I love food, and when I was recently given the opportunity to take a tour of food in Chicago, I jumped at the chance. I chose "Food Tours in Chicago." because of the total of 851 Trip Advisor reviews, they had only 4 negative reviews, and they were rated at # 5 of all tours in Chicago. The tour visits 6 different places and tastes 6 different types of food while walking around the neighborhood, learning and eating as you walk.
I caught the train to the suburb of Baktatown / Wicker Park, since the tour was not in the center of Chicago. It did not take long and did not cost much. I was assigned to meet at George's Hot Dogs. Our guide introduced himself, and then all 8 of us who joined the tour, gave a small idea to say where we all came from. I was the only foreigner, everyone else was from America. We were provided with a simple 4-page guide. which contain information about all the places that we had to visit with their websites, contact information and opening times, as well as maps of the tour. He had vouchers for each place, if we visited you again after the tour, and also included a list of other recommended restaurants.
The first stop on our tour was the traditional hot dog from George Hot Dogs. Chicago is famous for its hot dogs, but not traditional ones. hot dogs that you think about when you think of America. There is no ketchup on this dog. After learning about how George and his family moved to America from Greece, we heard how his little hot dog restaurant became something of an institution in the area. So, here we are educated regarding the Chicago hot dogs. A scroll with a hot dog, sausage, yellow mustard, green taste, spicy pepper, sliced tomato, pickling spear and celery salt. My word, it was delicious and nothing more than full size - there are no samples here. This hot dog won the award for the best hot dog in Chicago in 2008. I'm not sure who won since then - these dogs are definitely the best!
When we were all done, we headed down the street to the next place called “Hot Chocolate”, created and managed by Mindy Seagal, pastry chef with more than 20 years of experience. The website says: “A city cafe is a marriage of modern food and desserts inspired by seasonal and local ingredients.” Mindy has won various awards, including two years in a row, “Time Out Chicago”, awarded the “Best Chef” award. This lady knows what she is doing ...
We were served cold, creamy chocolate milk with homemade marshmallows. It was so amazing that I finished too quickly. Others in groups tried to say it was too rich or sweet. I did not notice ... We learned that you can buy bags from a mixture, and the first 2 ingredients added to the chocolate powder are cream and full cream milk - a sip. My waist would not be happy ... but it was so worth it!
When we went to our chocolate drink and heard about all the decadent things to eat at this restaurant, we headed a little further down the street to the Goddess and the Bakal, a gastronomic gastronomic and gastronomic business that served for such as Rolling Stones and Madonna .
Strolling, my eyes flickered from a variety of delicious trips, and when their websites said: “ready-made salads, fresh salad bar, sliced meats and cheeses, artisanal cheeses, grilled chicken and various foods, including handmade chocolates, cookies and desserts, pasta and sauces, mustard, dressings and seasonings, crackers, snacks, wine and beer ”, they are not joking. This is NOT a place to come when you are hungry !!! (or maybe this!)
Here we were treated to a trial serving of roasted vegetable salad with goat cheese, which was very tasty. Vegetables were cooked perfectly (slightly soft, without turbidity), and cheese with goats gave salty wine, which perfectly complemented the salad. After looking (and drooling) at other proposed things, we headed back.
With constantly filling tummies, we then headed to Piece, a pizzeria and a brewery. In the secluded part of a rather large air restaurant we were fed with a piece of pizza and a small glass of beer. Can it get better?
Piece opened in July 2001 after the transformation of the roofing garage to a pizzeria with a rocky ceiling and a sunken parlor. The atmosphere is charming, relaxed and friendly. Beer and pizza will do it for you. Brewer Jonathan Cutler has won 21 top prizes since 2002, so if you stop, make sure you try some of your bees.
A few nights a week they offer karaoke and some of the pictures on their website, this is an evening full of fun and laughter.
Returning again, we now explore the neighborhood, and our guide tells us all sorts of interesting facts about buildings, people, parks, and history.
It's a great day and we enjoy the sunshine and cool shade. Soon we will come to the "Sultan Market". This medium-eastern restaurant was opened 12 years ago by May Ramley. She grew up in Jordan and did not go to the restaurant herself until she was 18 years old. When she opened the Sultan market, she had a stroke from the very beginning with her homemade hummus. She still oversees the cooking and cash register at the restaurant.
The food in the buffet, which we passed by, looked fresh, tasty and very seductive. The place is immaculately clean, the atmosphere is clearly oriental, with mosaic lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Having passed an impressive number of baklava stalls, our group was divided into several corner tables, and, having heard how the restaurant appeared, we were served pitta bread filled with falafel, hummus and cucumber salad. At this stage, I was so scared, I was embarrassed to say that I caught a hummus and cucumber salad and took a few pieces of pita bread, but I could no longer cope.
We are around the corner from our last stop and with heavy footsteps and bulging tummies, we come to iCream, an ice cream cafe. What an unusual place. Here's how it works ...
You go in and decide ... Hm, I really feel like peanut butter and mango sorbet. You come to the counter and order it, and they do it - easily! Yes, they have equipment that can make your favorite fragrances in place. With their fast-frozen liquid nitrogen machines (which look somehow from space), they are able to produce your peanut butter and mango-sorbet in a matter of seconds. There is nothing prepared.
Thus, we will indulge in a small tub of ice cream (far from boredom!) And remember the last 3 hours.
What a wonderful time we had. We saw and learned about the neighborhood (a little different from the center of Chicago, which was good), we walked about 1.5 miles, which I claimed was an exercise of the day, and did not try not 1, but 6 different products, everything that had a little history . There was a feeling that we are really experiencing the city and see "behind the scenes." and not just being a tourist.
I liked how the food tour went. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable, and in 3 hours just flew by. Try your tours if you are in the Chicago area.
Advance purchase required - tickets are sold FAST!
Happy food.
