Beans and Bagels Has Truly Local Pastry
As the coffee market grows in Chicago, owners are getting creative with coffee-bakery hybrids. Beans and Bagels in Lincoln Square hired Jean-Yves Martin four years ago, and now the shop – known for its coffee – boasts an exquisite pastry selection as well. Martin takes a classical approach, beginning work at 1 a.m. each day. While he’s used to working for restaurants and bakeries, he looked at the coffee shop as something new and different. Beans and Bagels hopes to preserve a unique, specialized skill, if only for the phenomenal taste it yields.
Senza Plays Gluten-Free Coffee Shop
By Camille Izlar
Hapless Intern
Gluten-free diners have been enjoying the creative, mind-boggling good food at Senza in Lake View the past few months. Now, the restaurant is betting that they’ll also enjoy sitting down for a cup of coffee and a muffin in the morning. From Tuesday through Friday mornings, they’re selling gluten-free treats from their bakery. Read More
Counter Culture Coffee in Chicago
By Camille Izlar
Hapless Intern
Chicago’s coffee scene has become a little obsessive. Not only are the big boys like Intelligentsia and Metropolis roasting en masse, selling it from their own stores and shipping their beans elsewhere, a tight-knit ensemble of smaller guys – Gaslight, Asado and Big Shoulders – are roasting in small batches and starting to sell to other local shops. But now Counter Culture, a national coffee supplier, is hoping to break into Chicago’s competitive coffee scene. They believe coffee is not entirely a local business, no matter how you roast it. The company – with eight training centers around the country – stands out because of its sustainable practices with farmers and advanced training for baristas. We talked to some of the people behind the beans, and found out why at least one Chicago cafe prefers to buy from them.
Polish Comfort Food Best Way to Stay Warm
By Camille Izlar
Hapless Intern
Maybe it’s a result of living next to Kasia’s Deli, but I keep thinking a Polish meal is the perfect remedy for mid-winter depression. I asked my Polish roommate, Urzsula, where her top-rated places to eat were. After driving out to the suburbs, almost running out of gas and finding the Ferajna restaurant closing at 9 p.m., it was too much to take. However, as I left the restaurant in despair, I saw Steve’s face smiling out from a picture on the wall. Since he’s pretty much been to every place of note in the region, I thought our readers might appreciate a roundup of his favorite Polish places over the years. Read More
I Dreamt Of Sushi…
oo-toro (fatty tuna) that absolutely melted in my mouth. (Photo: Ivan Yeh)
By Ivan Yeh
Former Hapless Intern
“What defines deliciousness? Taste is tough to explain, isn’t it?”
These were the words that stuck with me after watching “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” a David Gelb documentary depicting the life of sushi master Jiro Ono, the 86-year-old head chef at the Michelin three-star restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro.
Despite his fame, Ono still runs his renowned sushi counter from the basement of an office building in the Ginza district of Tokyo, and prides himself on only serving perfection to each of his guests. There are no theatrics here; Ono lets his ingredients speak for themselves. As I watched the film’s many montages of exquisitely crafted, minimalist pieces of nigiri, I knew that in order to truly understand deliciousness, I had to first experience how quality ingredients can elevate a dish from good to great. Problem is, a seat in his 10-seat restaurant is almost impossible to come by, as bookings have to be made one month in advance and the call must come from within Japan. Despite these challenges, I was determined to have what many believe is the best sushi in the world, and after months of trying, my dream came true. Read More
The Loopwich
Sandwiches are king in The Loop, so make sure it’s a good one.
By Camille Izlar
Hapless Intern
Lunch=sandwich. Loop lunch=better sandwich. The ubiquitous meal is everywhere downtown. But I found you can eat better than Potbelly for less money. Check out these famous and not-so-famous places when you find yourself lost in the Loop and wondering why everyone else seems to have such purpose in life.
