Ten years ago, some online food friends and I decided to eat from noon to noon, just for fun. Last week was the anniversary of this culinary odyssey, and so we did it again. My friend Mike Gebert, who edits Grubstreet Chicago, published two pieces about what it was like being an online foodie before there were international social networks like Facebook and the impact of this feat of eating on the Chicago food scene.
On both the first and second such journeys, we usually split an entrée three or four ways, so although this sounds like an act of incredible gluttony, it was actually an act of somewhat credible gluttony. The first time we did an around-the-clock eating binge like this, we did penance by donating time at the Inspiration Café kitchen. We’ll probably do a similar act of contrition this time around.
In the 24-period, we visited restaurants according to a schedule developed by Rob Gardner, Oak Parker and now editor of The Local Beet:
1200 – Manny’s, 1141 S Jefferson St, (312) 939-2855
1245 – Italian Superior Bakery(Masi’s), 931 S Western Ave, (312) 733-5092
1330 – La Chaparrita Grocery, 2500 S Whipple St, (773) 254-0975
1415 – Filbert’s Old Time Root Beer, 3430 S Ashland Ave. (773) 847-1520
1430 – Ramova Grill. 3510 S Halsted St. (773) 847-9058
1500 – Pleasant House Bakery, 964 W 31st St, (773) 523-7437
1600 – Berghoff Café, 17 W Adams St, (312) 427-7399
1700 – Podhalanka, 1549 W Division St, (773) 486-6655
1830 – El Riconcito Cubano, 3238 W Fullerton Ave. (773) 489-4440
1900 – Whirlaway Lounge. 3224 W Fullerton Ave, (773) 276-6809
2000 – Joong Boo Market, 3333 N Kimball Ave, (773) 478-5566
2130 – Sticky Rice, 4018 N Western Ave, (773) 588-0133
2300 – Laschet’s Inn Restaurant, 2119 W Irving Park Rd, (773) 478-7915
0000 – Diner Grill, 1635 W Irving Park Rd, (773) 248-2030
0045 – Bai Cafe, 3406 N Ashland Ave, (773) 687-8091
0200 – Red Hot Ranch, 2072 N Western Ave, (773) 772-6020
0300 – Sweet City, Chinatown Mall
0530 – Valois, 1518 E 53rd St, (773) 667-0647
0700 – Shan Restaurant, 5060 N Sheridan Rd, (773) 769-4961
0800 – Nha Hang Viet Nam, 1032 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640 (773) 878-8895
0900 – Green City Market, 2430 N Cannon Dr, (773) 880-1266
1030 – The Donut Vault, 400½ N Franklin,
1100 – Gene & Georgetti, 500 N Franklin St, (312) 527-3718
It was all great fun. Some of the folks on this trip say they want to do it again next year. I dunno; I’m still hungry but getting a little old for this.
