Enjoy Some Old School Asian Fusion at Ping Pong in Lakeview

Although in the dozen blocks of North Broadway between Waveland and Belmont there has been a boom in restaurants this year, including a couple of BBQ places, Mexican Cafe, and a breakfast joint, I decided bypass these for now and finally try a neighborhood staple that has been around for years.

I suppose I would describe it as Asian fusion or Pan Asian, whatever that really means anymore. Basically Chinese with American influence along side Japanese and Thai dishes, it’s not strictly authentic but doesn’t aim to be. Having a fascination with all things old school Shanghai lately I was pleasantly surprised when I felt like I was stepping into 1930s Shanghai. This was exactly the point of their most recent renovation. Think Art Deco  meets Jazz club with some kitsch and vintage Chinese advertising posters and Stan Getz playing in the background.

5ish Things to Do in Nashville

The first impression of Nashville is of a growing city, scaffolding and construction sites dot the downtown area in what looks like a hotel boom in the city. I was told over eight hotels were being built and these were seriously big hotels. Good sign for Nashville.

On the way to the hotel I noticed the beautiful huge new Music City Center.  Construction looked almost complete on this 2.1 million-square-foot convention center which will be having a its grand opening this weekend. According to the website the center is, “…working towards LEED Silver certification with its green roof, solar panels, and rainwater collection tank…the Music City Center as one of the largest public art collections in the nation.”

There are of course hundreds of things to do in Nashville but here is a list of things if you are short on time, like to eat/drink, going on a Monday/Tuesday when live music isn’t as readily scheduled and the snowy weather limits your time outside (yes, it was 30 degrees and snowing while we were there and actually warmer in Chicago). My next trip I would like to see a show at Ryman Auditorium, go to the Frist Center of the Visual Arts and tour the Country Music Hall of Fame among other things.

Satan’s Circus Recipe

 

That’s quite a name! Day 2 of gorgeous weather in Chicago means people are outside in full force. Monday afternoon I was walking down Broadway and the outdoor seating was filling up with people eating and drinking…this was at 3:30pm. Got to love Chicagoans, when the weather is good we take full advantage. We have to.

Hopefully you have been able to get outside for a walk or run. If you don’t have plans to visit any restaurants or bars soon here is a great drink recipe to make at home.

Satan’s Circus Recipe: Bon Appétit.

 

Want Tasty Empanadas? Get On Over to Cafe Tola in Lakeview

Cafe Tola, the to-go espresso and empanada bar, is a great addition to Lakeview.  What it lacks in size it makes up in color and flavor.

This tiny spot is brightly decorated and uses every square inch for either food or Latin American tchotchkes like luchador masks. The staff is very friendly and expedites the ever-present line efficiently making it the perfect grab and go spot. The empanadas are made in-house with the menu changing daily. I would suggest getting there early because they do sell out. Cafe Tola has it all, it’s quick, quality food and the price is great for the amount of food you get.

Here’s a taste of what they offer:

Sizzling steak, mushroom and peppers, Roasted Poblano Pepper & Chihuahua Cheese, Beef Sirloin, Grilled Veggie, Mole Chicken, Chicken Salsa Verde, Chipotle Chicken

Sounds good, right? The empanadas are nice and flaky and filled to the max. I have experienced the half-filled empanadas, muy triste. These guys fill ‘em up so two can easily fill you up. Look at that deliciousness:

Image via Cafe Tola Facebook

Mole con Pollo‏ Empanada

If empandas aren’t your thing they also offer homemade chips and guacamole, tamales, quesadillas and more depending on the day. If you aren’t feeling anything savory you can get mango & farmers cheese empanada, Red Velvet donuts, and cinnamon rolls.

Need a beverage to wash that down? Plenty of coffee and tea latte drinks for you to choose from. I am hoping they have Mexican hot chocolate next time I go in. The only thing that would make Cafe Tola better is a patio space in time for summer.

Memphis – Elvis, BBQ and The Peabody Duck March

What do you do when you find yourself with six hours to spend in Memphis? The first thing is to get yourself to Graceland the home of Elvis Presley. It will not win any awards from Architectural Digest but it is definitely something to see and has a lot of character. The house and property are across Elvis Presley Boulevard from the sprawling complex that houses gift shops, restaurants, RV Park & campground, Heartbreak Hotel, and chapel for weddings.

After taking the obligatory picture with a cheesy background places sell you, we board the bus to drive across the street (they won’t let you walk to the house, need to be on the bus to enter the property) we began a self-guided tour. The living and dining rooms are pretty tame in decoration. It is when you get to the kitchen, back of the house and basement the fun begins.

Little Goat, Big Plate – West Loop

As a fan of Girl and the Goat (I wrote about my last trip here) I had wanted to try out Little Goat  since it opened in late December. We arrived at just before 2pm on a cold March Friday and it was packed. Luckily there were two seats at the diner bar waiting just for me and a friend. A woman in a purple old-timey diner waitress uniform greeted us as soon as we sat down. I thought they were cute but I could understand if one would prefer to look at them versus wear. This was confirmed when a server said, “…yeah, we looooove them.” Despite being busy the service was great with no less than 2 people checking in on us throughout our stay.

Little Goat has it all, huge dining room space, coffee bar, bakery and bar. Go for breakfast and stay through the night at the bar. This is a diner but upscale in design and menu offerings.

We wanted to try the Stumptown coffee so ordered a cappuccino with almond milk. It was fabulous and can be served decaf.  Next up was the tuna melt. Not your average diner tuna melt but more of a deconstructed/Salad Niçoise like tuna melt. Complete with albacore tuna, cheese sauce, greens, green beans, and served open-faced on sourdough bread. I split this and it was plenty filling due to the richness of the cheese sauce. I loved it; the texture was creamy (sauce) and crunchy (veggies). Niçoise with a kick.

Last but not least, the Pièce de résistance, the Peppermint Matti sundae. I can appreciate ice cream and desserts as much as the next person but I am not that person that always *has* to get dessert, especially at lunch. If this sundae were offered on the other menus I would get it again and again. Perfectly balanced vanilla mint ice cream, Thai chocolate ice cream, brownie bits with mint, chocolate syrup and whipped cream. What made this stand apart is the hotness of what I am assuming was either cayenne or spice in the Thai chocolate ice cream or both. Whatever it was, it was working and added a next level flavor to this already spectacular dessert.

The menu is huge so I didn’t even come close to trying a variety of things so I will be back. I have heard that some items are extremely salty and/or heavy so choose wisely if you are sensitive to those things. On a separate trip a friend had the chili and absolutely loved it as well as the Bull’s eye french toast: crispy chicken, sweet onion brioche, BBQ maple syrup.

CHICAGO CHEF WEEK 2013 | March 17-22

Another (if you missed Restaurant Week) week of prix fixe lunches and dinners to satisfy your foodie cravings. Most lunches are 3 courses for $22 and most dinners are 3 courses for $44.

So many great restaurants! Here are few on my wish list: Avec, Balena, Baume & Brix, Green Zeba and Hot Chocolate.

Click below to check out the full list of participating restaurants.

CHICAGO CHEF WEEK 2013 | March 17-22.