Recent Foodie Finds | chicago foodie girl

4.29.2013

Recent Foodie Finds

Happy spring! Yes, I realize spring technically started over a month ago; however, it was still very much winter in these parts until just a few days ago (we had tickets to a Sox game on the 19th that was snowed out!). The piles of dirty of snow have finally melted, the trees have sprouted tiny buds, and there's a whiff of the telltale spring smells (dirt, fresh grass, wet pavement) in the air. I'm so sure that the crappy weather is finally done that I actually put away the errant pile of scarves and mittens yesterday. Yippee!

We're rapidly nearing the end of the semester. My students' writing portfolios and my final few homework assignments are all due by the end of this week. After a whirlwind week of grading, I will be done, done, done with the semester! Yay! I have a really fantastic group of students this semester and while I'm sad to see them go, I'm also excited to finally have time to tackle my huge spring/summer to-do list (including a backlog of foodie porn & recipe posts, two new classes to design, and six grad credits to complete).

A few food highlights from the last few months...

Cupid's Choice Donut from Dunkin' Donuts: I have to admit that I'm a bit of a donut snob, as there are so many amazing donut shops in Chicago, but even I am powerless when it comes to the charms of cute heart sprinkles and rich Bavarian Kreme. :-)

Bavarian Kreme
Bavarian Kreme
Cajun Tater Tots with Creole Ketchup at Heaven on Seven: I don't think tater tots are technically Cajun, but nevertheless, they were amazing! The tater tots were crispy with just the right amount of seasoning - not too hot to eat, but with a nice amount of heat that hits a few seconds after the bite.

Crab and Asparagus Omelet at Grand Lux Cafe: lump crab, asparagus, oven-roasted tomato, and Fontina cheese. This was a huge indulgence for me, as I typically just drink protein shakes for breakfast. It was the perfect omelet - I've actually made my own version for dinner several times since!

New Orleans Beignets at Grand Lux Cafe: served warm with three sauces (cream cheese, chocolate, and raspberry). The Beignets were incredibly airy and rich - by far the best I've ever had in the Midwest. I wasn't a huge fan of the raspberry sauce (it had a weird aftertaste), but the other two sauces more than made up for it.

Fried Chicken & Waffles at Chicago's Home of Chicken and Waffles: at one time, I really didn't get the concept of chicken and waffles, but I've officially been converted. Now I can't get enough of the sweet/crunchy/meaty combo!

Vegan Falafel Pita wrap at Rose's Wheatfree Bakery: awesome sauce, fresh veggies, and the perfect amount of spice. Surprisingly, the pita was also quite good. I didn't have super high hopes for the wrap, as I've had some fairly terrible gluten-free breads in the past - I was definitely impressed by how not-weird it tasted! :-)

Chicken Satay and Tiger Maki at Hello Sushi: Hello Sushi is our favorite neighborhood restaurant. It's within walking distance of our apartment, there's a decent selection of specialty rolls, and the quality is consistently good.

 Butter Poached Half Lobster Tail, Seared Crab Cake, U10 Sea Scallop & Shrimp, and Macadamia Nut Pesto Risotto at Roy's: day one of Diana's foodie birthday extravaganza! I Roy's!

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4 comments

  1. I've never understood this combo, not really a fan but the picture is really good!

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  2. @Jenny: Me, neither! That was actually Mario's plate (he also took the pic). I love a good sweet/savory combo, but chicken & waffles just doesn't work for me.

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  3. I heard once that it was developed at a diner in NYC for late-night patrons who couldn't decide whether they should have dinner or breakfast.

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  4. @Kait: That totally makes sense! Otherwise, why wouldn't you just order the superior bacon with your waffles? :-)

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