It is a tough job to eat and report back … OK, it’s not hard. It’s a darned privilege! I’ve been covering the local food scene for about a year, and I enjoyed every delicious bite and conversation. Here are a dozen bites that have stayed on my mind long after I left the table. In no particular order:
Jerk eggrolls from Jay’s Backyard BBQ, Austin:
The first bite was spicy, but good. Then I remembered that the restaurant gave me a sweet and sour sauce packet. I squeezed a few drops on my next bite and … bam! the perfect mix of spicy, sweet, sour, crispy.
Green pozole from La Lupita, Berwyn:
Someday I’ve got to try the red pozole and the traditional style, but I keep craving the green stuff. An amazing array of toppings comes with the soup: avocado, onion, cabbage, radishes, chicharrones and lime wedges for squeezing.
Chilaquiles from Eggsperience, Elmwood Park:
Breakfast with corn chips? Sign me up. Ever since I was first introduced to this dish, I craved it at brunch time. My order with eggs over medium at Eggsperience didn’t disappoint.
Hibiscus agave Old Fashioned from NRebozo, Forest Park:
There are so many worthy cocktails at NRebozo, but this Old Fashioned stole my heart. Ingredients Casa Amigos Añejo, Banhez Espadín Joven Mezcal, Hibiscus nectar and Angostura are sipped from a rim dusted with Tajin.
Zucchini blossoms from Piacere Mio, Forest Park:
This seasonal appetizer appears only when zucchinis are in bloom. Fried and filled with pecorino cheese mousse, these delicacies are served with sundried tomato coulis. They are worth the wait!
Ham and brie sandwich from Sawmilly, Riverside:
I love a ham and brie sandwich almost as much as I love ham and butter on a baguette. This rendition from Sawmilly includes thin apple slices and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar syrup.
Waffles from Addis Cafe, Oak Park:
Waffles at Addis Café come in a variety of ways – with salted caramel and whipped cream, savory, Nutella and banana – but my favorite is the classic with maple syrup. A hint of cornmeal in the batter assists the crisp crunch in each bite.
Fried dill pickles from Irish Times, Brookfield:
Are these an Irish staple? No. But I’m not going to hold that against them. Ever since I first had this appetizer decades ago at Cock of the Walk in Hot Springs, Arkansas, I seek them out as a guilty pleasure.
Coffee float from Spoke Cafe, Oak Park:
It was the summer drink that I didn’t know I needed. I’m not the biggest coffee fan, but for some reason I adore coffee ice cream. This elixir performs that same alchemy for me.
Italian ice from Johnnie’s, Elmwood Park:
This is the ultimate in Italian ice in my humble opinion. Is it a dessert or a drink? Depends on how fast you slurp the frosty mountain delivered in a cup. I was wary of the lemon peel bits mixed in at first but came to treasure them.
Apple Slice from Oak Park Bakery, Oak Park:
If you know, you know. This is a slab pie sold by the square. It is a regional treasure. According to the Sun-Times it’s getting harder and harder to find this treat these days, but Oak Park Bakery makes it daily.
Turtle sundae from Polar Bear Ice Cream, North Riverside:
You can get a comparable soft-serve turtle sundae many places, but this was my nostalgia trip. As a tween, I once stole 75 cents from my grandmother’s purse to get one (I’ve since knelt at her grave and apologized).