Breakfast for one: egg, scrambled and cooked very low and slow with a chunk of fresh goat cheese, a spoonful of tomato-pepper relish, and fresh spinach. Served over leftover naan from Thanksgiving (toasted from frozen). Delightful.
12.04.2010, 11:30 am. East Village.
A plate of tasty cheese, chauceterie, and bruschetta at the wine bar D.O.C. (all for just $27! <3 u, Chicago anywhere but New York).
Split between three of us this was unfortunately no match for the (generous) California wine flight, (generous) glass of malbec, and (count ‘em) two dirty martinis I also consumed (when the cat’s away….).
Oy. But there was this salty remedy waiting for me in the morning. Also this feline funniness. Life is gooot.
11.19.2010. 8 pm. North Clark Street, Chicago.
Another day, another lunch with Jane. “Street-style” dumplings (not pictured: baggy jeans and teeny dumpling-size boombox), Korean BBQ tacos, and hot stone bibimbop at a new Lincoln Park spot, Del Seoul. Yo dawg, I’d hit that again (see, I’m speaking “street”).
11.18.2010, 2 pm. North Clark Street, Chicago.
It’s time to show you pictures of Things I’ve Eaten! Don’t worry, it’s not all that much (photos, that is, not Things I’ve Eaten. Just between you and me, I have been puttin’ it away lately — just not taking many photos. Which is probably best for all involved. Except my pants).
Ok! So this was my first meal in Chicago. Jane met me for lunch at Rick Bayless’ sandwich joint, XOCO. Smoked chicken salad. The pickled cabbage was a nice touch. Smoky smoky goodness. Also did you notice the avocado? Yes sir.
11.16.2010, 12 pm. North Clark Street, Chicago.
The birthday brunch: baked eggs, cornbread, winter fruit salad, sweet potato hashbrowns, bacon, and gluten-free Bundt cake (better viewed here). Plus desecrated cupcakes, leftover from the potluck, and Serious Bloody Marys.
11.14.2010, 2 pm. Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
What is cooler: 20 pounds of brisket, beef shoulder, pork ribs, smoked chicken wings, kreuz sausage, mac ‘n cheese, corn pudding, baked beans, cornbread, and collard greens or Snoop Dogg, the RZA, and Russel Crowe yuckin’ it up two tables away?
TRICK QUESTION. They are equally cool.
11.10.10, 8 pm. Hill Country Barbecue (seriously good barbecue — if you don’t know now ya know), West 26th St.
On Saturday we took a hike in Fairmount Park, a hike that delighted every sense — the eyes with colors so vibrant you’d need another pair to really take them in; the ears with the soul-satisfying crunch of leaves underfoot; the nose with the unmistakable scent of fall, woodsy and smoky and yet clean and fresh; the hand with cool rocks we gripped to steady ourselves as we scrambled down the path; and the mouth the old-fashioned way with red wine and steaming soup and crisp little ginger cookies.
10.30.10, 1 pm. Valley Green Inn, Wissahickon, PA. (Go for the scenery and the hike, not the food.)
Lunchtime at the Swedish Inn in Lindström, Minnesota (“America’s Little Sweden”). Home of the Uff Da Omelette.
Swedish meatballs in cream sauce, lefse (paper-thin pancakes made with mashed potatoes and flour) with lingonberry jam, deep-fried cheese curds (not as good as the Fair’s, but close), walleye sandwiches for the guys and French dips for the girls. Piping hot coffee on the side.
Sitting in a booth with two of your favorite people > all other forms of sitting.
PS: Deutschland Meats was closed. Though they were open for deer processing.
And if you’re ever in Lindström, get a Scandinavian donut at the bakery. Yum.
After cocktails … dinner. My dad’s homemade sourdough focaccia, goulash with beef from our friends’ farm (I wrote about them ages ago here), and tomato salad. Because it’s still tomato season in Minnesota! (Wah?!) And for dessert — my dad’s homemade apple pie.
Are you detecting a theme here? That tree of my parents’ produced a whole lotta apples. Oh-so-many oodles of apples. Not that I’m complaining. :)
10.22.2010. 8 pm. St. Anthony Park. St. Paul, MN.
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The Great American Cooking Project