iphonechica's Profile
ISO recommendation in between Mesa & Goodyear
Hello -
I'm looking for a place to meet up with some girlfriends that will be open until at least 9:00 PM. I have friends coming from Mesa and Goodyear so would like something in between. Since downtown is pretty much a deadzone...do you have any suggestions?
Would like a comfy/cozy place with good food...maybe even wine. Or a cafe type place. We are a group of knitters...yes, I know it's a food board, but it is helpful to note that we may need space to spread out and comfortable seating. And I will have my newborn along for the ride. (Thought of Duck & Decanter, but they close at 7:00 at Camelback location and earlier at the other two.)
It would be helpful to have easy access on/off highway.
Your suggestions would be much appreciated. Otherwise, we may need to just meet at a Starbucks.
Thanks.
Chicago Meat Sharing
I'm not certain what you mean by a meat share program. But you can buy fresh, farm raised meat from C&D Family Farms. They offer a CSA program and sell their products at different market locations city-wide. I don't know where you are located...Tuesdays from 4 to 7PM the truck is located on Ashland at Berwyn (Andersonville). I regularly purchase their fresh eggs - delicious. I have also tried ground turkey, ground beef, pork shoulder, pork chops and have enjoyed all.
Perhaps their CSA program is similar to what you are looking for...???
http://www.cdfamilyfarms.com/
Best BBQ within 30 minutes of Tempe?
It's been a while since I've been there (because I live in Chicago now), but when I worked in Tempe, I really enjoyed Hap's BBQ. It's at 48th St. & Washington. I really liked the pulled pork and beef brisket. I always got mashed potatoes for a side. Athough, I didn't care for the coleslaw.
Lunch recommendation for this Saturday
Everyone -
Thanks for the GREAT recommendations. Unexpectedly, I'm going to have lunch with my niece, so I probably have to leave the decision up to her. Sounds like Leann Chin is a bust now...so I will most likely avoid. I'd rather have an enjoyable meal than be disappointed.
Just a couple of side points: Regarding Pho & Vietnamese food...there is a pretty good offering of the like here in Chicago, not far from where I live. Pho here is excellent. And I love it.
Nostalgia is definitely a part of the decision-making; however not an end-all-be-all. I appreciate very much the posters who have taken this into consideration.
Here's my short list:
Nook - Burger
Brasa - Roast Pork sandwich and fried yucca
Ngon - Pho
I wish Tanpopo was open for lunch. Oh well...next time.
Lunch recommendation for this Saturday
MSPD -
Totally intrigued by Brasa. Who knew!?! What do you recommend? Cafeteria-style? Or sit-down and order?
Not really a Chow-worthy place, but I used to work in the kitchen at Sidney's on Grand, before they went cheap with their ingredients and no longer a "scratch" kitchen. I kind of miss it.
BTW, good guess. I need to avoid deli meats for nitrates and possible listeria. I'd like to enjoy a salamai sandwich...or a platter of sushi...or both.
Lunch recommendation for this Saturday
Anne-
My husband is Ecuadorian! If I go to Cimborazo, I might come back to divorce papers...just kidding. I'm going to check it out online and place it on my short list of possibilities.
FWIW, we lived in NE Minneapolis before moving south.
Lunch recommendation for this Saturday
I'll be in town for a dreaded wedding this weekend. I think I'll be on my own for lunch this Saturday. I grew up in Minneapolis/St. Paul, but haven't lived in the Twin Cities for 9 years. Yes, I've been back for a visit here and there, but times have changed.
Looking for a solid recommendation for Lunch on Saturday. Would like to keep the price to around $10-15 or less.
I'm staying in Rosemount, but have car and WILL travel. I'll be trekking to Bloomington and could easily swing into St. Paul or Minneapolis. Don't really have any set plans, so I can pretty much get anywhere in the metro area, within reason.
Places I've considered:
LeeAnn Chin - I know it's a chain...but there's nothing like it anywhere else. I miss Peking Chicken, cream cheese wonton, fried rice & egg rolls. Can someone chime in on the quality now adays?
Tanpopo - We used to live in the general neighborhood of the original location. Loved the bowls of Japanese noodle soup. I see they have moved to Lowertown. Are the ingredient quality and care of preparation still intact? I loved the Vegetable Tempura Udon.
Taste of Thailand - Love the masaman curry. I live in Chicago now, so Thai restaurants are prevalent here.
Right now, I need to avoid sushi & deli meats.
Any suggestions or opinions about the above will only help. Thanks!
ETA: Even though my 3 considerations are Asian...I'm not looking for specifically Asian recs.
Baby Shower Recs? Central/North Central/Arcadia areas
Since you aren't looking for a hipster place and most of your guests will be in the 40-60 year old range, I think Arcadia Farms Cafe would fit the bill. It's a nice "ladies who lunch" type of place. Pretty food, including pretty-looking desserts. I've had better food and better restaurants, but for what you describe it would be a nice place for a baby shower. Also if you tell them that it's an event when you make reservations, I believe they are quite accomodating.
I've been there just to have lunch with my grandmother, mother & cousin...and also for a bridal shower.
I personally would never go back to Aunt Chilada's (bad experience).
Anyway, here's a link for Arcadia Farms http://www.arcadiafarmscafe.com/afs/index.html
7014 E. First Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
ETA: I just realized, this might be a little outside of your search area, sorry.
6 Chicago chefs to compete on Top Chef
CH may move this post...but this is Chicago related if you ask me.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/the-scene/food-drink/130309863.html
I'm sure nxstasy will like that his/her beloved Heather from Sable is one that is competing. However, the article does clarify that the initial field of chefs will be narrowed down to 16.
Nonetheless, should make for some good TV especially with locals competing!.
Heading to Phoenix for a conference
If you can direct me to a tortilla as thin as Carolina's, a torta as complex in flavor as Los Reyes de la Torta (almost sweet talera roll with savory sandwich filling and their hot sauce is not something I've see anywhere), non-grissly grilled steak tacos with salsa verde, smoky-flavored frijoles in Chicago...I would be eternally grateful. So far the taquerias we've tried have not lived up to our standards. Granted we have not yet ventured into Pilsen or Maxwell Street Market. However with Hispanic population in our neighborhood, I'm surprise there isn't more to offer.
Feel free to email since this is off topic ... jewel4352 at yahoo dot com
North Side Restaurant/Bar for large party
You could ask Jin Ju. They have a back room and you can offer open, cash bar. They do not charge for the room, but you do need to meet a minimum food order. Call and ask, as I don't recall the minimum. I was looking into for a party and didn't think it was too unreasonable. I think Agnes handles the back room reservations.
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Jin Ju Restaurant & Bar
5203 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Heading to Phoenix for a conference
While living in Phoenix, I was not able to find good Indian or Chinese, but...
If you have a car, here's what I would suggest:
Chino Bandido 15414 N 19th Ave www.chinobandido.com...divey, Mexican/Chinese food. I know sounds weird, but it's really really good. I like Jade Red Chicken and their black beans. Get a combo plate, so you can try different stuff.
Rokerij or Dick's Hideaway 6335 N 16th St www.burningembersphoenix.com...I'd go here for brunch and get the Eggs Benedict Jalapeno. Honestly, I've not eaten here for dinner, but I've heard it's fantastic...I just love their brunch so much!
The Original Carolina's Mexican Food 1202 E Mohave St. carolinasmex.com...probably located in the most questionable neighborhood of all my suggestions, but well worth it. Great place for lunch or dinner. Very divey. But delicious. I love the burros here and cheese crisps. This is not anything fancy, just good Mexican. And while in Phoenix, you should have Mexican.
Los Reyes de la Torta (I think it used to be Tortas la Presa which has additional locations around the valley) 9230 N 7th St losreyesdelatortaaz.com. I guess the guy who does Man V. Food has been here. not sure if that is a plus or not to you. Anyway, I love the Torta Especial.
Those are the places I like to hit up when I'm in Phoenix. I cannot find good Mexican street food in Chicago yet. So my recs are more in line with that. Hopefully others will chime in with your request for Indian/Chinese...but I'm not sure there is much to offer.
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Carolina's Mexican Food Restaurant
1202 E Mohave St, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Dick's Hideaway
6008 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Chino Bandido
15414 N 19th Ave Ste K, Phoenix, AZ 85023
Rokerij
6335 N. 16th St., Phoenix, AZ 85016
Good Pizza Delivery Options for Uptown??
We like Apart Pizza, too. Excellent thin crust...and they do not charge extra for delivery, just make sure you tip the driver. It's local, too.
Best option near Jobing.com Arena
Argh, forgot about your non-beef diet. Sorry about that. Is Pork OK with you? Both places have plenty of pig to offer if you're not into beef.
Best option near Jobing.com Arena
That part of town, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything non-chain. (I used to live about 2 miles south of the arena.) I'm also familiar with your posts/reviews...you won't find anything non-chain, fine dining near the arena. I can give you a few more casual recs.
Since you are from Ohio...there's always In-and-Out Burger...closest at Camelback just off 101. About 2 miles south of the arena.
Other options in the general vicinity of the arena, but off the beaten path:
I can also recommend a Pupuseria near there...but it is a hole-in-the-wall. Salvadoreno Restaurant #2 at 7333 W. Thomas Rd. # 88. And the neighborhood is admittedly a little rough around the edges. Handmade pupusas - basically a thick corn tortilla filled with beans, cheese and meat - are delicious and served with salsa and cabbage salad.
Also in that area would be a very good place for Tortas. Tortas El Tri (which is somehow affiliated with Tortas la Presa further north) is at 2837 N 75th Ave # 6...basically the same intersection as the pupuseria. My mouth is watering just thinking about the Torta Especial. They also have other Mexican dishes, but we went there for tortas.
Unfortunately, the best options are on the east side of town.
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Salvadoreno Restaurant
8911 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85020
Tortas El Tri
2837 N 75th Ave Ste 6, Phoenix, AZ 85035
Phoenix for one dinner and one lunch
I would recommend Richardsons for brunch/lunch in a heartbeat. Jalapeño eggs Benedict, Carne adovada, green chile potatoes, giant breakfast burrito...you can't go wrong. They refer to their style of cuisine as New Mexican. I've never been for dinner because I just love the eggs bene. Anyway, I don't live in Phx anymore but it's always a must for me when I visit.
Guilty Breakfast Pleasures
I love love love the jalapeño eggs Benedict at Richardson's. It's a mandatory stop for me when in Phoenix. Also enjoyed the breakfast at Black Bear.
Edgewater/Rodgers Park food spots? Farmers markets, unique groceries/restaurants?
There is also Andersonville Farmers Market on Berwyn in between Clark & Ashland on Wednesdays. http://www.andersonville.org/events/andersonville-farmers-market You didn't mention the specific week, so check the website for the times, as it will change slightly in early September. Highlights (IMO): C&D Farms for fresh meats and eggs; from a number of stands there are plenty of fresh, seasonal fruits/veg; Bennison's Bakery for breads and pastries.
I personally haven't been to an Indian Restaurant on Devon, but I do like Little India Restaurant at 1109 W Bryn Mawr. Right off the Bryn Mawr Red Line Stop. It's BYOB and been delicious each time I've been there.
I 2nd the recommendation for Ethopian Diamond.
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Little India
1109 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60660
Doughnut Vault
I would be interested to know how these compare to Kirschbaum's cake donut...which is the best I've ever had. I refuse to waste my time on anything from the grocery, DD or KK since experiencing a Kirschbaum's donut. Too bad I live in the city and they are far away. Perhaps Donut Vault is worth the short trip and wait in line.
Worthy Peruvian or Ecuadorian?
I've seen Taste of Peru. (We live in Andersonville...not far.) Got a BAD pedicure from a place in the same strip mall. We will definitely check it out. We'll also have to stop at La Unica for some empanadas...hope to report back soon.
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Taste of Peru
6545 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Worthy Peruvian or Ecuadorian?
Have car and WILL travel for tasty South American food.
My husband has been up and down Montrose in search of tasty bites.
We are looking for good Lomo Saltado, fried Yucca (looks like chunky french fries), ahi (jalapeno/cilantro salsa for dipping), excellent empanadas (South American style, not Mexican). We are also interested in South American version of carnitas (shredded, roasted pork)...the proper name escapes me at the moment.
We have tried Machu Picchu @ 3856 N Ashland and were not very impressed. Our pinnacle is a restaurant that has since closed in Minneapolis by the same name. Their Lomo Saltado was chopped beef tenderloin in a soy sauce-based sauce "stir-fried" with french fries, sliced red onion and chunks of tomatoes and served with rice. It was delicious. We have not been able to find anything as flavorful or with as tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat.
Your help would be much appreciated.
MSP - Machu Picchu closed
Thanks for the rec, Anne.
Next time my husband and I are in town...we'll check it out. He happens to be Ecuadorian.
Can you speak to how the lomo @ Cimborazo compares to what used to be served at Machu Picchu? Machu Picchu's used beef tenderloin (no grizzle), sauce was flavorful soy sauce-based with slices of tomato and red onion, if I remember correctly, hand-cut french fries. I think the rice was basmati with a bit of garlic and butter. (My mouth is drooling right now just thinking about this dish!)
MSP - Machu Picchu closed
Has Machu Picchu reopened yet? We no longer live in Mpls but this was one of our favorite restaurants. Lomo saltado, fried yucca, empanadas were all excellent. The family who ran this place was always very nice to us. Didn't even realized that is closed in 2008! Guess that's how long we haven't been back. Any info would be much appreciated, as we have not found as good Peruvian anywhere else we've traveled or lived.
ISO substitute for banana liquer in this banana pudding recipe
I have made this recipe from Alton Brown before: Refrigerated Banana Pudding.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/refrigerated-banana-pudding-recipe/index.html
However, I would like to find a non-alcoholic substitute for the banana liquer used to soften the cookies.
I read the comments on Food Network's website and a few suggested simple syrup with banana extract. I have two problems with this idea. 1st, several commenters said this recipe was too sweet, so I don't want to add any sweetness. When I made it the first time, the sweetness level was OK to me, but I would not want to add any more sugar. 2nd, I do not want to use banana extract. Part of the appeal to this recipe is that everything is from scratch, including the vanilla wafers. I would prefer to avoid using an artificial flavoring.
So, any suggestions or ideas? I feel that avoiding the soaking process will not result in a good consistency.
Where am I going to dinner on Tuesday? Help me decide, please!
My husband and I were at MK over the weekend to celebrate our anniversary. We were very happy our choice. Service, as nycreba describes above, was impeccable. On par with Alinea, in my opinion. I know this is a small detail, but we loved the bread basket. Overhead another diner (who obviously frequents MK) that they bake their own bread...impressive!
We ordered the gnocci as a starter...the kitchen split it for us...delicious...fava beans with light as air gnocci. My husband wanted more.
I ordered Whitefish/Lobster...I thought this was good, but I was a bit disappointed that the tail meat was a bit over-cooked and chewy/tough. However, the claw meat was fantastic. The beurre blanc sauce complimented all components nicely. My husband ordered the port tenderloin dish and was pleased as well. We also ordered pommes frites...excellent.
We had Bert's Waffles for dessert, as my husband didn't want anything chocolate. We were also impressed with dessert...flavorful, every bite. Crispy, fluffy waffles and the brown butter ice cream was delicious.
The staff treated each of us to a glass of moscato with our dessert...nice touch! and unexpected.
Overall, I would recommend MK to anyone. It was a great place to spend our anniversary. Thanks to nycreba for the detailed report because that was what convinced me to give it a try!
Edgewater Restaurant Recommendations
As I've noted before, they don't know how to properly cook eggs. I live 3 blocks away...used to go regularly, until after several attempts to communicate how I want my eggs cook, which is a standard "over-medium", I kept getting served over-easy or over-hard eggs.
I will admit, I have not tried blisscakes...because I like eggs for breakfast/brunch.
I just feel it's over-rated and have found success at other breakfast establishments. For example, my husband and I found brunch to be quite lovely at Big Jone's (5347 N. Clark). Although a bit of a walk from Heart O' Chicago.
I realize people love M. Henry...it's just my opinion of the place.
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Big Jones
5347 N. Clark, Chicago, IL 60640
Edgewater Restaurant Recommendations
Also, if you're looking for good coffee (in my opinion) Coffee Studio is at 5628 Clark St. http://www.thecoffeestudio.com/ They serve Intelligenstia Coffee and have a good selection of teas, as I recall. Nice place to enjoy a cup...if it's nice outside, they have a some outdoor seating to enjoy the day and some people-watching. They also have some pastries and baked goods.
M. Henry has a patio in the back of their restaurant too which I've found to be lovely. But I'm not as big of a fan of the food as nsxtasy. However you can get lunch and breakfast there. I will say that their soup is very good.
If you want a quick bite - sandwiches/deli style - you could also check out Piatto Pronto @ 5624 N Clark which is an Italian deli. They make hand-crafted sandwiches and have some salads. Also at Clark and Olive (next to McDonald's). They do not appear to have a website however.
If the weather is nice enough, walking to M. Henry, Coffee Studio or Piatto Pronto is no problem. However, like nsxtasy said, going farther south on Clark toward Foster would be much farther walk. You could always catch a cab or take the 22 bus south on Clark to your destination.
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Piatto Pronto
5624 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
Where to eat in Bocas del Toro, Panama?
Back from Bocas - while I didn't get a response on this thread, here's where we ate for future reference:
Roots - Bastimentos Island (where we stayed). Located right near the main park and boat dock, on the water. Ate there twice. $7-13 range. Had the fish fillet twice because it was delicious. Also tasted my friend's Seafod combination plate and was also delicious. Cheap local fare. Balboa beer for $1.50 a bottle and $2.00 vodka drinks. Menu features lots of seafood and some chicken, beef, pork.
Zapatio - not sure which island, but discovered on our snorkling, boat tour. Ordered Lobster Tail. Generous portions and freshly prepared. Butterflied and drizzled with a garlicy oil or ghee. $20 for lobster tail, rice, salad and fried plantains. $22 for a full lobster. Located on the water. Mostly fresh seafood served here.
The Pirate - Bocas Town, not really recommended. Food was OK, but not as flavorful or expertly prepared as Roots. On the water, about $10-12 per plate. Large menu with seafood, different meats, sandwiches and pasta. We were disppointed overall.
Island Time Thai - Basitmentos Island, top of the hill. It's a hike to get up there and could be treacherous in the dark or shortly after rain. But worthwhile. Good, solid Thai dishes, Reservations required. Closes at 8:00PM and closed on Sundays. About $7-9 per plate. I ordered vegetarian panang curry and was quite pleased. Others had chicken fried rice, chicken teriayaki and green curry chicken. All were happy with their dishes. Just be careful of spice level, if you prefer less spicy.
Buena Vista - Bocas Town. Went there for dessert and a night cap. Cute place on the water. Enjoyed a brownie with ice cream. Brownie was made with local chocolate, dense almost like a flourless chocolate cake. Plenty to split between the 4 of us. $5. Drinks average about $5. Watch out for the drink "Adios Muchacho".
Most plates are accompanied by coconut rice (sometimes with black beans), fried plantains and a small salad of shredded veggies. The coconut rice is delicious. Fried plantains were mostly bland...I'm used to a sweeter plantain.
The property manager to the place we stayed at recommended El Pecado in Bocas Town and Ultimo Refugio in Bocas Town, however we were unable to make it to either place as they were both closed on Mondays (the night we were seeking another dinner out).
10% tip is standard, and sometimes included in the check.
