Short notice trip, you've seen this question B4...
...so have we on the Florida board. Appreciate the patience. Searched the board some but didn't find/get the info desired. Probably my search technique...
BeaN and I will be in Chicago next week. Already nailed down Trotters (because you gotta do it, despite mixed reviews here). One of Bayless' places, lunch or dinner. Probably lunch but who knows?
As counterpoint we've also got Hot Dougs on the list as ANYTHING done in Duck fat has GOT to be great.
As you can see we'll go for anything so long as it is well represented.
Questions for recs and observations:
Understand Gail Gand has a place, any good?
Can't get Ethiopian in Tampa/St Pete. They go out of business too quickly. Recs for Chicago Ethiopian? Das Rasen, Mama Desta, and E-Diamond are in the running.
Plenty Viet here but always a favorite.
Seen reference to Czech, worth a try? Recs?
Any oddballs? We're adventerous 'hounds.
Thanks in advance,
BeaN's Spousal Unit
BeaN's Spousal Unit
Jun 15, 2005 04:32PM
Gale Gand is partner and executive pastry chef at TRU. Trust me, the desserts are currently waaaaaay more adventurous and cutting-edge at Charlie Trotter's. CT's executive pastry chef (who worked with Gale Gand briefly many years ago) is absolutely amazing. If you just want to say you've had Gale's desserts (though they almost certainly won't have been prepared by her), TRU does a multicourse dessert-only meal during certain hours.
The most "adventurous" places at the higher end are Moto and Alinea. Alinea is far and away the hottest ticket in town, so it may be tough to snag a reservation. If you're into the "killed right before you put it in your mouth" kind of sashimi, Heat is the place to go. Chicago also has one of the country's few 4-star Thai restaurants, Arun's. The 12-course menu is around $85. On the other hand, TAC Quick (TAC=Thai Authentic Cuisine) serves very cheap and very good (not the usual stuff) Thai food in a more basic setting.
Haven't been to any of the Ethiopian places in years, so I can't comment. If you want an ENORMOUS Easterm European buffet for cheap ($12-ish), there's Bobak's (better quality than most buffets). If your wallet needs a break after Trotter's, there's Red Apple, a Polish buffet (about $7 or so). Some of the food/quality can be scary, but there's good stuff, too.
Enjoy our wonderful city.
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Thanks so much!
We gotta eat, our motto sometimes is "sleep cheap and eat dear". Reasonable eats are always in the offing particularly when the old wallet needs a break.
Four star Thai? WOW. Heat sounds fun too but BeaN may have problems if she witnesses the fabrication. I won't. :-)
THanks again,
BeaN's Spousal Unit.
P.S. Looking forward to being there! Starting to fill in the sked...LOL.
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Do yourself a favor and google Arun's here on Chowhound. It gets mixed reviews of the "Is it really worth $85?" type.
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I guess we'll make that decision if we decide to go there... don't want to start a urination contest. Just fishing for ideas. Trying to fit sites of interest and food. Nothing worse than trying to beat it across town trying to meet a dinner reservation.
CT's has the same issue, but we're gonna try it anyway.
Thanks again,
BeaN's Spousal unit.
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"CT's has the same issue, but we're gonna try it anyway."
On paper it might look that way, but it's not the reality. Few criticize the food at CT. It is objectively excellent. Folks have problems with many other aspects of the experience, some of them reasonable complaints.
The general criticism of Arun's falls squarely on the tired victuals.
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For the most adventurous diners, I'd also definitely recommend Alinea (but getting a reservation is extremely difficult) or Moto. Another excellent choice would be Avenues at the Peninsula. The chef, Graham Elliot Bowles, is doing amazing things and he's very creative -- not that far off of Alinea I think. Also, I'll second Arun's -- I think it's amazing and I think it offers a level of Thai food not seen elsewhere. Pasteur was excellent Vietnamese, but I understand it is closing (or just closed) but supposedly to be reopened at some point in the near future. Gail Gand is the pastry chef at Tru and I think the food is guaranteed to be excellent, and with multiple dessert courses. And if you're like me and really into desserts, try out Hot Chocolate in Bucktown -- it's run by the former pastry chef of MK (another excellent dining spot) and she offers more than a dozen fantastic, whimsical desserts (not many entrees, but a good place for a light supper and a large sampling of desserts). But note that they don't take reservations and it can get loud. As for Ethiopian, I like (but don't love) Ethiopian Diamond in the Andersonville/Edgewater area -- generally solid food but I preferred Mama Desta's when it was at its best. I like Mama Desta's but I think it used to be better.
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Thanks,
You might think I mispelled "adventerous" and I did. I'd (wishfully, to cover my tracks) like you to think it was to get a certain response, from a certain level of respondants. LOL. Fact of the matter is I'm somewhat embarassed by that error. Why? Dunno. Should have taken the time to spell check but I didn't. FWIW not here too...
On to food:
- Seems Alinea is most probably out at this late date. But if a planned trip comes along it's in.
- Ave. at the Penusula sounds interesting.
- Another vote for Arun's. Moves higher on the list.
- Ethiopian food is hard to evaluate. Know what I like, but maybe not what others like. Just know it ain't here anymore to like or dislike. Just miss it somehow.
Thanks,
BeaN's Spousal Unit
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and by the way, between Moto and Avenues, I'd choose Avenues -- more emphasis on food (as opposed to scientific experiments), but it's food you will not find on anyone else's menu.
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Have you been to Moto and Avenues, Alinea, Arun's. I have a hard time getting a handle on your recs because I never see actual reports on your experiences.
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Arun's is a joke in poor taste.
Have a look at the website below. I created it for people like you.
Regards,
Erik M.
Link: http://www.silapaahaan.com
Image: http://www.silapaahaan.com/images/lth...
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If I understand you and your helpful link correctly, by virtue of the fact that Arun's is not mentioned in the site, it is not considered by you to be "traditional" Thai?
Good to know. Thai is a cuisine that we are just beginning to familiarize ourselves with. Like it a lot, just not too conversant.
Thanks for the link, it's helpful.
Regards,
BeaN's Spousal Unit
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Bean and SO, I'm from Tampa but I've lived here for some time. If I were you, and I was, I'd be eating as much Thai and Mexican as I could, as well as fine dining. It simply is not there. Tacanazo and the pan-Asian places, it just isn't the same. The reason is simply population density and numbers.
And, while the Viet population is significant in Pinellas, there is nothing back home to compare to the scene on Argyle Street here. Ditto Indian on Devon. And while some might quibble about Chicago's Chinatown compared to other big cities', well, again, unless you are going to be in SF or Vancouver or LA soon, that's another destination for you.
Check out LTHForum.com, TimeOut Chicago and, of course, the instant fine resource.
PS, Arun's just lost a star in the big paper, but really, it's very old news.
In summary, go to Pilsen, eat, see a great neighborhood and experience Mexican cultural immersion; Argyle for SE Asian; Devon for Indian/Pakistani ... you get the drift.
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I do indeed get the drift, thanks.
Your points are sound and well argued. Mayhaps I was a tad bit biased regarding what I perceive we have here (which honestly ain't much as you know).
As you allude, we gotta take your great city for all it's worth. Not hitting anything bigger for some time to come.
Regards,
BeaNs Spousal Unit
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By the way, I'm not down on the Bay Area, not at all. I can't wait to get back to Arco Iris and Tropicana, Ladies of the Sea, Frenchy's and Keegan's. A select but important group of my favorite foods are much better in Tampa than in Chicago, including obvious ones such as Cuban and Grouper. There are not-so-obvious foods also. For instance, we have great pizza here, both thin and "deep dish" but both kinds are very Chicago-specific and do not really fit the Italian/NYC/CT mold. There is not one place in Chicago that makes a hand-tossed pizza vera like Demmi's in Ybor.
So welcome, and have a good time. Go to the neighborhoods. They are all on the El or a short cab ride. The tourist areas are nice, but you want to get into the neighborhoods for the good stuff.
Look me up on LTHforum.com and drop me a line.
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Rumor has it that "Ladies" is on the way out. :-( but this discussion should move to the Florida board or private mail.
Keegans? One of our faves, suprised you know it. Then again....
Catch you where you pointed me.
Regards,
BeaN's Spousal Unit
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By some *narrow* definition of the term, Arun's is indeed "traditional" Thai. The fact that whatever tradition" is observed at Arun's is now very, very stale should be my main point.
I created the website to provide translations of Thai restaurant menus in the Chicagoland area. The significance of these artifacts is for you to determine, but this much is clearly evident:
1. These menus are printed in the Thai script and have been created for a Thai clientele.
2. These menus *largely* contain items which are not otherwise accessible to Western patrons
Run Chowhound or LTHForum searches for information on any of the restaurants listed at my site. This should give you some indication of what these places might have to offer you. Admittedly, these offerings and these establishments are not to everyone's taste, but I can assure you that by *nearly any* definition of the term, these offerings and these establishments are more traditionally Thai.
Regards,
Erik M.
Pictured: yam het, or "mushroom salad," at Spoon Thai.
Image: http://www.silapaahaan.com/images/lth...
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Erik,
Thanks for the clarification. Think I have the spirit and intent of your post.
Items that are not readily available to the general public are extremely attractive to us. I think Thai is a cuisine to explore while we are there. I suspect what we have here is somewhat substandard.
Regards,
BeaN's Spousal Unit
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If you would like further direction, or if you would even care for my company at a Thai restaurant in Chicago, contact me at the link below. [You can also send me a personal message at LTHForum.]
E.M.
Pictured: Kaeng phèt pèt yâang kàp lîit-chii @ Sticky Rice.
Link: http://www.silapaahaan.com
Image: http://www.silapaahaan.com/images/lth...
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Erik is very generous (and a bit gluttonous) in offering to accompany you for a Thai meal. That is an invitation that I strongly encourage you to accept. He has a deep knowledge of traditional Thai Food.
The owners of the better Thai restaurants in Chicago know him and treat him extremely well. At least that has been my experience when didning with him.
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The truth of the matter is that I am cheap and easy, Will. I accept propositions from just about anyone. ;)
E.M.
Pictured: Phàt kha-náa plaa khẽm, or "Chinese broccoli stir-fried with salty fish," at Aroy Thai.
Image: http://www.silapaahaan.com/images/lth...
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He is, and we shall.
Thanks,
BeaN's Spousal Unit
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