J.P Graziano Grocery

-Chicago's Italian Grocers

"A special place for a special city" is what I tell people J.P Graziano Italian grocer on Randolph street is. Located at Peoria and Randolph in the meatpacking and produce district they've been supplying Chicagoland with imported Italian groceries since 1937. Like all the great spots, they are still all in the family and the original founders grandson Jim Jr runs the place with great passion here today in 2010. Customer service is unmatched when it comes to JP Graziano and the items they sell are the best of the best from Italy, all handpicked by Jim and his family with great knowledge. Inside you can find most everything you need should you be planning any Italian feasts this year during the holiday season. If so I would suggest you head on over to JP Graziano in the West Loop to find the best available quality of what it is your looking for be it cheese or spices, olives and other Italian food specialties. Don't you love the wholesalers that stay open for the public? and even more, the ones that love when those customers come in?


On Randolph in the West Loop, a Chicago tradition


It's been this way since 1937

Lately I've found myself with less time to spend cooking and along with that a little taste for simple Italian dishes. With four generations of family putting their knowledge into this place and passing it down to each other, the quality selection and product advice here is unmatchable. The space inside is pretty wide and nice and open with large barrels of beans and spices throughout the side walls along with dried pastas, oils, sauces, baccala, cheese and gift baskets galore. It's gotten so good that they have a website with mail order. Let's take a stroll and get a few shots of the store inside.


The sandwich counter


Gift Baskets for the Holiday season and all others available


barrel's of beans, spices and seasonings surround the store


Great selection of imported and domestic cheeses

-The Sammy's of Chi

The best part about J.P Graziano and going grocery shopping there? the sandwiches made to order while you shop. It's amazing to me that more places cant make sandwiches like they put out here. The bread is fresh delivered daily and the meats are quality. They put your sandwich together only after you've ordered, all subs are cut fresh to order and most are $5.25 or $6.25 which is a great price. The menu, at least part of it is seen below and even when I don't need groceries for cooking, I stop in for a sandwich.


Menu outside

I'm a big fan of the "spicy" which is hot capicola, pepperoni, hot soppressata, provolone tomato & lettuce with vinegar & oregano. Along with that I like the Italian and the tuna is great too. Another one not seen on the menu above is the Mr. G, the house specialty. It consists of hot sopresatta, Prosciutto di Parma, Volpi Genoa salami, sharp imported provolone, truffle mustard balsamic vinaigrette, hot oil, Roman style artichoke, fresh basil lettuce with red wine vinegar and oregano. I have a hard time deciding each time I visit for a sandwich so I love it wen I go with a few heads or am getting a sandwich platter for a party. They do it all over at Graziano and you can see the sub sandwich menu HERE. Great place for lunch in the West loop and worth the drive if not.


Italian sub, out of the paper ready for chowing


One of the best in a city with some good ones


The Mr. G, the House Specialty described up above


a "Spicy" with hot peppers is one of my favorite cold cuts around

J.P Graziano Grocery
901 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 666-4587
Website

Poochie's

-In Chicago: Every Dog Has it's Day

Holiday season is in full swing as is the Chicagoland Hot Dog stand season. When's that you ask? 24/7 365. All the time, every day. Since so many people have to do some serious shopping during the first few weeks of December I thought that it would be a great time to feature one of Chicagoland's best fast food stands- Poochie's. Located in Skokie and not far from the mega shopping center that is Old Orchard Mall it's a great lunch stop any day of the year but especially this time if your headed out that way. Why would you ever waste your calories at the horrific food courts? Poochie's has been a part of the Northshore community since 1969 when they first set up shop. Over the year's it's become what Vienna Beef described as the "Cheer's of Chicagoland hot dog stands" with its regulars and wonderful Chicago style fast food with a great atmosphere and all.


Poochie's in Skokie, IL is a Chicagoland icon

Located on Dempster st. in a plaza, this is one of the best places to dine at in a strip mall anywhere. It's also one of the best hot dog stands in terms of decor and ambiance out there. The walls are flooded with magazine articles, Chicago sports memorabilia and other fun things. When you walk in, the ordering station and grill are in the middle with stool seats at the windows and along the walls leading into the dining room in back. There's also tables outside for the warmer months. The walls show off how much press the hot dog stand has received with articles from magazines like Gourmet and newspapers across the country. It's even got its Roadfood approved article along with it's Vienna Beef Hall of Fame plaque proudly displayed inside.


View as you enter


The walls are filled with press clippings and Chicago sports memorabilia


Proud inductee into the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame

But Poochie's wouldn't be nothing and it wouldn't have all the articles and shout outs it has up on the walls if the food wasn't special. The menu is a classic "got it all" Chicagoland hot dog stand menu. It features the obvious hot dogs available both steamed or charred and Polish sausage. Other options available from the grill are char cheddar burgers and sandwiches like steak and chicken. The fries are fresh cut and some of the very best fries anywhere. Just so you know it's "got it all" they even use the real deal Chicago style cheddar for all charred items, burgers, cheese dogs and fries.


Poochie's cheese fries with melted cheddar spread

One of the things I love about Poochie's is that is takes care of both lovers of the steamed Chicago style hot dog and those that love theirs grilled. I am a big fan of both and any Chicago style since we are the land of hot dogs and have quite a few ways of making them. At Poochie's they will take a Vienna Beef out of the water and throw it right on the poppy seed bun and dress it down Chicago style if that's what you want. They will also take the dog and throw it on their well used grill and char it up along with some grilled onions if that's the way you like it.


Chicago style hot dog from Poochie's (steamed)

The grill is a wonder and I wish I had a picture to share when it's got no real estate on it. The thing flames up from all the burger patty's and other fine meats and onions being made on a busy day, which is most of them at Poochie's. I enjoyed their chicken sandwich which always has a perfect amount of charred taste and is never bad meat according to it's loyal followers. The char burgers at Poochie's are really special for the same reason as the chicken but then they also come with melted cheddar spread if you choose and the potent grilled onions making it a true Chicago style burger. In the picture below I have a single but a double is not a bad idea when chowing down on a char cheddar burger from Poochie's.


Char chicken sandwich (dressed to your liking)


Poochie's char cheddar burger

As good as all this food already featured is, there's a reason I love Poochie's and find myself stopping in there a few times a year. It's the home to one of the best sandwiches in Chicagoland and a big time hangover cure. The charred salami sandwich is true Chicago. They take a thick slice of Vienna Beef salami and char it up on the grill and throw it on a French bread roll and dress it to your liking. I always get mine with grilled onions, mustard, sport peppers and a pickle.


Poochie's charred salami sandwich

Man oh man is this sammy something else. You don't need to be hungover to enjoy this but you sure as hell need not be a vegetarian. This is a thing of beauty to the mouth and terror to the heart. My friend Steve who's father created this sandwich some 20 years ago when he used to work across the street likes to order his with a slab of bbq sauce added on while cooking and hot giardinara with the grilled onions. It doesn't matter how you dress the sandwich just make sure you try it. One of the very best in a city stocked with them. See ya next time on S'C'&C.


Sammy bliss, one of the best around town

Poochie's
3832 W Dempster St
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 673-0100

Yen Yen

-Grubbing in Chicago (land)
The Elusive Egg Roll (Part 4) & an intro to Chow Fun

The most recent stop on the egg roll express came out of the blue. I was brought to a friend of mine's favorite Chinese restaurant in the Northwest suburbs for another dish I was about to launch a hunt for the perfect version of- beef chow fun. The locals favorite Yen Yen is located in a strip mall like most everything else out there. My friend insisted to me that this place had the best dry beef chow fun and since that is another Chinese American favorite of mine I was tempted to see if she knew what was up. We stopped in late one afternoon and I was surprised how much it was like China Chef in Morton Grove down to the placemat's on each table with Chinese astrology. It's pretty much your typical Chinese American suburban lunch/dinner place with the menu consisting of the usual items found on these establishments menus such as egg rolls, pot stickers, sweet and sour dishes, General Tso's chicken, Mongolian beef etc...


Location in Buffalo Grove (there is also one in Arlington Heights)

Just like is the case with egg rolls, beef chow fun can be really bad at most places. So I was all about it since the chow fun came highly rec'd and I was going to start a hunt to find the best beef chow fun in town. We got there after the lunch special times but the list was filled with alot of good options including the chow fun. My friend told me that the portions are huge in the lunch specials and same goes for the dinner priced plates as well. We were there for the dry beef chow fun so we knew we were getting that and along with it we ordered some egg rolls.


egg roll from Yen Yen

We were dining at the Buffalo Grove location but they also have a restaurant in Arlington Heights, both Northwest suburbs. I was very pleased with my egg roll and the hot mustard served with it. A very tasty version of this popular Chinese American snack. It had the hint of peanut butter and a nice amount of fresh tasting fillings inside and a crunchy exterior. The hot mustard was not from a package and I believe to be homemade. After the pleasant surprise from the egg rolls I could only hope for the same from the chow fun.


Yen Yen passes the egg roll test

We had ordered the dry beef chow fun off the dinner menu. I had originally thought that the dry beef she was referring to was the beef used in the dish so I was thinking dried beef, beef jerky or cecina or something like that. It turned out just to be referring to the fact it was served without gravy. Ah now I see and do like, since I hate when chow fun comes in a pool of thick brown gravy. It turned out to be exactly what I love about chow fun and the best preparation of it I have had to date. The large flat rice noodles were crisped perfectly and the beef was in bite size tender pieces, not chewy or tough at all. It was all sauteed up with both regular and green onions and had no pools of slop. It was fantastic. At $12.95 it's not the cheapest price for a dish of it out there but it was enough to feed 3-4 dining in and with just two of us I had a bunch to take home. I might not have to go on my perfect chow fun search anymore. Do you got a favorite spot for it in Chicagoland?


Dry beef chow fun from Yen Yen

Yen Yen Restaurant
360 West Half Day Rd
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
(847) 883-8888
Website

The Dog Joint

-In Chicago: Every Dog Has it's Day

It's the holiday season and while Black Wednesday might be past us, there's still many more parties to come. Let me start off by apologizing that I haven't gotten around to getting another beef scored up over at "Beef With Hot" I've been busy with chibbqking here and just haven't had the time. But like I said last time I said this, I have many spots waiting to go up and will get to many more this winter. So today we head to a hot dog stand in Lincoln Park called The Dog Joint that I just featured over at What's Your Beef. They've been over on Armitage for a couple years now and it's a late-nite favorite of heavy drinkers in the area.


The Dog Joint in Lincoln Park

Before this place was the Dog joint I believe it was another hot dog stand maybe Rock Star Dogs? I never went there but when the Dog Joint opened up the homemade Italian beef is what caught my eye and eventually prompted me to go in. I have been there a handful of times now and the Italian beef was ordered on every visit but one. The best part this beef sandwich has going for it is the actual beef. It's a homemade roast that is sliced fresh to order when they arent too busy and it goes on a pretty good roll and the hot peppers and gravy are both good as well. It's actually one of the better beef's I have had from a hot dog stand. I also like how they have late nite hours on the weekends as well. One of the better beefs in an area lacking them.


beef with hot from the Dog Joint (click HERE to see how it scored)

During a few of my visits for an Italian beef I was tempted by other items on the menu. I obviously had to try a hot dog and eventually did so but I also ordered the fried tacos on a few visits and have come to like those for what they're worth. We don't have any Jack in the Box's here in Chicago but one of their more famous items are the tacos. This is typical drunk folk food. All they are is frozen hard shell tacos with beef mixture in them that are deep fried and then dressed with lettuce and sour cream. Not exactly anything special but I guess they become that after a few too many cold ones. So if your from the West Coast and have been looking for something like your beloved tacos from Jack In the Box then the Dog Joint might be your savior.


Fried taco from the Dog Joint

Then there's the hot dogs. Of course I was going to give one of them a try and I soon did. I must say I wasn't all that impressed. Maybe it was just a bad night but the dog had no snap and it was as if it had been sitting in water forever. The bun was soggy from the watered down dog. Toppings wise it was better, they topped it Chicago style with cucumbers, pickles, tomatoes and the works but when the encased meat is no good it's hard for the hot dog as a whole to be anything special. I haven't tried one since, choosing to stick to the beef's which I do like. See ya next time on S'C'&C.


Chicago style hot dog from the Dog Joint

The Dog Joint
350 W Armitage Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 687-9573

Skyline Chili

Regional Fast Food
-Cincinnati's Five Way Chili

It's the holiday season and that means plenty of time spent traveling on the roads and thru the airports of America. Sometimes we don't have the time to seek out the great local mom and pop shops when on the road and traveling and are forced to settle on fast food. But that doesn't mean you have to settle for the usual suspects. To each region their own when it comes to local fast food outlets founded in and now popular in a certain area. Today we head to Ohio where Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides started Skyline Chili his Coney dog restaurant named after the city's skyline that could be seen thru the inside of the original location. Coney Dog and chili spots became popular cafeterias in the Midwest back in the day and Cincinnati developed it's own type of chili in the process. Skyline chili remains one of the most well known from the region.


Skyline Chili in Oxford, OH

Birthplace: Cincinnati, OH
Type: Private
Founded in: 1949
How Many Today: Over 100
Locations in: OH, IN, KY, FL
Menu item that made them: Cincinnati style chili

The companies history as told by me

The original founder of Skyline was working as a chef for the Original Empress Chili restaurant which is another well known Cincy chili parlor. Nicholas played around with the recipe and eventually saved enough money that in 1949 he and his three sons opened a spot of their own in the Prince Hill neighborhood. According to Wikipedia the neighborhood was mostly Roman Catholic and didn't like the place at first but it eventually became a local landmark once people started realizing your diet doesn't determine your fate. The dad eventually passed away back in 1962 as they had started rapidly expanding throughout Ohio. The sons took over and promised papa not to change a thing with the chili recipe which has become synonymous with Cincinnati style chili. What gives it it's own style in that it's different from say, Texas chili? Well it starts with a unique blend of spices, a few of which are on the sweet side. The chili is also served almost always over spaghetti or on top of hot dogs. I got to stop at a Skyline a couple summers ago and gave the two most popular menu items a try.


Cheese Coney from Skyline (chili, cheese, onions and mustard)

The hot dog was alright. As someone who loves chili cheese dogs as well as Coney's it doesn't take all that much to please me when it comes to these food's. Skyline offers their famous well guarded chili recipe in a few numbered ways. If you go "five way" your getting the entire package which is the chili served over spaghetti with cheese, beans and onions. You can go three or four way by taking some of the items that accompany the chili off. I believe I went with the four way on my visit which was with spaghetti, cheese and onions but no beans. It's a style of food unique to Cincy and also to me since this isn't how I prefer my chili. It's said that cinnamon and chocolate which are two ingredients commonly used in meat dishes in Greece are the secret touches and you can taste the sweetness. Coming from the Midwest I'm not unfamiliar with chili mac so pasta with my chili is something I can stand. I just prefer my chili spicy to sweet.


Skyline's four way chili (no beans)

Click HERE for the company website.

Eastern Style Pizza

-The Sammy's of Chi

With the Philadelphia Eagles and Michael Vick coming into town next week were headed to a favorite spot of Chicagoland residents for a cheese steak. I went to Eastern Style Pizza in West Rogers Park last year when it came rec'd as a spot for a good cheesesteak in the area. The people that were doing so said it was better than Philly's Best and that they'd been eating them since the 70's when the little shack on Touhy first started offering east coast favorites in the area.


A locals favorite in West Rogers Park

On my first and still only visit I was there for a cheesesteak but also got a slice of "east coast" pizza just to try it and compare to some other places who's slices I can stand. I thought the pizza was nothing special. In Chicago where everyone has good sausage on their pies, this place's sausage sucked and the slice was not exactly fresh. Oh well I really wasn't expecting much since I am a tavern style pie guy 'til I die.


Slice of sausage pizza from Eastern Style Pizza

The pizza wasn't the reason for my visit so I was anxious to try my cheesesteak. Let me reiterate that I have never been to Philly so I don't know the real deal but I have also heard that neither Pat's nor Geno's is that, from both locals and tourists. I like Philly's Best and go to the one on Belmont a few times a year. Sometimes you just get a craving for some thinly sliced steak paired with potent onions and melted cheese all in some chewy bread. So I for one am a fan of cheesesteaks, no their not Italian beefs but that's because they're both different. I forget if you have the choice to order half or whole but obviously I ordered a whole if that was the case.


Cheesesteak from Eastern Style Pizza

In all honesty I didn't really taste much of a difference in this cheesesteak and Philly's Best. The bread might be better at PB but I've been there more times than Eastern Style. The steak was good not great just like PB and I got the standard version which is with white American cheese just like over at Philly's Best. But this is a respectable cheesesteak so I gobbled it up and was happy I stopped into this place to try one. If your looking for a cheesesteak in far north Chicago or the burbs around there this is your spot. Go Bears.


The insides of the sandwich

Eastern Style Pizza
2911 W Touhy Ave
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 761-4070

Urban Burger Bar

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Chi

A little while back, Burger Bar (formerly Urban Burger Bar) opened up over on Clybourn just past North ave across the street form the new Apple Store. It's on the burger bus which has seen a steady increase in burger restaurants around the city. The owner, John McClean also opened up a pizza place (Sono) directly next door. I haven't tried the pizzas but have been over to Burger Bar which is exactly what it's name says it is - a bar with a nice selection of beer and burgers.


Burger Bar on Clybourn in Chicago

I stopped in here for dinner a couple weeks back and I liked it so much I was back not long after. To go with the nice selection of beer's they have a menu that features a whole boatload of different burgers. The beef burgers are no cheap meat and full of beefy flavor. I haven't tried the veggie burger but have heard its good for what it is, I never will try it either by the way. On my first night visited there was a decent sized crowd and it was pretty loud inside there, some people might not like that but it is a bar. They have a dining area with tables for groups and seats at the bar. We sat at a table this time around and I went with the "en fuego" with bacon added on and chose fries as my accompaniment. The others with me chose to have a "Hey Shortay" which is a burger patty topped with braised short ribs, warm onion and fennel slaw. They also have a basic burger ($9) which is a half pounder cooked to your desired doneness. The pricetag might seem a little high but they offer many toppings of your choice for free.


Hey Shortay!

I got to eat half of a shortay and it was good but a little too much and not as flavorful as mine was. I wouldn't order it for me when I find myself back there. You can also substitute a salad for fries and that wasn't bad either. My burger was pretty damn good and came with jalapenos, pepper jack, pickled red onions and guacamole. It was cooked to my specifications and I enjoyed the combo of toppings all paired together. Since they use fresh sliced jalapenos I'm guessing the heat can vary based on how hot the batch of peppers used is because mine were hot, I needed another beer fast after my first few bites and I am no stranger to heat. The fries were fresh cut but skinnier than your Chicago hot dog stands fresh cut versions. I liked them too. Seeing as how this place is close to where I'm at, I can see myself back here before or after some Bulls games this winter/spring for some burgers and beer.


en fuego with bacon

Burger Bar
1578 N. Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 255-0055
Website

79th Street BBQ

-Grubbing in Chicago
Where the locals eat.

So last month I was out on the southside and when I got off the highway at Wentworth I smelled a magnificent aroma of smoke in the air at the red light I was stopped at. I looked around and I saw that located across the street from the CTA headquarters was an old fast food outlet turned smokehouse. So I pulled into the parking lot of 79th street BBQ located at 79th and Wentworth and took a hop on in to see what was up with this place. As seen in the pic below, it was really smokin' that afternoon filling the air with that wonderful real bbq smell.


79th Street BBQ in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood

79th Street was formerly known as 87th street BBQ and when the building it now sits in closed down from being a J&J Fish, the owner decided to open shop back up in it's current location. On my visit there were quite a few CTA employees as well as neighborhood locals stopping in for lunch. The menu is quite broad and includes the usual bbq offerings as well as stuff like jerked chicken, smoked turkey legs and fried fish and chicken. The people behind the counter on my visit were as friendly as could be and pointed out their recession menu which is a bunch of different food combos all at $7 each. With the McFib sandwich around town these days I was tempted to order me their rib sandwich which was four ribs from the bone and not some fake rib meat pork product, this was the real deal. You'll see in the pic below they're aquarium style smoker that was being put to work on my visit, it had a bunch of slabs in there smokin' away.


Chicago's aquarium style smokers found at bbq joints around town

With this being my first visit I had to go with my standard first time meal from any Chicago bbq joint, that being the rib tips. These are what I judge a place in Chicago and its bbq by. Rib tips arent unique to Chicago and its bbq scene but they are definitely eaten more so here in the city than anywhere else out there. Chicago loves its rib tips and so do I. I always order mine with the sauce on the side. Real bbq isn't supposed to be doused in sauce, it should be used as a dipping condiment and nothing more. I thought the tips were pretty good but not great however that doesn't mean I wont be back. The thing with bbq is sometimes you get it at the perfect time and other times not so much. It takes hours to make so if you get a batch hot out the smoker its better than one that came out a few hours ago. They had a nice hint of smoke but were a little too tender for my liking. The hot bbq sauce was a very nice compliment to them when a small amount was applied. I'm eager to try some of their other offerings on my next visit.


Rib Tips from 79th Street BBQ

79th Street BBQ
7901 S Wentworth Ave
Chicago, IL 60620
(773) 483-7909

Franks For The Memories

-KingT's Wing Fling

It's football season and with that comes plenty of chicken wings to consume. Last winter I went out to Mundelein and tried a place who's Buffalo wings came highly recommended by a former Buffalonian. He also said that I need to try one of the char grilled Sahlen's white hot dogs which are native to Buffalo, NY. So when the chance came and I found myself out in these parts I jumped on it since I love me some spicy vinegar laced Buffalo wings. Mundelein for those not in the know is a village in Lake County up near Gurnee. The people are very lucky as far as food for watching football goes. Today's stop, Frank's for the Memories, is said to have Chicagoland's best Buffalo wings. Mundelein is also the home to Bill's Pizza Pub.


Franks for the Memories in Mundelein, IL

As seen in the pic above this place is an old school hot dog/hamburger stand that happens to serve some damn good wings. The menu had a few things but I was there for those wings and because I'm a sucker I decided to also try a Sahlen's char dog too. The white dog with ketchup and all didn't do it for me. In fact I stopped for a Vienna Beef Chicago style minimalist later that day just to erase the memory of it. I'm not sure what comes standard on a Buffalo white hot dog but I ordered one with everything and it came like a Chicago style (with grilled onions) plus ketchup - WTF!?!?! C'mon maaaan.


Wing Menu at Franks for...


Sahlen's white char dog - eh...

Well the dog was a let down but what am I supposed to expect? I grew up in Chicago. So what about dem wangs? Well I didn't grow up in Buffalo but I will say these were the real deal. I thought they were some excellent buffalo wings with the only downer being the bleu cheese but that didn't matter. The wings were a perfect size (not too big nor small) and cooked to perfection and the sauce was a champion of Buffalo sauces. So it's too bad I don't live anywhere near here but if I did this place would be a weekly stop on my food bus. Good stuff.


Franks for the Memories authentic Buffalo wings

Franks for the Memories
645 E. Hawley St.
Mundelein, IL
(847) 949-9464