Good bbq in Chicago alert – Lillie’s Q in Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood(s) was quite good. We tried a three-meat sample and liked the pork and hot link best. The tri-tip turned out to be more like straight-out steak than smoked brisket. Good but not what we were hoping for. The collard greens seasoned with chunks of ham and bits of bacon was yummy, as were the sweet potato fries. The ribs good too. And the fried pickles served with ranch dressing (not my choice) turned out to be too good. Beautiful day – at last – here so we ate outside, although the inside of the restaurant is fun – rustic-industrial decor. We will return!
Category Archives: Chicago
Fest in Andersonville
We weren’t thrilled to discover there was a festival going on in the Chicago neighborhood of Andersonville today but we braved the crowds and visited some fun shops (Transitor, FourSquare) and got to watch some fun male line dancers dressed in red and white checked shirts, blue jeans, and cowboy hats. Later we had dinner at an old favorite that remains as good as ever – Francesca’s on Taylor, an Italian restaurant. My brother and sister-in-law had a biz dinner tonight at Sepia, which I’ve been to twice in the past and enjoyed.
Shaw’s crab house – chicago
Another visit to Shaw’s Crab House in Chicago which was packed on a Friday evening, for good reason. It was lobster fest month and most of our party had one pound lobster dinners. Delicious. Gumbo and wedge salad also popular. Not to mention the key lime pie and peppermint ice cream with hot fudge.
Yesterday after picking my son up at Northwestern, we drove through Skokie (en route to Oak Park to store some of my son’s college stuff at my sister’s house.) We had an excellent corned beef sandwich at Kaufmann Deli and bought chopped liver (the chicken, not beef) that got high marks from my picky family during a gathering later that eve in Oak Park. We also picked up some very good bagels and bialeys at a bagel shop (not Kaufman’s) also on Dempster in Skokie. It had the no-nonsense lack-of-ambiance of the bagel shops I remember growing up in suburban Detroit (Dexter Davidsons!) and bagels worthy of the locale.
Filed under Chicago
BBQ in Chicago
As usual, my family doesn’t know what we’re doing in Chicago during our upcoming visit except where we are eating – or want to eat. One place my Chicago-based stepdaughter wants to try: a newish BBQ place Lillie Qs: http://www.lilliesq.com/. Supposed to be really good.
Filed under Chicago, DINING, Uncategorized
Midwestern hotels to check out
Also from a recent issue of Midwest Living:
– Chicago – Elysian, Ritz-Carlton, Hotel Palomar (rat pack-esque doormen!)
– Columbus, Indiana, Inn at Irwin Gardens
– Novi, MI, Baronette Renaissance
– Shell Knob, Missouri, (wherever that is), Stonewater Cove
– Dubuque, Hotel Julien
– Kohler, Wisc., The American Club
– Custer, S.D., Custer State Park Reunion Cabin
Filed under Chicago, Illinois, Indianapolis, LODGING, Michigan, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin
restaurants to check out all over the Midwest
Found a copy of the Jan/Feb 2011 issue of Midwest Living on the library’s sale rack – so scooped it up since there’s always good recommendations on things to do in this neck of the woods. Here’s some restaurant recommendations:
– In Indianapolis, Recess (soup!)
– In Chicago, Gilt Bar and Restaurant on Magnificent Mile.
– Woodbury, Minnesota (where we have friends!), Apertif (rotisserie chicken) and in neighboring St. Paul, Heartland (clever meat and potatoes) and Clearwater, Minn., Nelson Bros. Restaurant (yes, at a restaurant on I-94; fritter french toast w/wild rice sausage)
– Omaha, Hiro 88 (sushi and more in the Old Market district)
– Madison, Wisc. L’Etoile (longstanding haute green cuisine in new location)
– Kansas City, Glace Artisan Ice Cream (peanut butter ice cream with swirl of strawberry jam…) and Succotash
– Traverse City, MI, Soul Hole (southern food in Old Town)
– Iowa City, Blue Bird Diner (Sunday brunch)
Filed under Chicago, DINING, Illinois, Indianapolis, Iowa, Iowa City, Kansas City, Michigan, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Omaha
Exploring downtown Chicago
I have walked past the Chicago Cultural Center dozens of times without ever noticing it – why, I don’t know. But today, I finally noticed and entered and was amazed at what a gorgeous building it is, full of intricate bejeweled mosaics, high ceilings with elegant mouldings, elegant glass domes including one by Tiffany. My son and I wandered through the public spaces and galleries (which were a bit tricky to find.) We stopped by the Vivian Maier show, which was worth a visit although not very extensive and seemed to be as much photos from New York and beyond as from chicago.
On the first floor, lots of people had gathered in seats in front of a stage where four musicians played a free concert. A sandwich bar in the lobby looked like a good lunch option.
For lunch, we went to The Gage, a lively gastropub on South Michigan – I had a hard time selecting an item from the menu because about all of them looked great. I finally settled on the mussels vindaloo – a huge bowl of freshly steamed juicy musles in a light burnt-umber colored broth with the not-over-powering Indian spice (Vindaloo can often mean searingly hot spice but this wasn’t.) My son had a huge hamburger with blue cheese that fortunately came with the upright fries piled into a mug-like bowl. All very good, pleasant and swift service, nice ambiance. Will definitely return.
We stopped at the Chicago Art Foundation to browse in the gift shop, one of the best around, and admire the huge model of downtown Chicago buildings. It’s got every building west of Oak Street and way past the loop. Incredibly cool. And every 15 minutes, the lights dim to simulate the sun hitting the buildings, casting some in high relief.
Filed under Chicago, DINING, museum exhibit
Chicago once the snow clears: Logan square
Several reports from relatives about the massive snow storm in Chicago included adjectives like “brutal” and “scary.” Word has it “thunder snow” makes the sky look blue. When it all clears, hopefully way before my next trip there in March, it’s time to explore the Logan Square neighborhood. Once again the NYTimes travel section has given a shout out to Longman & Eagle – a gastropub that is soon to open six hotel rooms that sound pretty cool and reasonably priced. Also on the list: Revolution Brewing – yes, a brewpub but with bacon-fat popcorn (how to make something good for you not.) and ale-braised beer stew (that’s less of a stretch – I make a veggie chili with beer.); There’s also Owen & Engine, another gastropub – this time with classic pub grub like fish and chips and sausages (Maybe they have my favorites – ploughman’s and shepard’s pie?) And Wolfbait & B-Girls – no, not a brew pub. this one is a shop run by two local fashion designers that sells, among other things, “statement jewelry.” (hmm.)
A good reasonably priced hotel in Chicago?
A NYC friend is visiting Chicago with her high school son this spring and looking for a reasonably priced, well-located hotel in Chicago. She found three options for about $150 per night: Swissotel Chicago, Fairmont Chicago and Ambassador East. Friends from Des Moines report having good luck with Swissotel although they thought it was a little pricey for what you got.
Another option I suggested to my NYC friend is maybe taking her son on a college visit to U of Chicago, which as part of its offerings has a deal with Hilton Chicago to provide discounted rates.
Filed under Chicago, LODGING, Uncategorized
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