Life during COVID can feel stressful and isolating. So during this holiday season, responsible gatherings can be a soothing balm. We know the recent resurgence of the virus may curtail many plans, but small groups of vaccinated and tested friends and family can still come together to celebrate the gifts we still possess. One thing COVID has given us is a renewed focus on all the non-material abundance in our lives: family, friends, and co-workers.
Everything is harder in 2020, especially writing this end of year top ten. Every time I start to think back on the year, I feel like I am getting assaulted with everything we have faced this year. It is like being hit with snowball after snowball – in the face. I am sitting at my actual desk for the first time in months writing this, by myself, with just a small lamp, hot cup of tea, great music on, no distractions – the perfect setting to write a blog. I have been staring at my screen for 30 minutes and now have come back to trying to write this blog for three days. How do you put into words in a one-page blog what this year has been like? How do you explain surviving as a company in a year where you were forced to cease doing the very thing that your business is about? How do you properly recognize the resiliency and amazing teamwork our team has shown this year to survive?
It is so hard to believe that we are halfway through October and already thinking of Thanksgiving. One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is all the traditions and memories associated with the holiday. My job as a kid was to set the Thanksgiving table. I took this job very seriously. When I was about 7, I made salt dough turkey cut-outs and then hand-painted them with my sister and cousin. My mom still uses them at every place setting to this day. As I got older, I was in the kitchen with my mom all week leading up to the big day and those are some of my favorite memories cooking all day with my mom.
If you are like everyone else in the world — you love pizza. There is just something about the way this gooey, cheesy delight satisfies the mind, soul, and body.
It’s this universal love for pizza that has restaurants all over vying for the title of best pizza pie.
With so many different opinions, it would be impossible to claim which pizza eatery has the best pie out there. But there is one thing for sure — Chicago Pizza Oven & Grinder has mastered the pizza pot pie and made it on our list of Chicago restaurants we love!
This cash-only eatery sits inside a historic Chicago brownstone and is best known for its famous pizza pot pies.
Just as you would expect, the setting is intimate, cozy, and overwhelmed by the aroma of fresh pizzas.
There is limited seating inside so the wait for a table can be upwards of two hours — even if you go early! The hosts are old school and only take down names, remembering faces when tables are ready. Though this means no fancy pagers or text messages alerting you that a table is ready, it’s an intriguing experience to watch the host keep things going without a hitch.
By the time you sit down the urge to eat everything in sight is so strong that we recommend feeding your inner hunger monster with some of their fresh Mediterranean flatbread. The pizza pot pies take awhile to bake but the flatbread comes out quickly to satiate your hunger while you wait. It’s made from thin pita bread and topped with flaky cheese and fresh herbs.
The menu is short and sweet, offering the following:
(Photo credit: Chicago Pizza Oven & Grinder’s Facebook page)
The hamburger is an American staple and can be enjoyed at restaurants around the world. Many chefs have tried to master the ultimate burger but Au Cheval has the battle for best burger under wraps.
Chicago is a city known for exceptional cuisine and although Au Cheval has only been around since 2012, it has more than earned its reputation. Patrons will stand in line for hours just to taste what Bon Appetit and The Food Network call “America’s best burger”. The lines may be long but we promise, it’s worth the wait. Locals, tourists, foodies, and celebrities all agree that if you’re going to eat a burger in Chicago, this is the place to go.
The restaurant is set up like a diner with long countertops and an open kitchen concept, making guests feel right at home. The menu serves up classics—but with their own twist. Patron’s favorites include Au Cheval’s crispy potato hash with duck heart gravy, scrambled eggs with foie gras, and of course, the burger.
Photo Credit: Facebook/Au Cheval
The famed Au Cheval burger is simple: it’s the combination of and attention to detail with ingredients that make it so great. Each and every ingredient adds another layer of flavor, building it up to masterpiece status.
The patty is made with prime beef and is grilled to a perfect medium rare (don’t you dare ask for yours to be “well done”!). After the meat is sizzling hot, a layer of American cheese is melted between each patty. The cheesy burger is then placed onto a gently toasted bun, delivered fresh from Z Bakery and then toasted under the salamander-like broiler, on both sides.
Once you’ve got the basics covered, you can order your burger naked or dressed. If you opt for the “dressed” route, expect a final product that’s smothered in dijonnaise: a dangerously delicious sauce made of lemon juice, mayo, and dijon mustard.
If you are feeling fancy, you can even add on a fried egg (au cheval translates in French to “on horseback”, or in this case, refers to “a fried egg on top”), some thick-cut bacon, or three ounces of silky foie gras. You’ll also have the choice between a single (two patties) or a double (three patties). The burger sits high on its white throne, next to a crisp pickle. If you still have room left, give one of their thick, creamy floats a whirl.
Located at 800 W Randolph St., if the line doesn’t catch your eye, the smell certainly will. So, next time you find yourself in the windy city, add Au Cheval to your list of restaurants to visit.
