2008 | Leena Eats

Food Nerd Central

Yeah, I’m still alive and eating well, might I say.

Guys, I am almost there. I am almost done with the dissertation that ate Adelaide (my working title, what do you think?) Cue Chariots of Fire Music. Da Da Dada Daaaaaaaaa Daaaaaaaaaaa I just want you to know that I recognize our relationship as food blogger and food blog reader has been compromised over the past few months. Sometimes, it has been downright ignored and damn it, that ain’t right. You deserve better than that. You deserve, at the very least, to be bribed with homemade brownies and cupcakes personally delivered by me and perhaps a kick line of koalas trained to do a pop and lock routine to Salt n Pepa’s famous song, Shoop, at least until you forget this whole mess occurred. Lucky for me, I’m a poor college student who can’t afford to do that, so you’ll have to settle for a sign that I am alive. Read the rest of this entry »

July 3rd, 2008
Posted in Gastronomy degree, Leena Lives Life | 12 Comments »

100 best eats in chicago

The latest issue of time out Chicago magazine has a big fat BEAUTIFUL picture of a kick ass sandwich I ate at the Hopleaf bar, a gastro pub in Andersonville. It is a Nueske ham sandwich on pumpernickel bread with gruyere cheese and apple-tarragon slaw, and the best damn frites I have ever eaten with an aioli full of so much garlic; I wanted to lick the ramekin clean. Oh yeah, and they carry woodchuck cider. Could it get any better than that? The article was for the top 100 foods to eat in Chicago. I was proud to note that I had eaten officially one of the 100 best foods, and had seriously contemplated eating at several of the other establishments. My man posed a challenge to me when he saw the magazine–could we possibly eat all 100 items before moving to Australia, to take over there with us the beautiful memories of all things food and Chicago? realistically, no. some of the food from the nicer restaurants are too expensive to eat, most nice restaurants don’t do takeout, and a lot of nice restaurants use seasonal produce for the dishes, meaning a lot of the dishes are not in season anymore. I cried a little when I realized this, mainly mourning the stunning picture of elotes soup from newcomer hotspot schwa. I have such a passion for anything off a street cart, especially corn, so I may have to make my own soup to compensate. But upon closer look, I realized that a lot of the food on the list comes from cheaper restaurants and takeout joints! Yay! So it is quite possible that we will actually hit all of them, provided we eat out every day until we leave!!! Okay, so here is the plan: never one to turn down a good challenge, I will say we plan on eating 25 of the 100 foods listed (not counting Hopleaf, which is my new craving). It will be hard, a bit expensive, and somewhat gassy, but damn it, in the name of food, I will accomplish this. One small step for me, one giant step for my stomach. I?ll keep you posted. Holler. ~LTG

July 3rd, 2008
Posted in Chicago, Leena Eats | 2 Comments »

I cook chunky

I?m a good home cook. Sometimes I?m a great home cook. But one thing always remains the same, no matter what I cook: I cook chunky. I?ve realized that since culinary school, all I do is cook what feels comforting to me. That usually includes some sort of Mexican or Italian food, with tons of cheese, and usually bacon fat. Any recipe can be improved upon with bacon fat. Too bad the same isn’t true about cholesterol. I need to cook healthier! all this cooking chunky is no good for me, and plus, I just found out that Australia does not have the same type of bacon that we eat, which really throws a kink in my recipe repertoire. And I?m sure my lovely ibs would appreciate a few healthy meals as well. I attempted to make a healthy meal last night. Cauliflower soup with parmesan and chives. Pretty good, actually, except for the stinkiness that cauliflower seems to get when you cook it. I?ve wanted to make more soups, and I?ve really wanted to play around with cauliflower, but the husband doesn’t like it so much. I served it with my special grilled cheese sandwich, which includes shredded chicken and a veggie-packed cream cheese. Yup, I took a healthy meal and made it chunky. I really need help. Last week I made herb and lemon marinated chicken breasts with smashed broccoli and garlic, and it was amazing! I?ve never really cooked with lemon in savory dishes before, but I am quickly becoming a huge fan. Thai food, with poultry, even Ethiopian is better with a little lemon. the broccoli was great too (thanks, Tyler Florence!), sort of mushy, with tons of garlic, and a little chicken stock and yoghurt, which makes me think it is not all that healthy but at least a step in the right direction. Oh yeah. And the recipe called for skin on, bone in breasts, but I did not have them, and you needed the extra fat from the skin to make the pan sauce. So I threw in a little bacon fat. Need I tell you how transcendent the sauce was? I could have made a gallon of the stuff and licked it off my arm for an entire month, THAT is how good it was. Sigh. I?ll miss you bacon fat. ~LTG

July 3rd, 2008
Posted in Leena Cooks, Parties | 4 Comments »

Ethiopians must have fat babies

I love Ethiopian food. And please, do not even start with the starving kids-Sally Struthers jokes. Ethiopians eat better than most Americans do and I bet all their babies are fat with food. So stuff it. The craving for it sideswipes me like Mac truck, I swear. Yesterday I was standing in line at the pharmacy, and all of a sudden, I could not get the picture of a freshly fried beef sambusa out of my head. I headed straight for the nearest Ethiopian restaurant, Ethiopian diamond (6120 N. Broadway St., Chicago). It helps that I moved into a neighborhood that has three Ethiopian restaurants within walking distance of my apartment. If you’ve ever had the stuff, then you know what I am talking about. When I first tried it, I had to eat it once a week for the next month straight. It produces such a strong craving for it; one might compare the addiction to that of a crack addict. You just keep thinking of where you will get your next fix! My man went with the doro tibs watt on my suggestion (I was craving some white meat), and I got the usual, the veggie combo with yemsir watt, dinich alicha, gomen. The absolute worst part about going to this type of restaurant is the time it takes to get your food. They make it all from scratch, at least at this place, so no steam tables are holding your watts, which is nice. For those not in the know, the food is served on a giant thin piece of bread in little piles, and you tear off the bread and scoop the food up with it. The best part is at the end, when the bread plate is soaked with the juices of all the food and you eat it…crap, I?m drooling. The injera bread was spot on; chewy with a nice sour tang they get from fermenting the batter. I love using the yemsir watt as a condiment before I scoop up other pieces of potatoes or collard greens…ugh, it’s so good. And I got my sambusa fix too. Who knew deep fried beef in pastry could taste so good? They serve it with a sweet chili sauce and a wedge of lemon that gives it the perfect kick. I could eat about 8 on my own. In my opinion, Ethiopian diamond is the best of its kind in Chicago. The only way to describe their food is just savory goodness. From the moment I first walked into the place, the smell alone made me want to steal food off nearby tables. Man, I?m gonna miss this place. Hopefully Australia will have a small Ethiopian population to meet my needs! Now I want more sambusa. This is what I get for indulging in a food porn memory. ~LTG

July 3rd, 2008
Posted in Chicago, Leena Eats | 6 Comments »

Meh meh and meatballs

Merry Chrismahannakwanakuh! The holidays are one of the most kick ass times of year. Nothing beats a holiday where it is mandatory to get presents and over-indulge in heavy food. Sure, the food binges mess with my ibs (gastrointestinal issues be damned!), but I’m like Oprah in a donut shop. Interesting busy holiday this year…jet-setted down to Georgia to spend time with the husband’s fam before we leave the country. Good time, cute nieces, little sleep, food was so-so (although the sweet potato pie rocked my world a little). But then it was the exact opposite when we got back to Chicago Christmas night. Went to a friend’s house, ate a ton of homemade AMAZING Italian food and wine, and caught up with old friends. This spread is what I look forward to all year long! sure, the good company helps, but who could pass up freshly toasted garlic bread with bruschetta, spicy and plump Italian sausages served with potatoes and spinach that were covered in lovely sausage dripping nummies, prime rib, a giant pan of lasagna bursting with ricotta, and of course, a dish with extra gravy. That was only half of it, and then there was a dessert table…seriously, they should start charging admission…wait, no, bad idea. They should start charging people other than me admission. Then came Christmas with my family, a laid-back, present-filled affair. The best part was that my mom is finally taking cooking advice from me! She struggled at first…I had to be sneaky and add ingredients when she wasn’t looking. But she trusts me a little more now, and roasted a juicy whole chicken with thyme, rosemary, garlic and lemon. Nice and light after a weekend of heaviness! My brother gave me a copy of our favorite movie from childhood- Ewoks Battle for Endor. Oh, you know you’re jealous. The only reason I liked it as a kid? They make pies in it–tons of them. And there is this little thing, a creature of some sort that looks like half dog half monkey, and his name is Teek. He’d eat the pies and when asked if they were good, say “meh meh!” and he said it so enthusiastic and whole-heartedly, I would laugh my butt off. My brother also made a shirt of Teek for me that says, “Teek Likes It!” Laughed for hours at that one. Meh meh. Heh. Mmmm, pies… ~LTG

July 3rd, 2008
Posted in Food Porn, Leena Eats | Comments Off

The tao of chunkdom

I believe in a chunky state of mind. Before you get offended (as if I even care), I’m not trying to put down those who are size challenged. When I was in high school, my friends and I were searching for a term to describe how we felt 90% of the time. It was a sort of lazy feeling combined with an urge to eat a lot of food. This is the example I always like to use: have you ever been lying in bed, ready to go to sleep, but the light is still on? And you really want it off, but that would require you getting up from your comfortable spot to shut off the light and well, hell, you’re up, so why not change into your pajamas and brush your teeth too…but no, instead you fall asleep with the light on? Then, you my friend are chunky. If you prefer taking the elevator to the stairs, you’re chunky. If you are at a New Years Eve party, find a box of half-eaten pizza on the ground, and start to eat it, you’re chunky. And guess what–it’s okay! Chunky has really turned into a term of endearment towards those I love. I call friends chunky when I see them, because most of them are. You sort of have to be if you like me. And I hardly ever call anyone who is size challenged chunky. Mainly because they will hit you. Pretty hard too. So if you’re reading this, and you like any or all of my blogs, face it, accept it, relish in it: you are a chunky person. Now shut the hell up and go eat a hot dog. ~LTG

July 3rd, 2008
Posted in Gastro Fridays, The Gastronomical Leena | 7 Comments »

The Hopleaf Bar

The Hopleaf: making the world rock one frite at a time.

I love a good gastropub. There is just something about consuming massive quantities of beer and cider with delicious, high-quality pub food that really gets my motor running and fuels me enough for a road trip to Tijuana. The Hopleaf Bar is a place I used to frequent in my old hood, pre-Australia trip. They specialize in great beers, both drafts and bottles, so if you like drinking funny-sounding beers in crazy glasses made just for it, this is the place to be. The food is great, upscale pub food, but you can’t simply stroll in and expect to eat right away. Ever. This place is constantly packed, no matter how early or late you go. You will almost always wait for a table, especially if you have a large group. Don’t think you are special. Unless you are Al Roker. Al Roker never waits at a restaurant. Al Roker also never gets put in the corner. Read the rest of this entry »

July 1st, 2008
Posted in Chicago, Leena Eats | 11 Comments »

We Love Deez Hoes! Or Welcome back to Chicago, Leena!

Welcome home to the land of fat people and little portion control, Leena!

It all started with the Danny I-Tannery. I knew after the long trip home from Australia to Chicago, the only thing I would want to do was chill with my closest friends that I hadn’t seen in a year and a half. And eat. A lot. Preferably in Chicago. My food twin, Bobby, decided to host a weekend at his place, and after a burst inspiration from an old episode of Full House, he created his own Danny I-Tannery for our girls weekend. I love my friends. Read the rest of this entry »

June 30th, 2008
Posted in Chicago, Leena Eats | 22 Comments »

U.S. Food Blog Survey

*** U.S. Food Blog Survey Results Now Available! Check it out here I am like an onion. I have many layers like an onion, many different pieces to the puzzle that is Leena and sometimes, I make you cry a little. SO Leena = onion…we on the same page so far?

This is my seafood layer, Larry the Lobster.

Read the rest of this entry »

June 24th, 2008
Posted in Gastro Fridays, The Gastronomical Leena | 19 Comments »

Chicago + family = chili

Trivedi Family French Bread, rising like only it knows how.

When I arrived in Chicago in the beginning of May, it was gorgeous, perfect 75 F weather (24 C), the skies were sunny and the grass was green. Two days later, it was cold and miserable. The weather dropped nearly twenty degrees, it was raining all the time, and of course, windy. It was like Chicago was saying, “Welcome home, Leena. If you don’t like the weather, just stick a hot dog in your pie hole and a wait a few minutes. It probably won’t get better, but the urge to hurt small animals will definitely be gone.” Gee, thanks Chicago. Read the rest of this entry »

June 23rd, 2008
Posted in Leena Cooks, Mains | 4 Comments »

U.S. Food Blog Survey Results!

A few months ago, I put up a survey about US food blog users as part of the research for my dissertation to earn an MA in gastronomy. You might remember the survey from such great posts as this one and this one. Well, I have officially finished the dissertation and am currently awaiting my grade. I moved from Australia back to Chicago, and now that I am settled in the city of wind and hot dogs, I wanted to share my findings from the survey. Below you will find a link, just click on it and it will take you to my official press release for the survey. Please feel free to leave questions or comments about the survey on this post, because I would love to hear them. As a food lover, writer and blogger, this topic is near and dear to my heart and I honestly believe the food community is one of the most tightly knit, interesting and supportive communities out there. My hope is this work will inspire more research into the field of food blogs and more dialogue about the topic. Leena’s U.S. Food Blog Survey Results Thank you once again to the many food bloggers who helped drive more traffic to the survey, and to all of you who took the survey. I couldn’t have done this without your help. ~LTG!

June 20th, 2008
Posted in Gastro Fridays, The Gastronomical Leena | 34 Comments »

My International Goodbye to Australia

Oh Australia. You and your fried chicken snacks have captured my heart.

On my last day in Adelaide, I was sitting in a taxi on my way home from the Central Markets, taking in my last views of Victoria Square, King Williams street, and downtown Adelaide…and that is when I heard the Japanese love jam rocking on the radio and my enthusiastic Indian cab driver singing along. I say “love jam” because the words “love song” were simply not strong enough to describe this tune. These were clearly Japanese people in love and jamming like their lives depended on it. It was intense. It was a fricking love jam. Read the rest of this entry »

June 20th, 2008
Posted in Improv, Leena Lives Life, Leena Travels | 4 Comments »

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