Seafood from Ewok

This should be a quick easy post I can do before I go make lunch for myself today.

Let me see.  A link to Ewok.

Sherry called in our order then walked down and got it.

Shrimp Tempura and Chicken Teriyaki  

We ate it while watching a Netflix movie on our Roku.  Great dinner and a movie.

Brisket from RavenswoodQ

On this recent fine Wednesday afternoon a bit of snow was coming down as I took the 80 over to the Brown Line.  I got off the bus and crossed the street.  As I was about to go into the station I sniffed the air.  I caught a whiff of a BBQ joint.  I had gone and asked on EveryBlock a little more than a week before for people's recommendations of Taco and Brisket places in Chicago.  One of those that was recommended was RavenswoodQ.  Looking to the East I saw their sign so I walked on down and went in.  As I entered there was a long bar to my left.  There was a greeters stand and a row of tables along the wall to my right.  Straight back was the kitchen.  The greeter did her job and I told her I had just come in to check it out and might not even be ordering.  In the midst of this interchange one of two men seated at a table to the right of the kitchen entrance waved at me and grinned.  This man's name turned out to be Dale.  I strolled on back and Dale friendly jabbed at me verbally for checking out the place.  We had a nice little conversation on the way brisket is treated in Chicago.  He assured me if I returned I would be able to buy a pound and I went on back to the brown line since my goal at that moment was some fun with folks at a shop in Jeweler's Row then more fun with Sherry and some other folks at the The Bar Below.

We left The Bar Below a little earlier than normal.  I had not checked the hours for RavenswoodQ but was hoping they would still be open so we could go ahead and get a pound of brisket on the way home.  The Red Line entrance is just out the door and we took it back to Fullerton where the Brown Line caught up to us.  RavenswoodQ was open and though Dale was not there a man whose name I hope was Frank got us a pound of brisket.  I have to remember not to take Sherry with me when I am doing this because when Frank offered some sides and I declined she punched me and said 'Hey, I am here, too.'  Nothing wrong with sides just not part of what I am out to do.

Those of you that have had my oven cooked brisket or my smoked brisket will notice how close this looks to mine.  A little less smoke ring than my smoked brisket.  Maybe cooked a little faster or a little less than mine but all in all very close.  Frank had asked us if we wanted any sauce.  I am always glad to try folks sauce but have learned that I do not like the vinegary Carolina sauces.  No offense, Frank.  I am just very used to my tomato catsup based sauces.  Their house based sauce fits the bill and is very tasty.  Did not need it but always good to have.  Excellent job RavenswoodQ.

Now I bet you thought I was through but there is more!

Leftovers.

Sherry took off the next morning with cole slaw and greens and I got nary a drep.  She had also had sides with hers the night before.  I am just grateful she did not take all of the brisket.  I have forgotten to mention above that the brisket in the box, wrapped in paper and foil and inside a plastic bag had done a number on me while riding home so it passes that test as well.  By eight am I was wanting some brisket and so I tented what was left in foil and put it in the oven.

By nine am the smell was calling my name.  You can see a bit more of the fat has done it's work of flavoring the meat with the rubs nice spicy goodness.  I would add some more spices but then Chicago folks would cut off the bark which Dale has told me he provides in house with a plate for those who might not want the fat.  All was soon sorted.

I have to go back for at least two reasons.  One is that they smoke beef short ribs on Fridays.  The other is that I never got around to the main dining area but I am sure a sit down dinner here with any meat and sides would be great.

Seafood from Frank's on Irving Park

Now tell me if I am understanding the concept right.  On Fat Tuesday you are supposed to give up something you may be addicted to.  So I decided to give up Gumbo.  Tuesday being seafood day at our house and knowing I would have to find something to fill the nutritional need for cold water fish and that I might lose my tongue and my cheek I went to meditate at City News Cafe.

The night before my mind had gone off on one of it's side tracks.  I have a block of time between three and five pm on Tuesdays that if I am not cooking Gumbo I could be hosting a Meetup to build community among anyone who might be interested in tech stuff in my little neck of the woods.  On this particular Tuesday it being Fat Tuesday a test run for logistics and the afore mentioned  meditation was in order.  Madi Gras Radio on XM was playing and having my spirit refreshed I walked down to Frank's Chicago Shrimp on Irving Park.

This is a takeout place serving lots of fried seafood quickly.  We got half a pound each of Chicago Style Gulf Shrimp, Scallops, Fish Chips and Frog Legs along with an order of Onion Rings.

Cheryl says you can taste the gulf in the shrimp.  I had a frog leg, scallop and onion ring for breakfast the next morning.  They have a couple of nice red sauces but we make our own tarter sauce.

Taco Bell

Wut?

They have tacos at Taco Bell?

Well, sort of and this had to be done.  I had been to FreeGeek for our Supreme Coders Saturday afternoon hack.  I had been to Rocking Horse for some fellowship with our fellow free geekers and Cheryl had gone on down the 56 route to Myopic Book Store.  She mentioned on the way down that she might stop at Taco Bell or Burger King on her way home.  No Der Wienerschnitzel was available.  Seeing an opportunity to get our fast food fix and a promised blog post plus my Sunday breakfast all in one swipe I volunteered to stop on my way home.  I was able to get off get our food and get on the next bus home.  Careful of the ice though since I had slipped on a major not at all cleared at all sidewalk and gone down across the street from the Rocking Horse while on the way there.

So!  I chose and changed my mind at least three times and the cashier was patient with me.  I did manage to leave without little packets of hot sauce which is a very good sauce and they have more than one heat level.  I ended up with a 12 pack of hard shell tacos and it only came with the standard meat according to my cashier.  There were six regular, two cool ranch, two nacho cheese and two fiery shell tacos.  The shells were thinner than I remembered and broke easily as well as some got soggy before I got home with them.  Not a bad thing, just say'n.  What to say, what to say?  I like Taco Bell but I normally get a different meat ala cart and a side each of sour cream and guacamole.  There are memories here though and they may be good memories but maybe not.  The Doritos flacored shells brought back memories of flavored Frito's.  The fire was distinctly not the natural heat I am used to and stayed with me for about thirty minutes after I ate it.  The meat, veggies and cheese were all there and three tacos filled us up.  Not much else can be said for them.  It is what it is.  Ounce for ounce, not cheap but what we have voted with our dollars to have made available.  The other three each were brunch and snack on Sunday.  I had two in a bowl with some Aldi sour cream and the other for snack later.  I ate the snack cold out of the cardboard sleeve and it held together.  No, I did not eat the sleeve.

Brisket from Smoque 2/21/2014

It has to be done.  Yesterday, 2/21/14, was a beautiful, clear, breezy day in Chicago.  Almost too nice for take home BBQ.  Smoque got the most recommendations in my resent request for recommendations from everyblock users.  Smoque is my go to neighborhood BBQ place and the first place I found in Chicago that had brisket I would bother getting off the train for when we lived in the burbs.  They definitely pass the smell test.  This folks is good BBQ.  If you are from Chicago this may well be your best BBQ brisket in Chicago.  The by the pound price was on the board.

Now for the part I really hate.  Some of this pound really needed sauce.  Luckily it came with a really tasty sauce.  This is Smoque's market understanding at work.  Folks do not want full flavor, full fat, coat the inside of your mouth goodness and even think it is unhealthy.  For me slice me off a chard piece of pure fat and I am ecstatic.

The trip.  80 to 53, 53 to half a block away.  Reverse that to the Jewel and pick up a few things so the smell had me starving.

This is my first post with a date because I am going to make like Douglas MacArthur and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

One pound in the bag

In the box

and on a plate

Brisket from Small's

I will not be burying the lead.  This brisket is almost as good as mine.  There are many very fine brisket places in Texas that do not cook brisket this great.  From the taste I would say they do not put a rub on the brisket and let the smoke do the talking.

The trip.  I had been to FreeGeek.  When I leave there I normally just catch the 56 back to Irving Park.  I got to the corner though and realized I would be sliding on a hypotenuse if I did that so I went over and caught the 82 north.  Along the way I noticed how easy it would be to take the 82 to Joong Boo.  At Irving Park I took the 80 east to Albany which is two streets past Kedzie.

Small's is behind Lizard's.

I went in and though I had been here before I looked over the menu board.  I was prepared to buy two of their bbq brisket bibimbap boxes.  I have had that before and it is great as is their fried chicken.  The brisket boxes have kimchi which is the tie in to Joong Boo.  As some may recall though this blogs test case is one pound of smoked brisket.  Brisket by the pound was not on the board but I asked.  I was quoted a very reasonable price so I got my pound.  I chatted with Dan, one of the owners, got my pound and left.

They also have pork brisket so be sure to order accordingly.

The brisket came with some of their tiger sauce.  Their glaze that they put on the brisket that comes in the box is excellent.  The only things that would have made this experience better would have been if they were around the corner and if they had my favorite rub on this brisket.

Antique Tacos

So it is about the journey and not the destination?

I had eaten here before so I sort of knew where it was and what to expect.  I had walked down a couple of blocks with a group from a hackathon at a coffee shop though so was not completely sure.  Thanks go to the young fellow that introduced me to the place and to the Reddit Post that reminded me.

And for those who do not watch the program Check Please

Now to the journey.  This starts for me with a Google Search

So I click on the map, then on directions then on the bus or train icon.  Options are bus to the L and a good walk or short walk to bus then a short walk after getting off.  Time difference was one minute.  So the location really does not get the advantage of the L.  If you are out for a leisurely day though you might take the blue line to the Damen stop and hit a great Walgreen's, Myopic Books, Reckless Records, iCream a record shop and a lot of other places.

So on to the food.  I ordered fish, shrimp and pork.  Tuesdays are seafood night.  The order taker did a little dance for her own benefit but a real surprise to have a happy order taker.  Sat down and waited while enjoying the antiques and music.  Order taker number two brought me my food in a brown paper bag with a clothes pin on top.

The tacos were in little boxes and had the contents written on them.  I appreciate that.

The food looked nice in the boxes and as you can see the eye appeal here is leaps and bounds above the usual taco that gets wrapped in thin white paper and foil and you have to guess the ingredients.  Now the traditional way is not a bad thing and for me often that is the experience I am really expecting.

The tacos were all delicious and generous in their fresh hand made corn homes.  Two are actually plenty and I had to leave half of my third one for breakfast this morning.  Now this is the brisket in Chicago blog and of course I am a smoked and blackened kind of food guy.  The blackened taste though was overpowering so now I will have to force myself to go back and try them again.

Force myself is an old family joke and what we say at family gatherings when offered more deserts than anyone should ever eat.