#Chicago Restaurants
Text
A vintage brochure for Cap'n Nemo's giant party subs, from Chicago, unearthed in the papers of my wife's late uncle. It's such a great thing that he preserved this for future generations. Does anyone know what year this is from?
17 notes
·
View notes
Text
Unwrapping Tradition: Ryan Bluestone on Chicago's Top 5 Iconic Food Gifts
Ryan Bluestone notes in the vibrant tapestry of Chicago's culinary landscape, some food gifts transcend the realm of mere edibles and become iconic representations of the city's rich gastronomic heritage. Join us on a delectable journey as we unwrap the stories behind Chicago's top five iconic food gifts—delights that not only please the palate but also encapsulate the essence of the Windy City's culinary prowess.
1. Garrett Popcorn Shops (Multiple Locations)
Ryan Bluestone explains that since 1949, Garrett Popcorn Shops has been a Chicago institution. Founded by a Chicago female entrepreneur by the name of Gladys Garret, a gift of Garrett’s Popcorn is a true Chicago tradition. Renowned for its irresistible mix of sweet and savory flavors, the Garrett Mix—caramel and cheese popcorn—is a signature blend that has become synonymous with Chicago snacking, capturing hearts and taste buds alike.Garrett’s has festive tins that can be shipped to your entire Holiday list.
2. Portillo's Hot Dogs (Multiple Locations)
With humble beginnings in Villa Park in 1963, Dick Portillo's eponymous hot dog stand has grown into a Chicagoland empire. Famed for its Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and chocolate cake shakes, Portillo's iconic food gifts can be cold-packed and shipped. Ryan Bluestone believes they embody the city's love affair with hearty, classic comfort foods.
3. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (Multiple Locations)
Established in 1971 by the Malnati family, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria has become a Chicago pizza legend. Loved for its deep-dish pizza with a buttery, flaky crust, Lou Malnati's has turned pizza into an art form. The Malnati Chicago Classic, with its signature sausage and vine-ripened tomato sauce, is a must-try that has solidified the pizzeria's fame. Lou’s can also be shipped.
4. Al's Italian Beef (Multiple Locations)
In 1938, Albert Ferrari opened the first Al's Italian Beef stand in Chicago. Since then, Al's has become a go-to spot for the city's iconic Italian beef sandwiches. Slow-cooked beef, thinly sliced and piled high on a roll, and the option to add "hot" or "sweet" peppers make the Italian beef sandwich a celebrated Chicago food gift. Al’s ships sandwich kits and merchandise through Gold Belly and Ryan Bluestone can’t recommend this gift enough.
5. Eli's Cheesecake (Dunning)
Founded by Eli Schulman in 1980, Eli's Cheesecake has become a sweet symbol of Chicago indulgence. The Original Plain Cheesecake, known for its velvety texture and rich flavor, is a classic favorite. Eli's Cheesecake is a staple in the city's dessert scene, making it a cherished food gift for both locals and visitors. Eli’s website has multiple mouth-watering, traditional cakes as well as gluten-free and plant-based options.
As Ryan Bluestone wrap up our exploration of Chicago's iconic food gifts, it's clear that these culinary treasures are delicious representations of the city's history, culture, and culinary innovation. Whether it's the addictive mix from Garrett Popcorn Shops, the comfort of Portillo's hot dogs, the indulgence of Lou Malnati's deep-dish pizza, the savory satisfaction of Al's Italian Beef, or the sweet elegance of Eli's Cheesecake, each food gift tells a story of Chicago's diverse and delicious offerings. These iconic treats aren't just enjoyed; they're shared, gifted, and celebrated, making them a unique and enduring part of the Chicago food experience.
#chicago food#ryan bluestone#chicago#food reviews#foodie#ryan hunter blueston#chicago restaurants#iconic
0 notes
Text
Status in a restaurant kitchen
Interesting nuances in food preparation status in a large restaurant kitchen closely observed by a sociologist in the 1940s.
The status hierarchy in a restaurant kitchen depends on a variety of factors. Skill is clearly one of them, but, historically — if not currently — there have been others, some of them surprising.
In 1944 and 1945 sociologist William Foote Whyte spent time observing kitchens in a number of Chicago restaurants. To one of them he gave the fictional name “The Mammoth” because of the size of its…
View On WordPress
0 notes
Photo
A splendid meal at Jaleo on July 4th. We were able to take advantage of their Sangria Hour all day due to the holiday, but it’s worth checking out because there are a lot of good drinks and then you can splurge on more elaborate tapas like the calamari with squid in allioli and Iberico sliders.
1 note
·
View note
Text
cdmx recs?
#okay chicago trip fell through but booked a trip to méxico mágico ofc#looking for restaurant recs and bar/clubs o cualquier otra cosita that yall think i should check out!!#excited to visit clothing stores tooo since last years mexifiasco con ex mutuals 🙄#also sooo emocionada de celebrar mine and mich's bdays together in person 💖#i don't wanna rely on tiktok for recs so plsss lmk yall <3#catch me and mich en chapu con esos changuitos on our heads
152 notes
·
View notes
Text
102 notes
·
View notes
Note
SAM SAM SAM CORNER BAKERY JUST FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY
This is, pun intentional, so delicious.
For those of you who may be new, my feud with Corner Bakery goes back at least a decade at this point because they kept selling me food that made me sick. But the reason this is delicious is not that I am witnessing the fall of a worthy foe -- it's because I think this confirms my theories about its business model, since Corner Bakery explicitly failed because a) trends were shifting before the pandemic and b) Corner Bakery lost revenue that other places didn't due to people working from home.
My theory has always been that Corner Bakery's model was to situate itself in places where there were no other strong options. Corner Bakeries tend to exist in business districts or tourist districts where people are just far enough away from other good food options to make a reasonably priced soups-and-sandwiches place look appealing. They went into museums, or near museums and other tourist destinations, where the other options were either very high-end or McDonalds. Their locations in Chicago's downtown are near skyscrapers full of people who want fresh, "healthy" food quickly on their lunch break but don't want a grocery-store sandwich.
And then they serve the absolute cheapest, poorest-prepared food possible. Tiny expensive bags of cheap chips, the lowest-quality deli meats and condiments, gross bread used even after it goes stale, elderly veggies used after they start wilting. The last time I got a sandwich there, it was made with the heels of the bread, unripe avocado, and deli turkey that was uncomfortably wet. The last time I ate there ever, I got food poisoning from a slice of lemon pound cake.
I didn't know that this was true but I suspected it, and the coverage seems to be confirming that their brand of swindle, which was highly vulnerable to a drop in tourism, turns out to have been even more vulnerable to mass work-from-home than most restaurant chains.
Corner Bakery traded explicitly on the desperation of the people it served and made me sick multiple times before I stopped eating there. Good riddance, I hope its holding company lets it die completely, and I'm going to take credit for it personally if it does. :D
312 notes
·
View notes
Text
Watching people argue over tipping culture is just wild because the only two arguments presented are "pay the servers a living wage to begin with" and "servers actually make like 40$ an hour and you're killing them by guaranteeing a wage instead of letting them get tips."
My ass was queer in the South working at an IHOP making $2.14 an hour and going home with about 35$ a SHIFT on average, and it was NOT because I didn't do a good job. I had no idea I was queer at the time, I just had short hair and by god that was enough. Everyone else could smell it on me. My coworkers were pulling in 80, 100 every time I turned around and I was in college killing myself over paychecks that didn't cover my gas for the whole week. I begged to be allowed to host because they got the guaranteed $7.50 an hour.
I think it's stupid that restaurants are inflating prices by adding 20%-plus gratuities on checks and then saying that's not a tip. Like, I don't think this is being handled well and it feels like malicious compliance/like customers are meant to resent the servers and the idea of a fair wage for them, but I very much believe servers should not be paid a base rate of subminimum wage. That shit fucking sucks.
Your personality and your human face being the basis by which people decide if you eat tonight or make your rent is some horseshit. That's the bottom line.
#would i have had this issue in chicago? probably not!#was I in chicago? no.#I was in a college town in georgia and the fact that it was a college town meant I was ONLY passively aggressioned#instead of outright harrassed at every turn#working at ihop and the mexican restaurant was 'perform femininity correctly or starve'#and it shouldn't fucking be like that#(well. perform it correctly or pray you had more queer/kind folks than church folks coming to dinner)
71 notes
·
View notes
Text
Sydney & Carmy -Make you happy.
I love this episode soooo much and I know it's been mentioned before. But I just need to say why I love it. It's because I adore the last song- To Make You Happy by Tommy Mcgee. It's just the perfect song beside Strange Currencies to tell us of Carmy's perspective.
Carmy's quote in Al-anon.
"I think when I was a kid, anything that would give me any sort of excitement or amusement or enjoyment always got kind of fucked..I don't think they did it on purpose; sometimes, they'd try too hard or make promises they wouldn't be able to keep.
Carmy is in the role of his family. Although he wants to provide for Sydney, his search for amusement leaves Sydney in disappointment and sadness at his broken promise.
It's a time when she's deep in thought, alone at a place representing happiness and nostalgia. It is a chapter in her life where she should feel joy, but Carmy's absence leaves her downhearted.
What makes Sydney happy is Carmy. If only Carmy realized he was enough. I hope he sees the meaning behind the desire to see a smile on her face, the same smile when they first met, and when she decided to stay by his side.
That means I love you
and all I wanna do is make you happy...
#fun fact margie's candies is marked as a hot date spot in chicago#here sydney is alone#not feeling the closeness she desires- and she yet to realize why she wants his focus#because the last time she saw pure joy on his face is when she came back in 1x08#carmy needs to realize why he wants to make her happy. you love her you fool#it's not about the star the restaurant or the money. it's about spending time together#the bear is a love story#sydcarmy#the bear#the bear fx#your honor it's love#the bear is a love stoey
87 notes
·
View notes
Text
headcanon for sydcarmy that I've had for months now that i was reminded of rewatching Fools Rush In yesterday (rip Matthew Perry) and reading @ambeauty 's new fanfic.
i love the unplanned pregnancy trope with them and also the idea that they would do every milestone backwards or hit them super fast in terms of their relationship. hear me out
what i love about sydney and carmy is how intense they are about each other while not knowing each other for that long. carmy spends braciole acting like a heartbroken widower and ends the episode by planning on revamping his family restaurant with a girl he's only known for a couple months. the restaurant dream he thought died with his brother, the person he loved the most (woah). while sydney is her most emotionally vulnerable with a guy she barely knows (and physically too, i.e the hug after the fire suppression test and the table scene) and constantly gives him second chances when he doesn't deserve them.
they are weird and intense about each other even with all these platonic and professional boundaries they put in place.
in my mind that is rotting from tumblr and ao3, when those boundaries disappear they will do the relationship shit on speed drive. oops they get pregnant after a few months of dating or a situationship. whats having a baby when you have a restaurant? they are already the mom and dad of the bear!
they would elope randomly on a tuesday afternoon after dating for a couple months bc they practically eat sleep live and breathe each other every single day anyways? carmy tells syd he doesn't want to wait when he already knows she's it for him. syd says he's crazy but she may just be crazier for agreeing (also grew up with hearing her parents love story who got married super young and fast so why cant she?)
oh they just started dating a few days ago? syd moves in or they start looking for new places. shes already here all the time when they menu plan. carmy already buys her fave snacks, subscribes to a couple streaming services for the first time bc syd loves to binge-watch shows, and has a couple of her scarves laying around.
and i love that this could go really bad, how intense and how much they love each other (bc im an angst enjoyer) or most likely really great bc these two losers want to practically live in each other's skin and make each other better.
side note: after watching fools rush in again...need a sydcarmy au bc the premise of two people from different cultures, values and perspectives foolishly rushing into a big thing like opening a restaurant having a baby is so them!
#the bear#sydcarmy#sydney x carmy#no no like hear me out#the berzattos are rich and affluent family who own a chain of fine dining restaurants all around the world and carmy has to go back#to chicago to open up another where he meets sydney#they have a one night stand syd runs off after and come back after 3 months bc shes pregnant!#i think a lot of the story would have to be changed in this fic since their personalities are different from alex and isobel but it can wor#....i have ideas#alex and isobel also elope in the movie they get married at one of those elvis chapels dksfhksfj#everyone should watch this movie its underated and matthew is hilarious
72 notes
·
View notes
Text
I haven’t been to ANY of them? I guess I’m really out of it when it comes to the Chicago restaurant scene these days.
seems ridiculous that I could have visited that city 40 times and never been to any of these, but probably only 3 of those visits were in the last 10 years. I’ve certainly seen the city change in a lot of ways over the course of my life, and seen it stay the same too.
0 notes
Text
Chicago officials are considering raising the minimum wage for tipped employees as part of a proposal that could alter the restaurant industry.
Last month, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proposed an ordinance that would put the city's minimum wage for tipped employees on the same level as non-tipped employees. The bill has been cosponsored by 25 members of Chicago City Council.
The current minimum wage in Chicago is $15.80 per hour for those who work at companies with 21 or more employees and $15 an hour for those working for businesses with 4-20 workers. The city's minimum wage is adjusted for inflation.
Currently, tipped employees are entitled to $9.48 per hour with larger companies and $9 per hour at smaller businesses.
[Read the rest]
111 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
bilmyfuture
luchi
bilmyfuture
luchi
moceit
Secret Dates In The Woods
skovgaardproctor40
The Journey of Solis 121
