Gaztro Wagon

This week’s schedule, Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: all over the city!

Gaztro-Wagon.

On their website, Gaztro-Wagon describes their food truck as “A curbside solution to your hunger” with “hand-crafted, modern street fare with a focus on seasonal availability and local partnerships.”  If all of that and the recent food truck craze that has swept major cities isn’t enough to interest you in the Gaztro-Wagon, keep reading.  Due to our obsession with The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network and food trucks in general, Rob and I read on Twitter this past weekend that the Gaztro-Wagon was going to be in Lincoln Square on Friday evening.  Although Chicago food trucks aren’t allowed to actually cook aboard their trucks, that hasn’t stopped a handful of enterprising chefs from stocking their trucks full of gourmet treats and roaming the streets of Chicago.  We hightailed it to Lincoln Square and were pleased to find the Gaztro-Wagon near Lincoln and Montrose with plenty of menu items still left on-board.  I ordered the corn beef reuben with warm cabbage slaw and provolone and Rob had the braised lamb with queso panela, apricots, walnuts, and peppers.  Both sandwiches were wrapped in a pita, not on bread, which was a welcome twist to ordinary sandwich cuisine and also kept the contents tasting fresh and warm.  We also shared a bag of plantain chips, which were crispy and had just the right amount of salt on them.  For $18, it was an inexpensive meal and a unique dining experience.  Be sure to check out the Gaztro-Wagon’s schedule and see if they’ll be in a neighborhood near you.

-Anna

Inside the Gaztro-Wagon.

Our plantain chips.

Rob’s braised lamb on the left and Anna’s reuben on the right.

Southport Grocery & Cafe
3552 N Southport Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Lakeview

Southport Grocery & Cafe (photo courtesy of Yelp).

Anna and I have been meaning to try the Southport Grocery & Cafe out and finally had an opportunity to check it out this weekend.  This boutique grocery store sells many upscale products for sale, but the real kicker is the fantastic cafe that offers breakfast and lunch all day long.  The cafe is cozy and the menu offers comfort food that is made from scratch and features local ingredients.  Anna had the sunflower dusted walleye pike sandwich that was topped with green tomato-sunflower sprouts and basil aioli.  I opted to try Southport Grocery & Cafe’s take on the classic steak and eggs breakfast.  My entrée included layered scrambled eggs, corn tortilla chips, black bean tomato salsa, queso fresco and of course steak that was cooked perfectly (tender, juicy).  I also ordered a mocha that ended up being my favorite part of our brunch.  After we finished eating, we browsed the market that was stocked full of gourmet treats like specialty olive oils, cheeses, pasta sauces, wine and many local food products direct from the city.  If you’re a “foodie,” Southport Grocery & Cafe is the place for you.

-Rob

Rob’s Mocha.

Anna’s walleye pike sandwich.

Rob’s steak and eggs breakfast.

3 Floyds Brew Pub
9750 Indiana Parkway, Munster, IN

3 Floyds.

Anna and I decided to give you a special 52 Weeks in Chicago post that takes place just outside the city in Northwest Indiana.  We are both huge fans of 3 Floyds and love that their unique and tasty beers can be found on tap at most of our favorite bars throughout the city, so really it is only fitting we made the quick drive down to Munster to try out their brew pub before our trip to Los Angeles this past weekend.  3 Floyds Brew Pub doesn’t disappoint at all with its wide variety of beers on tap and guest beers that are available.  Anna had 3 Floyds Drunk Monk, which is a traditional Bavarian style Hefeweisse, that was very tasty.  I ended up trying 3 Floyds Topless Wych, a very full bodied and strong (9% ABV) Baltic Porter with hints of coffee and chocolate.  For dinner, Anna had an incredible grilled cheese sandwich with fries and I went with the duck sandwich that made the drive to Indiana very worth it.  We highly recommend taking a trip to 3 Floyds Brew Pub; it is the perfect place for friends to get together that have a strong appreciation for microbreweries and a menu that is constantly changing every day.  

-Rob

Anna’s Drunk Monk on the left and Rob’s Topless Wych on the right.

Rob’s duck sandwich.

Anna’s grilled cheese sandwich.

Fontano’s Subs
20 E Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Loop

Fontano’s.

The Loop is pretty limited when it comes to eating options (unless you actually enjoy eating fast food or Potbelly’s for the millionth time).  Fontano’s has been Rob’s secret sandwich spot for a several years now and I recently went there with him for the first time.  Featuring real Boar’s Head cold cuts—you won’t find any processed meat here—Fontano’s blows every other Loop sandwich shop out of the water with their custom sandwich creations.  You can also create your own sandwich too, and their sizes range from the typical 6”, 8”, or foot long sub to the 16” or three foot long office party-friendly size.  Rob got the American sandwich, with ham, salami, bologna, American, swiss cheese, and veggies, and I got the Roast Beef, with provolone and veggies.  Instead of eating in their small eat-in area (be warned that they tend to get busier during lunchtime), we took our sandwiches to Millennium Park and enjoyed our amazing lunch in the park together.  If you ever find yourself searching for a good downtown lunch spot, Rob and I are letting you in on the best kept secret the Loop has to offer.  Try Fontano’s once and you’ll find yourself going down to the Loop just to get your fix.

-Anna

Rob’s American sandwich.

Anna’s Roast Beef sandwich.

Birchwood Kitchen
2211 W North Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Wicker Park

Birchwood Kitchen.

Birchwood Kitchen is a counter-service restaurant that is fairly new to the Wicker Park neighborhood (they opened up shop last year).  Anna and I were a little disappointed that we didn’t check it out sooner, because it was absolutely phenomenal.  Birchwood’s menu features a lineup of seasonal sandwiches that are made with locally produced products.  According to their website, the restaurant works “with a number of folks who share our commitment to quality and sustainability including Mint Creek Farms, Zingerman’s Creamery, and many others.”  I tried the Pork Belly sandwich that included sweet and sour pork belly, carrots, pickled onion, cilantro, jalapenos, all on a very fresh and soft baguette.  Birchwood has burger nights during the weekdays, so Anna tried the Southwest Turkey Burger that was well sized and included fresh greens.  Birchwood Kitchen also serves homemade pastries and coffee, as well as Sunday brunch.

-Rob

Birchwood’s interior.

Anna’s southwest burger.

Rob’s pork belly sandwich.

Riverside Cafe
1656 W Cortland St., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Bucktown

Riverside Cafe.

Riverside Cafe is supposed to have an amazing Sunday-only brunch, but Rob and I decided to forgo that for now and try out their lunch menu this past weekend.  Based on a recommendation from several friends, we’ve been wanting to try out Riverside for a little while now, especially since their menu is so varied—featuring everything from traditional sandwiches and soups to more adventurous Cuban and Mexican fare.  I stuck with a traditional reuben sandwich with corned beef and 1000 island dressing and Rob opted for a chipotle chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato on a kaiser roll.  Both of our sandwiches were really delicious and well-made and insanely cheap at just under $8 apiece.  Riverside has so much to choose from that it’s definitely worth several visits just to take it all in.  I’m sure Rob and I will be back again soon.

-Anna

The deli counter where you can get sandwiches, salads, desserts, and other goodies to go.

Anna’s reuben sandwich.

Rob’s chipotle chicken sandwich.

Bari Foods
1120 W Grand Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: West Loop

Bari Foods.

I’ve tried many amazing sandwiches in my life, but the Italian sub I had from Bari this weekend may go down in history as one of the best I’ve ever eaten.  Rob and I had been wanting to go to Bari Foods in the West Loop for the past year or so (I’ve never been and he went once about six years ago) and we finally decided to go this weekend.  When you walk in, there are several narrow aisles with various Italian grocery essentials, all of which lead to the back of the store where the deli counter resides.  Besides the 9” Italian sub that Rob and I both got ($4.75 each, so cheap!), there are many other sandwiches to choose from, as well as salads, bread, and choice meat cuts.  After we left Bari, we decided to stop at D’amato’s Bakery next door, which Rob will discuss in part two of this entry.  Once we got home and tore into our sandwiches, I realized that my initial reservations about not being able to eat a 9” sandwich were fleeting and before I knew it, the entire sandwich was gone.  With their fresh ingredients, crispy Italian bread, and excellent cold cuts, there’s a reason Bari is a trusted name when it comes to Italian delicacies in Chicago.

-Anna

The deli counter aka where the sandwich magic happens.

It tastes even better than it looks, trust us.

Julius Meinl
3601 N Southport Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: Lakeview

Julius Meinl.  Photo Credit: Julius Meinl’s website.

Julius Meinl is a Vienna-based company that is a leading manufacturer/retailer of coffee, gourmet foods, and other such products.  Oddly enough, they also have two restaurants/coffee shops located in Lakeview and Lincoln Square in Chicago.  Tonight, Rob and I decided to check out the one in Lakeview with my aunt, who recommended it to us.  We started off with their delicious coffee drinks (decaf German chocolate macchiato for me and strawberry hot chocolate for Rob), feasted on their reasonably priced and incredibly fresh sandwiches (turkey avocado for me, turkey on brioche for Rob), and finished the night off with some decadent dessert (nutella crepes for me, blueberry jam crepes for Rob).  Needless to say, it’s been several hours and I’m still so full I can barely function.  Julius Meinl is true to its European roots and is a wonderful restaurant whether you’re in search of a good cup of coffee or tea, or just want to have a cheap (but tasty) lunch with friends.

-Anna

Anna’s German chocolate macchiato.  All of their drinks are served on trays, European-style.

Rob’s turkey on brioche sandwich.

Anna’s nutella crepes.  Yes, they are just as amazing as they look.