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

Syttende Mai: Salmon & Coffee

Syttende Mai is Norwegian Constitution Day and this year was the 200 year anniversary, therefore a Norwegian celebration was in order.  I decided to prepare a special Norwegian breakfast (frokost!) complete with ingredients that commemorate my Nordic heritage.  My friend Kathleen was nice enough to go along with my crazy scheme and so on the 17th of May, we feasted in true Norwegian fashion: salmon and lots of coffee.

I have blogged before about the importance of the "smørrebrød" to the Norwegian.  These open-faced sandwiches, typically on rye-bread, are a staple in the Norsk diet.  Therefore, I purchased hearty rye-bread and sliced it thin enough to slightly toast before adding the toppings.  The toppings included brun-usto, a common Scandanavian toasting bread, as a supplement for Treasure Island's lack of brunost (brown goat cheese).  On top of that, I added thin slices of smoked salmon (from Norway!!) for protein and additional nutrients.  Breakfast would have not been completed without some element of seafood, as I quickly learned from my visit there almost four years ago. 

For beverages, we hand-squeezed glasses of orange juice and drank lots of coffee.  The average Norwegian consumes about 5 cups of plain black coffee a day which is simply outrageous.  I was only able to drink two before the world started spinning and my left eye started twitching.

Overall, this Syttende Mai breakfast was a fantastic way to combine two of my favorite things: food and my Norwegian heritage.

Hei Norge!

Mary

Hand-made Floral Crown featuring the Main Colors of the Norwegian Flag

Frokost

Fresh-squeezed Orange Juice

Key Ingredients: Norwegian Smoked Salmon and Brun-usto

La Mulita

Located in the SoBro area of Indianapolis, La Mulita is a fantastic, new dining option for customers looking for a cheaper and more casual version of Delicia. It is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat if you are in the mood for Latin American cusine with a slight Caribbean influence.  Come here for lunch rather than dinner because the lunch menu offers more options.  It's the perfect place to have lunch with coworkers, friends or family. 

After looking at their menu for a while, I was torn between a couple options. Luckily, the lunch menu offers a 'Pick Two' option so I selected the two cemitas that drew my attention. The first was the cochinita pibil cemita, featuring pulled pork roasted in achiote topped with pickled onions, black beans and a MEASLY slice of avocado. The sesame bun was toasted slightly but still maintained a softness that provided a great backdrop to the strong Latin flavors of the black beans and the achiote. My only complaint was the avocado slice was too small, slightly disappointing and not contributing to the flavor of the cemita as much as I had hoped. 

The second was the pork milanesa cemita which consisted of breaded pork under a thin layer of Oaxaca cheese, chorizo, fried egg, chipotle peppers and cilantro mayo. This was my favorite of the two. The breading on the pork served as an intermediate between the spice of the chipotle peppers and the chorizo. The cilantro mayo and the fried egg were two great additions to the texture of the cemita and combined well with the rest of the ingredients. 

Also photographed are the vegetarian cemita and the carne asada taco. The vegetarian cemita consisted of a lightly breaded eggplant patty adorned with roasted peppers, chihuahua cheese as caramelized onion. The cemita also featured the delicious cilantro mayo. 

The carne asada taco was filled with marinated skirt steak, onions, cilantro and radish. Ingredients were served in a corn tortilla. The only complaint was that the taco was very tiny and not very filling. My advice? Stick to the cemitas. 

Overall, a great new restaurant in a fabulous part of Indianapolis. A much better price than Delicia and it's casual, rustic vibe is inviting and hip. I can't wait to try a few other items on the menu whenever I'm back in town!

Mary

Pick 2 Cemitas

Cochinita Pibil Cemita & Pork Milanesa Cemita

Vegetarian Cemita & Carne Asada Taco

Restaurant Interior

Avec

Mondays. In French, the word "mon" means mine. So sometimes you have to think of Mondays as "my day" and treat yourself to an exquisite meal with fancy friends. 

This past Monday, my two friends (Will & Susannah) and I ventured to Avec, a Mediterranean small plates restaurant owned by the same management as Blackbird. The restaurant is very small in square-feet but quaint nonetheless. Wood paneling in the interior creates a rather cozy vibe and the tables are seated in close groups where you may share a table with complete strangers. The small size of the dining room allows for intimate conversations with good friends.  If you take a date here, I recommend you make sure there are no better-looking, eligible bachelors/bachelorettes at the table you are about to be seated at...  Haha. 

Now for the food. 

All the reviews I came across before the meal were raving descriptions of the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates. I am happy to report that they are indeed phenomenal. The dates are wrapped in savory bacon and served in zesty tomato sauce. Even Susannah, who doesn't particularly care for dates, enjoyed them. A must-order at this restaurant. 

The octopus plate was crisp and refreshing. Combining the seafood flavors with ruby red grapefruit and fresh mint provided a sharp, citrusy taste to an otherwise stereotypical roasting of octopus. The plate was very well prepared and is a definite order for any octopus-fanatic. The squid plate was also fantastic. The squid and tripe with fideo pasta was interesting and unique. Until this plate, I had never tasted squid ink aioli. I am happy to report that it is delicious and I definitely recommend it to the culinary adventurous individual. Steering away from the seafood and onto the red meat, the Butcher's steak was paired perfectly with the strong flavor of blue cheese crumbles. The crisp kale decoration added a necessary crunch to the plate as well as a green element to an otherwise meaty dish. The incorporation of pistachios on the Merguez sausage pizza brought a contrasting texture to the softness of the melted feta cheese adorning the pizza and the aroma filled the restaurant, attracting the attention of many nearby diners. 

My favorite large plate was the wood oven paella which combined the delicious flavors of chicken, seafood and a hint of fruit into a single dish. The paella was cooked perfectly and provided a background to the various ingredients namely the mussels and the chicken pieces, both of which were lightly flavored with citrus. The perfect large plate to share for a group that cannot decide between poultry and seafood. It gives you both!

For dessert, we ordered a selection of options but my favorite was the chocolate-ricotta mousse. It ws topped with crushed raspberries which provided a fantastic compliment to the richness of the mousse. I am typically adverse to whipped cream but the orlorosso whipped cream added a creaminess to the chocolate-ricotta mousse that I would have missed if I had simply spooned it out. So delicious it's borderline dangerous. 

Small plates are amazing. They allow diners to share and try multiple dishes, bringing friends together through shared culinary experiences. Avec is the perfect restaurant to visit with great friends. 

Jinny Fleischman once said, "A meal is the whole experience of getting together and sharing food with friends. It is more than food." I definitely agree and am so thankful that I had the opportunity to dine with such loving and amazing people (Will & Suz, that's you guys!). The word 'Avec' in French means 'with' and I could not imagine dining here with anyone nearly as awesome as you two. 

Mary

Cafe Avec

Chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with smoked bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce

Charred octopus with grapefruit, celery, marcona almonds and mint

Squid and tripe with fideo pasta, white beans and squid ink aioli

Butcher's steak with blue cheese, charred leeks, anchovy butter and crisp kale

Merguez sausage pizza with pistachios, feta cheese, mint & cilantro

Wood oven paella with confit chicken, snail boudin, mussels and tangerine aioli

Chocolate-ricotta mousse with crushed raspberries and orlorosso whipped cream

Strawberry sorbet

Orange gelato

Roasted strawberry-rhubarb cobbler with spiced shortcakes and orange frozen yogurt

The crew & the beautiful wood-paneling interior

Santullo's Eatery

Getting a table for dinner in Wicker Park on a Saturday night is basically impossible. Most of the prime restaurants have waits longer than an hour and refuse to take reservations. So what happens when you are very hungry and tired of walking? You become adventurous and pick a random place and cross your fingers.

I was having dinner with two friends, one of which is the pickiest eater that I have ever met. This is the reason I end up eating burgers and pizza with her so often.  Can't say I complain.

We had originally intended to go to Piece Brewery & Pizzeria but the line was absolutely insane.  When we walked by Santullo's Eatery on North Ave and smelled the delicious aroma of NY-style pizza, I knew it had the potential to be a winner.  And it was.

I live in Chicago so sometimes I get tired of deep-dish pizza.  I love the appeal of the thin crust, huge slice pizza that my grandparents and I enjoy so much.  They grew up in Brooklyn and they have taught me everything I know about folding the piece in half for easier consumption.  We waited in line to order and could only collectively decide as a group on the cheese pizza.  The college budget doesn't allow for many toppings..

The guy at the register said the pizza would be out in about forty minutes but it only took twenty.  Pretty clutch since we were running out of small talk ideas.

The pizza was HUGE.  I preface this statement that all three of us agree that the pizza looks abnormally larger in the photo due to the camera angle.  The pieces are ginormous but are only moderately filling due to the thinness of the pizza.  The traditional Italian pizza flavors were amazing and the cheese-to-sauce ratio was optimal.  Overall, a fantastic pizza for a great price and minimum wait time.

I still have yet to try Piece but so far, Santullo's Eatery is my favorite pizza place in Wicker Park and maybe even Chicago.  A great place to grab some NY-style pizza, catch up with friends and not die in starvation while waiting for a table on Saturday night.

Cheers,

Mary

Cheese Pizza & Picky Friend

Before

After