Hog Butcher of the World
Am I showing my age that I even know that quote... much less that it refers to Chicago?
Last week I was in the Windy City for some auditions. Yes... even when we actors have a job, we need to be on the lookout for the next one... And I got to spend some time with my great friend Nick, and watch him play Christian in Cyrano. On Nick's day off, he indulged me in my favorite way of seeing any new city: we walked for HOURS!
Found a fun little spice shop in Old Town... but I have to say, nothing beats Penzeys to my mind for flavor, freshness, selection... OK, they aren't the cheapest, but the prices are good, especially given the high quality.
The architecture in Chicago boggles my mind. I think I expected a NYC clone... Boy, was I wrong. A little London, a little Paris, some Boston and Denver... All filtered through a solid Midwestern massiveness. It all adds up to something I was not prepared for.
Most intriguing... I'm pretty sure I'll find a way to return.
We weren't eating out... We just shopped and cooked... So we'd have more time to talk...
A wonderful pea and sautéed mushroom risotto one night, and a variation on a TOC recipe (pasta with minced cauliflower, garlic, smoked paprika, and Parmesan) on another. And a great Asian dish... that I'll post for you to try at home!