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Katie Davis

@PopCultureCuisine

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Archive for the ‘Sandwiches’ Category

Monday, March 7, 2011 @ 08:03 AM

369Hi…I’m Katie and I’m an indecisive eater.  I know…an odd thing to admit, but I figure this information might help people understand how we actually choose a certain restaurant to review for PCC.  Well, most often we have a list in mind when we travel, and time and location will usually dictate our choice of restaurant at that moment.  However, if we are put in a spot where we have choices, be prepared for much anxiety mixed with hunger onset…often making the task all the more difficult.  It isn’t that I’m picky, I just have a really hard time verbalizing what it is I really want most of the time; and now that I am 13 weeks pregnant (SURPRISE! Open-mouthed smile), let’s just say the decisions aren’t coming any easier.  Rather, I seem to struggle more. 

So lucky for me, I have a husband who most of the time patiently tries to help me figure out what I want, which I’m sure most of you would find the whole scenario pretty comical I’m sure.  Most weekend mornings in our marriage start out like this, and trips with multiple lazy mornings are no exception…

Me: “I’m Hungry!”

Adam: “Me too, what are you hungry for?”

Me: “I don’t know…Food…”

Adam: “Ok, well let me know when you make a decision.”

Now this response from him isn’t meant to be mean, rather he just wants me to tell him what it is I am hungry for.  However, I will lay there for a moment, hoping that Adam will just suggest something first so I don’t have to make the decision.  Most people (or women) would be eternally grateful to have a husband that would let them pick the restaurant 99% of the time just so they would be happy.  I am not that woman.  I, on the other hand, freeze up!  His response and subsequent silence frustrates me…, I pout, and we go round and round until we finally agree on a place or what we are going to eat, usually an hour or so later than when we first said we were hungry.  You would think after 2+ years of marriage, I would know this and rather than ask, I would just say what I wanted and move on.  But as I said, I am in-decisive, and when given the ultimate option…I choke. 

I tell you all of this not just to blabber on and add a little comic relief (especially for you other married couples who I know do the same thing ), but rather to give a little background to today’s story, because this Saturday morning in Chicago was just like that.

It was the morning after our friends Jenn and Bob’s wedding and we were both enjoying sleeping in a little.  But without fail, my stomach started gnawing away and I knew I was going to need something to eat soon.  So I started to nudge Adam and get him moving, knowing the task that lie ahead with my uttering of those fateful weekend morning words…”I’m Hungry…”

I will spare you the details, but with us both being hungry, him waiting for me to tell him what I wanted, and us going through the infinite possible PCC worthy spots we could try in the Chicago-land area, let’s just say it took us a little while to get moving.  I was particularly hungry that morning so I knew something like a big sandwich would fit the bill, so we started doing a bit of research and stumbled upon just the place.

The Depot American Diner is certainly one of a kind and well worth the trip to the west side for their truly delicious home cooked meals.  They don’t try to be fancy, nor should they.  After all, this place used to be a speak easy and hide out for the notorious Al Capone.  Well, Chicagoans need not speak easy about this place any longer, cause now it the Depot’s food that is doing the talking, and it is saying good things; and I knew that when we saw a clip on Food Network’s “Diner’s, Drive-in’s and Dives” or their club sandwich that this is where we would be headed…

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veKW5QWRPew

 

That turkey dinner just looked mouthwatering, and knowing that same home style turkey was coming on that club, I knew I was in for a real treat. 

It didn’t take us long to pull up and park ourselves at the counter, which we were happy to do seeing as the Depot is a small place and there were no other seats available in the main dining area.  Nonetheless, food was the priority, so we began to peruse their menu.  Everything looked delicious and I truly love a diner that focuses on what they are good at and doesn’t cloud the menu with pages and pages of stuff just because it’s expected.

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After watching that clip earlier in the morning, we both already know what we wanted to order.  I had the club, while Adam chose a bowl of chicken noodle soup to start and the Pot Roast Sandwich; and to top it off, we ordered a batch of their famous donut holes for after our meal. 

The service was prompt, because before long I had a monstrosity of yumminess set down in front of me.  We both giggled a little when we saw our sandwiches, because I was trying to figure out just how I was going to take my first bite…

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I mean come on…right?  Let’s just say, neither of us were talking for awhile, we were both too immersed in our food; and for you regular readers of PCC, you know I’ve mentioned before my constant battle over tomatoes, but I decided to leave them on and see what I thought, considering that’s the way the cook intended.  You might be happy to know they totally added an extra level of flavor to this sandwich that was awesome!  Their sweetness really played well against all of the other rich flavors of the buttered bread, mayo, and heavy meat. 

At another seat at the counter, Adam was in heaven with that gravy rich pot roast.  I’m pretty sure that “mmm” and “oh my gosh,” were all I heard out of him for awhile.

Then…when we had sufficiently stuffed ourselves and boxed up the rest, we were presented with a lovely dish of holes.

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I have to say for that as good as they look…they fell a little flat in the taste department.  The donuts themselves just really lacked any kind of flavor and although the dipping sauce that came with them was good, I would hardly say it was the best thing I had ever tried.  Still, even though these were our last note, we still left singing the praises of The Depot and would willingly go back anytime!

SIGNATURE DISHAlthough they have some pretty standard home cooked staples, it would seem their open face sandwiches are what’s put them over the top when it comes to notoriety.  Chicago is a city where diners abound and you would be hard pressed not to find one on just about every corner, if not more.  That being said, there are very few that are putting out the level of food The Depot is; and with dishes that have so much love and flavor, it is not wonder that patrons are coming in droves to the west side to eat here.

TASTEI don’t typically order club sandwiches.  In fact, I think I have maybe only ordered 2 in my lifetime.  I typically have never found them to be that exciting…too much bread.  But this one stopped me short.  Something about the fact that it included their home style hot and fresh turkey, along with the other usual accoutrements that I could not pass up.  Adam and I were both wowed at just how good and upscale these dishes were coming from a tiny little west side diner kitchen.  I think it is safe to say that it is their attention to flavor and detail that is bringing their customers in droves.

AMBIANCEAlthough busy and buzzing that Sunday morning, it was not packed to the point of not being able to enjoy yourself, like some other PCC places we’ve been.  You could still easily move throughout and it just felt as if you were one of the gang their to enjoy your Sunday meal.  Sitting at the bar was a fun perspective and great to see the wait staff and owners interacting so lovingly with their customers.  And for being a diner, it did in no way have that old dingy or dirty feel, but rather was clean, nicely decorated, and classic.

SERVICESitting at the bar we were very well taken care of and in a prompt fashion.  Also, it seemed that everyone in the booths were being taken care of very well.  Everyone we encountered was super friendly and willing to chat, which I always enjoy.

PRICEBeing in Chicago, I didn’t think their prices were outrageous or unexpected by any means.  Many times places in the city with a lot of notoriety will up their prices because they can, but each of our sandwiches were $8.01 (you gotta love the quirkiness of the penny Winking smile).  You could easily pay for less food at Panera, so I thought it was well worth it.

Overall, we had a fabulous time at The Depot, and even though it may have taken us a little bit to research to ultimately wind up here, it turns out we made the right decision….a decision that led us to a great find and a place I hope to visit again someday.  So I am happy to give The Depot American Diner 4 1/2 ‘Little Piggies.’

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Monday, February 14, 2011 @ 09:02 AM

130My in-laws left for Florida yesterday and to say that I’m jealous is a bit of an understatement. When you wake up and the temperature outside is negative 5, that pretty much means I will be doing anything and everything not to have to go outside.  So luckily I have another post to remind us all of warmer climates yet again from another spot that we hit up on our 2nd trip to the great city of New Orleans.

I have to start off by saying that this next spot makes me sad for a three reasons…reasons which I will get to, but it also makes me happy for other reasons I will also mention.  If you notice the sign to the left, you may have already been able to guess the next feature or better yet what they are known for.  Parasol’s, an old Irish Bar & Restaurant located on Constance Street in the Garden District of New Orleans, had been serving up their famous Roast Beef Po’ Boy for generations.  Although not a particularly “pretty” joint, you didn’t care because you knew you were getting a simple yet great sandwich when you came.

We first heard about this sandwich Mecca while doing our research for our second trip to the Crescent City and this seemed to be a spot that Guy Fieri really enjoyed, and if Guy is happy that usually means that I’m going to be as well.  We have watched enough episodes of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” to notice when he REALLY likes something or when it is just ok in his opinion, and these Po’boys seemed to be an item he REALLY enjoyed!  Take a look…

Adam and I both might be biased because we both LOVE sandwiches, and often it will be a sandwich that we see that really draws us to a place over many of their other dishes.  So with Parasol’s being known for their Po’boys, I figured we had a great chance of being drawn to the thing they were truly known for….and not just any Po’boy….the Roast Beef Po’boy.  This is reason number one that I’m sad, because let’s just say I made a lapse in judgment upon ordering…but we’ll get to that.

We ventured over via cab to Parasol’s on the 2nd evening of our trip (for you PCC regulars out there you know that this is the evening of our lunch visit to Willie Mae’s Scotch House, which you may or may not remember being especially memorable for Adam for all the WRONG reasons).  Now that day in New Orleans it was particularly hot and we had been walking, A LOT, after a very greasy chicken experience.  Most of us (with our stomachs of steel) seemed to being doing ok…except Adam who was quickly going down hill and was really struggling by the time we pulled up to Parasol’s…only to get worse.  Not to get too graphic, but let’s just say he and the bush became good friends for about 15 minutes to a half hour and it never really got better from there (for him at least).

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So back to the hotel alone he went…never to enjoy what was to come. This was the first sad part of this experience, because I think of the 4 of us, Adam was probably the most excited of us all for this, and he never even got to taste it.  I did bring that sandwich back for him, but by the time he was feeling better, almost 2 days later it was no longer good…tragedy I know!

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So after my hubby made his way back, we went ahead and placed an order and as I mentioned before, this is where the 2nd "sad" happening took place.  Knowing their famed roast beef Po’boy had a gravy that came smothered on it, I didn’t feel like I wanted that on top of the fried chicken in my stomach, so I ordered the ham Po’boy instead, and although it tasted fresh and still delicious, looking at Audra and Garrett’s Roast Beef Po’boys, I knew I made a critical error.  I should have just sucked it up and gotten what I really wanted knowing, one, it is what they are known for, and two, that I would likely not get the chance to have it again anytime soon.

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I mean look at that! The ham is not even worth showing you, because this is the crown jewel you need to order.  Luckily I was able to try a bite and what makes this Po’ boy so fantastic. It is simple yet so flavorful. The roast beef served in its own juices is the star and it really does not need much else to make this sandwich taste fantastic.  Simply dressed with mayo, lettuce, and tomato, it is the beef that truly makes this Po’boy stand out.  As I said, the ham was also tasty, but more on the level of a really good ham sub sandwich.

So what is the last reason to be sad about Parasol’s?  Well as you may have noticed….I was speaking in the past tense when referring to Parasol’s up above, because last year, very soon after our visit, Parasol’s closed…dun-dun-dun (Queue dramatic music). However (and this is when it gets a little confusing), the former proprietor took the menu, the staff…heck, pretty much the whole "Po’boy" a few blocks over to Magazine Street to an equally old Irish pub called Tracey’s. What actually happened was the owner of the building would not renew the lease to the then proprietor of Parasol’s. The "Parasol’s" name belonged to the building owners, so the reputation of great Po’boys associated with that establishment seemed doomed to end in this petty rental dispute.  However, the proprietor owned the old ‘Tracy’s’ sign (an old famous Irish pub that had closed down some years earlier in the district) and just decided to re-introduce the cache associated with that name with the great reputation of the Po’boy menu that had been created at the old Parasol’s….seemingly the best of both worlds. We actually even saw Tracey’s featured on both Travel Channel’s “Food Wars” and Food Network’s “Food Fueds” and its familiar feel is what drove us to research them, and sure enough they were the former Parasol’s.  So although it has a new name, it is apparently the same flavor you know and love, just a newer, better, and bigger location!

The silver lining to all this is that, although Adam didn’t get to try Parasol’s in the manner it became famous and I am a dummy who didn’t order the right item, we at least got to experience it how it was and now we can still visit Tracey’s whenever we are fortunate enough to visit New Orleans again. Better yet, it will be like a brand new experience for the both of us. So in the meantime, although Parasol’s is no more, anyone venturing to NOLA anytime soon, you better check out Tracey’s, because from that one bite, I know their Roast Beef Po’boy won’t disappoint.

SIGNATURE DISH: Po’ boys is the name of their game, both when they were Parasol’s and now as Tracey’s; and although Po’ boys are found at many a place throughout New Orleans, it would seem that Tracey’s, formerly Parasol’s, is the place to get them! And please don’t make the same mistake I did. Get that Po’ boy they are truly famous for…, the Roast Beef!

TASTE: The ham was very good, but not the star. Although I just had one bite of that delicious Roast Beef, I am smart enough to know what I will be ordering the next time I get to visit.  And this time around, Adam and I are also going to be very cautious what we eat beforehand, for his sake!  Let’s just say it was that memorably good!

AMBIANCE: By all definitions, Parasol’s is your typical hole-in-the-wall sorta place.  It was not big or fancy or even nicely decorated, but I don’t think that is why people are going there.  The downstairs bar is very narrow, but serves its purpose…a place to drink.  The upstairs has a few tables and serves ITS purpose…a place to eat.  Now, I can’t speak for Tracey’s, but Parasol’s "dive-bar" approach had its appeal for what it was….emphasis on WAS.

PRICE: If I’m being honest, I really don’t remember how much the Po’ boys were, but considering that was all each of us got to eat, I don’t think they were all that expensive.  They were maybe $10, but even that I think is too high.  Still, I know I would pay it again and considering some of the more expensive meals we had that were hardly worth it, this was a deal.

SERVICE: I don’t really know how to rate this, because we didn’t really have any.  Not to say no one was helpful, it’s just that we ordered from the cook at the counter, paid him, and then waited for our order to be called.  It was fast, but that is about all you can say.  Again, this is not a put down… that’s just the type of establishment this was.

Overall, given the circumstances, we still really enjoyed this meal, minus Adam.  I know he is still really sad that he missed out, but I will be glad when he and I can someday experience Tracey’s.  But in the meantime, I will give Parasol’s 4 ‘Little Piggies.’

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Monday, January 10, 2011 @ 09:01 AM

Well we are back from a wonderful weekend in Nashville celebrating my lil’ brother’s wedding.  Needless to say due to the business of all of that I apologize that this post is a little bit tardy.

Pop Culture Cuisine is officially a year old and we can hardly believe how fast time has flown!  Adam and I have loved incorporating all these wonderful culinary adventures into our travels, mostly because of the great memories it has made for us.  We have compiled a list of some of our favorite and not so favorite spots to share with you with links so you can read our reviews for yourself.  We love food and hope to continue to share lots of great finds with you all along the way.

SIGNATURE DISH

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1. Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous’ “Ribs” – Memphis, TN

2. Round Rock Donuts’ “Round Rock Donut” – Round Rock, TX

3. Lucky’s Sandwich Co.’s “Stuffed Sandwich” – Chicago, IL

TASTE

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1. The Salt Lick – Driftwood, TX

2. Louie’s – Dallas, TX

3. Twisted Root – Dallas, TX

AMBIANCE

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1. The Silver Palm – Chicago, IL

2. Keller’s Drive-in – Dallas, TX

3. The Salt Lick – Driftwood, TX

SERVICE

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1. Blue Ash ChiliAnna – Blue Ash, OH

2. PinkberryChristine – Orlando, FL

3. Avila’s – Dallas, TX

PRICE

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1. The Salt Lick – Driftwood, TX

2. Keller’s Drive-in – Dallas, TX

3. Blue Ash Chili – Blue Ash, OH

OVERALL TOP 5

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1. The Salt Lick – Driftwood, TX

2. Manny’s Delicatessen – Chicago, IL

3. Keller’s Drive-in – Dallas, TX

4. Blue Ash Chili – Blue Ash, OH

5. Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous – Memphis, TN

TOP 5 BIGGEST LET DOWNS…NOT WORTH THE HYPE!

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1. Jim Neely’s Interstate Bar-B-Q – Memphis, TN

2. Willie Mae’s Scotch House – New Orleans, LA

3. Acme Oyster House – New Orleans, LA

4. Drago’s Seafood – New Orleans, LA

5. Juan in a Million – Austin, TX

BEST OF THE REST…HONORABLE MENTION

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Best Burger – Twisted Root – Dallas, TX

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Best Pizza – Giordano’s – Chicago, IL

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Best Sandwich – Lucky’s Sandwich Co. – Chicago, IL

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Best BBQ – The Salt Lick – Driftwood, TX

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Best Bar Food – J. Gilligan’s “Irish Nachos” – Arlington, TX

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Best Cocktail – Pat O’Brien’s “Hurricane” – New Orleans, LA

Three Little Piggies

Most Outrageous Dish – The Silver Palm’s “Three Little Pigs Sandwich” Chicago, IL