Roscoe Village Burger Fest

Last Sunday I biked over to join Jen and Quinn at Roscoe Village Burger Fest. We decided to go early because it was supposed to be so warm. At 11:30 a.m. it was already in the 80s. Since there wasn’t a line by the ponies, Quinn took a ride there first. Then he had a turn on the bouncy castle. We were getting hungry, so we went through the fest a bit and bought some burgers. The good thing about Burger Fest is that a lot of the stands sell small sliders, so you can try a lot of burgers without stuffing yourself.


Goose Island Legendary Stilton Burger Slider (cracked pepper, roasted garlic, dusseldorf – $4)

Jen got the Murphy’s Slider (Irish cheddar, bacon, tomato bacon aioli, pretzel bun -$2) from Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro and I got the Legendary Stilton Burger Slider (cracked pepper, roasted garlic, dusseldorf – $4) from Goose Island. This burger was awesome. The cheese and the roasted garlic were so rich and delicious. I also got a Leinies Classic Amber, maybe my first mistake of the day. It was, by then, in the 90s and I was so hot and sweaty. Plus I rode my bike there. I shouuld have been gulping water, not beer.


Hamburger Mary’s


Hamburger Mary’s Mighty Aphrodite Slider (stuffed with olives, spinach & oregano, with baby spinach onion & feta cheese – 2 for $6)

We also tried the Mighty Aphrodite Slider (stuffed with olives, spinach & oregano, with baby spinach onion & feta cheese – 2 for $6) from Hamburger Mary’s. This burger was good, but not amazing.


Quinn creating his masterpiece.


I told Quinn to make a Batman face.

Since it was so hot, we mostly chilled out under the kid’s art tent while Quinn worked on some projects. We didn’t stay long at the fest before walking back a few blocks to Jen and Chad’s house. Quinn had to go to a friend’s birthday party anyway. Also, their backyard was way cooler. It’s shaded and had a breeze. We needed to cool off. We were so hot, we didn’t even stop to see any of the gardens in the Roscoe Village Garden Walk on the way home, like we did last year.

When Jen took Quinn off to his birthday party, Chad and I headed back over to Burger Fest. We had roadie beers for the walk over and the tough security guard would not let us through with them. So we had to chug. Probably my second mistake of the day. Followed by much more beer hydrating.. let’s just say, I did NOT ride my bike home that night.

Chad and I stopped by the Village Tap stand. This is our favorite bar and we’d just been there on Friday night. Our waitress was telling us about the mediterranian burger they were going to sell. Chad and I stopped by and talked to the Village Tap owner to aks if the burger would be on their menu any time soon and the owner said it would be likely. So, we passed that one up, knowing we’d be eating it soon.


Murphy’s Slider (Irish cheddar, bacon, tomato bacon aioli, pretzel bun -$2) & Pulled Lamb Slider (Irish Whiskey BBQ sauce – $2)

On Jen’s recommendation, Chad went to the Mrs. Murphy’s & Sons Irish Bistro stand. He tried both the Murphy’s Slider (Irish cheddar, bacon, tomato bacon aioli, pretzel bun -$2) and the Pulled Lamb Slider (Irish Whiskey BBQ sauce – $2) there. He loved the slider, but not the lamb, and didn’t even finish it. I tried it too… very flavorless. Chad also had a Turkey Slider (gouda, onion jam – $4) from Goose Island, which he really liked.


John’s Place Cowboy Burger (1/4 pound angus beef burger, pub cheese, bacon-onion jam, bbq chipotle drizzle – $5)

John’s Place had a burger called the Cowboy Burger (1/4 pound angus beef burger, pub cheese, bacon-onion jam, bbq chipotle drizzle – $5) that was the Burger Fest winner last year, so I tried that. I was totally intrigued by the bacon-onion jam. The pub cheese was kind of cheez whizzy, but it worked. Added a nice creaminess that complimented the savory bacon and onions.

Trent and Loden recently moved to Roscoe Village and brought their doggies Charlie and Winston over to the festival. We sat for a bit and decided once again that we were too hot, so we headed back to Jen and Chad’s backyard, where it was much cooler.


Chad, Winston, Cortez, Drake


Drake, Jill, Halle, Charlie


Halle


Winston

Jill, Brian, Halle, and Limey met up with us there. We sat around the backyard watching the Cubs game, visiting, and drinking beer (mistake!). After a while Jen and Quinn came back. It was getting to be around dinner time, so we decided again to go back to Burger Fest. Everyone went over, except Jen, who smartly had enough of the heat and decided to stay home.


Goose Island


Goose Island Turkey Slider (gouda, onion jam – $4)

On my third trip to the fest that day I tried the Turkey Slider (gouda, onion jam – $4) from Goose Island that Chad was raving about.


Stanley’s Kitchen & Tap


Stanley’s Kitchen & Tap Roasted Corn Salad (chipotle, cilantro, onion – $2)

Also, my coworker Dave had told me that on Saturday he had the Stanley’s burger and corn side and both were good. It looked like they were only selling full-sized burgers and I was trying to avoid those, so I just got the corn side. It was light and fresh and just a bit spicy. Perfect for the hot weather. This was a good-sized side, so I passed it around to share and everyone really liked it.


Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro – Murphy’s Slider (Irish cheddar, bacon, tomato bacon aioli, pretzel bun -$2)

I also tried the Murphy’s Slider (Irish cheddar, bacon, tomato bacon aioli, pretzel bun -$2) from Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro. Many of us tried this slider and it was great, but the meat patty was a little small for the bun. But the bun was a pretzel roll, so we didn’t mind much. This was a delicious little slider.

So, after a while people were dispersing. I went back to Jen and Chad’s house because Chad had to drop Quinn off for bed. I was getting so tired. By then it was maybe 7:30 p.m.? And I’d been back and forth from the fest drinking beer and eating burgers and sweating my butt off in 90+ weather since 11:00 a.m. I was done! Chad was trying to get me to rally, saying that since I’d opened the fest that day, I needed to close it too, but I just couldn’t. Foghat was playing. Foghat. I was not rallying for Foghat. I took a cab home. My bike is still in Jen & Chad’s garage!

Oh, and the winner of Burger Fest? Each hamburger stand had a code on it and you texted your votes in. I thought that was a great idea. I voted for Goose Island because I enjoyed both of their sliders. Very good. But guess who won? STANLEY’S! The place Dave told me to get the burger from and I didn’t. Oh well. Mrs. Murphy’s & Sons Irish Bistro placed third, losing second place by only one vote! Select Cut Steakhouse won second place. I don’t think any of us even got a burger from that place! On a side note, Dallas used to live above Select Cut probably something like 10 years ago.

Summer of Rachelle Concludes and Happy Birthday To Me


Roscoe Village, Chicago

This is the third year in a row at this apartment that I’ve hosted a barbecue for my birthday (2007, 2006). I like to have everyone over. It’s a bit of work, especially since we always have a Labor Day weekend barbecue the weekend before too, but sometimes I like not being out on my day and not having to figure out how to go home.

Since I started a job at Roundarch this past Tuesday, this barbecue was also the last Summer of Rachelle event. Sometimes it feels like we just had the Summer of Rachelle kickoff, but I think I spent the summer well with the right amounts of relaxing and traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Aside from Scott and Erin, who had just left; Ed, Cinnamon and Andrew, who hadn’t arrived yet; and Jill who, was manning the camera, the following two photos show everyone who was at the party.


Chris, Lisa, Kate, Alden, Amanda, Jessica, Jessica, Paul, Quinn, Rachelle, Chris, Dallas, Limey, Jen, Brian, Caroline, Chad


Richard, Stephanie, Danny

We grilled a ton of sausages and some turkey burgers Dallas made earlier. I had special requested the turkey burgers. Also, last year when we made wontons, we had a bunch of leftover filling. It has been in our freezer all this time because Dallas and I never made wontons ourselves. Dallas’ mom gave us the idea to saute the filling up and serve it with lettuce, and make lettuce wraps. We forgot to put it out for the barbecue, but it was a delicious snack, along with hot mustard, later on in the night. I have been making this pasta salad with fresh basil all summer and people seemed to like it a lot yesterday. I also made some cookies and will post the recipe at another time.


Dallas as the lead Rock Band singer.


Alden, Jessica, Paul

We spent a lot of time last night outside, but also spent a lot of time inside playing Rock Band. I bought another guitar so now two people can play guitar at the same time, one on lead and one on bass. Everyone was taking turns on the different instruments. It was a lot of fun. I was psyched because we were getting the old band back together, too. Paul, Alden, Jessica and I used to play Rock Band all the time when we worked together at Google. It was fun to play with them again.

I had a really great time last night and was thankful to everyone who came over. I have great friends and family! Thanks to Jess for the flowers and to everyone who brought wine and beer and delicious food, too. Happy birthday to me… and welcome to the working world!

Joe’s Birthday Dinner


Caprese Salad, South Yarmouth, Cape Cod


Joe, Jessica, Jane :: South Yarmouth, Cape Cod

Last week was Joe, Jessica’s dad’s birthday. This week he and Jessica’s mom, Jane, are visiting on the Cape, so one night we invited them to our house for dinner. Jess, Julie and I served a homemade cucumber, yogurt, dill dip with vegetables, hummus and a cheese plate for appetizers. Then we made turkey burgers like we had the other night, grilled vegetables, corn on the cob, and grilled chicken for dinner. Julie made a caprese salad with fresh basil we got from Jess’s uncle, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. Jane also brought a tasty potato salad – secret ingredient: bacon. Everything was delicious. For birthday dessert we had a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. YUM.

Mojitos, Turkey Burgers, Smores


Mojito, South Yarmouth, Cape Cod


Turkey Burger, South Yarmouth, Cape Cod


Steph Making Smores, South Yarmouth, Cape Cod

After a long day at the beach we decided to make dinner on the grill. Well, first Julie made us mojitos with the fresh mint that Jess’s uncle gave us. Fresh herbs also went into the turkey burgers, which btw, were delicious. Later on we started a fire in the stove/pit thing. Steph was having problems until I realized that she didn’t have any kindling, so I searched around the yard and found some sticks and we got it going. We sat around drinking wine and making smores for a couple hours. I think we smoked the neighbors out, but it was fun.

Unseasonably Warm Weather Deserves a Barbecue

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Turkey Burgers and Brats, Roscoe Village, Chicago

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Chowing Down, Roscoe Village, Chicago

The next time the weather is in the single digits, maybe I should just bite my tonge. This is the midwest, afterall, and one day will be cold and the next warm. One day snowing, the next sunny. Yesterday was December 17th and it was about 55 degrees outside, so here we are a week before Christmas and hosting a barbecue with our friends. For Dallas’ birthday I got him some big grill tools and a grill light. He opened them and liked them but thought he wouldn’t be using them for several months. Wrong!

Grilled Plantains, Take 2

Let the plantains get black on the outside. That's when they're ripe.
Let the plantains get black on the outside. That’s when they’re ripe.

Brush with vegetable oil so they don't stick to the grill.
Brush with vegetable oil so they don’t stick to the grill.

I put the plantains on skewers to make them easier to turn on the grill.
I put the plantains on skewers to make them easier to turn on the grill.

Grill for a few minutes on each side til the plantains look
Grill for a few minutes on each side til the plantains look “carmelized”.

Completed meal.
At the end I brushed the plantains with a glaze.

About a week and a half or so ago I bought some more plantains. But this time instead of trying to grill them in their green state I let them sit in the fruit bowl until yesterday. It’s strange because you have to let them go way past the point you would let a banana go. Til the outside peel looks black and brown. That’s when a plantain is ripe.

This time it wasn’t hard for the plantains to reach the much coveted “carmelized” state. That’s when they get real sweet. I made a glaze* that I brushed on a minute before removing from the grill and then also put more of the glaze on before serving.

They were a perfect dessert to go with my grilled turkey burger meal. And they tasted much better than the plantains I grilled the last time.

*I made the glaze out of things I had around the house – the juice from one lime, 1 Tbsp. honey, 4 Tbsp. brown sugar, and some chopped up candied pecans.

See Also:
ยป Experiments in Fruit Grilling (Grilled Plantains, Take 1)