05 - CHICAGO EATS
Had the pleasure of visiting this city specifically for the design but in the midst of all of the walking and training around, of course I had to find time to eat...
Stayed right around the corner from the famous Wrigley Field so a lot of what you see is in that vicinity. Although I would have loved to venture out more to see the other many great food places in Chicago but for now you get the perks of knowing the area around the Stadium which is just as lively and walkable on its own.
The first stop was Sweetgreen....I know, I know. Not really what you were expecting as a first meal BUT when you are in a new place sometimes you just go with what is easy first. The only the reason I tried this out was because plenty of people have mentioned this spot so I said f*** it why not. It was super easy for what it needed to be....a quick grab and go to have something in your stomach before the ballgame. It is set up to make your own bowl, super healthy options, and a bit over priced if you ask me. For convenience, it is not that bad.
Only for those who care
Miso Glazed Salmon
Cucumbers
Arugala
Sweet Potato
Seasoned Broccoli
White rice
Pickled onions
Crispy onions for the crunch, wasn’t thinking double onion but whateves
Balsamic sauce to top it
The next stop on the list of goodies was a place called Little Goat Diner which was about a 15 min walk from Wrigley Field. I tend to go for a good vibe but also the aesthetic based on my mood that day and that morning I woke up wanting a diner feel plus a chai tea for my walk to the train and that is exactly what I got but in a cute elevated way. I sat at the countertop. The space did have other seated options such as indoor to include booths or tabletops and outdoor seating options as well. Once sat, I realized one thing that was super important for this place was BRANDING. To a normal eye, it is probably not something you would pay attention to but that is what makes it so much more enticing without you even realizing.
The food style was a mix of American, Southern classics, and Asian fusion. Although these typically don’t ALL go together, meaning maybe one or the other. The way it’s done at Little Goat is unmatched and full of flavor!
LITTLE GOAT SHRIMP + GRITS
The most fresh Shrimp + Grits I have had. The details in this dish that made it different was the red base, Brussel sprouts, and pistachios! Don’t knock it til you try it b/c it worked oh so well together.
The restaurant did a good job on the design + branding from the red colored seating to the little stamps on the platting. You can tell they really cared about their craft which translated to their dish.
Some things to note were their amazing collection of drinks- coffee, teas, sodas for that extra diner feel, and speciality cocktails. Some standouts were...
GOAT GOLD RUSH - bourbon, honey, miso, pineapple, ginger
FIELD TRIP - White rum, strawberry, balsamic vin, cinnamon, vanilla, lemon
LIL MISS SUNSHINE b/c I am a sucker for Early Grey - gin, passion fruit, earl grey, lemon, tonic
UMAMI MAMI LATTE - black sesame miso caramel
PLUS so many more, you have to go and see for yourself.
Last but not least, explore to the restrooms and you may stumble upon a hidden room...a private dining experience maybe? I will have to see what that is about my next trip!
Next stop - BURGERS + SHAKES + FRIES
Small Cheval - This spot was right next door to the Stadium (I really meant what I said about staying around the local area). When you arrive, you enter through a winter vestibule made from plastic, it really felt like I was transported into a different time zone. As soon as you walk in the vibe did not disappoint, it felt exactly like what it was, a burger joint that’s right next to one of the oldest stadiums. You order at the counter. I had no clue what to get so I followed suite with the person in front of me as a hack but literally this is the menu.
As seen on their website...
Very short and sweet. They also had pretty good milkshakes too! I got the cookies n’ cream mixed with salted caramel. I decided to sit at the bar to watch the locals come in and out which was pretty cool way to people watch. The kitchen was open so you could see all the bustle. The interior was moody with a very warm light color which made the space feel cozy.
Double Cheese w/ Fries + house sauce
The burger was surprisingly light but in a good way as sometimes they can get real greasy. All in all it was a pretty good spot to enjoy the space and nothing beats a classic burger + shakes +fries.
Moving on to my favorite...Fine n’ Dine.
Coda Di Volpe - Known for their Southern Italian style, I essentially went here simply for pasta. They had plenty Italian delicacies on their menu from Pizza to ah-Pasta...get it. Anyways, I would recommend reservations I went around 5 during the week and it was still pretty packed. Opted for bar seating, as a solo traveler who loves to people watch, the view seems to be a lot better from there from customers to the bar tenders whipping up drinks.
Octopus Carpaccio
Started with an ANTIPASTI which is just a fancy word for appetizers. I can only count on one hand how many times I have tried octopus and each time was told it wasn’t cooked right so I thought I would try just to see if this was the one. Well, this dish I think changed my mind on the consistency + texture of how octopus should taste. The only issue I had with this dish was it was really salty. Almost made me think the octopus was freshly caught but the presentation made up for that.
Agnolotti - Parmesan, Mushroom, truffle with squash + pesto...the menu changes seasonly so new surprises, not much duplicated.
If I was not sitting at a bar full of people, I would had licked the plate. The pasta was cooked perfect al dente and all the flavors from slightly sweet to savory sauce went together. Even after I was done people were asking me about it.
Thanks for traveling with me to Chicago to see some pretty nostalgic food spots. Hopefully if you ever visit you will have some cool places to venture to for a Modinary Certified meal. Til next trip!
