CommentsThis is the last post I'll be making on Eatchicago.net.
When I started this over three years ago, I could find only one other Chicago-based food blog, now there are over 30, and nearly every major media outlet maintains their own. There are a lot of voices in the crowd, and I don't feel like I have anything specific or unique to offer that justifies the level of effort required in maintaining this site.
I'd like to thank everyone who has sent me feedback over the years, positive and negative. You've helped make this an interesting experience. It was always exciting to hear from a complete stranger who found my website.
I will still be writing about eating in Chicago, food travel, and cooking, as always, at LTHForum.com, my user name is "eatchicago".
This website will stay up for a while, probably until the domain name runs out. Until then, I can still be contacted at eatchicago@eatchicago.net.
All the best,
Michael
CommentsI've added keyword tagging to entires on EatChicago.net. The tags for each entry are available at the bottom of the entry. The main tag cloud is now available from the "Tags" link in the main navigation.
All tags link to a result page which will show you all entries with the same tag.
I removed the restrictive "category" feature of this site a while ago and had always intended on replacing it with keyword tagging.
If you find errors or ommissions (or think of better keywords I can use for a particular entry), please feel free to send me an email.
Tags: site newsCommentsTwo recent sandwiches that I've eaten have similar profiles.
Fried Bologna, Twisted Spoke
Not really fried, really more of a griddled bologna sandwich, but still quite good. Extra points for the inclusion of raw onion. "The Spoke" is one of those places that never wows me, but always makes me happy.
Grilled Ham and Cheese, The Depot American Diner
I'm not sure I needed a double-decker for this sandwich, but that's how they serve it. The Depot is a straight-up diner, lovingly restored and using ample amounts of fresh ingredients. They've got a pretty nice open-face turkey sandwich (with real turkey, not the supermarket deli crap) and egg creams!. I'm not sure I'd order this sandwich again, but as far as ham & cheese goes, this is one of the better ones that I can remember eating.
The Twisted Spoke is at 501 N Ogden Ave (at Grand) (312) 666-1500, and at 3365 N Clark St, Chicago - (773) 525-5300 www.twistedspoke.com
The Depot American Diner is at 5840 W. Roosevelt, (773) 261-8422
Tags: austin sandwich west townCommentsApproximately six weeks ago, Coal Fire Pizza opened their doors and ignited a fire not only in their oven, but in the local pizza-loving community. They were full of customers and put under intense scrutiny before the paint on the walls had barely dried.
I rarely like to visit a restaurant during it's first few weeks, let alone days, and some of the praise heaped on this place lit another fire under me to head over there. So, I finally gave into my desire and checked it out.
After trying two of their pizzas, I can say that Coal Fire is the most exciting thing to happen to Chicago's rapidly altering pizza landscape in a very long time.
The star of the show, like it should be with any quality pizza, is the crust. It has flavor and character, blister bubbles and char marks, chew and crunch. It's simply fantastic crust.
Sausage pizza
I love how the edges are inconsistent, with some parts maintaining a golden hue and nice chew and some edges giving way to hot-spots in the oven, creating dark char and brittle crunch.
White pizza, mozzarella and ricotta
This is thin pizza that doesn't fit into exactly any genre. It's not "NY-Style" or Neapolitan and it's definitely not a Chicago-style thin crust. It's a wood & coal fired pizza and it's got a terrific character all its own.
Coal Fire Pizza is located at 1321 W. Grand in Chicago (just west of Ogden), 312-226-2625, BYOB, street parking.
Tags: byo pizza west townCommentsThere is a vast array of authentic Thai food available in Chicago, especially if you're willing to dig a little. Translated Thai menus, created for a selection of local restaurants by Erik M., have become rather well known, but the adventure of ordering from one of these menus can be a little daunting for some. I enjoy it, but I can understand if it's not for everyone. During a recent dinner at Thai Avenue, I noted two ways that a diner can experience some interesting dishes that go beyond the standard noodle dishes or Chinese-inspired stir fries:
- The really simple approach: It's relatively common for certain Thai restaurants to post "chalkboard" specials, and more often than not these specials represent something that's slightly out of the ordinary. Two places that do this well are TAC and Thai Avenue. Here's a recent special posted on the display case at Thai Avenue:
Sounds a bit common at first, but these are tiny little pork riblets that are treated with a souring agent and a marinade which gives the meat a unique, addictive flavor. I was first introduced to these ribs at TAC and again at Dharma Garden by Erik M. and they've been a favorite of mine since. I can't think of a dish that goes better with a cold beer:
So, even if it sounds simple, start ordering off the chalkboards (especially if you see Thai writing next to it), you might be pleasantly surprised.
- The less-simple approach: Pay attention to menus and look for items that don't exist on every other Thai menu in town. You'll always find a core group of items, but if you take notice of things that don't exist everywhere, you might stumble across a regional specialty or just something that one particular family does really well. Sticky Rice has a vast menu of northern Thai specialties where it's easy to spot the unique items, but other places might only have a small handful of dishes that make them different. An example at Thai Avenue is the curry puff--it's not available everywhere and it's something that they do particularly well. The curry puff is a flaky pastry filled with curried potato, and it is excellent:
So, next time you're thinking about Thai for dinner but you're not sure how to take the first step beyond pad thai and spring rolls, think about expanding out to a couple of the items that stand out in the crowd.
Thai Avenue is located at 4949 N Broadway in Chicago, (773) 878-2222, BYOB
Sticky Rice is located at 4018 N Western, Chicago, (773) 588-0120, BYOB
Tags: argyle byo thai
