Author Archives: steve

Jelly Belly Candy Company

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**** (4 stars)

On a drive back from Mars Cheese Castle (don’t ask) I happened to pass the Jelly Belly factory. Well, it’s not really a factory, just a warehouse and store. But at the store I made my sole purchase of the day: a carton of Belly Flops, defective jelly beans that sell for 25% of retail. I actually like them better than the regular ones, and they are certainly fresh. I think a lot of friends are going to be getting jelly beans next week!

Jelly Belly Candy Company
10100 Jelly Belly Ln
Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158
(262) 947-3800
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jelly-belly-candy-company-pleasant-prairie

Paris Club Bistro & Bar

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**** (4 stars)

This is a classic French Bistro with a beautiful interior and a traditional menu. The highlight of their food offerings is the Spiced Duck for two. It’s beautifully browned and coated five spice, which fills the table with the most amazing aroma. Served with crepes, julienne vegetables, and a delicate (not overly sweet) orange sauce, it was some of the best duck I’ve had.

The wine list is mostly French, and there are a few nice offerings from good vintages, although you get what you pay for (and vice versa).

The next time I want duck, this is definitely where I’ll be.

Paris Club Bistro & Bar
59 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 595-0800
http://www.yelp.com/biz/paris-club-bistro-and-bar-chicago-2

Mars’ Cheese Castle

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**** (4 stars)

We passed this place on a drive to Milwaukee, and although we didn’t stop, I felt compelled to return.

It was everything I expected, and more. Actually I was expecting nothing but a tacky tourist trap. But you can’t really call it a trap, since hundreds of fans return here, again and again. Why? Because of the sheer volume of “stuff” they have.

Yes, there are T-shirts and souvenirs. But really the place is about cheese, beer, gourmet foods and wine, not necessarily in that order. They also have  a ton of hot sauces.

The beer selection alone is vast. And there were many gourmet honeys, syrups, seasonings and biscuits I’d never seen before. Unfortunately the prices are pretty much at the level you’d expect, so I didn’t actually buy anything, but plenty of people were loading up.

The cheeses I tried were actually fairly bland and forgettable, but then I’m more of a European cheese person.

Mars’ Cheese Castle
2800 W Frontage Rd
Kenosha, WI 53144
(800) 655-6147
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mars-cheese-castle-kenosha

Karma Asian Food & Fine Wine

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***** (5 stars)

This is a gorgeous restaurant interior. If this place weren’t is a Doubletree in an obscure spot it would be packed.

Alone at lunch on a Saturday, we had a wonderful meal, sharing four appetizers: firecracker shrimp, crab rangoon, seafood pancakes and lettuce wraps. Each was excellent, reasonably priced, and the portions were huge. There is also a thoughtful wines by the glass list and a nices offering of sakes.

If this place were closer to Chicago I would be there all the time.

Karma Asian Food & Fine Wine
510 E Il Rt 83
Mundelein, IL 60060
(847) 970-6900
http://www.yelp.com/biz/karma-asian-food-and-fine-wine-mundelein

Chicken Shack

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**** (4 stars)

This place makes excellent fried chicken, hot and cooked to order.  

I tried some of the sauces on wings, and when this place says something is spicy you need to believe them! Both the spicy BBQ and the Jamaican Jerk we hot enough to make me perspire. There’s a kick to the gravy on the mashed potatoes, as well. In fact, of everything I tried I think the mashed potatoes were my favorites.

Service was friendly. Because everything is cooked to order, it takes about 15 minutes, so if you’re in a hurry it’s best to call ahead.

Chicken Shack
1925 Ridge Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 328-9360
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chicken-shack-evanston

Great Harvest Bread

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** (2 stars)

The bread here is okay, but a lot of the other baked goods always seem like they needed a few more minutes to brown up, and a little bit more texture or crunch to make them interesting. But the real downside are the people behind the counter. I hate to criticize, but I’ve been here three times, and felt unwelcome on each visit, like my presence was inconveniencing them. I’ve spoken with others who agree, so it’s not just me. As a result, I prefer to shop down the street.

Great Harvest Bread
2126 Central St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 866-8609
http://www.yelp.com/biz/great-harvest-bread-evanston

Foodstuffs

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**** (4 stars)

I’m not sure whether to call this a grocery story, a gourmet shop or a bakery, because it’s all three and more. The meats are particularly good here, with good steaks; fish is pretty good, too. Oh, and the hot dogs from the deli case are the best I’ve had anywhere, perfect for a 4th of July BBQ. I also always get some bread. They have a great variety, and the employees are a hundred times nicer than they are at the bakery down the street.

Foodstuffs
2106 Central St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 328-7704
http://www.yelp.com/biz/foodstuffs-evanston

Linz and Vail on Central

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**** (4 stars)

This place has the atmosphere I’m looking for in a coffee house, and also makes some excellent coffee. The Macchiato is perfect, not a trace of bitterness. Also some great gelato. Ignore that Starbucks down the street; this is the real deal.

Linz and Vail on Central
2012 Central St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-1381
http://www.yelp.com/biz/linz-and-vail-on-central-evanston

Superdawg Drive-In

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*** (3 stars)

This is a really neat 50s style drive-in with amusing hotdog characters on the roof, and a great history. Service is fast and friendly. The food is fine, but it’s not going to change your life. You’ll get the same Chicago dog available all over town. The hamburger is actually a bit more interesting, because although it’s a fairly typical fast food burger, it’s dressed like a Chicago dog. The fries are fairly crisp if you open the box as soon as they arrive. A good place to take a car full of kids, I guess.

Superdawg Drive-In
6363 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60646
(773) 763-0660
http://www.yelp.com/biz/superdawg-drive-in-chicago-2

Next – Modern Chinese

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***** (5 stars)

I approached Next with some trepidation because I’m not a fan of Alinea, its sister restaurant. I found the atmosphere and service there stiff, and grew tired of the dictatorial way we were instructed to consume each course.

I’m happy to say that Next is nothing like that. Service is professional but relaxed, and the servers are happy, informative and passionate about the food they’re serving.

As to the food, there’s little point in mentioning it… or the decor, for that matter. Because the restaurant evolves into something completely new and different every four months, and you’re unlikely to go twice during any given incarnation, you just need to put your trust in the culinary team and expect something special.

That’s certainly what we received the night we visited. There were several home runs and nothing forgettable about the Modern Chinese menu.

I also like the ticketing system. It was refreshing to have no transaction at the end of the meal. The food, wine pairing and tip were all included, and were certainly fairly priced for the experience we received. It left me anxious to return to experience future incarnations of this excellent restaurant.

Next
953 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 226-0858
http://www.yelp.com/biz/next-chicago-2