Lincoln Square » Chicago Bites

Visit to Half Acre: Chicago Craft Beer Week

Posted by Tammy

May 192013

Think outside of the box for Craft Beer Week.

I’m trying to participate in Chicago Craft Beer Week, but you know how it is with life. I have to give some professional time to the NRA Show this week and while I’m all for shining a spotlight on different breweries, it feels like too much trouble to track them down on a schedule. Instead, I’m celebrating the “spirit” of these fine BEvERages by hoisting a few new-to-me local brews and visiting favorite pubs.

I live within easy distance of Half Acre Brewery (4257 N Lincoln Ave.), so I popped into their tap room to see what they had to lure me away from my steady favorite, Daisy Cutter.

Growl & Howl

I was on the hunt for a hoppy beer, and nearly came home with a Howler of Akari-Shogun, a light wheat beer with a rich infusion of hops and cool appeal to inner manga geek. However, one glass of Stargazer, a light, hoppy lager with a clean finish and amber glow turned me around. This is a refreshing beer that I could drink as a session brew or pair well with spicy ethnic food. I had visions of Stargazer as my new Summer favorite, except…

Stargazer isn’t listed on Half Acre’s list of seasonal or collaboration beers. I have no idea how long this will last at the tap room, and the staff was firm about it not showing up in bottles. Too bad. I guess I’ll hoist my little howler too and fro while I can, and keep an eye open for a beer to bring to summer parties and to have on hand. If I’m really lucky, maybe I’ll score a six-pack of 3 Floyd’s White Zombie.

I’m very happy I found both beers, and will make more effort to visit the tap room again soon. So far Craft Beer Week has been a success! Have you found a new favorite during Chicago Craft Beer Week? Lemme know!

Eat the Menu Update: Adventures in Take-out

Posted by Tammy

Jan 272012

I’m on a quest to eat everything on the menu at Opart Thai House. Over a year and fifty-six dishes later, I’m nearing the half-way mark of this culinary journey through one restaurant’s repertoire. You can catch up on things from the beginning or continue reading the latest installment: adventures in take-out.

Pad Kra Praow

I ordered Pad Kra Praow (#82, $7.99) with tofu, even though shrimp, chicken and beef were alternative proteins. I don’t think it was the right choice for such a peppery dish because it didn’t do anything to tame the heat. Basil, which is the other main ingredient, didn’t offer enough counterpoint to make the burn go away either or to offer other interest. It hurt to eat this dish. I’m still uncertain whether I liked the pain.

Fried Shrimp Spring Rolls & Pad Kra Lard Khao

My next trip back, I ordered a starter of Fried Shrimp Spring Rolls (#12, $5.99). These fingerling-sized rolls were lightly crispy in a way that didn’t destroy the seafood inside. I vastly prefer these flaky concoctions to egg rolls. They came with a sweet dipping sauce that could have used a bit of pepper.

The Pad Kra Lard Khao (#61, $6.99) was a great combination of basil, hot peppers and protein over rice. I was still a little shaky after my last entree, and ordered this one medium-spicy and with shrimp. I think I would order it again with more heat. The rice makes a difference.

Yum Neau & Stir-Fried Fish

Most of the salads are very meat-heavy, and the Yum Neau (#33, $6.99) was loaded with thinly sliced beef and just a smattering of green onions, red onions, and cucumbers. The beef was very tender, though, and the hot and sour dressing was the right complement to that much cow.

I actually preferred the salad to the sweet-ish Stir-Fried Fish (#109, $8.59) overloaded with sweet red and green bell peppers. I don’t know what the objection is to having a savory fish stir-fry, but I can’t seem to find satisfaction. Hot or sweet, or hot and sweet seem to be the only choices. At least this dish was sole instead of catfish, which I’m losing enthusiasm for.

This brings my Eat-The-Menu Quest up to 56 out of 119 available dishes. I have more in a series of take-out choices coming up, so check back!

Opart Thai House
4658 North Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625-2043
(773) 989-8517

Follow the eat-the-menu entries here.

Eat the Menu Update: Opart Thai Jerky & Sweet

Posted by Tammy

Jan 212012

I’m on a quest to eat every menu item at Opart Thai House. If you’re interested, you can catch up from the beginning of this adventure or continue on to the latest installment: jerky and sweet.

Opart Beef

I’m not a huge meat eater, but I do like a lean, tender cut from time to time. The Opart Beef (#18, $6.99) appetizer is billed on the menu as a “tender beef marinated in Thai spices,” but the deep frying makes it tough and chewy, like jerky. It made me sad. As always, I like Opart’s dipping sauces. This one had a peppery, vinegary tang that was a good counterpoint to the beef. If they treated the meat with a lighter hand, this would be a good start to the meal.

Seafood Combo

The Seafood Combo (#59, $7.99) is an inoffensive mixture of seafood and rice. It’s the sort of thing I like after I’ve been sick for a while — not too flavorful, but enough protein to fill me up. The seafood isn’t overdone, which I sometimes find in risottos or seafood stir-fries. I wish Opart would forget to buy “crab stick” and leave it out of all their recipes. It’s unnecessary and adds a sweet note that soy sauce can’t always kill.

Fried Banana

I finished this meal off with Fried Banana (#112, $3.50). I expected it to be overdone like a fruity eggroll, but this dessert surprised me. It’s essentially a chunky banana pudding in a light, crispy wrap. Makes me wish their dessert menu was more extensive!

This brings my Eat-The-Menu Quest up to 51 out of 119 available dishes. I have a series of take-out choices coming up, so stay tuned.

Opart Thai House
4658 North Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625-2043
(773) 989-8517

Older Entries