Cuban Vibes

Have we really not updated this blog since November?! Yikes. Well, fear not. We are back and eating again. I have put on a comfortable layer of blubber for the rest of the Chicago winter and intend to share my resources so that you too may stay as warm as a happy seal on a harsh winter day. Ok, so I'm breaking the rules a bit to get the food sharing juices flowing again. I don't know if it's because we just watched the movie, "Chef", or if it was just time, but we finally tried Cohiba; A Cuban restaurant across from the BBandB and the TJ Max on Broadway just north of the Diversey Clark intersection. We've been holding on trying this place to give it the benefit of the doubt and work out some "new restaurant in a failing storefront location" kinks. We walked in and were welcomed by the sound of Cuban music. Feet were tapping. Good start. There were 4 or 5 full tables and I overheard someone say how much they loved this place. Also good. Service was pretty quick and the waiter was friendly and attentive without being at all overbearing.
What I Ate: I would imagine, this is the place to get a Cubano. However, since I am on a no pork deal, I was drawn to the Ropa Vieja. A shredded beef sandwich with peppers and onions. Sounds like an Italian Beef right? Nope.  The bun itself was incredible. It was a french roll that was grilled to allow for a tiny bit of crispiness without being too greasy. Maybe it was the luck of the first time visit, but I could not stop eating it and could probably have ordered a roll on it's own with nothing inside. The beef was succulent. So juicy. It required multiple napkins and a wet nap. However, it had an overwhelming flavor of Allspice that I just could not get over. Too powerful and floral for me. I ate the entire ginormous sandwich of course, but I just wished it didn't have that overwhelming flavor. It overpowered the sandwich. Perhaps that is the traditional way to make it, but for me, it took a sandwich that could have been spectacular and put it on my "Ew" list.

Ropa Vieja

Why She Ate: My wife and eating partner in crime ordered the Chicken Cohibarito. It has fried plantains instead of bread and was supposed to have grilled onions (but they were raw), mozzarella cheese, lettuce and tomato. It was really delicious and quite massive. It was indeed the more pleasing of the two dishes. We commented on how it was definitely fried, but not greasy. It wasn't dried out either and was a meaty bite of plantain. Delicious.
The fries were fine, but really nothing special. That's all we got. Much more on the menu and we'll be back.
So here's what I think. Go here. I recommend it after only going once (which breaks my rule, but you'll have to live with that).  I really think it's worth trying. If you eat piggy, get the Cubano. It looked delicious and properly made.
They have a large dinner menu which we will hopefully go back and try. I'm going to give it some time before going for dinner, but maybe will be back sooner for lunch to try a couple of the other sandwiches before determining what is going to be. . . my usual.

Cohibarito

"Where do you wanna go?" "I dunno. Where do you wanna go?" "Banh Mi?" "Oh, yeah. That sound good".

Of all the places my wife and I frequent for lunch, there is no doubt that there is one restaurant that easily holds the record for the "most games played". True, it is only around the corner from the office, but so are 10 or so other restaurants.
No, there is something addictive about the food over at Banh Mi and Co. Let's start with the menu. It's simple, designed to be like a Chipotle. Pick your protein - tofu, chicken, pork or beef. Then pick your delivery method - Bowl of soup, sandwich, salad, or spring roll. However, within those selections, you can find a different way to satisfy your palette each time you are there. I would say we average 2-3 visits a week. We're trying to cut down, but it is so hard sometimes to resist the urge for the flavor.
Today for example was a Pho' (pronounces pha) day. Sort of misty outside. Chicago yet again not knowing if it wants to head full on into winter or pretend to be Seattle or San Francisco weather (without the mountains) or something for a bit. The broth of the Pho is rich without being heavy or too oily. When it is served you immediately say, "Oh, that's a big bowl, I could never . . . " and then you do.
I tend to get the beef. The key to eating it is not to rush into it. I always ask to have the lime and jalapeno on the side. Do this. Otherwise you'll burn your fingers in the hot soup.  Squeeze the lime over the top of the soup. Get as much as you can out of the lime. DO NOT forget to add the lime.  It's important as a balance to the salty sweetness of the soup and onions. Then mix slowly, separating the noodles with either a fork or your chopsticks. This technique will both mix the soup flavors and cool the broth till you can eat it.  Then just wait. Check your phone, email, facebook, twitter, instagram, email, text, whatever. Just wait. After maybe a couple tweets and liking a few photos of friend's kids being adorable on Facebook, the soup should be ready. The key to all of this is to let that fresh sweet onion and green onion meld with the meat and broth. It's incredible what a difference this will make to the richness of the broth and in turn, your experience with the Pho'.

Beef Pho at Banh Mi and Co. after Mixing and patiently
waiting for all the ingredients to start really developing.

What we eat:

1. Pho. Yes, we talked about that. The chicken pho can be a bit drier so I stick with the beef this days. The pork looks quite good as well.

The Pho' before adding the components in and stirring. 

2. The Banh Mi: I order the Lemongrass Chicken. A mayo spread on the bun takes care of the potential dryness of the meat and if you get the bread on a good day, it's fabulous. Warm and toasty. Nice crunch, but not enough to like cut the roof of your mouth or anything. The tangy pickled carrots and cucumber are so perfect in this sandwich. Wow, Pavlov. I am actually salivating. I've seen people come as a pair and order three different sandwiches to share so they can try the different flavors.

Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi. Simple and delicious.

3. The tofu spring roll. A good way to get your Banh Mi and Co in without overdoing it and passing out after lunch. It's a much lighter meal than the Pho or the Sandwich. I pair it with a small chicken and rice noodle soup, but the wonton is also very tasty although sometimes a little oily.

My wife gets this one. Lemongrass Chicken in a noodle salad. The noodles are buried below because she orders a "special" of course. That is, her usual of "less noddles, more salad". They have it pretty much already in the computer when they see her coming. 

We go to the Banh Mi at Briar and Broadway, but there are other locations. One in downtown Roscoe Village, one at Clark and Belmont, and a couple downtown. Note, the Banh Mi at Roscoe and Broadway is not of this small chain of restaurants and is not, in our opinion of the same quality of food. If you run into Lee, the owner, tell em' we sent ya. He may be moving so fast you can't catch him though. Enjoy. If you go enough, I can pretty much guarantee any of these may become your "Usual".

Big and Little's (Although after a few tacos, mostly big)

So, we may have over-ordered for two today.
But, it all disappeared pretty quickly anyway. 

I love tacos. I mean, really, I love em. I like to make them, I like to eat them, I like to talk about them. I would eat them for every meal.  

I'm sort of obsessed with tacos.

So, it's probably time to review Big and Little's or B&L's as we are calling it these days. They have two locations. One on Orleans, just north of Chicago Ave. Yes, it's there. I know you've driven by there a hundred times, but IT IS THERE. Look again. It has a parking lot and everything. Near that car wash with the orange sign and a bunch of cabby spots. 

Sorry, I'll not be reviewing that location. I'm reviewing the second and newer location on Belmont a couple blocks west of the L on the North side of the street. When you go there, you'll most likely be greeted by Omar. Sometimes, a smile and a friendly greeting elevates the perception of the quality of your food (in a good way) and this is one of those places. I hope Omar never leaves. He's awesome. 

There is a ton on the menu here. Get whatever you want. But I get the tacos. 

I generally mix and match. These are not traditional Mexican tacos. I'll review other places for that at some point as well I'm sure. The tacos here are small. I order 3 or 4 depending on whether or not I can take a nap afterwards. I recommend getting a couple fish tacos. There are a number of those to chose from. I essentially order any of the fried fish. The grilled are good too, but I've had some that were a bit on the fishy side and that just doesn't seem worth it to me. But, if you're health conscious . . . blah blah blah. Just get the fried deliciousness.  I love the Samurai, The Big and Little's, and the Banh Mi. The Poke taco is a raw sushi grade tuna in a hard shell corn taco. The Poke sauce is sweet and sits at the bottom. Very good. I don't get it all the time, but it's always been a hit.  

For meat, I stick with the beef. I'm sure the pork is great, but I love the Spicy Beef Short Rib, The Mexican, and the Japanese Short Rib. I also had the Lamb. If you like gyro's, get that. It's just a taste of a gyro without a major meal. Brilliant. 

Now I know all of you die hard B+L fans out there are going to whine and complain about not reviewing the Orleans location and you're going to say, "the tacos are smaller at the Belmont location, it's too clean" etc. Well, zip it already! 

I don't want to hear it! I like the Belmont spot. I can order multiple tacos each time with no problem and I can walk there. 

So, head on over there if you haven't already and high five Omar for me.