victoria56

Something has come up and sadly, I won't be able to attend. I'll just have to wait and do the class with everyone else online. Yes, I'm bummed. I've been so looking forward to this. My husband surprised me with a road trip to St. Louis this weekend for the Fleetwood Mac Concert. We don't plan on returning until Sunday afternoon. One of these days I'll manage to hook up with some of you. And remember, I'm available every Monday through Friday for breakfast or lunch. And Happy Hour. Especially Happy Hour.

Nothing like the words chilequiles and Negro Modelo to bring me out of lurkdom. I would love to attend.

Another one of my favorite neighborhood shops. They also do a great frosted sugar cookie. They're the size of a saucer, and everyone walking down Wells Street seems to be eating one.They've recently started offering fruit tarts, which look very tempting. I usually stick to the multi-grain and the French peasant loaf as our daily breads. The asiago chese bread is exceptional. And the fat free cinnamon rolls are sinful. They offer free sample slices all afternoon, and they have a frequent buyer program. I have about a 4 or 5 block walk to Breadsmith, which justifies my buying a cookie for the walk home.

Ah, Ranalli's. The food is very mediocre. But the patio on a warm summer evening is perfect. I live a block away and can be found there most Friday nights all summer long. The nicest thing about Ranalli's is their willingness to throw out a few tables and chairs anytime the weather permits. Get one really mild day in March, and good old Ranalli's will be slinging a few chairs out. The thin crust pizza is okay. Their famous Panzerotti is large and bland. They do an acceptable Italian Beef if you need a little nosh while downing a bucket of six Coronas. I usually stick to the Pommes Frites. You need to ask for them specifically, but they're worth it. Not quite Belgian quality frites, but after a few beers I'm not choosy.

I recently read somewhere, Trib perhaps, that Hopleaf is adding a restaurant specializing in Belgian Beer Cuisine. Be still my beating heart! Anyone know any details?

I regularly take all out of town guests out for deep dish pizza. They seem to expect it, and it's my chance to eat it several times a year. Uno's will always have a special place in my heart. Gino's lost something in the move. Lou Malnotti makes a great deep dish. During my ten years of exile in Denver, 1-800-LOU TO GO was a life safer. I rarely eat deep dish now that I live in Chicago again, and I rarely ate it when I lived here before. But for some reason I really missed the stuff while I lived out of state. My first post after hearing about this site from a net friend last week. I'm thrilled beyond belief to have found you guys. Fellow Chicagoans discussing pizza, food, beer and even Hopleaf! (Mmmm, Chimay)