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November 17, 2012

Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago

Even though I'm Greek, my absolute favorite food in the world comes from across the Ionian sea. Chicago has some fantastic Italian restaurants and even its own Italian neighborhood, Little Italy.

Whatever your budget or location, there should be something on this list for you. It comes from years of experience of eating way too much pasta.

This list only really spans from Lakeview to Little Italy. Please add a comment if you think I've left something out. Planning to update this post periodically. 

1. Prosecco (River North) - Prosecco is a beautiful upscale Italian restaurant in River North. They don't miss a single detail. The host takes your coat when you walk in, they treat you with a glass of bubbly prosecco when you sit down, and they always have delicious seasonal specials. Perfect spot for a date or to celebrate your parent's anniversary. There is a cozy room downstairs you can rent for parties and a small curtained area upstairs for intimate private dinners. My favorite starters are the burrata with prosciutto, the snails, and beef carpaccio. I always order the scallops but the lamb and veal are also delicious. Don't skip out on the tiramasu.

2. Topo Gigio (Old Town) - Good classic Italian in Old Town. Perfect dinner before a Second City improv or Zanie's standup show. It's always packed so make a reservation in advance. They also have a room for private parties. I usually start with the prosciutto de parma and fried calamari or you can visit their antipasto table for an assortment of meats, cheeses, & grilled vegetables. Love the tortellini soup on a cold night. If you're watching your waistline, Topo Gigio has a few nice salads with seafood. #1 item on the menu - tortellini alla panna (cream sauce, mushrooms, peas, pancetta). It's super rich so consider sharing or taking some leftovers home.

3. Coco Pazzo (River North) - I've never heard a bad thing about this place! Great food & service. Beautiful decor, antique bar, great for a date or a group of friends. 

4. Carmine's (Gold Coast) - If you want to see or be seen, this is the place. Located in the heart of the gold coast, Carmine's is in the viagra triangle (don't be surprised if the man next to you is accompanied by a girl young enough to be his daughter, maybe even two girls). It's my favorite of the Rosebud restaurants. They have beautiful lunch & dinner menus and the BEST rigatoni alla vodka in the entire world (ok probably better in Italy, but definitely the best in Chicago).

5. Francesca's (Little Italy) - Francesca's owns quite a few restaurants that are all great but the one on Taylor Street is my favorite. The inside is cozy and welcoming with a nice bar to grab a drink before dinner. It's very affordable with large portions that consistently taste great. Little Italy is close to the United Center, so expect to see people in Blackhawks or Bulls jerseys if there is a game going on.

6. Davanti Enotecca (Little Italy) - This is like the sex and the city of Italian restaurants. It's right by Francesca's, but a totally different vibe. You feel like you're in San Fran or New York. Trendy, limited seating, shareable plates. I love going here with my girlfriends or taking my hubby for a fun date night. Make sure you get the ricotta with roasted honeycomb. They serve it in adorable jars with tuscan toast and it is just divine. The pizzas are wonderful.They have an amazing Sunday brunch and plenty of options for vegetarians.

7. Piccolo Sogno (River West) - Piccolo Sogno is a really beautiful restaurant with something for everyone. The prices are pretty reasonable and they have an outside patio, which I just love in the summer. Great for business affairs, family dinners, or a romantic date.

8. La Scarola (River West) - You might run into Tony Soprano here. It's great for dinner parties and can get pretty loud. The food is fantastic. Nothing fancy, but comforting and delicious. You almost feel like you're eating at your Italian Nona's house.

9. Osteria Via Stato (River North) - Seasonal and rustic. I'd recommend the family style dinner if your table is up for it. Great for gatherings with friends & family.

10. Merlo (Lincoln Park & Downtown) - Gourmet Northern Italian. Great wines. Seasonal menu. The ossobuco is the best in the city - they slow cook it everyday for 8 hours. Locations in Lincoln Park & Downtown. You can definitely impress your date here.

11. Balena (Lincoln Park) - Balena opened earlier this year and was started by the owners of The Bristol & The Boka Group (G.T. Fish & Oyster, Girl & the Goat, etc.). They really did an incredible job revamping the old Landmark space - it is beautiful inside. It is "Italian Inspired" and the menu is very creative and always changing. The bar is pretty gorgeous and they serve really fun & unique cocktails. Super knowledgeable sommelier and upbeat atmosphere.

12. Lucia's (Bucktown) - What's better than Italian food and BYOB? Nothing! It's super cute inside and the owners are extremely warm & inviting. 

13. Spiaggia (Gold Coast) - Looking to impress someone? Take them to Spiaggia. Located in the trendy Gold Coast, Spiaggia has a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan and was even nominated for a James Beard award. You might remember the executive chef, Sarah Grueneberg, from Top Chef last season. I'm not putting dollar signs on any of these, but I'm going to give Spiaggia a $$$$$.

14. Quartino (River North) - Quartino is really fun, very loud, perfect for big groups, and very reasonable. You can get some great cheap wines and lots of small affordable plates to share. This is the perfect spot for girl's night out or large couple's dinners. The food was definitely better when it opened, but I've heard they're making a comeback. 

I live in Lincoln Park, so these are a few of my neighborhood go-to spots.

15. Via Carducci (they also have a location in Bucktown) - Classic Italian. All of your favorites. Good food, friendly staff, large portions.

16. Sappori Trattoria - The chef is always running coupons & deals, so you can probably find one online. They send me a card every year on my birthday with a $12 gift card. It's really charming and clean, and they have a small outside seating area in the summer. 

17. Rose Angeli's - Really cute place. Feels like you're in someone's home and they have two gated patios for the summer. The duck tortellini is my favorite and the specials are usually pretty good.

18. Soprano's - The food here is ok (very standard, nothing exceptional but nothing terrible) but the atmosphere is fun. It's really casual and they have live music on the weekends. Easy for big groups. My husband and I love going here on weeknights and sharing a bottle of wine and some pasta. 

November 11, 2012

Quinoa with Swiss Chard and Mushrooms

As you can see from my past few posts, I've been doing a lot of dining out and not so much cooking. Although I love a good restaurant, I don't always choose the healthiest options. I'm starting this week off with this super healthy protein-packed creation.


Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
1 bunch swiss chard, stems removed, roughly chopped
2 C sliced mushrooms
1/2 red onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
salt & pepper
4 t parmesan cheese (optional)
1/2 C quinoa
1 C water

Directions:
cook quinoa according to package directions.
while quinoa is cooking, heat olive oil in a large pan.
add onions and sauté until they start to change color (about 5 minutes).
add garlic and mushrooms and cook until mushrooms are tender (about 5 minutes).
add chard and mix until it wilts.
season with salt & pepper to taste.
turn off heat.
add quinoa to pan and stir.
sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

found rainbow chard - so beautiful

remove the thick red stems
trim the stem down the middle of each leaf
remove stem
stems & stems 
saute onions in olive oil 
add mushrooms
it wilts to almost nothing!

tips & extras

Quinoa - You can use other grains here. Pasta, rice, or barley would all work.

Garlic - You can omit the garlic if you aren't dining alone.


Mushrooms - I used baby bellas, but whatever is available will work.


Swiss chard - Although the stems look really nice, they don't really get tender (especially the thicker parts). You need to remove the center stem and use just the leaves. You can substitute spinach for the chard if it isn't available at your grocer. It might seem like you are using a lot of chard, but it wilts away to almost nothing.


November 3, 2012

Bongo Room - Best Brunch in Chicago

I have tried almost every brunch spot in Chicago, and Bongo Room is by far my favorite. Bongo Room has 3 locations, but the one in Wicker Park is the best (and they have a liquor license - great bloody marys, mimosas, and beers). If you aren't having a boozy brunch, they have an excellent selection of teas, coffees, and juices. The only drawback is they don't take reservations, so you usually have to wait between 30 minutes to an hour for a weekend brunch.

The eggs benedict are always phenomenal, and they have some interesting combos like a BLT benedict or a spinach, red pepper, & feta cheese benedict. The house potatoes are divine.

The sweet menu is pretty amazing and there is always something unique like raspberry oreo flapjacks or chocolate pretzel french toast. However, I'd recommend ordering something savory for yourself and one sweet dish for the table to share. Today I went for a healthy choice: the tomatillo salsa scramble with egg whites, grilled chicken, spinach, and avocado (sooo good). My group split the sweet special: red velvet hot cakes with vanilla cream sauce and walnuts. It was perfect to share and too rich for an entire meal (unless you have a serious sweet tooth).

If you live in Chicago or are visiting the city, take a few hours and head to bongo room for the best brunch you will ever have!

red velvet hot cakes

tomatillo scramble