Scared Panda » Food

Chicago The Great: Lakeview

Clint — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:54:14 +0000

Although we don’t live in Chicago anymore, it’s still a place that is fresh in our minds and close to our hearts. A lot of friends have been taking trips there lately so we compiled a list of our favorite places, by neighborhood, to grab a bite (or drink) for them to check out. And now, we want to share it with you. To kick things off lets start with the ‘hood that we called home, Lakeview. Enjoy!

Finley Dunne’s – Awesome neighborhood bar. Fantastic place to hang out and the staff is top notch.
DMK Burger Bar - Organic grass fed burgers, incredible fries and good craft beers. Get the bison burger with blueberry compote and an order of truffle parmesan fries. Every burger is amazing and they have awesome seasonal specials.
Murphy’s Red Hots – Chicago style hot dogs.
Cafe El Tapatio – Great Mexican food. Sit on the patio
Southport Grocery – Brunch. Amazing.
Kanela Breakfast Club – Great brunch. Nice patio.
Jake’s Pub – My favorite neighborhood bar in Chicago. Awesome beer list.
Duke of Perth – Scottish. Whiskey. Good Beer. All you can eat fish and chips on Fridays and Wednesdays. No TVs
Tony’s Tex Mex – Little taco joint that serves some of the best late night tacos around. Kate loves the vegetarian fajita burrito.
Pick-me-up Café: Amazing sandwiches, pancakes, everything. BEST hot chocolate. Open 24 hours on the weekends
Twist – Great tapas. Not exactly Spanish style, but delicious.
Uncommon Ground: Great cocktails with local and healthy food. Good for brunch or dinner.
Sheffields – Good beer and BBQ. Avoid it on the weekends.
Paulina’s Market – Local butcher, weird hours. Great meat.
The Globe Pub – The best place to watch soccer in Chicago.

This doesn’t come close to covering everything that we loved so much in Lakeview, but if it’s a pretty solid start.

Pizza Fight!

Clint — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:07:34 +0000

Chicagoans stay true to deep dish pizza because of its thick buttery crust and cheesy goodness. New Yorkers argue that thin is the only true slice because of its less is more attitude and fold-ability. Now we’re taking the battle to the streets with this t-shirt.

10% of every shirt you purchase helps Minnesota Computers for Schools provide technology access for lifelong learning. The organization trains Stillwater Correctional Facility inmates to refurbish computers donated by local businesses. The computers are then shipped to K-12 schools across the state for a nominal fee.

Pizza Fight! is printed using only eco-friendly inks on a soft red, 100% cotton American Apparel t-shirt. This tee is available in unisex sizes and was designed by Fred Heidbrink.

Cupcakes on the Move

Kate — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:48:12 +0000

It’s no secret that I love food, but what people might be surprised to know is that not so long ago I didn’t like cupcakes, or any cake really. A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough to write a review of More cupcakes before their opened their doors and after I left, I was officially on the cupcake train.

I recently had a chance to catch up with the owner of More, Patty Rothman, and she told me about the More Mobile that will be launching mid-August. You may be familiar with Flirty Cupcakes – the idea is similar, but I think it will outshine Chicago’s first cupcake truck. Part of the reason is because More sells a better cupcake and secondly, they have some really great ideas for the truck itself that will make it stand out.

For more information about this highly anticipated truck, check out the post I recently wrote for Gapers Block.

Re-Discover Chicago Sunday Morning (midnight – 5 a.m.)

Kate — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:59:52 +0000

This weekend is one of my favorites of the summer – on Saturday night my friends and I will go on a late night, 25-mile bike ride through Chicago. The L.A.T.E. Ride is a really great way to explore the city after-hours – from midnight until 5 a.m., the streets are closed off to vehicles and we’re free to bike, hang out and discover some of Chicago’s hidden gems.

We’ll finish the ride around 3 a.m. on the lake front and will stop somewhere to get some breakfast (Pick-Me-Up – hello pancakes!, Tony’s Burritos, perhaps a night cap at Carol’s?) then catch a few zzz’s before heading to one of our favorite soccer bars to watch the World Cup (go Netherlands!). All-in-all, sounds like a pretty awesome day to me.

If you’re at the L.A.T.E. Ride, look for the group of people decked out in Scared Panda gear and come say hello!

- Kate

Food Trailers + Cupcakes

Kate — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:26:48 +0000

A couple of weekends ago, Scared Panda and friends headed south to Austin, Texas. One of our favorite things about traveling is, of course, the food. If you can’t tell from the three food-themed shirts we’ve produced, we love to eat. And searching out local food is such a great way to learn about a particular culture and social scene. During our time in Austin, we discovered, and fell in love with, food trailers. If you haven’t experienced this yet, please make it a point to do so. The best food we ate during our four days in the city was produced in a food trailer – tacos, crepes, snow cones, cupcakes and more. Here is a short video of Clint destroying a strawberry cupcake from Hey Cupcake! Enjoy.

- Kate

Feeding Chicago

Kate — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:55:37 +0000

Over the past few weeks I’ve been working on a story about food pantries in Chicago for Gapers Block. I had the pleasure of talking to many volunteers and spent some time researching an issue that has always been really important to me. Each day, food pantries in Cook County serve more than 142,400 men, women and children. Learn more about the important role food pantries play in Chicago here.

- Kate

Foods that kept me warm this winter

Clint — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:49:22 +0000

I’m glad to see upper 50′s and other signs that winter is taking a walk. Soon I’ll be taking every chance I have to eat something in the outdoors. So, to help say good bye to old man winter, I’ve compiled a few photos of the foods(and drinks) that helped keep me warm this past winter.

Wicked strong beers at The Long Room

Mad Dog shots at The Bim Bom Lounge

Burgers at DMK Burger Bar

The humongous egg & cheese sandwich at Jack’s on Halsted

The Chocolate Tower French Toast at The Bongo Room

The eggs benedict at The Bongo Room

Some type of spread at The Bim Bom Lounge

And thanks to Anthony Bourdain & No Reservations for introducing me to the Three Little Pigs sandwich from The Silver Palm which helped me survive one of the coldest nights of the year.

Ugh, I’m full just from looking at all that…But damn it looks tasty

See ya on the patio,

- Clint

My top burrito joints

Clint — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:10:35 +0000

There are about a million great places to get burritos in Chicago; some are great, some are not so great and some are much better the later in the night you eat them. Here is a list of the top 10 burrito joints in Chicago that I’ve been to. Now, these are only the burrito joints that I’ve actually been to, so if you have some recommendations on neighborhoods/places not listed below; please leave them in comments. It would be great to explore some more of the great burrito places and neighborhoods in the city.

1. Tony’s Burrito Mex – Lakeview

2. Taco & Burrito Palace #2 – Lincoln Park

3. Los 3 Panchos Taco & Burrito Place – Lakeview/Lincoln Park

4. Taco Burrito Express – Wicker Park

5. El Burrito Mexicano – Lakeview

6. Burrito House – Lakeview

7. Carnicerias Guanajuato – Avondale

8. Las Asadas – Bucktown

9. El Gallo Bravo #5 – North Center

10. Taqueria Moran – Logan Square

A Harry Caray hot dog t-shirt – my sketch

Clint — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:32:49 +0000

I’ve been talking with artists lately about getting some new designs done and yesterday at the Green Eye I found myself drawing one of my very own. I drew this up to give the artist an idea about what has been going around inside my head. This is the first and very rough draft of one of the next t-shirts. The shirt is inspired by Harry Caray and how you don’t put ketchup on a Chicago hot dog. Pretty awesome huh?

Corned beef in Chicago

Clint — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:22:22 +0000

Photo by JerryDoughnut

Today the temperature reached 62 on the lakefront and I could feel the people of Chicago start to thaw. Short sleeve tees, smiles and bikers all around. March is coming in like friendly lamb riding on the back of a rainbow unicorn. The highest temperature so far this year made me forget that it’s still only March here in the city. March means St. Patrick’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day means corned beef. My favorite corned beef meal, not sandwich mind you, but meal, is at Four Moon Tavern in Roscoe Village. I recently discovered this place last year when my good friend Matty O brought Kate and I there for their annual St. Patrick’s week corned beef and cabbage. He’s been raving about it since the day I met him. There isn’t any information on their website about the special but I think this bar is definitely worth grabbing a Guinness at even if the corned beef special is not happening again this year. However, I cannot think of a reason it would not. Rest assured I will be venturing there early next week or late this week to check it out and report back my findings.

So my friends, I leave you with this question: Where is your favorite corned beef in the city? Let us all know and leave your suggestions and recommendations in the comments section!

Happy spring everyone!

- Clint

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