Hot Chocolate

I had wanted to try Hot Chocolate in Wicker Park for months and I finally did last weekend. This place has received a lot of attention due to the pastry chef, Mindy Segal. She's been featured on Oprah and Martha Stewart and has won a James Beard Award multiple times. So, obviously I went in with some high expectations. I can't say that every detail of the meal won me over, but I was definitely impressed.

I went for Saturday brunch and had to wait 30 min. for a table (more waiting - it's a theme this week)! My group started with a sweet assortment for the table to split. It came with four different baked goods, all of which were very unique. The croissant was filled with pate, the raspberry danish had a spicy kick to it, the sweet lemon-tasting bread had a strong nut taste, and I am not sure what the final item was - something like a biscotti. I enjoyed all the baked treats, except the croissant. I'm a croissant lover, but the flavors did not work for me. The pate overpowered the buttery goodness of the croissant.

Hence the restaurant's title, hot chocolate is kind of there 'thing.' They have a bunch of specialty options. I ordered the medium version and it's one of the most popular. They start with a milk chocolate base, top it with a touch of dark chocolate and caramel, and then it's served with a large homemade marshmallow. Wow! It's richer than it even sounds. It tastes incredible, but I could only handle about half before I had to stop for fear of a tummy ache. The real highlight is the homemade marshmallow - it's less chewy than the processed variety and starts to melt quicker.

For the main event, I ordered a toasted ciabatta sandwich of an over-easy egg, roasted red peppers and goat cheese. The sandwich was fantastic. Every ingredient is something I enjoy, and although the combination was foreign to me, it melded together perfectly. The goat cheese in particular was exactly right - and so fresh.

This place has some gourmet food - and the prices to match, but it's not intimidating. You should definitely check it out - I can't wait to head back for dinner (I've heard the burgers, grilled cheese and mac & cheese are phenomenal). Just need to save up!

Tab: $21 for brunch entree, hot chocolate, and one/fourth of the sweet assortment

Southport Grocery & Cafe

Known for incredible baked goods and long lines, I headed to Southport Grocery & Cafe for lunch with mixed feelings. I thought it would probably be delicious, but I might struggle to enjoy it after waiting for too long (see last post for more on lines). The lines are long, but this place is absolutely worth the wait. A friend and I waited for 30 min. for a late lunch, but we didn't mind - it allowed us to walk around the Southport Corridor on a really lovely day.

When we were seated, I ordered a Diet Coke (it came in an adorable miniature glass bottle) and the chicken salad. The salad is a "white meat chicken-grape-sour cream salad" served with baguette, flatbread & mixed greens with a shallot vinaigrette. It was outstanding. The chicken salad was so tasty and despite the sour cream/mayo combination, it tasted kind of healthy.

My friend got the grilled turkey sandwich served with red potato mash. The sandwich was very good, but the red potato mash was the real standout of her dish. It had the homemade look and was really hard to stop eating.

On the way out, I bought a chocolate cupcake to bring home. The cake itself wasn't anything too special, but the frosting was a decadent vanilla butter cream. Mark and I very much enjoyed it!

I can't wait to go back to Southport Grocery & Cafe! I really want to try their breakfast items and other sandwiches. It all looks terrific.

Tab: $13 for a chicken salad and Diet Coke

Pannenkoeken Cafe

I have been a very bad blogger lately. It's partly my fault and partly that of my busy husband who has been monopolizing the home computer with work. This week I am vowing to be better. I plan to use any 'lunch' break time I have to catch up on posts.

First up: Pannenkoeken Cafe, a teeny brunch spot in Lincoln Square famous for their Dutch pancakes. One rainy Saturday a few weeks ago, a friend and I ventured here for a late brunch. Teeny is really an understatement, this place only seats 20 people. Be prepared for a wait on the weekend - it was about 45 min. for us.

Pannenkoeken has all the traditional breakfast foods (omelettes, American pancakes, bacon, etc.), but their specialty is a wide variety of dutch pancakes. These pancakes are thinner and less sweet than the American variety, and are similar to crepes. They are finished off with a large assortment of toppings that can be savory or sweet. I had one topped with sausage, mushroom and cheese.

I like crepes and enjoyed my Dutch pancake, but I probably wouldn't go back. This restaurant is just too small and although the food was good, it was not good enough to warrant the wait. They have a larger location in Wicker Park, and maybe it's worth a try, but there are so many good restaurants in Chicago that I'd rather try a new place.

Tab: $15 for a dutch pancake and coffee

Berry Chill

Yogurt Couture is the fitting slogan for Berry Chill, a frozen yogurt hot spot on the near north side. The small store offers a cold sweet you don't have to feel guilty eating.

Typically there are two to three flavors of yogurt - of which one is always the standard vanilla flavored with a little lemon. It's a tart flavor and I really enjoy it. After patrons pick their yogurt flavor they can choose toppings. Up to three toppings is included in the standard price, add any more and you pay 79 cents per topping. The toppings are the best part! You have a choice of lots of candies and fruits. I always get a combination of fruits, and my favorite combination is strawberry, mango and blueberry.

I took a friend to Berry Chill last week and even on a cold day it was a big hit, but this place is really perfect for an afternoon snack on a sweaty summer day.

Tab: $5 for a small (5 ounces) with three toppings

e.leaven

Looking for a quick lunch spot near the Mag Mile? If so, try e.leaven. It's just a couple blocks from the Apple store (and my office) and it's tasty. Nothing fancy or special, but reasonably priced and well-located.

I've gone a few times and only tried one thing: the avocado salad with chicken. The salad is generously filled with avocado and a yummy dressing. There are lots of sandwiches, salads and sweets on the menu. Everything looks good and it's never too crowded - perfect for the week-day lunch.

Tab: About $10 for a large salad

Ann Sather

I turned 25 on Sunday, March 21. You might find the next statement ridiculous, but it made me feel kind of old. When I was in high school, I remember thinking about my mid-twenties as a time when I would be fairly 'established' in my adulthood. It's not like I wanted to have a kid by now (I did not and still do not), but I think I figured I'd own a house, dog and be well on my way to stealing Peter Jennings' old gig. I did get married recently, which is certainly a big step into serious adulthood, but other than that, I don't really have many of the things figured out that I thought I would. That said, I think 15 year old Jenn would be surprised, but pleased.

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In high school, sometimes my mom would make me Pillsbury cinnamon rolls for a quick breakfast (served with fruit, of course). Since then, sometimes I crave cinnamon rolls. So, on my birthday I went for a big brunch at Ann Sather, home of Chicago's best, fresh cinnamon rolls. The rolls are enormous and served warm in pairs. I love them!

With the cinnamon rolls, I had the Veggie Florentine. It's a version of Eggs Benedict, that substitutes the ham for veggies. It's somewhat healthy and really tasty - if you like hollandaise sauce like me. Ann Sather also has really good Swedish style pancakes, which are thinner than normal pancakes and almost like crepes.

There are a couple Ann Sather locations, but the one in Andersonville is the best. It is a great place for brunch and it's bigger than many of the other brunch hot-spots, so you probably won't have to wait for a table.

Tab: About $25 for breakfast for two (w/drinks)

Spacca Napoli

My Dad is obsessed with pizza to the point that he tried to feed me some as an infant. His love is focused on Chicago-style deep-dish like Lumalnati's, and my taste is often a bit different, but the love of pizza has rubbed off on the entire family. I truly enjoy all types of pizza and other than the chain, Sbarro's, I've never had a pizza I couldn't eat. Lately, I've been particularly hooked on Neapolitan style pizza with thin crust, chunky tomatoes and delicious cheese. Spacca Napoli is the pinnacle of this type of pizza.

The restaurant is focused solely on using the best ingredients to make pizza the way Italians really eat it. Spacca Napoli offers several different varieties, containing lots of ingredients, or just a few, like the classic 'Pizza Margherita.' Everything is delicious and served quickly from the special oven. They have appetizers too - including a really yummy eggplant (melanzane) dish that's served cold.

But, the pizza takes center stage here. I've had a few of different kinds and while they are all fantastic, 'The Buffalina,' is the show-stopper. It's a classic margherita style pizza, with cheese, tomatoes and basil, but the cheese is really special. It's buffalo mozzarella, and it's creamy and hard to stop eating.

Spacca Napoli is a wonderful place. It makes me want to visit Italy so bad it hurts and happy my Dad forced pizza into my life so early. You'll never want American-style pizzza again.

Tab: About $35 for a pizza, appetizer and two Peroni's