Postcards from Bunny

Greetings friends!  Bunny just dropped us a quick note from her current station in Myanmar to make sure we told you all about an exciting event!  In celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage month, Macy's on State Street is hosting an cooking demo with Culinary Council member (and Bunny and Brandy favorite) Chef Takashi Yagihashi  Here's all the info you need to attend:

Where:
Macy's on State Street
Chicago, IL
Lower Level Culinary Kitchen
When:
May 12, 2012 at 1PM
For More Info Click Here

Bagel on Damen or Hole in the Wall

The Slow and Savory Review

Greetings dear readers!  Right away, we must apologize for our absence last week.  The following post was prepared to go out last Friday at our regularly scheduled time, but unfortunately our lovely hosting platform decided that would be a good time to update its interface, and with the update, wipe out anything that had been saved in draft form.  And as Brandy was out of town and could not give us access to her notes, we thought it best to simply wait for her return.  So, without further ado:

Brandy knew it was going to be a strange day when she woke up one morning to find a pool of water about a foot deep had somehow found its way into her living room.  After a lot of searching and snooping, Brandy could not detect the source of the water herself, so she decided to call in several professionals: a plumber, a carpenter, and a restoration expert.  Unfortunately, as this happened to be very early on a Sunday morning, the three men's concentration seemed to be somewhat lacking.  In hopes of spurring on their deductive reasoning skills, Brandy offered to run out for some nourishment while they milled around her parlour in search of the source of the leak.

Brandy's grab and go venue of choice was Bagel on Damen.  Having checked the restaurant's website before leaving (quite the accomplishment for a woman who refuses to use a smart phone unless it can psychically predict who she wants to call) Brandy was quite surprised to find the Bagel on Damen in Ravenswood to be utterly deserted, desolate, and devoid of people.  Rather annoyed by this turn of events (as she had had to catch a bus and a train to get to the location) Brandy hopped onto a Damen bus and headed for the other location in Wicker Park.

Finally arriving at her destination, Brandy found a smallish, yet bright and vibrant store front with a few scattered tables and chairs, most of which were filled with that particular brand of young person known as The Hipster.   Avoiding their ironic glares, Brandy headed for the counter, where a stack of menus was available.  She noticed several unfriendly notices posted like "Cash Only!" and "No Custom Sandwiches," which put her off a little.  She also watched as friendly young people from behind the counter brought sandwiches wrapped in butcher paper and resting in paper boats to the tables beside the window.  After a bit of a wait (for which a sweet faced young man apologized immediately) Brandy headed for the bus stop, her bag of goodies clutched tightly to her chest.

So finally, after a full 2 hours worth of transportation (bus and train to Ravenswood, bus to Wicker Park, and 2 buses home) Brandy arrived back in her water logged abode to find the three men still puttering about in the puddle.  Excusing herself to the kitchen, she began to quarter the four sandwiches she had ordered, because, of course, she had to have a taste of each.

First was the Breakfast II, a combo of bacon, egg, cream cheese, and avocado on what was referred to as a "Mish Mosh" bagel (Brandy supposed this was their equivalent of an "Everything" bagel).  Although the bagel had a lovely chew that can only be produced through the proper technique of partially cooking the bagel in boiling water, Brandy was disappointed that, although the menu had stated the bagel would be toasted, it was quite cold.  She also thought that the combo of the creamy avocado and cream cheese was a bit overkill, and she wished for a crisper veggie, such as a nice leaf of ice berg lettuce, to add a bit of crunch.  Other than that, she found the whole thing to be a rather nice combo of traditional breakfast flavors.


Next was the Garden; a crispy and fresh mix of cucumber, tomato, and lettuce, with avocado and green onion cream cheese, again on a "mish mosh" bagel.  Though a little sloppy to eat, as the veggies attempted an escape from the sandwich with every bite, Brandy thought the refreshing cucumber and subtle cream cheese reminded her of the tea sandwiches of her youth.

After that was The Brunch, a name Brandy could not possibly hope to resist.  This sandwich consisted of egg salad, tomato, and greens on an onion bagel.  Again, although the menu promised toastiness, Brandy found it to be cold and devoid of crunchiness.  The egg salad itself was rather bland, which Brandy was extremely disappointed by.  "Even a hit of black pepper, or maybe some crunchy celery could have livened this up.  I'm ashamed to see the word "brunch" attached to such a boring offering," she mumbled to no one in particular.

Lastly was what proved to be Brandy's favorite of the bunch, a concoction of onion bagel, turkey, bacon, green apples, gouda, avocado,and Russian dressing known as the Alexander the Great.  The smokey cheese mixed well with the crunchy bacon, the crisp and tart apples, the smooth avocado, and the succulent turkey, and when combined with the sweet and sour dressing, which had soaked into the chewy bagel, a wonderful cornucopia of flavors and textures was to be found.

After chowing down on these little tidbits, one of the repair men noticed a security camera Brandy had installed after her wallet was stolen, and upon reviewing the footage, the source of the water was finally identified; apparently Brandy had been filling her table-top water feature in her sleep without realizing it, thus slowly filling her lovely parlour with liquid.  "That does explain the squishy slippers," Brandy said, chewing her lip.

So although they weren't the most delicious, most delectable, or most delovely bagel sandwiches one can find, Brandy was happy enough that her brain food from Bagel on Damen did the trick.  And from now on, her water feature will be placed in the bathtub at night.

The Short and Sweet Review

From the Kitchens of Bunny and Brandy

Greetings friends!  As promised, we bring you the delightful concoction that Brandy cooked up over the holiday weekend.  She calls it:

Breakfast Jambalaya

1 1/2 cups of water
1 tablespoon of butter
1/2 cup of stone ground grits
1/2 cup of milk
Salt to taste
1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2-3 strips of thick cut bacon, cut into small pieces
1 lb. of rainbow chard, roughly chopped, including stems
1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
2 sweet breakfast sausages (such as a chicken/apple)
4 eggs, prepared to your liking*
*Brandy suggests over easy or poached

For the grits:
In a medium sized sauce pan add the water and butter.  Bring to a boil, then add the grits and stir.  Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently, until all the liquid is absorbed.  Add the milk, stir to combine, and cook until the liquid is absorbed.  Remove from heat and stir in the cheese until well combined.

For the greens:
In a medium skillet, cook the bacon until most of the fat has been rendered off and the pieces are crisp.  Drain excess fat.  Add the chard and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat.  Add the apple cider vinegar and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Assembling the dish: 
In a bowl or a plate, lay down a bed of the grits, then add some of the greens.  Take the fully cooked breakfast sausage and cut into small pieces, then place them around the grits.  Lastly, add an egg on top of each plate.  Serves 4.

Postcards from Bunny

>>>>>>>Update!<<<<<<<

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!  Congrats to JB for guessing 11 ingredients.  Please send us an email at bunnyandbrandy@gmail.com with your full name so that we can send you your prize!  Thanks to everyone who competed, have a very happy Easter and Passover, and keep your eyes peeled for the recipe itself in the coming week!

Greetings friends!  Once again we have received word from our beloved Bunny, and just in time for Easter too (we suppose that makes her the Easter Bunny... get it? Hu? Nevermind).  This time around, it appears she is traveling the farthest reaches of Siberia, looking for traces of the supposedly still living, yet elusive Woolly Mammoth.  Hearing word of Chicago's unusually warm Spring weather has made poor Bunny rather jealous, as she is stuck out in the furthest, most frozen of tundras.  And while hunkering down in her tent, frigid fingers clutching a pen in order to write to us, Bunny couldn't help dreaming of warmer fair; steaming cups of artisan coffee, spiced sausage, hot cakes with hot sauce, or even a big plate of Huevos Rancheros with extra chillies.  If only there were some way she could get that kind of food in Siberia...

Well, we can't speak for Siberia, but there is a way to get your favorite foods delivered to your doorstep through companies like Seamless which offer to make whatever you happen to be craving appear at the click of a button.  Wishing for a service like this where she is, Bunny has provided us with $20 from Seamless to give away to one lucky reader! Here's the all important rules:

• Brandy is planning on treating us all to one of her delightful original recipes for Easter Brunch.  Bunny has asked that everyone take a guess as to how many ingredients will be in said recipe, and the person who comes the closest will win! 
• Leave your guesses in the comment section.  You can make up to 3 guesses per username/email between now and Friday April 6th at midnight (Central Time).
• In the event of a tie, the person who guessed the number first will be declared the winner.
• Ingredients include everything listed in the outset of the recipe, including water, salt, pepper, etc.
• If you don't live in Chicago, don't worry, you can still compete!  Seamless is available in cities all across the USA.
• Any and all questions/concerns should be addressed to bunnyandbrandy@gmail.com

So take your best guesses and we will announce the winner the morning of Saturday April 7th.  Happy guessing!

P.S. For more info on Seamless, check out their new mobile app for iPhone and iPad: http://www.seamless.com/mobile-apps/ipad 

Chicago Diner or Garden of Delights

The Slow and Savory Review

Rabbit Food.  That's what carnivores generally call vegetarian fair, and a fair enough accusation it once was.  Many a fledgling vegetarian will make the mistake of partaking in various types of salad before feeling a bit bored with their menu selection at even the finest of establishments.  But as Brandy has learned over the past few years, Chicago can be a vegetarian's paradise if you where to look. 

Enter the headquarters for foodie vegetarians everywhere, The Chicago Diner, which has been serving all vegetarian cuisine since 1983 in the form of familiar, comforting diner favorites like Chicken Fried Steak and Nachos.  Many a meat eater has been converted on these holy grounds, and Brandy, a lover of most meats, decided it was time to brave the tofu, the seitan, and the textured vegetable protein to discover the truth about this Lakeview staple.

On first impressions, Chicago Diner has done everything to make you feel like you've entered just your average diner on Main Street, USA.  Red, black, and chrome is the color scheme, with neon lights and high booths added in for an even more nostalgic feeling.  Though a bit small and cramped, which might make for uncomfortable seating on a busy day, Brandy was able to seat herself at a table with an adequate amount of elbow room.

First off, as she was sadly suffering with a sore throat, Brandy eyed up the milkshakes and ordered herself one of the Vanilla Chai variety.  Believe us, dear reader when we tell you that our normally more vocal lady's only note was "Heaven." After a little more pressing, we eventually got out of Brandy that this shake was utter perfection in both texture (thick and creamy, but not so thick that it couldn't be drunk through a straw) and flavor (a brilliantly fine mix of spice and sweetness with subtle floral notes from the vanilla). Brandy also came up with a very odd theory when asked if she had wanted to order another. "No," she said, "This is the sort of thing I would only get once a year. It's so special, so magical that to have it over and over again would somehow bring it down to the level of common food, and that cannot happen."

For her entree, Brandy decided to go all out veggie and ordered the Breakfast Bowl with soy sausage and scrambled tofu. She was rather disappointed to see how sloppily plated the dish was, with gravy splattered on the sides of the plate and no color other than a few small bits of bell pepper to liven up the dish. The biscuits that topped the hash were a lovely texture, but rather bland. This was helped by the country gravy that covered everything, though for someone like Brandy who is a little sensitive to herbs, the flavor proved to be a bit over powering. The sausage was rather nice and chewy, while the tofu was light and fluffy, almost indistinguishable from the real things. The potatoes were also cooked perfectly, though Brandy could have done with bigger pieces.  All in all though, a rather bland dish.

Sadly at this point, Brandy's sore throat got the better of her. She longed to try one of Chicago Diner's famed desserts, though, so she decided to take a meal to go for when her esophagus had decided to cooperate.

She ordered one of Chicago Diner's signature dishes, the Radical Reuben with a side of sweet potato fries. The fries, even after re-heating, still had a lovely crisp on the outside and a supple softness of the inside. Somehow, these fries tasted a bit more savory than a typical sweet potato fry, but Brandy greatly enjoyed the contrast. Brandy was hard pressed to tell the "meat" on this sandwich from real corned beef, as the texture, flavor, and even the look of it was spot on. The sauerkraut provided a nice tangy contrast to the sweet grilled onions and peppers (an unusual, but bright addition to a classic Reuben) and the cheese (she did cop out here a little and asked for dairy cheese) had melted wonderfully into the pungent marble rye.

At last, the dessert; a chocolate chip cheesecake. Here, a few points were added back on for plating, as even in the to-go box a nice drizzle of chocolate had been applied. The crust seems to be made of crushed nuts, rather than the traditional graham cracker, which proved to be a looser, more crumbly texture. The chocolate layer on top was divinely soft and rich, with an almost fruity flavor. The cheesecake itself was creamy with just a little bit of sourness for good measure. Brandy appreciated its slightly dense texture, as she finds fluffier cheesecakes not quite decadent enough.

Though she won't be switching to vegetarianism any time soon, Brandy did enjoy her encounter with so called Rabbit Food this week. For as she put it, "If this is what the rabbits are eating, then I want to be one in my next life."

The Short and Sweet Review



Vinci or Veni Vidi Edi

The Slow and Savory Review

Ah Rome.  The art, the architecture, the history... the very scale and beauty of the place are enough to knock a tourist over backwards.  Of course, Brandy is anything but a tourist when it comes to Rome.  In fact, there was one infamous summer in her youth when Brandy threw caution to the wind, rented a Vespa scooter, and spent three months in a charming villa down the street from the gates to Vatican City (some say this part of her life was the actual inspiration for the film Roman Holiday, but Brandy has never confirmed this rumor).  She would often wile away the summer days on her balcony with a glass of Limoncello in one hand and a good book in the other.  Other days she would ride to Venice and hire a gondolier to pilot her down the canals for a few hours.

It is perhaps Chicago's unusually warm March weather that had Brandy longing for her days in Italy, so she shuttled Biscuit Brown down to Vinci, a fine Italian eatery on the border of Lincoln Park and Old Town.  Upon arrival, they were greeted like old friends by the host and taken to an empty table at the back of the vast space.  The restaurant had been decorated to reflect the airy and ancient feeling of Rome and Venice, from the faux marbled walls to the linens draped from the ceiling, to the murals of the country side painted on the walls.  "Some might say this type of decoration is hokey and old fashioned," Brandy said, "But I'm hokey and old fashioned too."

Brandy and friend started off with drinks.  Biscuit, as per her expertise, ordered a her favorite brunch drink in the form of Curt's Bloody Mary, the usual mix of spices, spirits, and juices, but this time also with Guinness and topped with Fontina stuff green olives wrapped in salami.  The result was a bit heavy, but very flavorful.  "One more of these and I'll need a wheelbarrow to get home!" Biscuit remarked.  Brandy opted for three drinks in one (no surprise really) by ordering the Gondola Volo; a flight of fruit flavored Bellinis in Strawberry, Peach, and Mango.  The drinks came adorably served on a little wooden gondola, which made Brandy smile.  All three were cheerful and packed with the true flavor of their listed fruits.  Brandy sided with the peach saying it tasted the most like sunshine.

Brandy was delighted to find a bread basket being presented to the table, along with fresh whipped butter and jams.  "It's been a while since a restaurant thought to include a complimentary offering," Brandy grumbled as she slathered butter and apricot preserves onto a soft piece of raisin bread.

Brandy insisted on splitting a plate of Polenta Pancakes, which Biscuit didn't object to, since they were served with a generous helping of bacon.  Brandy very much liked the texture on the pancakes, which had a slight crunch to them.  Biscuit wasn't as fond, feeling they were a touch on the dry side (to alleviate this problem, Brandy simply drowned hers in the real maple syrup that had been provided on the side)

Biscuit's entree choice was the Potato Hash.  The shredded potatoes at the heart of the dish were nicely crispy, but the true star was the marinated vegetables on top, which consisted of eggplant, zucchini, tomato, and red onion.  "I'm obviously not a vegetarian, but if I was, I wouldn't be wanting for any meat in this here plate," Biscuit commented.

Brandy chose the Breakfast Bruschetta, two eggs over easy served on some crunchy toasted bread with spinach, tomato, and Balsamic vinegar.  Brandy felt the dish had the perfect mix of sweet and sour, though with the nature of the bread and its toppings, it was a bit difficult to eat both by hand or with knife and fork.  Once the bread had soaked up all the liquids though, it made cutting into it a bit easier.  The potatoes on the side were lovely as well, being nice and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, with a delightful richness and subtle herby taste.

With her memories of bygone days in Italy fresh in her mind (and plenty of money in her wallet, for the entire meal came out to only about $25 a person), Brandy dragged Biscuit out to Lake Michigan, where she insisted they would be able to find a gondolier for hire.  Perhaps those three Bellinis were a bit too much for her after all.

The Short and Sweet Review

Tre Kronor or Swiss Army Knife and Fork

The Slow and Savory Review

Its easy to become dazzled by the huge array of culinary delights available to the Chicago eater.  Its easy to get get bogged down by the glamorous plates of fashionable food, the sparkling cocktails, the handsome waiters, and the dolled up hostesses.  Brandy knows full well how easy it is to become spoiled and jaded by the pampering, the groveling, and of course, the freebies.  Luckily, Brandy also knows of certain spots in the city where, without sacrificing good quality food, service, or anything else she prizes so dearly, one can be once again pulled back down to earth and reminded of the simpler joys of life. 

It was this desire that led Brandy to invite an old friend of hers, Babka (yes, THE Babka, glamorous Polish super model so famous she needs only go by her first name) out for a lovely brunch at the very Swedish Tre Kronor.  Babka had just arrived in Chicago after a very busy fashion week in Paris, having launched not only a line of faux fur bathing suits, but also a fragrance line that doubles as salad dressing.  After one look at the exhausted and bedraggled beauty, Brandy just knew she could do with the comforting food and surroundings of Northern Europe.  "I used to spend my childhood winters in Sweden with my Auntie," Babka sighed, "It was there that my love of fashion was first ignited when I designed my ski suit to be more figure flattering at the age of 4."

Once entering the quaint establishment, there is no denying their national affiliation.  A charming mural of Swedish fairytale creatures adorns one wall, a garland of Swedish flags festoon another area, and the entire place, though a little small, burns with a cheerful, casual atmosphere.  Though the room was small and closely packed, each table's conversation didn't seem to be competing with its neighbors.  Right away a cheerful waitress greeted them and began to list a massive array of daily specials (Brandy was mightily impressed by her memory until she noticed the chalk board listing them all over her shoulder).

Brandy and friend decided to start with a fresh baked pastry; a Vanilla Hazelnut Danish.  It took some convincing for Babka to even consider ordering anything that wasn't a carrot stick, but once the confection was placed in front of them, there was no stopping her fork.  The pastry was flaky and warm with a filling that more resembled custard than the traditional cheese.  Brandy wished for a bit more hazelnut flavor, as the only hints came from small slivers of nut atop the custard.

Babka's choice of entree was one of the quiche specials, specifically the Broccoli and Cheese.  Babka was quite taken with the incredibly creamy, yet slightly dense filling and the buttery, firm crust.  "I've eaten plenty of broccoli in my time, but never did I think it could be this delicious!" Babka exclaimed.  After a little probing, Brandy discovered this might have been because Babka hadn't tasted cheese in close to ten years.

Brandy herself chose the Anders' Hash and Eggs.  At the waitress's suggestion, she ordered the eggs over medium to retain the texture of the white with just a little runny yolk to mix with the hash.  The hash itself was a lovely mix of salty corn beef and tender potatoes, which had a subtle herby flavor.  The whole dish was wonderfully tender and filling, with a smartly placed wedge of orange to cut the fattiness.

To finish, the duo split an order of Orange Vanilla French Toast.  The bread was wonderfully soft, with the orange flavor coming from the pads of melting butter, dotted with zest, that sat atop each slice.

Her friend's smile and vigor restored, Brandy escorted Babka from the restaurant (with an additional slice of quiche in hand) and sent her on her way back to the land of sparkle and salaciousness (otherwise known as the fashion business).  "You've inspired me, my friend," Babka said as they parted, "I shall stage a photo shoot where I am dressed as a vegetable, encased by cream and egg."  Brandy is quite certain that Quiche Wear will be the next hot thing, but she'd still rather eat the stuff than wear it.

The Short and Sweet Review: