Review: The Scout, Part 2

At some point, hopefully before the football season starts, you'll get a chance to check out The Scout in the South Loop. If you do, don't be afraid to try something out of your comfort zone. More than likely, you'll enjoy your picks. You can read my review of The Scout by clicking here.

Here is my take on a few other dishes I tried during another visit. The Scout's prices are moderate so expect to shell out $10 to $19 for a meal, which usually includes two sides.

I've had wine and beer at the eatery, but I didn't pay enough attention to the libations to rate the offerings. The red wine was fine; the dark craft beer I tried was a bit too bitter for my taste.

Other Items:

Black Angus Pot Roast

Black Angus Pot Roast: Get it. No discussion really needed. This flavorful roast rests atop mashed red-s
kin potatoes. I've had this one twice, both times equally delicious and filling. Price: $14.

Slider Trio

Slider Trio: This sampling of buffalo chicken, angus pot roast and short rib teaser has more bun than meat. Make sure it's served hot. For the price, you're better off getting a complete meal. Price: $12.

El Mirano: This is a decent burger made with chorizo, fontina cheese, roasted poblano peppers and avocado. I didn't taste much of the chorizo however. The avocado topping gave the burger a buttery finish. I swapped regular fries for the sweet potato fries. Price: $12.

Click here to read my first review.

How To Give Steak Flavor Panache

Steak and fries by LWYang

Some say a steak cooked and seasoned well has all the panache it will ever need. But do you buy that? Do you think a steak can never get boring?

I agree there is nothing like the perfectly cooked, juicy steak, especially after a beautiful summer day. It is an eating experience that lingers in your memory for a long time. But I think even great things can get dull and your taste buds tire of the normal.

Here is a recipe for kicking that steak into another gear. What I like about this recipe is that it doesn't require much work or lots of additional steps or ingredients to give the steak a new dash of flavor.

Your thoughts or tips about steaks?

Review: The Scout Offers Great Food, Atmosphere and Service



BBQ Pulled Duck with Sweet Potato Fries

I've walked or driven by The Scout on South Wabash numerous times wondering what it was and what it offered. I even pigeonholed it as another overpriced sandwich shop. Boy, was I wrong!

I, along with my friend Melissa, ventured into The Scout on what was one of those rare sunny days this year. I was immediately impressed and happy with our selection. The restaurant -- even its open floor layout -- was inviting and nothing like I expected.

Spicy Green Beans

The South Loop establishment is a hip neighborhood restaurant with a bar and big-screen televisions for watching sports. To call this eatery a neighborhood bar and grill would be a disservice. Even to call it an upscale bar is a bit misleading. The food alone in this joint places it in another league, which neither a bar and grill nor upscale bar can fully claim.

Seating is plentiful and appropriately spaced so you're not squeezing by another diner. Natural light streaming through the huge front windows makes you forget about the bar in the back and side or the TVs positioned throughout the restaurant. Staff and patrons are cheery and friendly. I think that natural light helps.

Now the food! Melissa ordered the Black Angus Pot Roast with red-skin mashed potatoes. It was a moist and well-seasoned dish served in a pewter kettle bowl. I ordered the BBQ Pulled Duck with aged gouda on a pretzel bun. My sides were sweet potato fries and spicy green beans. My meal was scrump-dilli-cious; yes, I just made up a word.

What impressed me was everything on my plate was tasty, even the sweet potato fries, which I've never taken a liking to until now. Two small issues I had with my food -- a tad overcooked beans and unmelted gouda -- were minor. I left nothing on my plate.

Would I recommend this place? You can tell by this point, right. Will I return? No doubt, whether it's to watch a game or just grab a bite to eat while hanging out or passing through the South Loop.

The Scout Review, Part II

Alcohol-Free Wine Widens Your Drinking Options

Fre non-alcoholic Wine

What purpose does non-alcoholic wine serve? I wondered that, too, as I walked by a Target clearance rack with bottles of Fre wine had been relegated.

I guess that is a sign the line of wines didn't win over Chicagoans, even those residing in the gentrified South Loop. Still, I was curious partly because I drink wine -- containing alcohol of course. So I sacrificed the markdown price of about $5 or so for bottles of Red Blend and Brut.

I've tried the Red Blend, which tastes similar to Welch's Red Grape Juice Cocktail but not nearly as sweet. It is a clean, crisp wine with a smooth finish.

Though it's obvious alcohol is missing, you know you're enjoying a sophisticated adult drink. This makes Fre Wines perfect for making non-alcoholic mixed drinks during the summer or for events like baby showers.

So will this win over wine drinkers? Not likely, especially for wine sans alcohol retailing around $11-$12.
Fre Wines most likely will appeal to non-drinkers, social drinkers and those who are transitioning away from alcoholic drinks.

Add International Flair To Your Breakfast Plate: Swap Bagel With The Crumpet

Cinnamon Crumpets by Toni

A smile flashed across my face and memories of my college professor flooded my brain when I came across this common European breakfast item in Trader Joe's a couple of days ago. Though I was walking through the store still shopping, I was giggling inside. Finding a respected teacher's favorite snack --  crumpets -- also brought back memories of optimistic, youthful times.

Crumpets, commonly eaten in the UK, are served for breakfast, brunch and snacks. It's a cousin of the English muffin, which I also eat occasionally. Crumpets are eaten whole most often. Some prefer to cut them in halves like muffins, but I find that incredibly difficult because crumpets are formed like mini, thick pancakes.

 English muffins and crumpets are healthier alternatives to bagels in case you are wondering.So this morning's breakfast is an homage to University of Iowa Professor John Bennett, who died several years ago following a long illness. I'm sure he'd be proud of my steak and crumpet breakfast.

Ingredients:
2 crumpets (toast them)
Ribeye steak (quick fry)
Butter and syrup (optional, but best:)

Calling All Miso Masters: Trader Joe's Contest Will Crown A Winner

   Miso Soup by Adonis Chen

So you think you have what it takes to win a recipe/cooking contest? You don't know, you say. Ha, me either! But I MIGHT enter Trader Joe's Miso Master contest to test my skills.

The grocer is accepting entries for its Master-at-Miso Recipe Contest, which ends 11:59 p.m. May 27, 2014. The recipe must showcase the store's mild yellow miso in anything from appetizers and desserts to meats and soups.

You must use the grocer's ingredients, no more than 7. The dish can take no longer than 30 minutes to prepare. Read more here. 
Winner gets a $100 Trader Joe's gift card.

Check Out Chicago's Neighborhoods And Craft Breweries

Uri Tours

Chicago Craft Beer Week wraps up Sunday, May 25, just before Memorial Day. If you're looking for something to do or have wanted to explore craft beers and neighborhoods in the city, now is a good time to do it.

More than 300 venues are participating by offering specials on rare beers and hosting a variety of events e.g. Pints for Pups at The Olympic Tavern. You can bring your four-legged pals today to the tavern. For every Lagunitas beer sold, 50 cents will be donated to Canine Corners, Rockford's off-leash dog parks.

Or enjoy some rare selections from top brewers across the country on the craft beer cruise Thursday offered by Mystic Blue Cruises.

Read here for more information about the city's 5th annual Craft Beer Week, including schedules, maps and popular events..

A Sweet and Tangy Salsa To Try

 Salsa is one of the quickest and easiest dishes you can make completely or partially from scratch. Once you start, it is difficult to return to store-bought options because they don't seem to measure up to anything you can make.

 I make salsa from scratch using tomatoes, cilantro, onions and peppers all grown in my garden. It is the freshest and tastiest salsa I've eaten. Partially-homemade scratch salsa includes canned ingredients such as chiles and tomatoes.

  I also have grown strawberries, but I've yet to use them in a recipe. I don't think I would have thought to add strawberries in the salsa, but the recipe below has inspired me to try a few different twists.

 I have plenty of salsa at the moment. It will be awhile before my tomatoes are ripe so I won't be trying this recipe any time soon. But I hope someone else will and shares their thoughts on the blog.

Where To Find The Best Stock

Most of us buy stock from the local grocer and only think about making this flavoring during the holidays or other special moments.

I do both  -- buy and make stock flavoring -- depending upon my mood, available time and the occasion. Each type (homemade vs. store-bought) has its advantages and disadvantages.

Homemade takes time to make. Store-bought often contains too much sodium or additives you can do without.

Homemade essentially is made from leftovers from the other dishes, which I consider positive recycling. Store-bought is an inexpensive purchase and saves time.

You get my point; there are trade-offs no matter which type you choose to use.

I think everyone should try making stock at least once and then decide which type works best for them. I cooked a duck recently (more about that later) and made stock, which I plan to use in a dish this week. It was unbelievably easy to make and has lots of flavor.

Here's a "recipe" to a DIY chicken stock, which also appears to be incredibly easy to make. I like this one because you can essentially make this in your sleep.

Why You'll Need More Green In Your Wallet

Well, we already know beef prices are expect to increase this summer as are pork prices. Now, another news reports predicts we'll have to pay more to eat "greener." So those fresh melons, strawberries, grapes, corn and packaged salad will cost more to enjoy.

The price hikes are the side effects of California's three-year drought that shows no signs of slowing, according to the Wall Street Journal. I know that's not the news you want to hear, but you can start preparing early by modifying your eating and/or purchasing habits.

You should not eliminate fresh produce from you diet even if the prices jump outside your spending comfort zone. Use the alternatives to fresh produce, including frozen and canned fruit. Frozen fruit is an excellent substitute for fresh fruit and has a longer shelf life. Canned items also are solid alternatives to fresh goods.

This latest news affirms summer may be challenging, but not impossible.

Iceberg Lettuce Fights To Bring Its Sexy Back

Iceberg lettuce sits at or near the bottom of the leafy food chain when it comes to taste, eye-appeal and nutrients. And though it tends to be among the most affordable among leafy vegetables, it has become the lettuce of last resort.

That is until recently.

Fans of this always crispy, fresh salad staple are trying to put the iceberg lettuce back into the spotlight and help it regain some of its once-wide popularity. In the 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s, iceberg enjoyed wide approval among the salad crowd. It lost ground once restaurants, including fast-food joints, upped the ante on offering memorable, quality salads.

I don't buy iceberg, which once was a common item in my refrigerator, at all. It's not even on my last resort list for burgers or sandwiches. I'm not anti-iceberg lettuce, which seemed ubiquitous during my youth. I just prefer the many other flavorful and versatile lettuces available now.

But I must admit, a recipe I recently found has me reconsidering my long-standing banishment of this vegetable. I'll let you know if I give it a try.

How To Make Unforgettable Iced Coffee

I often wondered why I enjoyed drinking iced coffee at Japanese restaurants more so than any home brew I made or at American cafes. After watching a video on making iced coffee, I think I know why.

It's all in the temperature. .
"Huh," you say while scratching your head.

Apparently in order to lock in the aromatics and sweetness found in Japanese iced coffee, it must be flash-brewed first rather than made hot, allowed to cool then pour flat over ice cubes. Still confused?

Check out this video on how to make iced coffee Japanese style.

Setting A Table For The Single Diner

I discovered an interesting and complementary blog to A Single Table while I was researching on the Internet. It's called A Table for One, and it's definitely worth checking out. The bloggers offer colorful and fun suggestions for table arrangements, which they call tablescaping, for the diner who wants to set a table even if they are dining solo.

 

Their most recent arrangement, A Very Orange Tablescape, was inspired by recent record temperatures in California. Try some of their suggestions, and you'll never feel like you are dining alone.

Well done ladies! Well done.

Simple Pleasures: Starbucks Offers 50 Percent Off Drinks

I hadn't enjoyed a caramel frappuccino in more than a year. I'd avoided the delicious drink because of its cost and calorie count. Well, there is nothing I can do about the calories. But Starbucks addresses the price tag issue with its Happy Hour campaign that offers 50% off drinks from 3-5 p.m. daily.

So instead of paying $4-plus for a grande frap, I pay a little more than $2. That's a reasonable toll for a little slice of heaven during the day. Today is the last day of the campaign, which started around May 1. So I'll be sure to get my other favorite frap flavor, strawberries and cream, before 5 p.m.

How about you?

Simple Pleasures: A Cup of Coffee

Some days this is all that is needed. Today is one of the those days. Don't forget to enjoy the simple pleasures: Setting aside alone time for yourself.
This cup of Joe and the solace drinking it brought me was what I needed apparently.
What do you do when things get a bit hairy or hectic?

Cup of Coffee in Solitude

How To Make Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots

Happy Cinco de Mayo! For followers who want to party today.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Bring Grins and Great Memories

It's Chicago weather like we've had of late -- cloudy, gray skies and intermittent rain -- that makes me yearn for simple comfort food. On that list is probably one of the first items I learned to cook successfully as a youngster: Grilled Cheese sandwiches.

Just saying, "Grilled Cheese sandwich" makes me smile and recall fond childhood memories. There is nothing complex or over complicated about this sandwich, probably explaining why it always feels like the right meal at the right moment.

Oh, but don't be fooled by its simplicity. Your imagination can run wild (as mine is now) with the various ingredients you can use to make a sandwich. Kraft Foods offers several variations worth trying.

I think I'll first try Kraft's Grilled Cheese Margherita, a delicious spin using basil --one of my favorite herbs-- as an ingredient.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo With Cupcakes

Americans will celebrate Mexican heritage and pride primarily by drinking and eating on Cinco de Mayo. Though alcohol will flow freely and tacos, enchiladas, nachos, etc. will be plentiful here, Mexico designates Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) a minor holiday.

Because Cinco de Mayo falls on a Monday this year, some will mark the occasion on Saturday, May 3. Chicago, home of one of the largest Mexican populations in the country, will celebrate with a weekend of activities in the Little Village neighborhood.

Regardless of when you celebrate it, I encourage you to try this Cinco de Mayo-inspired treat: Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes. Yum!