Tag Archives: Beer

When Irish Stomachs Are Shrugging

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Mark T

Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Mastication Monologues! Today I’m going to be talking about a restaurant that I visited in Incheon after I once again was foiled by Taco Cielo. The name of the restaurant is O’Malley’s Irish Pub located at 1474-3 Guwol-dong, Top Plaza 4F. They don’t have a website but can be found on Facebook.

Since my good friend, Ravi, has come over to visit me from London, I’ve been trying to show him the sights and sounds of Korea whenever I’m not working. However, sometimes it’s nice to take a break from soaking in all of the culture, smog, and kimchi and indulge in some Western food. So, after having a short walkabout around Incheon’s Songdo International City, I decided I wanted to take him to Taco Cielo, a much vaunted Mexican restaurante in Incheon. As I mentioned in a previous post, “Not Phonomenal“, I went to this Mexican eatery on a Saturday at 2pm, and it was closed. It was closed again on a Wednesday night with a simple note on the window saying, “Closed today. Sorry.” Hopefully, the third time’s the charm, and I’ll finally be able to blog about it. Anyway, I instead took my friend to O’Malley’s which is a building over.

When we walked in, it was like any other type of British pub with darts, foosball, and a long bar. They serve mainly pub food like burgers, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers. We settled down to our seats, and we ended up ordering nachos (10,000 W) to share. I got a bacon cheeseburger (10,000 W) with a Red Rock beer on the side (4,000 W). I had this brew before on a night out when I was less than fully sober, and it tasted good. Now that I was of sound mind and body, this wasn’t the case like most Korean beers. The color overall was a warm reddish-brown with a slightly hoppy aftertaste with some minor sweet notes in the background. However, it was an extremely watery lager like all the other Korean beers. My expectations weren’t that high to begin with, so I wasn’t that disappointed. As for the nachos, they were another story. They came out, and it was a large plate of chips coated with meagre amounts of cheese but plenty of jalapenos, onions, and tomatoes along with a small cup of salsa. I wasn’t very satisfecho with this plato. Then, there was my burger.

A wee burger for a wee lad

I wasn’t too happy with the size of it, and I felt they cheated me with the amount of fries nestled next to the burger. Then again, I justified the size of the burger with the fact that we’re in Korea, and everything is smaller. Yet the Wolfhound in Itaewon didn’t disappoint in this department (See: “Everything’s Bigger In Itaewon“). As for the quality of the burger, it was pretty decent. The bun was soft, pliable, and resilient to my savage mauling since I was quite hungry after a long and frustrating day of work. The patty was perfectly grilled and juicy but had a strange pork taste to it like many burgers I’ve had in Korea. As for the bacon, it wasn’t heavily seasoned but adequately crispy. I really appreciated the basket of condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, Tabasco sauce, and vinegarette) they provided us when they came back with Ravi’s meal. Finally, the fries were quite tasty even though there was an inadequate amount of them. They were seasoned with a bit of allspice and salt, and their golden, crunchy exteriors led to fluffy white interiors.

Overall, O’Malley’s was a decent restaurant with really friendly staff, a welcoming atmosphere, and a variety of food. However, if you’re looking for a great burger for a good price, I’d still recommend The Wolfhound in Itaewon over O’Malley’s.

CBIK? Once In A Brew Moon Part Deux (with freshly baked cookies)

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Mark T

Hello and welcome to the latter half of a two-part post about some of the best craft beers in Seoul. In my last post, I spoke about going to both Craftworks in Itaewon and Oktoberfest in Hongdae. Today, I am going to describe the delicious findings I encountered during a trip to the creative Castle Praha in Hongdae and my after dinner trip to Tom’s Cookies. First things first, the beverages in question.

Now, I have already been to Prague, so I was curious to see the mysterious but much heralded Castle Praha located at Solnae 6-gil Hongdae in Seoul (http://www.castlepraha.co.kr/new/home/eng/page5.php). After a bit of walking from the metro stop, I was face to face with a large building that looked very out of place next to the more typical Korean looking buildings, i.e. large, soulless blocks of concrete. I couldn’t tell if it was supposed to be a castle or an old church, but it had a replica clock and sun dial like I saw in the Czech Republic in both Prague and Olomouc. The stone work was quite intricate much like the taste of beers that I had inside. Upon entering the warmly lit interior, I could see that they blended the feel of an old castle with modern design. However, it was kind of bizarre hearing hip hop music over the speakers as a soundtrack to this quaint visit. Please look into some Classical music, Castle Praha. My group and I were seated on the top floor which was right by the wine elevator. Castle Praha has more than just beer. They also have a wine list and a full menu of both Czech favorites and American staples like pizza, salads, and bar food. However, if you’re looking to try a bit of Czech cuisine, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny. The koleno or roasted pork knuckle was 37,000 Won, so I just opted for two beers: the Jerzek Hedgehog Grand Pilsner (10,500 W for a large) and the Royal Porter (10,000 W for a large).

I picked the first one because it would make sense to get a Pilsner since it was invented in the Czech town of Plzen in 1842. Plus, there was a funny animal thrown into the name, so I couldn’t say no to it. Overall, it was not an overly light brew in terms of taste like a lager, but it was quite foamy and filled with fruity notes throughout each sip. It would definitely sit well with me on a hot day like today. As for the Royal Porter, it is a beer that is more my style as I have mentioned in previous posts (See CBIK 1 or Troika or Dandy Candy). It was dark and thicker than the Pilsner but not too overwhelming in terms of taste. True, it had a more bitter bite to each sip, but it did not have the more unusual coffee background like their Dark Lager. So I think if I had to choose one, I would choose the Royal Porter just based off of my penchant for dark beer, but they have beers and liquors for all types of palates. Once we had downed and thoroughly enjoyed our drinks, we headed out for dessert at Ben’s Cookies.

We arrived at Ben’s cookies with not even a line out the door, but all of my friends were saying that these cookies, especially the peanut butter ones, were the best thing since someone figured out how to untwist an Oreo. Naturally, that piqued my interest. Unfortunately, they sold out of the peanut butter by the time we arrived, so I settled for a cranberry and white chocolate cookie along with a triple chocolate cookie (completely necessary). They’re priced by weight, so mine came out to 5,000 W for two. They were semi-soft which received a big seal of approval from me since I hate crumbly, hard cookies and were chock full of their respective title ingredients. Texture aside, more elements doesn’t always equal better food. First, the cranberry and white chocolate cookie had some of the largest cranberries I’ve ever eaten in my life.

Not berry good

They were semi-dried and resided alongside hulking chunks of pure white chocolate. However, it was overall a pedestrian cookie since all I tasted were the tart cranberries while the chocolate and dough were mere bystanders in terms of flavor. Thankfully the triple chocolate was as decadent and delicious as it sounds.

A triple threat…to your waistline

The cocoa trifecta came from the chocolate dough which was then topped with three large, melted chunks of white chocolate, and then on the inside there were smaller chunks of melted white chocolate. The molten interior is what really made this delectable morsel stand out from the tamer first entry. Overall, I’d recommend Ben’s Cookies if you’re looking for some legitimate Western style cookies, but the price might keep me from coming back for more.

4 Comments

Posted in Alcoholic, Bakery, Beer, Beverages, Cookies, Czech and tagged Bar, Beer, chocolate, cookies, cranberries, Czech, Pilsner, Porter. Bookmark the permalink.

Craft Beer in Korea? Once In A Brew Moon

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Mark T

Annyeong hasayeo to everyone out there and welcome to another edition of Mastication Monologues! Today’s post is a bit different because it deals with a subject that Korean culture enjoys greatly. No, I’m not talking about K-pop super groups or overly cutesy-wootsy cartoon animals that could cause diabetes with their saccharine antics (although these two elements really do permeate every part of life in Korea). I’m actually talking about drinking alcohol in social settings. However, instead of calling attention to Korean classics like soju and makkeoli, I’m going to shed some light on the craft brewing scene in Seoul. No longer do you have to suffer with the anemic attempts at legitimate beer in the form of a cold Hite or Cass! First, we shall take a jaunt down to Craftworks in Itaewon.

Craftworks is located at 651 Itaewon 2-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (http://craftworkstaphouse.com/), but it’s a little hard to find since it’s wedged behind another restaurant in an alley. Even though it may sound a bit seedy, in reality it’s a hidden gem of a gastropub. When I first walked in, there was a 40 minute wait, and I could see why. First, there is their beer menu that is filled with homemade craft brews that are named after Korean landmarks and range anywhere from IPAs to Weisbeers to Dark Ales. Then there are their menu offerings which include barbecue, wings, build your own salad, sandwiches, and some desserts that made me think of home when I was waiting for a table. There in front of me in the entryway was a glass case which contained a lattice topped peach pie that was as big as a hubcap and right beside it, a decadent red velvet cake. I must have died and went to the American enclave of heaven. It was a definite contrast to the Korean dried seafood and rice cake bonanza that was being displayed in the metro station during my commute to Craftworks. Eventually, my friend Nate showed up, and we got a table. The interior was very classy with a dark-wood bar and large glass windows that opened up to a mini patio. Definitely the perfect ambiance for enjoying a hand-crafted beer on a cool night. I started off with the Jirisan Moon Bear I.P.A (7,500 W).

Couldn’t wait to get my paws on this bear

The name is interesting since Jirisan is a region in southern South Korea and has one of the three most important mountains in the country. As for the Moon Bear, it’s a reference to the the Asiatic black bear whose bile is (controversially) consumed for traditional medicine to cure a variety of ailments. Animal cruelty aside, the beer itself was quite surprising since I’m not the biggest IPA fan, and don’t worry, there wasn’t any bear bile in it. It had clear citrus notes throughout the body, and the aftertaste did not possess an overwhelming hoppiness. I then moved on to my soft spot: dark beers. I went for the Geumgang Mountain Dark Ale (6,000 W) which checked every box which I look for in a quality beer. It was darker than a black hole, and the flavor was relatively free of hops. Plus, there was a slight smokiness to the aftertaste along with chocolate undertones. Once we had our fill in the wonderful ambiance of Craftworks, we made our way over to Oktoberfest in Hongdae.

Oktoberfest is an all German affair located at 162-6 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu (마포구 동교동162-6); +82 (2) 323 8081.

Main beer hall

Their beer selection isn’t as wide or as creatively named as the libations at Craftworks, but they serve some German classics like Pilsner , Weissbier, and even a half beer, half Sprite Radler in sizes from small (300 ml) to large (1,000 ml). However, I went with a small glass of Dunklesbier or dark beer (5,000 W). It was not as fierce as the Geumgang Dark Ale, but it was very smooth with a malty aftertaste. It also lacked the distinctive smokiness of the Dark Ale. Next time I think I will try the Radler since it is rarely seen outside of Germany, and I do love my Sprite.

So there you have it, folks. There are many other craft beer breweries in Seoul that I still have to visit, but I hope this entry has shed a little light on the beer scene in Korea and provided a glimmer of hope for those who want to move beyond weak, fizzy beer.

Troika: Hunger Sleigher

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Mark T

Hello to everyone out there who has been waiting for a new post and those who are visiting my site for the first time. Welcome to Mastication Monologues! Today I will be talking about dining at a restaurant in Seoul’s Itaewon district that was a bit of a spur of the moment decision. The establishment in question is the Russian restaurant Troika located at Seoul, Yongsan-gu Itaewon-dong 119-29 2F 서울특별시 용산구 이태원동 119-29 2층. Here’s their website: http://www.troikaseoul.com/

Originally, the night began with my friend Aaron and I planning to try one of the hottest Mexican restaurants in Seoul, Vato’s Tacos. Unfortunately, I should have heeded my Korean coteacher’s warning that we should have called for reservations at least one day in advance. I walked up their stone stairs to be greeted by a crush of Koreans waiting to get their hands on some comida mexicana. There was a two hour wait, so we decided to cut our losses and find somewhere that wouldn’t be overflowing with people. I will return there to try their tiny tacos, so it’s not adios but hasta la proxima, Vatos Tacos.

We decided to take a back street that a lot of people were coming out of, and we were thrust immediately into a very cosmopolitan street that was lined with restaurants from all corners of the globe from Brazilian to Greek. I wanted to try one of the Brazilian steak houses, but they were a bit too expensive for our liking. Instead, Aaron saw a Russian sign that said, “Troika” and asked me about Russian cuisine. We settled on trying it, and immediately we were worried when we walked under the sign.

A stairway to culinary heaven

Instead of there being a storefront, there was a long and dimly lit flight of stairs with some grafitti adorning the walls with a woman dressed in Russian traditional garb at the top. I found out later that Aaron thought that we were going to walk into a den of inequity since a lot of Russians in Korea are brought over as prostitutes, but thankfully we were greeted with a small restaurant that was interesting to say the least.

We were immediately seated by our waiter who was dressed like someone straight out of one of Chekov’s or Gogol’s novels, i.e. like a Russian peasant complete with valenki (boots) and a flat cloth cap. The waitresses were also adorned with the traditional women’s dresses and headdresses. The interior of the restaurant is also decorated like a dacha or summer cottage that many Russians go to in order to escape the madness of big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Where’s the vodka?

So if you’re into Russian kitsch like Matryoshka dolls and paintings of bears with balalaikas (like me), this is your heaven. Also, the name of the restaurant, Troika, is a three horse sleigh that is a symbol of Russia. Before ordering my waiter asked me if I was Russian due my general appearance, and it seemed that the only foreigners who came in were Russian. The rest of the patrons were Korean. I ended up choosing the Kartoshka po Derevenski (14,300 W) and a Baltika Russian Porter (8,000 W for a half liter).

When they both came out, I was extremely excited. First, there was the beer. As I have mentioned in previous posts like “Hair of the Waygookin“, Korean beer is like drinking carbonated, yellow water, i.e. a beverage devoid of any real flavor. The Baltika number 6, however, was as dark as night and possessed a flavor that was full-bodied yet understated in true Russian fashion. Then there was my meal that came out in a large, hot skillet.

Definitely will make you strong like bull and good on plow

It was the Russian version of an American skillet where there was a base of fried and seasoned potato slices which were covered in tiny pieces of fried pork. On top of this carb and protein mountain resided a fried egg and tiny green onion slices. It even came with the ubiquitous cup of Russian sour cream on the side. I just had to take a long look at my meal because it was so non-Korean it hurt, but I got down to business quickly. The potatoes were expertly fried and not greasy at all. The pork crumbles were not seasoned but provided a bacon flavor profile to the dish. As for the egg, it was a bit like gilding the rose because it didn’t bring much to the meal aside from more protein and presentation points. The same could be said about the green onions. Then again, I love green onions, so I wasn’t complaining that they were there.

In the end, stumbling upon Troika was a wonderful episode of happenstance. If you’re looking to try a new type of cuisine or just are looking for simple, old-fashioned meat and potato type fare, give Troika a try.

3 Comments

Posted in European Cuisine, Russian and tagged authentic, Beer, Beverages, fried, Korea, potatoes, restaurant, Russia. Bookmark the permalink.

Hair of the Waygookin

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Mark T

Hello and welcome to another edition of Mastication Monologues! However, this is not any regular edition of my wonderful food blog, but rather it is my 60th post. I never honestly thought I would stick with writing a food blog for this long, but when I realized that people from all over the world enjoy my food adventures, I kept the reviews and ideas flowing. So if you have any suggestions for new restaurants and/or new foods to try, please send them my way. I appreciate all of the views my blog has gotten so far, thanks! Anyway, I decided to do something a bit different for my 60th post where I would comment on the different types of drinks I have tried while living in Korea. First, I’ll go for the lifeblood of Korean nightlife: soju.

King of Korea

Soju is an interesting character in comparison to all of the other types of drinks I have tried. I had briefly tasted it stateside when I went to a Korean restaurant/noraebang for karaoke, but I didn’t really remember it making much of an impact on my palate. However, upon arriving in Korea, I was in the middle of many toasts with co-workers, new friends I made through my orientation program, and old friends who were already living in Korea. Soju is probably consumed more than water here, and it’s definitely cheaper than water in 7-Elevens. Plus, in orientation we were informed that it is the number one liquor in the world in terms of consumption even above Smirnoff vodka. Then again, after watching drunk Korean businessmen stumble down the street on Tuesday nights, I’m not surprised. As for the actual taste, it kind of is like Korea’s answer to vodka. It’s clear, nearly scentless, and can be used with many different mixers. However, there is a somewhat off-putting, slightly sweet aftertaste if you take it in shot form. A Korean friend told me the taste is due to the distilling process since soju is no longer derived directly from rice but rather through using artificial sugars and potatoes or tapioca roots.

The fancy bottle hides a nasty surprise inside

I even tried a different soju that was distilled with turmeric, pears, and ginger to name a few ingredients. It didn’t go down so well since it tasted like vodka mixed with an herbal tea. So that’s a little blurb for you liquor-only drinkers. Next is for wine afficionados: bokbunja and flower wine.

Bokbunja is a traditional Korean blackberry wine that was exquisite. It tasted similar to a Western sweet red variety or for those who are not well versed in wine types, it had a very high sugar content. Ergo, it seemed closer in taste to fruit juice in comparison to a more intense and full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. Another fun fact about this delicious Korean wine is that supposedly it promotes mens’ sexual health and drive. Personally, I didn’t feel any sort of heightening of my sexual spidey senses or anything like that. Perhaps it’s just another gimmick to sell more wine. As for the flower wine, I have sampled two varieties: Baekhwaju and another variety that I don’t know the name of. The Baekhwaju is made with over 100 different flowers (Baek in Korean means 100), and it was very smooth. It was like drinking a chamomile tea with minimal alcohol aftertaste. The other bottle was a bit more intense in regard to flavor, and I think that it might have been Dugyeonju which is made with azalea petals. It was slightly more viscous than the 100 flower wine which also added a texture factor that I didn’t particularly enjoy. Moving on from that slightly negative note, next is a rice wine that I greatly relish in imbibing.

Makkoli is a rice wine that I actually really enjoy compared to the other Korean beverages I’ve tried so far. I knew Japan had its signature sake rice wine, but I didn’t know that Korea had their own version of it. While sake is consumed either cold or warm, Makkoli is typically consumed while cold. It’s a blend of rice, wheat, and water which ends up as a drink that looks almost like milk. The first time I had Makkoli was during our orientation trip to Ganghwa island outside of Incheon, and we had lunch at a peasant village with a Korean tour group. While we were eating our kimchi and chapchae, a bright green bottle caught my eye on the table. I poured some of the milky liquid into my cup, and I was very satisfied with the taste. It was almost like drinking a carbonated vanilla milkshake minus the richness of the butterfat and instead had a slight alcohol aftertaste. Still, not too bad, and I definitely enjoy it more than drinking soju even though both have very low alcohol percentages. Then there is Korean beer…

Buying mekju in Korea is buying in bulk

Asia really isn’t known for having amazing beer like traditional brewmasters Germany, England, and the USA due to varying local resources, but Korean breweries have seemingly modeled most of their beers off of many of the large American lagers like Budweiser and Coors. The three biggest brands are Hite, OB, and Cass. I’ve tried all three, and they’re nothing to brag about. They’re pretty run of the mill in terms of taste (minimal hops and quite thin in regard to body), but at least they’re affordable compared to foreign beers. Sadly they don’t have any dark beer to speak of, but beggars can’t be choosers when in a different place.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this special post celebration 60 wonderful posts of food and drink adventures. Raise a glass and here’s to 60 more!

2 Comments

Posted in Alcoholic, Beverages, South Korean and tagged authentic, Bar, Beer, Beverages, blackberry, flowers, health, Korea, raspberry, Reviews, rice, sexual, Travel, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

Red Bi Bim Bap, I Eat You Up

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Mark T

Hello or should I say, Annyeong haseyo to everyone out there! I have officially moved to South Korea, and I have already tried one of their signature dishes: dol sot bi bim bap. This blog post is going to be a bit different since you can basically get this dish anywhere in Korea, so instead I’m just going to provide my general impressions of the dish.

My precious

We just went to a really small place right by the hotel we’re staying in by the Incheon airport, but it was very welcoming. I decided to get the dol sot bi bim bap because I’ve had it before stateside, so I wanted to see how it would taste in the heart of the motherland (preview: delicious). If you’ve never heard of this meal before, it is a hot bowl that is filled with rice, carrots, bean sprouts, assorted greens, zucchini and cucumber to name a few ingredients. Plus, it had a raw egg on top that I had to stir along the sides of the pot in order for it to completely cook and mix among the veggies. I even gave it a healthy dose of gojuchang or red chili pepper sauce which supposedly was supposed to be spicy. Overall, I greatly enjoyed the bi bim bap since the vegetables like the cucumbers were fresh and flavorful. The rice was cooked to perfection with a slight crispiness thanks to the sesame oil used in the bottom of the stone dish, and the red chili pepper sauce had a slight kick to it but nothing too crazy for yours truly. I would liken it to maybe a Tapatio or Yucateco hot sauce level of spiciness. It was also accompanied with this very thin and flavorless broth that was filled with what seemed like green onions, but it was so bland that it was like drinking water. Oh well, at least I filled up on delicious rice and vegetables. I had my first Korean beer, Cass, which was not as terrible as I thought it was going to be after trying other Asian beers. I would liken it to a more flavorful Coors Light. So yeah, if you’re afraid of Korean cuisine, bi bim bap is a great starter dish.

1 Comment

Posted in Far East Asian Cuisine, South Korean and tagged authentic, Beer, Beverages, bi bim bap, dining, egg, Food, hot, hot sauce, Korea, peppers, restaurant, Reviews, rice, sauce, spicy, Travel. Bookmark the permalink.

One Tasty Mofo

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Mark T

Hello to everyone out there on the interwebz and welcome to another edition of Mastication Monologues! Since I’m finally recovering from the crazy Super Bowl weekend, this will be a relatively short post. Actually, it revolves around a restaurant/bar that I tried in downtown Chicago that apparently is one, or perhaps the, sports bar to watch Chicago sports or any event for that matter. I’m talking about Mother Hubbards located at 5 W Hubbard St Chicago, IL 60654.

I had actually never been to this place until someone suggested that we should check it out for Superbowl Sunday. Naturally, I am always down for a new adventure, so we made our way over to the establishment. As soon as we walked in, I could see what all of the hullabaloo was about. The walls were figuratively made of televisions, but it was definitely a good sign that I was not going to have to jerk my head about like a goon to catch a good view of the epic match-up between the Ravens and 49ers. Since I didn’t feel too hungry, I decided to go with something on the lighter side of the menu. I saw that they have the typical bar food like ribs, burgers, and Chicago hotdogs, but the “make your own grilled cheese” option seemed to be more fitting for my appetite at the time. There were so many options that I felt almost like a manically giggling Xzibit on Pimp My Sandwich, but I repressed my foodie urges to not scare our waitress.

“Yo dawg, I heard you like grilled cheez sandwiches, so we put grilled cheez sandwiches in your grilled cheez!”

I ended up choosing Chihuahua and Pepper Jack topped with Guacamole and fresh jalapenos on grilled rye bread. Plus, it came with a side of fries and a cup of homemade chicken vegetable soup.

When it finally came out, I was a bit underwhelmed by how small it seemed to be. It didn’t really seem to have the bombastic presentation of a previous grilled cheese restaurant we visited (See The Big Cheese). However, I was not planning on judging a sandwich by its crust. In reality, I found the sandwich to be a great fusion of Latino flavors with an American comfort food staple. Starting with the bread, it was pan-grilled to golden perfection, and the fleeting caresses of the caraway seeds provided an extra je ne sais quoi. The cheeses were plentiful but didn’t have very strong flavors. I know that the two aforementioned types of cheese aren’t blues by any means, but I would have appreciated a little more pop from the Pepper Jack. As for the guacamole, I’m not sure what separated it from the avocado option on the option, but it just seemed like they mashed up an avocado for my sandwich. There weren’t any discernible onions, tomatoes, and/or lime flavors that I am accustomed to tasting in any standard guacamole. It wasn’t a terrible spread but merely average. The jalapenos, on the other hand, were very fresh rings of seed packed flavor discs. They were crunchy and nipping my taste buds like a herd of feral Chihuahuas. Plus, I found that even though there was a generous helping of the guacamole on top of the jalapenos, not once did I fear for the safety of my sandwich. Normally these types of sandwiches with slippery spreads fall apart very quickly when you’re on a feeding frenzy, but Mother Hubbards makes a tasty and well-constructed bite to eat. As for the fries and soup, the fries were pretty tasty since they were golden and crispy and barely greasy. The soup was naturally the perfect side for the sandwich, and the hearty chunks of chicken and fresh carrots and onions fortified me against the bone-chilling Chicago winter gusts I encountered after the game. The entire dining experience was enjoyable, and the wait staff was very attentive throughout the game. Even though my team didn’t win, I felt I scored a mini-victory in choosing a tasty menu option.

So if you’re looking for a solid sports bar to watch your favorite team or a place to hold a boisterous get together with equally loud flavors, then come on down to Mother Hubbards!

2 Comments

Posted in American Cuisine, Barbecue, Burgers, Chicken Wings, Comfort Food, Pizza and tagged Bar, Beer, Beverages, bread, cheese, Chicago, Chihuahua, dining, Food, fried, grill, guacamole, hot, Illinois, jalpenos, latin, Mexican food, Pepper Jack, peppers, potatoes, restaurant, Reviews, Sandwich, sauce, spicy, Tex-Mex. Bookmark the permalink.

Another Grand Canyon

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Mark T

Hello everyone and welcome to the 45th edition of Mastication Monologues! Hooray for me and my wandering tastebuds! Today I will be reviewing a relatively new restaurant that I didn’t even know existed until I was given a free burger coupon for them from my dad. It’s called Canyons Burger Company and is located at 243 W 63rd St Westmont, IL.

Since I never really heard of this restaurant, I was walking into it without any sort of preconceived notions about their menu. However, I was surprised at the variety of burgers and other items they served like salads and chicken tenders. I decided to get the Blue Bayou burger since I seem to be in a Cajun state of mind as of late (see my previous post for Heaven on Seven) and a side of regular fries. They also offered onion rings and sweet potato fries, but I didn’t feel like being that big of a fatty after coming from the gym. Another great option that I liked was that they provided me a wide range of sauces and topping to choose from for free. Therefore, in addition to the blue cheese and Cajun seasonings, I got ketchup, mustard, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and sliced jalapenos piled on the burger. Once my order was entered, they gave me a number, and eventually they brought it to my table. It did take an unusually long time to cook my food since I was the only person in the place, but I’ll wait for food if it’s high quality.

Eventually my food was delivered, and upon first glance it looked quite delicious. Once I finished taking my pictures like a weirdo, I realized that there were no blue cheese crumbles as advertised on the menu. Instead there was a some sort of blue cheese spread coating the burger. Plus, the Cajun spices were not on the meat but rather on the cheese. Even though it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, I got to work on the burger. The first bite was delicious and flavorful with each element having its own voice amid a very busy flavor profile. The vegetables were fresh and crispy, and the beef was expertly grilled to a nice brown hue while still maintaining a good amount of juice for flavor. I really enjoyed the jalapenos because they were fresh and not pickled. All of which provided a crispy texture change and a spicy bite that hooked up well with the chipotle mayonnaise. The mystery blue cheese spread worked well with its powerful flavor made spicier with the Cajun seasoning. Even though it seemed like a real cheeseburger in paradise sans the terrible Jimmy Buffett singing, I didn’t enjoy the fact that the bottom bun seemed to disappear quicker than the top one. This became a serious problem towards the end of the burger when the chipotle mayo threatened the integrity of my burger through its own slippery yet savory self. Thankfully I possessed the dexterity to keep the burger intact, but I wish the bread they used was a bit more substantial. Taste-wise, it was ideal with a slightly buttery taste to bring out the richness of the beef but not overwhelming the other ingredients. As for the fries, it was a substantial amount for the price I paid, but it was not a case of quantity over quality. In my case, I prefer my fries to be on the softer side, so these golden-brown sticks were modicums of delectability. Plus, they were not overly salted/seasoned which drives me crazy sometimes like with the oft-praised Five Guys Cajun Fries that are seasoned into oblivion. By the time I finished the fries, I was thoroughly satisfied with the meal.

So if you’re looking for a burger place beyond the clown, the king, and that red-headed girl, try Canyons Burger Company!

Champpion of Burgers? Not Quite

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Mark T

Hello to everyone out there in the blogosphere to another edition of Mastication Monologues! Today I am going to be talking about a restaurant that I had been to before, but I never really tried their take on a classic type of burger. The restaurant I’m referring to is Champps Americana Restaurant located at 2301 Fountain Square Drive Lombard, IL.

The establishment is a typical American sports bar, but I did see an item on their menu that played to one of my culinary weaknesses: spicy food. Now I have proclaimed my spice tolerance in previous blog posts, so I won’t go into much detail about my Man versus Food-esque type adventures. However, I did see the Firehouse Burger which was calling to me like a spicy south of the border senora. Vale, vengo ahorita, mi amor! I got it well-done (I know many meat-lovers will call me a savage for “burning” my meat), and it looked delicious when it was presented to me. According to the menu, I was face to face with probably a half-pound mound of beef festooned with red and yellow bell peppers, green chiles, poblano peppers, onions, Chipotle Tabasco, Cajun seasoning, pepperjack cheese, and fresh jalapeno peppers. These various ingredients separated this burger in my mind from other typical spicy burgers I’ve tried in the past.

Disregard the sweet potato fries and put in delicious waffle fries

Disregard the sweet potato fries and insert delicious waffle fries

Plus, it was accompanied with a mini-molehill of waffle fries. When I started on the burger, I had to slice it in half because I put everything on it, and I can’t unhinge my jaw like a python swallowing a baby hippo. Upon first bite, I realized that I was in for a messy time because they seemed to have doused the bun with Tabasco which in turn led the bun to become quite soggy. Naturally, my originally firm grasp of the burger deteriorated into a melange of cheese and peppers. Thankfully the extra gooey and tasty pepper jack managed to hold it all together like some type of magical dairy rubber cement. So this detracted from the meal’s greatness, and the mild bell and poblano peppers really didn’t do much for the burger. Sure, they added vibrant colors to the general beige background of a hamburger, but they were mushed into the background. However, the jalapenos were game-changers because not only did their vibrant verdant hue brighten up the plate, but their crisp texture and loud flavor allowed the true spice of the burger shine above the general muck of mild peppers. Once I finally demolished my main entree, I began chipping away at the waffle fries which were not quite golden brown but were still crunchy on the outside and fluffy white on the inside with minimal salt=perfect fries.

No CTA pass necessary for this deliciousness

Afterward, I found out that they had a drink special (I don’t know if it’s everyday or not) where I could get a pint of certain beers for only $2.50! That is quite good for the Chicago suburbs for those of you who are unaware. I decided to pick a pint of Goose Island’s Green Line. It’s a pale ale that has a golden hue, and I could smell a slight citrusy aroma wafting toward me during every sip. There was a clear bitter, hoppy bite to the brew, but it was not overwhelming like other IPAs. If you’re looking for stronger tasting beers, this would be the equivalent of sticking your toe in the swimming pool to see if you’re ready to do a cannonball into the wonderful world of beer tasting.

So if you’re looking for some interesting burgers or great drink deals, head on down to Champps! It’s not quite the m.v.p. of sports bars, but I think if they work on the fundamentals they could be in the pantheon of greats.

1 Comment

Posted in American Cuisine, Barbecue, Burgers, Chain Restaurants, Chicken Wings, Comfort Food, Tex Mex and tagged Bar, Beer, Beverages, bread, Burger, cheese, Chicagoland, dining, Food, fried, grill, hamburger, hot, jalapeno, peppers, potatoes, restaurant, Reviews, Sandwich, sauce, spicy, tabasco. Bookmark the permalink.

No Sticky Wickets

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Mark T

Hello everyone to another edition of Mastication Monologues! Today I will be doing a brief review of a restaurant where I tried something that I didn’t really expect to find on their menu. The restaurant in question is Wickets Bar and Grill located at 601 N Martingale Rd (at Woodfield Rd) Schaumburg, IL 60173.

I was meeting some college friends there just to catch up on things, and I didn’t know really what to expect from this establishment. Based off the name, I would have thought that we were going to be eating in an imitation English gastropub of some sort due to the cricket reference in the title. Instead, I walked into a very sleek sports bar that did not have a single Guinness poster anywhere or a cricket bat on the wall. The menu did have the usual litany of bar food items like nachos and burgers, but I began to see a pattern emerging that was downright confusing. Wickets offers different types of samosas for appetizers, a chicken tikka sandwich, and tandoori chicken skewers. Why was Indian food on a sports bar menu? My friend and I hypothesized that there was one Indian master chef who was called upon to make these delicious treats from his homeland. Either that or it was a nod to the popularity of cricket in South Asia and other British colonies. Menu construction theories aside, I decided to go for the two skewer platter and a Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale to drink.

I had already had this particular brew from Lagunitas before, but I knew that I couldn’t go wrong with this choice. If you haven’t had it before, it is an amber-colored beer with a clear hoppy taste that covers your palate initially, but at the end it gives you a little smooth sum sumpin’ at the end that makes you always come back for more. If you enjoy IPAs, I would recommend this beer to you.

Stomach don’t fail me now!

As for my entrée, I went with one skewer of beef with vegetables and the other with chicken tikka tandoori with vegetables. They were both served on a bed of basmati rice infused with herbs which was surrounded by golden flatbread triangles. Plus, I decided to get the cucumber chive yogurt sauce that was served on the side. Taken all together, these skewers were on point in terms of quantity and quality. If you are not really hungry, then you will take some of this home with you. The basmati rice with herbs was cooked to perfection, and the herbs provided the starch with whispers of rosemary and parsley. I used the flatbread wedges as pseudo-pizza slices to put the yogurt sauce on like sauce and then piled on the meat and rice which gave the meal an Indian vibe since I was eating with my hands which I always enjoy. The Tandoori chicken was actually quite tasty since it tasted exactly like the same dish I tried in some of the Indian restaurants I visited in London. If you never had Tandoori chicken, it is a type of specially cooked chicken coated with the right blend of cumin, turmeric, chili, and a slightly charred aftertaste. The beef was equally delectable since it was grilled completely through but still quite succulent. As for the veggies, it was a mix of mushrooms, green and yellow zucchini, bell peppers, and onions. All were adequately grilled, but they still maintained their original integrity which I enjoyed since sometimes over-grilling can lead to crumbling in vegetables with higher water content. Finally, the yogurt sauce was like mix between tzatziki and the Indian raita; the neutral yogurt element provided a cooling element to the slightly spicy tandoori chicken and the cucumbers and chives provided a texture change that interacted nicely with the semi-crispy flatbread.

Overall, I was stuffed and a satisfied customer. So if you’re looking for some delicious Indian influenced food in a very non-Indian environment, come on down to Wickets Bar and Grill!

1 Comment

Posted in American Cuisine, Barbecue, Burgers, Chicken Wings, Comfort Food, Indian, Middle Eastern/Mediterranean Cuisine, Pizza, Southeast/Southern Asia Cuisine and tagged authentic, Bar, Basmati, Beer, Beverages, bread, Chicagoland, chicken, dining, Food, grill, herbs, hot, Illinois, peppers, restaurant, Reviews, rice, sauce, spicy, Steak, tandoori, vegetables, yogurt. Bookmark the permalink.

Mastication Monologues

Tag Archives: Beer

When Irish Stomachs Are Shrugging

CBIK? Once In A Brew Moon Part Deux (with freshly baked cookies)

Craft Beer in Korea? Once In A Brew Moon

Troika: Hunger Sleigher

Hair of the Waygookin

Red Bi Bim Bap, I Eat You Up

One Tasty Mofo

Another Grand Canyon

Champpion of Burgers? Not Quite

No Sticky Wickets

Contact Information

Mastication Monologues Facebook Page

Follow Blog via Email

Archives

Categories

Search Posts

Tag Archives: Beer

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Contact Information

Follow Blog via Email

Archives

Categories

Search Posts