Two peak doughs: scallion pancakes at Emperor’s Choice in Chinatown, and 1979 Multigrain from Publican Breads outpost in Oak Park.

Tempura Maitake Mushrooms with dipping sauce and hot Chinese mustard. Special appetizer @ Renga Tei tonight.

Santander wrote:1979 Multigrain from Publican Breads outpost in Oak Park.

Me too! It made my lunch yesterday a pleasure!

zorkmead wrote:

Santander wrote:1979 Multigrain from Publican Breads outpost in Oak Park.

Me too! It made my lunch yesterday a pleasure!

One more Near West, then: homestyle wonton soup with on choy and fried garlic and the "curry duo" appetizer with fresh roti at Habrae, Forest Park. Their curries trend sweet, but the aromatics just outright punch you in the face. The pre-mixed stuff everywhere else can't hold a candle to their shreds of kaffir lime leaves, pounded lemongrass and galangal, whole anise, and beyond. I find the whole place a Thai wake-up call and wish they were busier.

Santander wrote:One more Near West, then: homestyle wonton soup with on choy and fried garlic and the "curry duo" appetizer with fresh roti at Habrae, Forest Park. Their curries trend sweet, but the aromatics just outright punch you in the face. The pre-mixed stuff everywhere else can't hold a candle to their shreds of kaffir lime leaves, pounded lemongrass and galangal, whole anise, and beyond. I find the whole place a Thai wake-up call and wish they were busier.

Sweet Thai curries are definitely not my preferred style, so I'll navigate with caution, but next time I'm on the strip lookin for a Thai feast, Habrae it is. Yum Thai recently fell back in major favor with the fam (and me too) but "punch in the face" sounds right up our alley. Tks!

Pork Katsu at The Best Cutlet (or Choigodang). Nothing fancy, just a Fried Pork Cutlet with white rice and a salad (Korean cole slaw?). Simple and delicious.

The Best Cutlet
952 Harlem Ave
Glenview, IL 60025
(224) 432-5163

It is the Chicago Gulf Shrimp from Frank's Chicago Shrimp House.
https://up2www.com/uploads/20_05_24fran ... se2-01.jpg
https://up2www.com/uploads/20_05_24fran ... se2-03.jpg
Red Hot Ranch gets the majority of fried shrimp coverage, but the fried shrimp served at Frank's {#2} is just as good and costs less. Perhaps the reason why it is not better acknowledged is because the stand's soft drinks are from Keurig Dr. Pepper (not Pepsi-Cola). {More about that in the 'Something to drink' Rubric.}

Tried something new for lunch and it blew me away - I never would have guessed squash could taste so good. I enjoyed it so much I had to tell someone!

Acorn squash and tofu roasted with honey / ginger / soy sauce and topped with garlic oil, scallions and sesame seeds:


- zorkmead

Had a meeting at the Chicago Youth Hostel, so grabbed lunch at the little Cuban place next door: Cafecito. Ordered a ropa vieja sandwich. Really fabulous. Actually made the long drive seem unimportant. This place is apparently best known for its Cubano sandwich, but I can't imagine having anything other than the ropa vieja, now that I've had it. Apparently, they have more than one location. The one I was at was:
Cafecito
26 E Congress Pkwy Ste 1
Chicago, IL
https://chi.iheartcafecito.com/

Almond croissant from Fat Peach Bakery. Just a tad unconventional but the perfect laminated croissant pastry.

Shrimp Po Boy from Daisys in Hyde Park. Perfectly fried shrimp. Balanced toppings(l,t,p, mayo) . Top notch roll. As close to NOLA as I e found.

Daisy’s Po Boy & Tavern
5215 S. Harper
Chicago.

Adjarian khachapuri at Kitchen House Café -- though the entire meal was outstanding. (This was my second visit to this place and the khachapuri was even better than I remembered.)

Restaurant was sadly empty on a Friday night. Hope business picks up for them.

Kitchen House Café
341 E Dundee Rd
Wheeling, IL 60090

Cynthia wrote:Had forgotten that I signed up for the birthday club as La Tasca Tapas a few years back -- before COVID and while mom was still alive and going out to eat with me. But the email came a couple of weeks ago offering one free tapa up to $10, and it didn't take more encouragement than that.

After 28 years, La Tasca Tapas in Arlington Heights, will close and reopen as Paréa Greek Kitchen

https://www.dailyherald.com/20241231/su ... ome-parea/

Camarones en salsa mancha at Frontera Grill today. It's from the recently added Afro-Mestizo side of the menu and absolutely fantastic. Coconut rice, guajillo chilis, and perfectly cooked shrimp. We had a big group and many dishes, but everyone agreed it was superbly special.

Indianbadger wrote:Truffle Pizza at Pazza Pizza in Old Town.

For 20 bucks for a small (12 inch), I thought it would be a mushroom pate with 'truffle oil'. Nope. Real Truffles mixed in. I also like their Veggie Calzone.

It was fabulous.

Pazza Pizza
1543 N Sedgwick St,
Chicago, IL 60610

ETA: I was there again and saw he was using imported 00 flour from Naples for his pizzas. I did not expect that. He's an immigrant from the Balkans and I always enjoy talking to him while waiting for my pizza.

Pazza Pizza is planned for 1158 W Taylor Street in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood.

https://whatnow.com/chicago/restaurants ... -location/

Samoa Cake from Aya Pastry. This was amazing.

A moist chocolate brown sugar cake frosted in a dulce de leche buttercream. Rolled in toasted coconut and drizzled with chocolate to resemble our favorite girl scout cookie.

Aya Pastry
1332 W Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60642

Robata skirt steak with sweet soy and wasabi, fatty tuna hand roll, and miso caramel bread pudding at Sushi-San in Lincoln Park, with notably excellent and informed service.