HG has always enjoyed Chicago food. When SJ lived there, excellent son led HG/BSK to wonderful eating experiences. Now closed, Soul Kitchen served splendid oysters and the best ever shrimp and grits adorned with fried sage leaves. Cafe Ba Ba Reeba pleasured HG with hearty blood sausage (morcilla)and cannelloni with tuna and a creamy vinaigrette. Funky Korean and Mexican joints. And, Frontera, refined Mexican cooking. SJ/HG/BSK were not fond of Chicago’s deep dish pizza. Allegiance was to New York and New Jersey. Street food was sublime. The two famous (deserved) examples are the Chicago Hot Dog (Vienna Brand frankfurter, yellow mustard, green pickle relish, pickle spear, tomato wedges, pickled sport peppers, dash of celery salt) and the Italian Beef Sandwich (slices of Vienna brand beef with a lush brown gravy enriched with Worcestershire Sauce, wine and bacon fat). These good things are tasty but messy. Cover up when eating. A tarp would be helpful. When in Chicago on business, HG ate often at traditional Gene & Georgetti. “Garbage Salad” to start (shrimp, onions, tomatoes, garlic, olives, etc.). Main dish was calf’s liver grilled medium rare and accompanied by thick-cut bacon, fried onions and garlic mashed potatoes. Finale was grappa. Happy memories.
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