The winter chill hasn’t slowed us down!
There’s a lot happening this month around town, and here’s what you need to know:
Opening Doors
Lake Bluff has two new openings to crow about: The Side Door (28 E. Center Ave., 847-295-1020), fromJohn des Rosiers of Inovasi fame, and Twenty East Café & Bar (20 E. Scranton Ave., 847-234-1500).
At The Side Door, des Rosiers took what had been the private dining space of Inovasi and converted it into this tiny, rustic taqueria. The food is homemade, affordable and locally sourced. You choose your delivery method (tacos, tostada, burrito or bowl), and then pick a filling (like slow-cooked heritage pork or smoky braised cod), garnishes and one of 10 different salsas. My ideal lunch? Sign me up for grilled grass-fed steak tacos with guacamole and a margarita. Yum!
Twenty East Café & Bar opened on the site of Pasta Palooza (which closed in the fall). Same owners, different concept. Natalie Moore previously owned the popular Chicago restaurant Tapas las Ramblas and has incorporated some of their more popular small plates into the new, reasonably priced menu. So now instead of pizza and pasta, you’ll find dishes like baked goat cheese, lamb sliders and baby octopus with corn salsa.
That’s Good Bread
The last Great Harvest standing on the North Shore (2126 Central St., Evanston, 847-866-8609) was always my go-to when my kids were growing up. Now that we’re empty nesters, I don’t make it up there often, but when I stopped by recently I was struck by the amazing variety. “We’re making hot-breakfast sandwiches and paninis and soups now,” says owner Dave Schaps. “And we’ve updated and expanded our offerings. But we’re still grinding the wheat berries fresh, in-house, every day.”
You’ll be happy to know they still have their famous Apple Scrapple bread, but for those watching their waistlines, there are also whole-grain choices like the Hi-Five Fiber, High Country Crunch and the Nine Grain. Schaps is making some gluten-free options for those with sensitivity (or avoiding it for dietary reasons—he stresses that it is not appropriate for celiacs, as his is not a gluten-free facility). So this morning, I happily spread almond butter on my slice of Hi-Five Fiber toast, and felt pretty damn good about it.
It’s Burger Time
Stop the presses. As of January 28, Edzo’s (1571 Sherman Ave., Evanston, 847-864-3396) is open until 10 p.m. So now, if I get a hankering for a Patty Melt, some Five-Onion Fries and a Nutella Milkshake (and believe me, I will!), I can mosey over and eat my fill. My strategy is to walk to the restaurant to earn the right to consume the calories. That, or a Zumba class taken immediately preceding your visit makes it more or less guilt-free. Thank you, Eddie Lakin! Now if only they were open on Mondays, too… but I guess they need to rest up and recover for the next onslaught of deliciousness.
Great Recent Meals
I’ve come to realize that I eat out waaaaaay too much; a hazard of the occupation, I know. But I’ve had some great meals recently at some new places.
I went to Kabocha Japanese Brasserie (952 W. Lake St., Chicago, 312-6666-6214) during Chicago Restaurant Week last month and really enjoyed it. They are known for their uber-fresh and inventive sushi and maki rolls, but the rest of the menu really shines for me. Think Scallop and Crab Motoyaki, the shellfish comingled in a shell and topped with torched ponzu aioli. Or how about Crispy Salmon with red miso couscous, celery root puree and horseradish-lime buerre blanc, all washed down with a Cucumber Rice Cooler (Hendrick’s Gin, Shochu, lemongrass, Wild Rose Tea Syrup and cucumber juice)? Yes, please, and thank you.
Editor’s Note: I just received a notice saying that this wonderful place served its last meal on February 15. Let this paragraph be a loving epitaph, and I’m sorry that you didn’t get a chance to experience Shin Thompson’s inventive take on Japanese food.
Finally made it in to Dillman’s (354 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, 312-988-0078) to see what all the fuss was about. It’s an upscale deli by Brandon Sodikoff (Gilt Bar, Au Cheval, Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf) that feels like a private club, and it’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. One taste of the Cauliflower Gratin (a mixed message of healthy roasted cauliflower topped with a sinful Parmesan sauce and breadcrumbs) made me sit up and take notice. Packed even on a random, frigid Tuesday evening, there was some serious fressing going on all around us. The Reuben Sandwich was delicious, as was the Smoked Whitefish & Bibb Lettuce salad in half an avocado. And the Matzo Ball Soup… oy, that soup. Crazy good. Just writing about this place means I have to do an hour on the treadmill.
Warm Your Palate
For those readers who love a good charitable event built around food, look no further than Warm Your Palate, a culinary excursion to benefit the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston. It will be held Thursday, Feb. 27 at Now We’re Cookin’ (1601 Payne St., Evanston) and feature signature appetizers and desserts from the chefs of La Macchina, Terra American Bistro, Farmhouse Evanston, Feast & Imbibe, FOUND Kitchen & Social House, and the upcoming Boltwood. Wine will be flowing and money will be raised. Eating for a cause… I can get behind that.
Restaurant Deals for a Good Cause
Valentine’s Day is so last week. Did you know that February 14 is consistently one of the busiest restaurant days of the year? And do you realize what happens to restaurants the rest of this cold and chilly month? Make It Better has a win-win proposition for both restaurants and readers: our first annual Restaurant Week (February 17-24), which pairs participating restaurants with a local nonprofit. All you have to do is click here and print a coupon. Take it to the restaurant and get your deal (like 20 percent off your bill at Pete Miller’s in Evanston or Akira 153 in Wilmette), while the nonprofit partner will get $5. Easy peasy!
February is also North Shore Restaurant Month. Print this certificate to bring with you to a participating restaurant. You get a good deal, and they’ll get some business. That works, too! Some examples: 15 percent off your bill at The Cellar or Quince in Evanston, free dessert with entrée purchase at Pizano’s Pizza and Pasta in Glenview or Kaufman’s Bagel in Skokie, and many more.
All photos courtesy of each restaurant.
