Q is for {Chicago} Q

It was not easy figuring out "Q"for my blogging from a to z challenge.

Well, until I heard the "word on the street." There's an actual restaurant called Chicago q. Can you believe my luck?

In Chicago, "Q" is for Chicago q.


After 6 years of time served down south, I know a thing or two about barbecue. My expectations are high.

Chicago q (1160 N Dearborn, Near North Side) did not disappoint. We started our meal with complimentary chips and pickles and enjoyed every bite. Typically I'm not a sweet and sour pickle type of gal, but these were pretty delicious. They were perfectly tart and pleasantly crisp. My ribs were smokey and tender and tasted fantastic with sauce and without. Even more importantly, the portion sizes were so generous I had enough for lunch the next day!


The restaurant's interior is warm and homey with a healthy dose of chic. You're smacked in the face with the tummy-grumbling aroma of smokey goodness from the minute you walk through the front door. This is no sawdust-on-the-floor barbecue joint. Chicago q is a sophisticated smokehouse. It's modern, it's inviting, and it packs a gastronomic punch.

We enjoyed a casual dinner with friends - haaaaaave you met my friend Heather of Smart and Savvy? But I've also heard pretty epic tales of their prix fixe lunch menu. Monday through Friday from 11am until 4pm Chicago q offers a three-course lunch special. It's most definitely on my to do list.

Why Alvin Ailey Moved Me to Tears

I have been known to exaggerate. I often speak in superlatives and use an abundance of exclamation points. But let me assure you, every superlative I'm about to use was well earned by Alvin Ailey Dance Theater last night at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre.

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It's been years since a live dance performance has brought me to tears. Last night, it happened.

The tears fell during the company's presentation of Petite Mort. With a name like Petite Mort one expects a sensual, sexually charged piece of work. It was. There were moments when, as an audience member I felt like a voyeur. Was I intruding on an intimate moment?

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But it was so much more than that. Choreographed in 1991 by Jiří Kylián and set to Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos. 21 and 23, this work is absolutely exquisite. (For the other Breaking Pointe fans out there, this is the piece Ballet West performed with the swords and chiffon.) It's breathtaking, surprising and even at times comical. I dare say this may be the best live dance performance I have seen in my life. It really was that good.

The rest of the night was special too. The Chicago premier of Another Night was also a triumph.

It was last night's opening number. As I sat in awe of the company I began to write this gushing post in my head. Choreographer Kyle Abraham's work was inspired by and is set to Art Blakey’s interpretation of “A Night In Tunisia” by Dizzy Gillespie. It was colorful, alive, hot but cool. Undoubtedly, it is a piece that I will remember for years.

I've been told that Ailey dancers are the "best bodies in the business." At the risk of seeming to objectify these talented, brilliant artists, I have to agree. To see the strength, the grace, the power and the fluidity those gorgeous bodies communicate is awe inspiring. I am and was blown away. I'm so blown away in fact, I am hoping to catch another show before the company leaves on March 17th.

If you are in Chicago or if Ailey is coming through a city near you, I beg you not to miss these dynamic performers. Last night's show was the stuff of legends. If you have the chance to experience it, you must.

Have you ever been moved to tears by a live performance?

Tell me about it!

Chicago's Picasso Connection

“I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else." 

Pablo Picasso 

Source: artic.edu via Molly

Did You Know... The Art Institute of Chicago was the first art museum* in the US to present the work of Pablo Picasso?

It's true, 100 years ago the Art Institute hosted The Armory Show. It was a collection of the most radical and progressive artists of the time. Picasso, a young Spaniard who would become the preeminent artist of the 20th century, was one of several artists introduced to American audiences through that particular show.

Source: artic.edu via Molly                             Source: artic.edu via Molly

Now 100 years later, the Art Institute is kicking off another spectacular Picasso event. Picasso and Chicago started Wednesday, February 20th and runs through May 12th.

We had a chance to check out the exhibit yesterday. It's incredibly informative. Who knew Picasso had such strong ties to Chicago when he never even stepped foot in town? I was intrigued by the story the exhibition presents of Chicago's development as a significant center for modern art in America.

as far as my camera was permitted...

If I were to raise one objection it would only be one of personal preference. The exhibition is packed with Picasso's magnificent pencil sketches. But as a person who responds primarily to color and texture, they often left me hungry for the next big, beautiful canvas.

HOWEVER...

I'm absolutely tickled by the incredible lineup of special programming planned over the coming months. There will be performances by Hubbard Street Dance, a chamber concert by members of the CSO, and a variety of lectures and film.

I intend to go full-on Picasso nerd this spring.

Anyone in Chicago (or within road trip distance) interested in joining me?

*Art Museum is an important qualifier here... the Armory Show was also in Boston and New York. But not in their art museums!

Mmm Mmm Monday: Nellcôte

Nellcôte and I started our relationship a bit rocky.


I'm willing to accept part of the blame though.

We arrived a few minutes early for brunch not knowing that the restaurant actually opened at the same time (11am) as our Saturday morning reservation. We certainly weren't the first to arrive, but I felt bad that we were there before they were "officially" ready for us.

I also arrived having read this review by the ladies of Deux Chicago and having heard Cait of Pretty and Fun rave about this excellent spot.


Needless to say, my expectations were high. I was excited for first class service, mind-blowing food and a spectacular brunch experience.

So when our host, though warm and friendly, sat us without offering the complimentary reading materials; when The Breakfast Club DVD was on an annoying 18 second loop for what seemed like an  eternity; and when our menu offered dinner selections instead of the much famed lobster hash, I was initially underwhelmed.

But then, as if magically, a switch was flipped and things quickly began to improve.

Surprisingly I didn't find "eat lots of lobster hash" in this article - clearly an oversight
Our server was delightful. She was apologetic about the menu snafu, quick to bring coffee and helpful as we tried to decide what to order.

After refilling our water, a busboy was happy to bring me a copy of Us Weekly when I asked. (...they seemed to be out of the NY Times that morning)

And the bartender eventually hit "play" making The Breakfast Club a happy addition to our Nellcôte brunch atmosphere.


Just as advertised, the restaurant's decor was both luxurious and approachable. It was beautiful without being too precious, cozy but still incredibly chic. Everything we ate was fantastic and I may have eventually allowed myself spoonfuls of lemon curd after exhausting every vehicle I could find to get in my belly.

The lobster hash was, just as I've read, the stuff dreams are made of and the hubby's steak and eggs was cooked to perfection.

Our recent brunch at Nellcôte was a bit like a great first date. Once we all got past the initial expectations and awkwardness it was lovely afternoon. I'm definitely looking forward to a second date and am anticipating this to be a long and committed relationship.

Have you ever had a restaurant recover from a dismal first impression?

Jacked Up

Well, it's official!

After months of nervous anticipation, I've been officially accepted into the Chicago Architecture Foundation's 2013 docent training class.

To celebrate, we decided to have dinner in one of Chicago's architectural gems.

The Reliance Building
{image source 1, 2}

We chose The Atwood Cafe (1 W Washington, Loop) because it is on the first floor of Chicago's Reliance building. While waiting to be seated for our reservation, I took the opportunity to snoop around a bit. I happily discovered that the building's reconstruction in the early 1890s was a bit unorthodox.

Situated at the corner of State and Washington, this was originally a four story structure. When the Hale Company contracted architects Burnham and Root for the building's makeover, the upper three levels were occupied. Rather than wait for these leases to expire, reconstruction proceeded.

The top three floors of the occupied masonry building were jacked up and the unoccupied first floor and basement were demolished so that excavation could begin. The new foundation made the eventual 15 story Reliance building possible. Before architect John Wellborn Root's death in 1891, his first floor design had been implemented and new tenants moved in right under their "floating" neighbors.

Crazy, right?

{source}

As far as our dining experience at the Atwood Cafe, I have a mixed review.

For ambiance, I give the restaurant an A+. It's a cozy, beautiful spot right in the heart of the loop. Its art deco interior is tastefully decorated for the holidays and we were seated at a table with couches instead of chairs. I was immediately impressed and excited.

The service and food were spotty though. Our starters (lamb carpaccio and frito misto) were delicious. Our server was warm and pleasant when we arrived and during the first part of our meal. But once our starter plates were cleared things began to head down hill. We waited a very long time for our main course. Our server kept checking on us, but it was clear she was embarrassed. When it finally arrived, my rabbit was bland and uninteresting with the hericot verts easily outshining everything else on the plate. The hubby's mackerel was warm but not hot although the flavors were fantastic. But then our server disappeared for quite a few minutes. It was kind of, well, jacked up.

Thankfully we were in celebration mode, so we didn't let it get us down. We were in good company, comfortable at our swanky table and in no rush to be anywhere but where we were.

Though I'm not sure we'll be rushing back for another meal at the pricey Atwood Cafe, I can happily report that learning about the daring construction of the Reliance building was a true treat for this architecture nerd.

Would you continue living/working in a building that was being supported by jacks?!?

 

Mmm Mmm Monday: Sweet & Savory

How wonderful is it to have a friend and fellow blogger offer to write a restaurant review on your blog? I assure you, it's pretty wonderful. Charlotte, my long time bloggy buddy turned real life friend, visited Chicago recently and chowed down at Milk and Honey Cafe. Because she's incredibly generous, she agreed to share her experience here. 

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Earlier this month, my husband, Jordan, and I took a weekend trip to Chicago.  Like Molly, I feel that a key ingredient to a great vacation is great food.  Jordan chose Milk and Honey Cafe (1920 W. Division Street) for our Saturday brunch, and it was the perfect addition to a wonderful vacation.

{photo source}

We gave ourselves realistic expectations for going to brunch at 10 am on a Saturday.  It was going to be crowded; we would have to be patient.  However, the hostess kept things moving, and we were seated within 20 minutes.  Also, we needed that time to choose what we wanted to eat, so it did not go wasted.  My husband chose the huevos rancheros.  I got the ham, cheddar and corn waffle, with a fig-syrup steamer on the side.

Every kitchen employee deserves a raise, because our food came out in about 5 minutes.  They must be wizards back there.  Food wizards.  My waffle was the best savory waffle I've ever eaten.  It was topped with corn - delicious, spicy, candy-like corn.  And I don't even like corn!  The mind-blowing deliciousness continued with the fig steamer.  Milk and Honey makes their own syrups, and this one was a fig, vanilla and black pepper one.  Upon first sip, it was sweet, but the black pepper crept in as you went on.  I couldn't share any with my husband, since he's lactose-intolerant, but hey, more for me!  Jordan raved over his huevos rancheros as well.

Besides a lovely experience, Milk and Honey confirmed how much I love sweet/savory combinations. I doused my savory waffle in syrup; chicken and waffles with syrup is also high on my list. The fig and vanilla, mixed with black pepper was right up my alley. I know some people keep their sweet and savory separate, but I think it only adds a depth of flavor when you bring these two together.

Next time you're in the Wicker Park area, consider stopping by Milk and Honey Cafe!

Do you enjoy sweet and savory together?

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If you're like me and you want to read more from Charlotte you can check her out on The Daily Snapshot or admire her stylish ways on her new collaborative adventure phenotype: fabulous.

Small Business Saturday: 1st Frame

I'm a picture person.

Our place is filled with framed pictures of loved ones and special moments that keep memories alive.

So when I was offered the chance to design my own picture frame at 1stframes.com, I jumped at the chance.



1stframes.com is a small business in Temperance, Michigan. Its owner, Dean Vollmar started the company several years ago when he realized he wanted to stay home with his (then) preschool age daughters. I can't begin to tell you how much I love that.

The frames are made from alder wood and personalized using a laser. They are the original "You Create" picture frames. There are tons of pre-designed templates you can choose from or you can send 1stframes a quote or a picture of your own to be added . Vollmar claims anything you can create, can be put on a frame.

I decided to put his claim to the test. I included a rough picture of the Chicago skyline in my online order expecting to be asked for a better image or clarification. Imagine my surprise when my frame showed up at my home a few days later - no clarification needed. But what's even more important, it looks cool.

Ordering the frame through the 1stFrame website was quick and simple. And I couldn't be happier with the finished product.

Today, to celebrate Small Business Saturday
everything on the 1stFrame website is 25% off!

What would you put on YOUR 1stFrame?

*I was given this frame to review c/o 1stframe.com but was not compensated for this post.

The opinion shared is my own.

Mmm Mmm Monday: Char Dog

"Is she talking about hot dogs again?"

Yes, yes I am.


When my sweet friend Cameron was in town a few weeks ago, she reminded me that she had never had a Chicago dog before. There was no question that needed to change. But where should we go?

We decided to check out The Wiener Circle in Lincoln Park. We chose it partly because I've seen it profiled on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, partly because my friend Heather highly recommends it and partly because of its proximity to Molly's Cupcakes.

If I'm being honest, the Molly's Cupcakes thing weighed most heavily.

Char Dog & Darn Good Fries (minus the cheese sauce that I'm saving for the next trip)
You guys, this place is great. The stand itself is teeny tiny. The people working there are kind of rude in a, "We're just trying to move this process along," kind of way. The atmosphere is definitely exactly what springs to mind when you hear the words "Hot Dog Stand." Translation: not glamorous.

And the dogs are delicious. The Wiener Circle is famous for (among other things) their Char Dogs. The dogs are charbroiled, bordering on burnt, which would usually turn me off. I was that kid that threw 5 hot dogs away because she kept catching them on over the campfire. But, at the Wiener Circle the char totally works! It's a perfect addition to the already ingredient-heavy Chicago dog.

Who knew another flavor could make a Chicago dog even better?

Apparently the Wiener Circle is also quite the late night spectacle. Word on the street is that things get a bit PG-13 after dark. The employees exchange insults with the clients and things have been known to get rowdy once the bars in the neighborhood close. Check out their website for multiple videos of the craziness.

But when we went in the afternoon things were pretty tame and pretty delicious.

Campfire dogs: burnt or barely roasted?

Discuss...

 

Mmm Mmm Monday: Caffentures

As temperatures continue to drop and colorful leaves begin to fall, a warm cup of coffee sounds delicious and inviting. Chicago has a vibrant and varied craft coffee scene and a now there's a tour company to introduce us to it. Are you ready to go on a Caffenture?

I connected with Jenn Chen a.k.a. "The Coffee Girl" a few weeks ago on Twitter. We were both participating in a Chicago Ideas Week tweet chat and @Caffentures reached out to say, "Hello." It wasn't long before she invited me to join her for a "caffeinated adventure." (get it? get it? "caffeinated adventure!" Cute, right?)


Chen started Caffentures earlier this year as a way to share her knowledge and love of Chicago's specialty coffee scene. Each crawl provides a unique experience for its participants with a minimum of three caffeinated stops and a tasty educational adventure with a coffee professionals. As described on the Caffentures website, "You typically can not buy this experience in any of these coffee shops."

Last week, I had the chance to attend a Red Line Crawl*. We started our adventure at Intelligentsia Broadway. There, our host Charlie helped us to begin to better understand our palates by offering us some acid.

No. Not that kind.

We tried five different food grade acids to identify the barely distinguishable to my palate differences. At this point it became clear that my palate and I have a lot to learn. This could have been an intimidating experience if hosted by an uppity, hoity-toity crew. Instead they made it challenging, informative and enjoyable.  We also tried two bright and distinctive Intelligentsia coffees (Kangocho Kenya and Debello, Ethiopia) in order to begin to recognize flavor notes.


Soooo, I couldn't really. But I was encouraged that this wasn't uncommon. It takes time, practice and concentration to begin to develop this skill. It definitely made me want to begin to refine my palate and keep learning.

Next up, Ch'ava cafe. Here we were introduced to the difference the brewing method makes in your cup of coffee. We started with Intelligentsia roasted Karatina Kenya Peaberries. The shop's expert barristas brewed the beans using a Clover and a Chemex. (...and were very game for a photo shoot)


{Clover brewed coffee | club soda to cleanse the palate | Chemex brewed coffee}
It was fascinating to me how two cups of the same type of coffee could taste so different. We were treated to a discussion about brewing methods and once again I was amazed with the care and detail that is taken to create (what I thought) was a simple cup of coffee. At Ch'ava, providing you with the perfect cup of coffee falls somewhere between a mad science experiment and a moving work of art.

We made our last stop of the day at Metropolis Coffee Company. Here we got to watch as a small batch of beans went from green (Did you know they're originally green? I told you I'm a coffee newbie.) to that familiar deep, rich brown. Not only was the Metropolis crew incredibly informative, they were entertaining and fun as well. It's clear they love what they do.


We ended the day with a traditional "cupping." (that's what coffee types - and now I - call a coffee tasting) It was a full sensory experience, another opportunity to challenge our taste buds and enough to fully convince me that I'm ready to learn a lot more about this caffeinated world.



I would highly recommend the Caffentures experience to a casual coffee drinker like myself or to a more experienced and knowledgeable coffee aficionado. All the coffee professionals combined both basic and more advanced information to ensure everyone was entertained and challenged. They were open for questions and definitely didn't exude that "I'm too cool for school" vibe I feared I'd encounter.

It is important to note that the tour ended up being four hours instead of the advertised three. Because of the interactive nature of the activities, several conversations and question/answer session went a bit long. This ended up putting us a little bit behind. I'm not certain if this is something that happens regularly or if we were just a chatty bunch.

All in all, it was a great chance to get to visit a few new-to-me coffee shops, learn more than I imagined I ever would about coffee and wet my appetite to learn more soon.

If you're interested in participating in a Caffenture - there is a Blue Line crawl happening this Sunday (October 28th). Visit the Caffentures website for more information and to reserve your spot!

How's your palate? Can you pick out distinctive flavor notes in a cup of coffee?

Or are you a casual drinker (curious to learn more) like me?

*Caffentures was generous enough to provide a complimentary ticket to the Red Line Crawl. But I can assure you all opinions in this post are mine and mine alone.

Mmm Mmm Monday: Food Tour

I've taken a few tours since we've moved to Chicago. But a week or two ago we took the yummiest tour we've taken yet.


For my birthday, my beautiful (and very pregnant) sister sent the most thoughtful gift. She discovered the Chicago Food Planet Food Tours and got us two tickets to the Bucktown / Wicker Park Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour.

I'm embarrassed to say how long it took for us to use the tickets, but I can promise you it was worth the wait. We ended up taking the tour on a beautiful Saturday fall-ish afternoon.


We started our afternoon at George's Hot Dogs. While I loved the information our entertaining tour guide provided on this stop, I can't say I'm a huge fan of George's. Before the tour started we attempted to buy a bottle of water and the service was pretty awful. We stood in the window and were completely ignored for several minutes despite being the only ones in the store. Not the best way to greet new customers.

But what was more disappointing was that our Chicago dog wasn't served on a poppy seed bun. As someone on the search for the best Chicago dog in all of the land, I've developed a few expectations. When an essential ingredient is missing it makes a big difference. The dog was good but definitely missing something.


Thankfully, the rest of the tour was top notch. Iced hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows from Hot Chocolate, roasted veggie salad from the Goddess and Grocer, Margherita pizza from Piece, and That Guy from Florida from iCream (silly name not so silly ice cream) all made my tastebuds sing. Turns out that Bucktown and Wicker Park have some pretty tasty treats for sale.

We also had a chance to learn a little bit about the history of both neighborhoods. Our guide was really talented. She was funny, informative, personable, and entertaining. She kept us on track without being pushy and let the tour go with the flow.

Oooo, ooo, ooo, and this reality TV junkie saw the building that was once the Real World Chicago house. It's pictured above and I admit to having a bit of a fan girl moment.


I'm kind of sad that I didn't get a picture of my favorite stop on the tour. Because we were running a little bit behind (we were a chatty group) we had to rush through Sultan's Market. I'm going to be honest, I was WAY too busy loving every bite of the falafel to stop and take a picture of it. On a day full of yummy deliciousness, it is really something to say it was the best thing I ate. But suffice it to say, I'm pretty excited to go back and try a few more menu items.

I'm also excited to try another tour! I'm hoping to jump on Chicago Food Planet's Chinatown Tour very soon.

Have you ever taken a food tour?

Did it tickle your tastebuds or turn your tummy?