Food is
first in our discussion of Chicago because food is one if not the most
important part of anything you do, especially a vacation. Half the time the
place I have chosen to visit is based on many recommendations I have collected
on the local foods and restaurants to try. Any city that has over three
things I crave warrants serious consideration on my part. If there is only one
I will still put it in my research folder but only if it seems really unique or
special.
In
Chicago there are many delicious things to try. Some are obvious because they
are so closely associated with this city. Others are finds that I have made on
my own and now will forever be local favorite.
I.
Deep Dish Pizza
a. Pizzeria Uno Chicago Grill
Besides
trying something new, we must first go to the classics. There is nothing more
classically Chicago than a deep dish pizza.
You
may think you have tried one because you went to your local Pizzeria Uno or
worse had a frozen deep dish pizza. If this is true you need to go and brush
your teeth and scrap the taste of such poor food out of your mouth and mind
forever for you know not of what I speak of.
The
real deep-dish pizza must be eaten in Chicago and the best place I have ever
had it was in Pizzeria Uno. It was the flagship starter restaurants for the
chain you now see all over the country.
To
have the best sometimes we must be patient. Here we must be patient and
efficient. There is often a minimum wait of an hour or so. To make use of this
time you order as you wait in line because the pizzas take that long to cook.
Once
you bite into a slice of this cheesy, crunchy, yummy, yet heavy delicacy you
will feel happiness and satisfaction on a whole new level. You won’t be able to
finish it but trust me you will want more as soon as you are ready to eat again.
Giordano’s
and Lou Malnati’s are the other popular pizza joints that I have tried and are
also acceptable for anyone coming to the city and wanting to try deep dish pizza.
Thankfully Lou has a website that is just waiting for you to order a variety of
Chicago’s finest treats such as: deep dish pizza, cheesecake, and popcorn.
II.
Pizza Pot Pie
a. Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co.
What
is a pizza potpie you may be asking? Well I will gladly tell you. It is a small
rounded shaped pizza served in a bowl and filled over when served. It is baked
with dough over the top so that when it appears you don’t see the cheesy
deliciousness inside. Ordinarily this might just sound like a version of a Hot
Pocket but it’s the quality of the ingredients that make all the difference.
You can have regular or one with sausage in the sauce. Toppings are also
allowed. When it arrives it is flipped over onto your plate to form a
pizza pie-ish look. It is not really like eating pie or deep dish pizza. It is
somewhere in the middle.
This
is a very popular spot especially for dinner so you will need to show up early
or be prepared to wait. There is an enormous hustle and bustle and I didn’t
have to wait at all. Thanks to Chef Marc Murphy on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”
I now know the different between my two favorite forms of Chicago pizza.
III.
Hot Dogs
a.
Weiner Circle
After I was completely
full of pizza pot pie I stepped out into the beautiful night air and took a
walk through Lincoln Park. This was not just a leisurely stroll. I had a
destination in mind and I had waited a long time to get there. I was on a hot
dog mission after seeing Chef Ted Allen from “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” tell
me they were his favorite.
I had to get a classic
Chicago dog which apparently is served on a poppy seeded bun and topped with: chopped
onions, green relish, yellow mustard, pickle spears, tomato, celery salt,
"sport"/spicy peppers.
This place is- wait
for it- LEG-END-ARY. Here rude order takers are part of the fun but when I
visited it was a quiet day, there was no one else in the shop and the two
cashiers were not putting on a show. This place becomes a bigger hang out late
in the evening after bars begin to close and people begin to get hungry again.
Alas a Chicago Hot Dog
institution, Hot Doug’s, has recently announced that it is closing its doors.
It was on my to-do list for next time but I guess it’s not to be. They will be
closing for good in October 4, 2014 after opening in 2001.
IV.
Cheese Burgers
a.
Billy Goat Tavern
As I was going through
my Frommer’s guide preparing for this trip I stumbled onto television history.
I am a fan of Saturday Night Live especially during the high it was on during
the Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler years. But one of the most popular
sketches of all time was the "Cheezeborger, Cheezeborger" skit.
Jim Belushi and Bill Murray knew about this place from their days here working
at Second City doing improv shows. For over forty years the Greek owners
would entertain their guests by shouting at them and demanding their orders
without giving them a second to think.
You really need to see
the sketch to get it.
“It is dead on balls
accurate”, as Marisa Tomei says in “My Cousin Vinny”.
This was before my
time but I can see the appeal. Once you visit the site of the inspiration it is
only that much funnier. I don’t know how this was ever a secret. It seems like
it was made for television. It’s lunch and a show all at once.
Beware this place does
not take reservations and fills up quickly. But because it is essentially a
fast food place so people are moving in and out quickly. You should have no
problem, because of seating that is. Good luck ordering! And buy the souvenir
t-shirt.
V.
Steakhouse
a.
Ruth Chris
Here is another place
where there is a so called chain restaurant you can have just about anywhere so
you might pass over it at first. I did. The first time I visited Chicago was
the first time I heard of Ruth Chris. I did not know until later that it had such
a great reputation and food.
I won’t delve too much
into the specifics here because I have a whole separate post dedicated to this
place (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2012/04/for-ruth-chris.html). I will say that the first and
only time I had been to this restaurant was on a return trip to Chicago and had
put the experience on hold for a special occasion a.k.a. my vacation. It did
not disappoint and I was happy to relive my first memories passing by.
VI.
Coffee
a.
Intelligentsia
Even though I am as
big a Starbucks fan as they come, when I first went to Chicago I had heard
about this café that known for French roasted coffee and herbal teas served in
big cups and Adirondack chairs to sit in. I saw this coffee house featured on
Samantha Brown’s Travel Channel show and I knew it would be something I would
try. I went on my first trip out there and it is not necessarily in the heart
of the city. But it was very much worth it.
Recently
Intelligentsia is now in my hometown of New York City but I have not yet
visited. It is on my list for sure but for some reason when I go I think I will
want to be in a vacation state of mind.
VII. Snacks
a.
Garrett Popcorn
Oh popcorn. It is one
of my all time favorite things to eat in this world. It is right up there next
to pizza but ahead of fries. I could eat it morning, noon, and night. I will
even eat the healthier non-butter one hundred calorie pack in a pinch just to
get my fix.
But if I had to tell
you about my favorite kind of my favorite food that is easy- Garrett Popcorn!!
It has been in existence since 1949 and The Chicago Mix is their most popular
flavor. In April 2007 during my very first trip to Chicago I already knew it
was on my to-do list and I knew it would be good.
However, I did not
know it would be a crippling lifelong affliction. But it is so worthwhile.
I hardly know where to
begin. I will just say that I go along with popular opinion and LOVE The
Chicago Mix no contest. That is a mix of the Caramel Crisp and Cheese Corn and
it is delightful. You have the perfect blend of sweet and salt. I also
recommend the Buttery, Macadamia Caramel Crisp, and seasonal flavors that come
along. You most definitely cannot go wrong and I thoroughly suggest ordering it
as a gift or party favor (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2013/01/for-generous-and-great-gift-giving-ideas.html). I know I would be thrilled to
get some in the mail. I just had to buy myself some for my birthday in
December. This will now have to be a tradition.
b.
Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop and Soda Fountain
If you are on Michigan
Avenue and you have gone to Garrett Popcorn (they also have a location in the
Navy Pier) and you still have some room I suggest taking a short walk over to
the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop and Soda Fountain directly across from the John Hancock
building.
While this is the mid-west
outpost of the original San Francisco shop, they maintain the same incredible
hot fudge sundaes, mudslide chocolate bars, hot coco drink mixes, and just
about any tasty treat you can think of. It is like going to a real life Willy
Wonka factory and you don’t need a golden ticket. During holiday hours or
tourist days there will be a line but it goes quickly. They divide and conquer
between those who are purchasing items to go and those who are ordering
desserts. It is best if you have a partner so you can both be productive. I
know that’s how I operate best in a crowd.
VII. New Trends
a. Only in Chicago could they create a
“Mac Attack”. If it sounds like heart attack that was probably done on purpose.
For one thing if you eat enough of them that is what will happen and for
another it got my heart racing with excitement when I found out what it was.
A
favorite haunt of mine in Chicago is the Rocket Bar and Grill. They have a
great selection of food no matter whether you are in the mood for an entire
meal or just something to snack on while you are at the bar. Apparently they
are also geniuses back there. They have created a burger that uses patties of
deep fried macaroni and cheese as buns! It looks much better than it sounds. I
just wish I knew what it tasted like.
If
you can’t make it to Chicago anytime soon do not fret, you can make your own
This
is a fun, cool place no matter who you hanging out with. If you have never been
to Chicago before now you have your first bar to hit up on your list!
To
conclude and show you just how serious Chicago takes food, you will need to
read this article from the Huffington Post on November 12, 2013 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/12/olive-garden-in-chicago_n_4261900.html). For those of you who can’t take
the suspense I will do the honors. Are you ready?! They DO NOT even have one
Olive Garden in their fair city!!! This is a place that knows how to do food
and how to attract locals and tourists alike. I know the Olive Garden will
eventually get there but somehow I don’t think that Chicagoans will be deterred
from furthering their foodie dreams.
Even
though I have been to Chicago three times there are still many more restaurants
I want to try that were on my previous lists that I did not get to. Then there
are the new ones popping up that are getting added to that master list. One
time I am going to have to go there and do nothing but eat just to make some
head way. There never seems to be enough time in my days there, even when I
schedule “free time”. Perhaps next time I will have to write “food time”
in addition to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. It is time to start
thinking outside of the box.
For
More Food:
Next up in my Chicago series is:
For a Wonderful Weekend in the Windy City Part III: Magnificent Mile
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