Chicago - Day 4: Breakfast at Fox & Obel

If you're wondering why I skipped from Day 2 to Day 4, it's because Sunday (Day 3) we met my cousin, his wife and their two kids at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Surprisingly the lunch we had (cheeseburgers and fries) was really good, but I didn't think to take a photo. For dinner that night we went to my aunt and uncle's for a cookout and I was too busy socializing to take pictures.

Monday, our departure day, we finally had a nice, big breakfast at what used to be our favorite spot, Fox & Obel. They're a gourmet supermarket that has a cafe in the back and they used to serve a fantastic breakfast. Alas, this breakfast didn't live up to year's past and we won't be going back next time. I ordered the Cobb omelet:


... which comes with chicken breast, tomato, scallion, Applewood smoked bacon, blue cheese and avocado and toast. The omelet was overcooked and there was too much filling, not to mention the potatoes were mealy and underseasoned. SP always gets the breakfast panini:


... with Gunthrop's Farm ham, gruyere cheese, and scrambled eggs on toast. His biggest complaint was that it was barely cooked on the panini press and the cheese wasn't melted. His potatoes suffered the same fate as mine. The upside is that we get to experiment with a new breakfast place next time we visit Chi-town.

Chicago - Day 2, Part 2: Dinner at Luna Caprese

On Saturday night we met up with the entire family at Luna Caprese. It was great to see everyone, especially because we got to share our good news with everyone in person. After the big announcement we got down to some serious eating. SP started with a Caesar salad:


... while I had the caprese with fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil:


I ordered the manicotti stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan served in a marinara sauce:


Since my grandparents know the chef SP was able to make a special request for fettuccine alfredo with sliced sausage:


I snagged a bite and it was insanely rich and delicious, just the way alfredo should be. I asked my uncle if he'd mind me snapping a quick photo of his meal since it looked so appetizing. He ordered the Salmon Marechiaro, which was salmon with clams, mussels, and shrimp in a cherry tomato sauce:


I can't pass up tiramisu if it's on a menu so that's what I got for dessert:


My uncle had a nice, thick slice of apple pie ala mode:


An excellent meal all around.

Chicago - Day 2, Part 1: Lunch at Frontera Grill

On Saturday we met up with my friend J and her husband P for lunch. SP has always wanted to try a Rick Bayless restaurant so we chose Frontera Grill. Even though we went early the wait for the dining room was still an hour and a half, but we snagged a table in the bar. We decided to share two appetizers, the Sopes Rancheros:


... crispy corn masa boats with savory shredded beef, roasted tomatoes, avocado and homemade fresh cheese, and the homemade guacamole:


... served with tortilla chips. We were also served two kinds of salsa:


I particularly liked the green one, although I have no idea what was in either. For my lunch I ordered Tacos al Carbon with Organic Gunthorp chicken breast marinated with fruit vinegar, spices and garlic:


... served with roasted pepper rajas, two salsas, frijoles charros, guacamole and homemade tortillas. SP got the same thing only with red chile-marinated Maple Creek pork (pastor style):


Mine came with soupier beans while SP's came with black beans. I preferred my beans and wish I'd had more room to finish them. We really enjoyed Frontera Grill and it was great to see J & P.

Chicago - Day 1, Part 2: Dinner at Emperor's Choice

On Friday night we went out to dinner with my grandparents to their favorite Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, Emperor's Choice. We started the meal with spring rolls (not pictured) and everyone but me had wonton soup:


I had a small taste of SP's dumpling and finished the broth in my grandmother's bowl. Delicious. We shared a bunch of dishes, including crispy duck:


... chicken chow mein with soft noodles:


... fried rice:


... and Kung Pao chicken:


All the food was amazing and really spoiled us for Chinese food back home. You just can't get food of that quality where we live. SP swore he'd only eat Chinatown Chinese from now on.

Chicago - Day 1, Part 1: Lunch at Lindy's Chili

We went to Chicago to visit my grandparents the first weekend in May. We arrived on Friday, May 1, and after dropping our bags off at our room and saying hello to my grandmother, SP, my grandfather and I drove out to our favorite lunch spot - Lindy's Chili. I've been eating here since I was a little girl and SP is a huge fan as well. It's a must for any trip to Chicago.


SP ordered the Polish sausage special, which came with a bowl of their famous chili mac:


... topped with sour cream, cheese and raw onion. The Polish sausage:


... comes with relish, tomato, onion, and pickle on a poppy seed bun. To drink he had a root beer float:


... which came with tons of vanilla ice cream floating on top of the root beer. I ordered a cheeseburger:


... and one of my favorites, chili cheese fries:


I love their chili, but I especially love it topping their crispy, skin-on fries. I ate way too much and was stuffed silly by the time we left, but it was all delicious.

Chicago Trip - Keefer's

Whenever we go to Chicago we have to eat steak at least once. My grandparents are regulars at Keefer's so that's where we went on Saturday night. We always have a great time and the food is excellent. I'm sorry for the horrible photos. I didn't bring my camera so I had to use SP's cell phone camera. Not the best quality, but I couldn't let the gorgeous food go unphotographed.

They had a shrimp and avocado special appetizer:


... which was out-of-this-world good. It was half an avocado (which you all know I love), stuffed with shrimp salad and topped with a piece of lobster. The whole thing was dressed with a citrus vinaigrette. Watercress, slices of grapefruit and tomato finished the plate. I would have licked the plate clean if that was socially acceptable.

SP got another special, a gumbo:


... that was spicy and very flavorful. My grandparents also split the avocado and seafood appetizer, as well as a large salad.

I ordered the New York strip, very rare:


It was perfectly cooked, with excellent seasoning. I almost wished I hadn't had the appetizer so I could have eaten more steak, but the avocado and shrimp were just too tasty.

SP got filet mignon served with Dianne sauce (brandy and mushrooms):


We also shared an order of creamed spinach:


... and au gratin potatoes:


Everything was fantastic. I wish we had a restaurant this good in our area. It would definitely be our go-to place for every special occasion.

Chicago Trip - Topo Gigio

Sunday night we went out with my grandparents for an Italian dinner. They've always liked a restaurant called Topo Gigio. I'm sorry the photos are so bad. The lighting was awful, but I didn't want to miss a chance to take photos.

SP and I shared an order of calamari:


... that was served with a fantastic marinara sauce. The calamari were perfectly cooked and even my grandmother kept snagging pieces. SP is a huge fan of fettuccine alfredo with sausage and even though it wasn't on the menu he asked if they could make it. The dish they placed in front of him contained a huge mound of pasta, a thick, creamy sauce and spicy sliced sausage:


It was so good we kept eating and eating long after we were full. And yes, I said we. I ordered my own dish, but since SP's wouldn't reheat well the next day I abandoned my dish (I sent the leftovers home with my grandparents), in favor of finishing his meal. It was outstanding. Truly exceptional, especially for a restaurant that didn't have this dish on the menu.

I ordered the rigatoni in pomodoro sauce with pancetta, fresh mozzarella and basil:


It was really good, with lots of pancetta and creamy mozzarella. I'm sure it made for great leftovers the next day.

Chicago Trip - Fox & Obel

There is an awesome specialty market near where my grandparents live called Fox & Obel. In addition to prepared foods, fresh meat and seafood, vegetables, and specialty products, they have a cafe. SP and I love going there for breakfast when we're in town so we stopped in on Sunday morning. He always goes for the breakfast panini:


... made with crusty bread stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese. Breakfast potatoes come alongside. I love their Cobb omelet:


... stuffed with chicken, tomato, scallion, apple-wood smoked bacon, blue cheese and avocado. It comes with the same breakfast potatoes and choice of toast (I got an English muffin with jam). I also had a fresh-squeeze orange juice. If we lived in the city we'd be here all the time on weekends. Great food and it's fun to sit by the window and people-watch while you read the newspaper.

Chicago Trip - Chinatown Meetup

On Saturday SP and I went to Chinatown to participate in a What's Cookin Chicago Meetup. I'd heard about the event from Joelen, a member of a cooking board I frequent. To read more about the event and see more pictures, click here.

We did dim sum and I have no clue what anything is, but I'll try my best. I think these are shrimp dumplings:


Some kind of scallion cake:


More dumplings, probably pork:


These I know - ribs:


I think the filling had Chinese spinach:


Fried baby octopus


Turnip cakes (I love these):


Beef meatballs:


Beef spareribs in black bean sauce:


I think the filling had beef:


Fried dumplings:


These little packets were stuffed with delicious sticky rice:


Some kind of taro ball, I think:


Pork dumplings:


Egg tart:


Sticky rice:


Dumplings:


And more dumplings:


Pork sticky buns:


After the dim sum lunch we walked across the street to a shopping mall where they had all the zodiac signs represented in statues. I'm the rooster:


... and SP is the rabbit:


The view down one of the streets:


SP and I stopped at a bakery and got a sesame ball filled with red bean paste. Here's the outside:


... and the bean paste inside: