Category: Best Bites

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2013 Best Bite #28: Soft-serve Lait Gelato, Eataly

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Soft-serve Lait Gelato in sweet milk
Soft-serve Lait Gelato in sweet milk

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: When I was helping assemble a travel guide to Eataly earlier this month, it was all but impossible to decide what to taste as I surveyed the 63,000-square-foot Italian wonderland. Among my best decisions was bypassing the Nutella bar in favor of a cup of Lait Gelato, the only soft-serve gelato of its kind in North America. I opted to keep things simple with the sweet milk flavor, which was pleasantly light while still retaining the luscious, buttery finish I expected from gelato. It will now be an obligatory treat during all future Eataly adventures.

The details: Eataly, 43 E Ohio St., Chicago.

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2013 Best Bite #27: Starry Night in Sleepy Hollow pumpkin stout, DryHop Brewers

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Starry Night in Sleepy Hollow pumpkin stout
Starry Night in Sleepy Hollow pumpkin stout

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: On draft at one of Chicago’s most buzzed-about new craft breweries this year, this was my favorite pumpkin beer that I drank all fall – not to mention my favorite beer name. DryHop described the Starry Night in Sleepy Hollow as “brewed with 100 pounds of sugar pumpkins,” and I believe it, its round pumpkin flavor nicely augmented by pie spices from The Spice House. It was also an especially smooth stout, which was evidently due to the nitro pour (high nitrogen content means smaller bubbles for a creamier texture). It tasted even better paired with an outstanding wedge salad and a burger laden with aged cheddar and ancho chile-tomato jam.

The details: DryHop Brewers, 3155 N. Broadway, Chicago.

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2013 Best Bite #26: Bacon parfait, County Barbeque

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Bacon parfait with pork
Bacon parfait with pulled pork and onion, grits, bacon, and chives

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: While the name of the dish might not sound all that appetizing, this all-savory bacon parfait packed a ton of flavor in a tiny package. Served in a shot glass, it was layered with pleasantly spicy pulled pork and sweet onion, followed by cheese grits, and finally chives and bacon. I took small spoonfuls, careful to sweep through each layer, to make the smoky sweetness last as long as possible. There’s a lot else to love at County, from the nostalgic corn pudding to the loud plaid exterior on Taylor Street, but this parfait stood out as the most creative BBQ presentation I’ve seen.

The details: County Barbeque, 1352 W. Taylor St., Chicago.

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2013 Best Bite #25: Marshmallow latte, Big Shoulders Coffee

Merry Christmas! Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Marshmallow latte with homemade vanilla bean syrup and toasted marshmallow
Marshmallow latte with homemade vanilla bean syrup and toasted marshmallow

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: When I’m on my way to work and want a coffee drink that’s a bit of an extra treat, I now have a go-to: the marshmallow latte at Big Shoulders, complete with a freshly torched marshmallow that I tend to slurp down as soon as it’s handed to me. Swirled with homemade vanilla bean syrup, this latte is just liquid cozy. And it’s an added bonus that the baristas are always exceedingly friendly, even if I’m still a little sleepy.

The details: Big Shoulders Coffee, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago.

Categories
Best Bites

2013 Best Bite #24: Beignets, Huey’s on the River, Savannah, GA

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Beignets with homemade praline sauce
Beignets with homemade praline sauce

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: These beignets capped off a wonderful fall vacation that took me to both Carolinas before I ended up in Savannah, Georgia. That morning, we were celebrating my very dear friend‘s birthday at Huey’s, a New Orleans–style spot with sweeping riverfront views. We began our brunch with these classic palm-sized pastries, and could probably have just stopped there. The dough was light and not greasy, enveloped in the obligatory blanket of powdered sugar, and the warm homemade praline sauce was so good that I was tempted to ask for several more containers’ worth to sneak through security a few hours later. (And Serious Eats was apparently on the same page: it covered these beignets the same week I visited.)

The details: Huey’s on the River, 115 E. River St., Savannah, GA.

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2013 Best Bite #23: Ham biscuit sandwich, Bang Bang Pie Shop

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Ham biscuit sandwich
Ham biscuit sandwich with grits, soft egg, pimento butter, and pepper jam

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: When Bang Bang debuted its expanded breakfast menu a few months ago, food media flocked to try the new offerings. Instead of just butters and jams, the dense beauties were now topped with meat, eggs, and other hearty sandwich fixings. This one impressed with thick-cut ham and grits underneath a picture-perfect, parsley-flecked egg, and I made use of all the pepper jam on the side to add in some sweet heat. As nicely as it was dressed, though, the biscuit itself still stole the show.

The details: Bang Bang Pie Shop, 2051 N. California Ave., Chicago.

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2013 Best Bite #22: Fried sweetbreads, Farmhouse

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Fried sweetbreads
Fried sweetbreads with endive, capers, and pear mustard

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: The server talked me into ordering this sweetbreads special as a snack on an unseasonably warm fall evening, and it turned out to be an excellent decision. The richness of the crispy sweetbreads (which, to be clear, are pancreas or thymus glands) mellowed their bright accompaniments of bitter charred endive and salty capers. A swipe of pear mustard and pink peppercorns on top both added sweetness for balance. The dish was a nice sophisticated alternative to another fried appetizer – although, let’s face it, I’d also make a trip solely for Farmhouse’s incredible beer-battered cheese curds.

The details: Farmhouse, 228 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago.

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2013 Best Bite #21: Birthday cake doughnut, Doughnut Vault

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Birthday cake doughnut dunked in vanilla glaze with rainbow sprinkles
Birthday cake doughnut dunked in vanilla glaze with rainbow sprinkles

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: I was thrilled when I saw the Doughnut Vault’s retro van outside the office one morning when I was running a little early for work. As much as I love their classic old-fashioneds, it was a no-brainer to order the birthday cake special – the rainbow sprinkles on top and funfetti-style batter inside were just too playful to pass up. The vanilla flavor came through strong, and the doughnut stayed moist throughout. My real birthday isn’t for another 9+ months, but it’s never too early to throw out ideas for a celebratory treat, right?

The details: Doughnut Vault, 401 1/2 N. Franklin St., Chicago; or track the Vault Van on Twitter.

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2013 Best Bite #20: Breakfast sandwich, Floriole Cafe & Bakery

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Breakfast sandwich of baked egg on baguette with butterkase and bacon
Breakfast sandwich of baked egg on baguette with butterkase and bacon

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: I’ve sampled Floriole’s beautifully crafted pastries at markets and coffee shops all over the city, but didn’t make it into the bakery itself until one rainy fall morning. Creamy baked egg and a smooth layer of butterkase cheese hid beneath a giant X of bacon strips draped over the baguette, making this simple, filling breakfast sandwich one of my favorites this year. And I always appreciate a great fruit cup on the side — this one even had figs! Once I added in a latte and a good book, I officially forgot about the storm outside.

The details: Floriole Cafe & Bakery, 1220 W. Webster Ave., Chicago.

Categories
Best Bites Chicago

2013 Best Bite #19: Sandwich trio, Duran European Sandwiches Café

Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.

Sandwich trio: Spanish boquerone with puta spread, egg, cucumber, tomato; curry egg salad with cucumber and radishes; and roast beef with chive cream cheese, roasted red peppers, chives, and horseradish
Sandwich trio: Spanish boquerone with puta spread, egg, cucumber, tomato; curry egg salad with cucumber and radishes; and roast beef with chive cream cheese, roasted red peppers, chives, and horseradish

Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: This new European café in River West specializes in miniature open-faced sandwiches, its cases lined with more than two dozen petite varieties. Once I got past how simply adorable they were, I landed on a colorful, well-rounded trio of roast beef, boquerone (Spanish anchovy), and curry egg salad. I think my favorite pairing was the beef and rich chive cream cheese, although I also liked the niçoise-style flavors of the boquerone. The three sandwiches and iced coffee made a superb light lunch.

The details: Duran European Sandwiches Café, 529 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.