until I moved to the States and couldn't get it...
America's Regional Candy
Erin.........I stand corrected. I checked for myself, and you are right. Unfortunately, most people in the Boston area, and many in the confectionary industry, were and still are under the impression that Nate Sloane had started the company in Everett, MA, since his purchase and relocation of this enterprise was for some reason never publicly mentioned. I too had been mislead all these many years. Sorry about that, and thanks for setting the record straight.
America's Regional Candy
I've also never seen one of the "cup-o-gold" things, and I've lived here for all but 5 years of my life. We did have neighbors who always gave us full sized "Abba Zabba" bars for halloween (they only gave a few of the neighborhood kids candy, and we had to call for them through the mailbox or they wouldn't answer the door.).
You missed a midwestern specialty, the Cherry Mash, that was common where I lived in Kansas.
America's Regional Candy
I'm from California and have never ever seen one of those gold nugget things. I've seen plenty of Chic-o-sticks, though, and I think they're nasty.
America's Regional Candy
I can't vouch for the smell near Ferrara Pan, but the factory store that sells all of their candy cheap and in bulk is a treat to visit.
America's Regional Candy
In addition to being the home of the rugged Mountain Bar, the sumptuos Almond Roca and its high-strung cousin- Mocha Roca, the NW has also produced the Washington intrafamous Applets & Cotlets. As far as I can tell, they never escaped the border, but are known to most Washingtonians as a symbol of our state produce. Too bad I don't really care for them...
America's Regional Candy
Mr. Sifers -- Thank you for verifying the name of the "7-Up" bar. The 7-Up bar, the Marathon bar (a chocolate-covered caramel braid), and Fruit-Stripe gum are sweet memories of my childhood.
I am ashamed to say that I have never tried a VALOMILK. I am currently living in the United Kingdom so I doubt I can find one here. As soon as I move back home to Texas, I will head to the nearest Cracker Barrel to enjoy my first VALOMILK.
America's Regional Candy
VALOMILKS have been a favorite throughout the Midwest for over 75 years. Thanks to Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants we are in more parts of our country now than ever before.
We consider our VALOMILKS to be the messiest candy in the country, but that makes it fun and candy should be fun. "When it runs down your chin you know its a VALOMILK."
Thanks for including our VALOMILKS on your list.
Russ Sifers
PS - Esmeralda might be thinking of the 7-Up Bar.
America's Regional Candy
Growing up in New England, I am proud to say I have eaten my bodyweight in skybars, zeros and zagnuts.... and would gladly trade away any amount of those awful necco wafers to get ahold of more of the afore mentioned candy bars.
America's Regional Candy
I saw a bag of peanut chews going for about $12 in my grocery store this morning
then again, I am in south korea
America's Regional Candy
While Brown & Haley's Almond Roca may be a little too upscale for this list, their Mountain bars are not. Though I find the original and cherry flavors to be cloyingly sweet, their peanut Mountain bar is heaven - like a Reese's cup on steroids. [and if you get a chance to drop by their factory, they sell a lot of seconds of all of their sweets at truly great - and dangerous - prices]
America's Regional Candy
Gillsnthrills—you are SO right. Gold Brick Eggs are our LIFE in New Orleans. How could they not be on this list?
America's Regional Candy
I forgot to mention that I used to enjoy Abba-Zaba, but I can't remember how my folks got ahold of them when I was a kid. I love peanut butter filled candies.
America's Regional Candy
Oh my God!! I love Sky Bars, Charleston Chews, and Lemon Heads, but my favorite on this list, is the Peanut Chews. There getting hard to find down here in Va.
Recent Posts
banks hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
banks hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
banks hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
banks hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Unfortunately, the area of Forest Park where the Ferrara Pan factory is located is also the location of a dozen or more other food manufacturing and packaging factories. I had the misfortune of working in the QC lab/test kitchen of one of those factories many years ago, and the actual smell in the area can best be described as "food hell". Every once in a while one factory will break through, and the area will smell tolerable for a day. Otherwise, it's the closest modern equivalent to the smell of an old-fashioned city meatpacking district.