Large Big Green Egg, Weber Performer Deluxe, Weber Smokey Joe Silver, Fireboard Drive, 3 DigiQs, lots of Thermapens, and too much other stuff to mention.
We will be visiting my family in Chicago, and Mrs’ family in South Bend, staying in New Buffalo, MI kinda halfway between. In May.
I want to eat beef sangwiches, and Chicago style hot dogs, and of course aquarium bbq, and maybe eat at Smoque? Might catch the White Sox/Pirates that week, I dunno. Play that one by ear.
Where MUST we eat? No budget, I’ve eaten great meals for cheap and horrible meals for expensive, and vice versa. Anywhere from Chi to SB.
If not cooking outdoors, I am cooking on the stovetop with my 14" carbon steel wok, 12" CI skillet, or in the oven with my two Lodge CI pizza pans, or two dutch ovens. I've also got a nifty Lodge carbon steel grill pan that rocks for veggies outdoors.
Only restaurant I can remember from being in Chicago in the past was deep dish stuffed pizza at Giordano's... being a Georgia boy, I was amazed at a pizza so full of awesome meaty goodness that I could barely finish 2 slices of. At the time I was in my 20's and could easily finish a large Domino's pizza (or two) by myself!
Gino's East for pizza. And being a former Chi-town boy from the south side, I love my Sox. BUT you also need to try and make it to a Cubs game at Wrigley...
They have really improved Wrigley in the last couple of years. I mean it was really a dump, but it reeks with so much tradition, like Fenway, and is worth the experience. Glad you had a chance to go !!!
Portillo's Hot dogs. https://www.portillos.com/index.html Chicago chain that has beef sandwiches and awesome hotdogs. They have lots of locations now including one in south bend. They have 2 in southern California now for when the craving hits.
I'll be honest, those iconic hot dog stands that seem to be everywhere are my favorite. Gotta be Vienna all-beef. Gotta have a mound of hot fries. Gotta have it rolled in newspaper. Best ever cure for a hangover !!!
For higher end, you have to do Frontera Grill. It's a bit of a hassle, but worth doing. Failing that, Bayless has a couple places in the West Loop that might take reservations or be easier to get in to... Lena Brava might be to your interest, as it's a live fire restaurant.
Portillos, with some chocolate cake.
Al's #1 Beef.
From the deep dish, in no particular order: Pequod, Giordano's, Geno's East, Lou Malnati's or Uno/Due downtown. They all have their pluses and their fans. I'm a Pequod partisan, but I'm not from here originally.
Maple and Ash or Boeufhaus are supposed to be good for steakhouse, if you're down for that.
I don't have a recommendation for an aquarium smoker place. Smoque is pretty good. My favorite northside BBQ has changed names and owners, so I can't say if it's still good or not. Lilly Q is supposed to be good. They had a fire the time we tried to go, so I've never been.
If you want a spaghettios tasting pizza then Gino’s East (gross). If you want great pizza, go to pequods pizza in Lincoln Park. Beef sandwiches and hot dogs, definitely Portillos. Personally I like Chicago Q BBQ in the Gold Coast. However, it is a bit upscale but great food and excellent selection on bourbon, including a hand picked barrel of Angels Envy.
Hi, my name is Darrell. I'm an OTR truck driver for over 25 years. During my off time I love doing backyard cooks. I have a 48" Lang Deluxe smoker, Rec-Tec pellet smoker,1 Weber Genesis 330, 1 Weber Performer (blue), 2 Weber kettles (1 black and 1 Copper), 1 26" Weber kettle, a WSM, 8 Maverick Redi Chek thermometers, a PartyQ, 2 SnS, Grill Grates, Cast Iron grates, 1 ThermoPop (orange) and 2 ThermoPens (pink and orange) and planning on adding more cooking accessories. Now I have an Anova sous vide, the Dragon blower and 2 Chef alarms from Thermoworks.
Large Big Green Egg, Weber Performer Deluxe, Weber Smokey Joe Silver, Fireboard Drive, 3 DigiQs, lots of Thermapens, and too much other stuff to mention.
We've been to Lou Malnati's, and we've had the thin crust pizza cut into squares but I don't recall where. Enjoyed both. I ate at Uno back in the '80s and liked it very much. Even though things try to stay the same, they change, though. (And don't eat at chain Unos, they are awful.)
LSG Adjustable Grill/Smoker, MAK Pellet Grill, Large BGE with Several Attachments from the Ceramic Grill Store, Weber Genesis E335 Gasser, Cast Iron Pans & Griddle, Grill Grates, Mostly Thermoworks Thermometers, Anova SV Stick, BBQ Guru Controller and Fan
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
Smoque is Mh's favorite Chicagoland BBQ joint, if I recall correctly. Wife & I were going to meet him there last year but my plans changed. Too bad you're not making it a few hrs NE, you'd get your choice of meat & beverage up my way. Safe travels...
I swear I ate piza at a place called Mothers in the 80's but google appears to think it's a night club.....so, pass! (who knows, maybe it's a bad CRS day....)
I'm tellin' ya, try Dick's Last Resort--maybe for lunch. Decent food, crazy vibe/schtick (adult!), usually a good live blues band and it's right on the waterfront. Haven't been in 20 + years, so I hope it hasn't changed, cuz it was a hoot. Maybe some Chicagoans can chip in here.
I've been to a Dick's in San Antone and, a long time ago, the one in San Diego. Neither came close to the Chi Town experience.
When I was working in the area, I used to frequent Hog Wild in Midlothian (a burb on the south side, just off I294). Top notch boneless pork chop and ribs. I wasn't into beef at the time, but they have it. Cash only. Busy, but really fast service. Order at counter, they bring to your table. Highly recommend it!
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