Leno's Sandwich Shop

-The Sammy's of Chi

Today we head north up the lake into Waukegan to visit a longtime locals favorite of those from Lake County. Leno's Sandwich Shop has been a part of the neighborhood since 1970 when they first opened up shop. There isn't much on this old school sandwich shop on the WWW but I was always intrigued by it when I would pass by and have stopped in twice over the last couple years. Now I have some stuff to share here.


a longtime locals favorite in Waukegan, IL

Each time I visited Leno's I enjoyed the fact that the others who were in there getting food for themselves were happy to be there. All of them were regulars and that's a good sign to start with. Leno's does an assortment of sandwiches that come served cold although hot ones are on offer too. These are submarines and from what I can gather they seem like they've been making them the same since day one. That has its pros and cons but if anything it gets them longtime customers. People who want a taste of their childhood, to be brought back to those days when they were care free. If they grew op on Leno's they can still have that.


The Original Leno Sub

It's got it's cons because they seem to be using the same meats they have since day one. I guess this is what keeps the regulars coming back but the meats on the original sub I tried didn't do it for me. They had that old school deli meat taste that those a generation ahead of me enjoyed in their youth. The kind of meats that came on the ham and bologna your mom made for you for school when you were in 5th grade. The Original which is their most popular comes with ham, turkey and bologna with the regular toppings of lettuce, tomato, onions (red) and their special sauce on the side. They make great homemade soups and some really good potato salad too.

Homemade Potato Salad

The original sub at Leno's may not be my style but there is a unique sub there that I love. Its their salami and cream cheese sandwich which comes served warm by request. The salami is the normal grade school quality stuff but it works so well with the melted cream cheese. You don't need fancy salumi from Italy to make this good. It reminds me of those old flour tortilla roll up's my mom and others used to make with cream cheese and salami inside. The special sauce served with sandwiches here seems to me to be just Italian salad dressing and it works great with the rest of the toppings and ingredients. This is a sub I'll stop in for when near there.


Leno's hot salami and cream cheese sandwich...count me a fan!

Leno's Sandwich Shop
1826 Grand Avenue
Waukegan, IL 60085
(847) 244-7320
Website

5 More Coney Shops

-Coney's Across America

Happy Hot Dog Month to all. To celebrate this July I decided to show some love to five more of America's old time Coney Island Hot Dog Stands. These places are fading away so in our ongoing series we visit five which still survive. Despite the name of this popular style of hot dog being a "Coney Dog" these have nothing to do with Coney Island, New York where Joey Chestnut reigns supreme. America's first Coney shop was and still is in Jackson, Michigan. That's the state where Coney's are King and they seem to be much more prevalent in the Midwest than anywhere else. According to a few stories on the internet including one on Todoroff's website, George Todoroff founded the Jackson Coney Island restaurant on east Michigan avenue in 1914.

Todoroff's in Jackson, Michigan (For Sale) Pic from LTHforum

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Jackson Coney Island (Jackson, MI)

Todoroff's which is now for sale, was later started by his great grandson who's dad and grandpa also owned Coney shops around town. With Jackson being the birthplace of the Coney, there are plans for a 100th anniversary Coney Dog celebration coming in 2014. I'd like to be there to celebrate. I stopped into Toderoff's last summer and was sad to see it and its cool building closed. I didn't know then that theres still two more Coney shops around town. I stopped back around there later this past November.


Since 1914

I went in intrigued to try the Jackson style Coney which is a dry based sauce. Inside it was your typical Coney Island hot dog shop with a counter and a few booths with some local town characters sitting at them. Hot dogs were cooking in the window as is tradition. In this case the windows were loaded with grease. Just one Coney with everything (mustard, onions) for me since this stop was just a pre-Detroit snack. I'm unsure what the relation is now between the Jackson Coney Island and the Todoroff's but I would guess the recipe came with the purchase each time it's been sold.


Coney Dog from Jackson Coney Island

Not bad, not great. Pretty much the same taste result of every old Midwest Coney shop I've stopped in at yet I still love them all. I did however determine that I much prefer the Jackson and Flint Michigan dry style of sauce to that of Detroit and their wet style. Just like a few other places out there including the dueling two spots in Detroit, there's another competing Coney shop right down the block.
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Virgina Coney Island (Jackson, MI)

Not directly next door like they are in Detroit but the Virginia Coney Island is just down the block from the Jackson. There used to be a third on the block called the New York Lunch but that one is long gone. Imagine a day when three Coney Island hot dog shops could compete on the same block? It's amazing that two still do.


Since 19?? Anyone out there know?

I don't have much info on the Virginia except that they wanted to make sure people know that there was not a man banned from there like was first being reported this past June. I assume they came onto the scene to challenge the Jackson at some point after that opened. It's certainly been around and they had a few regulars in there making double digit orders of Coney's for their tables. It had an authentic feel to it just like Jackson did.

As always, the Coney's on display in front

The sauce I thought was a little better on this one but the onions had a chemical like taste. It was pretty unpleasant but I guess they've always been like that. Maybe they come cut when delivered from the supplier and because of that have an off flavor to them. The biggest reason both of these places were ok was the wiener itself. Nothing special and most certainly not a Koegel's natural casing hot dog like those they use at Lafayette and American Coney in Detroit which are still the best on a Coney I've had. Nonetheless I really enjoyed my visit to both these shops.


Virgina Coney Island Hot Dog
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The "new" Coney Island (Springfield, IL)


Since 1919

One day a few years back I was bored while riding around Springfield waiting for my buddy to be done with work. Of course I was riding around exploring what there was to eat. Located right near the Illinois state capitol building down there is a long time Coney Island shop. The "new" Coney Island in Springfield has been around a while. It seemed as though a local Tex-Mex type place bought this Coney Stand that claimed existence since 1919. They started serving Ameri-Mex type meals there along with the original menu at some point since. I got a coney with cheese but should have without. I used to get them with but not anymore. I liked the coney sauce but the cheese was horseshoe like. Springfield loves their processed cheese.


Coney w/ Cheese from The New Coney Island Restaurant
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Jimmie's Coney Island (Gary, IN)


Since 1973

Gary, Indiana is a place that fascinates me. Everytime I ride thru I wonder what it once was like when I see all the urban decay and long gone businesses with signs from another era still hanging. The boyhood home of Michael Jackson is about the only reason people passing thru may stop into Gary these days. At one point Gary had quite the Coney dog culture and we've reviewed the Koney King (Since 1920) here before. Jimmie's Coney Island in Gary is different from most of the rest in that it's relatively new by Coney stand terms. Since 1973 this place has been around. I don't know how much longer it will remain but I'm glad here today that I can say I have been. Not the best ever but an experience in that your eating in an area where most people wouldn't get out of their car. The people here were super friendly so get over yourselves.


Coney Dogs from Jimmie's Coney Island
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Louie's Coney Island (Kokomo, IN)

On a recent trip to Indianapolis for some super eats last winter we took a roundabout way back to Chicago thru Kokomo Indiana. To those that are asking, a detour thru Kokomo? I know, lets just say that place isn't the paradise the Beach Boy's sang about. Unless their idea of the pearly gates was "a few bakes".


Since 1937

I have a sick addiction to old school Midwest Coney shops. I try to stop in at every and any I've read about online and Louie's was on my list. They've been around since 1937 when a local Greek guy opened up shop. As seen in the picture above, unlike most of the coney shops which are straight out of yesteryear, Louie's is in a new building, taking away the old time charm that the others possess. It's moved a few times, burned down and had a name change according to an online article however the Coneys and Bakes remain the same and it's an icon around that way.


a Bake (L) and a Coney (R)

They both look the same eh? So what the hell is a bake? Well let me tell ya. It's a spiced hamburger log. Huh? Yep it's unlike anything else I've tasted or seen. It's ground beef in tube form (casingless) that's secretly seasoned with a very unique combination of spices. The raw formed logs are then baked until cooked thru while bathing in a special sauce. Baked Hamburgers or "bakes" as the locals call them come served in a hot dog bun and topped with some gravy from the bake, coney sauce, mustard and onions. Cheese is extra and they're $1.40 each.

The "Bakes" baking away

Only a few folks from Louie's know exactly what goes into them. No they arent pleasant looking and they're definitely artery clogging but I like them. Marcus Hamburgers in Detroit is the closest thing I've seen to these but the taste between the two places is very different. Consistency wise, bakes are half hamburger, half hot dog. As far as taste goes, they taste like a bake! I guess that's why they're so treasured by those from Kokomo. Happy Hot Dog Month.


The insides
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Jackson Coney Island
615 East Michigan Avenue
Jackson, MI 49201
(517) 784-5622

Virginia Coney Island
649 East Michigan Avenue
Jackson, MI 49201
(517) 784-3256

Coney Island
219 South 5th Street
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 528-1193

Jimmie's Coney Island
3350 W 5th Avenue
Gary, IN 46406
(219) 944-1321

Louie's Coney Island
1700 East Hoffer Street
Kokomo, IN 46902
(765) 459-9649

The Italian Ice Scene

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
-Chicago's Summertime Snack

It's been a hot summer so far in Chicago and while that sucks for those without AC it's a good thing for the Italian Ice stands around the city. They open each spring ready to quench the palates of Chicagoans throughout each summer. It took me long enough but it seems as if each summer's past I would forget to do my Chicagoland Italian Ice round up. In the end all that it led too was me getting to document pretty much every one still around. Italian ice is as much a part of Chicago summers as the Cubs and White Sox are. Many people call it the cousin of gelato, I call it my favorite non alcoholic summertime snack. I've been eating it since my youth. I was always the kid who wanted Italian Ice rather than ice cream. So I present to you the best roundup on the internet of Italian Ice stands in the land where it's best. Chicago. Ya Philly I'm looking at you. Here are ten summertime stands that make this claim true.
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Mario's Italian Lemonade


An all time Chicago favorite on Taylor Street

It's only fitting that for the first stop we head over to Taylor street where many of the Italian immigrants who came to Chicago settled in at. Mario's has been a part of the neighborhood and now the entire city since the 1950's. It's a piece of Chicago. Mario's doesn't sell Italian ice they make Italian lemonade. All of it's flavors have some lemon in it. A distinct trait of Mario's lemonade is the fact that rinds of lemon come in each cup no matter which flavor you get.

Fresh fruit flavors

As is the case at all ice places there are certain flavors that are better than others. At Mario's its all about which signs are hanging up above the local high school kids taking your order. Which is another thing you count on from each ice stand in the city. They all give summertime jobs to high school students from the neighborhood. At Mario's the fruit cocktail and lemon are most popular I almost always go for the fruit cocktail mixed with either watermelon, cantaloupe or if its in season, peach. All these flavors not only include the lemon rinds but also fresh fruit from the specific flavor you get with fruit cocktail being apples and whatever else is around. It's all good.

Mario's Italian Lemonade

As far as value goes, Mario's is the best at that too. Who doesn't love the fact that their cups can be anything from comcast water tank cups like those at corporate offices or some random regional fast food chain? Many already consider it the best and only Italian ice place in town. I cant pick a best but Mario's is to Italian Ice what Al's Beef is to Italian Beef. It's of course fitting that both are across the street from each other. Making it one of the best and most authentic 1-2 punches in town. Mario's like Al's is the most unique in terms of flavor and each place has that classic old school atmosphere that's fading fast in Chicago. You can get a bucket of Mario's Lemonade served on ice to take back most anywhere in Chicagoland. At $8.50 sometimes I just get my own to spoon chunks out of as the hot summer days go by.


Container of Watermelon/Cantaloupe to go
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Tom and Wendee's

Over on Armitage just off Clybourn is a longtime favorite of mine and many others. Tom and Wendee's celebrated it's 20th year last summer and I've been going there since day one. Before I had a car this was one of my favorite places to ride my bike too and eat an ice at. It was a part of my childhood summers and now remains in my adulthood summers too. The place has remained the same since day one with a few things I remember from then that are no more now. They used to have a blueberry ice but parents hated the stains they created so they stopped making it. They also they used to have a microwave inside and sell frozen White Castle sliders.


A locals favorite (Incl. me) in Lincoln Park

Those sliders along with their fresh homemade Italian ice was a great day of snacking for me. The posters identifying the fruits of the world are still on the walls inside and the red raspberry and watermelon are the same as they ever were. Both are my favorites from here and to this day the best representation of each of those flavors around. Lots of real fruit. I dont like ice cream all that much because I'm not big on chocolate but other customers swear by T&W's chocolate and toffee flavors. Tom and Wendee's these days is now one of the old timers in the city. Deservedly so. One of the best in the game.

Watermelon ice from Tom and Wendee's

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Annette's Homemade Italian ice

Not too far from T&W's is Annette's Homemade Italian Ice. Like most other ice stands, Annette's is a summertime walk up window. Loved by people of all ages including local high school kids that grew up on it and young families new to the area about to make it a piece of there summer. It's run by a husband and wife team and they also serve ice cream, soft serve yogurt, shakes and such but if you don't get their Italian ice you're missing out.


Another locals favorite in Lincoln Park

Annette's just like Tom and Wendee's isn't cheap so some write it off because of the pricetag compared to other places but aside from the fact rent is ridiculous in Lincoln Park and it only makes it harder when your earning season is a few months long, they use real fruit. No artificially colored flavor syrups like you see on sno-cones are used here. The flavor list is long but if you see a flavor which you enjoy as a fruit get it. If you like tart fruits like grapefruit and blood orange, theirs are great. Others love the passion fruit and black cherry. I cant get enough of their Pear-Apple which is pretty much what I get every time I go here. It's so refreshingly addictive I could eat it out a bucket all day long on a hot summer day.

Blood Orange and Grapefruit Italian Ice from Annette's

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Anthony's Homemade Italian Ice

The next neighborhood over in Lakeview is another resident who's been around a while now. Anthony's was founded by a guy who owes me some money but that's for me and him. I wont hold the fact he's tried conning me into account here. Sorry but I'm real. No BS here. Originally over on Armitage avenue not far from where the two LP heavyweights are, Anthony's moved into Lakeview where the competition was none. What really helped though was when they started making their own homemade ice.


Locals favorite in Lakeview

Making homemade ice was the right move and now Anthony's serves the people walking up and down that part of Southport in the summertime. You cant get good real deal Italian ice in the freezer section of your grocery store aisle. It needs to be a certain consistency which is achieved with getting the temperature right and then working thru each batch of ice to make it smooth. Anthony's achieves these goals with great flavors like their black cherry, coconut and cantaloupe.

Cantaloupe Ice from Anthony's

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The IceBox

Over on Broadway the Soupbox has been serving soups to the people of the Lakeview area since 1995. The idea was to offer 12 different soups on those frigid cold days people needed something to warm themselves up. To make up for lost customers during the warm months, Soupbox expands during the summer months to the Icebox. They still serve the soups year round which are popular during the winter but I find their summertime Italian ice to be much better.


a Locals favorite on Broadway in Lakeview

Icebox uses real fruit in many and most of if not all their flavors. The nice thing about Italian ice stands is that you can try the flavors before you decide. If theres a couple that you really like then you can always get two flavors in one cup. There's options people, don't be afraid to try a few and then decide which flavor a certain place does best according to your tastes. At the Icebox I enjoy their red raspberry which is right there with Tom and Wendee's but not quite as good and also their cherry. Some places that serve cherry use syrup but at Icebox you can see the big whole cherries inside the ice. It's an excellent rendition and my favorite cherry ice around town.

Red Raspberry/Cherry Italian Ice from The Icebox

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Miko's

Over in the Wicker Park/Bucktown area they have a popular summertime walk up stand called Miko's. They make their ice fresh and have been doing so since 1997. The owners were former building rehabbers that started making Italian ice as a hobby. Eventually that lead to this location as well as one in Logan Square and also another out of state in Moblile, Alabama.


a Bucktown locals favorite

Miko's just like it's Italian Ice bredren in Lincoln Park and Lakeview. It sits along a strip with some shopping and makes for a great stop for passerby's looking to cool down on a hot summers day. They have quite a few flavors but there's only one I can ever get and that's because its so damn good. Nobody does a better mango than Miko's. It's what you want when you cant stop sweating and need to feel like your somewhere tropical where its pleasant to be when its this hot outside and not in the city.

Mango and Watermelon Italian Ice from Miko's

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Johnnie's Beef

Italian Ice is for the most part a summertime treat which isn't even available do to most places being seasonal operations. But that doesn't mean I don't eat it year round. Johnnie's Beef on North avenue in Elmwood Park (read more HERE) is a Chicago food 'mecca'. They serve what many consider to be the best Italian beef sandwich in Chicagoland. Their combo sandwich (beef and sausage) is one of the best sandwiches in the world. Johnnie's is in my regular rotation and has been for years. It's the only place I eat Italian Ice at during the winter time.

World Famous Johnnie's Beef in Elmwood Park, IL

Johnnie's serves Italian ice but if you don't like lemon than your shat out of luck. Its all they do. But proving the "pick one thing you do good and do it right" rule they make the best lemon ice in the city. It goes perfect with any of their sandwiches and makes for a great cooling effect when the hot peepers from a beef and or sausage hit you. Johnnie's is the only place I order lemon flavored Italian ice from and it always hits the spot.

Better than having his mug staring at me while I eat...

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Gina's Homemade Italian Ice

Back in 1977 there was a storefront on Roosevelt road in Berwyn which was supposed to be a pizza place but was never finished. In came a lady named Gina who purchased the building one hot summer. Using a recipe she had learned back in Italy she decided to bring Italian ice to the neighborhood when it was really in need. Here we are in 2012 and Gina is still there to greet all of her longtime loyal customers. She and her ice are both a real treat.

A longtime locals favorite of the Southwest Suburbs

2012 is Gina's 35th year and even though it was my first time trying it I was treated like a regular each time I've been in since. I like their lemon which I tried when a friend got it and enjoy mixing that with cherry for a nice combo of flavors that compliment each other well. The cantaloupe is good too but its their strawberry thats become my favorite. You can taste the little pieces of it in each bite and it does me right on a hot summertime night.

Cantaloupe Italian Ice from Gina's

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Freddy's Pizza

Freddy's Pizza and Grocery is a longtime chibbqking favorite. You can get the entire story on them HERE. It's one of of those places every neighborhood should be fortunate enough to have. Whether its groceries, bread or lunch and dinner they got it all and then some. It's amazing what they fit inside of the small little store with a heated tent attached where people dining in on their family style Italian dishes can eat at. If it's Italian Ice or gelato your in need of Freddy's does those too. Real well if I may add.


Longtime locals/chibbqking favorite in Cicero, IL

I'm an Italian ice guy but many people swear by Freddy's gelato. I can tell you this much, if it's as good as their pastas, lemon chicken, Italian sausage & Peppers, bread and Italian Ice than its got to be good. Their ice is great and the price is right. I feel like its a joke when I pay a $1 for a small one that in reality isn't all that small. Especially considering the price. The best Italian ices are made with real fruit and since I'm a fruit over chocolate guy that's why I like Italian ice so much more than ice cream. But at Freddy's some swear by their chocolate and I swear by their pistachio. It's out of this world and made with real pistachio nuts. You can taste chunks of them inside. I like pistachios so I can see why I like this but its not salty or nutty for that matter. I don't know how else to describe it except damn good.

Selection of small ices from Freddy's including pistachio in front

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Zarlengo's Italian Ice & Gelato

Over in Chicago Heights Zarlengo's is a family owned business that's been serving the community with their desserts since 1983. They do a handful of treats like gelato and their famous 'Zar Bars' which are hand dipped ice cream bars. They started off serving them just dipped in chocolate but now offer up to 10 different varieties. Zarlengo's is a place I seek out when near there. They have some fantastic homemade Italian Ice.


Longtime locals favorite in Chicago Heights

Zarlengo's is a gem and has some really great flavors you don't see everywhere else and of course they use real fruit too. I have been trying to go thru the flavors of Zar's and haven't had anything I wouldn't get again while doing so. Just like some of the other places on this roundup they have a menu that changes and so it depends on whats on it when you go as far as what to order. I've enjoyed the blueberry, pink grapefruit, black cherry and others but their apricot ice is one of the best Italian ices I have had from anywhere. I get that when I see it. I love the fact when you stop in here on a Saturday you can feel the buzz in the air and its not just coming from the kids, its their parents that cant wait to get some too.

Zarlengo's Italian Ice never fails

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10 Flavors You Should Try

- Peach @ Mario's
- Lemon @ Johnnie's Beef
- Watermelon @ Tom & Wendee's
- Apricot @ Zarlengo's
- Pistachio @ Freddy's Pizza (Cicero)
- Pear-Apple @ Annette's
- Mango @ Miko's
- Strawberry @ Gina's
- Cherry @ The IceBox
- Cantaloupe @ Anthony's

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Mario's Italian Lemonade
1066 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(No Phone)

Tom and Wendee's
1136 West Armitage Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 327-2885

Annette's Homemade Italian Ice
2009 North Bissell Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 868-900

Anthony's Homemade Italian Ice
3442 North Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 868-4237

The IceBox (SoupBox)
2943 North Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 935-9800

Miko's Italian Ice
1846 North Damen Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 645-9664
Website

Johnnie's Beef
7500 W North Ave
Elmwood Park, IL 60707
(708) 452-6000

Gina's Homemade Italian Ice
6737 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, IL 60402
(708) 484-0944
Website

Freddy's Pizzeria
1600 South 61st Avenue
Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 863-9289
Website

Zarlengo's
257 West Joe Orr Road
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 754-9080
Website

The Art of the BLT

--Tailgatin' and how to make mofos start playa hatin' (Recipes)

You know what the secret of a crazy good BLT sandwich is? Nothing that's not already known when it comes to making most anything good. It's in the ingredients. The tomato might be the last thing mentioned but it's important they they're good and since you cant seem to find anything decent during the winter months the BLT is in in my mind the official sandwich of summer. Then there's the bacon which plays a big role too. If you use Oscar Meyer your not going to get the best. Not when we in the Midwest have all this top notch bacon being made my local butchers and farms. Same goes for the bread with bakeries. Its going to taste as good as the ingredients so if they suck...you get the picture?


Homemade BLT Sandwich

My first BLT of the summer season was as fantastic as any I have had. I got some excellent sliced pancetta from P & E Mullins 'Local' in New Buffalo, Michigan. It's a meat specialty store. More on this place in an appropriate post but to all those reading this one here that find themselves in or passing thru Harbor Country this summer, they're on Red Arrow Highway, check 'em out. They're doing some good things like this homemade Pancetta.

Pancetta from Local in New Buffalo, MI

As I thought of what to do with this batch of beautiful homemade Pancetta, BLT's came to my mind. It's officially summer so why not? I did a quick google search of "pancetta BLT's" and this first result is not only easy but sounded very succulent and refreshing which is what I wanted in this heatwave week. Although the cheese might not be readily available to all. I got it at Lincoln Park Whole Foods which carries the real Italian stuff which is what I grabbed and also a Wisconsin brand from BelGioioso Cheese. I also learned Standard Market makes it fresh every Wednesday but it goes quick.

Ingredients

-Crispy Cooked Pancetta
-Burrata Cheese
-Heirloom Tomatoes or Other
-Arugula
-Olive Oil & Salt
-Bread

Arugula and tomatoes marinating in olive oil and herbs

Those unfamiliar with Burratta cheese, it's really rich. Burratta means buttered in Italian. It's similar to mozzarella which it resembles in looks but it's not that. It's definitely it's own cheese much creamier and softer too so it spreads. The sandwich was simple but made great by using the best available ingredients. Directions arent really necessary but cook the pancetta until crispy and set aside and then toast your bread. Spread the Burratta cheese on one top of a piece for each sandwich and then add the pancetta followed by the tomato/arugula mixture and eat. Not a cheap BLT but a damn pleasing one.


Pancetta BLT
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If your feeling like a BLT but don't have all the ingredients on hand then there's some good places here in Chicago to get one. In particular is the Brown Sack over in Logan Square. Formerly over on Armitage they moved to their new space a couple years back and serve some top notch sandwiches and shakes in a quirky little setting.


New locals favorite located on Belden off Fullerton (Pic from LTHforum)

This place will be featured in a few sandwich specials because they do a great job with their offerings of them. They take the typical brown sack lunch and turn it up a notch into something you wish you were eating for lunch when you were in grade school. One of these sandwiches in particular is their BLAST. It's a BLT but the S and the A are added in because theirs come with shrimp and avocado. Yes its as good as it sounds if you haven't had one of them already. Its been declared one of the "best sandwiches in Chicago" by 'Low & Slow' BBQ man Gary Wiviott. I agree with him this is one of the best summertime sandwiches in the city. Check them out.


Brown Sack BLT w/ Shrimp & Avocado and their Mac & Cheese

The Brown Sack
3581 West Belden Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 661-0675
Website

Galena Eats

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
-Cruisin' Country (Galena, IL)

I spent a weekend in Galena over the mild winter and enjoyed my first visit back since the annual 8th grade ropes course trip my grade school used to do there. I took it back in 1996, with of course a visit to US Grant's old home included on the overnight field trip. This time around it wasn't spring but still really pretty and the town itself reminded me much of Deadwood when I went there. Even though I'm a city boy, I enjoy getting to see these old school towns where much of the past is still preserved today. I stopped back into Galena for breakfast this Spring after spending the night in East Dubuque so this is a two trip post thrown into one. Anyone looking to get away for the weekend who enjoys a piece of old time Americana with some new life thrown in should consider a trip to Galena sometime soon. It's beautiful year-round.

Some different views from the seasons

I enjoyed the town as much as I remembered I would. Even back in 8th grade when I could of cared less about the historic charm of places like this I remember at least thinking how the houses were cool. Nothings changed and alot remains the same. As always there were a few food stops on radar. We stayed on Main Street and not too far from where we were there was the Galena Brewing Company.


Located on Main Street

Started in 2009, this place isn't old but once upon a time there was another Galena Brewing Company and as I learned here, they were famous for their Red Stripe Beer. Yep as it turns out, the popular Jamaican lager enjoyed by many alongside a spliffy isn't even from the islands mon. It's from Galena, Illinois where it was brewed until the late 1800's and then the recipe was sold to a couple of British businessmen who brought it to and then started brewing it in Jamaica. In fact, due to it being the first Mineral rush city in the USA, Galena had nine breweries in the 1800's. A few of those breweries old buildings still stand today and you get can get tours of them thru GBC. I hope to do that next time.


From the relics display case on hand at GBC

The lady was telling me about their Red Stripe history and showed me some of the old things from then that they still have on display such as the kegs for which it was named, they have a red stripe across them. Every summer they have a big reggae weekend and get some, from what I was told, well known acts to come in for their celebration of it. It'd be cool to be there since I really liked the space and thought this was the best place for a drink and snack around town.

Old Red Stripe Keg and other memorabilia

We went here a few times and the food ranged from really good (roasted bone marrow) to pretty good (stuffed 'shrooms) to not good (empanada) and the beer was very nice. I liked their amber ale the best. On top of that, great service and the $5 menu, which all the items I ate came from, was a nice pair to go with the beers. I had at least five orders of the bone marrow on my three visits. You cant ever get enough of that.

$5 Food Menu and their house brewed beer is a good way to go...

For a more upscale sit down place for dinner we both really enjoyed One Eleven Main. The name (It's address) might be corny but the seasonal menu served with locally influenced dishes tries to take the food most people are familiar with to an unfamiliar level. According to their website "we've forged special partnerships with local and regional farmers, artisans and food purveyors." We ended up eating here twice and because of that I was able to eat a few things off their winter menu as well as have a few specialty cocktails since it was a short walk back to where we were at. Nice.


Downtown Galena on Main Street

The cocktail menu features the classics and also hand muddled/homemade options and sours n' such and housemade pitchers of punch. There's lots of spots like these popping up all over as we had just enjoyed a similar spot, Merchant (In Madison), the night before. They use many local Midwest distilled spirits including Templeton Rye (IA) North Shore Distillery (IL), Deaths Door (WI) and so on. The drinks were very nice and I've become a cocktail snob of late so I'm picky.

Winter Drink Menu

Food wise I liked what we had. It was winter so I bet the summer menu is better but their housemade pasta selections were very good as are the cheese curds. I liked the pork ragu a whole lot and the beef stroganoff was very good too. Both did what they said they said as a restaurant they were trying to do. Also great is their "daily feature menu" which had a special pork, fish or beef dish that changed by day. I liked what I had off of there. I'd stop back in when around town again and that I will do that next time I need a break from the concrete jungle of cements.

Noodle Selections (Pork Ragu, Beef Stroganoff)

Main Street Galena

I stopped back into Galena one morning this spring after spending the night in East Dubuque, IL. We rolled into town around 10a and decided to stop in at a breakfast place I had wanted to try on my last visit. It had much promise to it from the looks of the place and it's menu. Even though it seems like a place that might of been around for a while and just underwent some graphic changes in their restaurant logo that wasn't the case. This is one of the newer places around town. Located in a building that once housed Galena's first post office around 1855 and then from 1902 on into the 50's it housed a Carlson's drug store. After that a few cafes made their home there. Nowadays it's the Victory Cafe


Locals favorite on Main Street

We stopped in for breakfast and I could tell had warmed up to it because everyone knew each other on my visit. They serve breakfast (all day) and lunch too. They're open from 6a-3p daily. The lunch menu had a few things that looked good including the fried meatloaf so I'll have to try that next time. On this trip it was before 11am so breakfast was what was on the menu. The first thing listed under 'Homestyle Favorites' was their "hobo hash" which has country potatoes topped with chorizo, celery, onion and cheese and comes with two eggs and toast. Sour cream and salsa included too. This was a nice way to start the day especially if your doing some outdoor activities or sightseeing via walking around later that day. This will fill you up.


Hobo Hash from Victory Cafe

Timmerman's Supper Club was actually a spot I wanted to eat at when I was up in Galena this past winter but a snowstorm switched those plans up. I remembered they also have a hotel so that's where we stayed on a recent overnight trip into Dubuque, Iowa. Located across the river in East Dubuque, IL it's about a 15 minute drive from Galena and if you enjoy Supper Clubs like I do this is one you might want to check out for dinner one night.


East Dubuque, IL

We checked in at their Inn and then walked over to the supper club for dinner a little bit later. Classic supper club setting and on top of that this one has sick view overlooking the Mississippi River. We sat down at the bar right around sundown, the place is huge and can serve 100's so it seemed empty considering the space but nonetheless all the tables along the glass windows overlooking the bluff were taken for dinner during prime time.


The view sitting at the bar

The old ambiance and drinks are the biggest draws to supper clubs for me. More so than not, the food can be pretty damn good too as long as your not dumb enough to order something that was obviously added to the menu recently and in some cases, seafood. Hey most Supper Clubs are in Wisconsin and Great Lakes territory. So fresh lake perch? Yes. Fresh fish from the ocean? I suspect not. The onion rings were mentioned as lightly battered and freshly fried served with a side of cheese dip and those are a good way to go as is the whiskey sour old fashioned and French onion soup. I went with the "what else would you get" supper club order of prime rib with my potato choice being hash browns with onions and cheese please.

Supper Club Eats & Drink

They offer an extra think cut but I went with the regular size and ordered it medium rare and everything was what you would expect. Very nice piece of meat and more than enough to eat along with your soup and potato. Not to mention the supper club standard house rolls served with dinner and complimentary corn bread at the bar. Our bartender was great and fit the roll of a supper club bartender well. The service was great and I got to take half of the thing back to the room which is where the good stops. It's not horribly dirty or disgusting but the actual hotel is ok at best. I wouldn't stay there unless passing thru and looking for a fair priced place to stay and a good dinner not far away or in this case, walking distance. The leftover meat and potatoes were even better for dinner the next day.


Prime Rib Dinner from Timmerman's

So if you're thinking of a place to get away and like the old school ambiance of old towns then Galena is a good bet. There's some good things going on as far as the food movement goes and as always theres the town itself with all of its 100+ year old buildings including the home where Ulysses S. Grant stayed before he moved into the White House. The fact that it was a mining town makes for some fun walking around up and down but you gotta be fit to do so. I cant imagine what its like living at the homes on top in this old mining community during the winter months. It's a popular place for motocycle riders and I could see why. Great rides, good times.

Seeing Galena

Where U.S Grant stayed...see ya next time on America, the beautiful
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Galena Brewing Company
227 North Main Street
Galena, IL 61036
(815) 776-9917
Website

One Eleven Main
111 North Main Street
Galena, IL 61036
(815) 777-8030
Website

Victory Cafe
200 North Main Street
Galena, IL 61036
(815) 777-4407
Website

Timmerman's Supper Club
7777 Timmerman Drive
East Dubuque, IL 61025
(815) 747-3316
Website