Given its pancakey base, Takoyaki is somewhat of a blank slate, meaning that octopus can be swapped for pretty much anything. And Yusho does just that, elevating this modest street food to a memorably delicious one-bite wonder. More
The wood oven roasted pig face at Girl & the Goat is exactly what it sounds like: parts of a pig's face are roasted in a wood fired oven. I couldn't wait to get behind the scenes to document how this dish is made from scratch. More
What the Snarf's chicken salad sandwich ($5.50 for 5"; $10.50 for 12") lacks in presentation and finesse it makes up for it in flavor. Thanks to the warm, crunchy, and chewy baguette, this is one of my favorite renditions of chicken salad in Chicago—sorry Potbelly's. More
There's no denying that anything fried (when done right) has a strong chance of being absolutely delicious. But Farmhouse goes one step further by combining delicate Lake Superior smelt ($11 at lunch) with Wisconsin cheddar and challah bread from Red Hen. More
For much of the culinary world, spring is synonymous with menu changes, and nothing signals this more than the arrival of one certain vegetable: asparagus. Whether its served raw, grilled, or puréed, freshly harvested asparagus truly is one of the signs that winter is gone and warmer weather is finally here to stay. Check out eight of our favorite asparagus dishes from around Chicago. More
At the beginning of the year, I (and other SE contributors) vowed to eat more Korean food. Since then, I've noticed that more non-Korean restaurants are integrating kimchi into their menus. I've highlighted a handful of conventional and non-traditional kimchi-based dishes. More
Off the heels of their recent sold-out Anti-Restaurant Week dinner at Bonsoirée, chefs Shin Thompson and Phillip Foss teamed up again, albeit this time at EL Ideas. I was on hand to photograph the dishes, and here's a little food porn to liven up your Wednesday. More
Even with the slogan "Meat Free Since 1983" emblazoned on its awning, my carnivorous self couldn't help but see what The Chicago Diner was all about. After a brief chat with one of the GMs (who, incidentally, isn't a vegetarian or a vegan), I took his recommendation and ordered the Radical Reuben ($10.50). More
Poutine. Some people love it. Some people hate it. Some people don't even know what it is. I, for one, can't get enough of it. Born and raised in Montréal, I've had a plethora of good and bad poutines, and I like to think that I'm experienced when it comes to this indigenous 'hot mess' of a dish. More
I've eaten many a sandwich at The Butcher & Larder, yet the one that sticks out in my mind is the braised lamb sandwich. A heaping portion of the warm succulent pulled meat is dressed with a fennel-pickled onion-parsley slaw that's pulled together with a preserved lemon vinaigrette and a gentle touch of dry chili flakes and harissa. More
hmmm... bagel looks good... but doesn't look Montreal-esque... I need to get there to just for myself.
well-played Kindelsperger and Kamholz~ still can't believe you went to BellyQ after the completion of Day 1. That's just crazy talk.
let the taunting begin... but wait, don't comments like these below on Eater... :) I kid, I kid...
when cooked (read: fried) properly, I eat everything, shell included.
I'm still full...
Wait, that's a lie...
@Nick: It was my first time at Floriole~ heavenly to say the least! Cannelé was equally awesome.
@JBout: Thanks!
@kelgar21: Snap. Even more excuse for me to get back down to Davanti Enoteca! I really love that place~
I would like to apply. :)
nice one! when prepared right, faux meat can be as tasty as the 'real' stuff~
Cai is ridiculously amazing. Dim sum aside, their a la carte menu is absolutely Hong Kong/spot on!
didn't know Goose had a poutine, a premium rendition no-less. I'll check it out tomorrow!
As the author of the piece, I was also thrown aback by the negative comments.
I also agree with @mrsdebdav and @Boston Otter!
It's a sandwich that tastes good. Period. That's why I featured it.
Hopefully people will have an open mind if they try it. I certainly did... and loved it.
*I do not have access to moderate the comments.
@punkrockmartha there are some recipes online that 'apparently' emulate the sammy pretty well
@monopod not sure, but will reach out and check for you... The cheese nice and melted... not swiss, but the dairy feel was definitely apparent
@blake definitely had my fair share of dinners at PDC... imho, as much as I love foie gras, it isn't the most balanced use of the fatty goodness. Tasty tasty as hell, but not enough acid to cut the fat...
... or maybe I wasn't drinking enough wine with the meal. ;)
Their other foie dishes are superb tho. Plogue a Champlain (buckwheat pancakes, foie, apples, maple syrup, cider) is one of my all-time favorites!
from the looks of it, I should really consider opening up a Montréal-style diner/cassecroute in Chicago.
I could definitely go for a steamie right about now!
how could I forget Frites Alors!? Touché!
@heddylamar: Best in Montréal is at La Banquise (open 24/7 no less). They also have many non-traditional poutines (my fav is Le Galvaude: rotisserie chicken, peas and cheese... much like a Québec hot chicken sandwich). My guilty pleasure is the down-and-dirty poutine at Restaurant 'La Belle Province' (it's a chain diner all over Montreal, almost as ubiquitous as Starbucks).
Chez Ashton in Quebec City is unanimously go-to for that city.
I get that all the time.
Regardless, bottom line: Korean is the trend for 2012!
One can't forget about C-House... and Bar Toma!
As for little places, M Burger always hits the spot.
Xoco!
Balsan's brunch menu killer as well, especially with their homemade madeleines (so hard to come by good ones in Chicago).
mitsuwa = sugoi! oishii! amazing!
ginza (in tokyo hotel) great too, but sadly not as good as the former.
Hard to believe that no one said Balsan yet~
As cookie-cutter and generic as Valentine's Day may seem, it's important to remember that romance is a deeply personal experience. So, it makes sense that what constitutes as a "romantic" restaurant depends entirely on the couple. Each of our contributors picked out the one place they'd most like to spend time with their significant other. More
Tahoora stays open late, has ample seating, and serves a saccharine rainbow of treats. Think Willy Wonka, by way of Karachi. Though there are loads of tempting options, it's the more subtle brown pistachio halwa that shouldn't be overlooked. More
Poutine. Some people love it. Some people hate it. Some people don't even know what it is. I, for one, can't get enough of it. Born and raised in Montréal, I've had a plethora of good and bad poutines, and I like to think that I'm experienced when it comes to this indigenous 'hot mess' of a dish. More
Most of you will doubt recognize Dennis Lee as the man behind The Over 21 Club and Lunch in the Loop. What you probably don't know is that besides making jokes about oddly named restaurants and trying to feed stuffed bears, he's really a very serious and quiet guy. Okay, not really, but I'll let him do the introduction. More
I've eaten many a sandwich at The Butcher & Larder, yet the one that sticks out in my mind is the braised lamb sandwich. A heaping portion of the warm succulent pulled meat is dressed with a fennel-pickled onion-parsley slaw that's pulled together with a preserved lemon vinaigrette and a gentle touch of dry chili flakes and harissa. More
TIRE!!! Again, Quebecois-inspired cuisine graces the Midwest!