Soups On!

Now that the winter weather has arrived, I am searching for the best soups in Chicago.  I decided to start with the best ramen, a Japanese noodle soup.  After a quick internet search, and being limited by places that are open for lunch, I set my sights on "Oiistar."  It is located in Bucktown and owned by a Korean chef.  The reviews seemed somewhat mixed but on the whole pretty good - what stands out for me is that the ramen dishes are playful though still hearty.  Here is what I ordered:

The vegetarian ramen



A pork shoulder hot bun and a side of kimchi







What I liked about the dishes:  (1) the ramen came with an abundance of vegetables, the most notable was the portabella mushrooms; (2) the tofu was well cooked; (3) the bun was perfectly steamed; (4) the sauce on the bun was tasty; and (5) the kimchi was divine - some of the best I've had.

What I did not like about the dishes:  (1) the soup was WAY too greasy -you could see the oil pooling on the top as you ate - yuck; (2) the vegetables were too crunchy (except for the lettuce which was a surprisingly nice touch); (3) the broth was underwhelming in taste and spice - very forgettable; (4) the pork belly was too fatty (some might say that it is supposed to be but I have had and liked good pork belly (thank you Avec!) and this was not good pork belly; (5) everything made you want to drink a TON of water - not a good sign of sodium intake and it makes a girl feel bloated - a no no; (6) too expensive; and finally and most importantly (7) the noodles stuck together - you expect that as the dish is served but as you chop and scoop away at it, the noodles should gracefully separate.

So, my opinion overall, skip it.  I'll keep looking for the best ramen and be sure to pass along the info!  Any suggestions are appreciated!  I promise an unbiased, white girl palate.  Until next time, SAHM!

It Takes a Village to Fight the Democratic Machine

Last week, my husband and I attended several political events as March 2014 brings a new election cycle.  The first event was very nice.  It was held in a refurbished bank with ornate ceilings, marble floors, a great spread of Italian food, and an open bar.  We went to support an Asian American friend of ours who hosted the event and because several Asian Americans running for office were present and we want to support their campaigns.  Several prominent political figures (none of whom are Asian) spoke at the event and highlighted what is blindingly obvious -- that at a political event featuring Asian Americans, there is not a single Asian American to speak of in either the Illinois House or Senate.  WTF?????!!!!!  How can a whole population of people be not simply under-represented, but completely UN-represented???  Fear not, the Asian community is throwing hats in the ring (both of whom are female may I add!).  You go girls, and as you go, we are here to introduce you to people with both power AND money.  Ka-ching!  Here are a few photos from that event:

The beautiful venue

The hubby (on the right) getting "chatted up."  Note, not a good idea to
cross one's arms when talking politics.  It gives a sense of mistrust. A no-no.




From this event, we headed to another political event, though the two could not be more dissimilar.  My husband and I support our local candidate for State Representative, Will Guzzardi, running in the March primary against the democratic machine-backed, Toni Berrios.  I know Ms. Berrios as I worked for the Speaker of the Illinois House a while back.  So, I can say with full faith that Ms. Berrios is an absolute HACK.  She is the physical embodiment of everything that is wrong with Illinois politics.  Her father, democratic powerhouse Joe Berrios, is known not only to employ his relatives, but also known to direct democratic-machine money and manpower to his relatives' campaigns.  And what do you know, undoubtedly they win!  But, that is not the worst of it (you know - winning without having to campaign or raise your own money). The worst of it is... she does NOTHING to earn her salary.  The woman is there to party with her Latino mates and, every now and then, stand up on the floor and read from a sheet of paper prepared by "handlers."  I know this because I witnessed it.  I am fairly certain that Ms. Berrios does not know how a bill becomes a law and very well may not be able to properly pronounce the term "legislation."  That is just the tip of the iceberg.  So, Mr. Guzzardi fights a VERY steep uphill battle in trying to unseat the VERY large-seated, Ms. Berrios.  Enough of that, though.  In contrast to the earlier political event, Mr. Guzzardi's campaign headquarters is sparsely furnished and plastered with heavily markered poster signs.  The food was homemade by constituents (such as meatballs on paper plates and cheese cut up into uneven pieces).  The wine was pour-it-yourself.  The beer was donated by neighbors.  It was grassroots!  And it was great!  Wonderful energy!  Crazy zealous constituents! Not a single prominent politician in sight!  It felt like a campaign should - by the people and for the people.  Here are a few pictures from the event:

We ended our night stepping out into a wonderful Fall rain.  It felt good to know we support causes and people we believe in, even on the rainiest of evenings.  Until next time, SAHM.

The Search for the Best Cuban Sandwich

Today I had lunch with my friend, Maureen, at 90 Miles Cuban Café.  This is a great place right in my hood.  It has a superb patio and a "bring your own rum for mojitos" policy that can get a little crazy. Today, I ordered "The Cubano," which is a classic Cuban sandwich served on pressed French bread with ham, roast pork, swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard.  Here is their version:

It was delicious, but it left me wanting for a little more flavor.  I wasn't gonna send it back or anything - I mean a girl has to eat.  Next time though, I will probably go for one of the steak chimichurri dinners.  I also ordered an empanada because if a Cuban place can't make a good empanada, walk out.  I got the "Ropa Vieja," which is shredded beef, peppers, and onions slow cooked in a creole sauce with some sort of green yumminess served on the side.  Here it is:

It was THE BEST empanada I have ever had!!!!  Oh my goodness, you must try it before you die.  It is THAT good. So folks, in search of the best sandwich, I found the best empanada.  I'll take it!  Until next time, SAHM.

Biggie the Big Baby

So, this is Biggie, the dog.  He was rescued by my friend, Maureen (see above), from some gangbangers that left him out in the pouring rain with no shelter.  Isn't he a fantastic dog??!!!!!  And he is the biggest baby of a pooch you will ever meet.  Today I helped (and by help I mean watched) bathe Biggie because tomorrow he is headed to his new forever home.  I like days like today because I get a glimpse of the softer side of humanity - folks coming together to rescue and place a dog most people would have nothing to do with both because of his size and his history.  Big kisses to you, Biggie, and may life grant you endless days of bone chewing, genital licking, and lots of giant poops!  Until next time, SAHM.