happycook23

I actually ended up dicing the kohlrabi and sauteeing it in a little butter along with some of the garlic scapes. Delish! It was good raw too (couldn't resist a nibble). I figure I'll cut some up to serve along with the sugar snap peas and other veggies/dips as part of the Father's Day BBQ apps. So do you puree it solo or along with potatoes (seen a few recipes for a potato/kohlrabi mash)? I'm open to recipes if you're willing to share I have a feeling these won't be the only CSA kohlrabis (or kale for that matter), so I'd best get cracking on the recipe ideas.

I realize that this thread is ancient, but it took us quite a while to find good "ethnic" food out here, so I'll post in case it helps anybody. Most of these we hit for take-out as we have ayoung child and no babysitter, so I'm speaking to the food here, not the ambiance: Chinese-Lee's Chinese Garden on rt 59 in Naperville (just south of Diehl). Good pot stickers, won ton soup, mongolian beef, general tso's chicken, fried rice, etc. Deli-J.P. Schmaltz's on (or just off?) Ogden in Naperville. In the strip mall with the TGI Friday's (and ironically right next to Honeybaked Ham). As far as I know, it's the only deli out this way. I get a bit peeved when they boast about everything being flown in from New York, or the bagels/conned beef being from the North Shore, etc (what exactly do they make?) but they still put together a darned good corned beef/chopped liver sandwich-gimme some mustard, an onion roll, and a pickle and I'm set! Indian-Haven't explored this genre fully, but we've been pretty happy with Sizzle India. Can't remember where they are, but it's in Naperville. Greek-I don't have much to go with here, but the Papagus at the Oakbrook mall is pretty yummy-just with there was something more authentic and less "chainy" Spanish/Tapas-Maison Sabika is it as far as I know. Not bad, but can't hold a candle to Cafe Iberico in the city. I think that's all I have to offer for now, but based on what I've read on this board tonight, I'm going to be checking out Bobak's on 75th in Naperville for Polish food very soon.

Just found this thread while searching for what to do with my CSA kohlrabi.... Picked up my first share today (I pay $355 for a weekly 1/2 bushel of organic produce for 19 weeks). I like that I can go to the farm and select my own goodies. They also offer a flower subscription (which I didn't purchase) and they let me bring my yard waste to throw on the compost heap (so I don't have to pay the trash folks to take it) and I can help myself to the yummy compost for my garden (hooray). I'm in Illinois and there were 4 CSA options for me locally (I'm a lucky lady) Anyway, today my share was: 3/4 lb. sugar snap peas approx a gallon bag each of arugula, spicy asian greens, and leaf lettuce (choice of bibb, red leaf, or romaine) 4 bunches green onions 3 kohlrabi and my choice of 3 of the following 6 garlic scapes (that top part of the garlic mentioned above) 10 radishes a bag of greens (spinach, kale, or something else-can't remember what) a rather small bag of herbs (basil, dill, oregano) My daughter loved going to the farm with me and I'm already looking forward to next week....now what to do with that kohlrabi?

Mayhaw Man- I meant to ask about the "quirks" you mentioned that may be potentially off-putting to a non-local such as myself. I'd love to have a greater understanding of the customs/traditions (one so that I can appreciate them, and two so that I don't make any terrible slip-ups).

Woo hoo! Eat, drink, and be merry and I will be looking forward to your "report" (casual or otherwise).

Thank you so much for the update on Elizabeth's. To clarify, if we opted to go there for breakfast, we would likely just go there in the morning, stuff ourselves, and not plan another "formal" meal until dinner (something might fly into our mouths as we explore the city, but that can't be helped). Whe I mapquested, it's 3.75 miles from our hotel, which doesn't "sound" like much of a trip, but maybe I'm being naive. My instinct is to keep the reservation for lunch at CPs, and then have the option of deciding if we're in the mood for a light breakfast (Croissant d'Or) and a fancy lunch (CP) and fancy dinner (TBA) or if we'd rather have a BIG breakfast (Elizabeth's), a casual afternoon of exploring, and a fancy dinner (TBA), in which case I'd cancel the CP reservation.

Getting closer, but need a bit more help.... Ok, the current "new and improved" plan is: Friday: Arrive and hit CDM for munchies. Upperline for dinner (got reservation-Yippie! Can't wait to meet JoAnn) Saturday: Have nibbles at Croissant d'or and late breakfast at Elizabeth's OR CD'o and then keep our lunch reservation at Commander's Palace (which I might try to move back a tad. Right now it's at 11:30 I think). The problem I'm having is that CP only serves "lunch" (not brunch) on Sat from what I understand, and their lunch menu looks pretty limited, unless I'm missing something. Elizabeth's looked great from the Perlow's report, but it has since changed chefs and owners and I have no idea if the food has maintained its quality. Sat dinner- still haven't made a reservation. I'm torn between Brigtsen's and Bayona I think. Bayona is in the quarter (where our hotel is) but the Brigtsen menu looks fantastic-is the distance a hassle? Will transportation significantly up our overall dinner bill? Sunday: CDM or Croissant D'or for a snack (I've given up on Mother's-too much food). Galitiore's for lunch-those oysters rockafeller better be darn good if I have to wrestle my husband into a jacket and tie for lunch. Mufelettas to go for the plane. So, thoughts about Sat breakfast/lunch (re. the specific Elizabeth's/CP concerns) or about Sat. dinner? Any specific food recommendations from the restaurants/eateries we've "locked in"? Thank you again so very much. I know that I'll be thinking of all you eGulleters as I savor every tasty bite on this trip.

Ok, so now I'm stuck....I feel like I'm cancelling more reservations then I'm keeping. I know that I want to try to get in at Upperline for sure (The food looks FANTASTIC), but I won't know if that's an option until Wed. afternoon when they open again. Is Commander's Palace worth it if I can only get in for lunch on Sat.? The lunch menu looks pretty limited, and I'm feeling like my stomach could be put to better use elsewhere. I'd go for Elizabeth's for breakfast on Sat., but I'm wary about this "new ownership" mentioned on their site. If the former chef and pastry chef are both gone, is the quality still there? Maybe I should just plan on a light breakfast somewhere Sat. morning and then stick with lunch at Galatoire's, or do I cancel at Galatoire's (all of the "it was pretentious" reviews are giving me pause-and I really don't want to have to dress for lunch) and opt for some other worthy choice (like the aforementioned Drago's). Do I go for breakfast at Mother's Sunday, or should I keep it light for breakfast so that I can fit in another lunch somewhere more deserving (I don't think I could do breakfast at Mother's AND then have an appetite for a big lunch a couple hours later-but maybe I can). and I'm at a complete loss over the remaining dinner option. There are about 7 places I want to go...Jacques-Imo's, Stella! Brightsen's, Bayona, Lilette, Dick & Jenny's all come to mind. This is hard (and I don't want to call anywgere about dinner until I can get through to Upperline to see if I have a choice there for either night-JoAnn, if you're reading this...I'm begging, the food looks too good to miss!) ...and we're not renting a car-any place I should rule out for logistical reasons? I'm geographically challenged and wouldn't know if I was being illogical.

Well, I'm all about the crab, and scallops, and (cooked) oysters, and....I'm sure I won't go hungry

Whoa.. you picked the wrong time, and the wrong town not to like shrimp.. You'll be going at the very height of shrimp season. ← Now I feel badly....I'm sure we'll enjoy some peel & eat together and I know that my husband will sample and delight in many shrimp dishes.

Jason- Thank you for all of your suggestions thus far...and I must add how much I appreciated your detailed thread (with photos) documenting your delicious trip. Unfortunately, Commander's Palace is booked solid for Sun. brunch. I can get a reservation for Sat. lunch, but then that knocks Elizabeth's out as an option because they're not open on Sundays, although Mother's is (I don't think I could do Elizabeth's for breakfast Sat. and then CP for lunch an hour later). So we could do Commander's on Sat and Mother's Sun and cancel the Palace Cafe. I'll try to make a reservation for either Fri or Sat. night at Upperline, but they're closed today and tomorrow, so I can't call until Wed. to see if there's an opening. I would like to include Galatoire's especially because I've heard raves about their oyster's rockefeller (which I enjoy greatly) but if others strongly advise against it, I'm open to changing my mind. If Iwent with the CP brunch Sat. I'd have to cancel the Sat. lunch at Galatoire's and try to move it to a dinner, which means I couldn't also fit in dinner at Upperline AND Jaques-Imo's.....so much food, so little TIME! (I should also sheepishly admit that I'm not a big fan of shrimp-unless in cocktail sauce or fried, and I don't care for raw oysters-thus the omission of Mr. B's, Acme, Felix and the like) Again, thank you for your input!

I've been searching threads and online reviews and my head is swimming....I'm also a bit late in getting on the ball, so some reservations might be hard to get. My husband and I are going for a weekend getaway in a couple weeks. We'll be there from Friday late afternoon until Sunday early evening. His first trip there, my first in about 15 years. While it would be wrong to say that money is NO object, I'm willing to splurge here and there for "don't miss" dining experiences, but we'll have to balance some big budget meals with some more modest ones. My thoughts/plans so far: Friday afternoon-arrive and hit Cafe Du Monde for treats. Friday evening-late dinner somewhere (Brightsen's, Upperline, Bon Ton, open to any thougts/suggestions) Sat morning-Mother's or Elizabeth's maybe (I know Elizabeth's has changed cooks/owners since most of the reviews I've read-has anybody been there recently?) Again, I'm open to ideas. I heard breakfast at Petunia's is also good. Sat lunch.-Have 12:30 reservation at Galitoire's, but I may try to bump those back a bit to allow breakfast to digest. Sat dinner-totally open to suggestions. Would ideally like a more moderate to inexpensive option to balance the cost of Galitiore's, but I don't know where we might be able to get in either. Sun brunch-Jazz brunch at the Palace Cafe. I made reservations but now I'm second-guessing. Would another brunch option be a better choice? It seems that there are so many breakfast/brunch options I'm not sure what to do. Sun late afternoon-grab mufelettas from Central Grocery and the Napoleon House to eat on the plane. I really appreciate any input. Feel free to mention any musical/cultural, etc. things we should do to....I just don't want to come home wishing we had done this or that. Thank you!