A Berry Good Brunch

Brunch is a fantastic creation. Sunday was my first time brunching in Chicago and I was ecstatic that it would be at Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe.  I had heard amazing reviews and needed to experience what everyone had been talking about.  I am happy to report that they were right; Wildberry is one of the best places to brunch in Chicago hands-down.

As far as breakfast foods go, I tend to switch off between savory and sweet selections.  Wildberry offers both and I was lucky enough to try three different choices.  The Southern Eggs Benedict features an English muffin topped with poached eggs, sausage and gravy so delicious it will make forget about how bad it is for you.  A side of hash-browns accompanies the delicious egg creation.  If you are in the mood for something sweet, try either the Oreo S’mores Pancakes or the "Signature Berry Bliss" French Toast. The Oreo S’mores Pancakes are exactly what they sound like and are phenomenal.  The combination of the crunch of the Oreo cookies, the softness of the pancakes and the gooeyness of the marshmallows adorning the stack is remarkable.  Perfect for the chocolate lover and anyone who loves a little chocolate before 10 am.  The "Signature Berry Bliss" French Toast is not your typical French Toast.  Atop the pieces of bread, deliciously browned, are berries, blackberry coulis and berry marcarpone.  The ultimate breakfast combination of fruit and fried bread.

Now as far as drinks go, the Mango Lemonade and Wildberry Orange Juice are two excellent options.   I love how the lemonade is bottomless and is available in multiple flavors.  The Wildberry Orange Juice features orange juice combined with seasonal berry juices which makes it the perfect choice for diners wanting something a little more extraordinary than the ordinary glass of OJ.  I also tried the Mocha Mint Latte which is the ultimate combination of mint and chocolate in a cup.

Overall, I was very impressed with the selection of both food and drinks at Wildberry and I will definitely be revisiting for brunch sometime soon.  Our wait at 9 am on Sunday was about 40 minutes but the meal was unquestionably worth it.  What a perfect way to start out your day!

Nom,
Mary

"Signature Berry Bliss" French Toast

Oreo S'more Pancakes

Southern Eggs Benedict

EL ideas: My First Michelin Star

Dining should be an experience.  The food itself is a main component but the atmosphere adds an irreplaceable and exceptional element to the meal.  Recently, I have noticed a correlation between industrial warehouses and phenomenal food.  Ada Street and EL ideas are two restaurants that use the “abandoned warehouse scare technique” to pump adrenaline into diners before wowing them with remarkable culinary creations.  Will and Susannah were surprising me with dinner for my birthday and so I had no idea where we were going.  A bit funny since the restaurant was named EL ideas..

EL ideas is extraordinary because it goes where no restaurant has ever gone before.  The food is amazing and the restaurant has a Michelin star, yes, but the restaurant conjures a dining experience unlike anything a diner has ever experienced.  Chef Foss personally introduces himself to each table and establishes a relationship with each diner.  Each member of the kitchen staff is friendly and interacts with each table, presenting the individual course themselves.  Most of the diners in the restaurant were couples of two and celebrating special occasions while a few were simply “foodies” in town on business.  Diners must Uber or drive here as the location itself is so remote that few cabs pass by and most get lost locating the establishment.  EL ideas is also BYOB which is unique for a restaurant of such caliber.  Diners must arrive on time as the entire dining room is served at one seating.

The meal consisted of 14 incredible courses.  Each featured unique flavors of exotic meats and seafood.  Many included ingredients I had never heard of before.  Every course was introduced individually by a member of the preparation staff and was hand-decorated.  My birthday meal was a dining experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.  EL ideas did a flawless job of creating life-time memories with excellent cuisine and an exceptional atmosphere, truly deserving of its high recognition as one of the top restaurants in the United States. 

A birthday is a special occasion and needs to be celebrated accordingly.  Careful planning and preparation goes into creating the perfect day of food and festivities.  When my friends Susannah and Will offered to plan the ideal surprise party, I admit I was a little hesitant.  I tend to be a bit type A so I would prefer to be involved in all of the details.  I knew, however, that the celebration would be in great hands.  

They couldn't have picked a better place.

Mary

Roe: buttermilk, caper, kohlrabi, chamomile, pollen

First course is served without utensils- must be licked

Kitchen is open to walk through and observe

Ossetra: cauliflower ice cream, rose, pear, argan

Halibut: mofongo, salsa verde, black bean

Cobia collar: curry, coconut, fava, tamarind, banana

French fries & ice cream: potato, leek, vanilla

Soft shell crab: spring onion, bacon-rubbed rhubarb, strawberry

Snail: black garlic, maitake, consommé, sea bean

Foie gras: porcini, huckleberry, bergamot

Venison: barley, yogurt, enoki

Bellota: rapini, lardo, apricot, hot pepper

Antelope: ramp, asparagus, carrot, turnip

Spruce: mandarin, pine, kombucha

Zucchini: lemon balm, blossom, cinnamon, verbena

Mudpie: coffee, marshmallow, chocolate

Birthday Cake

Hot Doug's

Hot dog themed decorations, horribly corny jokes and the irresistible smell of encased meat drifting down the block are three things to describe the fun, casual atmosphere of Chicago's most famous hot dog stand.  Hot Doug's tops most lists rating the best Chicago-Style hot dogs and I had been planning to visit the restaurant in Roscoe Village for quite some time now.  Doug, the stand owner, recently announced that the stand would be closing for good on October 3rd.  Nothing like a time constraint to coerce you into finally crossing something off of your to-do list!  (And yes, I do have a to-do list for food...)

A few friends and I made the long trek up to the North-side and were all very excited to visit such a famous spot in Chicago.  Parking was fairly accessible and as we walked closer to the stand, the line seemed to go on even longer and longer.  The line did not seem to be moving very fast and we mentally prepared ourselves for the long wait.  It was a little comforting that the line seemed a bit shorter than some of the horror stories that I read about on Yelp, where diners waited over two hours to consume a few hot dogs.  The wait is bearable if you bring quality friends.  If you do not, I would advise you to find some or go alone and bring a book or a crossword puzzle.  Luckily, I brought pretty spectacular friends so I left my Sudoku puzzles and coloring book in the car.

After we finally made it into the restaurant, it was time to order.  My recommendation is to be brave and adventurous.  Their special menu features a variety of meats, ranging from pork to alligator.  Try one of the celebrity dogs on the special menu and you will not be disappointed.  Each dog on the special menu features an unique selection of flavors that combine spice and sweetness with the savory taste of the grilled sausage.  I chose the Jimmy Clausen which is a baked ham sausage topped with mango salsa, smoked Gouda cheese and cherry mustard.  As a huge fan of both ham and mango but having had neither together in the same meal, I was blown away by the combination.  Each topping was amazing and played up the savory flavors of the baked ham.  I would definitely recommend it to diners who are looking for a great sweet and savory combination.  The mango salsa was deliciously fresh and crisp.

As for the sides, the fries are a good size to split with friends.  We went on a Thursday so we were not able to try the duck fat fries because they are only served on Fridays and Saturdays.  Disappointing but not too bad considering the hot dog was pretty filling.  There was nothing too spectacular about the regular fries but they are good nonetheless. 

It is truly amazing that Doug himself takes your order.  He makes the customer feel special and by doing so, he creates a more authentic experience for diners.  This is the reason why Chicago residents love this hot dog stand so much.  His continued presence has enabled him to connect emotionally with thousands of diners each year, continuously evoking the strong support and following of Chicago hot dog lovers.  Doug will be truly missed when the stand closes for good in October.

There is also a rumor that diners are eligible for free hot dogs for life after getting a Hot Doug's permanent tattoo.  Like many tattoos and several UChicago classes, it sounds alright in theory but has horrible repercussions in real life.  My advice? The stand is closing in October so the 60 or so free hot dogs are probably not worth a lifetime of explaining why you have a tattoo of a hot dog stand in permanent ink to future employers, significant others or family members.  Up to you.

Overall, I am happy to finally cross it off my to-do list but I doubt I will go back before final closing.  I am glad that I visited such a famous Chicago hot dog stand but I was underwhelmed with the uniqueness of the establishment minus a few key components.  The closest comparison to Hot Doug's would have to be Frank 'N Dawgs in Lincoln Park.  Frank 'N Dawgs is closer to the Loop, accepts credit cards and features healthier ingredients.  There is also no line and the restaurant is BYOB.  However, Hot Doug's has a completely different atmosphere and the line allows for a shared sense of anticipation between random diners.  The exotic flavors, such as alligator, differ Hot Doug's from the stereotypical Chicago hot dog stand.  As mentioned before, Doug taking customers' orders is also an authentic part of the visit that cannot be recreated at any other encased meat establishment.

Doug, we'll miss you.

Mary

Celebrity Sausage: Baked Ham Sausage with Cherry Mustard, Mango Salsa and Smoked Gouda Cheese

The Dog

Cheese Fries

Fries

The Shirley Hardman: Corn Dog