xo chicago

Three gals exploring all the edible goodness Chicago has to offer, takin notes, sips and pictures!

[xochicago-blog]

M Henry

M.HENRY

5707 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60660

Phone: [phone]

Cafe hours: Tuesday-Friday 7am-2:30pm, Saturday-Sunday 8am-3pm

On Chicago’s north side, where Andersonville meets Edgewater, you’ll find M.Henry –– a true treasure for Chicago’s brunch loving people. M.Henry specializes in globally inspired, new American style cuisine, and they do it well! As former Uptown residents we have been frequenting M.Henry’s for years. We love this spot! It’s as simple as that. With an interior reminiscent of a country inspired french bistro this place is equally cosy to bring your in-laws, as it is for having Bloody Mary’s over brunch with friends on Sunday mornings. Note M.Henry is BYOB. 

After years of attending the same place, you develop a love affair with certain dishes that make it impossible to imagine ordering anything else from the menu. Still, in the spirit of exploring for this xo-chicago post, we added the quiche of the day, as well as the Veggie Dagwood Stacked Sandwich to our repertoire. Although delicious, nothing quite compares to our favorite go to dishes –– Fannie’s Killer Fried Egg Sandwich, Jorge’s Black Bean Cakes & Huevos Borrachos (Drunken eggs), the Simply Hotcakes with seasonal berries and vanilla creme, and the Blackberry Bliss Cakes. For the last two dishes, we recommend that you ask for the vanilla creme, or vanilla mascarpone cream on the side, unless you like your hotcakes a little more soggy, which some do. Finally, make sure you don’t leave without having a taste of the house potatoes. These are probably the best brunch potatoes in town. No joke. 

On the weekends, you’ll find it’s not unusual to have to wait twenty to thirty minutes for a table depending on your party size, so brace yourself with patience and acknowledge that hanging with strangers in the crowded front room, or waiting out on the sidewalk is part of the experience. Luckily you can buy a cup of coffee or baked goods from the bakery to soothe your cravings while you wait. Once you are seated, you are in for a real treat.

[xochicago-blog]

La Colombe

La Colombe

WICKER PARK

1552 N. Damen Ave.

Chicago, IL 60622

M-F: 7:00-7:00

SAT-SUN: 8:00-8:00

Beneath the rails of the Damen Blue Line stop, you’ll find one of the best cups of coffee in Chicago, at La Colombe. Open at this location since early 2014, this Fair Trade coffee house caters to commuters on the go, as well as the standard coffee house computer crowd, or friends, like us, meeting up for chat. Panels of natural light flood through the floor-to-ceiling windows transforming the minimalistic interior into a welcoming and warm space. A place you want to hang out a little while longer than it actually takes to devour a cup of coffee. While the blue line train rumbles across the tracks above our heads, steam explodes from the espresso machine, as our cappuccino and lattes are crafted into perfection. Milk foam as thick as cotton clouds, lightly floating on the surface of our coffee drinks. Sheer delicious happiness in beautifully ornamented cups, paying homage to its South American roots. To make things even better, a spread of pastries from one of our favorite Chicago bakeries, Floriole, is available for purchase with your coffee drink, thus facilitating a heavenly fusion of flaky buttery goodness and (de)caffeinated delight. What separates La Colombe from many other local coffee companies, is their company ethics toward farmers and other trading partners, as well as a dedication to providing a product that is strictly earth conscious. This is one rich and savory cup of coffee you can sip with a healthy conscience. 

[xochicago-blog]

Little Goat Diner

LITTLE GOAT DINER 820 W Randolf St., Chicago, IL 60607

This week we uncover the deliciousness of Little Goat Diner in Chicago’s West Loop. First of all, the area itself is worth a visit. The old meat packing district has become a hip and beautiful neighborhood for the people who like to eat out and have the money to spend. Walking down Randolph you encounter some of Chicago’s best restaurants. Black Bird, Avec, Au Cheval, Girl And The Goat, and of course Girl and the Goat’s younger sister, Little Goat Diner, across the street–that is the joint on the corner with the adorable little goat on the rooftop. You can’t miss it.

The weather is nice enough to sit on the sidewalk patio, but we choose to take up one of the massive booths inside. To some of us, the word “diner” recalls images of broken plastic seats, tacky interior decor, luke warm coffee in old and partially dirty mugs, and a $3.50 toast, hash browns and scrambled egg breakfast. Needless to say; ‘this ain’t that kind kinda place’. Rather, think casual elegance–a place where possibly Don Draper would have a bloody mary for brunch. Although, the crowd at this time of day more so channel “sex and the city–the baby chapters”.!

Little Goat Diner is the latest offspring of the culinary collaboration between Top Chef winner Stepahnie Izard, and the Boka Restaurant group duo–Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz–along with Little Goat Bread, where all the bread for Girl and The Goat, and Little Goat Diner is made. The bakery/coffee bar/cocktail bar is conveniently attached to the diner through a side door. However it is also possible to access through its own entrance from the street, to grab some coffee, bread or Goat merch to go. Really, the bar is super cosy, dark and intimate. Only a few seats at the bar where you can have snack, a drink and maybe some good conversation.

After carefully going through the many tooth watering menu options in our booth, we make our choice, and our food arrives. Smoked Corned Beef Hash with Eggs, Sourdough Pancakes, a side of Hash Browns with cheese, and at last, the ultimate brunch treat; the Bull’s Eye French Toast–a delightful ensemble of eggs, crispy chicken, sweet onion brioche, topped with bbq maple syrup. Who comes up with this kind of stuff? I guess a Top Chef does. And what else is there really to say, but: YUM! 

As always, you can see more pictures on our Facebook page! 

[xochicago-blog]

Bow Truss Coffee Roasters

BOW TRUSS

2934 N Broadway, Lakeview

bowtruss.com

WE’RE BAAAACK! Thanks for bearing with us while we’ve been in hibernation during this horribly long and brutal Chicago winter. Although snow is pretty rad [read; in December when you want that cozy holiday ambience], I have officially realized I could never live in Minneapolis where brutal winters are a yearly must, and that next winter xo-chicago should relocate and become xo-honolulu from December to April. Of course we could’ve kept up our bi-weekly posts during these past three months, but let’s get real–all of us Chicagoans would’ve, given the choice, chosen to stay far away from the cold streets of Chiberia. Luckily, spring has officially arrived, at least on the calendar, and we are back, ready to explore the culinary goodness chicago has to offer one bite and sip at the time.

Our first stop this spring is BOW TRUSS Coffee Roasters on Broadway in Lakeview. Due to pregnancy brain and distracted by the awesome weather that allows me to open my coat, put on sunglasses and stare at the blue sky, I manage to walk past BOW TRUSS twice, before realizing the dark and minimalistic facade overshadowed by the colorful awnings and signs surrounding it, is where I need to go. The place is empty– due to the lovely weather, the barista assures–but within a few minutes several patrons joins us at the two community tables for the delight of fresh roasted coffee bean drinks.

We order our coffee, but first the barista runs around the counter to flip the record on the turntable behind us. Talk about ambiance. In a way it feels like you are at a friends loft, and not a coffee shop.The space is beautiful in the industrially sparse kinda way. High beautiful ceilings that rise above you like an ark. A stack of vintage suitcases functioning as a room divider. Vintage sleighs hanging on the wall. The hustle and bustle from the back of the room where the magic beans are being curated and roasted. BOW TRUSS in Lakeview is actually the company’s first roasting house. Only the front of the space is dedicated to the bar, where you can grab a cup of coffee and learn about the roasting process and brewing methods, if you wish.

That it functions as a serious roasting house more so than what you would expect of a traditional coffee shop, is reflected in the simple menu (none of that classic coffee house counter spread of puff pastries, cookies and sandwiches), the limited seating (only two smaller community tables and a few stools at the bar), and the lack of costumer restrooms (an important fact if you have to pee a lot). In a way, the simplicity of the whole concept allows you to savor your coffee without any distractions from the flavor. Although the place seems designed for those who want to grab a coffee to go, stop in for a quick coffee with a friend, or pick up a bag of freshly roasted beans (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!), we still managed to spend two hours here, savoring our coffee’s and catching up on all the things we’ve missed in each others lives during the past three months. Bow Truss is definitely worth a visit whether you want to linger around or just grab a coffee to go. The beans are truly magic. 

[xochicago-blog]

Christkindle Market

Daley Plaza, Chicago. Late November through December 24th.

We welcome 2014 with a belated holiday post. This holiday season has brought us so many joyous experiences. One of them was visiting the Christkindlmarket in the Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. Though the weather outside was frightful and we felt chilled to the bone, we still had a lot of fun looking at ornaments and drinking hot cider while strolling around in the cosy atmosphere of this faux German Christmas town.

Through the years the Christkindlmarket has become a popular holiday attraction for many Chicagoans. It is truly a cosy event for the whole family to visit during the holidays, but it is equally popular as a place to meet with friends and coworkers for a night cap after work. The market festivities usually begin in late November and run through December 24th. Besides the charming setup of small timber houses by the plaza’s big christmas tree, selling all kinds of handmade ornaments from across Germany, Austria, Poland and other European countries, a main draw is the food and treats – such as potato pancakes, sausages, sauerkraut and schnitzel. The true headliner in this Christmas town however, is the Glühwein, a traditional german hot spiced wine that you can purchase is a special Christkindlmarket souvenir cup. Once you learn to appreciate this drink, the scent of it will forever raise your Christmas spirit. Next December you will have to give it a go.

We hope you have had a wonderful holiday season and wish you all a very Happy New Year! 

[xochicago-blog]

Cozy Noodle

Cozy’s Noodle & Rice 3456 N. Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL

773.327.0100

www.cozychicago.com

You’ve probably never seen as many toys and trinkets covering a restaurant’s walls and ceilings as you will when visiting Cozy’s Noodle & Rice in Wrigleyville. Combining vintage American pop culture with contemporary thai cuisine, Cozy’s has certainly managed to create a solid north side legacy. The atmosphere is cozy, fun and friendly. The food is great. It’s the perfect place to bring out-of-towner’s who are looking for a fun experience without breaking the bank. Just remember the restaurant is BYOB.

As previous north sider’s the three of us have frequented Cozy’s quite religiously over the years. Hannah devoted herself to Cozy’s Crispy Chicken Pad Thai a long time ago, but once in a blue moon diverge and treat herself to a Tom Kar soup on the side. Azuree usually skips the main dishes all together and orders nothing but appetizers and thai tea. And for the record, the appetizers at Cozy’s are awesome. Some of our personal favorites are the pot stickers, the crab rangoon (YUM!), and the spring rolls. ! My own Cozy experience began eight years ago, on a cold January evening, when my roommate and I visited Chicago and went to dinner with some of his friends. It was my first time in Chicago, our first night here, and my first introduction to the Thai cuisine. Presented with the overwhelming amount of menu options and no idea what the, to me, foreign dish names entailed, my friends buddy, on the opposite side of the table, recommended I went with the chicken Pad Thai and a side of peanut sauce. Little did I know Pad Thai and peanut sauce would since then be my first and last meal every time I over the next eight years, flew in and out of O'hare to continue my love affair, that later evolved into a marriage, with that same guy who recommended me the meal in the first place. A few years down the road, in between flights, I substituted the chicken in the pad thai with fried tofu and also had occasional flings with the Noodles Panang, Crispy Pad Thai or the Cashew Tofu. But through it all, I have always savored the simplicity of lathering my Pad Thai in lime and creamy peanut sauce - possibly accompanied by a Lychee Freeze with tapioca balls. You should definitely try it!

Finally we recommend that you ladies at least, make sure to powder your noses while

you are at Cozy’s – if not to actually freshen up, then just to be able to answer the question of how many Pez heads it takes to use a little ladies room? 

[xochicago-blog]

Butcher + The Burger

BUTCHER & THE BURGER 1021 West Armitage, Chicago, IL Phone: [phone]

Black Friday we met at Butcher & The Burger for our post thanksgiving meal. Still in food comas from the night before, we all knew, there’s no cure like the hair of the dog that bit you – even when it comes to regaining your appetite after overeating turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Butcher & The Burger on the corner of Armitage and Kenmore Ave, is the heart child of chef Allen Sternweiler whose vision was to create a special place in the neighborhood where foodies and alike could enjoy the country’s best burger menu. Offering juicy meat patties, fresh ingredients, and a very flexible menu, you are guarantied to leave here satisfied. Ornamented with vintage finds and unique retail items for sale, the space stands out from your ordinary local burger shop. Although the space itself is small, it doesn't fell crowded. Most likely there will be a constant line running from the register to the front door while you eat, another testimony to the quality of the food.

Diving in to our burgers, potato salad, and fries with truffle mayo, we forgot about our turkey hangovers and savored the sweet fulfillment of overeating once again. 

[xochicago-blog]

Reno

RENO 2607 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL 773-697-4234

Last February Hannah, Azuree, and I were meeting for dinner at Telegraph on Logan Square. We had heard a lot of good things about the place, but as we came to find out, so had a lot of other people. We had a two hour wait ahead if we wanted to get a table. It was freezing outside and the thought of waiting in the cold or walking aimlessly around Logan Square for two hours didn’t appeal much to any of us. Hence we decided to pop in to Reno, the place next door, on the corner of Milwaukee Ave and Kedzie Ave. None of us had been there before, and had no idea that the team behind Telegraph, Bluebird, and Webster’s Wine Bar, also were behind this newly opened place. As we pushed our way through the buzzing crowd sipping on their cocktails and beers at the bar, and reached the hostess, whom to our relief would be able to seat us within half an hour or less, we had no idea that scrumptious, healthy-ish gourmet pizza’s and strong cocktails were in our future, laying the foundation for a memorable girls night out on the town.

Fast forward six months we visit Reno again. This time on purpose, and in the afternoon to catch the best light and avoid the crowds. The atmosphere is so different this time around. Drifting through the shades, the afternoon sun hits the surfaces of the exposed brick walls, the wooden counters and booths, creating a sense of warmth and serenity. As many other Chicago hotspots during the weekday hours, a few of the tables are occupied with people working on their computers while grabbing a bite to eat or coffee to drink. Still, it doesn’t feel busy or a tad annoying as coffee shops tend to do when the local “working-from-home” workforce invade your favorite spots. The vibe is casual and calm. Even as we later get caught up in conversations and overstay the allotted occupancy of a table, the nice staff at Reno let us hang around without making us feel rushed.

For lunch we opt for the Kale Salad, the Olympian, and the Southern Sandwich. Had the evening menu been available we surely would have stuffed our faces with pizza. Reno has designed a menu that is flexible enough to accommodate a diverse crowd’s food preferences and is flooded with a lot of healthy options at decent prices. Most foods are made in-house and to a certain extent in accordance with whatever local, seasonal, and organic ingredients that are available. What is not to love about that?

Whether you are looking for a cool and fun place to set off your saturday night or a place to enjoy brunch or weekday lunch with friends we think that Reno definitely deserves a visit. Go on a Tuesday* and get any 2 pizzas for $20, $2 PBR tall boys & $2 shots of whiskey! Most likely you’ll see us there.

*check Reno’s website to keep up to date with current specials. 

[xochicago-blog]

Antique Taco

Antique Taco – 1360 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Is there anything better than tacos? Most likely, yes. But we cannot express how much we love and appreciate well-made tacos! Luckily for us and all you other taco lovers out there, Chicago has a plenitude of unforgettable taco experiences awaiting to be consumed. This week, we indulged in a scrumptious feast at Antique Taco in Wicker Park. Located on Milwaukee Avenue, also known as Chicago’s hipster mecca before they all relocated to Logan Square, Antique Taco is an endearing popular neighborhood spot. Combining the owners’ passion for antiques and tacos the interior design and culinary experience tell a story that is equally heartwarming and delectable.

At first glance, the $8 tacos could seem a little steep, but the order does come with two large, not to mention mouthwatering, tacos – not just one, as this hungry and stingy writer foolishly assumed before she noticed the “dos” marked on the menu. To get the full Antique Taco experience we suggest that you and your friends each get something different and then share – unless you have a favorite* taco that you want to keep for yourself (*the garlic shrimp taco). We decided to share the pork carnitas, the grilled ribeye, and the garlic shrimp tacos. During our meal, an order of ‘corn off the cob salad’, that didn’t have a home, ended up at our table after a gentle remark to the waitress that we wouldn’t mind adopting it. We had no idea, but the ‘corn off the cob salad’ is to die for. Just saying. Try it!

In conclusion, we love this place – the tacos, the interior, the atmosphere, the people – and we cannot recommend enough that you make Antique Taco your destination the next time you feel the urge to explore the taco jungle of Chicago. 

[xochicago-blog]

Pastoral in the Park!

Dear cheese, bread and wine lovers - this one is for you. Once upon a time in August the three of us decided to take in the last breaths of summer while having a picnic in Millennium Park. In our picnic basket we packed a bottle of Lambic, San Pellegrino and sandwiches from Pastoral around the corner. Pastoral is a European-inspired cheese, specialty food and wine shop with several locations around town. We chose to visit Pastoral on Lake Street in the Loop because of it’s convenient location close to Millennium Park.

The shop is a delight to visit. When entering, you are reminded of a different time when the local grocer was still a significant part of your daily life, providing you with all the specialty items that you needed for the week. Whole foods and Trader Joe’s become distant memories as you scout through the counter filled with cheeses that are so diverse and delicious that it’s hard to stay grounded and resist temptation to plunge in and bathe your entire body in the counter while feeding on the different cheesy textures, as a one could imagine a Roman Emperor would have been feeding on grapes. Specialty wines cover the corner walls from floor to ceiling. At pastoral there are so many different wines and cheeses to taste and to be educated by.

Since we were having a picnic, we chose the no fuss route to hunger satisfaction; Pastoral’s tasty, unique, artisanal sandwiches served on freshly baked crusty baguettes from Cook Au Vin, Chicago. At the park, we placed our blanket in the shade of a tree on a lawn next to the Pritzker Pavilion. A symphony orchestra was rehearsing on stage for a modernistic concert the next evening, flooding the park with odd and beautiful sounds, and accompanying our picnic with a rather mesmerizing soundtrack. And so we listened to the music and enjoyed our carefully selected sandwiches, San Pellegrino and Lambic while reminiscing summer and contemplating possible fall adventures. Next summer we suggest you have a picnic and do the same. 

[xochicago-blog]

Baker + Nosh

Through the massive windows facing Wilson Avenue we are drawn into the welcoming atmosphere at Baker & Nosh. Inside, bread dough is kneaded with true artisanal skill and perfectly golden pastries are removed from the oven. The counter displays a spread of delicious sausage, cheeses and pate’s, fluffy homemade pastry’s, and carefully crafted sandwiches. You get the feeling that the bakers’ at Baker & Nosh are proud of their craft. Certainly they aren’t intimidated by the gaze of passer by’s on Wilson Avenue or patrons curiously scouting out their territory from across the room. They have nothing to hide. They’ll even teach you how to make your own bread, if you sign up for one of their cooking classes.

Because it’s still nice out, we are able to sit in the gated side yard on neat brass chairs by a small wooden table on the lawn. Cappuccinos, ice latte’s, buttery sweet pastries and crusty sandwiches with creamy filling satisfy our hungry hearts. Patrons at Baker & Nosh have an open invitation to use the Rosemary, Lavender, Basil, and Thyme that grow in the yard, to enhance their meal if desired. Today we just admire the herbs as they prepare for the last stretch of summer and the incoming fall weather.

Baker & Nosh provide a much needed and well-received alternative to Starbucks across the street, the only other coffee house in the stretch of Wilson that runs from Lakeshore to Ravenswood. Whether you want to grab a coffee and pastry to go or eat at the bakery, the quality still remains impeccable. And may we add, if you live in the neighborhood, there is nothing like picking up fresh baked croissants and hot brewed coffee to enjoy in bed on on Sunday mornings. 

[xochicago-blog]

HERITAGE BIKE SHOP & GENERAL STORE

The other day, as Linn was dragging her husbands bike one and a half mile to the nearest bike shop, she sure wished she had had Heritage Bicycles & General Store within reach. The brilliant thing that, as far as we know, no one else than Heritage offer, is the opportunity to sit down, have a cup of coffee, read, or work on your computer in a quiet coffee house atmosphere while having your flat tire fixed.

Heritage is truly a place where “Coffee and bikes [are] living in perfect harmony” as a sign on the wall states. With appealing combos on the menu, like a ‘flat fix (with tube) and a small cup of coffee’ for only $10, it’s hard not to wish for a flat tire when riding in the vicinity of the place.

Bike lovers, coffee connoisseur, students and entrepreneurs flock here. To many, Heritage has become a home office away from home. Integrated coffee house and bike shop, the space is industrial looking, yet cosy, and flooded with natural light. Custom made chandeliers and small gadgets made from bike parts hang from the ceiling. The large community table in the middle encourages dialog and fellowship, and is appropriately used as a shared creative conference and work space, more so, than a hot spot for [our] girly banter.

Two large American flags functioning as blinds shield patrons from the blaring sun – adding a cool americana vibe to the workshop inspired interior. The coffee house serves deliciously brewed Stumptown coffee, and sweet and savory treats from Southport Grocery, La Fournette, and on the weekends even Glazed & Infused. Every morning legendary Chicago deli, ‘Pastoral’, provides fresh made sandwiches for lunch.

Heritage’s own bicycles are displayed throughout the shop, tempting patrons with their elegant and customizable design. Made with all American steel, Heritage bicycles are the first completely Chicago-made bikes since Schwinn production left the city in the 70‘s.

The intent to create a strong heritage within the local community is clear and as Chicago’s Original Bike Café it has succeeded in just doing that. 

[xochicago-blog]

I N T R O

Hello and welcome to XO Chicago! This blog is dedicated to all of the deliciousness that Chicago has to offer. We are Hannah, Linn + Azuree- three friends who wanted to go on culinary adventures around the city together. We thought we'd share our findings here! Learn more about us in the About Us section!

We're so excited to launch this blog! Our goal is to go to one different spot each week and post about it here! Let us know if you have any favorite spots you think we should cover! 

XO

Hannah, Linn, + Azuree

[xochicago-blog]

KOPI, A TRAVELERS CAFE

Since it’s summer and everyone seems to be traveling except us, we decide to meet for lunch at Kopi – A Traveler’s Cafe, in Andersonville, to get a little culture. Kopi is a cosy place, decoratively infusing Persian and Mediterranean trends with a hippie vibe. There’s a few quaint tables on the sidewalk earmarked for Kopi’s clientele, and inside you have the option of either enjoying your meal or drinks at standard cafe tables or lounging on pillows on the ground at a raised window area. We choose the latter option of course.

 The menu is quite overwhelming. So many different delicious options to chose from, mainly vegetarian. None of us is too crazy about substitute meats, so Linn goes for a trustworthy classic; The Roma Sandwich: fresh mozarella, tomatoes, pesto, and garden greens, while Azuree dips into a big plate of crunchy nachos.

 Two middle aged ladies are sitting at one of the tables on the sidewalk sipping Champagne and laughing. At another outdoor table is a gentleman reading a hardcover classic while drinking cappuccino. At this moment it wouldn’t be too hard to imagine us being somewhere exotic and foreign in the Mediterranean, instead of at a cafe in a popular Chicago neighborhood. Everyone here seems to be on vacation, with the exception of the guy sitting at the next table who is apparently solving a few equations on his laptop... But perhaps he finds that leisurely? No judgement! He definitely seems to be eavesdropping on our conversation, without interjecting, although a few pointers would have been welcome. Azuree just finished watching the last episodes of Lost, so we spend a great deal of our meal discussing the meaning of the end. Needless to say the conversation makes us both feel a little – Lost.

After our meal, when our legs are starting to fall asleep from sitting on the ground, we head out on Clark street recognizing once again, that we are in fact still here where we started. 

[xochicago-blog]

TACO JOINT

TACO JOINT

It’s Monday – a.k.a Margarita Monday when we decide to meet for lunch at Lincoln Parks local “Taco Joint”. Relieved that we are not the only ones recognizing Monday by it’s given name, we quickly order some frozen grape margarita’s to properly ignite the afternoon. Taco Joint – Urban Taqueria and Cantina brings regional mexican street fare to the heart of Lincoln Park. With it’s dive bar atmosphere, this Taco Joint celebrates Mexican spirit by providing a selection of over 50 tequilas made from 100% blue agave. The cantina furthermore, has a delicious variety of specialty margaritas and cocktails, and selected Mexican beers on tap. But we didn’t only come here to drink. We also came to indulge in the Mexican street food and marketplace inspired cuisine. To accompany our drinks we split an order of guacamole served with corn-, sweet plantain-, and malanga chips, a welcome derailment from the far too familiar tortilla chip. We also order Queso Fundido with homemade chorizo to share – We have no shame! Lunch is a spread of Tacos: The Cameron, The Ceviche, The Al Pastor, The Fajita, The Estilo Baja, The Raja. We eat and explore fantasies of how good these tacos would be after a night taste testing the different Mexican tequilas and margaritas. It’s 2:30 p.m. We are feeling pretty content and a little dazed from the margaritas. We decide it’s probably better to go home than to get another round. It’s only Monday after all.

Two Cents – Taco Joint:

“A great low key place to catch up with a friend over drinks and street style mexican food" - Azuree

"A great alternative to some of the more overly crowded taco places, with a similar vibe." - Hannah 

[xochicago-blog]

BANG! BANG!

“Stress cannot exist in the presence of pie.” This is the motto firmly printed on a business card we pick up by the register at ‘¡BANG! BANG’, a pie shop in the Logan Square neighborhood. It might be true. At least we all feel more at ease as we escape the heat and place ourselves on vintage stools and benches around a table by the window in the quaint little pie shop. It’s Tuesday afternoon, and it finally feels like summer in Chicago. The first thing we do is hydrate on complimentary ice water and take a moment to observe the Spanish tourists with the video camera, who evidently have beat us to the punch and are documenting how cool this place is, for the world to see. It is cool in here. The walls with the exposed brick. The midcentury chandeliers hanging from the white floor board ceiling. The fact that the kitchen space is wide open, only separated from the small seating area by two counters. When entering the shop you are immediately invited into the intimate sphere of pie baking. Above an old door hung horizontally on the back wall is a sign stating “Because Nice Matters.” The girls working behind the counters are just that: really nice – and seemingly stress free as well. It must be the presence of all the pies.

We order ¡BANG! BANG’s famous biscuits, a cherry pie, and a savory sausage and goat cheese pie. It’s too hot for regular coffee so Hannah opts for a cold ice coffee, fueling her desire to make cold press at home. When Azuree pulls out her camera and begins shooting pictures a man from another table comes over to ask what we are up to. We tell him that we’re on a quest to explore different places in Chicago and intend to blog about our experiences. He introduces himself as Michael, one of the three owners of ¡BANG! BANG. The other two partners are married couple and food truck rebels Megan – the innovative baker with the secret stack of recipes that were handed down from her pie-baking great grandparents, and Dave – the coffee connoisseur and brain behind the house-roasted ¡BANG! BANG Magic Beans, and former owner of local coffee shop and roastery, Ipsento.

! We quickly fall into a conversation about all the great brunch and lunch places Chicago has to offer. Michael knows a lot about what is going on in the Chicago food scene, so he gives us some suggestions of what places to explore next. He also explains how the pie menu at ¡Bang! Bang is always changing, but that they serve three pies every day; one cream and chocolate pie, one fruit pie, and one savory pie. Our conversation is interrupted when another man comes to ask him a question, and we are left to continue eating our delicious pies on our own. Although the pies are tasty, the three of us agree that the biscuits – oh, the biscuits! – are the real seducers of this establishment. Buttery, smooth crusted, fluffy biscuits, served with butter and homemade jam. Such a simple but delightful combination. These biscuits taste like something only a really skilled grandmother could create.

The side yard provides a spacious contrast to the smaller indoor seating area. Young fruit trees separate the garden in two, creating a colorful outdoor seating area with red wooden benches on one side, and an open lawn on the other side, a perfect space for setting up tables for a private event. Vintage doors ornament part of the fence, and behind the fruit trees there is a massive variety of herbs planted in jars. In the side yard it is easy to forget that you are in fact still on a busy street in the city. It has that quiet feel of a secret garden, only known by a selected few. We hang out here for a while after we have finished our biscuits and pies. Michael offers to take a group picture of us for our blog on his way out. We politely oblige in spite of being a little camera shy.

[xochicago-blog]

FLORIOLE CAFE + BAKERY

Fresh French pastries, Intelligentsia coffee and mint tea adorn the large wooden table on the balcony of Floriole Cafe and Bakery when three best friends spend the afternoon together at the cafe in Lincoln Park. Located on Webster Avenue, Floriole is a true gem, popular amongst its neighbors and DePaul students who come here to work, study, or catch up with old friends. We’ve come here from our respective parts of town, interested to see what this place is all about, and it’s pretty clear — it’s not just about the pastries.

Floriole first began as a food stand at Chicago’s Green City Market, where the owners, Sandra and Mathieu Holl, sold their rustic, French pastries for nearly 5 years before opening up the cafe and bakery in the beautiful, skylit, brick and mortar space in 2010. It truly is a welcoming space with natural light flooding through the room, and a massive glass facade that on sunny days is rolled open, turning the space into what one might imagine a Parisian sidewalk cafe would be like.

Although we decide to go for the pastries on this specific afternoon, Floriole also offers a variety of delicious sandwiches and salads, breakfast foods, breads, cookies and sweets. Front runner sandwich; B.A.D — bacon, arugula, almond date spread and goat cheese on grilled yeasted corn bread, is particularly delicious and is a great sweet and savory option for lunch. Dedicated to using only the best ingredients available, Floriole uses organic flour, sugar, and cage-free eggs. Most produce, meats, dairy and cheeses are sourced directly from local sustainable farms. Furthermore, Floriole invites patrons to dine in for pizza nights on Fridays and Saturdays. What’s not to love about this place?

Once we consume our buttery, flaky, ham and cheese croissant, savory asparagus galette, and Gateau Basque — Almond butter cake, we get lost in conversations about life and love, and we laugh at the past as old friends do when you haven’t seen each other for a while. Before we notice another two hours have gone by. Our plates are empty, but our hearts are full. That’s what happens when three best friends meet to catch up, and eat, and simply be. We decide to meet again, somewhere new, next week.