markh's Profile
Where to buy Wisconsin cheddar cheese in Chicago (Western 'burbs)?
No one mentioned cheddar until you did.
And your response leads me to believe you've never stepped foot in a Woodman's. It is NOT a "decent-sized supermarket". I'd guess that you could fit three or four "decent-sized supermarkets" inside a Woodman's. And from what I've seen on their shelves, I suspect that Woodman's (whose stores are primarily in Wisconsin) has a better selection of Wisconsin cheeses than anywhere else in the Chicago area. And that selection goes from low-end to high-end.
Northwest Indiana restaurants
You know, between this topic and this one: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/798953
one might get the idea you're a recent transplant to Crown Point and haven't bothered to explore. But I digress. I suggest you look at the topic in nsxtasy's post...much of the information is still valid. In addition, here's five restaurants in your area that "a few of us are smart enough" to visit on occasion:
Lucrezia (Crown Point): http://www.lucreziacafe.com/
Pikk's (Valparaiso): http://pikkstavern.com/
Don Quixote (Valparaiso): http://donquijoterestaurantandimports.com/
Marti's Place (Hebron): http://www.martisplace.com/
Gamba (Merrillville): http://gambaristorante.com/
There are several places in Munster I'd recommend as well (eg, Cafe Borgia, Mishkenut, Three Floyds), but my guess is that if you're going to drive as far as Munster, you'll keep driving to Chicago.
Three notes: I don't know whether Marti's Place has re-opened since the springtime flooding. I have never been to the Crown Point location of Lucrezia, only their Chesterton location. And Pikk's is part of the DaVinci Group which includes the Chicago restaurants Adobo Grill and Vinci, and its owner (Paul LoDuca) is a NWI native whose family has owned a restuarant in Munster (Giovanni's) for 50 years.
Northwest Indiana grocery stores
In fact I find your statements very hard to believe. If you "traveled the whole area", you would know that Valparaiso is a mecca of sorts for foodies, that Berkshire/Kurobata pork is available in several markets southeast of you, and that OUTSTANDING produce is available at any number of farm stands east of you. And you don't even seem to know that one of the better grocery stores in the entire Chicago area (Amelia's) is in the town you live in! (To be fair, the store is technically in unincorporated Winfield, but it has a Crown Point zipcode.) Did you know that they also operate a cooking school?
And from my experience, your statement about people settling for mediocre is FAR more true of those in the W/NW/N suburbs of Chicago than of those in NW Indiana. (FYI: I grew up in NWI, but have lived in DuPage County for a number of years).
Northwest Indiana - Grocery Stores
Here is a recommendation in Crown Point. It was also mentioned above. I hope you find that its produce and meat is better than "should go right to their dumpsters".
Amelia's Market
10839 Randolph Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 661-1400
There are a number of good suggestions in this thread. Perhaps you should read it.
Northwest Indiana grocery stores
Here is a recommendation in Crown Point. I hope you find that its produce looks better than "something that should be in a dumpster".
Amelia's Market
10839 Randolph Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 661-1400
If you're driving to Illinois from Crown Point, I can only assume that you're new to that area and haven't yet done any exploration. It's time to explore. Valparaiso is much closer to you than anywhere in Illinois that has a TJs or Whole Paycheck, and there are a number of stores that have produce that is better than "something that should be in a dumpster". And finally...you're in south Lake County. There are dozens of farm stands in your area. Take a drive and stop at a few. I bet you'll find produce better than "something that should be in a dumpster".
I need to add that I somewhat agree with you about Strack & Van Til. They have very little competition in Lake County, and it shows in their prices and product selection. But not all S&VT stores are created equal. There's one on US41 in St. John. Check it out.
Good Food and Beer in the Suburbs
If the beer is more important than the food, then there is really only one place for you. Here's their beer list:
http://www.bavarian-lodge.com/Site/Beer_List.html
The food at Bavarian Lodge is good-but-not-great. The beer list, however, is world-class. According to a couple national beer publications, it's the best in the entire Chicago area, not just the west suburbs.
Glen Ellyn-Winfield restaurants
Agreed. Right now with the construction, I could easily see it taking 30 minutes to get from Central Dupage Hospital to Parker's. I'm not saying the OP's assisted living facility is near CDH, but I do know there are several in that area.
I hope the OP clarifies the location. Glen Ellyn and Winfield aren't even adjacent towns -- the large city of Wheaton separates the two. Glen Prairie (Glen Ellyn) and Central Dupage Hospital (Winfield) are quite a ways apart!
Going to Chicago (Sorry I Can't Try Ewe)
more likely: Jim Leff (not Jeff)
that actually used to be Jim's screen name on the CompuServe wine forum many, MANY years ago...
Driving Through Chicago — one shot at a meal. Where to go?
Since you said you would driving through on a Friday afternoon, may I ask WHEN this drive will be occurring, and which direction (W-E or E-W) you will be driving? The reason I'm asking is because W-E traffic on Friday afternoons after, say, Memorial Day is ATROCIOUS through NW Indiana (I-80/94 and I-90) due to the number of people driving to Michigan for the weekend.
If this is the time/direction of your trip, you want to make sure to be on the I-80/90 portion of the Indiana Toll Road before 3:30PM, and preferably before 3PM.
As for suggestions, if you're a beer drinker, I'd suggest the Three Floyds brewpub. Take Exit 1 (Calumet Ave) from I-80/94 and go about 1.5 miles south on Calumet. Here's a link: http://www.threefloydspub.com
Rehearsal Dinner Suggestions Near Wyndham Hotel in Lisle
You know, that's a good idea...and in a similar vein, the Morton Arboretum is very close to the Wyndham Lisle, has a SPECTACULAR setting for events, and can easily accommodate the group size. Here's a link:
http://www.mortonarb.org/plananevent/social.html
Rehearsal Dinner Suggestions Near Wyndham Hotel in Lisle
Suparossa in Woodridge has better food than Maggiano's, and can accommodate your group size. Here's a link for you: http://www.suparossawoodridge.com/banquets.html
Carlucci in Downers Grove will also accommodate your party size, and it's a step up from Suparossa. Here's a link: http://www.carluccirestaurant.com/Private-Dining/
Both of these restaurants are less than a 10-minute drive from the Wyndham Lisle, and both have easy access as well as ample parking adjacent to the restaurant.
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Suparossa
6301 Purchase Dr, Woodridge, IL 60517
Brunch on the way to Champaign
You must be from the north suburbs. Saying the Chicago area ends at I-80 on the south end would be like saying the Chicago area ends at Lake-Cook Road on the north end -- each is roughly the same distance from ground zero (State/Madison). Best to say it includes the entire 8-county Chicago SMSA, which includes two counties in Indiana...
Announcement: New Board Breakdown for Chowhound
"P.S. Indiana has some very nice beach communities on Lake Michigan, so it qualifies as Great Lakes. :) "
Yes, but those communities are discussed on the Chicago board, since they are Chicago suburbs. It took years to convince Jim Leff that topics about NW Indiana, which has a physical border with the city of Chicago, belonged on the Chicago board. One hopes Chowhound will not make the same mistake twice.
Phil Smidt's substitutes?
You might want to try the Lansing Knights of Columbus when they're open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. I think your mom will be happy...I know my dad is every time we go there for the perch!
Hammond, IN Near Horseshoe
Arnie's is a couple blocks from the Horseshoe. It's a NW Indiana institution and is in the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame:
http://viennabeef.com/culture/fame/item.asp?m=13&PG=1
Hammond, IN Near Horseshoe
This would be a good choice:
http://theoriginaljohns.com/contactus.html
Their Whiting location is just a few blocks from the casino.
Where to find San Marzano tomatoes near Woodridge
Amici's at 63rd and Fairview in Downers Grove will have them. Both locations of Westbrook Market (63rd and Woodward in Downers Grove, 63rd and Cass in Westmont) will have them. Brookhaven Marketplace at Cass and Plainfield in Darien will have them. And all at comparable prices to Costco.
Long-term Temporary Job Assignment in Chicago Area, Not Sure Where to Start
The first thing you should do is search for places around Naperville, which is roughly 30 miles WSW of Chicago. It is a large city (population 150,000) with a vibrant downtown and a number of excellent restaurants within a 15-minute drive. It also is on the best Metra line to/from Chicago -- there are several non-stop "bullet" trains daily. You will not go hungry!
Good Eats near Joliet?
This is where I would go for pizza:
The Original Vito & Nick's Lemont Lanes
1015 South State Street
Lemont, IL 60439
1-630-257-5426
http://www.vitoandnick.com
It's about a 15 minute drive from downtown Joliet.
Best Chinese in south 'burbs or NW IN?
Aladdin Pita was my go-to place for middle eastern food in the area, but no more. Pita Kabab is on another level entirely. You need to try it.
Asparagus is indeed good, but I personally prefer its sister restaurant Siam Marina in Calumet City, which has a very similar menu at lower prices...
I've wanted to try Exotic Thai, but every time I drive past it the place is almost empty -- IMO not a good sign.
Best Chinese in south 'burbs or NW IN?
You should try Fortune House on Calumet Ave. in Munster. It's where New Moon used to be, but it's under new ownership, and it's the best Chinese food I've found since moving back to NWI. To put it in perspective, if Fortune House were in Chinatown it would be considered a bit above average.
A new place just opened in Schererville (on Main St just west of Indpls Blvd) called Pita Kabab. This place has the potential to be something special, but I hope it gets enough business to realize that potential. There just isn't much demand for baba ghanouj and chicken schwarma amongst the Hoosier Hillbillies living in Dyer, Schererville, and St. John...most of whom seemingly spend their restaurant dollars at Old Country Buffet and Buffalo Wild Wings.
The deli that time forgot...
At least as of a few months ago (last time I had lunch there), the restaurant was still there.
Downtown Naperville & Naperville Area Restaurants
This is sad news, but I predicted its demise earlier in this thread. Downtown Naperville, with its obscene rents, can no longer support independent restaurants. It has become chain hell and it will only get worse. Granted, some of these chains are pretty good because they are single outposts of Chicago restaurants. But they are chains nonetheless...
Northwest Indiana - Grocery Stores
You might want to ask the deli manager at the Chesterton WiseWay about fresh ricotta...
Northwest Indiana - Grocery Stores
Try this place for meat:
http://www.welchsmeats.com/index.php
Replacement for Phil Smidt's Perch?
Teibel's is the place to go if you want to duplicate the atmosphere (and prices) of Phil Smidt's. The perch is of equal quality as well.
For less money but equal quality, you can go to Town Club, on 45th just east of Kennedy in Highland. Another interesting choice for great lake perch is the Friday night fish fry at the Lansing Knights of Columbus.
well-loved "Chicago" candy?
Along with the other good suggestions, I'd add that the Brach's candy company is/was a Chicago institution since it was founded about 100 years ago (it's now a part of Farley).
Cafe Borgia
Should you choose to try Giovanni's again, I'd suggest the lamb ragout w/gnocchi, linguine w/lobster and artichoke hearts, grilled chicken breast w/ grilled veggies (I remember zucchini and asparagus), and roasted half duck w/shiitake mushrooms.
Or the grilled NY strip steak.
Cafe Borgia
One cannot make the statement you did above based on a single data point.
I live in the Naperville area as well and Giovanni's would do extremely well. It is light-years better than any Italian restaurant in the area, including La Sorella, Buonaro's, Angeli's, or Figo. And this is based on a number of visits to all these places, not just one isolated visit. And a visit that was so different than virtually every report you'll find on the internet that one wonders what happened when you were at Giovanni's...
Cafe Borgia
How is your hearing? The food is good there, but the noise level approaches being painful.
There are a number of good places for Italian in NW Indiana. Matter of fact, there is another Italian restuarant in Munster (Giovanni's) that many people, myself included, prefer to Cafe Borgia!
