I'm a lucky girl. Not only did I get to go Schwa, but the reservations came through on the day of my birthday! I would like to thank Bridget, Pattie, Yukako & Serendia for getting me into one of the best restaurants in Chicago. Listen to the podcast to get a complete account of our evening with Michael Carlson & crew.

(16.5 M)

00:00 - 02:45 Spending time with Michael Carlson
02:46 - 04:58 Tiny little space, big intentions & BYOB
04:49 - 16:06 One amazing dish after another, much gushing.
16:07 - 17:56 Final thoughts, ratings and sign-off

I licked this plate clean and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Schwa Restaurant
1466 Ashland
Chicago, IL
Get directions

Average price per person: $55

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Check out our Schwa Restaurant photos on Flickr.

Cupcakes are a favorite here at Chicago Bites and we're always searching for the best cupcakes in Chicago. So when Deerfields Bakery offered to send us samples of their mini chocolate cupcakes to try, we took them up on it. It’s always a good idea to test what’s new on the cupcake scene, right?

Not this time. The Mock-olate frosting on these baby cakes leaves a funny aftertaste, and the cake itself is so crumbly that it doesn’t stand up to a good forking. If you want good gluten free cupcakes go to Swirlz Cupcakes. Their gluten free ones often trump their “regular” cupcakes, and you can’t go wrong.

Now, even though Deerfields mini cupcakes got a solid “thumbs down” all around, some of the other baked goods they sent were quite tasty. There was no way that Tammy and I could get through all the sweets on our own, so we invited friends over to my place and chowed down, liberally swapping opinions as we nibbled.

Here are the highlights:

• The cheesecake was a favorite (although some thought it would be even better with fruit), and the blueberry cream cheese coffeecake was nice too. My favorite? The lemon button cookies – a frosted lemon puff that goes well with coffee.
• The triple chocolate brownie and the chocolate cookies weren't very popular. I’ve tried enough gluten free things to realize that the taste of chocolate is very hard to replicate. However, I enjoyed the non-chocolate things I tried and I think that the folks at Deerfields really know what they’re doing.
• Deerfields greatest strength is their variety of baked goods. They offer people who eat gluten free dessert choices they rarely get, and that alone makes them worth trying.

City dwellers who won’t be in Schaumburg anytime soon can get Deerfields Bakery cookies at Whole Foods in Lincoln Park and the Loop.

Have thoughts on eating gluten free or on Deerfields Bakery? Know of some other gluten free cupcakes we should try? Drop us an email or leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!

Deerfields Bakery - Gluten Free
25 S. Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60193

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Tammy and I joined a group of roughly 15 bloggers and foodies last week for an eight-course media dinner at Devon.

We’ve frequented the restaurant since our initial review (even though I was horrified to discover we mispronounced its name on our show. It's said “Devin” like the name, not “Devon” like the street). The fish is consistently good, the biscuits are so tasty that I sometimes wonder if they're laced with some kind of addictive substance, and the carrot cake is awesome.

That's why we were thrilled to be invited back in a "professional" capacity to have the chef's picks paraded before us. It's fun to get the chance to try more of the menu and to meet new people.

It's also good to take a second look at the places we've reviewed. It can be difficult to get an accurate feel for a restaurant in one sitting. And the more we eat out, the more discerning our palates become. Restaurants that got high praise from us when we started Chicago Bites two years ago, for example, might be subject to more tempered reviews now. We still enjoy old favorites, but these days we both have more specific preferences. So in addition to venturing out in new directions, we've also been revisiting the places we've reviewed -- within the limits of our time and budget -- to see whose still got game.

Devon's still got it!

Review our Flickr set for a course-by-course rundown of our latest visit, and here are some tantalizing tidbits that I took away from the evening:

• Seafood is Devon's thing. Skip the meat. My meat was overcooked, and there are much better places for steak in the city.
• The wine list is good and the pairings we had with our food were excellent. Ask your waiter for recommendations. They've never steered me wrong.
• I was gratified that most of what the chef selected for this tasting I'd selected from the menu myself on previous visits by asking for the specialty of the house.
• Devon is a chain restaurant, which is unfortunate. Still, the seafood is fresh and the dishes are solid. Want to test the chef's creativity? Order off menu.
• The dining space at Devon is spacious and pleasant. We dined in the tasting room, which is a great place for private parties of 15 to 20. I've also sat in one of the semi-private alcoves that the restaurant offers groups. These areas are very comfortable and lend themselves to leisurely meals and conversation.
• There is too much going on with the tuna tartar starter. Best to stick with the simpler dishes.
• Skip the chocolate lava cake. It sounds good but nothing trumps the carrot cake!

Il Mulino is swanky. Located in the historical Biggs mansion on Dearborn Street, it appears to offer diners an escape from the every day. But does the food live up to the vibe? Listen in and find out.

(12.0 M)

00:00 - 01:16 Touring the mansion inside and out
01:17 - 02:03 Wine by-the-glass worth the wait
02:04 - 03:10 Antipasto gets us started off right
03:11 - 04:10 Starters and escargot surprises
04:11 - 07:30 Main dishes--half orders of pasta and spicy clams
07:31 - 08:49 Dessert sampler and gelato
08:50 - 10:36 Chef chat
10:37 - 11:58 Ratings and sign-off

The veggie pasta was also a table favorite.

Il Mulino
1150 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 440-8888
Get directions

Average price per person: $65

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Online buzz about Il Mulino:
Centerstage
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The Reader
Yelp

Check out our Il Mulino photos on Flickr.

Normally, Blue Sky provides a rotating selection of freshly baked pastries, salads and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. Their granola looks tasty too -- it's on my list the next time I go by. Blue Sky is more than food, however. They also provide job training and opportunities for disadvantaged kids in the Chicago area. Youth work the counter, bake, cook, and come away with a job history and references.

If you're in the neighborhood, drop by for a cup of coffee, granola, or one of their fabulous scones. It's a great deal for you and for the people learning the business.

Cheddar and jalepeno scone available at Blue Sky.

Blue Sky Bakery and Cafe
4749 N. Albany Ave.
Chicago, IL

See more photos from Blue Sky Bakery & Cafe here.

We ducked into A Mano one evening for a quick meal, and walked away with a new source for premium gelato. We'll definitely be back for dessert, but what about the rest of the meal? Listen in to hear what we thought.

(12.0 M)

00:00 - 00:52 More than a bar...
00:53 - 03:30 Appetizers, deals
03:31 - 05:00 Waitress issues
05:01 - 06:53 Rabbit
06:54 - 08:10 Tuna
08:11 - 09:54 Bliss of Gelato
09:55 - 11:49 Atmosphere
11:50 - 13:05 Ratings and sign-off

The customizable salad trio was a bargain at $15.

A Mano
335 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 629-3500
Get directions

Average price per person: $40

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Online buzz about A Mano:
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Check out our A Mano photos on Flickr.

The words "yogurt couture" were enough to get us out the door to try the latest hot summer offering, Berry Chill. The line was out the door on a Sunday afternoon and we had high hopes of finding a new way to beat the summer heat.

Toppings are the best part of the visit but the choices can be overwhelming.

When you walk in, your eyes are hit with menu boards in constant motion. It was good to spy toppings from local favorite Sarah's Pastries inserted among a scrolling host of cereal brands, sprinkles, cookies and fruits. However, what the boards didn't tell you is what might pair well with each of their yogurt flavors. The kids might like gross-out combos, but I want flavors that compliment. Fortunately, the guy who took our order was able to help out.

Pistachio should stand alone but needed an assist of chocolate toffee.

I ended up with my favorite flavor, pistachio, topped with chocolate pistachio toffee from Sarah's Pastries. When I took my first bite, I expected a lovely nutty coolness. Instead, I got a sharp, tangy taste that was almost but not quite completely unlike pistachio. Ugh. Fail. Bridget had the same experience with her mango/peach yogurt. Nasty. Fortunately, the toppings helped both of us get through the experience.

Berry Chill encourages recycling of their heavy green plastic containers and color-changing spoons. I appreciate that, but it's not enough to save the planet -- you have to make something worth eating, first.

A small, flavor-of-the-month yogurt with toppings will set you back about $5.50. Save your money and go buy a pack of Flav-or-ice if you want to stay cool this summer. It'll last you longer and taste a hell of a lot better.

Berry Chill
635 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Get Directions

Who says that vegetarian food needs to be a crunchy granola meat substitute? Green Zebra doesn't push the tofu or try to recreate meat dishes in vegetable form, but seeks to bring out the best of seasonal vegetables. How happy were with the experience? Tune in to the podcast.

(18.1 M)

00:00 - 01:34 Gushing about veggies
01:35 - 04:04 Getting started with wine, tasting menu
04:05 - 05:35 Fried green tomatoes, pickle agreements
05:36 - 07:24 The need for dinner theater
07:25 - 09:36 Splitting peas
09:37 - 11:10 Almost not sharing potatoes
11:11 - 14:05 Shrooms, not quite as good; matching dishes
14:06 - 15:45 Dessert
15:46 - 18:00 Thoughts on service
18:01 - 19:46 Ratings and sign-off

With dishes like this, you don't realize that the meat is missing.

Green Zebra
1460 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 243-7100
Get directions

Average price per person: $85

Green Zebra serves small plates, but that doesn't mean it's small flavor.

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Check out our Green Zebra photos on Flickr.

Tammy and I are cosmopolitan eaters. But when it comes to ethnic food, we don't always know what's best. That where you come in. Know the "it" place to chow down on your favorite ethnic cuisine? Send us a suggestion! We're looking for places off the beaten path that serve authentic food.

Recently, we've tried a variety of Ethiopian and Peruvian places, and now we want to branch out. Puerto Rican or Cuban restaurants maybe? Have ideas? We'd like to hear from you!

Tammy and I had a hankering for Mexican food last week, so we joined friends for dinner at Taqueria La Oaxaquena.

Heavy plastic covers the bright fabric tablecloths there and the chairs have seen better days, but overall the space is pleasant. The dining room is bigger than many local restaurants and that makes for easier access, which I like. The staff (most of whom are native Spanish speakers) was attentive, and our waitress knew the menu well. Unfortunately, the food wasn't very good.

Taqueria La Oaxaquena is supposedly known for its mole sauce, and Tammy’s Enchiladas Oaxaquenas en Mole were the best thing on the table. That dish overshadowed the other entrees, a trio of homemade salsas, and my favorite standby –- the guacamole. Still, that's not saying much. There are certainly better places in town for mole. Mixtexo Grill comes readily to mind -- the food there is roughly the same price and three-times the quality.

The other entree worth mentioning is the Huachinango Con Mariscos – an entire red snapper, complete with head and tail fins. A striking dish that drew "ooos" and "ahhs" from diners at neighboring tables, it too fell woefully short on taste. It was bland, overcooked, and disappointing like the rest of the meal. I was especially disappointed because I'd read rave reviews of this place on the Web. Were we eating at the wrong restaurant? Perhaps this is a recent fall from grace? I wonder.

Taqueria La Oaxaquena did exceed expectations when it was time for dessert. The tres leches cake was one of the best I’ve tried this summer. And I would know since I've recently had tres leches at Mixteco Grill and Cafe Selmarie.

I'd go back to La Oaxaquena only if I happened to be in the neighborhood. I wouldn't make a point of it.

Taqueria La Oaxaquena
3382 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 545-8585
Get directions

Average price per person: $25

We had two orders of guacamole.

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Online buzz about Taqueria La Oaxaquena:
Metromix
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Check out our Taqueria La Oaxaquena photos on Flickr.

We went to listener recommended Ay Ay Picante to take another chance with Peruvian cuisine. Did the parihuela, papa rellena, and yucca change our minds? Tune in and find out.

Special thanks to Luis!

( 12.2 M)

00:00 - 01:28 A new frame of mind
01:29 - 04:46 Adventures in appetizers
04:47 - 08:20 Chinese influences and hidden corn, bacon
08:21 - 09:33 Moving through dessert
09:34 - 11:12 Atmosphere
11:13 - 13:15 Ratings and sign-off

Ay Ay Picante
4569 N Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 427-4239
Get directions

Average price per person: $30

Palta Rellena Vegetariana is an avocado stuffed with a mixure of green peas, carrots.

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Online buzz about Ay Ay Picante:
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Check out our Ay Ay Picante photos on Flickr.

Check out our Flickr set for inspiration about what to try and what to see at this year's Taste of Chicago!

I've been to Swirlz Cupcakes several times in our quest for the best cupcakes in Chicago, but hadn't checked on their progress in a while. I'm both pleased and disappointed to report that they've remained consistent in what they deliver.

Bridget & I always try our baseline cupcake we when go to a bakery - vanilla with vanilla frosting. Specialty cupcakes are too variable to compare as are the approaches to chocolate cupcakes. The last time we had Swirlz's vanilla-vanilla, it was over-baked. It hasn't changed. Cupcakes shouldn't be crunchy & the promise of "happy" shouldn't be written on them unless it's a true statement. Their buttercream frosting is very light with a nice mouthfeel, but it's also light on flavor. There's no bang and I don't crave it afterwards.

As before, their specialty cupcakes were more interesting. The red velvet cake was not too dense and sufficiently moist. I wish they had used cream cheese frosting over the entire cupcake because it too was excellent. However, they garnished the cupcake with more of the bland buttercream. It looked pretty, but left me disappointed when I didn't get a consistent hit of cream cheese flavor.

Their key lime cupcake was the best we had. They used a different cake mixture, not quite vanilla & not quite citrus, but baked perfectly with a nice center of key lime filling. The key lime frosting reminded me of every key lime pie I'd ever had. Yum.

Will we keep Swirlz on our list of cupcake contenders? Maybe. There's some new competition in that neighborhood and Swirlz will need to improve their basic offerings in order to compare. Been to Swirlz? Let us know what you think!

Swirlz Cupcakes
705 W. Belden Ave.

The red velvet cupcake was delicious.

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Got photos of Chicago cupcake contenders? Add them to the We Love Chicago Cupcakes Flickr group!

Semiramis has long been top in our book for Middle Eastern cuisine. So how does its neighbor Noon-O-Kabab compare? With a more meat-focused menu, it's certainly a different kind of dining experience. But whenever I'm hungry and happen to be hopping off the Brown Line at Kedzie, I'll be torn. That's because both restaurants "got game."

( 11.5 M)

00:00 - 02:11 Wishing for expandable stomachs
02:12 - 03:03 Starter baselines
03:04 - 06:26 Trying what they're famous for... kabobs! (And dill rice!)
06:27 - 08:18 Ambiance, location, and convenience
08:19 - 09:17 Room for something sweet
09:18 - 10:04 Points of comparison -- you can't go wrong
10:05 - 10:33 Comments on service
10:34 - 12:29 Ratings and sign-off

Noon-O-Kabab
4661 N Kedzie Ave
(773) 279-8899
Get directions

Average price per person: $25

Save room for baklava. It's the perfect finish to the meal.

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Online buzz about Noon-O-Kabab:
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Yelp

Check out our Noon-O-Kabab photos on Flickr.

We hit the newly opened Mixteco Grill this week on a quest for mole sauce. It's a hot and crowded little hole-in-the-wall spot, but does the mole sauce make up for all that? Pass the chips and turn up the volume! That's all I can say.

( 10.9 M)

00:00 - 01:01 Talking about mole sauce
01:02 - 02:55 Reservation woes
02:56 - 05:07 Appetizers & BYOB
05:08 - 07:50 Mole is the centerpiece
07:51 - 09:11 Excellent dessert recommendation
09:12 - 11:35 Ratings and sign-off

Mixteco Grill
1601 W Montrose Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 868-1601

Average price per person: $30

The tres leches cake was an outstanding recommendation by our waiter.

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Online buzz about Mixteco Grill:
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Check out our Mixteco Grill photos on Flickr.