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-   -   What's for dinner? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/diningbuzz/226251-whats-dinner.html)

corky May 13, 2021 7:46 pm


Originally Posted by chgoeditor (Post 33249750)
Mexican!

Chips, salsa & guacamole
Crispy fish tacoSpicy shrimp tacoChicken mole taco

But... Total mess trying to get dinner.

Decided we would go to a casual American place we like. Parked, Mr CE paid the meter only to realize it was a 15m zone. Back in the car, drive half a block, parked, paid meter #2, went into the restaurant and didn't like the seating option (couch, not table) so left. Drive to another rooftop restaurant we like. This time I go in to make sure we can get a table, give Mr CE the thumbs up and he pays meter #3. At this point you'd assume he'd pay attention, but no... He gets to the table only to realize he can only put 5 minutes on the meter. At that point he is so frustrated that I go out and move the car (space #4, meter #4) a few spots down to where parking isn't time restricted. Get back into the restaurant, look at the menu only to realize they've seriously pared it back since we were last there. (Literally only 2 entrees.) Finish our drinks and fortunately there were tables available at the sister restaurant downstairs, where we were finally able to eat dinner without moving the car again!

OMG....I would have been looking at takeout after parking meter #2.
Did you end up eating at 9:00? 😁

ILuvParis May 13, 2021 8:02 pm

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a6b61867b.jpeg
My first attempt with, you guessed it, Rao’s pizza sauce! 😂Multicolored peppers and pepperoni. I finally got the caramelization right on the crust and loosened it before it got stuck on! I’m pleased.

chgoeditor May 13, 2021 8:36 pm


Originally Posted by corky (Post 33249754)
OMG....I would have been looking at takeout after parking meter #2.
Did you end up eating at 9:00? 😁

We left the house at about 6 and were home two hours later

gfunkdave May 13, 2021 8:50 pm

I sautéed some shrimp and put them in a salad. And wine.

gaobest May 13, 2021 9:38 pm


Originally Posted by ILuvParis (Post 33249788)
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a6b61867b.jpeg
My first attempt with, you guessed it, Rao’s pizza sauce! 😂Multicolored peppers and pepperoni. I finally got the caramelization right on the crust and loosened it before it got stuck on! I’m pleased.

I love Rao’s!

Originally Posted by chgoeditor (Post 33249750)
Decided we would go to a casual American place we like. Parked, Mr CE paid the meter only to realize it was a 15m zone. Back in the car, drive half a block, parked, paid meter #2, went into the restaurant and didn't like the seating option (couch, not table) so left. Drive to another rooftop restaurant we like. This time I go in to make sure we can get a table, give Mr CE the thumbs up and he pays meter #3. At this point you'd assume he'd pay attention, but no... He gets to the table only to realize he can only put 5 minutes on the meter. At that point he is so frustrated that I go out and move the car (space #4, meter #4) a few spots down to where parking isn't time restricted. Get back into the restaurant, look at the menu only to realize they've seriously pared it back since we were last there. (Literally only 2 entrees.) Finish our drinks and fortunately there were tables available at the sister restaurant downstairs, where we were finally able to eat dinner without moving the car again!

Maybe lyft next time? :-)
I forgot about the whole meter thing in Chicago at night. Ugh.

ILuvParis May 13, 2021 9:44 pm


Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 33249957)
I love Rao’s!

Who knew?

gaobest May 13, 2021 10:17 pm

grilled cheese sandwiches
raw organic vegetables
mixed green salad
kettles bbq & jalapeño chips

ice cream dessert tbd


Originally Posted by ILuvParis (Post 33249970)
Who knew?

it’s just so yummy. Yay for Rao’s.

kipper May 14, 2021 5:50 am


Originally Posted by ILuvParis (Post 33249970)
Who knew?

:D

JBord May 14, 2021 8:41 am


Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 33249957)
I forgot about the whole meter thing in Chicago at night. Ugh.

It's not as bad as it used to be, since they made pay-by-app available a few years back. I've parked in Wrigleyville for a Cubs game and just extended the meter from my phone during the game :). Sure it costs $15 or so, but much cheaper than paying some guy $40 to jam your car into his driveway with 4 others. But meters are never fun.

Last night, shrimp with a spicy tomato pesto (from a jar) over polenta and a salad. I'm not sure what made it pesto, but it was basically like a more intense tomato sauce.

Tonight, we're trying a new-for-us Mexican restaurant.

gaobest May 14, 2021 9:30 am


Originally Posted by JBord (Post 33250892)
Tonight, we're trying a new-for-us Mexican restaurant.

How does it compare to Mogotes on Green Bay rd? That’s my standard when I’m there and it’s so satisfying that I won’t even bother to try Isaac & moishe or any others.

chgoeditor May 14, 2021 11:23 am


Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 33249957)
I love Rao’s!

Maybe lyft next time? :-)
I forgot about the whole meter thing in Chicago at night. Ugh.


Originally Posted by JBord (Post 33250892)
It's not as bad as it used to be, since they made pay-by-app available a few years back. I've parked in Wrigleyville for a Cubs game and just extended the meter from my phone during the game :). Sure it costs $15 or so, but much cheaper than paying some guy $40 to jam your car into his driveway with 4 others. But meters are never fun.

Last night, shrimp with a spicy tomato pesto (from a jar) over polenta and a salad. I'm not sure what made it pesto, but it was basically like a more intense tomato sauce.

Tonight, we're trying a new-for-us Mexican restaurant.

We're not currently taking Lyft. And this was Evanston, so meter fees are not that expensive, in total, we probably paid $8 max, and would have paid $30 if we took a Lyft.

JBord May 14, 2021 1:45 pm


Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 33251002)
How does it compare to Mogotes on Green Bay rd? That’s my standard when I’m there and it’s so satisfying that I won’t even bother to try Isaac & moishe or any others.

I guess I'll let you know after I try Los Mogotes :). I hadn't heard of it, but looked it up and it says they close at 7 pm? I don't get out much for lunch, and haven't yet succumbed to the 5:30 pm suburban dinner times. Looks like a decent breakfast menu, but they don't open until 10 am, which isn't good for weekdays and they're closed on Sundays. Very odd. Anyway, as I'm sure you know, the quality and quantity of Mexican food options are as good here as anywhere north of Mexico - we're second in Mexican population only to LA - so there's always one better than your favorite out there somewhere.

corky May 14, 2021 9:23 pm

Butter lettuce with dried cranberries, feta, candied walnuts with feta/dill dressing
steamed broccoli with cheese
grilled chicken thighs marinated in.Stonewall Kitchen Ginger sesame bbq sauce ..added garlic
strawberry/blackberry Margarita.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ba84109cbf.jpg
basic stuff

gaobest May 14, 2021 11:07 pm

Youth baseball Post-practice supper:
curry chicken with carrots & celery
white rice

ice cream tbd

JBord May 15, 2021 8:10 am


Originally Posted by gaobest (Post 33251002)
How does it compare to Mogotes on Green Bay rd? That’s my standard when I’m there and it’s so satisfying that I won’t even bother to try Isaac & moishe or any others.

I wouldn't recommend Authentico to you. It's a nicer, upscale restaurant with a large outdoor area (we sat inside). The tacos were very good. But the salsas were bland and the "spicy" guacamole, while good, was not spicy at all. Biggest disappointment was the margaritas. Even though they appeared to be hand-crafted from the menu descriptions, they tasted like they were made with canned limeade. I think if we went again it would be a warm summer day where we can sit outside and eat tacos or enchiladas for lunch...and no margaritas. But I'm still determined to find at least one place in the north suburbs that compares to the many good places we could go when we were in the city - and is open for a nice sit down dinner.

Rainy day off and on here, so probably homemade pizza tonight. Tomorrow looks nice enough to grill, so I'll be marinating a flank steak in the morning!
We are planning our dinners for the week (which I hate), as we leave for our almost-exactly-one-year-delayed Mexico vacation next week and don't want a bunch of stuff sitting in the refrigerator. First time on a plane in around 15 months I think.


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