More
I’ve been to Sprinkles in Los Angeles, Crumbs & Magnolia in New York City, and Carousel in my hometown of Ridgewood, NJ (Does that count?). Look, not to toot my own horn, but what I’m trying to say is I consider myself a fairly good judge of, er, cupcake! When I stumbled upon More on Delaware Place in the Gold Coast a few days ago, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one of their homemade cupcakes.
The modernized display case holds the cupcakes under a white aura of light that practically screams “eat me”, but the cupcakes are so perfectly handcrafted that, upon second glance, it looks like it might actually be a cruel art exhibit meant to torture cupcake lovers like myself. The sleek and minimalist design of the shop was hypnotizing. Literally. I wasn’t hungry, so I tore myself from the window, but the damage was done, I had cupcake on the brain. I couldn’t leave Chicago for the holidays without a taste, so I dragged myself out of bed (that in itself says a lot) and schlepped over to More before my flight this morning.
With fifty-one flavors on the full menu (not all are offered daily), More had the largest selection and the most unique flavors of any cupcake joint I’d ever been to. To save my figure, I opted to buy a box of four full size cupcakes instead of a dozen (stop judging me). I settled on a crowd favorite, S’mores; the most unique of the day, Bacon Maple; my typical favorite, Coconut; and a seasonal treat, Chocolate Peppermint.
After carrying the cupcakes down subway stairs, up subway stairs, through security at the airport (sidenote: I even warned the security officer to be careful checking my bag because I had cupcakes that I didn’t want to get “smushed”–I kid you not), 700 miles in turbulent air, and through the Lincoln Tunnel (well, not really. Elf anyone?), I finally got the cupcakes home for a taste test, and guess what? I didn’t like them.
I really wanted to love More’s cupcakes and they are so close to perfection, just not quite there. They have the wow factor down pat and the cake is superb–perfectly moist and incredibly flavorful, but the crazy flavors were just a bit too crazy (even Top Chef’s Tom Colecio’s main message in that annoying Diet Coke commercial is to keep it simple!). On top of that, the frosting (which is usually always my favorite) tasted like, cringe, pure Crisco. I hate to say it, but, yuck!
I’d go back to More to show friends and family how creative and trendy it is, but I don’t want another cupcake. Sad to say it, but I’ve no longer got cupcake on the brain. Maybe it really is true, less is More.
Filed under: Dessert | 1 Comment
Tags: Cupcakes, Dessert, Gold Coast, Moderately Priced
NoMI
Boom. Boom. Pop. Pop. Boom. NoMi is nothing short of a spectacle. The wait staff? Perfectly manicured and cordial, but unobtrusive. The decor? Unreal. NoMI features glass blown sculptures dangling from the ceiling, a wine room that anyone would kill for, and a lounge area that rivals some of New York’s best. The view? Nothing like it (Well, except my apartment, but thats besides the point). This unique Gold Coast locale is located in the Park Hyatt and juts out over ritzy Michigan Avenue with a unobstructed view of the Water Tower.
With a limited selection, Executive Chef, Christophe David’s menu is not for the faint of heart. Everything is a suprise. Everything. Dad said it best, “I love french food, because every dish is a suprise–you never know exactly what you’re in for” (totally unrelated, but doesn’t that just remind you of Forest Gump?? Absolutely brilliant.) Back to NoMI, I am embarrassed to admit that I didn’t order an appetizer, but the Peekytoe Crab with Yuzu Beet Gelée and Local Farm Vegetables en Papillote that Mom and Dad ordered were utterly phenomenal. Dad’s vegetables, a seemingly boring dish, came wrapped as a present that the waiter cut open with a large pair of silver scissors. Awesome. Oh, and so was the amuse bouche the chef presented us with in between courses. Our entrees, turbot and truffle risotto, followed suit–unique and tasty as anything.
Unfortunately, dessert left me relatively unimpressed. The selections were nothing like what I would have hoped for (chocolate anyone??). To be honest, save the dough (again, no pun intended), and wait for the complimentary macaroons and mini desserts that come with the check and then head across the street to Ghirardelli for the real deal (in terms of dessert, that is).
All in all, NoMI is nothing short of fabulous. Plus the lounge area is pretty damn cool and, ladies, you might just score some free drinks from some business men. (Oh wait, is that politically incorrect?) Before you drop everything and run to NoMI (in the arctic tundra they call Chicago–sorry I’m bias towards warm weather), you should know that you pay a high–and I mean high–price tag for the spectacle, not the portions. You will indeed leave perfectly satisfied, but the truth is, unless you load up on the bread, (like, I must confess, I did) you will be hungry only a few short hours later.
Worth it? Definitely.
Filed under: French | Leave a Comment
Tags: expensive, Food, French, Gold Coast, Lounge, Sushi
Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse
Named after the legendary Hall of Fame baseball announcer, Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse is a traditional Chicago steakhouse–unpretentious and casually elegant. Complete with white table cloths, dark wood paneling, and plenty of lighting I felt right at home at Harry Caray’s.
The menu is enormous and even the most picky of eaters will likely find something they’ll enjoy. With plenty of italian inspired choices, like Chicken Vesuvio, in addition to the beef, Harry Caray’s is an interesting twist on the typical steakhouse. I have to confess, though, none of us ventured from the oh so predictable 9 oz. filet mignon. Actually, that isn’t quite true. Dad was the most adventurous and ordered, gasp, surf and turf.
I hate to say it, but our appetizers were a bit lackluster and, frankly, disappointing. My steakhouse staple, the wedge salad, was bland and Mom’s calamari appeared to be extra crunchy (yumm) until biting into it proved otherwise. On the upside, our entrees were cooked to perfection and were easily the most enjoyable aspects of each of our meals. Although the large portions left us stuffed, we managed to find room for some dessert, and were not disappointed we did–the flourless chocolate cake was superb!
Another nice thing about this cozy spot, especially for the budget conscious, was the option of ordering from a prix fixe menu. At $45.00 for three courses, this menu is limited, but offers some great choices.
Harry Caray’s website boasts “The best steakhouse in Chicago” and, although I do not quite agree with that, it was an enjoyable experience. To sum it up, I didn’t leave exclaiming “Holy Cooow!” that food was fantastic, but I did leave satisfied.
Oh, by the way, if you opt to sit in the bar area, “Smile, you’re on candid camera!” A little known fact: Harry Caray’s has a webcam that sends live images of it’s bar room to it’s website. Creepy!
Filed under: steakhouse | Leave a Comment
Tags: chicago, expensive, Food, italian, river north, steakhouse
Portillo’s Hot Dog
Portillo’s was the first stop on my quest to find the ultimate Chicago-style hot dog. Being my first, I had high expectations and Portillo’s could have had one of two effects on me—make me giddy and attached forever or leave me utterly unimpressed. Unfortunately, Portillo’s had the latter effect.
The food is what I would describe as overrated. The hot dog lacked the girth and crunchiness one would expect from a truly delicious hot dog and, although the menu boasts all the toppings of a Chicago-style hot dog, they were sparing. The hot dog did not have nearly enough chopped onions and I couldn’t even taste the relish or the deli-style mustard. To add fuel to the fire, when I asked for extra toppings, I was asked to pay .40 cents for any additional peppers or onions (call me cheap, but c’mon!). I hate to say it, but my beef (no pun intended) with Portillo’s dog didn’t stop there. The “perfectly steamed” poppy seed bun flirted with soggy. The French fries were neither here nor there, but the chocolate cake shake did add an element of excitement to the meal. It was a novel idea that was executed quite well—a thick and hearty shake!
The restaurant itself reminded me of a ride at Disney World. I’ll let you decide for yourself if thats a good thing or a bad thing. To it’s credit, though, the décor is festive and highlights Chicago’s rich history with local memorabilia hanging, well, pretty much everywhere.
In hindsight, Portillo’s location across from the Rock n’ Roll McDonalds and The Rainforest Café should have clued me in. Quite frankly, Portillo’s seems more like a tourist staple rather than the authentic Chicago hot dog joint I was looking for, but like many firsts, I just might be tempted to go back for more.
Filed under: Hot Dogs | Leave a Comment
Tags: american, chicago, Food, hot dog, inexpensive, river north
