Posted by ayersian
, July 01, 2009 10:21
Recalling the majesty of North Carolina’s Kill Devil Hills and New Mexico’s White Sands, the towering dune called Mt. Baldy at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore helped to burn off post-breakfast calories before meeting Nocarolina Bob in Chicago. Since this would be Amy’s first time to eat an Italian Beef sandwich, Bob’s choice was a no-brainer: Al’s #1 on Taylor Street in Little Italy. The tender beef, taut sausage, spicy giardiniera, and run-down-your-chin juices combined for a taste sensation like no other. Across the street was Mario’s Italian Lemonade, where we cooled and cleansed our palates with pineapple-coconut Italian ice. We vow to return to sample their curious snack of salted lupini beans. Next stop was Mr. Beef on Orleans to compare their beef & sausage combo. Though we all thought that Al’s was the clear winner, the Mr. Beef version was no slouch with its different but titillating giardiniera. Our final stop was Bob’s favorite ice cream shop, Cunis Candies on 162nd Street in South Holland. A scoop of the New York Cherry ice cream with homemade hot fudge wowed us, and we thank Bob for his time and gracious hospitality in showing us around the city.
“Tell everyone I’m back,” says ChiTownDiner Gregg. A last-minute phone call found us sharing Gregg’s first dining-out experience after four months of cancer treatment. We met at the Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company on N. Clark for their unique pizza pot pies and Italian salami grinders. A full pound of ingredients are baked in a ceramic dish similar to flowerpot bread, then flipped over and served as a very literal pizza pie. Gregg and his lovely bride Patti then whisked us away to Yuki Hana up the street for an insider’s look at extraordinary sushi. Gregg’s longtime friendship with the chef afforded us tender dumplings, colorful combination rolls, red bean mochi, and a tossed squid salad that has no equal. Our final stop was Bobtail Ice Cream on N. Broadway. A petite scoop of their homemade Signature Sunset—that’s merlot (!) with dark chocolate chips—capped an unbelievable tour of Windy City specialties. We were honored to accompany Gregg & Patti on this memorable night out and look forward to our next chapter with the Milwaukee gang!
Shots from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore:
Day 4 in pictures:
