Monthly Archives: September 2009

Michael Lachowicz brings new meaning to sandwiches at Wally & Agador’s Gourmet Cafe

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Wally & Agador’s Gourmet Cafe

3310 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL (773) 325-9664

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday;
11 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday.

By Stephanie DeMeester
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

Many people claim to offer gourmet sandwiches, which sometimes makes us question how they may define “gourmet.” Take high quality, artisan ingredients and the classic French technique of a solid three-star chef hailing from the likes of Le Francais, Les Deux Gros and Restaurant Michael, and ask the chef to make you a sandwich. The result? Wally & Agador’s Gourmet Café by acclaimed chef, Michael Lachowicz which celebrated its grand opening Friday, May 8.

Lachowicz, chef/owner of the acclaimed Restaurant Michael in Winnetka, Ill. has taken his best fine dining entrees, and created their gourmet sandwich counterparts at his new Boystown retail shop. The best part? The sandwiches range from $7-$12 each, and include a side salad or housemade chips.

Wally & Agador’s, named after his two “diva” dogs, is the ideal way to enjoy truly gourmet food at a budget friendly price. The menu includes a number of diva inspired sandwiches prepared with classic French technique, as well as a number of freshly made deli creations and rotating entrée selections from Restaurant Michael’s menu which vary each week.

Favorite sandwich selections include the Wham Sammich, slow-cooked “sous vide” leg of lamb, thyme, garlic and black pepper mayo served in a warm baguette with fresh Laura Chenel Goat’s cheese and eggplant “caviar” ($10); The Elton John, chicken sausage studded with dried huckleberries with truffle sauce, shallot jam and pommes frites ($11); and the Esther Williams, lobster and scallop sausage nestled in butter lettuce leaves with tarragon mayo in a soft potato roll dusted with Old Bay © seasoning ($12).

Save room for dessert because Wally & Agador’s has two sweet namesake sandwiches: The Wally, peanut butter, marshmallow fluff and sliced bananas on a batter-dipped croissant ($7); and The Agador which switches out the peanut butter for Nutella. Yum!

Wally & Agador’s only has four tables (seats for 16), so carry-out is a popular option. Wally & Agador’s would be ideal for your next office party and delivery is already in the works. With friendly customer service and outstanding, truly unique sandwiches, Wally & Agador’s is perfect for the diva in all of us.

Dine: A Modern American Eatery near Greektown

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Dine
733 W. Madison at Halsted
Chicago, IL 60661
312-602-2100
http://www.dinerestaurant.com/

Hours:
Breakfast from 6-10:30 a.m. every day;

Lunch and dinner from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri. & Sat.
The lounge is open until 11 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and until midnight Fri. & Sat.

By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman

Story originally appeared in StreetWise

What do you name a restaurant that offers a contemporary, upscale take on American diner food? How about Dine (we thought you’d never guess)? This handsome eatery, located on the north edge of Greektown, has something for anyone who enjoys comfort food done in a sophisticated, urban manner. Dine offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, has a spacious outdoor seating area in warm weather and there is an attractive lounge as well.

Dine has built a stellar collection of signature seasonal dishes. Most are based around classic recipes, updated to appeal to food-savvy Chicagoans. At lunchtime, we like starters such as the Flash Fried Calamari, and the Horseradish Crab Cakes. There are several retro-inspired salads, such as the “Not so much of a Wedge”. Sandwich choices include a tender Braised Short Rib Sandwich, juicy Pulled Pork Sandwich and a flavorful Balsamic Vegetable Wrap.

Lunchtime entrées are a treat, with homage to classic American meals. Try the Black Angus Meat Loaf, the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and the Beer Battered Fish & Chips.

Dinnertime starters include Braised Veal Cheeks and Pan Seared Maryland Blue Crab Cakes. Two of our favorite dinner salads are the Roasted Asparagus Salad and the Organic Beet Salad.

Meat lovers will have any easy time finding something to enjoy, all served with excellent accompaniments. We like the nicely prepared Rubbed 16oz Bone in Ribeye, the tender Grilled 8oz Filet Mignon, and the Braised Domestic Lamb Shank. If you’re in the mood for some game meats, try the Texas Hill Boar Rack.

Lighter dinner entrées include Roasted Amish Chicken Breast and the Block Island Monkfish. There is a nice selection of pasta and risotto dishes, such as the Slow Dried Rummo Pasta and Portobello Mushroom Ravioli.

For dessert, you must try the signature Red Velvet Cake for Two.

Dine keeps coming up with creative specials. Recently the restaurant featured three course dinners on weekends starting at $20. Also, Sunday Brunch is excellent.

Dine is a beautiful, comforting neighborhood spot with very good food. The complimentary valet parking is an added plus. Note that the menu is seasonal; dishes change regularly to keep things fresh.

Bittersweet Pastry Shop brings charm, pastry of France to Chicago

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Bittersweet Pastry Shop
1114 W. Belmont
Chicago, IL (773) 929-1100
http://www.bittersweetpastry.com/

Hours:
7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday
8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
Closed Monday

Prices:
Tarts: $20-30Cakes: $24-$100 (for custom cakes) Cookies: $15/lb Scones, croissants, muffins: $2.50-$3 Ice cream, $3 Bittersweet brings the joy of the French Patisserie to Lakeview

By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

When we travel to France or the French Caribbean, each morning we head to the local patisserie to enjoy some fabulous croissants or brioche and café au lait. What makes patisseries so noteworthy is that they are everywhere. Even the small towns have their local, colorful patisserie—it’s “everyman’s” way of having breakfast, as well as the place to go for wonderful baked goods that are perfect any time of the day. The patisserie is a celebration of baking talent, ingenuity and aesthetics, making it the perfect place to go for a tasty and stimulating start to the day.

Luckily, Chicagoans don’t have to travel further than the Lakeview neighborhood to enjoy an authentic French patisserie experience. Acclaimed pastry chef Judy Contino opened Bittersweet over a decade ago and has built a fiercely loyal following—for good reason. The glass display cases are filled with delicate and delicious goodies, made with skill and tender loving care, just as in France.

We stopped in for breakfast recently (Bittersweet also serves lunch) and took stock of all the wondrous things that make Bittersweet so special. Our journey started by comfortably sitting down at a handsome marble top table and peering about the room. The ceiling fans and the clean, white walls make for a comfortable, unpretentious décor. Classical music permeates the room—it’s serene and welcoming.

On the wall is a handwritten breakfast menu board. Signature breakfast items include the quiche du jour and homemade granola, both served with fruit. Other choices include apple French toast and a vegetable frittata panini.

The breakfast goodies are amazing. We shared two homemade scones, one apricot and one ginger-peach—as good as scones get. The breakfast pastry display is a sight for tired eyes. Gorgeous croissants, scones, brioche, pecan rolls, tea bread and muffins. It’s almost impossible to decide what to choose. On weekends, when traffic is heavier, there are even more croissant varieties to choose from.

To accompany the scones, we enjoyed cappuccino made with the excellent Italian Illy coffee. The friendly staff is more than happy to make your espresso beverage the way you like it. Try a mocha or a café au lait. Other beverages include hot chocolate and fresh orange juice. A variety of unique carbonated beverages are also available.

The display cases feature beautifully executed baked goods; there is a steady stream of customers buying these items to go. You’ll find cookies, biscotti, cupcakes, coffee cake, tarts, bars, macaroons, cakes, custards, mousses, tartlets, truffles, and breads. Bittersweet’s cakes are legendary; call a day or two in advance and you can order a personalized birthday cake, made to order.

Walking around Bittersweet, we smiled at the special attractions making this patisserie more than a simple bake shop. There is a gelato display case with several flavors of ice cream and sorbets. Add hot fudge or caramel sauce for decadent joy.

Along the walls are shelves and tables displaying packaged foods and children’s gifts. There are Bittersweet-branded nuts and snacks, perfect accompaniments to the pastries.
You’ll find packages of the spectacular Terry’s Toffee, made in Chicago. There is an assortment of bottled French fruit syrups which, when combined with club soda or seltzer, make for a wonderful homemade soda pop, or use them as an ice cream topping.

What a pleasant morning adventure! Try making Bittersweet a regular part of your morning breakfast or weekly pastry-shopping routine. You’ll know the meaning of joie de vivre (in Chicago). Bonjour, nous amis.

Berry Chill’s Yogurt Couture Puts Frozen Yogurt Back on the Hot List

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Berry Chill
http://www.berrychill.com/
625 N. State St., Chicago, IL
(312) 266-2445

132 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL
(312) 553-2445

500 W. Madison (Ogilvie Station), Chicago, IL
(312) 993-9644

Hours:
State: 8 a.m. to midnight, Sun.-Thurs.; 8 a.m.- 4 a.m., Fri. and Sat.
LaSalle: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
Madison (Ogilvie): 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. and Sun.

Pricing (with three toppings):
Cup: small $3.99-$4.99; medium $5.49-$6.49; large $7.49-$8.49
Blast or Blender: small $5.49-$6.49; large $7.49-$8.49

By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

Okay, we know that frozen yogurt had its heyday back in the 80’s with TCBY and other such shops. So why all the fuss now? The answer is simple – today’s frozen yogurt, is wonderfully represented by Berry Chill, a growing collection of whimsical contemporary stores in Chicago. Berry Chill’s frozen yogurt is deliciously and healthfully made – and filling – to the point where it could substitute for a light meal when you’re on the run. And please let healthfulness be a deciding factor: Berry Chill is filled with active cultures and is lactose and gluten-free.

The joys of Berry Chill derive from both the yogurt and the many toppings you can add to personalize your treat. Start out your adventure by choosing your choice of yogurt flavor. Usually there are four flavors to choose from and all have the texture of soft serve and a delightful tanginess that reminds you this is really yogurt, not ice cream or some other concoction. The standard flavor is a refreshing vanilla that goes nicely with all of the toppings. The other flavors vary from month to month. Usually they are a fruit flavor, such as mango, strawberry or peach. For July, the special flavors are Peach Mango, Pina Colada and Strawberry Banana.

Then choose your toppings. They fall into four categories: 1) fresh fruit, 2) candies, cookies and nuts 3) popular cereals, and 4) treats from local bakeries. Depending on your mood and what time of day it is, you may go in any one direction or choose toppings from all four categories.

The fresh fruit selections, combined with some granola or trail mix topping and sliced almonds, can turn your treat into a healthy light meal, with whole grains and anti-oxidants. Fruit choices include fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi fruit, strawberries, mango, or watermelon.

The popular cereal toppings include the adult favorite, Kashi Go Lean! Crunch, and kids’ favorites such as Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch and Golden Grahams.

The candy, cookies and nuts toppings place your Berry Chill treat squarely in the dessert category. If you crave Girl Scout cookies all year, you’re in luck. Berry Chill offers bits of Thin Mints, Tag-a-Longs and Samoas. Other sweet-tooth choices include mini-chocolate chips, M&Ms, mini Oreos, shredded coconut, peanut butter covered pretzels, and sprinkles.

Finally, Berry Chill showcases toppings from local bakeries and food makers. Currently you can find toppings from Sarah’s Pastries and Candies, Milk & Honey Granola, and Leonard’s Bakery.

If you’re in the mood for something other than a dish of yogurt, try a BC Blast or BC Blender. Both are made from a flavor of yogurt and three toppings, but the Blast is served chunky style and the Blender is served like a smoothie. The Fro-J is another refresher, made from a choice of yogurt and fresh squeezed orange juice.

We couldn’t help but notice that the State Street location is open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. If you’ve been out clubbing till the wee hours, Berry Chill is a great way to wind down your evening. Chill.

The Berghoff and Berghoff Café continue one of Chicago’s longest restaurant legacies

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Berghoff Café Chicago
17 W. Adams
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 427-7399

Hours: 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
Prices: $4.25 – $13.05

By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

Unquestionably, the Berghoff is one of Chicago’s most illustrious restaurants, with a history going back to 1882. The restaurant actually started as a brewery and the namesake beer continues to be its signature offering. This large, multi-room German American restaurant got major publicity two years ago when word got out that it was closing. Actually, this wasn’t quite accurate.

Fourth-generation owner, Carlyn Berghoff, opened the Berghoff Café Chicago, a casual cafeteria-style cafe downstairs and opened 17/West in the original space. But soon after, she realized how important the Berghoff legacy is and so 17/West is now known simply as the Berghoff and the Café operates downstairs as planned. Both the Café and the Berghoff offer many family favorites plus more contemporary comfort fare.

The Berghoff Café is open Monday through Friday during the lunch period and is an excellent place to enjoy a wide range of German specialties, signature sandwiches, Panini, salads and pizza. Guests can order at the counter and seat themselves in the spacious dining rooms or simply stop by for carry out.

The Café’s specialties include the traditional Weiner Schnitzel and Sauerbraten. They are hearty and perfected over the year. For a taste of Chicago history, you must give them a try; you won’t be disappointed.

Italian dishes include the Chicken Parmesan sandwich with homemade potato chips, the Italian Combo sandwich with Genoa salami, provolone cheese, pepperoncini, capicola and Italian dressing, Cheese-filled Tortellini with pesto, a pasta of the day, an Italian Salad with Genoa salami, provolone cheese, capicola, and Italian vinaigrette, and either Pepperoni or 4-cheese Pizza.
At the carving station, you’ll find hearty, tasty sandwiches, including Corned Beef, Roast Beef, Roast Turkey, Turkey Meatloaf, and their traditional Bratwurst, all served with a Berghoff pickle; sauerkraut is optional.

The Café has not left out Chicago’s latest sandwich preference, the Panini. Choices include Black Forest Ham with brie and apricot wasabi, Corned Beef or Turkey Reuben, with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on rye with Thousand Island dressing, and the Grilled Portobello & Asparagus on olive bread with goat cheese and roasted peppers.

Additional salad selections are spot on with today’s tastes: the Berghoff Café Cobb Salad, with turkey and choice of dressing; the Pear Salad with Mixed greens, pear slices, candied walnuts, sun-dried cherries tossed in a Champagne vinaigrette. Grilled chicken is optional; The Asian Salad with chicken breast, tossed with Napa cabbage, radicchio and wonton ribbons in a sweet peanut vinaigrette; Caesar Salad, with fresh Romaine lettuce, croutons and parmesan cheese. Grilled chicken is optional.

While you’re in the Café, don’t forget to stop upstairs to take a look around the Berghoff. Its historic ambiance is still a wonder to behold. We’ll talk about the main restaurant at a later date. In the meantime, grab a delicious casual lunch at the Café. Better yet, grab a colleague or shopping mate and enjoy it together.

A Mano: An Irresistile, Spacious Trattoria to Relax and Enjoy Friends

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A Mano
335 N. Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 629-3500
http://www.amanochicago.com/

Hours: 11:30-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday;
11:30-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Prices: Antipasti Bar, $12; Pizza, $12.50; Entrées: $12-$24

A Mano, from the owners of the popular Bin 36 restaurant upstairs, is a delicious addition to Chicago’s growing collection of contemporary Italian trattorias with a stylish and casually chic vibe. And with its Bin 36 lineage, A Mano offers multi-faceted wine and cocktail menus. With its openness and varied seating spaces, the restaurant is an irresistible place to relax and enjoy conversation with friends over a nice glass of wine or a cocktail and some intriguing country-style Italian food.

Located in River North, but very near the Loop, A Mano works very well for lunch, as an after-work wind-me-down or as an interesting place for a casual dinner. On warm weather days, there is a comfortable outdoor seating area overlooking Dearborn.

The lunch menu offers a stellar combination of authentic wood-fired oven pizza, soup, salads, Panini and pasta. A welcome and delicious feature which separates A Mano from other trattorias is a robust antipasti bar ($12 per person) that can be ordered alone or as an accompaniment to the menu items. One can easily construct a balanced, filling meal from the antipasti bar alone, but coupled with a Panini, pizza or pasta dish, the meal is a taste treat, indeed. The antipasti items change daily, but you’ll find some salads, tapenades, Italian cheeses, crostini, frittata, focaccia, grilled vegetables and homemade soup.

The dinner menu offers a nice selection of Italian specialties. If you’re interested in some shared appetizers for the table, A Mano offers a variety of smoked meats and Italian cheeses. Other starters include a nice Trio of Bruschetta and an Antipasti Plate. Salads are plentiful, including an Asparagus Salad, Prosciutto di Parma with Summer Melon, Caesar Salad, Heirloom Tomato Salad and an Argula Salad.

The wood-fired pizza is very fresh; the crust is thin and crispy. We enjoyed the house made A Mano Fennel Sausage as well as the Classic Margherita. Other intriguing choices include Fresh Mozzarella, Fresh Whole Manila Clams, Wild Mushroom, Prosciutto di Parma, and Soppressata Salami.

Panini selections run the gamut from hearty to light, and all are tasty. Choices include Prosciutto & Mozzarella with oven dried tomatoes and arugula, Grilled Vegetables with fresh goat cheese, Chicken Parmigiana with marinara sauce and arugula, and the house specialty, Nonna Caputo’s Meatballs with marinara sauce and fontina cheese.

Pasta dishes are also given solid attention. Among the more unique choices are Linguini with mussels, clams and shrimp in a white wine and saffron broth, Garganelli with Wild Boar Ragu, Raisins and Pine Nuts, Lobster & Scallop Ravioli and a Risotto of the Day. Entrée choices include Grilled Flat Iron Steak, Whole Roasted Fish of the Day and a half Rotisserie Chicken with olive oil mashed potatoes.

A Mano offers a generous dessert menu, including Cannoli, Chocolate and Espresso Mousse, Tiramisu and a Strawberry and Pizelle Neopoleon. We thought the homemade gelati and sorbets made for an excellent, refreshing finale.
Don’t forget to check out the nightly specials. There are good deals for everyone, even the kids on Monday.