Category Archives: Illinois

September 11, 2009
8:00 PM
by: Uhockey

More Cupcakes and The Meatloaf Bakery, Chicago IL

As can be expected on any foodie expedition, aside from the standard breakfast, lunch, and dinner snacks are a must. While time was limited on the most recent visit to Chicago trip we did manage to visit two places for … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, cupcakes, Dessert, Food, Illinois, More Cupcakes, Pork, The Meatloaf Bakery, Vacation

September 11, 2009
4:23 PM
by: Uhockey

Blackbird, Chicago IL

Food and Wine loves him. The Beard Awards love him. Chicago seems infatuated with each restaurant he and his partners open. The preceding refer to two persons in the Chicago culinary landscape and it was with those thoughts in mind … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackbird, Bread Basket, Chicago, Cornbread, Dessert, Foie, Food, Illinois, Pork, Sweetbreads, Vacation

September 11, 2009
11:46 AM
by: Uhockey

Orange on Roscoe, Chicago IL

Having already visited both locations of the famous Bongo Room, m.henry, Over Easy, and a number of bake-shops on previous Chicago visits the decision was made to finally give the Orange franchise a visit on my most recent trip. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Coffee, Food, French Toast, Illinois, Orange on Roscoe, Pancakes, Vacation

August 3, 2009
1:24 AM
by: Uhockey

North Pond, Chicago IL

After three days of gastronomic delights in Chicago, my family and I parted ways around 5:30pm on Sunday with them having a 5 hour drive back to Toledo and myself catching a plane back to Cbus at 9:30. Goodbyes exchanged … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Illinois, North Pond, Pork, Souffle, Vacation

August 2, 2009
4:38 PM
by: Uhockey

Lou Malnati’s, Chicago IL

Having visited Art of Pizza when my family was too full to enjoy it, we opted for another go around with the windy city’s pizza after spending a few hours in Millennium Park and wandering about Michigan Avenue. Parking all … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Food, Illinois, Italian, Lou Malnati's, Pizza, Vacation

August 2, 2009
1:36 PM
by: Uhockey

m.henry, Chicago IL

After Alinea I passed out – despite a 2.5 hour nap between Primehouse and Alinea the nearly 270 minute experience left me thrilled, full, and exhausted. Waking up the next morning about an hour later than I normally would have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Pudding, Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, Food, French Toast, Illinois, m.henry, Pancakes, Pork, Vacation

August 2, 2009
12:37 AM
by: Uhockey

Alinea, Chicago IL

Greatness comes in degrees, especially in dining – what is great to one may taste ‘fishy’ or ‘bland’ to another; words like “challenging,” “avant garde,” and “evolutionary,” however, are far less open to interpretation are palate. Having experienced refined “greatness” … Continue reading →

Posted in Alinea, Bread Basket, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Grill, Ice Cream, Illinois, Pork, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

August 1, 2009
6:19 PM
by: Uhockey

David Burke’s Prime House, Chicago IL

After a lot of walking at the Gold Coast Art Festival, my family and I headed for our reservations at David Burke’s Prime House in the James Hotel for lunch. After the experience the night before at Spiaggia I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, David Burke's, Dessert, Foie, Food, Grill, Illinois, Lobster, Primehouse

August 1, 2009
4:00 PM
by: Uhockey

Molly’s Cupcakes, Fox and Obel, Chicago IL

Fresh and made with high quality ingredients will get you far in my assessment of your cupcakes – but so will flavor and texture. Sprinkles cupcakes may be made of all organic substances by the hand of Thomas Keller himself … Continue reading →

Posted in Blue Bottle Coffee, Chicago, cupcakes, Dessert, Fox and Obel, Illinois, Molly's Cupcakes

August 1, 2009
11:34 AM
by: Uhockey

Yolk, Chicago IL

At home breakfast is the same nearly every day – after a good workout it is a filling salad with chicken, fried eggs, and a parfait of yogurt, fruit, salt, and protein powder. When on vacation breakfast is the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, French Toast, Illinois, Pancakes, Yolk

July 31, 2009
11:15 PM
by: Uhockey

Spiaggia, Chicago IL

I’d almost given up on “haute Italian” before my May trip to New York. After less-than-amazing experience for excessive prices at Valentino, La Botte, and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles/Santa Monica and vastly better quantity/quality experiences at “mid-range” Italian places … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Crab, Dessert, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Illinois, Italian, Lobster, Octopus, Pork, Spiaggia, Tiramisu, Truffle

July 31, 2009
4:27 PM
by: Uhockey

Hot Doug’s, The Art of Pizza, Vanille Patisserie, Chicago IL

While the “Chicago Steakhouse” holds some significance, ask most persons what they think of when they hear the phrase “Chicago Style” and you get pizza and hot dogs or hot dogs and pizza – simple “common” American comfort foods served … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Croissant, Dessert, Foie, Food, Hot Doug's, Illinois, Italian, Macaroon, Pizza, Pork, The Art of Pizza, Truffle, Vacation, Vanille Patisserie

July 31, 2009
11:45 AM
by: Uhockey

The Bongo Room (Wabash), Chicago IL

…you hop off the plane at O’Hare at 7:30am with bags in hand – you’re scheduled to meet your family who is driving in at 10:30 at the art museum – you catch the subway into town and hop off … Continue reading →

Posted in Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, Food, Illinois, Pancakes, The Bongo Room, Vacation

December 31, 2008
6:44 PM
by: Uhockey

Moto, Chicago IL

In a trip that included fantastic meals at Charlie Trotter’s, Tru, Bongo Room, and Cafe Spiaggia it was my New Years Eve reservation at Moto with my sister that I looked forward to the most. With only a small amount … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Cornbread, Dessert, Food, Illinois, Moto, Octopus, Pork, Tasting Menu, Tiramisu, Truffle, Vacation

December 31, 2008
2:57 PM
by: Uhockey

Cafe Spiaggia, Chicago IL

Call it ignorant or whatever you like but as a midwesterner brought up on chain Italian and (even worse) chain pizza I still have problems today seeing Italian as “fine dining.” Sure I’ve been wowed by a handful of high-end … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Cafe Spiaggia, Chicago, Dessert, Food, Gnocchi, Illinois, Italian, Octopus, Pizza, Tiramisu, Vacation

December 31, 2008
2:00 PM
by: Uhockey

The Bongo Room, Chicago IL

Columbus and even more-so Ohio in general lacks good breakfast spots. Somehow over the course of many years Bob Evans and Cracker Barrel have become the standard with the occassional IHOP thrown in for variety and trans-fatty repulsiveness. Sure, Columbus … Continue reading →

Posted in Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Cornbread, Food, French Toast, Illinois, Pancakes, The Bongo Room, Vacation

December 31, 2008
7:00 AM
by: Uhockey

Tru, Chicago IL

Getting out of Trotter’s a bit later than expected I said goodbye to my pal and hopped into the waiting car on Armitage. I quickly flipped open my cellphone and placed a call…we were going to be late. “Not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Buttercake, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, Illinois, Macaroon, Madeline, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Tru, Truffle, Vacation

December 30, 2008
9:42 PM
by: Uhockey

Charlie Trotter’s, Chicago IL

Going into my meal at Charlie Trotter’s I can honestly say I didn’t know what to expect. As I was meeting a friend I hadn’t seen in some time I certainly expected a good time, but despite Trotter being one … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Charlie Trotter's, Chicago, Dessert, Illinois, Lobster, Pork, Tasting Menu, Vacation

December 30, 2008
6:18 PM
by: Uhockey

Over Easy Cafe, Chicago IL

As my daily breakfast is usually vegetable, egg, fruit, and yogurt based I tend to go all out for the sweet temptations when on Vacation and during my recent trip to Chicago I kept true to form in electing to … Continue reading →

Posted in Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Cornbread, Illinois, Over Easy Cafe, Pancakes, Vacation

December 30, 2008
3:38 PM
by: Uhockey

Bleeding Heart Bakery, Chicago IL

As an advocate of healthy eating and the total avoidance of trans-fats, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and other horribly unnatural ingredients I must admit I avoid most bakeries and almost all pre-packaged goods. With that said, a good bakery is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bleeding Heart, Bread Pudding, Chicago, cupcakes, Dessert, Food, Illinois, Vacation