Chicago Food Finds

If you haven’t guessed by now, my favorite food is anything that includes beans (refried or black), avocados, corn chips and tortillas and as an added bonus – plantains. This usually makes it very easy to find a new place to eat since Chicago is full of Mexican, Spanish, and Puerto Rican themed restaurants. This weekend I had the chance to check out a few places. Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera so the pics were all taken with my Blackberry. Enjoy!!

Zocalo Restaurant and Tequila Bar - 358 W. Ontario (River North)    **Thursday nights after 9PM all food is 50% OFF!!!!

By far, one of my FAVORITE spots in Chicago, this was my first time selecting from the Entrée menu. Let me just say, they did not disappoint!! The leftover made an awesome lunch the next day. My girls (who were visiting from out of town) tried the Sangria (only $5 on Thursday nights) and a guacamole sampler while we waited for our entrees. This was such a great choice for my out of town guests who still raved about it the next day!

Tacos en Cazuels – A trio of tacos served with black beans…. includes Barbacoa (Centro Mexico Style braised beef marinated with guajillo chiles), Cochinita Pibil (Yucatan style pulled pork with pickled red onions), Tinga de Pollo (Shredded chicken with chipotle peppers, tomatoes and onions).

Tinga Poblana – Chipotle marinated grilled chicken breast with poblano pepper-chorizo potato cake, cool avocado salsa, fresco cheese and pico de gallo.

Fajitas ZOCALO – Marinated grilled chicken breast and steak with onion, red and green bell peppers, Mexican Rice and whole black beans.

La Fonda Del Gusto Restaurant – 1408 N Milwaukee (Wicker Park)

The sign that drew me in…. free Mimosas and Bloody Mary drinks during brunch!!

Huevos Motuleños $8.95 ---  Classic Yucatecan style fried eggs with ham on top of a tortilla basted in Kolito salsa with refried black beans, plantains and green peas. (**I substituted chicken for ham)

The special of the day, which the waiter claimed was the best hangover meal ever (not that I or Bobby needed it, LOL), was the Chilaquiles with Steak entree. It was just a tad bit too spicy for my wimpy taste buds, but the flavors were awesome!!

Add chips, salsa, guacamole, 2 mimosas and a coffee and our total came in under $25! Not bad at all!

**Honorable Mention (since I forgot to take pics)

Café Iberico - 737 N Lasalle Blvd (River North)

This is my favorite Spanish tapas place in the city! A late night trip to Japonais on Friday (one of my fav sushi spots) went wrong when they told us over the phone the sushi kitchen closed at 11:30. At 11:05 when we were seated and tried to order sushi they said there was no sushi available, “the kitchen closes when the manager feels like it”, and we could only order from the late night menu… which looked pretty “sub par” compared to the dining menu. We grabbed a $7 appetizer each, which to a hungry person felt like eating a mint since the lobster rolls were the size of a Twix bar, and ditched the place.

The girls and I headed to Café Iberico where the kitchen is open until 1:30 AM and the full menu is available! The sangria pitchers for only $14 were definitely a plus! I LOVE the Jimon Iberico (a cool take on “ham and cheese”) and the Paella Croquettas, which were pretty tasty. I normally go for the baked goat cheese, but since it was late I passed on that dish. This turned out to be another great choice among the out-of towners!

Chicago (A.K.A. Cherish)

Breakfast in Atlanta

It is true that I love food…but I really love breakfast!!!! Yesterday one of my older sisters and I went to my favorite breakfast spot in Atlanta…Highland Bakery. And it got me thinking…I need to list my top three places to enjoy breakfast any time of the day. So here we go….
3. Flyin Biscuit
There are locations in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. You can get vegan and non vegan items here. I LOVE their Love Cakes which are made from black beans…and their soysage has a wonderful kick to it. Of COURSE their biscuits are yummy and they come in classic and whole wheat. But I have to say by far my favorite dish and what I get 9 times out of 10 that I go is the Southern Scramble. The combination of eggs, collard greens, turkey bacon, greens and cheddar cheese may sound strange but it tastes oh so right. Add to that the Sledgehammer (4 shots of espresso with cream) and their signature rosemary potatoes, and you are good to go. Or add a yummy mimosa or Bellini…yes they serve a little but of alcohol. Nothing hard, but enough options to compliment a meal. They take all forms of payment and are really busy on the weekend.
2. Thumbs Up Diner
With 5 locations spread out in Atlanta, Thumbs Up has breakfast down pat. These hole in the wall spots crank out the biggest pancakes I have ever seen and some YUMMY home potatoes. They are ALWAYS packed and rarely will you go and not have a short wait. You wont find a hostess to welcome you but a podium with a pad on it for you to sign your name and number in your party. Don’t worry…you wont have to wait for too long. But it will oh so be worth the wait. My must have item to eat every time I go is The Heap. You can pretty much have it any way you want but it will be served in a small cast iron skillet. Bottom layer consisting on their home fries, then you choose your cheese, your meat and how you want your eggs cooked that will be laid on top. Man oh man my mouth is watering just thinking about it!!! No alcohol served here and they take cash only…but don’t worry…there is an ATM machine in each location...
1. Highland Bakery
Man, where do I start? First of all I was introduced to this place by one of my oldest friends…and I have been hooked ever since!!! They have it ALL…coffees, baked goods, and yummy fresh, all natural food!!! They even mill their grits on site!!!! And you get SO MUCH yummy food!!! There is only ONE Highland Bakery in Atlanta and that may be why I love it so much. They stay busy but I don’t remember waiting longer than 5-10  minutes even on a Saturday morning. I LOVE their French toast…I mean LOVE LOVE LOVE their French toast. But when my sister and I went I got an omelet made my way. That means light onion, spinach, mushrooms, ham and mozzarella!!!! Oh and since I don’t eat grits I got their YUMMY home potatoes that are made from red potatoes and seasoned to perfection. But what my sister got (which I have been scared to get) is their famous peanut butter French toast. Let me say that their French toast is made with 1in thick challah bread so you know it is going to be a lot of food. But the peanut butter French toast is TWO pieces of challah bread held together with peanut butter, grilled on a flat top (melting the peanut butter perfectly) and topped with carmelized bananas!!!! Does that not sound yummy???!!! She wanted eggs too and I told her that the French toast was a lot of food and that may not be a good idea but of course she did NOT listen to her little sister. Well…in this Mann vs. Food situation…FOOD CONQUIRED!!!! They take all forms of payment. No alcohol served here but you can get anything you find at Starbucks here!!! Sit inside, outside or on bar stools and no matter what you order…you will not be disappointed. Next time I go I will be trying the cilantro corn pancakes that are over black beans!!! Does that not sound divine??
Here is a picture of my food and my sisters…is your mouth watering yet?

Happy Eating!!!
Atlanta