Eleven City Diner 2.0

Just look at that motzoh ball!

All the talk of Eleven City Diner yesterday, combined with still feeling a little under the weather, meant that I had to pay a visit today. In the process, I gathered a bit more information. First, upon perusing their menu for orange juice (they have fresh squeezed, and it was marvelous) I noticed that they have a menu item named the 'Tom Waits 2am Breakfast 1987: 2 Eggs, 2 Flapjacks, 2 Bacon, 2 Sausage, House Potatoes." They also have a photo of Tom Waits up behind the bar. I asked about it while I was waiting for my orange juice, and while the guy behind the bar seemed slightly confused by my interest, he said that the owner had met Tom Waits at a diner around 2am and that's what he was eating. This officially makes Eleven City Diner the coolest diner ever. Just so you know.

I also noticed that I like their menu design. The Rx marks by the chicken soup are cute.

Upon closer inspection (they are now employing labels) the freezer contains chicken broth, not chicken stock (labeled Chicken Soup but it's broth). Still, quite handy, especially since the broth is very good. And their coffee supplier is Lavazza (although I'm pretty sure that it was previously Intelligentsia).

I'm so HOT!

That was an homage to Paris, but I meant feverish. My boyfriend is sick with a cold that he has apparently shared. I knew something was up today when 1) I wasn't hungry and 2) I was finding the office unpleasantly sauna-like and no one else was complaining. I'm very rarely not hungry and I'm even more rarely hot. I almost gave myself heat exhaustion once because I was riding my bike around Chicago oblivious to the fact that it was over a 100°F outside (thankfully I was keen enough to realize that I shouldn't be feeling cold).


photo: Julia Steinberger, CitySearch

I still don't have much of an appetite, but I thought it would be a good time to post my favorite sources of get-well food. If I'm at work and not feeling so hot, I crave Bubbie's Chicken Soup with a huge matzoh ball at Eleven City Diner. As I live in the Second City, not the first, I'm not so familiar with what makes a good Jewish deli, but I imagine that Eleven City Diner fits the bill. The restaurant side is reminiscent of an old style diner, although a little more upscale and a good place for a comfortable business lunch. The deli side (the side I frequent) has a case filled with smoked salmon, deli meats, side salads and some of the best bagels I've had outside of my Baking and Pastry class. There's also a freezer case filled with homemade soup and homemade chicken stock! I haven't tried it yet, but I was very impressed that they sell homemade stock. Centerstage gives it a rave review and mentions that you can get phosphates and egg creams from a trained soda jerk, and that they have great Espresso drinks (they sell Intelligentsia) and desserts.


photo:planet99

If I'm at home, I often order tom yum soup with seafood, rice paper spring rolls and steamed rice from Thai Aroma (via GrubHub) or Thai Avenue. This is a meal I order on a regular basis, not just when I'm sick, but the spiciness of the tom yum soup is great for a cold and it's light but filling. I'm trying to perfect this meal at home, but my first attempt was less than stellar. When I've got it down, I'll post it here.

For now, Gilmore Girls is over, Veronica Mars is being DVR'ed, and a margarita at Fiesta Mexicana sounds divine. It comes with a lime in it—citrus is good for colds, right?

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Photo by Ben Nunez.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Despite having spent the past 6 years living in a neighborhood with a large Asian population, I know very little about Chinese New Year. A close friend of mine, Chao, is Chinese, and if he weren't currently in Hong Kong, I would grill him for information for this post.

According to Wikipedia, "Chinese New Year, known in Chinese as the 'Spring Festival' or the 'Lunar New Year,' is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. The festival proper begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival." The Lunar New Year dates from 2600 BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

I know that many Asian cultures celebrate some version of Chinese New Year. My neighborhood is primarily Vietnamese and Thai, but they have they're own smaller parade (the big parade is in Chinatown).

I had Dim Sum in Chinatown with Chao about a week ago (Shui Wah is Chao's pick for Dim Sum), and we paid a brief visit to a local grocery store before we left the neighborhood. It was filled with red decorations and gold statues that are the traditional lucky symbols of the celebration.

Food, of course, is integral to Chinese New Year, and specific dishes are eaten to bring luck, wealth and happiness. The traditions seem to vary, but Wikipedia lists the following:

• Fish: Usually eaten on the eve of Chinese New Year. The pronunciation of fish makes it a homophone for "more than enough," or "extra."
• Nian gao: Popular in eastern China (Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai) because its pronunciation is a homophone for "a more prosperous year."
• Dumplings (Jiaozi): Eaten traditionally in northern China because the preparation is similar to packaging luck inside the dumpling, which is later eaten.
• Candy: To ensure the consumer a "sweet" year.
• Kwatji/Sunflower, Pumpkin or Melon Seeds: To some, these ensure happiness in the New Year
• Turnip/Taro cakes: I don't know what these symbolize, but they're my favorite!