Category Archives: Illinois

September 20, 2011 · 1:57 am

Chicago restaurants to try….

I found myself taking six 19-year-olds out for lunch in Evanston, Illinois – upon my son’s return to Northwestern – which i was happy to do. But even happier when we went to Dixie’s – a fun Cajun place – that has a very parent-friendly menu of $6.95 lunch specials – including a good southwestern salad with grilled chicken, beans, corn salsa and a light creamy dressing and a sampler with little bowls of gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice.
Now onto Chicago where E has these restaurants in mind:
This place is supposed to be great too, owned by the same people:
A combo of Asian and Mexican.

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August 24, 2011 · 2:33 pm

Leo’s/Royal Oak and Lou Malnati’s in Chicago

Made it home without a hitch yesterday after a 5.5 hour drive from Chicago which started with some very stormy weather. Didn’t have much time to explore the city since we were just passing through but did get a take out pizza from Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria – an outpost of which recently opened in my aunt’s Gold Coast neighborhood in the old Anthropologie building. Looked like a fun place to eat – especially the outdoor patio. We opted for takeout and thin crust, not Chicago thick. It was good  – especially the unusual crust that I believe is made with cornmeal – but wasn’t that bowled over. Certainly will try again. Another place to remember – the original Heaven on Seven, a Cajun restaurant downtown near the old Marshall Field’s and near my stepdaughter’s new place of employment. Comes well recommended by several.

Before leaving Michigan, we had to cram in a trip to Leo’s Coney Island in Royal Oak for my son who happily and quickly devoured two Coneys. And I do need to add – for one blog reader who protested – that Lafayette Coney Island was much more crowded when we tried to go there Saturday night than when we passed by midday Saturday. Unfortunately it was so busy that we couldn’t find a place to park and had to forego our visit.

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August 19, 2011 · 3:30 am

Dining in Chicago at Carmine’s

Don’t know why I’ve never eaten before at Carmine’s in Chicago, which I’ve passed dozens of times since it’s in my aunt’s neighborhood but finally did tonight on a beautiful summer eating. Great food – eggplant/mozzarella/tomato salad, penne Bolognese and a special dish with penne, eggplant, spinach and shrimp. Yum!

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August 16, 2011 · 10:21 pm

Riding the Great River Trail along the Mississippi in Illinois

A friend just returned from biking the Great River Trail along the Mississippi. She started in Moline, staying overnight at the Stoney Creek Inn, then rode north to Port Byron, about 25 miles, where the “tugfest” – a tug-of-war contest with LeClaire Iowa (across the river) was going on. She stopped at a good ice cream shop in Hampton (I think called Remember When) and explored the towns north of Cordoba, ending up in Savanna which turned out to be a biker (as in motorcycle) mecca. She and her friend picked up some food for a picnic with a good view at Palisades Park. They also ate at Bass Street Chop House  in Moline, which was good.

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June 16, 2011 · 2:45 pm

lillie’s Q bbq – chicago

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!

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June 14, 2011 · 6:27 pm

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.

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June 13, 2011 · 8:11 pm

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.

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June 7, 2011 · 3:37 pm

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.

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April 13, 2011 · 2:10 pm

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

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April 12, 2011 · 4:22 pm

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)

 

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