elc515's Profile
Looking for suggestions on baby-friendly restaurants near the James Hotel in Chicago (also what to do, and where to breastfeed)
There are lots of good restaurants within walking distance of the hotel that aren't too expensive, but will be baby friendly (especially when dining early), but also give you a good dining experience. Here is a list of my favorites (I live a few blocks away): Quartino, Bar Toma, Bistronomique, La Madia, Tempo (breakfast), Sable.
Shopping: if you want to get away from Michigan Ave, I would take a short drive to Lincoln Park and walk around the shops on both Halsted street and Armitage Ave. You can easily find strett parking. Cute little shops and very stroller friendly
Discreet breastfeeding can be hard, I know. The lounge in the women's bathroom at Nordstroms is a nice place for this on Michigan Ave. They have comfortable couches and chairs and you can at least get a little bit of privacy.
Hope you have a great trip!
chicago hounds - your mission, if you choose to accept it..
It is still open, but I'm not sure how. I walk by there with the dog most nights and they are definitely open, but usually only 1 or 2 tables of people. The location is terrible.
What's For Dinner? Part LV
Easy dinner after a LONG week. I'm making chicken giardiniera. I bread thin chicken breasts in panko and saute until crispy. Drain and top with the giardiniera. Maybe some pasta on the side and a big salad. Simple, but good.
Need Pasta Recipe for Tonight Please
One of my favorite is Jamie Oliver's rigatoni with tomato, eggplant and fresh mozzarella. It's a big hit every time I make it and the cheese gets all melty and delicious and the eggplant almost melts into the sauce. I highly recommend it!
http://leitesculinaria.com/6736/recipes-rigatoni-tomatoes-eggplant-mozzarella.html
Chicago Hound needing feedback
Hello! I have been reading this board and doing tons of research before I come to you with my restaurant questions. My husband and I live in Chicago and will be in NYC for a long weekend in August. We are pretty much scheduling our whole trip around restaurants and are trying to do so within a reasonable budget ($150 or so for 2 people for dinner, but cheaper is always welcomed). We are staying in Tribeca, but will go anywhere in the city for good food. I have narrowed my list down to a few places and wanted some feedback and recommendations. We are big fans of italian and love wine bars as well. Here is my list:
Po
Via Emilia
Market Table
Perilla
Falai Caffe
Grapes and Grain
Co. Pizza
Terroir
Little Owl (I already got a reservation)
Any other suggestions or anything you would nix from my list? Lunches are also open as well. We have to make a stop at 'ino, but pretty open for the rest of our days. Thank you so much for your help!
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Perilla
9 Jones Street, New York, NY 10014
Little Owl
90 Bedford Street, New York, NY 10014
Market Table
54 Carmine Street, New York, NY 10014
'ino
21 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
Via Emilia
47 E 21st St, New York, NY 10010
Terroir
413 E 12th St, New York, NY 10009
Desperately Seeking Wild Boar/Duck Bacon
Try Chicago Game and Gourmet. Not sure if they have wild boar bacon, but I think they can get almost anything.
http://www.chicagogame.us/
Fresh porcini mushrooms?
Does anyone know where I can find some fresh porcini mushrooms in the city? I am craving a pasta recipe I had in Italy last fall and need the porcini to make it correctly. Thanks!
NYC to Chicago for Bachelorette Party-NEED HELP
I would recommend Quartino (626 N. State) for a light dinner. They have Italian small plates so you can order as much or as little as you want. Cheap and good wine and fun drinks. Crowded and fun atmosphere. Walkable from your restaurant.
As for hitting the bars, I would stop first at Pops (601 N. State) for a glass of champagne (just down the street from Quartino) and then maybe cab it over to The Market (1113 W. Randolph) and check out the rooftop lounge if the weather is nice. Another good option is Le Passage (937 N. Rush St.) and also walkable from your hotel. Both places are kind of a scene, but not cheesy. They are perfect for a bachelorette party when you want more upscale places.
Help finding ingredients in KC
Hello! My sister and I grew up in KC and now live in Chicago and Seattle. We are coming home next weekend to host a dinner party for our Mom and Dad's 40th anniversary! We aren't sure where to find a few special ingredients and was hoping the KC Hounds can help so we don't have to drag all of them with us. Here is the list of a few items we need...
-double concentrate tomato paste (comes in a tube)
-outstanding smoked salmon
-salmon roe
-veal stock
I thought about calling the Better Cheddar and maybe Whole Foods, but wondered if anyone could help before I start calling around. We will be north of the river, but will drive anywhere. Thanks so much for the help!
Chicago wine stores
I was just getting ready to recommend The Poison Cup! We have been several times and the owners are extremely friendly and helpful. They know the story behind every bottle of wine they sell and can give you several options in a variety of price ranges. I always love a place where you can get some truly great wines for under $20. This is our new favorite wine store in the city!
Help finding meringue cups
Does anyone know of a bakery in the city that sells meringue cups? When I was growing up, we always had them for Easter filled with ice cream and topped with strawberries. I have a craving, but can't seem to find them!
Help!!! Pork Tenderloin question: Temperature and time???
I marinate my pork tenderloin in a bourbon/soy sauce/brown sugar mixture for about 6 hours and then bake at 425 degrees, basting with the marinade every 5 minutes or so. They only take about 20 minutes to cook at this temperature and I take them out of the oven when the meat thermometer reads about 148 degrees. I know that sounds a bit weird, but I have perfected the cooking time over the years. I put them on a cutting board, cover with foil and let them rest for about 10 minutes. They are always juicy and just a tad bit pink. While they rest, I boil the marinade and spoon on top after slicing. I always get rave reviews the pork when I cook it this way. I hope this helps!
Today's Temptations Bread
Stanley's Fruit and Vegetable Market on Elston has the best selection and it's almost alway in stock!
whole fish in KC?
Hello! I'm new to KC and was wondering if there is a good fish market or store in the KC area where I can buy whole fresh fish? I'm dying to roast a whole fish and I'm not sure where to find them. I live in the northland, but would be willing to drive for great fresh fish. Thanks!
Delicious pizza near Michigan Ave?
I have lived in Chicago my whole life and I don't like deep dish (gasp!) so i can recommend a few other options. My favorite thin crust is Pizano's (864 N. State St.) and it's only a short walk from Michigan Ave. If you want more authentic Italian brick oven pizza, try La Madia (59 W. Grand). It's a bit more fancy than your average pizza place, but still casual. I also like the pizza at Quartino (626 N. State Street) where you can also get yummy Italian small plates and inexpensive wine. All of the places above are walkable from your location. Have fun!
Restaurant ideas for a Chicago hound?
What a great list! Thanks you so much for taking the time to put this together. The hardest part will be narrowing down the choices. I appreciate all of the suggestions so much! :)
Restaurant ideas for a Chicago hound?
Thank you so much for all of the suggestions! I have been looking at the menus (when I'm supposed to be doing work) and they all look great! I will report back and let you know where we go. I think we'll have to check out AOC for sure! It looks like the kind of place we love. Thanks again.
Restaurant ideas for a Chicago hound?
Hello! I will be in the LA area with my family for a wedding in October. We are all food lovers and enjoy trying new restaurants together. We will be staying in Santa Monica, but will drive almost anywhere for good food. Our favorites are French, Italian and seafood, but we are quite adventuresome and enjoy all kinds of food. Entrees in the $20-$28 range would be ideal. Also, a nice atmosphere and maybe outside seating would be good too. I have thought about Lucques and Osteria Mozza (the pizza place too) so let me know if you have any thoughts on those places. Thanks so much for the help!
Meal ideas for visiting family
Congratulations on the new baby! My in-laws are very similar so I feel your pain. The Boboli pizzas for lunch are a great idea. Another thing that everyone loves is ham and cheese on a croissant. Wrap in foil and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes. Unwrap and continue cooking until flaky. So good! Another lunch idea is BLTs. It's perfect tomato season and easy to make. We make sausages with onion and peppers often and our favorite sides are baked beans and pasta salad. I know it's not fancy, but the flavors are so good together. I have an awesome pasta salad that can be made a few days ahead and will keep for about a week. It has a vinaigrette dressing and red onion. Let me know if you want the recipe.
Best Bread in Chicago
I agree with Red Hen. All of their bread is heavenly. I want to like Bennison's, but I just don't. I have picked up several varieties of their bread at the Green City market and I wasn't a fan. The baguette was tasteless and had an almost airy texture that I didn't like Have I just had bad luck or have others experienced this? Plus, it's expensive!
Anniversary...where to go for a drink b4 dinner?
I know they aren't not very close to Opera, but my favorite drink spots for a special occasion (or any occasion really) are the bar at Le Coloniel (romantic Casablanca-ish), Pops for Champagne, the Terrace at the Peninsula (if the weather is nice) and Cru Wine Bar. Have a fun night!
brunch in the western suburbs?
I am a city dweller looking for a great brunch spot in the western burbs. We will be staying in Glen Ellyn for the weekend so anywhere between Oakbrook and the Naperville-ish area would be perfect. We thought about the Clubhouse, but it might be a bit pricey for a group of 12 or so. I did a search on the boards and found some Easter options, but several of the places I found only do special occassion brunches. Any ideas would be very much appreciated!
best coconut cake?
I would love to order a coconut cake for a party and need some suggestions. Has anyone had a coconut cake in the city that knocked your socks off? It can be a bakery or even a restaurant. Thanks for the help!
Catering a large dinner party?
We are throwing a surprise dinner party of about 25 people to celebrate my in-laws 40th anniversary. Initially, we thought about cooking all of the food ourselves for a sit down dinner, but decided that we don't want to miss out on all the fun by being trapped in the kitchen all night. Can anyone recommend a caterer who would do a small scale event in a home such as this? We are hoping for an elegant 3 or 4 course sit down dinner with great food. The party will be at a house in the western burbs and we haven't come across anything in that area that sounds good. I live in the city and would love to find someone downtown who wouldn't mind traveling a bit. Thanks so much for any suggestions that you might have!
Favorite Brownie/Bars Recipes
Mmmmm. I love bar cookies! I'm not a big chocolate person (gasp) so my favorites are coconut almond lime bars. Everyone raves over them and they are really addictive! I always toast the almonds and make 1 1/2 times the frosting recipe. Give them a try!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_17062,00.html
Prices at Boka?
Hello! My foodie parents will be in town in a few weeks and I always try to find a great restaurant for them to try when they are here. I have been thinking about Boka, but have not been able to find a menu with the prices listed. Can anyone give me a general price range of the entrees? I just don't want to show up to any surprises on the menu. Also, I'm open to any other ideas that you might have. They have loved Spring, Custom House, Blackbird, Avec, North Pond and Merlo in recent months. Thanks so much for the help!
Help! Mom's 50th Bday Dinner
I think you have a great list so far. Out of all of them, I would pick MK. We have celebrated several birthdays there over the years and they always go out of their way to make the evening special. The food is wonderful and innovative and service is attentive without being overbearing. I also find the atmoshere elegant, but not stuffy. Definitely call ahead and let them know that you are celebrating your Mom's 50th birthday and request a special dessert (they are delicious!) and maybe a glass of champagne ahead of time. I really don't think you will be disappointed! My second choice would be Spring. The atmosphere is really nice and relaxing and the food and service are great too. Have a wonderful time with your Mom!
Chicago Bachelorette party for 25 girls~ inexpensive~ near water tower place
How about Quartino? It's a short walk from Michigan Ave. and they do a great job with large groups. The atmosphere is fun and loud so you won't feel like you have to be too quiet. They have Italian small plates and everything is very reasonably priced. The best part is the cheap (and good) wine! Check out their menu online and see what you think. I have done a few large groups there and the management has always gone out of their way to accomodate us. Have fun!
http://www.quartinochicago.com/
Favorite uses of burrata
My thoughts exactly. I love burrata so I try to make the preparation as simple as possible so I can really taste the flavor. The crunchy crostini, fruity olive oil and salt and pepper are perfect compliments in both taste and texture to the creamy and fresh barrata. Mmmmmm. I might have to pick some up this week...
Breakfast tea bread
My absolute favorite is Barefoot Contessa's lemon cake. The recipe makes 2 loaves and it freezes really well. It's perfect for breakfast, especially with some fresh fruit. This is my "go to" breakfast treat whenever I have houseguests and it is always a huge hit!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_21411,00.html
