Cafe Ba Ba Reeba

We recently went to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba in Lincoln Park on N Halsted St between Armitage Ave and Lincoln Ave for dinner. It was a place I'd been meaning to try for a while, and now I feel silly for waiting so long because it really lived up to its hype. It's definitely a restaurant suited for foodies, but we felt very comfortable there in casual clothing and picking up shrimps with our hands, and we were surrounded by couples, friends, and families with small children also dining. The restaurant is very open with windows that fully lift up when the weather's nice and warm. It's very deep, making it feel large. The servers are very attentive.

We ordered a pitcher of mango sangria, which is their current seasonal sangria. Our glasses came loaded with fruit, and the servers constantly refilled us from our pitcher on the table.

We ordered the Deviled Egg with Crispy Jamón Serrano, which is a pinxto, so it's a bite-size dish. It was amazing.



We ordered the Spicy Potatoes with Tomato Alioli aka Patatas Bravas. The alioli was great, and the potatoes were less spicy than what we're used to when ordering similar dishes. Still, it was very good.



We ordered the Beef Tenderloin and Bleu Cheese. It came with chips on the side. The beef was juicy, and perfectly cooked to my liking.



We ordered the Seafood Paella with Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Monkfish, and Green Beans. Paella can only be ordered in 2 servings at a time because of the way it's prepared in the paellera (a large, shallow dish). They bring out the paellera to your table, then separate the dish between two plates for you. If you've never had paella, it's unlike anything else you've ever tasted. The blend of flavors is spectacular, and this dish was amazing. It takes about 30 minutes to cook paella, so order it early.



By this point, we were stuffed, and already prepared to bring home leftovers; however, when we were presented with a dessert menu, we couldn't resist tasting one more thing at this restaurant. The desserts are tapas as well, so they're small plates. We got the cutest Chocolate Truffle Cake, and it was as great as everything else, rich and full of flavor.



The blending of flavors here is what makes everything so fantastic. My advice to you is to order absolutely anything here that sounds good to you. We never made one bad decision, except maybe we ate too much. But I'd do it again.

Noodles in the Pot

The other day for lunch, we tried Noodles in the Pot in Lincoln Park on N Halsted St between Atgeld St and Fullerton Ave.

It was a cute atmosphere, and we sat outside on the patio soaking up one of the last days of summer. Our service was very nice.

We ordered the Crab Rangoon to share. They're bite-size, but good.



I ordered the Fried Rice with chicken. It was very tasty, and I hardly made a dent in it. I had leftovers to take with me. It turned out to be enough for two meals for me.

Italian sausage and peppers

A simple, colorful, and tasty dinner!

Italian sausage and peppers

Ingredients (makes 2 servings):
2 spicy turkey Italian sausage links
1/4 red onion
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 orange bell pepper
1/2 yellow bell pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
Pepper
Salt

1. Remove casing from the Italian sausage, and cut into large chunks. Cut onion and peppers into large chunks.
2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, and cook on all sides until all sides are browned. Add pepper and salt.
3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in another skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook until it turns translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the peppers, and cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring and flipping often.
4. Mix the Italian sausage, onion, and peppers in a bowl together, and serve.

Bites Asian Tapas

Between jobs and amidst our crazy schedules, my partner and I managed to find the time to meet each other for dinner at Bites Asian Tapas on Clark St between Buckingham Pl and School St in Lakeview.

We ordered the Crab Croquette together. It was interesting, tasty, and served on a perfect plate for sharing.



I ordered the Korean Burger, which is spicy pork, lettuce, tomatoes, egg, and bim bap sauce. I liked it a lot. It came with taro fries and a sriracha ketchup.

Harold's Chicken Shack

We recently went to the Harold's Chicken Shack on N Milwaukee Ave between Wood St and Wolcott Ave in Wicker Park. Harold's is a chain based out of Chicago.

Two of us ordered the 1/2 Dark Chicken Dinner to share. It comes with 2 legs, 2 thighs, and french fries served over white bread. We chose the mild sauce, which covered everything.

It takes about 20 minutes for them to prepare your food.

Honestly, I didn't really like it. I didn't like the sauce, and that there was so much of it. I thought the fries were plain, and the chicken was bland. Many people rave about this chicken, but I just didn't get it.

Windy City Smokeout

Windy City Smokeout is quickly becoming one of my favorite food festivals in the city. Here's what I ate...

The Salt Lick: Sausage.
The staff was very nice, and it was good.


Bub City: Pulled Pork Sandwich & BBQ Cheese Fries.
The Pulled Pork Sandwich was less than mediocre, but the BBQ Cheese Fries was the perfect blend of flavors.



Smoque BBQ: Jalapeño-Cheddar Sausage.
This was my favorite thing at the festival, just above the BBQ Cheese Fries. It was fantastic.

Taste of Chicago

I've been waiting for a free minute to write my thoughts about Taste of Chicago 2014. My partner and I shared 60 tickets just like last year, but this time we tried more "Taste" items than last year, which are smaller portions. Here's the rundown of what we tasted, and your SKIP IT or EAT IT suggestions:

Brasserie by LM: Taste of Croque Monsieur Sandwich.
This was from a pop-up restaurant that was only there for a few days. It was pretty good, but the serving was very small. SKIP IT.


Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill: Tequila-Lime Marinated Chicken Taco.
I just tried a small bite, but my partner loved this. It was one of her favorite things at Taste. EAT IT.


The Noodle Vietnamese: Taste of Crab Rangoon.
We had had this before, and it's not our favorite, but sometimes we just crave crab rangoon. SKIP IT.


Chicago's Dog House: Taste of Infused Cheddar Bacon Sausage.
This was one of the more interesting things I tried, and it was presented well. I liked it a lot. EAT IT.


Lawrence's Fisheries: Taste of Large Fried Shrimp.
It was a small serving, and was very dry without much flavor. SKIP IT.


Billy Goat Inn: Taste of 1/2 Cheeseburger.
The bun was bulky and dry, and the patty was thin, and there wasn't much flavor. SKIP IT.


Caffe Gelato: Bacio (Chocolate Hazelnut).
It was hot. There was cold gelato. EAT/SKIP IT.


Connie's Pizza: Taste of Half Deep Dish Cheese.
Lots of cheese, and a bargain. EAT IT.


M Burger: Taste of Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
It was very plain, and nothing special. SKIP IT.


Franco's Ristorante: Italian Watermelon Ice.
Did I mention is was hot out? EAT/SKIP IT.


BJ's Market & Bakery: Taste of Mustard-Fried Catfish.
I liked this a lot, and the serving was a good size. EAT IT.


The Fat Shallot: Taste of Truffle Fries
This was from a food truck stationed there for a few days. We both loved the fries! EAT IT.