Food Reaction

We post food and our reaction: Hoping for your reaction

[foodreaction]

Swan Oyster Depot. Nob Hill. San Francisco, Ca.

This is the oyster place to be. 1 hour wait at any given time, rain or shine.  Just a small fish market with an even smaller counter to dine on. Words cannot express how delicious and fresh their oysters are. Being from the midwest, we just aren't allowed to have fresh oyster, so this was a real treat. I can see now why Anthony Bourdain and many others hold this place in such high regard. I also had the chowder and a boiled crab.  Simple model to be simply successful.

Jaison, San Francisco.

[foodreaction]

Chili Pies and Ice Cream. Western Addition, San Francisco. CA.

Maple Bacon Walnut Pie with a scoop of Madagascar Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

After seeing it was one of the highest rated "sweet" places in the SF area, I decided that I absolutely had to go. Wow, did I not regret my decision. These pies are very rich and heavy, but not in that annoying sweet way. The flavors of maple and walnut go hand-in-hand like cookies and cream. The bacon is very subtle and almost missed, but no complaints. The ice cream was really creamy had the texture of soft serve, considering it was scooped from a bin. Really delicious.

Jaison, San Francisco.

[foodreaction]

Bouchon. Yountville, CA.

Gnocchi A La Parsienne and Steak Frites.

On the drive back from a marathon wine tour of Napa Valley, we made the obligatory stop in Yountville to wine and dine at Thomas Keller's Bouchon (and Bouchon Bakery).  The gnocchi was a bit on the doughy side, but the flavor was all there.  The gnocchi was dressed with fresh garden vegetables and soaked in a light brown butter sauce.  The steak was nearly rare with a heavy piece of garlic butter on top.  Perfection. Frites? Well, they're frites.  This meal definitely got my excited for potential future Thomas Keller meals.

Jaison, Yountville.

[foodreaction]

Momofuku Noodle Bar. NYC, New York.

Pork Belly Buns.

While in New York, my friend insisted I check out any one of David Chang's amazing establishments. Cost, location, and reasonable wait time? Momofuku Noodle Bar it is! I wanted to share with you guys this really great pork belly bun I had before my massive bowl noodles. The pork was intensely tender and fatty and being wrapped around a thick starchy bun really worked well. I dipped it in some siracha because I can.

Jaison, NYC.

[foodreaction]

Kuma's Corner, Chicago.

The Kuma Burger

Kuma's has been around for quite sometime now and I finally made an effort to check out the hype. I got the classic Kuma Burger: bacon, aged cheddar cheese, and a fried egg on top of a medium rare sirloin on a pretzel bun. Not only do you have to wait 2 hours to get a table, you have to wait an additional hour to get your food after you've ordered. Worth it? Yes and no. Yes, because this burger is absolutely delicious and amongst one of the best I've had. No, because you can get a slightly lesser burger and save yourself 3 hours at a dozen other places in this burger loving summer of Chicago.

Jaison, Chicago.

Special note: While waiting for a table, my parked car was totaled by two idiots who crashed into each other and crashed my car. The Kuma staff was very sympathetic and offered me free drinks. Thanks.

[foodreaction]

Il Pesce Eataly. NYC, New York.

Alla Piastra

This was the pan seared catch of the day at Il Pesce. Il Pesce is a wonderful Italian bistro that lies within the famed Eataly that is partnered by Mario Batali, The Bastianichs, and others. This fish was extremely fresh and worked well with the light marinade of lemon, salt and pepper. The fish itself was all the flavor, and all that was needed. Rumor has it that Eataly might be built somewhere in Chicago. If that's the case, I can't wait.

Jaison, NYC.

[foodreaction]

Maude's Liquor Bar. Chicago, IL.

Cassoulet

This wonderfully concocted mix of cannellini beans, bacon, andouille sausage, carrots, spices and bread crumbs is the most interesting dish at Maude's. This was the first time I've ever had Cassoulet. It was very hearty, filling, and delicious. I can't wait to go back and order this again.

Jaison, Chicago.

[foodreaction]

Chuck's BBQ and Southern Comforts Cafe. Burbank, IL

Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Bread

This badass cornbread was served up in a blistering hot 6 inch cast iron pan with the softest, most creamiest butter placed on top. I really hate calling something "The Best" because that normally discounts anything else you've tried. In this case, however, I really think this stands out as the absolute best cornbread I have ever had. The top and edges were nice and crispy and inside was so fluffy. Each bite had a small spice ting to it and the random clumps of whole corn kernels added to the texture.  Delicious.

Jaison, Chicago.

[foodreaction]

Cafe Iberico, Chicago.

Sauteed Mussels and Key Lime Mojito.

One of the simpler, most delicious things about Cafe Iberico. Aside from their noteworthy paella and to-die-for Potatas Bravas, Cafe Iberico whips up fresh mussels sauteed in a creamy garlic tomato sauce. If it's shelled and comes from the sea, I love it. Barmaster Carlo always serves up a strong beverage that is fitting with the meal and weather. The Key Lime Mojito was refreshing on this 96 degree hot summer day.

[foodreaction]

DMK Burger Bar, Chicago.

Turkey burger, beef burger (both with bacon and fried egg), salt pepper fries, truffle fries and Allagash White Ale.

DMK Burger Bar by Michael Kornick stands, in my opinion, the best burger joint in Chicago. The meat is always cooked to a perfectly medium rare, the selection is vast and delicious. From lamb to salmon, there is a solid burger for anyone who walks in. I especially love the truffle fries and the Wisconsin Cheddar cheese fries (not pictured). They always carry a hefty craft beer selection that pairs well with the eats.

- Jaison, Chicago.

[foodreaction]

Next Restaurant

elBulli Menu Cover

We took this picture just to be silly. We follow each other twitter, and you should follow us both too.

-Jaison, Chicago.

[foodreaction]

Binny's Beverage Depot, Chicago.

The John Walker

I've never seen a more expensive bottle of Johnny Walker before in my life. I've had the fortunate chance to sip on Johnny Walker Blue Label: King George V Edition, which runs somewhere around $359.99 and I enjoy the standard Blue label ($169.99) quite often. I would love to try The Johnny Walker one day, but at $3,499.99, it would definitely have to be on someone else's dime.

-Jaison, Chicago.

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Aviary, Chicago.

Chili Ginger Shaved Ice Beverage.

I wish I remembered exactly the name of this wonderful drink, but I don't. It was a ginger based cocktail with slivers of chili pepper. You mix your drink yourself with the green onion stalk. This drink was very strong and had so many clashing flavors. As you sipped, the drink evolved into numerous flavors. Bravo to mixologist Craig Schoettler.

- Jaison, Chicago.

[foodreaction]

Paris 1906 via Next Restaurant, Chicago.

Caneton Rouennais à la Presse (Pressed Duck)

I had the privilege of scoring tickets to Next Restaurant's debut menu, Paris 1906. The headliner of the evening was this amazing pressed duck, dressed in it's own blood reduction sauce.  The skin crispy, and the meat medium rare, this dish was absolute perfection. This still stands as my favorite meal of all time. I wish there was a way to go back in time and enjoy it over and over again.

- Jaison, Chicago.

[foodreaction]

Balena, Chicago.

Tagliolini Nero, Crab, Sea Urchin, Chile.

This was the most interesting dish of our dinner at Balena. This was the first time I've ever eaten squid ink anything. What we had here was squid ink pasta. It had a nice acidic taste to it that was calmed down by the crab and chile. The sea urchin was a nice touch. The BoKa group strikes again.

- Jaison, Chicago.

[foodreaction]

Calumet Fisheries, Chicago.

The Smoke Shack

This little bundle of smoke joy is nestled as far east as Chicago goes. An honoree of the 2010 James Beard Award, Calumet Fisheries serves up everything smoked. Anthony Bourdain dropped in once for filming of No Reservations and since then, this place is always busy. It is worth the wait. If you catch them at a slow hour, ask for a tour of the smoke shack.

- Jaison, Chicago.

[foodreaction]

Pho Vie. Westminster, California.

Fresh Beef Pho

Westminster is known for it's deep Vietnamese community, so it was natural I try the staple dish of Vietnam. This pho was super garden fresh and really spicy. The raw beef cutlets cooked in the hot broth as you feasted on this gigantic bowl. Now if I can find comparable pho in Chicago.

- Jaison, California.