Burgers, Dogs, & Pizza, Oh My!

Posts Tagged ‘Chicago foods’

Harold’s Chicken Shack is a Chicago legend. Iconic to all who live on the South Side of the city, after 5 decades, Harold’s has spread to the burbs and even a couple of out of state locations.  On the menu? (Below) Fried chicken, wings, shrimp, catfish and assorted sides.

I went with a combo plate, catfish and perch, which came with fries, slaw, and white bread. All of it was excellent, and prepared to order, so it was fresh and hot. I noticed the fish and chicken have a different batter, with the former being more corn-mealy which was fine with me.  The fish batter was crispy yet light, and the fries were done perfectly.

You can order by the plate, quantity or individual piece.

Seems like there are abour 40 Harold’s locations, according to some online information. They deserve all the success they can achieve. Great product, great value.

The Schaumburg location has limited seating. Counter and a few four tops.

Wanna check out the competitor? Frank’s Chicago Shrimp is the main one.  The main thing I like about Franks is you can order by the quarter pound, and really mix things up!

Fish combo plate

Full menu

Harolds Chicken Shack Review – Chicago

Harolds Chicken Shack Review – Chicago

Rarely have I been able to find out so little about a product that I really wanted to share with you – I’m that excited about it. “Lombardi’s” is apparently a small/boutique/artisan sausage maker out of Chicago, which may or may not be owned by a small packer named Roma.

I have to say “may be owned” because I can’t find a reference to that one way or another, but I was able to determine that Lombardi’s is made in the small Roma plant. (Pictured below).

Various business sites list Roma has having sales of less than $750,000 annually, and between 5-10 employees. That’s a labor of love.

Speaking of love, I adore this product, Lombardi’s (Hot) Italian Sausage. Check out the ingredient list:  Pork, Water, Salt, Sugar, Spices, Paprika. Wow. Fantastic, huh?  Well, I think so.

The flavor is terrific, texture is perfect, and the casing makes for a great snap, if you’re having on a bun, whether you cook on the stove top or grill.

I made half the package like that and bunned them with kraut, and the rest I stripped the casings off of and pinched pieces to dot the top of a home made pizza. Superb. Bravo. Really.

But this company is so small, you’ll probably not be able to share my enthusiasm, unless you’re in the Chicago area and spot the sausages in a local supermarket.  I found mine at Woodman’s, a regional chain in Wisconsin and Illinois.

I love these babies.

Roma Packing Chicago

Lombardis Italian Sausage Review

Like most locally-specific foods around the US, whether it’s the first coney island style hot dog, or the first pizzeria in America, the origins of Chicago’s iconic sandwich – the Italian Beef – are difficult to sort out.  One story has it that Italian immigrant workers in Chicago’s stockyards brought home tougher cuts of meat, slow roasted them, and then slow marinated / simmered them in a broth chock-a-block full of herbs and spices.  The roast was then thin sliced and served on a durable Italian roll. According to one purveyor of the product,  Scala meats, the sandwich was originally introduced at weddings and festivals as a way of extending the food supply for larger crowds.

One early vendor, Al’s #1 Beef, opened its first Chicago stand in 1938.  While the sandwiches are widely available in Chicago, Northern Illinois and NW Indiana, relocated Chicagoans have started to open their own versions of Italian beef stands around the country, and some of the larger players, like Al’s, and Portillo’s, are expanding through adding corporate outlets or franchising.  Portillo’s has just been sold to a private equity group which  has national ambitions. Chicago’s Vienna Beef, supplier of hot dogs to the nation, also has a beef product for restaurants and consumers, which is available through its own distributors, Sysco, and shipped directly to consumers.

There are a number of ways to order your beef sandwich:

• Dry – meat is pulled from the broth and allowed to drip prior to placing it on the roll.
• Wet – meat is not allowed to drip the juices, and the bread has the meat with some broth soaking in the bread
• Dipped – meat is placed on the sandwich and the entire roll is dipped in the broth

Sandwiches can be dressed with giardiniera (diced, pickled vegetables) or sport peppers; some outlets offer the “cheesy beef”, a sandwich prepared in one of the above manners with the addition of melted mozzarella or provolone.

Outside of Chicago, there’s a directory that can help you find an Italian beef near you.  One enthusiast has memorialized sandwiches at various locations around Chicagoland.

Here’s a slow cooker version of a Portillo’s style Italian beef recipe.

Here are pix of these delicious sandwiches that I have enjoyed.

Cheesy Beef – Mr. Beefy, Fox River Grove, IL

Michael’s – Portland, OR

Italian Beef