gmi3804

The toasted pecans are partcularly good!

Thanks to all for their suggestions. I'm back from my trip and about 40 pounds heavier! In Napa: Terra - A quiet, refined dinner. We had a 6:00 reservation, and though we were among the first to arrive we were seated in the Tap Water room (as I like to refer to it). The service and food, however, was wonderful, and the waiter perked up after we ordered a pricey bottle of wine. Wappo Bar & Bistro - Enjoyable lunch on the patio. Delicious Duck taquitos and efficient, friendly service. Bistro Don Giovanni - An 8:00 dinner reservation bought us a spectacular sunset view from the north patio. The discomfort of the cramped two-top was soon forgotten after a delicious caprese salad and the porchetta. Sublime. Bouchon - Taking 2-1/2 hours off for lunch during a blazing hot day was quite a treat. Wonderful rabbit rilettes and a sublime peeky toe crab salad. And my nose hairs are but a fond memory after sampling the spicy French mustard served with the perfect baguettes. As the room filled up, service slowed to a crawl, but after two Grey Gooses (Geese? Goosi?) I didn't notice. After waiting over 20 minutes for our lemon tart, however, we raised the white flags and asked for our check. Mixed feelings about this one. Perhaps dining at off-hours is the answer. Martini House - The best dinner of the trip. Exquisite Arts & Crafts bungalow, solicitous and helpful service, and a braised then grilled kobe beef short rib made me a happy camper. From Napa we ventured out to the fairy-tale Chateau du Sureau and Erna's Elderberry House for a couple of wonderful days, then down to LA for some glitz. All in all, a relaxing, filling trip. Thanks again for everyone's suggestions!

He also wrote, "She sits there so refined, and drinks herself half-blind." Hmmm... have you been stalking me?

He also wrote, "She sits there so refined, and drinks herself half-blind." Hmmm...

I don't think I weighed 165 since High School! In addition to their caffeine-free drinks, they also have a great house-brand Root Beer. I'm not sure if the root beer is caffeine free, but it may be; a lot of root beers are. Now I'll just have to go back and check, right?!?

I'm checking e-mails from CA, having been on a one-week vacation to Napa Valley, Yosemite, and now Los Angeles, and eating non-stop at some fantastic places. During those long drives between each point, we longed to see a familiar Culver's blue roof! Don't worry, however, we didn't starve! I weighed 175 last week at this time...

okay, i'' guess: "alice doesn't live here anymore?" or the tv spin-off there from? Nope. Dumb and Dumber, and I'd rather not think of why I know that.

Yep, Northfield...although they do have other locations (one for sure in Naperville). Their Northfield location is directly below the desk I'm sitting at right now and I've never tried these... =R= You wrote that at 11:15 this morning. So, how did you like them?!? Didn't get down there today. Forgot about a lunch meeting we had scheduled. But...they are a definite for tomorrow! =R= Ok! Finally had the bacon-wrapped dates today (along with several other dishes ) at Meson Sabika in Northfield and if they were the only thing served at Taste, it might still be worth the trip. Absolutely fantastic! =R= Glad you liked them! And they're really easy to make at home. I don't even make the dipping sauce, and no one's ever complained!

Look! I believe Karl from Sling Blade would make quite the eGulleter: Vaughan: You always seem to be deep in thought. Tell me, what are you thinking right now? Karl: I was thinkin', I'm gonna take me some of these taters home with me. Vaughan: How about before that? Karl: Well, let me think... I was thinkin' I could use me another couple cans'o that potted meat if ya got any extree. - and - Karl: [Eating potted meat] I reckon it tastes alright. Frank: You really think it's got peckers in there? Karl: You know better than that. You ought not say that word. Frank: It smells funny. Karl: Yeah, it's pretty loud. Looky there. I believe you right. I believe I see one right in there. - and - Karl: Reckon what you like to eat in there? Frosty Cream Employee: Well, the French fries are pretty good. Karl: French fried potaters? Frosty Cream Employee: Yeah, French fries. They're .60 for medium and .75 for large. Karl: 'Reckon I'll have me some of the big 'uns.

To continue the Sondheim thread, from Into the Woods: In the past, when your mother was with child, she developed an unusual appetite. SHe took one look at my beautiful garden and told your father that what she wanted more than anything in the world was Greens, greens and nothing but greens: Parsley, peppers, cabbages and celery, Asparagus and watercress and Fiddleferns and lettuce-! He said, "All right," But it wasn't, quite, 'Cause I caught him in the autumn In my garden one night! He was robbing me, Raping me, Rooting through my rutabaga, Raiding my arugula and Ripping up my rampion (My champion! My favorite!)- I should have laid a spell on him Right there, Could have changed him into stone Or a dog or a chair... But I let him have the rampion- I'd lots to spare. In return, however, I said, "Fair is fair: You can let me have the baby That your wife will bear. And we'll call it square." So there's no more fuss And there's no more scenes And my garden thrives! (You should see my nectarines!) But I'm tellling you the same I tell kings and queens: Don't ever never ever Mess around with my greens! Especially the beans.

May you live to be a thousand years old! George (BIG Sondheim Fan here...)

Indiana. Or the Western suburbs. ::ducks for cover::

Any word yet on if it's still good? I have memories of a dreamy three-hour lunch. I have a reservation for next week. It's at 9pm, but when I called and asked if I could come in earlier, I was told I could come in at any time I wanted. Not a good sign.

How about Hot Doug's Duck Fat fries?

Perhaps those with re-scheduled reservations from the closing have all mostly been satisfied by this point? Still, it's strange for a restaurant of this caliber to not require a credit card deposit.

Yep, Northfield...although they do have other locations (one for sure in Naperville). Their Northfield location is directly below the desk I'm sitting at right now and I've never tried these... =R= You wrote that at 11:15 this morning. So, how did you like them?!?

Oooh - how about the bacon-wrapped dates from Meson Sabika (in Northfield)?

Seems like you got a real "taste" (metaphorically) of Randolph!

*grabs coat, runs to cafe bolero* Seriously. He--I mean, the mojito--is SOMETHING ELSE. He must have a way with mashed mint...

I was thinking about Taste of Chicago, what it serves, and what I'd like it to serve. Then I started thinking, what if eGulleters programed The Taste? What kind of things would we brave the heat and crowds for? It became a bit funny to think about the things I'd like to try. Some examples: TRU's Caviar Staircase Moto's "Syringe" Soups A Trio "composed" salad What would you like to see?

Coquette Cafe (also owned/operated by Sanford D'Amato) is an ideal, casual spot for a pre-concert meal. I'd save dining at Sanford for when you have more time. Also nice (and a dynamite setting) is Lake Park Bistro, on a bluff over Lake Michigan in (you guessed it!) Lake Park. Wherever you go, enjoy! And let us know how the meal went.

Same here. I've posted about the snafus of my recent meal there elsewhere on the Board. Whether or not opening up old wounds (the Red Cross incident) or commenting on the shutterbug diners is appropriate in a restaurant review is beside the point. Bruni reviewed the Experience of several meals; inasmuch as all reviews are subjective to a degree, he was true to his craft.

Has Alain Giraud stepped down as chef at Bastide? I'd heard somewhere that he was going to hand the reigns over to his sous chef.

Agreed about the custard. I don't remember the burgers, to tell the truth; I've been out of college (Marquette U) for seventeen years, and usually go to Sanford if I'm going to drive all the way to Milwaukee.

Poochie's (on Dempster, in Skokie) does a wonderful char-burger too. And their french fries are great (ask for them "crispy" - I don't like limp french fries). But their Charred Maxwell St. Polish (mustard, grilled onion, hot pepper) is my favorite!