Peninsula, Chicago

So, it's been a month's time since I posted, but I wasn't done w/ the Chicago eating venture; so here's the last post on the Chicago trip.

The last day of the trip I've made a habit of calling up the room service. I know that sounds snobby, and usually takes 40 mins to get the food, but it's very time efficient. I know that's silly but I usually try to capitalize the last day and run whatever errands. Usually up till the shops closes which also means that dinner at normal restaurants are also done. I do have occasionally go to the reverse-happy hour and get good deals. Mostly, I have it down to a science to order room service and use the remainder of the time to pack.

Since it's usually late late late dinner for me, it's helps to not have a big meal. Plus, what you see here, as little as it is, it cost about $50. Yep, you read that right... $50.

So, let's see what I ordered...

Sliders w/ fries... yes, that cute little cup contains fries... I think there's about 6 fries in there... All 3 mini sliders are different. One is plain burger, one is w/ blue cheese, and one is with cheddar cheese. The meat of the burger is top notch. You're probably thinking it'd better be. And it is... the plain one is just that, meat, bread and pickle. Since I'm not a pickle person, it's really meat an bread. The buns are also yummy, must be buttermilk of some sort, definitely made in house... no doubt about that.

Lastly, I always order their creme brulee. You just know that they will use real vanilla beans to make this. I'm not sure about that rolled up cookie thing, but mixed w/ the diced applies it's brings up the sweetness of the brulee.

For their brulee, they do change it up by season. Once I ordered the creme brulee without reading the description, turns out it was pumpkin brulee... It tasted fine, but that's what I psyched myself up for... But this is not bad if you ever get a chance to try it.

Also not to neglect that the hotel itself has some wonderful restaurants in-house. For instance, they're known for their afternoon tea service. You do have to make reservation ahead of time. The Shanghai Terrance is not bad and yes, you do need a reservation. Another great place at the hotel is the Pierrot Gourmet. They have great breakfast, and lovely to sit out at the sidewalk and do lunch. Dinner is not bad either, except they do close early. The wine pairing with the dinner is lovely. You don't need a reservation for that.

Peninsula Chicago

108 E. Superior St. (at Michigan Ave)

Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 337-2888

Devon, Chicago

Everytime I go to Chicago, I have to make a stop at Devon's. I discovered it when I first came to Chicago for work and staying at the hotel nearby. I had asked the concierge for a recommendation and thinking that they would point me to the seafood restaurant around the corner, which sounded casual, but I should know better. Turns out 'casual' is really code for seen and be seen.

The bar area is always packed with people at the bar on the upstairs, and the downstairs is the dining area. The downstairs is dim and actually very spacious. But I never got a chance to eat downstairs since most of the time I'm there to eat my myself, so I usually hang out at the bar upstairs.

I usually get there around 9p so they start the reverse Happy Hour just in time. That's when they get the specials on everything yummy. Sitting at the bar has its perks. You get yummy biscuit, which is savory and they give you this whipped better that's divine. I can stock up on these things all night long.

My favorite thing to get there is the Lobster bisque. I just know that that I'm going to get the good meat and creamy soup. The cracker they give you makes a good mushy bits that just scrumptious.

The other thing I had was the crab cakes. I already ordered the bar size not the meal size, but even then, it was gigantic serving. That came with asparagus. Honestly, if you ever get a chance to get the lobster, you should. They do it so great that it's bar none to anything I've had.

Of course, I would recommend creme brulee. I didn't get it this

But I recommend it if you get a chance you get to it. Of course, drinks too. Their sangria is good, and their bartender also serve a great deal of good off the menu drinks. You should definitely give them a try.

Devon Seafood Restaurants

39 E. Chicago Ave,

Chicago, IL 60611

312-440-8660

Giordano's Chicago

The other place that I like to take Texans to is Giordano's. They have the classic Chicago Deep Dish that is well known. Now, I know what you're going to say. There's Pizzeria Uno and others. Frankly, unless you are a true Chicagoan, you really don't know what the best Deep Dish is located. I'm telling you, I've eaten w/ locals at the most hole-in-the wall place that I don't even know how to get to, now that's true Deep Dish.

In the mean time, since I'm not a local and this is right by the Mag Mile and by my hotel, that'll work. I know what you're thinking: it's by the touristy area, how good can it be? Well, so good that alot of Chicagoan who moved away would order it online. Yes, they do entertain online orders. What they do is that they cook it halfway and then freeze it and overnight it to you. Can you tell I've done it and ate it that way couple of times? =D

So, let's talk food, shall we?

My friend Angie and I went to the Giordano's and they made it very easy for you to order. You put your name down w/ the hostess, grab a menu, look over what you want (pizza-wise), and go place your order. Yes, you place your order before even sitting down. This way they can start prepping your pizza, since it's deep dish, there's no 30 minutes delivery here. They take at least 45 mins to bake.

We didn't do the suggested pizza toppings, we ventured out on our own, not very far, but olives, pepperoni, mushroom, and cheese. Yes, cheese, cheese and more cheese. Needless to say, for even a small size, between the two of us, it was alot of food. We both had 2 slices and was ready to raise the white flag and give up.

Notable things here, their house red wine is great with pizza. Their Caesar Salad is worth having w/ anchovy, yes gross as that might sound, the saltyness of the fish brings out the sourness of the salad dressing and when mixed well, it was great. Sound strange? You should try it.

Needless to say, we were sad that we didn't get dessert, but we just couldn't do it. We were about to bust out of the seams.

Giordano's

730 N. Rush Street (by E. Superior)

Chicago, IL

(312) 951-0747

http://www.giordanos.com/

Hot Chocolate, Chicago

As my friend, Angie had pointed out, I do write like I speak. I guess to some degrees I don't really care, as long as I'm writing. Not so much to be grammatically correct, as much as memorializing my food adventure.

I don't claim to be a foodie by any stretch of imagination. Plus, don't Foodie also cook? I know I'm no where close to being one, but one can always aspire, right?

Speaking of my friend Angie, she and I had went to Chicago last month. It was super fun to just walk and see all these neat shops and neighborhood. One that she insisted we go, and boy am I glad she did was Hot Chocolate Chicago.

The place is located on the edge of Bucktown of Chicago. Which is really an up and coming neighborhood that is filled w/ alot of artists and their workshops along the way. There's also alot of upper end stores nozzled themselves in the midst of the action.

Our intention was to go there to have a late lunch. I guess, we arrived so late that they stopped serving lunch but instead, they are having 'tea'. Hmm...

Ok, instead of tea, we have to have the world famous, James Beard awared, sweets and hot chocolate.

What you see up top is a Dark and Tan, it's also spicy. I just love the marshmellow. This is not only the type that will give you a mustache when you melt it in your chocolate and drank it. It also mellows (pun) out the spicyness of the hot chocolate. This is not for the faint of heart, because the hot chocolate is quite rich, make sure you get a glass of water to go with that.

Here, on the left side, are Angie's cookies, they look like Black & Whites, they are really not. They have a layer of delicious jam in the middle between the 2 cookies and they are hand dipped as you can see.

On the right, are my cookies. YUM! There's a rugulach w/ raspberry jam and cinnamon. A gingerbread sugar cookie, and a marble cookie.

I would like to return one day to have their yummy looking entree, especially if their pastry chef is this great I can only imagine the main course.

Hot Chocolate
1747 North Damen Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647-5508
(773) 489-1747
www.hotchocolatechicago.com