Tuna sandwich from Birchwood Kitchen

Though this casual spot gives the appearance of a sit-down restaurant, it’s actually run as a deli. Place orders at the counter and they’re cheerfully served a few minutes later. The tuna topped with tomatoes and Gruyère cheese on multi-grain is my go-to choice, though I’m occasionally lured by the hot pot roast or cold chickpea sandwiches. I once had a goat cheese sandwich with curried veggies that sent me over the moon.

Bliss! Dill Carrots!

The side dishes and pickles are “complimentary” with the sandwiches but are actually ingenious lures back to the deli counter. The “on the side” dilled carrots I had with my last sammie ended up becoming a minor obsession. They were the accompaniment to every meal I had for the next several days I only pray they’re still on the menu the next time I make it by.

However, I’m not that worried. I’m sure there’s a new favorite obsession to discover on my next visit. Birchwood Kitchen is good that way.

Birchwood Kitchen
2211 West North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647

Shrimp Carbonara

Dale Levitski’s bistro, Frog N Snail, opened for lunch in Lakeview on Friday, and I popped in over the weekend to sample the menu and take in the atmosphere. It’s a lovely space, all clean lines and textured surfaces. The space feels a little cold, but the food warms things right up.

I didn’t try too much, but what I had was flavorful and fresh. Lunch started with a homemade ricotta dip, which came rolled in bacon bits atop a broccoli puree. There were just enough toast points to eat every last, tasty bit.

Ginger Ale

Frog N Snail doesn’t have a liquor license yet, so I sipped on ginger ale, one of the specialty drinks. The tangy combination of fresh ginger and black currants was unfortunately diluted halfway through by too much ice. I wanted to enjoy that intense zing all the way to the bottom.

By the way, the mason jar has become my most hated drink cliche. You can’t drink out of the silly things, and every restaurant that wants to appear “rustic” goes straight for them. I grew up canning vegetables and making jam on the farm — we never drank from mason jars. Puh-lease.

Ratatouille Sandwich

I ordered the Ratatouille, which came in sandwich form. I wish I’d read that more closely because the combination of breading and brioche was too many carbs for one plate. Once I deconstructed it, the ratatouille went down really well. An entree of Shrimp Carbonara was infused with plenty of salty bacon and tender vegetables, and perfectly cooked shrimp. I would order it again.

I look forward to a return visit for the salads, brook trout sandwich, and steak frites. Dinner service will start soon to be followed by pastries and, of course, liquor. From this first look, I look forward to a return visit.

Frog N Snail
3124 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL

Taken before the rain at Goddess & Grocer

The Goddess and Grocer
1646 N Damien
Chicago, IL 60647

Wild Main Mussels from Browntrout

The early arrival of Spring has certainly brought back my appetite, and I’m eager to revisit a few of my favorite neighborhood restaurants including Browntrout (4111 N Lincoln Avenue). Not only does Chef Sean Sanders focus on locally grown food, sustainable meats, and seasonal dishes, he takes things a step further and grows herbs on the rooftop garden. Many of the dishes are garnished with house-cured olives or come with condiments made in the kitchen. I usually go with a seafood choice like the Grilled Amberjack, but I’m intrigued by the 5 Ways of the Slagel Goat as well as the Butterscotch Crème Brulée for dessert.

Grab a rez at Table Fifty-Two!

The menu at Table Fifty-Two (52 West Elm) reads like a who’s who of local farmers and producers. That’s because Chef Art Smith has a reputation for producing Southern comfort food with quality touches. My list of things to try and revisit on his menu will involve hard decisions, or more likely, a return visit or two. The Shrimp and Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes, Duck Egg compete for my appetizer choices, and I’ve whittled down the entrees to Barbecue Chicken, Catfish with Hush Puppies, Short Ribs. Dessert is easy though — Hummingbird Cake!

Hanger Steak and truffled frites from Bistronomic

I visited Bistronomic (840 North Wabash) on Sunday to sample the Chef Week Menu, and ended up chucking it in favor of the regular menu options. The cheese selection here proved too tempting as did the Hanger Steak — it came piled high with truffled frites that were made more fabulous dipped au jus. Fortunately, the waiter allowed a return to the special menu for dessert and I was rewarded with a butterscotch creme brulee and pastry concoction that was the perfect end to the meal. If you’re interested in the daily pasta and seafood specials, they’re featured heavily for Chef Week.

If I find the time, I plan to add Allium (120 E. Delaware) and GT Fish & Oyster (531 North Wells) to the list, too. Chicago Chef Week completes its delicious run on March 23, make your reservations today!

Cookies from Sensational Bites

If you’re looking for more substantial food, read about my corned beef picks on Chicago Like A Local.

Raspberry Lemon Pączki from Dinkel's

If you’ve never had a pączki (pronounced PUNCH-kie), it’s a traditional Polish pastry made before the start of Lent to use up all the eggs, lard, sugar and fruit in the house. In fact, Fat Tuesday is sometimes referred to as Pączki Day.

I couldn’t wait for Tuesday, and picked up my favorites from both Dinkel’s (3329 North Lincoln Avenue) and Lutz Bakery (2458 West Montrose Avenue) over the weekend. The raspberry lemon pączki from Dinkel’s was by far my favorite, followed by the sweet cheese, and then Lutz Bakery’s prune and apricot.

These treats can be found through Tuesday and cost about $1.50 each.

Apricot and Prune Pączkis from Lutz

Yesterday, I spoke up in favor of Angel Food Bakery’s faux Thin Mints, and what happens? Girl Scout cookies get delivered at work today. Powers like this make me reconsider the merits of starting a gold bouillon site. Ah-hem, anyway…

I ordered do-si-dos, the Girl Scout’s version of Nutter Butters. I was in the minority according to a quick survey of office purchases. According to one of my co-workers, people buy Nutter Butters when in the mood for them. Everyone else loads up on the more highly sought-after thin mints, samosas and tagalongs.

Nearly all the cookies were deposited in the communal kitchen where they were demolished by starved cadres of office workers. Which is why I only have photos of the under-loved do-si-dos.

What cookies are crumbling in your office kitchen? And do you want some do-si-dos? Let me know!

Thin Mints

You can’t fight the marketing that equates love with sugar and sugar with love, but you can make the decision to get good sugar. That’s why I head to Angel Food Bakery to pick up retro snacks like Thin Mints (Girl Scouts) and Airstreams (Twinkies). I’m not sure whether they have a commercial-sized Easy Bake oven in the back or what, but these reinvented childhood favs come out new, improved and oh-so-satisfying. Skip the box of chocolates, and head over to Montrose to get your Valentine’s Day sugar fix. Your sweetheart will thank you.

Airstreams

Angel Food Bakery
1636 West Montrose Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613