Tiffany Tastes

Authentic Mexican Fare Delights at XOCO

If you told someone to list the top 5 chefs in Chicago, chances are, their list would include Rick Bayless. Bayless is a renouned, Michelin-star restauranteur who is credited with making upscale Mexican cuisine a mainstay in Chicago.

We decided to grab lunch at XOCO, Bayless' new fast-casual eatery with a solid menu of authentic Mexican street food and a unique approach to counter service.

Once you approach the front of the line, the hostess will give your party a seat number. After you place and pay for your order, the hostess escorts you to your table and your food is brought out upon its preparation. Interestingly, they will not allow you to order if there are no seats available, guaranteeing that you will have a place to sit down once you order.

(Be forewarned, if dining at XOCO, you should be prepared to wait 30-60 minutes before ordering.)

XOCO specializes in bean-to-cup hot chocolate. This means that they roast and grind their own cacao beans to make their chocolate. I highly recommend the Almendrado, which is ground chocolate and almond milk. It's thick and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness.

 

Tom chose the braised goat torta with tomatillo salsa, onion and cilantro. The goat was super-tender, flavorful and just a hint of heat.

It was a bit chilly that day, and I thought it would be great to warm up with a big bowl of soup. The pork belly vermicelli doesn't disappoint. Crispy pork belly in a spicy broth with zucchini, avocado and fideos (Spanish-style vermicelli noodles). This one is not for the faint of heart; there's enough heat in this bowl to clear your sinuses.

We spent a little over $30 for lunch, but if you want to eat Rick Bayless' food in Chicago, this is your cheapest option. With locally sourced ingredients of outstanding quality, I absolutely believe it's worth every penny. And, if I ever find myself back in Chicago, I'll probably jump back in line and wait for a table at XOCO.

XOCO
449 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 334-3688

Average Sandwich Price: $10-$12
Average Entree Price: $9-$13
Average Dessert Price: $4-$6

Operating Hours
Tuesday-Thursday 8:00am-9:00pm
Friday and Saturday 8:00am-10:00pm

Taking it Back to the Old School

I'm working on several posts outlining my Chicago trip, but hopefully, this will hold you over until I can finish them.

 

I don't know about you, but when I think back to the cafeteria food I had in school, I don't remember

"Deep Fried Chicken sandwiched between Two Golden Brown Cheddar Waffles, topped with Muenster Cheese served with Whole Grain Honey Mustard or Green Tomato Relish"

or

"Slow smoked Black Cherry Wood pulled Cajun Turkey, Molasses Chicken Succulent Duck and Veggie Slaw are stacked on Fresh Baked 7 Grain Wheat Bread served with Tri-Bird Pan Liquor, choice of BBQ Sauce or Green Tomato Relish"

Sounds good, right?

Lunchbox Eats has been open for about a year and has a pretty dedicated group of lunchtime regulars. They give a unique twist on Southern classics (like chicken and waffles, macaroni and cheese and barbecue pulled pork sandwiches) and package it in an awesome downtown space with an adorable theme.

The decor is middle school chic, streamlined with bright colors. The menu is written on the blackboard and food is served on compartmentalized trays, similar to what you were probably served spaghetti on back in school. But, this food is 6 steps above what you got in the cafeteria. Lunchbox Eats bakes bread fresh every day, makes desserts from scratch, uses local ingredients and fashions its daily specials and sides around what's in season.

When we dropped in on a Saturday afternoon, business was a bit slow, but the house is usually packed during the week. Lunchbox Eats is only open for lunch during the week (10am-3pm) but they do have extended hours on Saturday (12-7pm). The food is served a la carte and the prices my seem a bit high, but there's quality in every bite.

The Homeroom Chicken and Grids is one of the most popular sandwiches (and my personal favorite). I've heard good things about the Leadership Mac and Pork Club as well. Oh, and If the lemonade of the day is carmelized pineapple, you'll be doing yourself a great disservice if you miss it.

Lunchbox Eats
288 South Fourth Street
Memphis, TN 38126
(901) 526-0820

Average Entree Price: $8-$11

Operating Hours
Monday-Friday 10am-3pm
Saturday 12pm-7pm

Chicago Food Preview

My next several blogs are going to feature posts about restaurants from my recent travels to Chicago.

Just a sneak of what you're going to read about in the near future:

Chocolate Croissant

Serrano Ham Sandwich with Manchego, Spicy Mustard and Quince Paste

Braised Pork Cheek over Puree of Fennel with Arugula and Candied Orange Segments

Pork Belly in a Spicy Broth with Fideos, Mushrooms, Avocado, Zucchini and Cilantro

Stay tuned for all that and more...

Food Journey - Chicago

We're getting ready to head to Chicago for a good friend's wedding. I'm really excited because I've only been to Chicago once. When I was there (with my collegiate debate team), I got to sample the culinary delights of Uno's Pizza and ESPN Zone (Hey, it was football season). I'm pretty sure that neither of those places is an accurate representation of the Chicago food scene. I'm going to be in town for three days, and I want to eat as much as I can in that amount of time. Where should I go? What should I eat? I've already been told that I can't leave Chicago with trying iCream, and I can't wait to create my own flavor. What are some other must-eats in the Windy City?