Entries Tagged as 'seafood'

El Barco, Take 2 3

September 6th, 2006 · 3 Comments

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El Barco, East Ukrainian Village, Chicago

On Monday night, Jordan and George’s last night in town, Dallas wanted to take them to El Barco. Danny had never been there either, so he came along too. Yum! Danny and Dallas had the big, whole snapper, Jordan had some carne asada and stuffes chile rellenos, and George and I shared this mixed grill. It was mounds and mounds of grilled seafood and potatoes and fish and chicken and steak. So good!

These photos kind of blow because we were outside and I couldn’t see. I have better photos of El Barco here and here.

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El Barco Mariscos

August 8th, 2006 · 9 Comments

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The outtakes from a post I did for Chicagoist on El Barco Mariscos. For more info on the restaurant, read the Chicagoist post. It was funny, we went a few weeks ago and yesterday when the post went up Dallas got a major craving for it again and we went back last night.

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There is Nothing in This World as Rank as Chinatown on a Sultry Hot Day

September 6th, 2005 · 9 Comments

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On Wednesday night my flight was delayed by like 2 or 2 1/2 hours so we didn’t really do anything.. sat at Jess’s house and caught up and talked til the wee hours. The next morning I got up and went to work with her just to say “hi” to some of my coworkers and to meet some new ones who started in the New York office since I transferred to the Chicago one.

After that I headed down to Chinatown, which is not far from the Tribeca office, to get myself some high-quality Gucci and Prada. I also got a few pieces of pottery and dishes at Great Wall City, which is in the old Pearl River building and is exactly the same as the old Pearl River except that I think the prices are a little more expensive.

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Pre-Show Dinner at Platiyo

July 3rd, 2005 · 1 Comment

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Platiyo, Wrigleyville, Chicago

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Erin :: Platiyo, Wrigleyville, Chicago

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Sam :: Platiyo, Wrigleyville, Chicago

When I called Platiyo to make our reservations for dinner before the Late Night Late Show, the man who answered the phone was really nice and we actually chatted for quite a while. I’d requested to sit on the patio and he said it was going to be a beautiful night, great for the patio, and said the forecast didn’t predict rain until next week. I told him I didn’t care if it rained next week because I’d be on vacation in Hawaii. Just normal, whatever, chitchat.

When I got to the restaurant the man was at the hostess stand and remembered me from the phone. I was early and Sam and Erin were running a little late so I had a drink at the bar. The bartender was really friendly, and the man who took my reservation turned out to be the manager/owner of the restaurant. He stopped over a few times and kept telling the wait staff that I was going to Hawaii. I was actually having a good time with them all.. when usually sitting at a bar by myself is something I really, really hate. I was thinking how great the wait staff was and hoping that the food at Platiyo was also good because it’d be a shame to have friendly, attentive service and crap food.

Well, we weren’t let down. The appetizer we shared was a baked goat cheese that was Mexicanized and served with corn tortillas. Not very authentic, but you can’t go wrong with baked goat cheese. While I was sitting at the bar I’d discussed what I wanted to get with the bartender and when I ordered, our waiter, Miguel, said I got the best thing on the menu. It was Seafood en Mole Amarillo – Shrimp, bay scallops, crabmeat, braised in Oaxacan yellow mole, with rice and seared vegetables. Super good.

I’ll be back to Platiyo! Thanks to Benjella for the awesome recommendation!

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La Playita Azul – Kapa’a, Kaua’i

May 10th, 2004 · 4 Comments


Seafood Fajitas (Photo by Kristin)


Dallas’ Burrito


Dallas’ Burrito


Rob’s Burrito


Our waiter, Jeffrey


Dallas’ Burrito is gone!


Kristin, Cousin, Jeffrey the waiter, Dallas, Rob, Sarah, Rachelle

So a couple of months ago I was in Texas with Nick and Walt eating some average tasting TexMex. Nick, just back from a vacation in Hawaii, tells us that he’d recently eaten the best Mexican food he’s ever had in his life and that the place he ate it was in a shopping center in Kaua’i. This is a bold statement coming from Nick, who’s lived in Southern California his entire life and knows good Mexican food. Nick went on and on about it and some sort of secret sauce they serve and I let it go as a “whatever” and it was forgotten.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I confirmed my plans to visit Kaua’i. Nick recommends that we all go to La Playita Azul (the little blue beach) and try the Mexican food there… and that we HAD to ask for the special citrus sauce. I somehow convince Dallas that we have to try this place out even though he’s never heard of it and rightfully questions why the best Mexican food would be in Hawaii. When we got there I was a bit leery. This place is in a mini mall and looks very unimpressive. But let me tell you, the food was phenom. Kristin and I split the seafood fajitas, Cousin had the seared ahi flautas and Dallas had the biggest burrito I’ve ever seen. Somehow he managed to eat it all when Sarah and Rob shared the same order between them. Our waiter, Jeffery, was hysterical. I’m pretty sure this is the waiter that Nick & his friends had when he visited a few months prior because I remember Nick imitating him and me asking if he was high. Some memorable quotes from Jeffrey:

Kristin and I had to switch some seats so we could share our seafood fajitas. When Jeffrey served our food he said “Move over so you guys can Lady & the Tramp it!”

As Jeffrey gave Cousin his flautas, which he highly recommended over everything else on the menu, he said to Cousin under his breath, “Here buddy, get your rocks off!”

While we were leaving Jeffrey was outside admiring the moon. Many people on the trip mistakenly assumed that our group was 3 couples, because there were 3 women and 3 men, so Jeffrey says “The moon is so beautiful! Get in your car, take your honeys to the beach, dig a pit and build a fire. Throw your TV in the ocean! Moi! (kissing fingers action here) That’s all you need!” For the rest of the trip, the ladies will be collectively known and “the honeys”.

I would highly recommend La Playita Azul to anyone and everyone who visits Kaua’i. It was one of the best meals we had on the island and it is not too expensive either. Oh, also, after a fair amount of probing, I got the ingredients for the secret citrus sauce and instructions on how it was made. Kristin and I are going to try to replicate it but I’m doubtful whether it will turn out as well as the sauce we had in Kaua’i.

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