Exquisite:
I snapped this one while wandering the city this weekend. I could have an entire blog dedicated to funny signs I see.
I was in produce heaven at Stanley’s this weekend. This place is the mecca for cheap, fresh fruits and veggies in Chicago:
There was a guy making fresh sweet potato chips, they’ve got a dairy section, nuts, a meat deli counter and more. Fantastic. Last night for dinner? I sliced some crispy cukes, made yummy bruschetta with the heirloom tomatoes I picked up, and whipped up some corn succotash too.
I love summer and all the fresh foods that come along with it.
How could this picture not make you smile?
Because it’s a gorgeous day out, I decided to walk my errands today. Trader Joe’s was my last stop to stock up on a few snacks and some beer for after my double-header soccer game tonight. As I headed home I walked by an auto shop with a few guys standing outside taking what looked like a much deserved break. I smiled and said hi as I approached them. One of the guys saw my 6-pack of Blue Moon and jokingly reached for one of them. We both laughed as I walked by. As I turned the corner I thought, I have got to go back and give this guy a beer. He looked like a jolly and hard-working guy, why not?
I walked back and said “Here you go, enjoy!” He looked shocked, smiled huge, and was very appreciative. We laughed, I introduced myself and asked if I could take a photo of him of course. After a minute of chatter, he was being summoned to go back to work so we said our goodbye’s.
It’s amazing how a 2 minute interaction with someone you’d never otherwise meet can change your day, give you some perspective, or put a smile on your face. I always get back way more than I give when meeting people like Isas along my road. I live for this stuff. This, is what Blue Lollipop Road is all about.
Cheers Isas. Thanks for putting a smile on my face.
A friend called last minute on Friday, was in town for work for the day, and said he wanted pizza. Of course! I’m in Chicago, so deep dish was a must.
We met at Gino’s East of course:
We had quite the lunch experience. First lets start with my pizza; Deep dish cheese with tomatoes. My own perfect little pie:
Perfect thick crust:
…and oh that cheese:
You all know me by now. You know I am a foodie, and that I think there is nothing more important than time with people you love, feasting and laughing. I’ve lunched with this particular friend bunches of times over the past 14 years, but this particular time was one of my all-time favorites because our waiter added the perfect entertainment value. He was sweet, polite, thorough and just an all around happy chatty guy. Meet Demi:
Demi is from Bulgaria. We chatted about his time in Chicago, how much he loved his job and the people he works with at Gino’s. When I asked him if I could take a picture of him, he replied “Only if you are with me!”
I often wish when I write, you all could’ve been there, because words on a computer screen can’t capture moments as well as if you were in person when scenes unfold. After we paid our bill, Demi cooly breezed by our table out of nowhere, dropped a bag in front of me with an enormous cookie in it and simply said “It’s sweet, it’s fresh, and it’s gonna send you to sugar heaven” with his fantastic accent as he waved and went back to work.
We all rolled with laughter, and left stuffed and smiling. A delicious lunch with friends and a quote I’m sure we will use for lots of years to come.
Thanks Demi, you totally made our day. How did you know I love hot, fresh chocolate chip cookies anyway?
Apparently they have been looking for help for a very long time. I’m thinking since they opened in 1957:
This place is the epitome of a dive; dark walls and low ceilings, floor is covered in peanut shells, always packed, and it’s fantastically fun. If you are in Chicago, this is a must check out spot for a late night drink. Challenge if you go: See if it’s possible to actually fit 2 people in the 2 person stall bathroom.
The Lodge. I love it.
Yesterdays brunch was at Nookies Too in Lincoln Park. I confess, this was my 3rd visit. Last time I was at Nookies it was my 31st birthday and that’s where I chose to have breakfast complete with a friend and mimosas. All three times I have been I’ve gotten the same thing; Crunchy French Toast:
My sister and I have even stolen the concept and made this at home, except I use Frosted Flakes instead of regular corn flakes. You can use Captain Crunch too- just crush it up and roll the egg soaked bread…voila! A sweet treat for a funky brunch.
I feasted yesterday and couldn’t resist taking lots of photos to capture in full the golden brown, crunchy, sweet, perfection:
What did I do after I finished on this sunny Sunday after my food coma set in? I walked it off course! About 10 miles to be exact; All through Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Roscoe Village and more. Nothing like a feast and earning it.
Stay tuned for next weeks brunch post #3…
How was brunch on Sunday? In a word: holyfreakingindulgentanddelicious. (Did you get that?) Ok, so that’s more than one word, but I had to blend them all together in attempt to describe the level of pancake euphoria my friend and I experienced at Bongo Room in Wicker Park the other day. I’m still floating with memories the warm white chocolate sauce on one of our stacks:
I’d been to Bongo room nearly 10 years ago and fell in love then. I’ve dreamt of the Oreo pancakes with vanilla sauce I scarfed down so long ago since that long ago visit. This time around when I saw some menu changes and no Oreo stack of any kind offered, surprisingly I wasn’t disappointed. How could I be with all offered on this springs menu?
This Sundays visit I was with a new friend, fellow foodie, and Bongo Room first-timer. Even though this was our first meal together, as soon as we looked at the menu, we looked at each other and yes, we would be ordering 2 things and splitting of course. The best friends are made over sharing food after all! We were on this same drooling page for sure. In addition to our choice of the White Chocolate & 4 Berry Flapjacks (graham cracker crusted flapjacks topped with warm white chocolate cream cheese sauce, four berry coulis & fresh berries) we chose the Banana Heath Bar Pancakes (banana pancaked with heath bat chips, topped with warm toffee-butter cream & fresh bananas.) Here’s what our stacks looked like before we started our feast:
Did I mentioned I had saved my appetite for 14 hours at this point? Yep, I was starving and ready to do some damage. If you know me, you know I don’t leave a bite on a plate of goodness. Well kids, you heard if here first; I just couldn’t finish. Neither of us could. Even starting with the most empty stomachs possible, the famous Bongo Room breakfast plates got the best of us. I still think we did some good damage though:
What a perfect mess we made. I’m proud of our accomplishment. This meal was like running a marathon; you work really hard, give it everything you have, it all seems a bit painful halfway through, near the finish line you think you could die, but after you’re done you’re so satisfied with good pain, feel pride like you have never felt before, and think: “I did it! I did it!”
I can’t wait to “run” my next marathon at Bongo Room. Until then, I will actually be running around my neighborhood so I can still fit into my jeans. Good thing the doctor called last week and told me my good cholesterol numbers were higher than she’d ever seen.
Man I could go for some pancakes right now…
Just start screaming, they’ll hear you:
I walked by this sign on an apartment building this weekend and had to laugh. Good thing the good old-fashioned way will always work to get any job done.
Hello there reader Scuba Steve who wrote me yesterday:
Thank you for the compliment and note. Until we are finishing importing all the previous BLR posts here, you can still view everything Blue Lollipop Road previous to 4/29/11 on the original BLR site at www.bluelollipoproad.blogspot.com. I sent you a return note yesterday helping to explain this. For some reason, the email address you put down on my contact form didn’t work, so the email bounced back to me. Thanks for being patient and clicking around during this transition. Sorry for the confusion!
Onto coffee that I’m in love with:
It’s a sunny Saturday morning in Chicago and I’m sipping delicious Intelligentsia Coffee. If you are a coffee lover, have any access to an Intelligentsia Coffeebar, and haven’t been- you are missing out. Intelligentsia does coffee the only way coffee should ever be done. I’m drinking Organic Bolivia this morning as I type away:
The other night when it was cold and rainy, I camped out here and had a smack-yo-mamma good hot chocolate complete with pro barista art:
This morning is my 3rd visit in 3 weeks. I have a feeling Intelligentsia and I are going to be very, very good friends during my summer in Chicago. I think I’m going to have to buy myself a Pourover box too. Once you do coffee this way, there’s just no going back.
Now, where in Chicago to have some breakfast. Oh the possibilities…
