Tag Archives: Italian

San Diego (Day 3): A Sweet Sendoff (Il Fornaio and Phil’s BBQ)

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Mark T

It has finally come to the end of the line for the San Diego travelogue, and perhaps my last blog post in a long time to come as I begin my journey through graduate school tomorrow. I’ll try my best to post on her, but life has a funny way of hijacking my best material. As always on Mastication Monologues, I plan on highlighting the culinary stops we made along the way during our travels as well as any fun or exciting events of note. Day three was much more laid back than day one or day two aside from a little shoe scare toward the end of our trip.

As we woke up from our deep slumber from the crazy night before, we were definitely feeling the results of dancing and indulging ourselves all night long with great company. Thankfully, the newlyweds were hosting a farewell brunch for guests at another eatery on Coronado Island called Il Fornaio or “The Baker” in Italian. It was one of seemingly a million Italian eateries strewn about San Diego, but it was clearly inspired by the signature villas one could find in the Tuscan countryside with the sand colored walls and arbor vitaes lining the entrance. On the inside, it was light and airy with exposed woodwork and a kitchen that was open to the public eye. While we didn’t eat from the official menu since it was picked out to be more wide ranging for the multitude of guests’ palates, the waffles, eggs, and sausage that were provided were all excellent, especially the fluffy waffles topped with a spritz of whipped cream and some freshly sliced strawberries. We didn’t touch any of their alcoholic offerings like their signature mimosas or bellinis (a nod to the classic Venetian drink at Harry’s Bar), but they didn’t mess around when my fiancee asked for her personal elixir of life: Diet Coke.

Now that’s service!

Once finished with chowing down on the delectable morsels, we strolled out onto the outdoor patio that overlooked the entire San Diego skyline. A breathtaking view for a trip that has felt the same way at certain points due to the immense amount of activities that were planned. We were under the canopy, soaking up the last few rays of humidity free weather, when suddenly Janice remembered she didn’t have her high heels from last night. I quickly traced our Uber driver down online and called him. Luckily, he had them in the back of his car, and offered to drive to the restaurant to drop them off. After we wished the Cua and Ng family goodbye and thanked them for their hospitality, our Uber driver arrived right on time with the goods. It seemed like nothing could stand in our way on this perfect vacation. Not even when we looking for a place to satisfy our rumbling stomachs as we waited for our plane. As mentioned in my day one post, the wedding party hosted a rehearsal dinner with barbecue catering. Lo and behold, Janice and I ended up eating at the same company’s franchise location in San Diego’s airport: Phil’s BBQ. After looking over their full menu of chicken, ribs, salads, sandwiches, and fixin’s, I decided to share a quarter rib dinner with Janice ($10). It included four of their ribs and with two small sides or one large side. We opted for the former choice in the form of potato salad and macaroni salad. It also came with a side of cornbread which might not be offered at their main restaurant locations. The ribs were smaller than the gargantuan ones offered at Sabrina and Thompson’s rehearsal dinner, but that didn’t mean that they were lacking in flavor. The tomato-based sauce was on the sweeter end with not much of a smoky profile to it. They weren’t as mouth-wateringly transcendent than the Twin Anchor ribs back in Chicago, but they were better than some fancy Italian dining at Sbarro. The sides were competently made but nothing of note. I did enjoy the cornbread that was warm and soft without the waterfall of crumbs that typically accompany each bite of cornbread. I’d recommend trying Phil’s BBQ if you have a layover and want to try some Ohio style bbq, but it isn’t a must for any traveler. At least the food was more satisfying than the Euro 2016 final between Portugal and France we watched. By the time we were boarding, Ronaldo was lifting the trophy, elated beyond words, while we were less than enthused to come back to reality after such a wonderful time. Perhaps the West coast really is the best coast after all that we saw, experienced, and tasted. Until next time, readers! Keep on traveling and eating!

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Posted in American Cuisine, Barbecue, Breakfast, Chain Restaurants, Mixed Drinks, Non-Alcoholic, Soft Drink and tagged airport, bbq, bread, corn, Coronado, cream, Food, Il Fornaio, Italian, macaroni, pasta, pork, potatoes, salad, San Diego, sauce, strawberries, Travel, waffles, whipped. Bookmark the permalink.

Laissez Les Bons Boefs Roulez!

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Mark T

Beef. The quintessential meat. Hearty and filling, it can be found throughout many different cuisines served in very different forms. If you visit Chicago, you can sample some of the best steaks in the country. We used to be the butcher for the world with the Union Stockyards, but they have gone the way of smoking on airplanes and pay phones.

So. much. beef.

The Union stockyard gate then…

and now

Still, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a great porterhouse or t-bone. If you’re not in the mood to drop some major paper on some of that red stuff, there are cheaper alternatives. Enter another Chicago institution: the Italian beef sandwich. While other US cities have sandwiches that could be considered distant cousins to this hearty and humble meal like Philly’s cheesesteak or Pittsburgh’s Tommy DiNic’s Italian pork sandwich, the Chicago version is the best, I think. In fact, it is so popular here that there are many restaurants that claim to have the best Italian beef sandwich in the city. Today’s restaurant review revolves around one of the biggest names in the beef biz: Mr. Beef.

Two of the biggest names in the city are Al’s Beef located in the Little Italy neighborhood and Mr. Beef on Orleans in the River North neighborhood. Their rivalry is so notorious that it was featured on Travel Channel’s Food Wars. I won’t spoil it for you, but I disagree who the real winner is. Anyway, for those of you who haven’t been to Chicago, an Italian beef sandwich is one of those “must”s for Chicago tourists to try. It’s in the holy trinity of a Chicago hot dog, deep dish pizza, and the holy beef sandwich. It arose from the Italian immigrant community’s need to make the meat last longer, so they sliced it thin, stewed it with spices, and slapped the tender meat on a fresh roll. Thus, the Italian beef sandwich was born. While I was working at a Mexican university that was located right next to the restaurant, I knew I had to pop over to try it since I’ve walked past it a million times but never tried their sandwiches. So, I finally fulfilled my vow, and walked in to see a shop that is similar to other Italian delis with lots of pictures on the wall and a deli counter at one end with no fancy decorations. Scanning the menu, I saw the beef sandwich I wanted, but it was 7 bucks. I couldn’t believe how expensive it was compared to their competitors, so I was expecting this sandwich to justify the price tag. I got it spicy which means that I got giardiniera on top. I think giardiniera is also a Chicago thing since it comes from the Italian community also and consists of a mix of pickled vegetables and chili peppers in olive oil. However, you can get it mild with cooked bell peppers or with no peppers at all. Then there’s the juice factor. You can get it dry or juicy, i.e. dipped in the same herb tinged broth the beef soaks in. I always get mine juicy since it adds more flavor to savor, but you can get it dry to enjoy the freshness of the bread and the delicious beef. After the brusque cashier took down my order, they set to making my sandwich. As I was looking at the menu I saw they had other typical fast food staples like burgers, hot dogs, and sides like fries and onion rings. Eventually, I finally got my sandwich and was ready to see what all the hubbub was about. I got a seat in the back room at one of the super long tables you share with your fellow diners. Once I opened up my wrapped up treasure, it looked mouth-watering. From the bright verdant giardiniera to the fresh bread, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into dat beef. The first bite was quite satisfying with a good ratio of bread to meat, but it lacked that spicy flair that comes with other dipped Italian beef sammiches. The beef was tender and flavorful, but the giardiniera left something to be desired. While other Italian eateries have a generous blend of veggies, I wasn’t a fan of the mainly celery based mix atop my meal. It wasn’t as fiery as other spicy sandwiches which made it lose points, but it was innovative in the sense that the giardiniera was extremely crunchy to provide a bit of different texture to the mainly chewy sandwich.

So in the end, would I say Mr. Beef is the be-all, end all of Italian beef in Chi-town? I’d say no. It lacks the ingredient complexity of their competitors, and the relatively expensive price tag took it down a couple notches in my book. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try this fixture on the Chicago food scene. It’s just a different take on a hometown classic, so maybe it will be better for you than for me. Happy hunting!

Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Mark T

Well, the weeks in October are just flying by. I can’t believe that October is almost finished, and Halloween is a week away. My Game of Thrones costume idea has hit a snag, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out in time. If not, I’m really in for a scare. However, one eatery that is anything but scary is Rose Angelis in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago.

Chicago has a mountain of Italian eateries that run the gamut from bare bones like Bombacigno’s to high end dining like at RPM, so choosing one is an easy task. However, finding one with high quality food at low low prices is often times a difficult task. Enter the aforementioned Rose Angelis. I had never heard of this place before I was being whisked away to it with my girlfriend for her bday din din with her girlfriends. The outside was simple yet elegant, and the inside was just the same. As we walked through the establishment, it was furnished with paintings of Italian landscapes and small white lights. The Christmas light motif was continued outside on the patio which set the scene for the perfect date night if you’re looking to do one next year (let’s be real, there’s nothing romantic about eating outside in the middle of a Chicago winter). They were strewn overhead from one end to the other as we took in the atmosphere and the menu. After ordering a bottle of rose and chianti, we got an order of antipasti in the form of the melanzane miniature alla parmigiana ($7.95) and the caprese roll. The former translated to inglese is just eggplant Parmigiana or bascially baked slices of eggplant topped with marinara sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese. While there was plenty to go around, I personally wasn’t wowed by this dish. It was mostly well done aside from the eggplant which I thought was kind of on the mushy side instead of being firm yet tender. I was more of a fan of the caprese roll since it combined fresh and slightly chewy buffalo mozzarella that then contained molto thin pieces of salty prosciutto and topped with basil leaves and a tart vinaigrette. Then for my entree I ordered the pollo Florentino (chicken Florentine) ($19.95). This dish was the embodiment of the abbondanza Italian food culture, i.e. lots of food=lots of love. The two hulking panko-coated chicken breasts were napping on a puffy bed of risotto surrounded by semi-spicy marinara sauce. When I cut into these giant piece of poultry, the provolone and spinach flowed forth like a rich artery-clogging river of deliciousness. It was quite decadent, and if you aren’t super hungry, don’t expect to finish this meal in one sitting. You will need a doggie bag…or two. However, even though it was a giant plate, that doesn’t mean that the quality suffered. The chicken was high quality and the risotto was delectable when combined with the marinara that had more of a smoky flavor than spicy. As if that wasn’t enough, since it was my girlfriend’s birthday, they brought out a slice of cheesecake to celebrate. I had a tiny forkful, but it was molto bene, i.e. just the right amount of creamy and cool cheese with crumbly but firm cinnamon infused crust.

In closing, Rose Angelis is one of those small Italian restaurants you’ve never heard of but with plenty of larger than life flavors and portions for great prices. I highly recommend Rose Anglelis to anyone who loves Italian food and/or is looking for a romantic dinner date place.

Bittersweet Symphony

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Mark T

The summer is slowly but surely winding down, Mastication Monologues readers, but that doesn’t mean that the posts are going to be slowing down as well. While things have been getting a bit tenser on the job front with my federal application, I always manage to forget about my troubles with a good meal like at Paisan’s Pizzeria in Berwyn, IL.

Throughout Mastication Monologues, I’ve tried pizza in various parts of the United States and world, and have weighed in on what my personal preferences are when it comes to the doughy delight. So, I thought that perhaps Paisan’s could offer yet another dimension on the beloved Italian food. I mean, the name of the place roughly translates to “friend/brother/sister/partner” in Italian, so already it exuded a welcoming atmosphere before I even set foot in the place.Upon walking into the establishment, my parents and I were awed at the overall size of the interior and design of this modern bar and grill. It was like Portillo’s minus all of the faux 1920’s Prohibition gangster crap festooning the walls. Instead, it had more of an industrial garage feel that felt edgy yet safe enough to have family gatherings there (which they do do in the back in their banquet rooms). As we walked past tables full of happy customers and gawking at the exposed ductwork, we were seated in a larger, more open dining area that was distinguished by two large aquariums. There were three fish in one tank, but these puppies could have been mistaken for Leviathans. The white one, who I dubbed “Moby Dick”, actually let me take his picture.

Thar he blows!

After meeting these aquatic locals, I looked over Paisan’s menu. It was the embodiment of the Italian abbondanza (abundance) food culture where there was something for everyone to eat including appetizers, salads, wraps, barbecue, sandwiches, flatbreads, pasta, and pizza. My family and I decided to go for the final option since I had a hankering for a good slice. Paisan’s offers all varieties of pizza including specialty pies, thin crust, extra-thin (read: New York City pizza), deep dish, stuffed, and Sicilian style which is like pizza made of foccacia. Since we didn’t want to wait around for the thicker pizzas that take at least an hour to cook, we just ordered a cheese and sausage family size (16″, serves 3-4 people) thin crust pizza ($18).

It took about thirty minutes for the pizza to come out to our table, and I was starving by that time. It passed the visual inspection with plenty of cheese and sausage covering the crust along with a perfectly bronzed and flour dusted crust. I could tell this was authentic to Chicago’s pizza culture since it was cut in squares or more commonly known as a “party cut” since it’s easier to grab at a party along with giving more slices to more people. However, much like the debate over who has the best pizza in Chicago, the polemic rages over which cut is better: traditional slice or party? Square or slice, I quickly tore into this beauty. It was a nearly perfect pizza aside from two features I didn’t care for. First, the sausage wasn’t seasoned with spices that give the pizza a slight herbal kick with each bite. I assume that’s why Paisan’s has shakers full of oregano on each table to compensate for the absence of said seasonings. The only other aspect of this meal I didn’t enjoy was the sauce. There was a bit too much on it for my liking, and it had a sweet aftertaste that left me with a sour taste in my mouth. While some enjoy the contrast of sweet in a typically savory dish, I’d get just a cookie pizza if I wanted some of the sweet stuff on my pie. These two negatives didn’t put much of a damper on the meal since I really enjoyed the copious amounts of cheese that covered every square inch of the slices, and the crust was crispy and neither burnt nor undercooked. We polished off the pizza and were satiated.

After leaning back and feeling the food baby growing within me, I was happy but not blown away by the pizza. It was competently made, but I could go elsewhere and find better in Chicago like at Apart or Home Run Inn. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any room for their mouth-watering desserts or tempting gelato. Oh well, until next time, my friend!

Aiming to Cheese

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Mark T

“The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again.”

– George Miller

While many different countries have certain culinary stereotypes that may or may not be true like the British being terrible cooks (try a pasty and get back to me) or Indians only serving spicy food, one interesting cultural interaction in the kitchen is between Italian and Italian American cooking. While both emphasize fresh ingredients that often times circle around staples like olive oil, tomatoes, and a feisty nonna (grandmother) who’ll put you in your place if you mess around in the kitchen, there is a clear difference in presentation and dishes that exist in the USA that would never happen in Italy.

Made in America

Italians have always enjoyed big meals, and when large waves of Italian immigrants initially came to America, they couldn’t really afford much food or had to stretch their resources to make do. Thus, one icon of Italian American food culture in Chicago was born, the Italian beef sandwich. However, as time went on, the concept of abbondanza or “abundance” came to the fore as more and more Italian immigrants and their children were able to integrate into American society and earn a decent wage. With extra money, came extra ingredients to classic Italian plates to show to the world that these often times poor Southern Italians had finally made it in America, i.e. more cheese, sauce, and meat. Their legacy survives today from coast to coast especially in Chicago and New York City. I do love my Italian food, aside from pasta (yes, I know I’m a weirdo), and Papa Joe’s in Orland Park is a good family restaurant serving down-home Italian cooking.

Upon walking into the establishment, we were greeted by the strains of Old Blue Eyes and Deano. We went there for my cousin’s graduation party (congrats, Jen!), and there seemed to be an initial confusion with the reservation. It was a mere hiccough as we were quickly suited at the far end of the lower section by the wrap-around bar. I wouldn’t recommend sitting there since the some of the air vents on the ground might make it harder to roll your chair back when getting up and down from your table. Floor plans aside, the wait staff was competent and started us off with baskets of fresh bread. These piping hot bread orbs were wrapped up in cloth, and were pre-sliced which I enjoyed. The crust was a bit thick for my liking, but it had a nice crunch and an almost pretzel-esque flavor. My favorite part was the warm, white interior that was ideal for mopping up the olive oil and Parmesan cheese dust on my plate. Using butter on such a loaf wouldn’t be too Italian of me now. After that, we had a few salads places along our table including a typical mixed green salad, a pasta salad, and then a cucumber salad I was especially fond of. It was soaked in a vinaigrette that also had flecks of pungent goat cheese to counter the tangy and smooth cukes. The tomato pieces also added a bit of color to the mainly green plate. Once we moved beyond these antipasti, we ordered our main dishes. The menu was long and filled with Italian favorites like a plethora of pastas, meat dishes, chicken dishes, paninis, pizzas, fish dishes, and appetizers. I went for the chicken parmigiana ($14.95) since it was another dish I missed from home while I was in Korea. We also got a free cup of soup on the side, and that day’s choices were either cream of chicken or minestrone. I plumped for the former.

The soup came out first, and it was delicious. I liked to dip the bread in it since it softened up the thick crust. There were large nuggets of chicken in the creamy, pastel yellow broth along with a few slices of celery and carrots. After quickly downing that small but rich appetizer, my selection finally was placed in front of me. A chicken parmigiana consists of breaded and fried chicken cutlets that are then covered in marinara sauce and a hefty layer of mozzarella cheese. Papa Joe’s also offered veal and eggplant parmigiana. My poultry version was great. The tomato sauce was savory and buoyed the gooey cheese that topped the crispy and juicy chicken breasts. It was all white meat that left me extremely full after just one piece. My meal also came along with a side of pasta, but I managed to swap it for mixed cooked vegetables that were sauteed and delectable.

So if you’re looking for a cozy and authentic Italian restaurant in the south suburbs of Chicago, pay a visit to Papa Joe’s.

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Posted in European Cuisine, Italian and tagged bread, cheese, chicken, Italian, oil, olive, Orland Park, Parmesan, salads, sauce, soups. Bookmark the permalink.

In the Garden of Eatin’

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Mark T

“What’s beef? Beef is when you make your enemies start your Jeep
Beef is when you roll no less than thirty deep
Beef is when I see you guaranteed to be a ICU, check it”
-Notorious B.I.G.

While my gangster friend, Biggie, had other ideas about what “beef” meant to him in a serious context, today’s Mastication Monologues post is much more lighthearted. While I could be considered a culinary hitman who is hired for his discerning palate and ruthless ability to deal with difficult dining experiences, I was working pro-buona at this latest establishment, Buona Beef that is.

While Philly has their cheesesteak and NYC has their monstrous pastrami sammiches, Chicago’s sandwich is one that was born out of poverty. When Italian immigrants used to work in the Union stockyards of Chicago, they would bring home the lower quality, tougher pieces of meat. So what would be the easiest way to stretch these meager resources for a meal? Easy. First, they wet roasted it in a beef broth seasoned with garlic, oregano, and other spices. Then, they’d slice the meat extra thin to feed the most amount of mouths with the least waste possible. These paper-thin pieces of meat were thrown back into the broth to soak up all of the flavor from the roasting period for maximum deliciousness. From there, the Italian immigrants put the beef on Italian bread loaves, and thus the Chicago Italian beef sandwich was born. While the times and customers have changed, the cooking process has stayed the same. Enter Buona Beef. This franchise started back in 1981 by the Buonavolanto family who brought Neopolitan family recipes to the mainland and brought them to the American public. Buona Beefs can be found all throughout the Chicagoland area but nowhere else in America. I went with my parents to the location in Darien, IL, and it was a pleasant dining experience. The service was quick, and the prices are reasonable. The menu ranges from pizza, salads, pasta, and of course, da beef sandwiches! I got the regular 7″ sandwich ($5.50), but they also have piccolo (small) and maggiore (large) sizes. While most sandwich restaurants ask if you want everything on it, ordering an Italian beef sandwich could almost sound like a script Ron Jeremy could read. One can be asked if they want it juicy/dipped (dipped in the beef broth), dry (sans broth), hot (with hot giardiniera on top), or sweet (with sweet peppers on top). While my mom went for the more subdued sweet, dipped sandwich, I kicked it up a notch by getting a hot dip. This is definitely where I parked my car. While Buona Beef offers various desserts like cannoli, brownies, gelato, and lemon knots, I knew I had to try their new maple bacon shake ($3.25) which apparently diners have been scared to try. Since I was the first to do so, the manager was overjoyed that I ordered it. With our orders in, we took our number, and waited for them to bring us our food.

After a brief wait, our sandwiches came out along with the shakes. I hadn’t had one of these bad boys since coming back to America, and when I laid my eyes on it, I could remember why I missed this small, meat-laden piece of home. While I prefer the spicy over the mild, my mom’s sandwich still looked pretty good. I think they could have given her more of the roasted, sweet peppers though. As for my sandwich, it was a thing of absolute beauty. The bread was fresh yet glistening slightly with the juice of its beefy bathtub in the back. Plus, the vegetables, or giardiniera (jar-din-air, Chicago pronunciation), looked fantastic. Giardiniera means comes from the word in Italian for “garden” but actually means “pickled vegetables”. That’s why the version in Italy is called “sotto aceti” or “under vinegar”. However, there are slightly different takes on giardiniera depending on where you are. The West Coast version is closer to its Italian roots with just using vinegar, but here in Chicago we use olive oil. I’ve asked friends from across the US if they’ve heard of giardiniera, but it seems to be chiefly a Chicago thang. Typically, one can find a cornucopia of vegetables in the mild or spicy oil such as carrots, celery, olives, pimentos, cauliflower, and bell peppers. Everyone has their own favorite blend and brand like Greco’s for me. Even though they’re soaking in oil, the vegetables still maintain their crispy texture. compliments of the pickling process. After appreciating the beefy Botticelli in front of me, I finally took the first bite. Not only is the Italian beef sandwich unique in terms of ingredients and being a culinary representative of Chicago, but one must eat it in a certain way known as “the stance”. I’ll let the owner of Al’s beef, the mothership of Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago since 1938 in Little Italy, and Adam Richman explain it. Much like Mr. Richman, I was overwhelmed by the soft, juicy bread that encased the delicate pieces of garlic and oregano-laced beef. The giardiniera provided a much needed crunch and spice to offset the soggy sandwich. Naturally, my basket by the end of the meal looked like a sloppy slip-n’-slide, but it hit the spot. As for my shake, it was thick and topped with a few morsels of bacon. Upon sipping the ivory-hued beverage, I was immediately greeted with a wave of excruciatingly sweet maple flavor that dominated the shake for the most part until I reached the latter half.Once I finally dove deep enough, I could find and sample the crispy creatures hiding beneath the whipped cream. The smoky and salty flavor of the bacon combined well with the sweetness of the maple riffs, but it proved to be a bit overwhelming as I sampled the dregs. By the end, I feel like I drank a bottle of sugar syrup which didn’t settle well with me. I think if Buona Beef lightened up on the syrup and evenly distributed the bacon in a smaller portion size, they’d have a real hit on their hands.

So if you want to try a unique piece of Chicago’s culinary history without having to make the trek downtown to Little Italy, try Buona Beef!

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Posted in European Cuisine, Italian and tagged bacon, beef, Chicago, Chicagoland, drink, giardiniera, Italian, juicy, maple, shake, spicy, sweet. Bookmark the permalink.

Getting All Sazzed Up

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Mark T

Today, I’m going to write you a blog post you can’t refuse to read. If you have a hunger that cannot be satisfied with a typical burger or fried chicken joint, I found Sazio in Delray Beach. It’s an Italian eatery that truly believes in the idea of abbondanza or abundance as I “quickly” found out.

After working my way through Delray’s various food genres, I was in the mood to mangia some good Italian food. While I did see that there were various pizzerias up and down the happening Atlantic Avenue, I wanted to see if there was any restaurants that could take on more substantial representatives of the Italian food famiglia. This is where Sazio came into the picture. It was a bit further away from the beach, but that didn’t mean that they weren’t doing booming business the night I visited. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and I opted for the latter due to Delray’s impeccable weather even at night. The robotic but seemingly warm hostess told me it would be another 15 minutes for a table, but I saw there was a two-top (two person table in non-restaurantese) open on the patio. Having worked as a host in a restaurant before, I wasn’t going to hassle her about the table being open since I knew there were other seating arrangements they might use that table for. So I settled on looking at the menu while I waited. I could see they had a litany of sandwiches, salads, pastas, pizzas, and entrees. However, I was sad they didn’t really have any standards from Chicago like chicken saltimbocca or chicken vesuvio. Eventually, I was seated, but I had to once again wait at least 5 minutes for someone to come to my table similar to Lemongrass Bistro in my previous post. It seems that service is overall bit slower in the South compared to the North. Thankfully, I knew I wanted the chicken bruschetta sandwich ($10), so I just had to choose a drink. I went for a glass of the Ruffino Chianti 2009 that had fruity notes but a definite acidic bite for an aftertaste. As for my meal, it eventually came out, and it was quite intimidating. I think they might have sandwiched two full chickens between the fluffy, crustacular ciabatta bun halves. I slowly unhinged my jaw to take a bite, and after the first chomp I was impressed. Not only did they have monstrously large pieces of chicken breast in the sandwich but also a tomato relish, slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella, delicate arugula, and a balsamic glaze atop the mountain of greens to add a slight tang to the more mild mannered meal. The side salad was good but was a mere footnote when compared to the behemoth it shared a plate with. Sazio managed to reinvent a classic Italian antipasto with real gusto that left me one felice (happy) diner.

So if you’re ever in Delray Beach and are looking for a lot of good food for a reasonable price, check out Sazio on Atlantic Avenue!

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Posted in Alcoholic, Beverages, European Cuisine, Italian, Red Wine, Wine and tagged arugula, cheese, chicken, ciabatta, Delray Beach, Florida, Italian, mozzarella, Sandwich, Sazio, tomatoes, Travel. Bookmark the permalink.

London (Days 4 and 5)- When the Disco Hits Your Eye Like a Steak and Kidney Pie

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Mark T

As if day three in London couldn’t get any wilder, day four was extra crazy as my friends and I went off to have dinner at an Italian eatery called Bunga Bunga. It’s located in the Battersea area of London which is just south of the Thames nearby the posh Chelsea neighborhood. It was a dining experience unlike any other I’ve had in my life, so I hope this installation of Mastication Monologues can adequately describe the madness that is Bunga Bunga. I’ll also cover my pre-match meal before seeing Tottenham Hotspur play in north London later on in this post.

So, Bunga Bunga. If you aren’t up on your geo-political happenings or history in general, politicians are known as getting things done, both good and bad. In Italy, there is a man named Silvio Berlusconi (former prime minister of Italy) who is one part politician, one part business tycoon, and one part Lothario. That last part is where the restaurant gets its name from because “Bunga Bunga” is a joke that became synonymous with sex parties he threw for his friends and cronies complete with hookers, drugs, and bribes to keep everything hush hush…until recently when all of these allegations came to the surface.

Need I say more?

With all of this info in the back of my head, I was wondering what sort of mischief Bunga Bunga had in store for its diners. As soon as we walked in, I didn’t see any saucy vixens, but there was plenty of Italian kitsch adorning every square inch of the walls. We knew it was a unique place when the servers would randomly break into a choreographed dance routine accompanied by pumping Italo-techo music in the middle of the restaurant (much to their annoyance). I kind of felt bad for them since the novelty of it wore off after the first time. Anyway, we started our meal off with three fancy mixed drinks (12 pounds each) that ended up being fantastic and hilarious since they sported names of famous Italians. I got the BungaBunga which was served in the head of a winking Berlusconi. It consisted of gin, Martini Fierro, peppercorns, and grapefruit juice. It was light and spicy with a bitter aftertaste, kind of like Berlusconi’s eventual fall from grace. My friend Ravi got the SuperMario Monti (the prime minister of Italy post-Berlusconi) which was basically gin combined with muddled cucumbers which was cleaner and more refreshing than my cocktail.

My failed attempt at winking.

As for my friend Bob, he’s a big footy fan, so he went for the Chellsi Balotelli (maverick soccer player who now plays for AC Milan) that had rhubarb vodka, rhubarb puree, cranberry juice, lime juice, and bitters all of which made a sour and strong drink. Fitting for a man more known for his off the field antics and sulky personality. For appetizers, we then got a side of cheesy garlic pizzicato (5.95 L) and cheese and spinach bruschetta (6 L). The former was ok since it was starch combined with cheese, but I wouldn’t get it again since it was a bit too oily for my liking. As for the latter, I liked the addition of spinach to modify the traditional bruschetta recipe, but once again it was extremely oily that kind of put a damper on the meal. For the main course, we ordered three different pizzas (range: 9-13 pounds each). I got the Ruby Loves (11 L); Bob ordered Chef Share-issimo’s Favorito (13 L); and Ravi’s a vegetarian, so he got The Naughty Napolitano (10 L) that had gorgonzola and pears on top. Bob’s and my pizza were brought out on a long board like some sort of meaty centerpiece for a Roman feast. My choice consisted of N’duja soft sausage, salami, and cherry tomatoes. It was tasty with the savory and salty meats but greasy once again (notice a trend?). As for Bob’s side that contained rosemary seasoned lamb and chili, I liked it better because the lamb was expertly roasted and proved to be a lighter, less greasy topping compared to the pork products on my side.

So.much.grease.

I needed something to cut through the Mediterranean Sea of grease in my mouth, so I got their specialty, Ferrero Rocher gelato, for dessert. It did the trick as my palate was coated in a molto delicioso wave of semi-dark chocolate ecstasy with interspersed crunchy Ferrero Rocher candy pieces.

Free wine and ice cream. Veni,vidi, vici!

As the night went on, the place filled up with plenty of party goers as the stage was filled with a variety of performers like a cabaret singer, a magician, and karaoke singers.

Abra-ca-blabra. Make with the magic.

NOTE: If you want to go to the discoteca upstairs, make reservations for that in addition to your table. We made that mistake and were confined just to the first floor. Either way, it was a fun time aside from a brief upset stomach compliments of the greasy food. I recommend Bunga Bunga to anyone if you’re looking for a crazy dining experience, but I don’t think I would make it one of my regular haunts.

The following day was a bit rough given that we left Bunga Bunga, got crazy in the Clapham neighborhood, and didn’t make it home until 3 am. Thankfully, it was laid back as Bob and I just spent most of it watching football or soccer in Amurikan. Before watching the League Cup, Bob and I got lunch at a cafe nearby White Hart Lane. While I was contemplating doing the English breakfast that had everything I loved like hash browns and bacon, I decided to go more for a footy classic with a steak and kidney pie with tea on the side. I was disappointed with the pie and tea. The crust was ok, and the insides were coated with a peppery white sauce. However, they were missing a key ingredient: brown gravy drizzled over the top, and the tea looked anemic. As for the pea mash and chips on the side, they were passable. Those were enhanced with the addition of this mysterious “brown sauce” that was in a squeeze bottle on the table that I could only liken to a sweet gravy with a hint of sour aftertaste and a lighter ketchup consistency. This meal was as exciting at the Spurs vs. Cardiff match we saw, but maybe it just required a change of venue. The only highlight was seeing Adam Richman of Man vs. Food fame on the field! At least my last days in London would prove to be much more exciting.

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Posted in Alcoholic, Beverages, Desserts, English, European Cuisine, Gelato, Ice Cream, Italian, Mixed Drinks and tagged Berlusconi, bruschetta, Bunga Bunga, cheese, grease, ice cream, Italian, kidney, Monti, peas, pie, pizza, Steak, tea. Bookmark the permalink.

A Slice of the East

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Mark T

Hello everyone out there on the interwebz. Welcome to another edition of Mastication Monologues where I have been, as of late, exploring all the new foodstuffs that South Korea has to offer. Today I will be talking about a Far Eastern twist on a Western favorite: pizza. As with many things in the world, pizza has an unusual history in the sense that most people associate the main staple of college students with one country (Italy) when it actually came from a different one (China). Many historical scholars argue that Marco Polo allegedly brought it back from China and introduced it to the Italian peninsula which eventually led to the modern pie being invented in Napoli. Where I come from, Chicago, we have a special affinity for this Italian/Chinese treat which has led us to bump heads with New Yorkers over who has better pizza. Therefore, when I stepped into Pizza Maru in my neighborhood of Seo-gu, I didn’t know what to expect in terms of toppings. I was greeted by different Korean combinations like sweet potatoes and bacon or thin cream shrimp pizza. I went for the latter since it just seemed like a bizzare description, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was made with very thin and crispy crust that supposedly has 12 types of grains, black rice, and green tea. The toppings consisted of grape tomatoes, black olives, shrimp, cheese, oregano, and an alfredo-esque sauce. However, it was different from a typical pizza because it didn’t have tomato sauce but rather some sort of clear sauce that really didn’t taste like anything. It brought down the very flavorful pizza because it made the slices semi-soggy which is not a good attribute to have if your end pieces are nice and crispy. Overall, it was an okay pizza, but I don’t really see it giving European/American pizza a run for its money anytime soon. At least the presentation was a lot nicer than back at home.

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Posted in American Cuisine, Far East Asian Cuisine, Pizza, South Korean and tagged cheese, Chinese, crust, dining, dough, Food, Italian, olives, pie, pizza, restaurant, Reviews, sauce, shrimp, Travel. Bookmark the permalink.

79 A.D. (Always.Delicious.)

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Mark T

Hello to everyone out there and welcome to another edition of Mastication Monologues! Throughout the history of mankind, we have been plagued with many different types of natural disasters: earthquakes, floods, and volcano eruptions. The first two events are more common than the last one, but volcanoes seem to hold a special place in the place of the human mind in terms of threats from nature. They are so unpredictable and powerful like the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were completely covered in ash, and their inhabitants were flash frozen in lava casts. What does this have to do with food? Well, yesternight I tried the best Chicken Vesuvio ever at the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago, Italian Village, located at 71 West Monroe Street Chicago, IL 60603.

There are three different sections to the restaurant, and each area has its own theme. Even though it may sound a bit tacky/kitschy, we ended up dining in the quaint “Village” room upstairs. It was decorated with white lights strung across the ceiling like a big famiglia party I saw in San Gimignano, Italy, and there were mini village buildings along the walls that I assumed you could eat inside for an extra fee.

Che romantico

Upon looking at the menu, I could see that the establishment definitely was well stocked with plenty of Italian American favorites like different types of Parmesans and stuffed pastas. We even received the typical basket of pane italiano and crispy breadsticks without butter. The olive oil and Parmesan cheese they provided at the table were high quality and made a great combo with the fresh, semi-crusty bread. Between bites of the delicious carbs, I saw they served a classic Chicago Italian-American dish: Chicken Vesuvio. If I was going to dine at the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago, I might as well get a meal invented in the same city. This dish also had to cook for thirty minutes, so I ordered a glass of the Barbera red wine. Plus, since I ordered one of the entrees, I had the choice of soup or salad. I decided to plump for a side salad with ranch dressing. The salad itself was nothing special. It had the typical mix of lettuce, mixed greens, a tomato slice, julienned carrots, and just the right amount of semi-watery Ranch. I was surprised for how fast they delivered the salad to me that the vegetables were so fresh and delicious. Perhaps they don’t prefabricate their salads and are just speed demons on the cook line.

Cooking as good as nonna’s

After waiting patiently, my Chicken Vesuvio came out. I was face to face with half a chicken and roasted potato wedges. Both the potatoes and chicken were herb encrusted, deep brown, and cavorting with each other in a delicious pool of herbs and chicken drippings. Sounds kind of like a season of the Jersey Shore. I decided to scale this gastronomic volcano of deliciousness, and it erupted with flavor from the first bite of a potato wedge. The tubers were semi-crispy on the outside with hints of rosemary and oregano, and the insides were pure white like the snow of the Italian alps. As for the chicken, the chicken broth made the meat extra succulent since it was literally falling off the bone. The best part of the meal was combining the crispy skin with the juicy white meat and dipping it into the broth. My Barbera wine went well with this savory dish even though it wasn’t really red meat. This Piedmontese libation was slighty acidic but bold; two attributes that really brought out the herbs of the broth and chicken skin. A word of caution: there might be some splatter with the broth while you’re cutting the chicken. So if you’re wearing anything fancy on that first date, don’t get too excited while tucking into this festa italiana. Once the smoke settled from this smoking cauldron of deliciousness, I was stuffed and satisfied with my choice.

So if you want to experience a piece of authentic Chicago, Italian American cuisine, and/or believe that abbondanza is a virtue in cooking, remember that all roads lead to Italian Village!

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Posted in European Cuisine, Italian and tagged authentic, Bar, Beverages, bread, broth, Chicago, chicken, classic, dining, Food, Gourmet, grill, herbs, Illinois, Italian, oregano, potatoes, ranch, restaurant, Reviews, salad, sauce, tomato, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

Mastication Monologues

Tag Archives: Italian

San Diego (Day 3): A Sweet Sendoff (Il Fornaio and Phil’s BBQ)

Laissez Les Bons Boefs Roulez!

Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Bittersweet Symphony

Aiming to Cheese

In the Garden of Eatin’

Getting All Sazzed Up

London (Days 4 and 5)- When the Disco Hits Your Eye Like a Steak and Kidney Pie

A Slice of the East

79 A.D. (Always.Delicious.)

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