Some food highlights...

Incomplete and in no particular order:

• Hot Doug's in Chicago. Ostrich sausage with venison paté and plum sauce.
• Mushroom, spinach & bacon white pizza followed by a chocolate pizza with marscapone at Piece Chicago.
• Heirloom & other local tomatoes in Chicago, Santa Rosa & Santa Monica.
• Pulled pork barbecue at The Pit in Raleigh, NC.
• Tacos at Guero in Austin. 
• Enchiladas at Magnolia Cafe in South Austin
• The Godmother from Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
• Oysters in Manhattan Beach
• Tacos at Classico and at Vallarta Supermarket in Lancaster, CA.
• Double double, animal style in Rohnert Park & LA.
• That Frenched rack of lamb I made in Park City.

I'm now a fan of coconut water too thanks to the JetBlue promotion.

Chicago

Ostrich sausage with venison pâté & plum sauce

It was an easy flight into Chicago. Taking my sister's recommendation, I picked up a 3-day CTA pass. I got off the blue line at Western and went to Ipsento Coffee for a sublime cup of Guatemalan coffee. 


Then it was time to grab lunch at Hot Doug's, The Sausage Superstore. My sister had been talking this place up for a few years and it did not disappoint. There were many great choices. I finally settled on the ostrich sausage with plum sauce and venison pâté and a Chicago classic. (Tip: when you get a Chicago classic hot dog, the pickle is supposed to be in there; it didn't fall into the bun by mistake.)                      

The Hopleaf

Lunch was followed by a nap.


The later that evening, we made it out to the Hopleaf Bar. We stayed only for one beer, but it was great to visit this fine beer bar. The Hopleaf was followed by a visit to Farragut's for $2.50 draft night. I enjoyed a couple of Three Floyd's Alpha Kings. I got some great tips on my future visit to New Orleans from my sister's friend Denise, who's from the area.


Day Two found me rather hungover. No regrets.