Well, it’s a week and a half since I got back from the US and I’m craving the pancakes in Chicago from the Famous Pancake House on East Bellevue. They were stunning to say the least and I think I had breakfast there 4 times in 7 days…

Mandarine pancakes with suzette sauce.

My favourites where the mandarin pancakes that came with a Suzette style sauce. They were sweet but not overly so and the sauce was rich and complimented the mandarin segments perfectly. Coffee flows freely in these places after your first purchase (unlike Perth where they charge for each cup.) There were also a good range of savouries such as eggs and ham served with maple syrup pancakes and many styles of omelette, though it takes a bit of getting used to sweet and savoury items all on the same plate…

Strawberry crepes

These strawberry crepes were made with fresh strawberries which still had a pleasant tang and the strawberry compote inside was rich and delicious without being overly sweet. Service was fast despite the place being packed to the rafters and the waitresses were polite and ever so helpful even with my accent that apparently is quite novel.

Another delight was the Chicago Q restaurant that serves BBQ ribs that are to die for. I was too busy mesmerised by the aroma and hand to mouth reflex action to remember to take a picture. I did snap a pic of the house made bread and butter pickles that they serve the minute your bottom hits the seat and these were worth the trip alone. (They are also a freebie! Are you listening Perth?) They were sweet and sour, crunchy yet soft, salty and spiced. I couldn’t persuade them to pass on the recipe. Bummer.

Pickled cucumbers with onions and garlic

The picture doesn’t do them justice.

It’s a pity because they were so good. The ribs were succulent and very tasty. They were meaty and rich without being fatty and came with house made sauces, original Mild, spicy, eastern North Carolina vinegar and South Carolina mustard sauce all of which complimented the meat well. They were so good I ate there twice. Their smoked chicken is awesome. Portion sizes are large to say the least and how the waiters carried some of the trays I will never know. Dear God, some people can pack it away in ways I have never seen before…

I tried a famous Chicago hotdog from Portillo’s, and while it was good, I didn’t have that rave review moment that the place gets from hotdog aficionados. I suspect it’s a cultural thing.

The other great place I went to was The Alhambra Palace restaurant. There is a distinct Morrocan theme but if you have ever been to Spain, think of the Moorish influences of say Majorcan architecture or indeed its Spanish namesake. The food was good and plentiful,  but the stunning decor and the live entertainment made the evening. There were the usual female belly dancers and two male dancers, one of whom was interestingly Asian and very supple. The other fellow was very imposing and reflected the Turkish style of dance with its almost aggressive and protective nature of the women. It was a great night to share with good friends and I think we all had a wonderful time. I would love to go back.

Incidentally, the best meal of the week was the one a dear friend prepared for me at her house when I had just landed. Home made chicken soup, with – wait for it – dumplings. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Man, it was good. It couldn’t have been better even if my mum had made it herself. Perfect timing, perfect flavours, perfect comfort food.

Well, that just about winds up the food of the first week. Stay tuned…

Kind Regards,

J.

P.S. The golden arches get everywhere but none so impressive as this one…