Kicking off Spring at Sola

With March Madness in full swing and the arrival of Spring, Matt and I have found ourselves having a packed calendar….and a few restaurants behind (thank you Matt for pointing that out). However, with my beloved Kansas Jayhawks out of running for NCAA national champs it is time play a little catch up on our restaurant tour of Chicago!

On Sunday Matt and I retired our Kansas apparel, shook off the loss, and headed to North Center for brunch at Sola (3868 North Lincoln Avenue). I live steps away from this brunch and dinner hot spot and have had the pleasure of experiencing both. Sola offers a warm atmosphere with orange and yellow hues splashed throughout. The windows offer great lighting and a perfectly placed fireplace adds an extra touch of warmth and intimacy.

So, I know what you are thinking….more eggs!?! What sets Sola apart from the many brunch options in Chicago is the amazing flavors that their dishes produce. Oh, and their super fabulous coffee. I wanted to try something I’ve never had before, so I went with the wild mushroom omelet (leeks, asparagus, and prairie fruits farm goat cheese). Matt had the breakfast wrap (tortilla, black beans, eggs, cheddar, spinach, and guacamole). Both options were cooked and presented to perfection – I really loved the mixture of veggies and goat cheese in my meal and I really loved the flavor of the tortilla and guacamole in the breakfast wrap.

Why we love Sola; the great atmosphere, the yummy food, small yet filling portion sizes, tasty coffee and reasonable prices (no joke it cost us about the same to eat at the Golden Apple the day before, yikes). We aren’t the only ones that find this brunch/dinner spot so appealing, most of the tables were filled (although we didn’t have to wait for a table) with families gathering, girlfriends getting together and couples sharing a nice breakfast together, preparing for another hectic week.

Happy Spring,
Matt and Jenn

BBQ at Smoque

Matt & Jenn 3.14.2010

After beating up our bodies during the Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration (involving green beer and multiple car bombs), we needed something to fill our stomachs and help us get through the day on Sunday. Matt, his out of town guests, and I headed to Smoque at 3800 N Pulaski to eat some BBQ. This is our second trip to Smoque and it didn’t disappoint. So, how good is Smoque? Well, Guy Fieri from The Food Networks Diners, Drive-ins and Dives is a fan. But, if that doesn’t entice you to hit up this BBQ hot spot maybe the smell will lure you in.

Our Sunday visit was a perfect time to hit up Smoque with a fairly small crowd as there wasn’t a wait. I will warn you, on any given Friday night there most likely will be a line out the door but it moves quickly and it is so worth the wait.

I went with the ½ and ½ - half pulled pork and ½ shredded brisket sandwich topped with their very flavorful BBQ sauce! I didn’t skip out on the french fries which were perfectly cooked and super yummy. Matt had the pulled pork platter which included two sides – he went with the baked beans and corn bread. Another fabulous choice for a side is their mac and cheese which is baked to perfection. Smoque offers perfectly cooked BBQ dishes (we really need to try their ribs) and was the perfect meal to kick off our Sunday.

Cheers,

Matt and Jenn

Hot Tamales @ De Cero 814 W Randolph

Jenn and Yummy Taccos 3.5.10

Ok, so here is the deal: Matt and I headed to De Cero on Friday night for yet another meatless adventure (yes, it is still Lent). I have been to De Cero a couple of times in the past for various occasions but this time I was there to eat and eat and eat! De Cero is out of this world outstanding, needless to say Matt and I were over capacity stuffed upon our departure but couldn’t help discuss the possibility of buying 30 tamales (the most amazing ever) and freezing them for later!

You must be dying to know what we indulged in; keep in mind there is no way my words will do the flavors offered on this menu justice (but I’ll try). My suggestion – just go there!!! The fun began with their trio of salsa and a side of guacamole. All three salsa variations were bursting with flavor and super delicious (my fave was the green, Matt loved the red). But the guacamole was even more super fabulous and the best I’ve ever tasted at a restaurant. The guac trumps the salsa trio (if you only want to try one). Matt and I couldn’t help but get another round of chips so we could continue to dip into such delight.

The main event didn’t disappoint – Matt ordered the Enchiladas Tres Queso (Chihuahua, manchego and cotiia cheese) which were absolutely heavenly. These enchiladas are hands down the best we’ve had. The rich flavor the cheese combination offered was superb and extremely decadent. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted, so I created my own main event which included: a goat cheese tamale (hot chile, masa, pico de gallo). Let me say the corn base of this tamale was amazing; it was rich in flavor and a tad spicy as well (I couldn’t get enough). The creamy goat cheese inside was a perfect pairing – seriously considering ordering 30 and freezing them. I also had two tacos Black Bean (garlic, avocado, cilantro, crema) and Battered Shrimp (cilantro, avocado crema). The tacos are small which is great because you can try more then one.
Just thinking about De Cero and the amazing dinner we had on Friday makes me excited to go back! Next time you are in the mood for Mexican, skip your old reliable and head to De Cero; I promise you wont be disappointed! Oh, and don’t forget to call us on your way there because we’ll want to come with.

With full tummies (yes still),
Matt and Jenn