thankfully, not my Mini
Photo: theunlimitedclass on flickr.
Well, this week started with a bang–more like a pretty forceful hiss, really. Such was the sound of transmission fluid blowing out of my line and all over the front of my car and windshield this morning. Luckily, I had stopped at the shop a few minutes earlier to have what appeared to be a minor leak looked at and had met a customer, Keith, who was willing to check it out (the guys at the shop didn’t want to step into Mini Cooper territory, and I don’t blame them). Long story short, I was planning to drop off the car with Keith later tomorrow, so I drove away and the fluid blew near Halsted and Grand. I turned around the car, headed back toward the shop, and couldn’t get over the hill going across the expressway on Grand. I called Keith, who was still at the shop, and he told me to hold tight while he came to help me. He swung by and scoped out a parking spot a couple of blocks away. We pushed the car through traffic and parallel parked it in the non-meter, non-permit parking spot. (Let me assure you, these spots are not easily found on Chicago streets these days.) Keith, you are good man. I hope you can fix my car–godspeed.
Luckily, I had my foldable bike in the back of the car. It has a broken pedal, so I was bringing it to work so that my friend Droopy could stop by and replace the pedals for me. Alas, I unfolded the bike into position and limped to work on one pedal. I received a cheer from my crew as I wheeled my bike into the restaurant. They thought I was just especially motivated to ride my bike to work. They didn’t know about my car troubles.
This week I’m ready for what’s to come, good or bad, happy or sad. But one thing is for certain: I can look back on the previous week and recount some pretty great food moments to make up for the unfortunate surprises. I think this new series of Top 10 posts will be a great way both to archive those memories and to start the week with positive thoughts–at least those are always with me, no matter what.
So, with the acrid smell of transmission fluid clinging to my pants, I present last week’s Top 10, in no particular order (mostly chronological).
1. My liver and onions special of the day.
liver and onions
2. My spaghetti and meatballs special of the day.
3. The sight of our first transplanted horseradish sprouts.
first transplanted horseradish leaves (bad photo to be replaced)
4. Spring roll and lemon cream chef’s demo for DIFFA at the Bulthaup showroom.
spring roll and lemon cream demo at Bulthaup
vegetarian spring roll
French lemon cream filling for tart
5. Living vicariously through Twitter, Flickr, and blog accounts of the Green City Market Chef’s Barbecue.
blood sausage corn dog from Chef Mike Sheerin at Blackbird
Photo: Zesmerelda on flickr. blogged at tammygreen.com
6. The “barbecued” quail and the house-made nutter butters that come with a salty chocolate sabayon, the latter paired with a South African mead spiked with bird chilies, at The Bristol.
7. First taste of Goose Island’s “Fleur” Belgian pale ale, also at The Bristol.
Fleur is described as “a refreshingly tart and fruity Belgian-style ale, resulting from a secondary fermentation with hibiscus flowers and wild yeasts.”
Alcohol by volume: 7.0%
International bitterness units: 32
Preferred glass: snifter
Preferred serving temperature: 45º
Availability: limited release
Draft: 1/6 bbl
8. Bicycling to the Publican for brunch.
9. Perfect hashbrowns with spring onions and curly parsley, braised slab bacon, and all-around pleasant first brunch at the Publican.
"Brunchlican"
"Publacon"
10. Mom’s birthday dinner at the Schnitzel Platz. Happy birthday, Mom.
Mom's birthday shank
[...] Week 1 [...]