A day that begins with this sign is a very, very good day.
"Cheezborger! Cheezborger! No fries, cheeps! No Pepsi, Coke!"
Where sweeter words ever spoken? Mama Vamp and I were convinced not, when we started one of our Chicago mornings at The Billy Goat Tavern. Made famous by SNL, this subterranean hamburger joint was the real deal - even at 10:30am. The breakfast of champions? A Double-Cheeseburger with ketchup and pickles, washed down with a Diet Coke. (Wheaties can eat its heart out. Mine is going to be too busy being clogged up by burger grease!)
Billy Goat's delights aside, have to admit that our best meal in the Windy City was a tad more upscale. More than a tad actually. It was had at Custom House. Positioned as an upscale steak house, its positioning is off the mark. Steak may be on the menu, but you would be remiss not to try some of the kitchen's other outstanding fare, from the swoon-worthy appetizer of Roasted Quail with a crunchy Onion Beignet (pictured below) to a succulent braised Bone-In Beef Shortrib accompanied by Horseradish Cream Puffs.
And then there were the pastry chef's eyes-roll-back-in-your-head desserts, including a chocolate concoction that had Mama Vamp hogging her plate and sighing with pleasure. Who could blame her?
All I can say is thank goodness we left Chicago the day after that dinner. And, thank goodness for my gym membership!
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