Over the next 3 posts, I’m going to take you on an educational journey down Harlem Ave.   We’ll start at Addison and Harlem, and head south from there.  

Although the real Little Italy is down by UIC, this stretch of Harlem Avenue is a close runner-up.   Everywhere you look, you see Italian people, Italian grocery stores, and bumper stickers proclaiming “FORZA AZZURRI!”   But among all of the Italian restaurants in the neighborhood, Caponies Trattoria sets the bar.

If  Tony Soprano ever took a wrong turn and wound up on Harlem Avenue, he’d feel right at home at Caponies Trattoria.   Since 1996, Caponies has been showing everyone how brick oven pizza is done.

If you park on the adjacent side street, the mural you see might be a little intimidating:

Yikes.  But fear not, Caponies attracts a pretty tame crowd.  The first time I was there, the front dining area was ambushed by an Elmwood Park little league team, splitting pizza after a game.  And speaking of the dining area…. no review of Caponies is complete without a few words about the decor.

Come on, how can you not love this?  They don’t even try to pretend that they’re trendy.  They don’t need to, because the food speaks for itself.    The walls are full of old family pictures, framed movie posters, and neon signs. Under any other circumstances, I’d venture to call this tacky.  But they can pull it off!

Not too long ago, Caponies was featured on Check Please!,  which is a big deal for local restaurants.  Once a restaurant has been blessed by the Check Please  gods, it’s like a stamp of approval from the people of Chicago:

Now that it’s finally warm outside, Caponies has opened up their patio.  So come on down – it’s worth the drive!

Soundtrack to this post: Lady GaGa –  ”Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)”

Coming Soon:  Harlem Avenue Italian 102: Caputo’s

The crowd wasn’t too bad this year. (What can I say – the older I get, the more tolerant I am of strollers.)

 Each year, the Maple Syrup Festival is held at the North Park Village Nature Center.   This place is not your typical forest preserve.  It has a lagoon, walking trails, nature classes for kids, and of course, maple trees.   Each year, 50 trees in the forest preserve are tapped to collect maple sap.   It takes 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of maple syrup.  (Which is why it can get so expensive at the grocery store)

At the festival, you get a first-hand look at a maple syrup tap:

and even try a sip, after it’s boiled down in the evaporation pan:

Of course, no maple syrup festival is complete without pancakes.   But don’t be fooled – Maple Syrup is no one-trick pony!  (As we all remember from Wedding Crashers)

Vince Vaughn might have been stretching it with the hair gel.   But maple syrup can be used in tons of recipes.  It can be added to everything from ribs, to cocktails! Check out these great recipes from Coombs Farm Maple Syrup Company.

Soundtrack to this post:  Dream Academy – Life in a Northern Town

Coming Soon:   If you can’t be an athlete, be an athletic supporter! My Chicago Blackhawks-themed cookies.

But this entry may sound more like a eulogy, as I paint you a picture of Elliott’s Dairy – a great little store, and the great little neighborhood it serves.

On the edge of Chicago… far from the trendy neighborhoods, where the CTA barely reaches… is a wonderful reminder of how our city used to be.   It’s almost as if  this neighborhood was put under glass in 1960, and perfectly preserved while the rest of the city endured tumultuous change. 

 I am indeed blessed and lucky to call the Northwest Side home. 

Amid the cozy houses and manicured lawns, you will find a true relic at the corner of Nagle and Gunnison  – Elliott’s Dairy.  

For those of you who have never been to Elliott’s,  it’s the kind of place I imagine June Cleaver and Donna Reed would go to buy their lunchmeat.   It’s a throwback to the mom and pop stores that supplied our parents and grandparents with their groceries, long before Jewel and Target existed. 

Over the past 40 years, Elliott’s Dairy has earned a reputation as the place to go if you’re looking for high quality deli products – especially corned beef.

I’m sure I was not the only one who was sad to discover that Elliott’s had closed on St. Patrick’s Day.   The news spread like wildfire, thanks in large part to Facebook and other internet message boards.  But by Saturday morning,  there were still customers who had not yet heard the news.   

My heart broke as I watched car after car drive into the parking lot,  not unlike a funeral procession.  They slowly approached the sign on the door, only to stare in disbelief …and slowly leave. 

You might be wondering what the big deal is.  It’s just a store, right?    But we aren’t just mourning the loss of a store.  We’re mourning the loss of our neighborhood as we know it.  For so many years, we thought our little neighborhood was bulletproof –  impervious to outside forces that were wreaking havoc on the rest of the city.

No matter what replaces Elliott’s,  we will be comforted by the memory of great food, the friendly neighbors we saw at the deli counter, and the decades of service to our little bubble on the edge of Chicago.  Thank you to Steve Harbin, his business partner, and all of the deli attendants and cashiers who made Elliott’s so special to us.

Soundtrack to this post:  Bruce Springsteen – “My Hometown”

Coming Soon:  Fun at the North Park Village Maple Syrup Festival!

Well, that’s not entirely true. You know my name.

Some people may tell you that blogs are reserved for only the most self-absorbed people.   In the process of writing this blog, I’ve found the opposite to be true.  

The Daily V has forced me out of my comfort zone.  It has taught me so much about my friends, family, and the wonderful city we live in.   And as long as there are new things to learn, The Daily V will be alive and kicking.

I started this blog with little consideration as to what I’d write about, how long I’d write, or who (if anyone) would read it.  

But 1 year, 67 posts, and 6,835 hits later, I’m still here.  

I don’t know much about my readers.  But if I’ve helped one person bake a cookie, or made one person laugh… then I consider The Daily V a success.

A huge thank-you to my friends, family, and everyone who has stuck with my little project from the beginning.

But just in case you’re new, I present you with:

 The Daily V’s Greatest Hits: Volume 1

Best discovery:  Whatever, Martha! (8/2/09)

Best product plug: Ode To KitchenAid Customer Care!  (3/25/2009)

Most popular post (don’t ask me why this post received the most hits):  There’s a Fungus Among Us (5/11/2009) 

Best Wordless Wednesday: Simon’s Cat – “Let Me In!” (1/13/2010)

Post that required the most work: Costco prices vs. Jewel prices (7/12/2009)

Best Chicago-related post: Where’s the Beef? Apparently it’s on Nagle Ave. (7/4/2009)

Here’s to another year of kitchen messes,  new stories to share, and fun around Chicago! Thank you so much for your support!

Soundtrack to this post:  Frank Sinatra – Young at Heart

Coming Soon:  Saying goodbye to Elliot’s Dairy

This year, the Rogers Park Winter Farmers Market was held on the third floor of the United Church of Rogers Park.   While not as colorful as a summertime farmers market, it was a nice reminder that the worst days of winter are behind us. 

I don’t know about you, but every time I visit a Farmer’s Market, I learn something new. For example:

Nuns like to bake:

Sunflower greens are good for you, and very easy to grow:

Apple cider is never out of season:

Late winter Farmers Markets are also a great time to learn about local CSA programs.  These two caught my eye:

Kings Hill Farm:  Located in Southwestern Wisconsin, with pickup locations in Chicago and Madison.

Earth First Farms:   located less than 100 miles from Chicago.   Although vegetables are offered, Earth First Farms specializes in apples.  They have over 4,000 apple trees, and even offer an Apple Tree Rental Program!

Here in the midwest,  CSA Programs are everywhere.  To find one near you, check out The Local Harvest website, and just enter your zipcode!

And now, in honor of vegetable farmers everywhere…  my favorite farm-related Jeopardy clip. (I posted this last year, but it deserves to be posted again):

Coming Soon:   Happy Birthday to the Daily V!

Believe it or not, I’ve never had strata.  Apparently there’s a whole world of casserole-style dishes that I was never privy to until recently.   Brian actually had to explain to me what Strata is.  Can you believe it?   Let that be a clue of how unqualified I am to write about cooking.  I should be stripped of my blog!

From what I’ve gathered, strata  is a breakfast casserole, to which you can add whatever ingredients you’d like.  Brian used a great recipe from his grandma.  I was hovering over Brian’s shoulder while he cooked, and I was able to get a few pictures before he shooed me out of the kitchen.

Here is the recipe, courtesy of Brian’s mom:

Ham (or Sausage) and Egg Strata

Ingredients:
12 slices buttered white bread
8 eggs
4 C milk
1 tsp. salt (or less)
1 tsp. dry mustard
2 C (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
2-3 C diced ham or cooked crumbled breakfast sausage
Cornflake crumbs

Directions:
Place 6 slices of bread, buttered side down, in the bottom of a 13X9 pan.
Spread ham or sausage over bread
Spread shredded cheese over meat.
Lay 6 slices of bread, buttered side up, on top of everything.
Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and dry mustard.
Slowly pour over all making sure to soak all the bread.
Cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator overnight.
Lightly sprinkle with cornflake crumbs and place in preheated 350 degree oven for 90 minutes (+/-).
Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean – do not over bake.

———————————

It turned out perfect, and I can’t wait to make it again, and play around with the ingredients! 

Soundtrack to this post: Eric Clapton -I’ve Got a Rock and Roll Heart

Coming Soon:  The best (okay… the only) Farmer’s Market I’ve been to all season -  the Rogers Park Winter Farmers Market!