The Peasantry for brunch

When we went to The Peasantry for dinner back in August, we knew we'd be back for brunch. Little did we know brunch would be so good that we'd be back two weekends in a row.

During the first visit, I tried the roasted beet hash while Z and our friend Miki ordered the Curried Breakfast Flatbread. My hash was light and flavorful. And, with all those veggies, dare I say, healthy? The curried flatbread is such a unique take on a brunch dish. The flavors of the coconut curry, arugula and cider vinaigrette came together deliciously.

I didn't order as well on the second visit, while Z seemed perfectly content with his Short Rib Pastrami Hash, complete with plenty of vegetables and a delicious mustard vinaigrette. The Chicken and Corn Pancake Gyro was so unique that I had to try it, but something about the fried chocolate chili chicken didn't fit with the apple slaw and maple yogurt. We also got a side of the Cannellini Bean and Asparagus Salad, which was served topped with mint, raisins and a date chutney. Yum!

The Peasantry has plenty of other delectable-looking brunch dishes. How about a Blueberry Hand Pie or a Brunch Dog with bacon? I'm sure we'll be back for a brunch three-pete soon.

Roasted Beet Hash at The Peasantry

2 Sparrows Brunch Redux

I first wrote about 2 Sparrows in early May. At the time it seemed to be the hot spot for brunch in north Lincoln Park. We left after the first visit feeling like the food had potential, but that it feel short. Nevertheless, given the reputation of its management team and how recently it had opened (September 2011), we thought we should give it another chance.

We went again last weekend, when Z's dad was in town for a visit. After picking up coffee from BowTruss (more on that in another post), we arrived at 2 Sparrows around noon on Saturday. 2 Sparrows does not take reservations, so the three of us waited about 20 minutes for a table. 

We scoured the menu while we were waiting for our table. When we sat down, I quickly ordered an orange juice and a Chile Relleno. 2 Sparrows has an orange juicer, so you know the juice is going to be fresh and delicious. My chile relleno came fried and stuffed with ooey gooey cheese, served on eggs scrambled with onions and peppers. I had high hopes for the chile. Unfortunately, after several bites, the fried dough became overpowering and the entire dish could have used more spice and flavor.

Z ordered the Bloody Norseman--2 Sparrows' version of a Bloody Mary complete with Beef Jerky and housemade bloody mix--and he and his dad each ordered the Duck Hash. The Bloody Norseman was a much stiffer drink than your average Bloody Mary and not nearly as smooth. While the Duck Hash wasn't as disappointing as my Chile Relleno, it's not reason enough to go back to 2 Sparrows. With all of the great brunch spots in Lincoln Park, including newcomer The Peasantry just around the corner, we can cross 2 Sparrows off of our list.

Gemini Bistro Redux

A few months ago, I raved about Gemini Bistro. When we went in February, we loved it. Perhaps it was the leisurely dinner over a holiday weekend. Or that we were with fun friends. My bet is on the cocktails and delicious foie gras dish we ate as an appetizer.

When Z and I returned to Gemini Bistro a few weeks ago, using a DailyCandy Deal I had recently purchased, I had high expectations. And you know what they say about high expectations...

We started with a glass of wine and a couple of salads--Yia's Yia's Salad and the Red & Golden Beet Salad.  I'm a sucker for beets. And beets with truffle vinaigrette--YUM! The first course was a success.

Next came the Mussels a la Biere and the Blackened Whitefish. Neither was bad, but both lacked flavor. Mussels have become so popular in Chicago recently. It seems like every restaurant I go to has at least one preparation of mussels on the menu. In order to stand out in a city full of mussels, they must be amazing. Gemini's didn't meet the mark.

We left Gemini disappointed. We thought we had found our go-to neighborhood bistro spot. We'll have to keep looking.

Las Fuentes in Lincoln Park

I've walked past Las Fuentes at the corner of Halsted and Wrightwood countless times. The large outdoor patio area with colorful lights always looked fun, but given its size and location in the heart of Lincoln Park, I had low expectations about the cuisine.

One Friday night, when Z and I didn't want to venture too far from home, we decided to check it out. We sat on the patio, where we could enjoy fresh air, the lively conversation of our fellow diners, and the Olympics on a few large, flat screen TVs.

We started with the standard chips and salsa to accompany our half-pitcher of margaritas. After informing the waitstaff that the standard salsa would be too mild, Z took his salsa up a notch with a bottle of habanero sauce. The waitstaff kept stopping our table to check on his progress with the habanero sauce and when he proved worthy of the spice, they offered him a fresh, whole habanero pepper to accompany his meal.

We rounded out our first course with guacamole. Although the guac was good and did have a nice, not overly citrusy flavor, it wasn't as good as the perfectly seasonsed, table-side guac served at some restaurants. It was definitely better than the margaritas, which began to taste a little harsh after a half-glass.

For my main dish, I ordered the Cochinita Pibil (marinated pork, baked in a banana leaf), while Z chose the Chile Tipico en Nogade (chiles in walnut sauce). My pork was perfectly cooked, juicy and tender with light yet distinct flavors. The walnut sauce, covered with pomegranate seeds, made Z's dish unique, but we both found the sauce too sweet and heavy. Z added flavor to the dish with the habanero pepper.

Las Fuentes more than exceeded my expectations and I was excited to see other delicious-looking dishes on the menu. You can't go wrong with a Molcajete or shrimp in mole poblano sauce.

Las Fuentes has two other locations--one in Stickney (southwest suburban Chciago) and one in Alsip (south suburban Chicago).

Street Food in Lincoln Park

As is the trend at mid-priced, popular restaurants in Chicago, The Peasantry doesn't take reservations. So when we arrived with a group of six on a Saturday night, we expected to wait a while. What we found, however, was a very welcoming hostess who went out of her way to find us a table as quickly as possible. We waited about 15-20 minutes while we sipped our drinks at the bar. And the hostess assured us our wait would be shorter "once the basement is open," which should happen soon.

Once we arrived at our table, we started with Poutine with Duck Confit and completed our first course with an order of Truffle Fries and Roasted Beet Flatbread. The fries are waffle fries, which automatically makes them taste better. Not that they needed much help. Aside from a bit too much grease on the fries, everything in that course was delicious.

Z ordered the Beef and Bone Marrow Burger for his entree, while the Baby Octopus Gyro caught my eye. Turns out my choice won. The burger was good, but in a town full of excellent burgers, it doesn't stand out. While my gyro was flavorful, not at all chewy, as is the risk with octopus, and appropriately light. The Chicken and Corn Pancake Gyro was another popular dish at the table.

We finished our meal with an order of the churros, encrusted with macadamia nuts and accompanied by a white chocolate hibiscus anglaise sauce. The churros had a lovely flavor and crunch, while the sauce fell a little flat.

I'm already planning my next meal at The Peasantry. Assuming it's not brunch, where the Pancetta and Chocolate Waffle would get my vote, doesn't the Pickled Lamb Tongue Flatbread with red wine marinated feta, arugula and sous vide artichokes sound delicious?

Balena on a Friday Night

Since Balena opened in the middle of March, critics have given it nothing but rave reviews. (Four stars from TimeOut Chicago, the subsequent posting on Eater Chicago, a write up in Daily Candy Chicago) This combined with the backing of The Bristol and The Boka Group, (Think: GT Fish & Oyster, Girl & the Goat, Perennial Virant and, of course, Boka) gave me high expectations for my meal. Perhaps too high.

On a busy Friday night in early May, we had to wait about 15 minutes after our 9 p.m. reservation. Especially for a new restaurant, I consider that on-time. We got a table for three on the mezzanine floor, near the kitchen. If you didn't know Balena occupies the same space that Landmark Bar & Grill occupied until mid-2011, you'd never guess. The space has been transformed beautifully to look like a rustic Italian farmhouse.

The wine list is exhaustive and almost exclusively Italian, with a couple of bottles from Slovenia, Greece, Lebanon and Israel thrown in. I tried a glass of Sangiovese from Lazio, while Z tried a glass from Tuscany. Neither glass was bad, but I think mine was better.

We started with the Tuscan Kale Salad and a burrata with beets, which seems to have disappeared from the online menu. I liked both. The kale salad had a pleasant citrus flavor and the beets were perfectly cooked. Next came the Tagliolini Nero with Crab, Sea Urchin and Chile. Z and I both love uni (sea urchin), but had never tried it in pasta. The dish was good, just a touch too salty and could have used more sea urchin. I loved the crust on my pizza. It was appropriately salty and crispy and very flavorful. The ingredients on the pizza itself, pancetta with some vegetables (also no longer on the online menu) were just o.k.

Nothing at Balena was disappointing, but only the pizza crust made me want to come back for more. But that's enough to entice me to come back. That and the other delectable-looking dishes that caught my eye--charred quail, short ribs and whole roasted fish. With all of the recent press, getting a table may be another story.

A Little Birdy Told Me about a Hot Brunch Spot in Lincoln Park...

Wall of canning jars just inside the entrance at 2 Sparrows

Plan your visit to 2 Sparrows strategically. Despite opening more than seven months ago in September 2011, this popular brunch spot is still mobbed around weekend brunch hours and doesn't take reservations. Z and I tried to go one weekend and were told we would wait more than an hour. We tried again the next Sunday around 2 p.m. and waited just a few minutes. Note: This is a risky proposition; 2 Sparrows closes at 3 p.m. every day.

Given the amount of press the restaurant has earned and the track record of its culinary and management team, we had high expectations for 2 Sparrows. Z, who naturally gravitates toward breakfast sandwiches, ordered the Belly Sandwich. The sandwich looked beautiful--a fluffy biscuit hugged pork belly, a sunny-side up egg and pickled onions. But looks aren't everything. Z said the biscuit provided too much bread, masking the flavors of the sandwich.

My Chilaquiles were equally uninspiring. I liked the crisp corn tortilla chips, but found the tomatillo salsa too limey. We did enjoy our coffee.

One data point isn't enough to write off a restaurant, so we will be back to 2 Sparrows--if we can get a table.

An American Bistro in Lincoln Park

My dining companions at Gemini Bistro

If you're not looking for it, you'll zoom right past Gemini Bistro on Lincoln Avenue. But if you are looking for the cool flatiron building, you'll appreciate the clean exterior and convenient location in the middle of Lincoln Park. Parking is usually easy on Lincoln Avenue and the restaurant isn't too far from public transit.

The location is great and the building is a unique design, but, really, you should visit Gemini for the food. And drinks. And the homey atmosphere.

Our table wasn't quite ready on a busy Sunday night during restaurant week, so we started at the bar. I had a delicious Chicago Sidecar, while Z had a Lychee Martini, one of his go-to drinks.

We dined with friends Kelley and Peter, also adventurous foodies, so we had the luxury of being able to try many dishes on the menu. My favorite dish of the evening was a special--foie gras atop a toasted ciabata, accompanied by a cherry chutney. We ordered two. It was that good. Z still talks about it and holds it up as the gold standard in foie gras.

Other favorites on the menu included the Creamless Tomato Soup, the Baby Beet Salad and the Truffle Parmesan Fries. I typically love brussels sprots, but I found the sprouts at Gemini to be mushy and flavorless. The Gemini Burger wasn't anything special either.

Gemini Bistro is another Michelin Bib Gourmand winner. You can make a reservation on OpenTable. In the warmer months, request a table outside on the sidewalk cafe.

Mom's first sushi

Sushi spread at Sushi Mon in Lincoln Park

I'm so proud of my mom! A couple of weekends ago, she finally took the plunge and fully embraced sushi. And not just California rolls and spicy tuna rolls. She went off the deep end and tried a dragon roll, a cucumber roll with raw tuna and a salmon appetizer, also raw.

We took her to Sushi Mon in Lincoln Park, a quaint BYOB place with some of the freshest, most affordable sushi in the city. Z and I stop by at least a couple of times a month and have never been disappointed. (Our favorite is the fresh gold uni they often carry.)

We started with miso soup and green salad, followed by the salmon appetizer--a piece of raw salmon wrapped around cucumber, avocado and crab meat.  Next came the crunchy California roll, which turned out to be Mom's favorite and contrary to her customary position of refusing shellfish or "bottom feeders" as she calls them.

We finished up with a Dragon roll of the pressed variety, another Sushi Mon specialty, a Vienna roll and a Viola roll.

Mom before her Vienna roll

And after! Yum!

Barrelhouse Flat on a Friday night

(Photo courtesy chicagonow.com)

Z finally took me to The Barrelhouse Flat. I've been asking to go since it first took over the former Deja Vu space in Lincoln Park in October 2011. (Z went with friends about a month ago, but by the time I could meet up with them, they had moved on to a fratastic bar down the street.)

On a Friday night, Barrelhouse was as busy as I would expect. This place has been covered by every major Chicago publication at least once. And it's hype is well-deserved. From the decor to the glasses to the drinks themselves, the experience is period-appropriate and classy.

After hovering for a few minutes without reservations or plans to eat, we were able to find two seats at the bar. The interior is appropriately minimal. It looks like how I would picture a saloon from just before or after Prohibition--an upright piano, appropriately dimmed lights and at least one bartender in a flapperish-style outfit.

I ordered the Mamie Taylor, a delicious concoction of whiskey, lime, simple syrup and ginger beer. Z ordered the Sazerac, a rye whiskey drink. Next time I hope to check out the Queen's Park Swizzle or the Airmail. Maybe some food, too. Until the deviled egg trend started, I didn't realize I was such a sucker! Looks like Barrelhouse has a special variety of double deviled eggs.

Spring(time) in Winter

Spring Cafe in Lincoln Park

Trying a new brunch spot is typically a low-risk endeavor. The meal is usually inexpensive and if you can't stomach the meal, you have plenty of time throughout the day to fill up on other food. So after I saw a new brunch spot in Lincoln Park, we casually thought, "Sure. We'll give it a try."

When we stopped by Spring Cafe last weekend, we were not disappointed. (The restaurant received some poor reviews on Yelp, but I disagree.) The atmosphere is bright and cheery with plenty of flat-screen TVs on the walls to watch a game or CNN. Our servers were attentive and helpful and provided regular coffee and water refills. And the food came out quickly and piping hot. I had the Alaskan Omelet and Z had the Crazy Eggs. Portion sizes are manageable, just two eggs per egg dish, rather than what has become the customary three. 

This is also one restaurant where I don't mind drinking the coffee. Both the drip coffee and cappuccino were above average for restaurant coffee.  And did I mention that it's very affordable? One coffee, two cappuccino's, one omelet and one Crazy Eggs including tax and tip: just $32. 

Closing Time

 Just Grapes retail store

Two of my favorite brick-and-mortar retail businesses have closed over the past few weeks. Just Grapes, a lovely, personable wine shop in the West Loop moved out of its space around the end of January. I loved going into the store to check out new wines and sample a few at the tasting bar. According to an email I got from the owner, the company had difficulty negotiating its lease. The company will continue to sell wine on its website.

This past weekend I learned my favorite coffee shop had closed. Signs on the door over the past few weeks said the store had been struggling with plumbing problems. Still, I was optimistic that doors would reopen once the pipes were up and running. Noble Tree had delicious cappuccinos and some pretty tasty-looking baked goods.  Not to mention a comfortable, old-school coffee shop ambiance and friendly baristas behind the counter. I learned to recognize a cappuccino by the barista who made it.

Although I will miss Noble Tree, I was happy to learn that the Noble Tree crew has plans in the works for a new coffee roasting and education company, Bow & Truss and free-standing cafes, P.O.C. For more information about the new venture, click here. Sounds like a really cool concept. And I know of quite a few neighborhoods in the city that are deprived of quality coffee!