March 2008 Archives
This gem comes to you chock full of flavor. Local Argentinean Lilliana Zecker has turned Tastybeat on to the diverse tastes of Argentina right here in Chicago. Here's the perfect itinerary for your next open afternoon:
First stop: El Mercado, a small market found on Southport. This corner store has been in the Di Sapio family for over thirty years. Lilliana recommends their outstanding, ready-to-cook chorizo sausage. Argentinean chorizo is a mild pork sausage with garlic and a blend of delicious spices. Lilliana also suggests bringing home their empanada wrappers so you can make your own fried or baked empanadas when the mood strikes. Lilliana has graciously shared her family's recipe.
Next stop: If you're getting hungry, head next door to the restaurant Tango Sur. Here, stylish owner Sergio Di Sapio serves up mouth-watering traditional meat empanadas. In Lilliana's words, when you eat Sergio's empanadas, "The grease trickles down to your elbows....so worth the experience!" And Lilliana shares this pointer: "Empanadas are to be eaten by holding the whole thing in your hand, and biting into it, no fork and knife."
Third stop: Now it's time to make your way to Buenos Aires Liquors and Deli. Here, warm and gregarious owner Mario Gimenez will greet you with a smile and a sample of one of his proud creations. Mario is famous for his triples de miga (simple, layered finger sandwiches), an Argentine staple. Tastybeat also recommends taking home these favorites:
Chimmichurri Sauce
This traditional condiment is made with parsley, oregano, garlic, salt, onion, red chile pepper, red wine vinegar and olive oil. Serve this flavorful sauce with grilled steak.
Empanadas
Mario serves empanadas daily, full of traditional ingredients—green olives, hard boiled eggs, red onions, raisins, paprika, red pepper, parsley, oregano, and garlic. Available with beef, chicken, or spinach.
Alfajores
A beloved popular dessert, alfajores are sandwich cookies made with flour and cornstarch dough. These baked cookies are filled with a sweet caramel mixture and coated with coconut. Mario bakes them fresh daily.
Wine
Mario recommends trying the wines of Argentina. He suggests a pleasant, full-bodied red Malbec with earthy notes. Or try the white Torrontes—a fruity, floral wine that's surprisingly dry. Mario is glad to help you choose the perfect bottle.
Happy Exploring!
Tastybeat
www.tastybeat.com
El Mercado
3767 N. Southport
773-477-5020
Hours
8:00am-8:00pm Monday-Saturday
8:00am-5:00pm Sunday
Tango Sur
3763 N. Southport
773-477-5466
BYOB
Hours
5:00pm-10:30pm Monday-Thursday
5:00pm-11:30pm Friday and Saturday
12pm-11pm Sunday
Tango on Tuesday nights after 7:00pm
Buenos Aires Liquor and Deli
3100 North Cicero
773-685-4241
9:00am-2:00pm Monday-Saturday
9:00am-2:00pm Sunday
With spring's promise in the air, what better place to celebrate than in our kitchens? For inspiration, we look to our French friends, known for their natural Joie de vivre (zest for life). The Thouvenots, who hail from Neuilly sur Seine in France and currently live in Evanston, have discovered many of their favorites away from home. If you too pine for that special joie de vivre, or if you just want to explore some fine French delicacies, here's a gem of a list:
- Reblochon cheese--a delicious cheese from the Alps region of Savoie. The soft, washed-rined cheese is made from raw cow's milk and is well aged with a soft center and nutty flavor that lingers on the tongue. This special cheese is traditionally served with a crusty baguette and a butter lettuce salad dressed with walnut oil, red wine vinegar, salt and Dijon mustard. Available at Whole Foods Market.
- Maille Dijon mustard and Maille gherkins--used as accoutrements with any meal. Can be found at Foodstuff's. Tastybeat Tip: While at Foodstuff's, consider picking up a container of decadent Aloutte creme fraise.
- Baratte butter--a high-quality European butter embedded with sea salt crystals called Fleur De Sel. Try spreading this flavorful treat on a good loaf of bread. You can find Baratte at Treasure Island.
- French Saucisson--a zesty sausage full of flavor and spice. This garlic sausage is made with chicken, pork, milk and cognac that together make a robust flavor. French Saucisson is typically enjoyed warm with a baguette and fresh roasted garlic. You can find it, along with a special selection of outstanding pates, at Schaefer's Market.
- Pineau de Charentes (pictured)--a special aperitif. Pineau de Charentes has a rather unique taste made from a blend of unfermented grape must and cognac brandy. Found at Schaefer's Market.
- Framboisier cake (pictured)--a vanilla cake bursting with a light vanilla cream and topped with fresh raspberries or a raspberry glaze (Tastybeat highly recommends ordering it topped with a layer of fresh raspberries.) Created by Dimitri and Keli Fayard of Vanille Bakery, this cake is a scrumptious treat for your eyes and palette. Be sure to check out Vanille Bakery's wonderful selection of French cakes, pastries, croissants, and of course, macaroons!
Bon Appétît!
Tastybeat
|
EVANSTON GLENCOE |
GLENVIEW LAKE FOREST |
Schaefer's Wines, Foods and Spirits
9965 Gross Point Rd
Skokie, IL 60076
P: 847-677-WINE (9463)
Vanille Patisserie
2229 N. Clybourn
Chicago, IL 60614
Tel: 773-868-4574
Fax: 773-868-0648
Sang Yi, owner of Dong Aha Oriental Food Mart, cooks up the most exceptional sweet and spicy chicken wings that Tastybeat has ever tried. Not what you might expect at this unassuming neighborhood market located in a nondescript strip mall. The wings, cooked up in the back of the store, are truly a find. The perfect headliner at your next party....March Madness, anyone?
Dong Aha's sticky fried chicken wings are coated in a mouth-watering combination of soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic, chile pepper and sugar. It's a tantalizing (and predictably messy) recipe that does somersaults in your mouth. At the risk of sounding trite, Tastybeat proclaims them addictive....try just eating one. We dare you.
Be sure to call in your order ahead at Dong Aha Oriental Food Mart. When you do, they'll want to know if you want 'em mild or with a kick. Individual servings are available, as are party trays serving up to fifty, all at a very reasonable price. We feel certain you'll love Dong Aha's super tasty wings, and we also bet you'll get a kick out of picking them up at the store. Despite the intimate size of the place, you'll be met with an official microphone announcement of your order, delivered to you from the back of the store.
Happy Eating!
Tastybeat
www.tastybeat.com
Dong Aha Oriental Food Mart
3933 W. Touhy Avenue (map)
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-673-3055
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00am-8:00pm
Saturday 9:00am-9:00pm
Sunday 9:00am-7:00pm
Tucked into the fine dining landscape of Highwood are two delicious Italian gems. Poeta's Food Mart, an Italian grocery and meat market, and Pastificio, a Northern Italian specialty store, have been favorites to those in the know for over thirty years.
At Poeta's, you'll find brothers Domenic and Luca Poeta behind the meat counter. Knowledgeable and friendly, they are happy to patiently educate you on all of their delectable Italian specialties. After talking and tasting with Domenic and Luca's guidance, Tastybeat recommends:
Italian Sausage
Choose from spicy or mild. This homemade sausage is made with excellent quality pork shoulder and a mix of spices that is Poeta's secret recipe. Their sausage is in such demand that it is shipped all over the country!
Baressi Sausage
A special Italian sausage that is small, flavorful, and filled with pork, lamb, parsley, and grated cheese. Do not walk out the door without it!
Italian Beef
For a quick and tasty Italian beef dinner, pick up Poeta's top round of beef, slow-cooked until tender and sliced thin in fragrant au jus. All you need are the rolls.
Marinated Italian Skirt Steak
Fabulous skirt steaks marinated with Poeta's family recipe. The Italian marinade is tangy, sweet, and herb laden. Just start your grill.
To round out your dinner shopping, make your way around the corner to Pastificio. Here you'll find a variety of freshly made pastas and sauces. Our favorite is the lasagna--meat or spinach. Both are surprisingly delicate yet bursting with bright flavors. If you want to amaze your dinner guests, be sure to bring some home. Try this Tastybeat tip- drop off your own pans and Pastificio will fill them up with their lasagna. Bake in your own oven and pull them out steaming hot for a table of hungry guests. We won't tell!
Happy Eating!
Tastybeat
Poeta's Food Mart
520 Greenbay Road (map)
Highwood, IL 60040
847-432-3037
Hours
Monday-Saturday 8:00am-6:00pm
Sunday 9:00am-2:00pm
Pastificio!
122 Highwood Avenue (map)
Highwood, IL 60040
847-432-5459
Hours
Tuesday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm
Closed Sunday and Monday
Supplier of top quality spices to local chefs, home cooks, and foodies alike, The Spice House celebrates its 50th year in business this year. Owners Tom and Patty Erd are well-respected in the Chicago food scene for good reason. Along with their wide array of excellent spices, they and their knowledgeable staff offer a wealth of information. To get in on the action and celebrate this fine company's longevity and success, Tastybeat recently sat down with Patti to ask about her favorite offerings of the moment. We've listed them here for you. Let the experimentation begin!
Vulcan Fire Salt
A fiery addition to your next meal, this hot salt is loaded with flavor and heat. It's hand-mixed and includes Louisiana chile mash, garlic, habanera chile, shallots, Tellicherry pepper, lime peel, Pimenton de La Vera, plicate, cumin, allspice, vinegar, and of course, salt. Try this all-purpose condiment on popcorn, pizza, Sunday morning eggs, bloody Marys, garlic bread, and any meat, vegetable, or fish.
Portuguese Salt Cream
The skimmed top layer of delicate salt crystals--the cream of the crop. Portuguese Salt Cream is a fabulous sea salt, delicate and slightly sweet in flavor, whiter and cleaner than the French variety, and much more affordable, too. Be warned: this pricing is not likely to last forever. So if you enjoy this salt, stock up!
Grains of Paradise
Small red-brown irregular seeds resembling peppercorns. Put them in your pepper mill to experience the pungent and peppery flavor with strong undertones of ginger and cardamom.
Japanese Seven Spice
This blend is new to The Spice House! Japanese Seven Spice is an all-purpose table condiment in Japan. This spicy hand-mixed blend includes orange peel, cayenne, ginger, Szechuan pepper, nori, and black, white, and toasted sesame seeds. Use this blend to flavor rice, soba noodles, udon noodles, and beef.
Cacao Nibs
For the dark chocolate fan these little nibs are the essence of dark chocolate before sugar is introduced. They are slightly bitter but still delicious. Add them anywhere you might add chocolate chips; instead of melting, they will stay crunchy. Try throwing them into your next batch of cookies or sprinkling them on top of cakes, brownies, or fudge.
If this is your first visit to The Spice House, you are in for a treat. It's just the place to inspire your cooking and introduce you to new tastes from around the world--and the perfect destination for stocking up on old favorites.
Happy Flavoring!
Tastybeat
Chicago Old Town Spice House
1512 North Wells Street Chicago
312-274-0378
Hours
Monday-Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 10am-5pm
Evanston Spice House
1941 Central Street
Evanston
847-328-3711
Hours
Monday-Friday 9am-6:30pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-3pm
Geneva Spice House
577 South Third Street
Geneva
630-262-1777
Hours
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-3pm
