Chicago offers so many types of tasty food choices. The restaurants entice us with their culinary wonders. Everything from pizza (of course!) to Italian beef sandwiches to hot dogs. Those favorites and more make Chicago a go-to place for delicious eats.
I’m not going to go into the finer side of dining. For instance, the city boasts steak-houses with mouth-watering cuts of beef. There’s Asian cuisine. Eastern European dishes. Mediterranean delights featuring seafood and fresh vegetables lovingly seasoned with oregano and fresh lemon.
Oooh, the list can go on and on.
We all have our favorites. For example, one afternoon my brother phoned me at work…
“I’m catching an afternoon plane from Orange County airport to O’Hare,” he announced. “Can you meet me for dinner tonight at Pizzeria Uno?”
“Of course,” was my immediate reply. After all, what was there to consider? Any other plans I had for the evening were scratched. After all, my brother was coming to town. And I couldn’t resist a deep dish pizza baked in a black pan with high sides to hold in all the goodness.
Uno’s unique crust does it to me every time. Of course, the sausage and melted mozzarella cheese sitting under a layer of tomato sauce makes it all blend together into a rich and delicious delight.
Looks like it’s going to be a two-slice night!
So Much To Choose From…
I once dated a fella who was born and raised in Chicago. Trouble was, he moved to Minnesota and immediately started missing his old favorites.
When he’d visit me in Chicago, we had to make stops at White Castle. Connie’s Pizza. Bruna’s Ristorante (one of my favs). The Palace Grill (another favorite). It was a food free-for-all the entire weekend he was in town!
When I complained that I had to slow down on the restaurant menus since my jeans were getting tight, he argued that he had to grab all his favorite foods while he was in town. “There’s no places like this back in Minnesota,” he assured me.
Chicago Is Tops
Chicago’s beef sandwiches are so extraordinary, FX even created a television series – The Bear – based on the allure of those savory, iconic meals. Sure, the TV show won 11 Emmy awards. But what truly brought viewers to watch the program in the first place?
The BEEF SANDWICH!
My Mom Is No Different
Last summer my mom visited for a few weeks. It’s no secret she loves her Italian beef sandwiches. Since she moved to Florida in the early 2000’s, she has yet to discover a comparable joint that will compare to Chicago’s tender juicy local favorite, filled with just the right amount of seasoning and a gravy-soaked bun.
We picked her up one evening, after she’d spent a couple days visiting a dear pal of hers.
“Hey, Mom,” I offered. “We’re gonna stop for a bite to eat on the way home. Are you interested?”
“Oh, I’m not hungry,” my mom wearily replied from the back seat of our car.
“Okay, but we’re stopping for Italian beef sandwiches,” I slowly teased her.
Mom quickly sat up in her seat. “Well, okay, let’s go!” she sang out.
Since I know better than to interfere with my mom’s wishes, we headed straight to the nearest restaurant, replete with the standard fast-food menu. Italian beef. Hot dogs. Fries. Pepper sandwiches. Italian sausage.
And I’m happy to report that Chicago’s classic fare did not disappoint us that evening.
Now… who’s hungry for lunch???
Thank you for reading – PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST
PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST 