Category Archives: Illinois

March 17, 2012
8:05 AM
by: Uhockey

2 Sparrows, Chicago IL

The Gist: Upscale breakfast and brunch spot in the Lincoln Park area helmed by a former Charlie Trotter’s Chef and Dining Room Manager. The Why: My fascination with kitschy breakfasts, dessert-like pancakes and French toast, and good coffee – plus … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Sparrows, Bread Pudding, Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Illinois, Pork, Vacation

March 16, 2012
6:50 PM
by: Uhockey

Nellcôte, Chicago IL

Having mentioned that the planning for this trip to Chicago was a bit last minute, it was also a trip during which I didn’t particularly want to ‘break the bank’ as I was just returning from an over-the-top visit to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Illinois, La Colombe, Nellcôte, Pizza, Vacation

March 16, 2012
1:04 PM
by: Uhockey

GT Fish & Oyster, Chicago IL

  With the donut showdown barely over the first proper meal on my Chicago agenda was at GT Fish & Oyster, a restaurant that had gotten rave reviews since the day it opened and given the diverse seafood-centric menu focused … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Dessert, Food, GT Fish & Oyster, Illinois, Lobster, Vacation

March 16, 2012
8:15 AM
by: Uhockey

Coffee, Donuts, Doughnuts, and Baked Goods, Chicago IL

I was standing in front of Brushstroke in New York City after a 6-stop Pizza Crawl when my phone buzzed to alert me of an e-mail. Early to the restaurant I opened the mail and started to read – an … Continue reading →

Posted in Baker and Nosh, Bread Pudding, Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Croissant, cupcakes, Dessert, Do-Rite Donuts, Doughnut Vault, Floriole, Food, Illinois, La Colombe, Nightwood, Old Fashioned Donuts, Pork, Vacation

November 6, 2011
3:14 PM
by: Uhockey

Avec, Chicago IL

With the weekend’s eating agenda admittedly packed but finally winding to a close and my rescheduled flight now earlier than anticipated it was with great fortune that I found two ready, willing, and able locals happy to show up early … Continue reading →

Posted in avec, Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Food, Illinois, Pork, Vacation

November 5, 2011
10:57 PM
by: Uhockey

Next “Childhood,” Chicago IL

The details of how I ended up seated at a two-top at Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas’ Next – Childhood a mere five and a half hours after I’d been led up the stairs for Chris Nugent’s last tasting menu … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Illinois, Next, Pork, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

November 5, 2011
5:40 PM
by: Uhockey

Les Nomades, Chicago IL

Having stepped out of my element to enjoy the Peking/Beijing Duck feast at Sun Wah during the afternoon, Saturday evening would find me back in my comfort zone as I stepped up to the quiet doors of Les Nomades at … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Illinois, Les Nomades, Lobster, Macaroon, Madeline, Octopus, Souffle, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

November 5, 2011
12:32 PM
by: Uhockey

Sun Wah BBQ, Chicago IL

E-mails to Sun Wah BBQ are responded to promptly and signed “quack quack! kelly” – I mention this not only for the humor but also because it is important to know that e-mailing or calling is a good idea since … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Dessert, Food, Ice Cream, Illinois, Sun Wah BBQ, Vacation

November 4, 2011
6:47 PM
by: Uhockey

Alinea [3], Aviary [2], The Office, Chicago IL

Those who know me will realize that I very rarely visit the same restaurant twice and save for a little breakfast spot in Hollywood the concept of visiting someplace three times is unheard of – unheard of until my most … Continue reading →

Posted in Alinea, Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Illinois, Lobster, Octopus, Pork, Tasting Menu, The Aviary, The Office, Truffle, Vacation

November 4, 2011
10:53 AM
by: Uhockey

Xoco, Bleeding Heart Bakery Cafe, Marmalade, Chicago IL

Without a doubt my favorite city for breakfast this most recent three day trip to Chicago would logically include three breakfasts – the first a solo jaunt to celebrity chef Rick Bayless’ highly regarded take on Mexican Street food, Xoco, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bleeding Heart, Bleeding Heart Bakery Cafe, Bread Pudding, Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, Food, French Toast, Illinois, Marmalade, Pancakes, Pork, Vacation, Xoco

November 4, 2011
7:43 AM
by: Uhockey

Ancillary Eats, Chicago IL

In my traditional fashion I overplanned and as usual the agenda contained far more stops than we would logically have time (or stomach capacity) for, yet when it was all said and done my most recent trip to the Windy … Continue reading →

Posted in A Taste of Heaven, Beard Papa, Burt's Place, Chicago, Coffee, cupcakes, Dessert, Hoosier Mama Pie Company, Illinois, Intelligentsia, Morton Grove, Pizza, Pork, Vacation

June 18, 2011
12:02 PM
by: Uhockey

m.henrietta, Chicago IL

Seeing as vacation was too short – as it almost invariably always is – our final day in Chicago would be restricted to only breakfast before beginning the drive back to Toledo and with my plans including a return to … Continue reading →

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

June 18, 2011
1:20 AM
by: Uhockey

Avenues, Chicago IL

For my last dinner on this trip to Chicago the choice came down to Graham Elliot, Ria, or Avenues – not a bad one in the bunch from what I’d been told, but with one standing far above the others … Continue reading →

Posted in Avenues, Bread Basket, Chicago, Crab, Dessert, Food, Illinois, Pork, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

June 17, 2011
4:06 PM
by: Uhockey

NAHA, Chicago IL

At NAHA, Chef and owner Carrie Nahabedian cooks in her own kitchen; she does this at both lunch and dinner. She also answers her own e-mails and at least when I called to make reservations she answers her own phones … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Illinois, NAHA, Pork, Vacation

June 17, 2011
11:59 AM
by: Uhockey

Kanela Breakfast Club, Chicago IL

When going for brunch in Chicago N. Clark St. is generally a good call – M. Henry, Over Easy, Orange, Ann Sather, Big Jones…let’s just say Lakeview and Andersonville aren’t hurting for their eggs, pancakes, and bacon – but having … Continue reading →

Posted in Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, Food, French Toast, Illinois, Kanela, Kanela Breakfast Club, Pork, Vacation, Waffles

June 16, 2011
10:45 PM
by: Uhockey

Next "Paris 1906" and The Aviary, Chicago IL

To call the hype surrounding Chef Grant Achatz’s “NEXT” substantial would be the understatement of the year…or perhaps of last year since first the restaurant was named the “most anticipated restaurant in America” for 2010 and didn’t even start selling … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Illinois, Next, Pork, The Aviary, Truffle, Vacation

June 16, 2011
7:45 PM
by: Uhockey

Spacca Napoli, Chicago IL

…having admittedly never traveled to Naples but a seeker of great Pizzas both in Chicago and in a number of cities around the United States, many of which have been named to any number of “Best Pizza in the America” … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Dessert, Food, Ice Cream, Illinois, Pizza, Spacca Napoli, Vacation

June 16, 2011
1:10 PM
by: Uhockey

Longman & Eagle, Chicago IL

With our early time of arrival noted and my love of Chicago’s Breakfast/Brunch scene well established the first breakfast (following appetizers from Doughnut Vault) of the trip would be of the Michelin Starred Variety – the daily brunch Service at … Continue reading →

Posted in Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, Food, French Toast, Illinois, Longman and Eagle, Pork, Vacation, Waffles

June 16, 2011
11:32 AM
by: Uhockey

Doughnut Vault, Black Dog Gelato, Alliance Bakery, Hot Chocolate, Atwood Cafe Chicago IL

Having just returned from Boston a week earlier the turnaround time for yet another trip to the Windy City was short, but with NEXT reservations and a trip to the Rookery as well as Wright’s Home, Studio, and Walking Tour … Continue reading →

Posted in Alliance Bakery, Atwood Cafe, Black Dog Gelato, Bread Pudding, Breakfast, Chicago, Coffee, cupcakes, Dessert, Doughnut Vault, Hot Chocolate, Ice Cream, Illinois, Macaroon, Souffle, Vacation

November 8, 2010
1:38 AM
by: Uhockey

The Girl and The Goat, Chicago IL

…I’ll be the first to admit I do not watch Top Chef – as a matter of fact, I don’t watch The Food Network at all unless one of my favorite chefs happens to be battling it out on Iron … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Ice Cream, Illinois, Pork, Sweetbreads, The Girl and the Goat