Soldier Field, the All Blacks and a goat hotdog wrapped in a pancake with sunny side up eggs and maple syrup. Warren Elwin gets a taste of Chicago.
Swan Oyster Depot
1517 Polk St, Nob Hill, San Francisco
For oh so fresh seafoodWith the connecting flight to Chicago cancelled and the next one not for 11 hours, we left the airport, got a cab and stood in line outside Swans for an hour (with friendly SF Giants' fans celebrating winning the baseball world series) for a spot at the old marble bar and ordered Anchor Steam beers and mixed seafood cocktails layered with sweet shrimp, crab meat, clams, oysters, prawns and a king crab claw (add a squeeze of lemon, mix the spicy horseradish with the ketchup and get to dippin). Add in the white clam chowder, chunky with spuds and shellfish topped with crackers and a dash of Tabasco and suddenly anunplanned interlude in SF is great!
Portillos
100 West Ontario St, Chicago
For an all-beef Chicago dog
The Chicago dog is peerless and we hear reports that the "mustard, relish, pickle, tomatoes, sport peppers (small hot, green peppers) on a steamed poppy seed bun, hold the onions'' pretty much kicks ass. Portillos looks like something from Times Square but seems real once you sit in it. This day it was full of rugby punters from a team called the Lehigh Valley Hooligans
Or a famous Italian beef sandwich
They do it plain on their own bread with lots of jus (gravy). You can add hot or sweet peppers. The lack of condiments is smart as the beef is killer. We're not fans of the wet bread but hey, it works!
Little Goat Diner
820 West Randolph St, Chicago
For a reuben sandwich
Game Day. Breakfast of champions and probably the best reuben I've ever had: Smoked corned beef, kimchi, kraut, havarti, special sauce, pretzel rye bread. I am loving Chicago immediately. The sun is shining, the fall air is chilly crisp and clean, the All Blacks are playing at Soldier Field!
Or a blue plate special
A goat dog (yes there is a frankfurter under there), wrapped in a pancake with two sunny side up eggs and barbecue maple syrup. Pretty darn good actually, and I'm impressed with their ability to cook eggs perfectly.
Grange Hall Burger Bar
844 West Randolph Street, Chicago
For a bloody mary
In their own words "Truly a garden in a glass made with bourbon, tomato juice and spices, pickled veges, sharp cheddar and elk jerky". Wait, brown liquor? And pickled asparagus!? The All Blacks had delivered and this certainly helped with the next day's constitution. Bloody brilliant.
And a spiked milkshake
Hugo's hangover has just turned up and he's gone straight for the bourbon caramel malt shake. Self-described deliciousness. (It was really good. Like really!)
With the corned beef burger and hash House
Made corned beef patty, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, thousand island sauce and eggs cooked your way on dark rye. Served with home fries. I skipped the eggs and smothered the fries in all natural homemade ketchup. I don't know how one makes a corned beef pattie but I'm going to find out! Chicago is a town that loves its pickles. And now I love Chicago.
