Sultan's Market Falafel

For a late (late) Sunday lunch, C and I headed up the street to Sultan's Market - a place that I'd been wanting to try since before we moved in. We're huge falafel fans (and c'mon, I'm Armenian) and love Middle Eastern food - plus it was supposed to be "cheap eats" and who doesn't love that?

We bused ourselves up Clark (it was freezing) and ordered up two falafel pitas with hummus. As we were on the late side (3:30pm) there was a lot of empty space in the hot bins, though the salad bar was fully stocked with cheeses, olives, pickled peppers, and tabbouleh. We skipped that in favor of something warm and crunchy.

The young guy making our pitas was generous with the falafel and hummus and all the extras - we ordered them "medium spicy" and the proportion of everything was great. The falafel was a little dry, to be honest, but the cucumber-yogurt sauce and the hummus helped. I was surprised that the falafel weren't hot - they were warm at best...and I just think that all falafel should be crispy, warm goodness. I am giving them the benefit of the doubt, due to the timing of the lunch (which I keep saying) so we'll see what happens the next time.

Side bar point - what a great website?! For a local chain and quick-service restaurant, I was very impressed.

Also, I would like to point out that, in comparison, I prefer the falafel at Taza (on Franklin, in the loop). I am going to get C over there for his perspective and we'll write something up!

Birthday dinner!

Well, I hit the big 2-8 last Thursday and was coerced into eating and drinking and merry making because of it. For several days. It was wonderful.

Due to my overwhelming love of Avec, I requested that we go to Blackbird - the upscale sister restaurant to Avec. C obliged and made us 7:30 reservations...I point out the time only because when we walked in, it was quite empty. Usually, at least in my experience in Chicago, 7:30 is THE time to eat. We are generally later diners (8:30/9pm) and I've noticed that this is against the grain in Chicago. Anyway, when we walked in, we were seated at a nice banquette and our server showed up in a suit (Joseph Abboud according to the menu).

After selecting some vino, we settled in with the menu. Blackbird does that thing where they basically list ingredients: salad of endives, crispy potatoes, basil, dijon, pancetta, and poached egg. Personally, I love this, then there are less questions. But, again, I digress.

I ordered the delicious salad above (and pictured below) and Chris ordered the mussel soup.
I would highly recommend both. The salad comes in this crispy potato fortress and is stacked high with endive and mixed baby greens, sliced potatoes and herbs and topped with a perfectly poached egg. Tableside, they puncture the egg, split the fortress of potato and efficiently "toss" the salad. Every bite was amazing - I took a picture because I was so impressed - yes, I was that girl. The soup was poured in the way du jour with the contents served first and the broth poured delicately around. The mussels were plump and plentiful, though knowing C, the real winner was the broth - sweet, creamy, saffron, with a touch of shallots and wine. He mopped up every last bit of it with bread!

For dinner, I opted for a crispy cod fillet over parsnip puree and sauteed apples. It was a light, yet fall focused dish. I cleaned my plate. The fish was cooked perfectly crisp and flaky, and the hint of herbs (chervil and something I can't place!) added a freshness to each bite. C ordered the wagyu beef which was tender (though tiny) and came with a chestnut/onion thing which was unique...C loves potatoes, we should have ordered some on the side, but he enjoyed it.

The only disappointment (to me) was the dessert. I guess I was expected something with a little more depth...it was sort of like we got fried donut holes with chocolate...and ice cream. Here is there description: milk chocolate fritters with apricots, soy and rice milk sorbet.

All in all, the meal was exceptionally good - the service, the wine, the food, the atmosphere. I can see why it has the reputation it does...I know we will continue to enjoy their restaurants! By the way, when we left, the place was packed - jammed to the gills. So, perhaps all the late diners go to Blackbird?

Movember

So my friend Anna's husband (the honorable Brandon Haley) is helping save men everywhere from Prostate Cancer by participating in Movember.

Check it out - should be an interesting month!