Episode 9: Jugs, Thugs & You Say Goodbye, We Say Hello

Tonight, Mike & Katie wonder just how dumb people can be.  Do we really need schooling on how to pour milk?  We say goodbye to two of our favorite restaurants, and hello to two new welcome additions.  Mike takes on the term foodie.  He’s had enough, and he’s not going to take it anymore.  And the second Two Bites In Suburbia Dinner and a Movie series featuring the God of Cookery happens as well.  With the Taste of Chicago finally over, we can finally start assessing the damage.  This is episode 9 of Two Bites in Suburbia.

Links

Sam’s Club introduces new milk jug. Masala Yangu Cilantro Mexican Grill

Mediterranean Oasis Mart Houlihan’s

Naperville Sun Article

Two Bites in Suburbia Movie Series: God of Cookery

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Cilantro Grill in Romeoville Under New Management

We met up at Crispy Waffle with a reporter for the Naperville Sun this morning to be part of a feature on local food bloggers.  We were surprised to see that Cilantro Grill is no more.  Instead we have a Pepe’s.  I didn’t even know Pepe’s were still around, much less in Romeoville.

This is some disappointing news for people who were as addicted to their Sweet Potato Fries as we were.  The reporter mentioned she’s going to miss the mole sauce most of all.

Damn you chain restaurants!

Episode 7: Closed Doors, Severed Limbs, and Vegetarian Gumbo

The only Thai cuisine restaurant in Romeoville closes not with a bang but a whimper.  Mike and Katie introduce and discuss Machine Girl, the first in the Two Bites in Suburbia Dinner Movie Series.  And Mike heads down to New Orleans with some vegetarian gumbo to prove to a coworker that being a vegetarian doesn’t mean living a bland lifestyle.  Tonight’s episode is brought to you by the heat and humidity of a Chicago summer.  Humidity, it’s everywhere.  Swim in it!  This is episode 7 of Two Bites In Suburbia.

Get it HERE!

Related Links

• 1^st Segment
  • K.T. Thai Cuisine

• Two Bites in Suburbia Dinner Movie Series
  • Machine Girl (NSFW Trailer)

• Eating Like A Vegetarian Do
  • Heaven on Seven
  • Chicago Diner
  • Veggie Bite

• Recipes
  • Vegetarian Gumbo
  • Vegan Andouille Sausage (From Vegan Dad)

**The next film for the Two Bites in Suburbia Movie Series will be…announced on Friday.**

E-mail us: twobitesinsuburbia@gmail.com

Visit us: twobites.wordpress.com

Join us: http://twobites.podbean.com

Subscribe at iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=278683274

Find us at Podcast Pickle: http://www.podcastpickle.com/cast/41149

Digg Us: http://digg.com/podcasts/Two_Bites_In_Suburbia

K.T. Thai Cuisine Shutters Its Doors

The only Thai place in the Romeoville area has apparently closed up shop.  When and why it happened, I don’t have any word on, but when driving by it today to pick up some pizza at Rosati’s, the store front was dark, all of the decor already moved out with only a couple neon signs left in the windows.

As I wrote several months back, I used to love this independently owned place, but the quality had definitely gone down in the past couple years.  Many said it had to do with the wife earning her realty license, and no longer focusing on the restaurant as much as she once did.  Whether that’s true or not, I can’t say, but the change was definitely there.

Here’s hoping that two of the friendlier restaurant owners I’ve met find luck in whatever they do next.

An H.P. Schmaltz Holiday Offer

I was contacted by someone working for H.P. Schmaltz this week.  They so liked my write up on their store that they wanted to include a link to it in their newsletter.  I told them they were more than welcome, because of how much I liked the deli.  As a thank you, I was given a coupon for my next meal.  But it’s no ordinary coupon, because they told me I was allowed to share it with my reading audience.

Your online coupon for the Naperville store is “twobite” without the quotes.  You can get to the Naperville ordering from our home page (www.schmaltzdeli.com) in the Quick Links section.  You’ll get a free soda & side combo with your Original Overstuffed Sandwich.  Just order your sandwich and the soda & side, and you’ll see the discount at checkout.  It is valid from today through December 31.  Only one coupon per person, per day, blah, blah.  Feel free to post it for your readers.

So, if you’re interested in trying out the deli, now’s your chance.  I recommend either the Jalapeno Dirty Chips or the Sesame Noodle Salad.  Looks like we’ll be going out there again before the week is through.

Let me take this moment to thank Kristin and the H.P. Schmaltz owners for their kind gratitude to myself and everyone reading.  This kind of service is exactly why I started writing the food blog.  I wanted to get the word out on the smaller places that might be overlooked otherwise.

Happy Holidays, everyone!  Deck the halls with latkes and blintzes!

The Epic Michael’s Pizza Conclusion

Saturday was supposed to be sushi day for Katie and myself. We were meeting a friend in Naperville for some Wild Tuna deliciousness; the keyword being WERE. He apparently “ate something” the night before that was making him “nearly vomit” throughout the day. I told him he was a “wimp” who needed to “deal with it,” but my insults and complaints didn’t sway him.

Deciding to save some money, Katie and I decided to take advantage of a free coupon that the VP of Michael’s Pizza gave us to get us back in to the restaurant after a 13-year hiatus. We ordered ourselves a double cheese pizza topped with crushed garlic. What were our thoughts?

The pizza was quite tasty. The cheese was well melted, and the garlic was indeed crushed and spread evenly throughout the pizza. We were iffy on the crust, though. Katie and I both preferred the inside pieces, because the little bit of naked crust on the outside tasted almost generic where crust is concerned.

Even with our small nitpicking aside, we tore through that pizza in one sitting, leaving only 5 lonely pizzas to sit in the fridge for leftovers. And it’s one thing I completely forgot about Michael’s Pizza: the leftovers always taste better than the fresh pizza. I don’t know what kind of weird magical voo-doo powder they use, but those five pieces didn’t last very long the next day. Somehow the cold causes just the right amount of congealing and flavor trapping to make it extra tasty.

Where does this leave my pizza rankings? I still think Rosati’s is the best pizza in Romeoville, but each of the companies definitely have their strengths.

Favorite Specialty Pizza – Fat Ricky’s Double Decker Pizza
Favorite Thin Crust Pizza – Michael’s Pizza
Favorite Overall Pizza Co – Rosati’s Pizza
Least Favorite Pizza Co – At’s-A-Nice Pizza
Not Reviewed – Giovanny’s Pizza

Pizza Culpa

A while back I wrote up the various pizzas in my area. Pizza is a subjective thing. Where some people love one company’s sauce, others can’t find a good thing to say about it. Katie and I seldom agree on what good pizza is, unless it’s something like Coalfire or Pizza D.O.C. But when it comes to neighborhood pizza, good luck on an agreement.

But, where we can both agree is that if you’re going to say something about a place, at least make sure it’s true. I said in that post about pizza that I was always told that Michael’s Pizza relied, much like McDonald’s with their fries, on added a little beef fat to their pizza sauce for some extra flavor.

Just the other day, a representative from Michael’s Pizza contacted me to set the record straight…

Just wanted to comment on your blog regarding Michael’s Pizza…. I’ve worked here for nearly 20 years, and rest assured, we do not put any beef gravy in the pizza sauce. I promise you.

So, there you go. That’ll learn you to listen to second hand information from a part-time employee who, as history proved, was not always right in the head in the first place. What does this mean? I’ll be ordering some Michael’s Pizza as soon as the pizza craving hits.

Thanks to Charity for pointing out the confusion, and sorry for any undue stress this caused her boss.

Michael’s Pizza
422 N. Weber Road
Romeoville, IL 60446
815– 886-0707

Hours:
MONDAY – THURSDAY – 11 AM to 10PM
FRIDAY – Saturday 11 AM to 11PM
SUNDAY – 12 PM to 10 PM

Pizza in Romeoville

I thought I’d talk a bit about the pizza places around Romeoville, especially since I just gorged at Old World Original Pizza & Fat Ricky’s this afternoon. I have my favorites, my least favorites, and one that fills both of those categories. I’ll start with that one first.

Fat Ricky’s is a real conundrum, because I actually can’t stand most of their pizza. Above anything else, it’s bland and flavorless. Adding fresh garlic was almost enough to make their thin crust a passable meal when we ordered it last. Their pan pizza is the same deal, just with more bread, and somehow LESS cheese.

But, here’s why I’ll always go back. I LOVE their Double Decker pizza. I don’t know what makes it so different from their other pizzas, but it’s one of my favorites in town. I assume they use the same ingredients, basically laying two pizzas onto each other. It’s not rocket science.

So, again, what makes it different? Is it the extra sauce? Is it that I request extra cheese? Do they secretly stuff marijuana between the layers, creating a magical pie of delicious delirium? Maybe that’s why I see colors every time I eat one of their pizzas.

I honestly haven’t tried the rest of their food. Katie said the chicken tenders were decent and our friend Sabrina likes their Buffalo Chicken Salad (ranch dressing on the side). The garlic bread is mega crunchy, which isn’t how I prefer it, but was still pretty tasty. One day I’ll get adventurous and try something new.

My favorite all around pizza place in Romeoville, though, is Rosati’s. I’ve never had a bad pie from their. I love their stuffed pizza, and especially love their deep dish, which is cooked up like something from Gino’s East. I have had other food there, so I can personally vouch for their calzones and eggplant Parmesan sandwiches as tasty. The 2.75 slice and a pop lunch deal is pretty nice as well.

My least favorite, and apparently I’m in the minority in this one, is At’s-A-Nice Pizza. Talk about a greasy pie. Even as a kid, I was never wowed by their food. I preferred anything over eating it. Hell, I’d rather eat Pizza Hut than At’s-A-Nice. I remember having to use a napkin to sponge up grease on any piece I ate. The flavor was always just okay. And I can get “okay” pizza anywhere. If I’m spending money, I’d like something a little better.

There’s also a couple places that I’m not including, because I either haven’t eaten there in years, or I don’t remember much about their food. Michael’s Pizza actually used to be my favorite pizza in the area. I was convinced that there was crack in their sauce, because I’d even eat that stuff stone cold. That was actually the only pizza I’ve ever eaten straight from the refrigerator. It turns out that it wasn’t crack, but according to someone who worked there, it was beef grease added to the sauce. Being a vegetarian, that pretty much ended my love affair with that particular chain right there.

And finally, I know I’ve eaten from Giovanny’s. I remember going in and picking up a pizza from there, but for the life of me, I can’t remember what it tastes like. I remember saying I enjoyed it, so I’d probably recommend it over At’s-A-Nice or Michael’s, but I cannot give an honest report. So I won’t. So there.

Of course, none of these places beat the pizza we’ve had from either Pizzeria D.O.C. or Homemade Pizza Co. in Chicago. I’m not a fan of thin crust, but Pizzeria D.O.C. makes some of the best potato and rosemary thin crust around; and don’t get me started about the Wild Mushroom pizza from Homemade Pizza Co. I have, and I will eat an entire pizza from those two places by myself. Luckily Homemade Pizza Co. is opening a couple locations in Naperville shortly, so I’ll be able to get it more often.

Just remember, as my friend Anna learned, it’s called Homemade for a reason. They prepare it fresh, but you have to cook it yourself. Don’t make the same mistakes!

Cilantro Mexican Grill & Bar – Romeoville, IL

If there’s two types of restaurants I’m constantly on the lookout for, it’s a good Mexican and good Indian food. Although, I’m always looking for some Chinese food, too. And pizza. And Italian.

Fuck. That’s not going to work.

I’m always looking for a better Mexican restaurant. You can’t go wrong with a place that puts a good enchilada in front of you. You just can’t. Well, you could, if they also unleashed a rabid badger at the same time they delivered your food. But, that’s why you come to sites like mine where I would personally warn you about rabid badgers being released while you eat. I don’t want to cause you harm. I love you. Deeply.

…

Awkward.

Cilantro Mexican Grill & Bar is right next to Crispy Waffle as I mentioned a few weeks ago. I hope that the area around both of these restaurants builds up soon, if only because one is outstanding, and one was above average. That, and I love seeing independently owned places survive amongst the chain restaurants in smaller suburbs.

Cilantro is an above average experience. They’re a more formal restaurant than your typical Mexican joints. The seating is split into a small area by the windows, giving you a more intimate experience than the other half of the restaurant, which is set up more like a typical restaurant. But, the natural lighting and the large tree that grows above you in the smaller area is something you should ask for if possible.

On our first visit, we ordered Taquitos De Papa as an appetizer. Delivered in a fun, flower-like presentation over lettuce and tomatoes, with a side of sour cream; they were fresh, hot and crunchy. But, the potato filling was blander than we would have liked. They were a nice precursor to our meal, but didn’t wow us.

Our main dishes, enchiladas, were a different story. The Tres Quesos Enchiladas (panela, chihuahua and queso fresco) was served with a tangy salsa verde, and Katie’s Pollo de Mole Enchiladas were smothered in a cinnamony (a newly invented word) sauce. The salsa verde took a little getting used to, because it was powerful tangy; but once I adjusted, I couldn’t eat them fast enough. The three cheeses blended together smoothly, accented nicely by the salsa. Aside from wanting more cinnamon in her mole, Katie also liked her meal.

The big winner though was the side of sweet potato fries we ordered on a lark. Holy sweet crap. Delicious. They were lightly battered, reminding me of Tempura, and cooked just right. I could have made a meal of those alone.

Our second trip was with one of Katie’s coworkers. Her husband and she wanted to meet us for lunch, and we recommended Cilantro. This time around, I tried their veggie burrito “smothered” in cheese. Katie stuck with her enchiladas, and her friends ordered the beef tostadas.

Why did I order the burrito? I don’t know. I never like veggie burritos. I hate grilled vegetables. I think the grill saps the flavor from the veggies, leaving them all tasting like grill, or even worse, some weird, nameless, homogeneous vegetable. The closest I can come is Chipotle’s fajita burrito, and that’s because I ask for enough of their addictive rice to choke a horse, or explode a bird.

The salsa verde took a little getting used to, because it was powerful tangy

The burrito was decent, and large, but I doubt I’d order it again. It wasn’t bad, it’s just my personal bias against the veggies. I’m sure anyone else would think it was excellent. Although, save your dollar and don’t bother with the cheese smotherification (another new word!). They, quite literally, melt a single piece of Mexican cheese over the burrito. It definitely wasn’t smothered. And with all the other flavors of the burrito, good luck tasting it anyways.

I like Cilantro, but I don’t love it. If we’re looking for a nice place to grab some good sit-down Mexican food, we’d definitely go back there. The service was adequate, the atmosphere nice, and the food was good. Plus those sweet potato fries. Goddamn those tasty fries. If you were on the fence about visiting Cilantro, let my love of those fries push you over. You won’t be sorry.

K.T. Thai Cuisine – Romeoville, IL

**NOTE: KT Thai Cuisine Now Closed**

It saddens me to write this review, because at one point K.T. Thai Cuisine was my favorite restaurant in Romeoville. The staff knew my name, because I ordered the same thing for lunch two weeks straight. All I’d have to say is my order, and the woman would ask, “Is this Mike?” What could I say, set me up with some of their pad thai and fried tofu, and I was good to go. I’d hide in my office at the library and pretend no one could see me as I gorged are far more soy protein than was good for me.

Owned by a married couple, their small daughter could be seen hanging out at the small bar set up watching TV. It was just a nice, little Thai place, and they cared enough about their repeat customers to remember you.

But since those salad days, the wife has gone on to earn her real estate license, leaving the husband to do most of the restaurant work. New staff and new cooks have been added, and sad to say, the food just isn’t what it used to be.

Only a few tables were full at lunch time, and even their carryout business wasn’t booming, which it usually was. Katie and I decided to try the lunch menu, having only been there for dinner before. She chose the Chicken Panang Curry, and I got the usual: pad thai with tofu. Each lunch also came with your choice of egg roll or crab rangoon.

Ultimately, I just have to give it my response for something so middle of the road, “Yep. That’s food alright.”

The best part of the meal was and still is the fried tofu. I love their sweet and sour peanut sauce. Tangy with a hearty bite, and just a little bit sweet, I’d put that on everything if I knew the recipe. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the meal, however.

The egg rolls were smallish, looking more like spring rolls, and the filling had that greasy canned vegetable texture. It reminded me of buying a can of stir fry vegetables. They were almost crunchy, but something feels off. A majority of the contents came out in one bite, leaving me with a mostly empty egg roll (which I filled sweet and sour sauce!). Katie enjoyed the crab rangoon, although she scooped out some of the contents, as they were apparently too stuffed with crabby, cheesy goodness.

The pad thai was much drier than it originally was, with also half the flavor. It didn’t taste bad, but it wasn’t what I remembered. Katie said the curry was fine, although she wasn’t keen on the large amount of cabbage thrown in there. Even with a lunch deal portion, she was able to make two meals out her bowl. Mine was just enough for the appetite I was trying to satiate.

My biggest disappointment though was that their revamped menu seems to have done away with the vegetarian section. I didn’t study the menu to see if they merged the dishes into the rest of the menu, or got rid of it completely, but it was nice to have that handy list of food that a vegetarian knew was safe.

I’ve always said the worst food to find is the food that’s just okay, because you end up torn. It’s much easier to either hate or love something instead of trying to rationalize why the food was still enjoyable, even if it wasn’t. I can easily say it’s still the best Thai food in Romeoville, but it’s also the ONLY Thai food in Romeoville. Ultimately, I just have to give it my response for something so middle of the road, “Yep. That’s food alright.”

K.T. Thai Cuisine
465 N Weber Rd
Romeoville, IL 60446
(815) 886-7100