mcgeary's Profile
Decently priced fun restos in New Orleans June 1-2 for 10 year anniversary
I had a *great* dinner Saturday night at Dick & Jenny's -- funky only-in-NOLA atmosphere, really good cocktails, delicious food (we had cornmeal-crusted oysters, sweet/spicy scallops and shrimp, smoked duck breast and vanilla creme brulée), enjoyable service. And it's a mere block from Tipitina's Uptown. I think you'd have a wonderful time there. Sit in the front room decorated with the handpainted plates!
http://dickandjennys.com/
Bonsoiree-BYOB
They do actually sell wine now, but you are still free to BYOB with no corkage fee. Details here: http://www.bonsoireechicago.com/Wine.html
Two Part Chicago Visit in April
I think your mom would get a kick out of Uncommon Ground on Clark, which has received all kinds of sustainability awards and has a nice vibe:
http://www.uncommonground.com/pages/clark_home/19.php
Passion Fruit Puree?
I think Goya makes frozen fruit purées. I'd try a supermarket that caters to the Latino community -- maybe one of the Tony's Finer Foods locations?
NYC Hound Returning to Chicago: Questions about Topolobampo, Wildberry, and Lula Cafe vs Longman & Eagle vs Jam
I had an early lunch at Lula on Friday and there were a few brunchy specials on the menu. The ones I can remember are uovo in purgatorio, coconut pancakes, and a veal-cheek and rapini sandwich topped with a poached egg, but I know that there were a couple more. (I had the sandwich, which was delicious.)
I also had a really boring and disappointing meal at the Slurping Turtle the week before last -- wouldn't recommend it.
Best online site to order Christmas Gift Baskets? [moved from San Francisco Bay Area board]
Zingermans has great products and excellent customer service. Pricey, but you'll impress the BF's family.
http://www.zingermans.com/Category.aspx?category=top_gifts
Ground Vietnamese coffee for home brewing?
Any of the Asian supermarkets on Broadway should have it. I buy cans of Cafe du Monde (with chicory) at Tai Nam Market, 4925 N. Broadway. http://tainammarket.com/
best butter for baking that can be purchased in MSP
Hope Creamery butter -- available at the Wedge, Mississippi Market and other co-ops; Whole Foods, Lunds and Kowalski's might also have it, although I'd call to ask.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/08/15/butter/
unheavy, unnoisy inexpensive dinner within 5 miles of lincoln park
4.5 miles northwest is Aroy Thai -- be sure to ask for the Thai menu, which contains lots of authentic/non-Americanized dishes. Nice, quiet, non-divey atmosphere, and some of the best Thai food in Chicago. http://www.aroythaichicago.com/
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Aroy Thai Restaurant
4654 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
2012 Bib Gourmand Picks in Chicago
Adelle's, with two Ls, in Wheaton.
http://www.adelles.com/
New Chicago Restaurants
I haven't been yet, but I'm hearing really good things about Vera, the brand-spanking-new Spanish wine bar from Mark Mendez, who was the chef at Carnivale.
Vera
1023 W. Lake Street
312-243-9770
Minor's Base
I've bought Minor's beef base at Paulina Market, 3501 N. Lincoln Ave.
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Paulina Market
3501 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL
Lunch recommendation for this Saturday
I moved to Chicago from MSP a little over three years ago -- I really miss Ngon -- and I lived in your old neighborhood near the original Tanpopo. If the weather's nice and you have time, take a stroll down Selby from Dale to the cathedral. You'll be amazed at all the new eating + drinking spots (Bars Bakery, Mango Thai, Cheeky Monkey Deli, Bon Vie, A Piece of Cake, Happy Gnome, etc., etc.) and will recognize a few stalwarts (W.A. Frost, Moscow on the Hill, and can you believe Fabulous Fern's is still open?). Garrison Keillor owns a bookstore, Common Good Books, in the Blair Arcade; that's worth checking out, too.
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Happy Gnome
498 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Common Good Books
165 Western Ave N, St Paul, MN 55102
Bon Vie
518 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102
A Piece of Cake
485 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN
Mango Thai Restaurant
610 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN
Cheeky Monkey Deli
525 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Dinner at Mercat a la Planxa - 9/24/2011
I've eaten several dinners at Mercat and never had glitchy service. I think you'll have a great time there.
Affordable French Restaurant Downtown...
I'd forgotten about Maude's, but it's a great choice for French bistro food, and also has excellent cocktails. http://www.maudesliquorbar.com/ (if you're at work, beware, there's automatic music on the home page).
Hoppy, I think the OP was referring to price, not quantity: $10–$15 appetizers, $25–$40 entrees.
Looking for Restaurant with Amazing COCKTAILS!
The Bristol takes reservations via OpenTable.
Looking for Restaurant with Amazing COCKTAILS!
Ooh, that's a great idea -- good food, fun atmosphere for a kid, small plates so you can try lots of different things. Nice call, chicgail!
Looking for Restaurant with Amazing COCKTAILS!
I wouldn't take an 11-year-old to the Aviary, the Bristol or L&E. The non-bar area of Sable would be fine, though.
All-Butter Puff Pastry
Trader Joe's carries it, but I've found the availability to be sporadic -- I'd advise calling before you make the trip.
Duffy leaving Avenues
Looks like Avenues has closed for the rest of the year, and might no longer be Avenues when it reopens.
http://www.peninsula.com/Chicago/en/Dining/Avenues/default.aspx
Small winery in/around Healdsburg area?
Garagiste Healdsburg is a tasting room in downtown Healdsburg that was just opened by two two-person wineries: Cartograph and Stark.
Very cool space, and one or more of the winemakers is always working the tasting room and happy to chat about wine. They are lovely people. The Cartograph Gewürztraminer is crazy good -- dry and spicy, very much in the Alsatian style, and cured me of my former prejudice against Gewürz.
Pics of the space here:
http://healdsburg.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2011/07/news/grand-opening-garagiste-healdsburg/
Garagiste Healdsburg
439 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA 95448
Hours: Thursday – Sunday 12 – 7pm
By appointment Tuesday & Wednesday
707.431.8023
info@garagistehbg.com
http://garagistehbg.com/
ISO Best Fresh Flour for Bread Baking
I think the bulk bins at the giant Whole Foods on Kingsbury turn over quite often -- I'd give that a try.
Taking Boss out to dinner
Naha is really terrific.
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Naha
500 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610
Boyfriend's birthday dinner for two (under $100?)
Terragusto has closed.
http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2011/08/09/theo-gilbert-closing-terragusto-opening-new-italian-spot-in-bucktown.php
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Terragusto
1851 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613
Where to find good "adult-style" mac and cheese?
Kuma's Corner lets you build your own:
"Make Your own Mac & Cheese
Choose from the following ingredients: Bacon, Prosciutto, Andouille, Chicken, Roasted Red Peppers, Caramelized Onions, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Broccoli, Peas, Mushrooms, Scallions, Sweet Corn, Garlic, Jalapeno"
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Kuma's Corner
2900 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Best Tasting Menu in Chicago
I ate at Next last week and I'd guess that the watermelon/lemongrass shot was created with a rotary distiller. I also think the catfish and beef cheek were probably cooked sous vide. As noted earlier, modern techniques and equipment are used to produce a lot of dishes you wouldn't classify as "molecular gastronomy."
Somewhat dissapointed with Alinea
I really do think you should write to Grant Achatz. He was a food-obsessed 18-year-old, too, and I imagine he'd be furious to know that you were treated disrespectfully by people he employs.
Restaurant recommendations with a color in the name
Blue 13 (http://www.blue13chicago.com), Red Apple (Polish buffet; http://www.redapplebuffet.com), Karyn's on Green (vegan; http://www.karynsongreen.com), Orange (breakfast/brunch; http://www.orangerestaurantchicago.com/Main.html), Black Sheep (http://www.blacksheepchicago.net/)
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Red Apple Buffet
3121 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Blue 13
416 W. Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Orange
2011 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
Karyn's On Green
130 South Green Street, Chicago, IL 60607
Black Sheep
1132 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
NYC Hound looking for what MSP does better
Best pho for my money is at Pho Ca Dao on University Ave. I agree that Cheng Heng is fantastic for Cambodian. Babani's in downtown St. Paul is the only game in town for Kurdish, I think, and there's some good stuff on the menu. Dowjic soup is killer.
You might be able to get rye berries at the Wedge Co-Op in Minneapolis or Mississippi Market co-op in St. Paul, but I know that you can order them online from Bob's Red Mill -- 7.5 lbs for $11.35 = $1.51/lb.
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Mississippi Market Food Co-Op
622 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55104
Pho Ca Dao Restaurant
439 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55103
Babani's Kurdish Restaurant
544 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102
Cheng Heng Restaurant
448 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103
Wedge Community Co-Op
2105 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
