Stall 16 a.k.a Shopsin's, a fine diner in New York.

In the Essex Street Market, stall 16 at 120 Essex St. in New York holds one of the most unique and delicious diners I have ever encountered... SHOPSIN'S! This place is full of character, good food and the longest menu (pictured below) that I have ever laid my eyes on. But all the hooey aside, the food, the real hero, is Monte-licious! And it's all they will let you photograph. I coulda swiped a few pics of the interior which is a 4 table (2 top) spot with 2 bar seats and 1 bench but the waiter, a fellow metal head, was super cool and I had to respect their wishes. But the place is sorta like a hoarders apartment with a lot of nick-nacks, pennant flags, etc. Back to the food! There are literally so many items on the menu I became overwhelmed and went something had a little bit of everything I like... So I had a sandwich where the bun is potato pancakes with an interior of eggs, bacon, and cheese. It was so good that I have dreams about it. Pictured above was my wife's meal, she had two breaded and fried pieces of corn bread with fried chicken, it was also extremely Monte-licious!!

Here is my sandwich in all it's glory..... Potato pancakes, scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon. 

A nice close-up.

Under the hood after a bite.

Gettin ready to take it down.

Takin it down! look at me go!

I am so focused...

..like a champ, I am makin it disappear. 

All gone!

I had to take this back to the hotel, but then I ate it as I walked away from the spot.

The place is pricey mc dicey, but in my opinion it is worth it. I couldn't afford to go regularly but every now and again is perfect. I also wanna mention the cool waiter plays heavy metal when it's a little less crowded, that is cool.

Here is the menu, side 1...

side 2.

Excellent breakfast/brunch atta bar? Yup!! And it's right offa the Blue Line.

I used think bar food was meant to be low-down, dirty and greasy, but that was in the old days! Today some of the best chefs end up working at bars and making ridiculously amazing food. And Township (2200 N. California) in Chicago's Logan Square hood is exactly one of those bars with a great chef and crew! Tamiz is the head chef and add's a middle eastern influence (Indian) to the food that really makes it unique and delicious. Like the Saag Paneer Scramble pictured above. That's Eggs, Spinach, Paneer (Indian cheese), Almond Sauce,
Spicy Potato Cake, Two Pooris (pooris are the puffy fried dough things, they are awesome!) and a cup of fruit. So freakin Monte-licious! 

And here^^^ we have the Steak Benedict, along with the spicy cake potato, which I wanna mention tastes like a Samosa minus the bread shell. I love that potato so much, I wish it was bigger though. Back to the benny: Skirt steak atop spinach, atop gluten free bread and topped with a poached egg and a delicious curried hollandaise sauce! You are  gonna love this!

I also wanna mention that these are the brunch items, the lunch and dinner menu is fantastic as well! The turkey pannini is killer! Burger too! If ya like seasoned fries, you will like their fries. But ya gotta like seasoned fries! Township also has a lot of gluten free and vegan options to choose from if yer looking for that!

Some of the greatest Garlic Bread EVER can be found in Milwaukee, Wisconsin!!

This beautiful piece of foodery you see before you is the garlic bread from Mama Mia-Barbiere's-Silver Spring, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2615 W. Silver Spring Dr.  #414-463-6262). I drove from Chicago just to have this bread, then I drove right back home. They bake the fresh in the a.m. split the loaf, submerge it in garlic butter, sprinkle a little bit of garlic salt on it, re-bake and voila! My future ex-wife! This garlic is that freakin' good! and it's so buttery! Wisconsin, midwest buttery!!   

Look at me, I can't believe it!

Oh my! The bread is perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft & warm on the inside. And it's a buttery and garlic delight to behold!!

Buttery is an understatement! This garlic bread is ridiculous!!!

Takin it in!

Opening up to get the tail end in..

...it's a comin...

And gone!!!

So freakin Monte-licious!! 

Sorry it's been a while! I have weekend plans for you!

CHICAGO’S “SQUARE ROOTS” FESTIVAL

Local Breweries, Restaurants and Musicians Featured in Historic Lincoln Square

 

WHAT:          Nothing says “Chicago summer” like a good ol’ street festival on Lincoln Avenue!  Thousands of local residents will flock to Lincoln Square for the 2^nd annual Square Roots festival, featuring

the best local and regional craft breweries, original artists secured by the Old Town School of Folk Music, and some of the best food Lincoln Square restaurants have to offer. 

This event reconnects residents with the cultural “roots” of this historic Chicago neighborhood.  Last year’s inaugural event drew more than 25,000 fans; thousands more are expected this year.

 

WHEN:          July 12-14, 2013

                        Friday, July 12 from 5 – 10 p.m.

                        Saturday, July 13 from 12 – 10 p.m.

                        Sunday, July 14 from 12 – 8 p.m.

WHERE:       4400 – 4560 N. Lincoln Avenue (from Wilson to Montrose), Chicago

 

COST:            Suggested donation: $10 for adults; $5 for kids/seniors; $20 for families    

 

WHO:             The Square Roots festival is presented by the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce and the Old Town School of Folk Music. 

 

WHY:                         Proceeds from Square Roots benefit Chamber initiatives and fund the

                        Old Town School of Folk Music scholarship programs.  For more information,

                        visit www.squareroots.com or www.facebook.com/SquareRootsChicago.

This is sure to be a fun event filled with food, booze, and lots of cool & interesting people! Go out, make friends, eat well, and have fun! Tell them Monte sent you and get a free perplexed look!! I almost forgot.... and MUSIC!! go listen to some amazing music!!