Breakfast Blog Man!

Breakfast Blog Man! is a new blog I am running and I'd love for you to come and follow me there! The blog is updated weekly with a new spot and daily (during the week) with breakfast news from around the world.

I hope to see you following along on all my new, and old, breakfast adventures! Breakfast is my favorite meal, now I am giving it the attention it deserves.

New Blog Click Here!

To me, nothing beats fresh made corn tortillas, nothin!

And my spot El Taconazo at 4124 W. North Ave in the Humboldt Park hood of Chicago makes some of the best every weekend for yer sweet ass. 

They have a few locations but I grew up right by this one and have been goin here for years! But when I was a kid the hood was much worse and I was admittedly scared to go here unless it was in the morning or afternoon during the week, when not many people were around.

So let's get to it... I get Huevos Rancheros when I go here on the weekends for the damn homemade Tortilla Shells!

If yer not familiar with Huevos Rancheros, they're pretty simple as you can see. They are eggs atop tortilla shells smothered in salsa with a side of rice and beans. Done. so easy and so Monte-licious! Inexpensive too!

They have a lot of other great stuff too, plus they give you more salsa options with yer chips than any other spot I have ever been too!

Here are all the salsas you get...

Here is some of the other stuff and a quick interior shot...

Check out El Taconazo.

Something cool if you live in the northern suburbs of Chicago...

Well friends, the ladies at Ripple Productions are at again and they have invited me Fall Harvest Feast! And you can go too (this event is 21 and over)! Meet there and and many other guests like:Chef Bolla Lozza of Tuscany, a 30-year veteran of Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants, SoriBeat, a Pungmul Korean percussion troupe, and K-Pop Dance Group. 

I am going to be there for the entire event, eating my chubby little heart out and if you love good food and good times, you'll be there too! 

More info and details below:

The beginning of Fall signifies the season of friends, family, giving and entertaining - a harvest and feast for the senses! What better way to kick it off then at Wheeling’s Taste of the Town “Healthy Harvest” celebration October 9^th from 5-8 pm at the Westin Chicago North Shore (601 N. Milwaukee Ave.). Attendees will enjoy tastings, select wine and craft beers from over 20 local restaurants, live entertainment, silent auction and great raffle prizes, all while mixing and mingling with friends. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $30, with a portion of proceeds benefitting three local charities: Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School, the Cancer Wellness Center, and the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago.

The event will feature chef demonstrations by Benihana and Chef Bolla Lozza of Tuscany, a 30-year veteran of Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants. There will be live entertainment presented by Ms. Taylor Moore, as well as performances by SoriBeat, a Pungmul Korean percussion troupe, and K-Pop Dance Group. This 21 and over event is being presented by the Wheeling/Prospect Heights Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Village of Wheeling, Restaurant Row Hospitality Group, and the Wheeling Special Events Commission, along with presenting sponsors Sempio and Stasek Chevrolet.

Participating restaurants include: Allgauer’s on the Riverfront, Benihana, Bob Chinn’s Crab House, Buca di Beppo, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurants, Fresh Farms International Market, Pete Miller’s, Pinstripes, Meatheads, RAM Restaurant & Brewery, Salata, Saranello’s, Spears, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Superdawg Drive-In, Tuscany, Twin Peaks, Wa-Pa-Ghetti’s Pizza and the Westin Chicago North Shore.

Guests can purchase tickets at www.wphchamber.com or call 847.541.0170 for info and group sales. The cost is $30 through October 8, 2014 and $40 at the door. Cash bar is available. Guests also have the opportunity to present their Taste of the Town ticket to participating restaurants after the event wraps up, to receive discounts and deals!

Disclaimer: Yes this is a blatant plug, I know. I did not get paid to do so, I did it because I truly am interested in the event and feel fortunate to be invited as a guest. Not to mention the women of Ripple Productions are ridiculously beautiful!! ; )

3 great spots for you to wet your taste buds upon.

It's been a while and I am very sorry, but as you can tell, it's been a while for a while. So I am gonna hit ya with a few spots to satisfy your craving. My first spot... 

Well, I love fried chicken, it's one of the foods I would want as a last meal. And if I had one spot to choose from for my last fried chicken meal before I meet my maker it would have to be from: MaMa Lunas! at 5109 W. Fullerton Ave. (Located in the Cragin Pk. hood of Chicago)Yes, fried chicken form a pizza place. And their pizza is killer too (get the Italian beef pizza)! But the fried chicken is easily some of the all time best I have ever had, and it is consistently delicious. It has tasted exactly the same each and every time, not once being different, since I have been in 3rd grade! And I am now 43! That is consistency and consistency is key to any longevity for a business which is why they, MaMa Luna's, have been around since 1960 (run by the same family). This place is worth the trip for the fried chicken, and you get a choice of plato, pasta with a side of veggies and fresh, hot, baked bread! I really love this place!

Next...

Sometimes you need to eat yer veggies! And there is nothing I hate more than fake meat from a vegetarian/vegan spot. Just let veggies be veggies!! If you want meat, eat meat! Don't pretend!! And at Amitabul (6207 N. Milwaukee Ave./Norwood Pk. hood of Chicago), they do not pretend to be anything other than fresh veggies! This place is a bit pricey, in my opinion, but you get a lot and to me there is no better veggie place in Chicago. At all. None better. Pictured is my favorite from there, Zesty Noodle: 

Spicy and tangy citrus flavor of zesty noodles with our healthy veggies will zest up your taste buds. Choice of rice or wet noodle

I get the rice noodle option.

Finally, let's get back to the basics with a Bacon Cheeseburger from Paradise Pup at 1724 S. Des Plaines River Road (in Des Plaines, not Chicago). 

Hope to see you sooner than later!

One of my favorite Indian food trucks of all time!

First let me say sorry it has been 4 + months since my last post. I have no excuses.

DESI FOOD TRUCK 852, Second Avenue New York, NY. 10017 is easily one of the best Indian food trucks I have ever eaten from in my life. I'll take it one step further, it is one of my favorite spots for Indian food, period. They just do it right. Spiced right, proper portions and inexpensive prices. Not to mention all the food is dairy free! I had the Chicken Kati roll (5x in 3 days) and the Chicken Tika Masala (dairy free and freakin Montalicious). Enough with the chit chat, let get to the pics!!

Here they come pulling up to their spot. They are always at the same spot, see the address posted above. 

Look att hose inexpensive prices! And this is in NY!!

Doesn't this just turn you on? I mean look at that chicken rolled up in that lightly fried  Paratha. I love Paratha, it is crispy, fried, flat bread that is so Montalicious I truly believe more places should start using it as a bread for any and all sandwiches.

Look at me go....

...this is the proper way to shove into your mouth.

If it's good, it's gone! And it is gone!

Chicken Tika Masala. And it's dairy free, look at me. 

Look at that healthy chunk of chicken, dawg!

Finally, my episode of Log On And Eat in it's entirety!!

My episode of Log On And Eat with Eden Grinshpan is up in it's entirety! And it's free! Just follow the link I am join to attach then click on the "Foddimentary" episode and I am the final guest!

Here is the link.... LOG ON AND EAT WITH EDEN & MONTE

Watch it, enjoy it, and please share it!!

A ridiculous breakfast yer gonna love!!

My buddies sister was raving about this place in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin called Manny's Snack Shack over Christmas dinner (2013) to the point where my mouth was salivating! I planned to go there asap! I called the following day only to find out Manny's was closed for another month, winter holiday!! WTF!! I was stuck with anxiety!

But I marked my calendar, and the day they opened, a month later, I was sitting at the counter placing my order!

Let me introduce to what has to be one of the better breakfast spots I have discovered in a few, thanks to Annette, Manny's Snack Shack, 404 S Lake Ave, Twin Lakes, WI.

This is Manny's (exterior)

This is Manny, working the grill! Like a champ!

Like I said I arrived their first day back from a month + long vacation, and this place was hopping and Manny was slinging it!! He seriously runs that grill like a master! He has a controlled chaos that is fun to watch and be around. I ordered the Chicken George (chicken fried steak and eggs). For some reason fried steak, eggs, hash browns and sausage gravy spoke to me that morning. And I am glad it did, check it out!!

Look at this monster breakfast!! 

Here is a nice personal shot of the chicken fried steak with white sausage gravy atop. It is as beautiful as my wife on our wedding day.

This is a meal for a family of four, or me.

A bite that shows respect to the meal....

getting it in there is tough but not impossible....

And done! I got it all in!

Boom! Clean plate, jerk! Me. I win! What, I don't know.

This place is full of life, character and great food! They have a lot more to choose from... burgers, french toast, garbage omelettes, you name it, they have it or can make it. Check out Manny's, it is worth the trip!! But maybe wait till summer, it is on a beautiful lake and that is fun to look at... water.

Here are a few random shots of the place....

And remember, no checks accepted! 

Watch me eat, people! Please.

I was on a show called Steve Gadlin's Star makers. This is a very dumb show, so I fit right in! Watch me eat by clicking on this whole sentence! The show was fun and I did service for all of mankind, I am eating the right way.

Steve Gadlin is my friend and the show is really fun and a lot of fun, please watch clips of the other jerks after enjoying my clip. Which you can watch here just by clicking on this sentence too!

Pizza wars is next week, January 16th. You just might wanna be there, I will!

You all must remember last year I posted pics from an event known as Pizza Wars! Pizza Wars is a charitable event pitting some of Chicagoland's greatest pizza spots against each other for a shot at Pizza War glory! 

Here is all of the information you need for Pizza Wars....

SKOKIE, IL (JANUARY 16, 2014) – The District 219 Education Foundation, with the assistance of the student organization Dance Marathon, will host its 4^th annual Pizza Wars on Thursday, January 16^th, 2014, from 6-8pm as pizza ovens across Niles township will be fired up in preparation for the Foundation’s signature fundraiser, “Pizza Wars 4: May The Fourth Be With You”. After last years’ standing room only success, the event has been moved to the larger contest gym at Niles West High School (5701 Oakton, Skokie). The question plaguing all…will Village Inn retain its title of Maestro or will the trophy be tossed to another?

Pizza tasting will begin at 6pm, with the contest ending at 7:15pm. The trophy will be awarded at 7:30pm. Advanced ticket prices are $12 per person, $40 for a family of 4, and $15 per person at the door. The evening will also feature live entertainment from Niles West and North student bands, face painting, a balloon artist and a strolling magician for the young at heart. Tickets may be purchased on the Foundation’s website at www.219foundation.org. Participating pizzerias include Lou Malnati’s, Barnaby’s, Father & Son Italian Kitchen, Giordano’s, Gulliver’s, Jet’s Pizza, Nancy’s, OrganicLife, Papa John’s, Village Inn, and Wa-pa-ghetti’s.

I am looking forward to it! Also, it will be my 1 yr anniversary of meeting the wonderfully talented and exceptionally beautiful women of Ripple Productions, who play a big part in organizing and promoting Pizza Wars!