Whole Foods, Live Tour!
I know this sounds crazy, I'm going to Chicago in September to do a round of demos for one of my clients at all the Whole Foods there, two a day. Crazy, but fun...
So, here's what I'd love help with; good places to chow near all or any of the WF locations, for lunch or dinner. Preferably ethnic, and, as all of you know, divey is good, tho I may spring once for a big deal....Anything Asian is great; Korean, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Japanese...and I know there are always good Mexican threads on the CHI board. Seafood involvement is great, but no BBQ unless it has a fish option. Oh god, and GREEK, of course! Preferably Greek that includes octopus or other aquatic delights...
I haven't picked my hotel yet, so I can't base recs on that, I have to figure out where they all are in relationship to the WF markets...
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cbelles
Jul 31, 2009 07:10 AM
I live near the Lincoln Park Whole Foods. There's not a lot of what I would consider "ethnic" or "divey" in the immediate area, but there is the Goose Island brewpub very nearby. If you're a beer fan this would be an excellent stop - some of their more commonplace offerings are a bit hit or miss, and lately I haven't seen a ton of creativity in their generic lager/ale/stout offerings, but some of their Belgian-style stuff is really good.
The kitchen has been mixing it up a little more than they used to; it seems like lately they've been on an over-the-top burger kick (beef patty topped with pork belly and bacon - things like that), but their menu changes a little more often than it used to, and they're trying to do more local sourcing of foods. On the whole, better-than-average pub grub.
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chicgail
Jul 27, 2009 04:25 AM
Chicago has 6 Whole Foods Stores and there are others in the Suburbs. I am assuming that you are talking about the newest Whole Foods in Lincoln Park. Please clarify.
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re: chicgail
galleygirl
Jul 27, 2009 05:34 AM
Actually, I'll be in Chicago for 10 days, doing demos at all 6 of the stores in the city, as well as all the ones in the suburbs. These will be Lincoln Park, South Loop, Chicago Avenue, Lakeview, Halsted, Deerfield, Northbrook, Wheaton, Naperville and Hinsdale. I will be visiting the Lincoln Park store 3 times, cuz they have so much traffic. Thanks
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re: galleygirl
Barbi Yanni's Grecian Taverna in Lincoln Square should be do-able from the Lakeview location. Easy to get there via bus, train or cab.
Will you be doing any demos at the WF Sauganash store? There's a great Korean place called Amitabul not too far away, though you'd probably need a car for that trip.
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re: opehlia payne
galleygirl
Jul 28, 2009 07:57 AM
I don't see the Sauganash store listed; does it go by another name?
I will have a car with GPS (woohoo!) my whole time out there, so transportation will not be a problem (or, maybe it will be, cuz I'll have to park the car!)
Barbi Yanni's Tavern and Amitabul go on the list; thanks!-
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re: ferret
galleygirl
Jul 28, 2009 08:52 AM
oops,my bad; I missed it. I guess I'm not going there, because they don't carry this product...I might have to get out there if there's Korean food, tho!
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re: galleygirl
For the Lakeview one (3300 N Ashland), I'd hope the Brown LIne at Paulina (heading to Kimball) and get off at Westen for authentic Thai (Spoon Thai) and really good Mexican (Los Nopales). Both are on Western, about 2ish blocks south from the station. and are BYOB. OR go a couple more stops up and get off at Kedzie for great Middle Eastern places. Check our Noon O Kabob or Semerais
The Halsted Store - grab the Broadway Bus or the RED LINE at Addision and get off at Argyle (for both bus/El) and explore that area. Try Tank Noodle and Sun Wah,
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re: lbs
galleygirl
Jul 28, 2009 03:36 PM
Spoon Thai is definitely on my list; how hard is parking in these areas? BYOB has my name all over it...
Middle Eastern is a must, too.-
re: galleygirl
I've been to Spoon Thai and IMO it's overrated and there are much better places within a couple of blocks- Opart Thai and Rosded. But all three are within close proximity to pay parking lots. As is the Grecian taverna I mentioned in a earlier post (just a block north of Rosded).
Too bad you're not hitting the Sauganash store. That's the one I shop at and it's a nice one.
If you like Middle Eastern you might try Fattoush, which is about a mile south of the Halsted Ave WF, on the 2600 block.
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re: opehlia payne
Both the Wheaton WF and the Naperville location sit in the middle of chain-ville. From Wheaton, I would travel east on Butterfield to just past the intersection of Myers Road to Reza's, a Persian/Middle Eastern restaurant that we have enjoyed. You are near Oak Brook there and there are many options in that area. Naperville has a good mix of ethnic restaurants; Indian, Chinese, Spanish and Korean are some represented there but not close to the WF. Many are on Ogden Avenue which is about 4 miles to the north.
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re: galleygirl
If you go to Spoon, please do NOT order the regular Ameri-Thai stuff (pad thai, etc). Get something off their translated Thai menu. They provide it for you. The Duck Curry is one of my favorites. But the fried chicken is really good. And the larb. And the Issan sauasge. Parking is ok - I think. I don't have a car so I rely on public transporation. The Greek place in Lincoln Square is ok. Been more miss than hit the last few times I went. Good for a neighborhood place but not a destination. Better off going to Greek town if you will be at the South Loop store.
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re: lbs
galleygirl
Jul 29, 2009 09:53 AM
Oh, I'm big on Northern Thai and Issan style stuff. I don't do meat,but I like any fluffy fish dishes, or sour bamboo shoot salad if they're got it!
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re: galleygirl
chicgail
Jul 29, 2009 10:01 AM
For authentic Northern Thai you can't beat Sticky Rice. I think I like it better than Spoon anyway. Very Chaing Mai.
It's south of Spoon, also on Western Avenue. Not really walking distance between them. To find out how to get there on public trans, hopstop.com is a good bet.
Here's the website: http://www.stickyricethai.com/
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re: chicgail
galleygirl
Jul 29, 2009 10:40 AM
Oh man, this place looks AWESOME! This is EXACTLY what I'm looking for; I may have to make several visits to try everything! Are the prices on the website actually current?
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