Busby Bakes

The Purple Pig

500 N Michigan (at Illinois)

As the Husband was out of town, I was on my own for dinner and didn’t do a thing to plan my evening until I received a late afternoon text from a friend. As she had a few hours to kill between meetings, we decided to meet for early dining and catching up at The Purple Pig, a new tapas place that’s been getting lots of attention.

Tucked down a corridor off of Michigan Ave, it’s a tile-lined noisy slice of tapas heaven. Optimists to the core, we ordered pork-fried almonds with garlic and rosemary; a lovely salad of roasted baby carrots, shaved fennel, avocado, and citrus; sardines with lemon jam; lemony ricotta and tomato-based pork neck gravy served with grilled bread; charred ramps and romesco sauce served on a terracotta roofing tile; and a glass of wine a piece. We wished there had been room for the gianduja affogato. We also wished the “Birthday Diva” crew had been sitting farther away, but judging from the singing, they had arrived long before us. Total was $33.45 each. Can’t wait to go back, this time with the Husbands.

And as I was walking to take the bus home, I got a call from another friend who was shopping on Michigan Ave and wanted to know what I was doing. So we met for a glass of wine and a sausage-goat cheese-red grape pizza at Fornetto Mei. Located in The Whitehall Hotel, the pizza bar in this place is a hidden gem and is one of the few Magnificent Mile locations that isn’t completely overrun with tourists. Please take note that I only had one slice and was home by 9:30.

Pastoral

53 E Lake St (at Wabash)

As the Husband has a last-minute business trip to prepare for, tonight we cheated a little and picked up sandwiches from Pastoral to eat at home.

But that doesn’t sound right. Pastoral doesn’t make just any old sandwich. They carry some of the best cheese and bread in the city. They take their cured meat seriously. And the combinations they put between two pieces of bread are incredible. This is sandwich artistry of the highest form.

The Husband ordered a Bocadillo de la Mancha: Serrano, Manchego, greens, membrillo and dijon on a baguette. I ordered my favorite, the Canard Balsamico: duck, cipollini onions soaked in balsamic vinegar, baby greens, oozy Fromager D’Affinois,  and dijon on a baguette. Le sigh. We really should get back in the gym.

Total was $20 even.

Bonsoirée

2728 W Armitage (at Fairfield)

I’ve been intrigued by Bonsoirée since they opened a few years ago: Asian-inspired fancy food, a French chef, BYOB, on an empty stretch of Armitage west of Western. Definitely not the norm for Chicago dining, and that spells interesting in my book, good sir.

So when friends suggested we go for a special 5-course dinner with wine pairings chosen by Cellar Rat, I had to say yes. We enjoyed a truly amazing array of seafood with incredible wines. Gluttons, all, we wished it were an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Here’s the menu:

Santullo’s

1943 W North Ave (at Damen)

On our walk home from a candle-maker’s birthday party Sunday night, we stopped for a slice. Sausage for the Husband, straight-up cheese for me. So delicious, especially with the music blasting and the faux club kids in the corner.

For some reason, pizza in Chicago is cut into squares. Which means there aren’t too many places to buy just a slice of pizza. Because who wants to buy just a square? This joint, sensibly open late, makes a really straightforward New York style pie. The slices are huge. Perfect after an evening of wine and BS-ing  and dancing.

Total was around $7.50.

Big Star

1531 N Damen (at Pierce)

Lured by the gorgeous weather, the Husband and I set out for a very late lunch/very early dinner at Big Star, our local honkytonk. The crowds at this place are legion. We had no delusions about finding a table on the parking lot patio, so we headed inside to check out the bar. Luck found us standing right behind two people who were getting ready to leave.

Say what you will about the scene, the food here is seriously fantastic. And they play great music. We ordered chips and salsas, and tacos: 2 of the outstanding poblano de rasas, an al pastor, and a pork belly. The Husband drank micheladas and some rye. I’m a sucker for the smoky house margarita.

Celebrity sitings included Hot Doug (we think) and Sally Timms.

For the thrifty diner, this place can be a great value. Unless you order too many rounds. Cash only, and I can’t find my receipt.

Longman & Eagle

2657 N Kedzie (at Schubert)

To celebrate their daughter’s new-found love of the sleepover, friends suggested a Friday night double date. And then more friends were free. Good times! We decided to check out the new-ish Longman & Eagle and hoped their no-reservations policy wouldn’t cramp our style.

Our strategy for an early start was rewarded with beers, well-crafted drinks, and snacks at the bar. I ordered a glass of viognier and the Husband got a Daisy Cutter Pale Ale. We nibbled on Kobe meatballs and an incredible blue cheese, a reported “cheese of the year” contender. All agreed that we loved the comfortable rooms, chill vibe, and scrappy ceiling.

At table, the Husband ordered butter sauteed catfish with collard greens. Others went for house-made sausage and sauerkraut, bacon burger, pork belly. I chose a salad of pears, haricot verts, and greens and a scandalously rich appetizer: pig’s head roulade with pickled onions, bitter greens, smoky-sweet mustard, and a tiny fried quail egg on top. Wow. After that it was easy to break my usual rule and order dessert: creme brulee with plum compote (served in a cute little glass jar) and langues du chat, one of my favorite cookies.

Total was around $40.00 per person. Full to bursting, we went home completely happy.

Revolution Brewery

2323 N Milwaukee (at Belden)

Thursday’s late night plan was to meet up at a bar for drinks with a friend in from San Francisco. We suggested dinner first, and San Fran Man and others joined us at Revolution Brewery. Beer factory in the back, bar and grub in the front, and a less heavy on the people’s power theme than I’d expected. Our group assembled at the bar and eventually our hungry selves were given a table.

Someone ordered plates of cured meats and cheeses for the table. After much deliberation, a friend and I split an order of the grilled calamari steak, which was served with asparagus and a New Orleans-style remoulade sauce. The Husband ordered the burger with an egg on top, which my sample bite made me want to come back. House-made bun, baby.

Total was $28 a person, I think.

Mercat a la Planxa

638 S Michigan Ave (at Balbo)

It was a warm night and we wanted tapas. We chose Mercat a la Planxa, located in the recently-restored historic Blackstone Hotel. I had not been inside since working at a conference in 1999, just a few months before the building was condemned. This was when the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi owned it. No kidding.

The place was big, bold, and a riot of colorful furnishings. While I waited for the Husband to arrive from his office, I asked for a table in a little alcove with a view of the park, which provided a hint of a buffer from the frantic main room.

We ordered small carafes of tempranillo and albarino. A plate of Spanish bruschetta appeared. Ignoring our waiter’s advice to order 3-4 plates each, we chose 5 tapas: grilled sardines (fennel confit), Spanish omelette (potatoes, spinach, saffron aioli), grilled tuna, housemade sausage, and roasted Brussels sprouts (garbanzo beans, feta, bacon, Sherry and orange vinaigrette). More than enough and really delicious. I’ll be making those Brussels sprouts at home.

Total was $101.47.

Pho Xe Tang/Tank Noodle

4953 N Broadway (at Argyle)

As we both felt that perhaps maybe, possibly we were catching colds, the Husband and I decided on pho for dinner. For the uninitiated, pho is a clear beef broth-based Vietnamese soup served with with rice noodles. Additions like fresh herbs, limes, bean sprouts, and hot peppers are presented on a separate plate so you can get your garnish on, but really, it’s all about the broth. Word on Chicago’s nerdiest food forum says Tank Noodle is among the best places in town.

So, we hauled it all the way north to Uptown. The place was hopping and completely no-nonsense. But a couple of plaques on the wall from the Hungry Hound confirmed that good soup was in our future.

At the last minute I swerved off the beef  track and ordered chicken-based soup with rice noodles and tons of veggies. The Husband made me look like a sissy and ordered the special XL pho with beef, tripe, and “tendon.” Gulp. We split an order of spicy lemongrass tofu spring rolls and a freshly-squeezed limeade with soda. Completely delicious and our colds are gone (thank you, hot sauce).

What does military equipment have to do with noodles? Don’t know…but the menu had an illustration of a tank on it and our waitress was wearing a camo t-shirt. Cute! Total was $23.59.

Chickpea

2018 W Chicago Ave (at Damen)

We needed a really quick dinner this time around and opted for Chickpea, which is Palestinian and proud of it, family-owned, and 2 blocks from our apartment.

A couple of past visits have revealed a mostly-on/sometimes-off menu, but always kind service. I dig the decor here: Arabian Nights meets late-night-movies-on-UHF meets DIY. This really is a family operation, as the owner’s “Mama” makes the food. Mrs. Suqi cares and it shows.

The Husband ordered kharoof mihshew: perfectly-grilled lamb and veggie kabobs on a bed of raisin-flecked rice. I chose the daily special, koosa mihshee: baby zucchini stuffed with rice and lamb in a comforting tomato broth. We split an order of fatoosh (parsley, cucumber, tomato salad with the most delicious pomegranate vinaigrette).

We wished the “youngest son” had waited until we left to move the chairs and table next to us, set up a ladder, and change the light bulb above our table.

Total was around $28.