LTHForum.com

first, three threads:
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=15177
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=19642
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=148713

and what about my endorsement? well, i've known the flavors salty, sweet, spicy, bitter, and sour since before i can remember. umami? eh, i get it, but it doesn't rock my world. there certainly wasn't an "ah-ha!" moment with it.

but when i tried the octopus with szechuan peppercorns at double li, i discovered a brand-new flavor. the dish was fresh, complex in texture, and beautifully spicy -- but above all that, there was a twinge of synesthesia. i tasted pale green. i don't know how else to describe it. i liked it.

granted, it's not for everyone, and that's why there's the rest of the menu.

Double Li
228 W. Cermak
Chicago, IL
312 842-7818

You have (happily) stolen both my top nomination and the title for my first novel. My many comments in the threads you cited reflect my great respect at the creativity, pride, and humanity of Ben Li. Octopus hot pot (ma la!) and black pepper garlic beef tenderloin are two of the great comforts of the past year for me, and since I associate the reassuring warmth of his cuisine most strongly with cool weather and dark nights (see antiperistasis), welcome the autumn and winter in part just because of the excuse to dine there weekly.

I was absolutely entranced by my first visit to Double Li and my subsequent visits have been equally enjoyble. I heartily endorse this nomination.

=R=

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I just wanna live until I gotta die. I know I ain't perfect but God knows I try. --Todd Snider

Twitter: ronniesuburban

I've only been twice to Double Li, but I loved it both times. I know that others will disagree, but I prefer their chicken crack to LSC's. Double Li is a very worthy nomination.

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Man : I can't understand how a poet like you can eat that stuff.
T. S. Eliot: Ah, but you're not a poet.

I'll add my support for this nomination. They hosted us for a staff outing a few weeks ago and we had the opportunity to taste many of their terrific offerings. The black peppercorn beef was unlike anything I've ever had before. If it's not beef crack*, I don't know what is.

*Now that I look at it, "beef crack" somehow manages to sound far more obscene than chicken crack

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Join us on Chicago's biking and eating adventures
Fork and the Road

I capped off my weekend of GNR frenzy, after a couple of misses (Top Notch was closed and closed, and when I blew by Ottawa at 130pm Cajun Connection was not yet open - then when I returned I made the bad decision to skip CC & rush back to Top Notch, oh well) with a visit to Double Li.

There we had a small sample.

The surprising high point was the spicy beef tendon ("tender" on the menu) that my companion ordered while I was trotting down the street in search of a beer. I think there may be some Szechuan peppercorns in this preparation because it had some of the bright, almost effervescent characteristics I later enjoyed with the octopus. The tendon was tender, not too chewy and all-round a winner.

We also had scallion pancakes which went well with the tendon, but were nothing special.

I was not as fond of the black pepper beef tenderloin as others. The sauce gave it a muddy taste to my palate, and I did not find the crispy exterior particularly good. Add to that the chewy beef inside and while it was not terrible, it also did nothing for me.

The spicy octopus hot pot, on the other hand, was everything y'all promised. Beads of happy sweat dripped from my head while my tastebuds and then my entire body did a capsaicin and endorphin whirl of bliss until I could take no more. Talk about a buzz.

The question for me is whether a great octopus dish and some of the best spicy beef tendon I have had in these parts are enough to justify making this one place in Chinatown a GNR, versus all the others. I probably need to go back and try a few more things, but for the moment I will just let my endorphins speak for me.

Hell Yeah!

I figured they would say something like that.

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d
Retired, gone fishing, and exploring my curmudgeon within

March 2010 update: this place is firing on all cylinders and doing the mala thing better than even LSC, I think.

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yes yes yes

I always have great meals at Double Li and wish I were able to eat there more often. It's become my favorite place in Chinatown. I heartily endorse renewal.

=R=

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I just wanna live until I gotta die. I know I ain't perfect but God knows I try. --Todd Snider

Twitter: ronniesuburban

I went there after seeing the GNR poster on the front. I have never been disappointed. As a vegetarian, I tell them beforehand of my requirements, and they have never been less than enthusiastic about tweaking some of their dishes for me. The best Vegetarian MapoTofu I have had. Although I have to decant off a whole cupful of chili-oil before I can eat.

Enthusiastic yes! This along with LSC and Spring World are the reasons to go to Chinatown as often as I can.

LTH,

I actually crave Double Li's Fish in chili broth, fiery punch you in the face chili heat, mouth numbing tingle of Szechuan pepper corns, tender fish flesh that actually melts in your mouth. Just typing the words has me salivating. Putting aside the fact Double Li has a menu full of delicious items I'd vote GNR renewal based on Fish in chili broth alone.

Double Li, count me a fan!

Enjoy,
Gary

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Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

This being my first "LTH GNR rewewal experience", I haven't posted much, preferring to hang back a bit and learn from the masters However, I thought it appropriate to chime in on Double Li since I only know about it from this board and my first Double Li experience was a wonderful LTH lunch with 9 other worshippers!

Duck with yellow chives, baby octopus hot pot, twice cooked pork, pea pod greens, crispy eggplant, bear claw tofu--food that I found both interesting and comforting--a special combination. Can't wait to return to have my taste buds tingle with the odd combo of szechuan peppercorns and water! A definite renewal for me.

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“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor

Double Li on x-mas Eve was awesome, the dungeness crab in preserved egg yolk was one of the best dishes I had last year(and i ate damn well).

renewal for sure.

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I got a real good mind.

Before Cotton was King: http://www.grubseeker.blogspot.com

During the Xmas holidays, we went to Double Li with some out-of-town friends and got some "safe" stuff and some other platters that pushed non-foodie limits (pig ear), but everyone raved and had a rollicking good chowdown. I went with a list of items I'd found on LTH, and presenting that list of sometimes obscure items impressed our server enough to bring out some special items (e.g., beef tripe) he thought we'd like. We did.

Double Li is one of the places I now recommend to people when they ask "Where should I eat in Chinatown?"

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“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

Thanks to turkob for organizing a dinner to revisit Double Li. I'd only been once before for lunch a couple of years ago and enjoyed it but hadn't returned. Glad we did!

Hoping someone with a better recollection of the actual names and/or pictures of the dishes we ordered will chime in here but highlights for me were the Jellyfish salad, the cold chicken in chili oil dish (not sure what it was called but it was fantastic!), Octopus Hot Pot, the Pork intestines with pork blood and tofu (I think), the spicy beef with wild mushrooms, the fish in chili oil (hot pot as well?) the crispy duck tongue, very fresh pea pod leaves with garlic--I could go on if I could remember everything--very few, if any, misses.

Service was great and the owner couldn't have been nicer. There was a steady stream of customers in and out while we were there though it was never crowded. I definitely look forward to returning soon.

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“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor

Still my favorite place in Chinatown, and I hope it retains its GNR status.

ate here last night for the first time after reading about it on this forum. all i can say is: i'm ready to eat there again... like, right this second. i dined solo, got the homestyle rabbit and it was just exactly what i've been craving. came in the hotpot, sitting in a pool of red hot oil/broth, tender, spicy, complex - just delicious. it brought me to my "happy place". i meant to bring my leftovers to work today and am seriously bummed i left them at home. there were a lot of bones, which might turn some people off, but it was so good i didn't mind in the slightest. seriously considering going back tonight! think i need to try this octopus i keep reading about...

i don't post here often (this may even be my first post?), but had to come here to sing the praises of this place after last night.

EDIT: adding a picture! http://instagram.com/p/Psf_BRkWq-/

I just sang my praises about Double Li here. It slipped my mind that I was supposed to post it on the reconsidering forum. In short, the meal Turkob arranged was awesome, Double Li is clearly as good as it ever was, and definitely deserves it's GNR. I am starting to realize the true benefit of the reconsideration period, to get people off their asses and into the lesser talked about gems that are still out there.

Ding, ding, ding...we have a winner!

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

I also just commented in the above thread about our meal at Double Li and agree completely. I'm excited to check out some of these other GNRs that are up for reconsideration that I have not yet been to.