111989 Wed Jan 01 11:59:47 -0800 2003 21 7 Chicago Area 0 607402 Most all of the Italian restaurants in Bloomingdale refer to themselves as "Ristorantes." I'm not sure how to take it other than to sort of smirk at my own people and assume they are trying to give the establishments an air of respectability or authenticity. There are quite a few of them leading me to make the analogy of what Devon Ave. is to Indian food, Bloomingdale is to mid range Italian American and pizzarias. There are more than a dozen old buildings in this town dating to the late 1800's. More than some of the gentrifying neighborhoods of Chicago nowadays. About 25 miles west of downtown, it was a farming community established by the three Meacham brothers in 1833 and continued to grow because it was located near the Chicago-Galena Highway aka Lake Street. Amore Ristorante is located in one of these old buildings. The bar and a few tables are on the first floor and the main dining area is on the second. I was having lunch with the folks and my dad wanted calamari, so we got calamari. Nothing to wax poetically about, but it was properly done, not at all overcooked and served with a nicely acidic and chunky tomato sauce with whole pieces of basil and a few lemon wedges on the side. Our entrees were Penne Abbruzzesse, Roasted Whitefish with capers and shallots and a side of spinach and Chicken with Polenta. These are all dishes you can find in one variation or another in most Ital/Am. restaurants, but these were made with care and seasoned properly. The sausage in the Penne was homemade and had a fair amount of fennel and the strips of pancetta were plentiful. The sauce could have used a bit more red pepper, but it was a decent representation overall. The Roasted Whitefish was moist with a light egg batter coating and sauced with a lemon butter balsamic reduction. The crinkly spinach was sauteed with shallots and butter, but could have been wilted for about another minute to take the crunch off. Lastly the chicken with polenta was a boneless breast served on a bed of extremly rich polenta made with plenty butter, cream and cheese. It was sauced with a brandy butter sauce and accompanied by green onions and mushrooms and much to my delight, the chicken was topped with a healthy size chunk of sauteed porcini mushroom. So many time menus read, "WILD MUSHROOMS" but never deliver. Finally someone delivered, albeit on a modest scale. Lastly, this place has a fairly priced, but small wine list and actually offers something produced locally at the Lynfred Winery in Roselle. The wines produced here are very easy drinking and not at all challenging for the beginner, but still remain decent and not cloyingly sweet. The winery is a neat old building which serves as a B&B and is open on a regular basis for tastings and small tours. I believe they use California and maybe some Michigan grapes. Link: http://www.lynfredwinery.com/ Wed Jan 01 11:59:47 -0800 2003 0 tony 1 607525 Since ReneG just did a post on Chicago soul food history, I might as well piggback on tony's thread and quickly post a few notes I have been meaning to put down for a long time on Italian chain immigration in the Chicago area. I thought that this might be of interest to those with an interest in Chicago-Italian food history and just generally to those with Italian ancestry (JeffB, no?) Most of the old local village influences/food forms have become diluted through the century and specific prototypes from the old world are hard to link up with contemporary forms. Still, I thought that knowing a little about the background of each Italian community might illuminate a little bit the reason why a certain dish is done one way and not another. Knowing that connections between old world and new world forms are at best tenuous today didn't stop me at all from using some of the information here to search for a prototype for Chicago's Italian Beef (and as I have hinted previously, I do feel strongly about a couple of possible correlations). The ff information is from Dominic Candeloro's book. Dominic is the foremost historian on Italian immigration in the Chicago area and is I think based in Highwood (?). According to Candeloro, the important sources for Italian chain immigration to our area are the ff towns/villages: Alta Villa Milicia Tesche Conca Caccamo Tuscany: Lucca Ponte Buggiano Modena region: Pievepeligo Sant'Ana Peligo Mola di Bari Amaseno San Benedetto del Tronto Castel di Sangro Cosenza Pizzone Castel San Vicenzo **** The distribution is as follows: People from the Lago di Garda area went to Roseland Pullman Tuscans (Lucchesi and Ponte Buggianesi) went to 24th and Oakley Vicentinesi (from Alto Piano Asiago) went to Roseland The Modenesi settled in Highwood The Marchigiani (Marches) settled in Chicago Heights ---- Before 1950 (that is, before the building of the expressway and resettling of immigrant communities living in the west side): Sicilians were in Near n side (Cabrini Green area) Riciglianese (Bsilicata) settled in Chinatown Baresi were in near w side Neapolitans and others settled in near w side (Dominic doesn't specify, but I assume he is referring to the area of Gonnella's and Marchetti's, aren't these folks of Neapolitan ancestry?) **** I wonder where the Italians from Bloomingdale are from? RST Fri Jan 03 00:56:55 -0800 2003 607402 0 RST 2 607534 The Italians in Bloomingdale are from Addison and Elmwood Park ;<) Fri Jan 03 08:03:19 -0800 2003 607525 0 tony 2 607549 Since we're all doing history lessons today (I see Zim just did one on Chicago-Arab history), did you guys see the obituary of the founder/owner of Vito and Nick's? It's in "Metro", about p. 7 or 8. I think the name is Mr. Barraco. He was 87 yrs old (if I remember correctly). Also: speaking of 24th and Oakley, there is a dark, windowless, ancient members-only bar on the west side of the strip serving neighborhood old-timers and called the Po-Piemonte Club. Does anyone know anything more about this? RST ((This is a city with a lot of secret little neighborhood clubs/bars/cafes: there are many Eastern European meeting places all along Lincoln, specially around Foster. (Cf Cafe Origin, Cafe Royal, Cafe Umbrella which is Serbian and has a long and extensive menu, a now-shuttered Cafe Kinema, a bar with a small sign claiming to have muszika populara romaneasca.) Also anyone knows anything about the "Hunting and Fishing Club" on Montrose (s side, w of Kimball)? It's intrigued me no end for a long time.)) Fri Jan 03 11:33:25 -0800 2003 607525 0 RST 3 607551 And how about the Russian-American Club (Members Only) on Mannheim Road? Fri Jan 03 11:47:31 -0800 2003 607549 0 Jack 4 607582 Pizzeria DOC is in what used to be an Ecuadorian Social Club, I believe. Fri Jan 03 17:06:39 -0800 2003 607551 0 annieb 5 607697 No, it was a restaurant called Miromar's Serbian Club. I never went, but I knew someone who did and it was open to all. I beleive it was owned by the same man as the Simplon Orient Express on Lincoln. If you look at the grill work in the front windows, you can see where the "M" was cut out of the inner circle. Sun Jan 05 17:42:37 -0800 2003 607582 0 Jamie E. 6 607720 Yes, you're right. There was an Ecuadorian club nearby on Lawrence, but I think now perhaps on the north side of the street. Thanks. Mon Jan 06 00:14:42 -0800 2003 607697 0 annieb 6 607978 Just for the record, and at the risk of sounding overly petty, I believe it was called Miomir's Serbian Club. Before moving up north to Lawrence Ave, the Serbian Club was located at 1928 W Evergreen, very close to where Nelson Algren lived until 1975 (1958 W Evergreen). I think, but am not certain, these two clubs were run by the same guy--Miomir Radovanovic. Did Algren drink and eat there? More than likely, I would guess. Interesting that Miomir now owns Simplon, I didn't realize that. Is he still there regularly? Could be very interesting to talk with him about the old days over a slivovitz or two. Fri Jan 10 15:20:31 -0800 2003 607697 0 Rene G 7 608032 Rene, While I have not been to Simplon in about a year, what I most remember about the restaurant is the geniality of the owner. Miomir spent time at each table having a drink and telling stories, if, in fact, it is the same person I don’t think it will take much prompting to get him to talk about the old days, especially after a slivovitz or three. I wrote a brief review of Simplon on chi.eats last year, before I became a regular on Chowhound, I will include the link. Enjoy, Gary Simplon Orient Express 4520 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL. 60625 773-275-0033 Link: http://groups.google.com/groups?q=+simplon+group:chi.eats+author:wiv&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=3ac68d04.42259716%40news-central.giganews.com&rnum=1 Sun Jan 12 09:27:06 -0800 2003 607978 0 G Wiv 7 608040 Rene--your post brought back a lot of memories. We frequently ate at the Serbian Club--and even more often at another Serbian spot called Zlata's which was nearby--maybe on Evergreen too. I had my first cevapcici there and listened to Mario Lanza tunes on the jukebox. Miromir's was in our neighborhood, but we didn't go all that often --I seem to recall a man with a white beard dressed like a kossak[sp] singing with a very loud band and not very good food. Sun Jan 12 14:30:32 -0800 2003 607978 0 JoanB 3 607553 I've also wondered about the Po-Piemonte club. Other than the obvious fact that it caters to natives from the Po-Piedmont region of Tuscany,I know nothing about it. I did read somewhere, several years ago, that the 24th and Oakley neighborhood has seen an influx of new Italian immigrants. I find this a bit dubious, although the continued existence of the club would seem to support the theory of an infusion of new blood. On the subject of social clubs, is anyoneone familiar with the Rodan Club on Damen, in between Wilson and Lawrence? It's on (or was on, I haven't been to that neighborhodd for a few months) the east side of Damen, and is set back from the street. It's always intrigued me. Finally, if you go to the German Fest in Lincoln Square, you'll see a number of men wearing "St. Hubertus Club" shirts. Back in the early '90s, they used to meet in the backroom of Gunther Murphys, at Belmont and Ashland. Gunther's used to be the Belmont Lounge, an old-school German bar and restaurant, where the St. Hubertus Club had its headquarters. My understanding was that they were a hunting club, and according to the German bartenders and regulars on the dayshift (the Irish came in after 6:00), their annual feast of fresh-killed game was the stuff of legend. Fri Jan 03 11:52:40 -0800 2003 607549 0 john m 4 607556 There is also an Italian men's social club at the wouthwest corner of Grand and May, kitty-corner from D'Amato's. Fri Jan 03 12:06:02 -0800 2003 607553 0 annieb 5 607559 Not too long ago the Times dining section had an article on the wonderful, regional or village-specific meals that can be had at Italian social clubs in the Outer Boroughs if you know the right people and pay a small fee -- kind of like eating at the VFW hall in small Eastern towns with big Italian/Polish/Portugese/etc. populations. Annie, the reason I am responding to your post is that I have always been intrigued by the club on Grand, which I imagine to be a Sicilian social club based on its address. Each time I walk by it's filled with old-timers sitting around a card table, faded fight posters in the window. In the summer the old timers and a few younger heavy guys in track suits and wrap-around shades sit on the sidewalk in surplus office chairs, smoking and drinking coffee. Despite the modesty of the club itself, extremely pricey rides are often parked out front. I wonder whether they would let a curious Chowhound paisano in for some home cooking. Maybe not. I am similarly intrigued by the Tough Enough Club on Taylor. Know anything about that Italian social club? Fri Jan 03 12:25:13 -0800 2003 607556 0 JeffB 6 607561 e-mail John Kass (jskass@tribune.com) to ask him about that social club Fri Jan 03 12:38:46 -0800 2003 607559 0 Vital Information 6 607567 Jeff, Do you remember a keyword or an author for a Times search? Or approx date of publ? That sounds like a hound must-read. Ok everyone, how do we all finagle ;) an invitation to one of these social clubs? It's hunting season, isn't it? I sure am up for some game. RST Fri Jan 03 13:08:42 -0800 2003 607559 0 RST 7 607569 I am not sure if the article below is what JeffB was thinking about, but it is about eating in Istrian social clubs in New York (and from the NYTimes). Follow the link, but registration required. Not to belabor this point, be snide or even get anyone in trouble, but most of the social clubs mentioned in this thread are not where you want to pop in for a quick meal. Link: http://query.nytimes.com/search/article-page.html?res=950DE4DC1338F931A35753C1A9649C8B63 Fri Jan 03 13:37:56 -0800 2003 607567 0 Vital Information 6 607581 Don't know about the club on Taylor. My nephew was recently taken by his grandfather to an Italian Men's Social Club in NY, and after hearing about "the club" for 17 years, wondered what all the fuss was. When he understood it was basically a way to get a beer for 50 cents rather than two bucks, or coffee and a roll for likewise good price, it made more sense to him. I would imagine the club on Grand to be Barese, based only on the knowledge that the grandfather of the current proprietors used to go there, I would see him in there. You might try asking Ralph or Frank. In Melrose Park, I counted close to half a dozen men's clubs, all had signs, something that you didn't see in NY. Fri Jan 03 17:04:55 -0800 2003 607559 0 annieb 4 607560 There was a large Italian American social club, Mazzini-Verdi Club (my grandfather was a member), originally in the Chicago/Pulaski area that moved to Franklin Park. It is still in opertion, but I believe the membership is dwindling. There was another large club, the Maroons, around Grand and Harlem. Fri Jan 03 12:33:25 -0800 2003 607553 0 Al 5 607563 I believe the Maroons are based around a soccer club as are many of the other local German and Polish social clubs in Chicago. Fri Jan 03 12:46:21 -0800 2003 607560 0 tony 3 607554 I discovered in doing some research on Melrose Park that Italian immigration to that area began in the late 19th century. The first Italians were a pair of brothers, born in 1869 in Casteglione and 1876 in Ferandina (don't know what part of Italy, no time to look it up) and arriving in MP in 1888. There was a second wave of immigration in the 1950s from the west side. An aquaintance wrote an interesting book about the Modenese in Highwood: Houses with Names, the Italians of Highwood, Illinois, by Adria Berardi. She grew up nearby Highwood and her grandparents lived in Highwood. It's an interesting book with some nice recollections of food traditions. Fri Jan 03 12:02:40 -0800 2003 607549 0 annieb 2 607558 Richard, The Marchetti's are not Neopolitan, I believe they are from Lombardy, which is why the restarant was named Como Inn (after Lake Como). Another long time restaurant family, the Capitanini's of the Italian Village, are from Tuscany (Florence). My mother and her family arrived on the west side from a small town near Lucca. There were many Toscanos living near Chicago and Pulaski after WW II, many of them belonging to Our Lady of the Angels parish. When most of these people started to move (including my family), most landed around north Harlem Avenue, where you will find many Italian restaurants and shops. Cheers, Al Fri Jan 03 12:24:31 -0800 2003 607525 0 Al