ML Interest Tag: pork-belly

Batter Up: The Ultimate Guide to Pancakes in D.C.

by rtstephaniekanowitz

We all know the importance of eating a good breakfast. It improves performance at school (or work) and sets the tone for the day–yada, yada, yada. But sometimes we want breakfast to just be comforting, and few things bring comfort like soft, fluffy, pillow-like pancakes. The D.C. area gets this. That’s why we can choose from traditional options and decadent selections that are more like cakes masquerading as pancakes. Whether you like gluten-free, fruity, chocolaty or simple, the selection around here really stacks up.

Photo: Capsun Poe via Flickr

First Watch
This breakfast-and-lunch-only spot is a hit with grown-ups and adults alike. Picky eaters happily devour the chocolate chip pancake from the kids’ menu. It comes with a cup of mixed fresh fruit, bacon or sausage, and a drink–plus a menu the littles can color. Grown-up pancake options include lemon ricotta–two pancakes served with marinated berries and lemon curd.

Cost: $5.99 for kids’ pancakes, $8.99 for lemon ricotta
Where: 8 D.C.-area locations
Open: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Online: firstwatch.com

Silver Diner
Don’t be fooled by the old-fashioned diner feel (think: mini jukeboxes on the tables). This place emphasizes farm-to-table dining and locally sourced eats. For adults, pancake options include traditional stacks or quinoa coconut with blueberries, grilled bananas, strawberries, agave and cinnamon sour cream. Kids can enjoy silver dollar pancakes (chocolate chips optional) with an egg and fruit. Bonus: The old-fashioned paper truck they get to play with during the meal and take home.

Cost: $4.99 for kids’ pancakes, $11.99 for quinoa coconut, $9.99 for buttermilk pancakes and eggs
Where: 13 D.C.-area locations
Open: See website for locations’ hours
Online: silverdiner.com

Original Pancake House
While we are on chains, this one also rates high. Founded 64 years ago in Oregon, it has three local locations and about 15 types of pancakes. Yes, really. Kids under 12 can get “dollar”-size pancakes, regular pancakes and Two Pigs in a Blanket (sausage links wrapped in pancakes) as stand-alone orders or as combos with eggs and bacon. The teen and up set can choose from wheat germ pancakes, Three Little Pigs in a Blanket, Hawaiian pancakes filled with crushed pineapple, sourdough flap jacks and – wait for it – bacon pancakes, filled with bits of bacon.

Cost: $8.25 to $12.50, $4.25 to $6.25 for kids
Where: 7395 Lee Highway, Falls Church; 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda; 12224 Rockville Pike, Rockville
Open: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Online: ophrestaurants.com

Ted’s Bulletin
My kids are partial to Mr. Breakfast any time of day. It’s a single but sizable pancake with a happy face made of fruit and a strip of bacon. For heartier appetites, there’s the pancake stack with two eggs and hash browns. Of course, you might want to save room for one of Ted’s milkshakes in flavors such as PB&J and S’mores, or a Ted’s Tart, a homemade Pop-Tart-like treat.

Cost: $5.99 for Mr. Breakfast, $10.49 for the stack
Where: Five area locations
Open: See website for locations’ hours
Online: tedsbulletin.com

Photo: amanda kelso via Flickr

Founding Farmers
This local chain with three locations and two spin-offs serves up buttermilk pancakes for breakfast and brunch with some sweet twists. Make yours a bananas foster, red velvet or carrot cake order. Wash them down with a New York egg cream or scratch soda in grapefruit, lemon-lime, orange, ginger, hibiscus, vanilla and seasonal flavors.

Cost: $7-$9
Where: 1924 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac; 1800 Tysons Blvd., Tysons
Open: See website for locations’ hours
Online: wearefoundingfarmers.com

Busboys and Poets
Another local success story, this “community gathering place,” as it calls itself has six area locations serving sweet potato pancakes with seasonal fresh fruit. The kids’ menu is sparse with just three offerings — cheese quesadilla, pasta and grilled chicken – but the celebrity sightings are plentiful. Actor Matt Dillon, writer Alice Walker and basketball star Alonzo Mourning have all dined here.

Cost: $10
Where: six D.C.-area locations
Open: See website for locations’ hours
Online: busboysandpoets.com

Amphora
Open 24 hours, you can kill a pancake craving here with eight varieties: double chocolate, peanut butter, white chocolate, red velvet and autumn harvest. There’s also regular ol’ golden buttermilk, served with strawberry, blueberry or cherry preserves, but next to the others, they seem downright boring. Pancakes also make an appearance on the kids’ menu.

Cost: $6.95 to $9.90; $4.50 for kids
Where: 1151 Elden St., Herndon; 377 Maple Ave. W, Vienna
Open: 24 hours
Online: amphoragroup.com

The Commissary
Try a twist on the usual here with a plate of potato pancakes, served with sour cream and apple sauce, but if that’s not your thing, don’t worry. You can get a short or full stack of buttermilky goodness, too. A gluten-free option with cinnamon pear compote is also available, or ask for the pancake platter, which comes with two eggs, a choice of meats and two plain cakes. Kiddos can choose from plain, blueberry, chocolate chip and gluten-free, too.

Cost: $6 to $13; $5 to $7 for kids
Where: 1443 P St., NW
Open: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
Online: commissarydc.com

The Market Lunch
If wandering through D.C.’s famous Eastern Market makes you hungry, snag a short stack (two pancakes) or a full stack (three) in five varieties, including blueberry buckwheat and chocolate chip. Or reverse that and grab a bite first before working off the meal with a walk through

Where: 225 Seventh St., SE
Open: 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays
Online: easternmarket-dc.org

Photo: jennifer durban via Flickr

Lincoln’s Waffle Shop
Don’t be fooled by the name of this family-run business that’s been feeding D.C. since 1990. The menu has plenty of pancake options, including chocolate chip, banana and blueberry, each of which is available alone or with eggs, sausages or a salmon cake.

Cost: $5.95 to $13.95
Where: 504 10th St., NW
Open: 5:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Online: lincolnswaffleshop.com  

Peacock Café
For a health spin on a breakfast or brunch indulgence, head here for Maizar’s Pancakes, made with multigrain or organic white flour and served with bananas, walnuts and syrup. Accompany that with a no-sugar-added kiddo smoothie in orange-strawberry or orange-banana.

Cost: $12.95 for pancakes, $2.50 for kids’ smoothies
Where: 3251 Prospect St., NW
Open: Brunch is served until 4 p.m.
Online: peacockcafe.com

Miss Shirley’s Café
This Maryland eatery marries Southern staples with fresh ingredients from the Chesapeake Bay area. It offers griddle cakes topped with powdered sugar and garnished with a raspberry puree plate glaze in addition to whipped butter and pure maple syrup. Go for the original or branch out with Cinnamon Danish with cream cheese icing, banana chocolate chip with chocolate syrup (because chocolate begets chocolate), raspberry white chocolate or fruity flavors such as fresh banana, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry or strawberry.

Cost: $9.99 to $10.99
Where: 513 Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore; 750 E. Pratt St, Baltimore; 1 Park Place, Annapolis
Open: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Online: missshirleys.com

Bar Pilar
OK, so yes, this has the word “bar” in it and that means it’s not traditionally a kids’ place, but stick with us here. This might be a good brunch option for a kid-free day. They are possible! Especially when a buttermilk-fried chicken pancake with pork belly and pickled jalapenos calls. Just sayin’.

Cost: $17
Where: 1833 14th St., NW
Open: Brunch only on weekends starting at 11 a.m.
Online: barpilar.com

Where do you go for delicious pancakes? Tell us in the comments below.

–Stephanie Kanowitz

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Mahalo! Aina is SF’s New Hawaiian Brunch Spot

by Yannina Pacis

As they say, food made with love tastes better. This could not be any truer than at Aina, the newly opened family-friendly Hawaiian brunch spot in San Francisco’s hip Dogpatch neighborhood. Read on to see why brunching at Aina is like visiting a good friend on the islands, all without having to get on a plane with stroller and diaper bag in tow, let alone having to leave the 415. Trust us, your tummy—and soul—will thank you.

Photo: Aina

Aina, which in Hawaiian means “the land which feeds us,” is where you and your little ones will indulge in Aina’s feel-good eats, from their modern take on Hawaiian fare, such as homemade spam musubi, chicken katsu, taro french toast, or their decadent Portuguese-style doughnuts, known as malasadas. Even more impressive is how the folks at Aina make you feel, with each member of their staff welcoming you and your family with their attentive service and hospitality.

A Tropical Treat In The Dogpatch
Hugging the corner spot in the heart of San Francisco’s Dogpatch quiet residential neighborhood on 22nd Street, near 3rd, is where you’ll find Aina. Neighboring boutiques and cafes are mere steps away, and just across the street is also the Woods Yard Park, a great place for crawlers and toddlers. As soon as you walk in, you’ll be enveloped with island vibes and good eats. You will first be greeted by very warm and friendly staff, and then the yumminess begins.

Eat Like an Islander
Gone are plates of traditional brunch combos like bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Instead you and your family will dive into plates of Hawaiian-inspired cuisine. For something savory, try their Spam Musubi “Ssam Style,” a modern twist with Stone Valley Farms whole hog homemade spam, or their take on Kalbi Loco Moco, with slow braised kalbi short rib and sunny side eggs, or their – say no more – Kalua Pork Belly dish. For the kiddies, they will enjoy Aina’s Kids Bento dish, a cute ‘lil box with compartments of scrambled eggs, chicken katsu over rice, Portuguese sweet rolls, and seasonal fruit.


Photo: Aina

Sweets for the whole family include their Taro French Toast, using bread from Hawaii’s Punalu’u Bake Shop with macadamia nut crumble and coconut caramel. And save room for their signature malasadas, a Portuguese-style doughnut of goodness oozing with guava custard, and covered with coconut sugar.

Photo: Aina

Scoring a Seat
Brunching at Aina is a treat, so word to the wise: reservations are necessary! As a small neighborhood restaurant, Aina recommends making reservations two weeks in advance, especially for the weekends. For you stay-at-home moms and dads, you’re in luck as weekdays are a bit easier to snag a table without resos. However, if you do need a high chair or booster, Aina does recommend placing a reservation for these requests.

Make a Day-Cation Out of It
When you’re done at Aina, explore the other parts of this 22nd Street stretch of the Dogpatch. From the kiddie park across the way, to all the neighboring shops, boutiques – and if you still have room – cafes that are all walking distance to Aina, make a day out of it. Aina in San Francisco’s Dogpatch is the new must-brunch for you and your family. You’ll thank us. Better yet, just say Mahalo.

Good to Know: Parking around Dogpatch can be tricky, as it’s street parking only. Remember patience is a virtue, and good example for your kiddies.

Aina
900 22nd Street
San Francisco, CA
415-814-3815
Online: http://www.ainasf.com

Brunch Only
Wed.–Fri. 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Sat.–Sun. 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Where’s your favorite spot in the Bay Area to get a taste of Hawaii?

–Yannina Pacis

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Noodle Nirvana: The Best Ramen in the Bay Area

by anitachu

If you haven’t sat down to a bowl of steaming hot ramen, inhaled the scent of rich broth, mixed the toppings into the noodles, then carefully twirled them around your chopsticks and slurped them down, you’re missing out on one of the Bay Area’s best culinary experiences. These local ramen shops have elevated a humble Japanese fast food to bowls of lip-smacking luxury, and with a new one seeming to open every month, the piping hot craze shows no signs of cooling off. Read on to find out our favorites.

Good to know: A quick word of warning: most ramen shops don’t take reservations, and eager crowds regularly form outside long before opening time. Although this sounds tricky if you have kids, most ramen places are surprisingly kid friendly once you get inside, and what kid doesn’t enjoy eating noodles? At every ramen place, you’ll see whole families, every head bent happily over their own bowl of ramen. Plan to arrive early to either stake a spot in line or get your name on the list. Most places have menus posted so decide on what you want while you’re waiting. Once you’re seated, many servers can take your order immediately and dishes usually come quickly, which parents will appreciate. All that’s left is to enjoy that rich ramen goodness.

Peninsula

Ramen Dojo
A true classic in the Bay Area ramen scene, Ramen Dojo’s garlic pork ramen has turned many a ramen newbie into line-waiting believer. There are soy sauce (shoyu) and soy bean (miso) options, but the garlic pork (tonkotsu) is definitely the star. Topped with slices of roasted pork, fried garlic, kikurage mushrooms, chives, a quail egg, and swirled with a “chicken gravy” that adds richness and heft, this one of the most flavorful and satisfying ramen bowls around. Although Ramen Dojo advertises its ramen as spicy, there is a non-spicy level available. Tip: If your spice tolerance is low, try asking for half non-spicy and half mild broth; the extra kick of flavor from the chili oil is worth it. Even for ramen shops, Ramen Dojo is tiny – 24 seats, exactly, so arrive early or be prepared for an oh-so-worth-it wait. It’s also a bit tricky to fit strollers into the small space, so if you’re still carrying around a lot of baby gear, there’s a third option: Ramen Dojo has two sister shops in the area, Santa Ramen and Ramen Parlor, that are slightly larger, have similar (although not identical) menus, and are also more accommodating of small children, if you want a more leisurely ramen experience with your kids.

Ramen Dojo
805 S B St.
San Mateo, Ca
Online: Ramen Dojo Facebook page

Himawari
While many ramen shops in the Bay Area have a minimalist aesthetic, Himawari is a lovely exception. The owner is a jazz enthusiast, and the walls of the restaurant are lined with old records and album covers, while jazz music plays in the background. It gives Himawari a cool, relaxed vibe and encourages you to take a moment to sit and enjoy your ramen instead of slurping it down immediately. Himawari offers soy sauce (shoyu), salt (shio), and miso ramens, which you can fancy up with additional toppings like extra roasted pork or, intriguingly, buttered corn. Their most unique ramen is the tan tan men, the Japanese take on spicy Chinese Szechuan noodles, with a fiery red chili-laced miso broth enriched with ground pork. It’s super filling and comforting on a chilly evening. If you want to make a full meal of it, Himawari also offers a remarkably long selection of appetizers, salads, sushi, and even dessert. The chicken karaage (fried chicken), gyoza (fried potstickers), and buta kakuni (stewed pork) are all delicious and kid-pleasers. The staff is especially accommodating of families and cheerfully offer high chairs and kid-size bowls to the little ones.

Himawari
202 2nd Ave.
San Mateo, CA 94401

 

Marin

Uchiwa Ramen
Among the many ramen shops in the Bay Area, Uchiwa Ramen boasts a uniquely memorable interior design, with its striking wood ceiling and communal tables. It turns eating ramen into a zen spa experience. If you sit at the counter, you can watch the open kitchen as well while you enjoy your noodles. The menu kindly calls out gluten free options, which include the tonkotsu and and shio (salt) ramen: the topkotsu is  The kale salad is a tasty change up from the more typical salad offerings at ramen shops; it features fresh and roasted kale tossed in a toasted sesame dressing and topped with slices of Asian pear. Don’t miss their signature side dish as well, the “pork wing”, which is really a pork shank covered in a chili glaze that’s both spicy and sweet. The staff is very welcoming to small kids and they offer two kinds of kid’s ramen, including a gluten free. There’s options for everyone at this shop, which should please all the picky eaters of your family.

Uchiwa Ramen
821 B St
San Rafael, Ca
Online: www.uchiwaramen.com

Photo: Linda L from Yelp

South Bay

Santouka
Santouka is easy to miss as it’s located inside the Mitsuwa shopping center, but once you step inside, you’ll have no problem spotting the line of hungry eaters outside the humble storefront. Santouka is probably the best representation of a classic Japanese ramen fast-food joint in the Bay Area: You line up, order at the counter, then find a seat in the food court and wait for your number to be called. The shio (salt) ramen with toroniku (pork cheek) is rightfully famous; the broth is creamy and flavorful and on the lighter side compared to other ramen shops, but the tender slices of pork add more than enough richness. Santouka ramen also comes in three sizes, which makes it helpful when you’re ordering for smaller appetites, and also offers set meals where a bowl of ramen comes with a bowl of rice covered with various toppings like tofu or salmon. It can be a bit of a hassle staking out a table, but the food court arrangement is great for families; the atmosphere is casual, high chairs are available,  Afterwards, you can check out the Japanese grocery and bookstore nearby.

Santouka
Mitsuwa Marketplace
675 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129
Online: santouka.co.jp/en

Orenchi Ramen
One of the stars of the South Bay ramen scene, Orenchi Ramen is another spot where you’re strongly advised to arrive early before opening (a minimum of 30 minutes before opening for a shot at being in the first seating, otherwise you’ll have to wait for the next rounds). The thrill of getting your name of one of the first slots on their signup sheet is matched only when a bowl of their signature Orenchi ramen arrives in front of you. Made with a pork-based (tonkotsu) broth, topped with roasted pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, nori, and a soft-boiled egg, this ramen is creamy and filling but not too fatty, and the noodles are pleasantly springy and al dente. Orenchi also offers a decent selection of appetizers if you want to round out your meal: the karaage chicken (fried chicken) and takoyaki (octopus balls) are solid choices. Although the interior is a bit crowded and dark, it’s surprisingly family friendly once you sit down: the tables are sturdy and spill-resistant, and you can order just noodles and broth for the kiddies. To the delight of San Franciscans, a second branch, Orenchi Beyond has opened on Valencia Street and offers mostly the same menu as well as a special “beyond” version of their ramen.

Photo: James F from Yelp

Orenchi Ramen
3540 Homestead Rd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Online: www.orenchi-ramen.com

Orenchi Beyond
174 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
Online: orenchi-beyond.com

San Francisco

Shalala Ramen
The first Shalala Ramen opened in Mountain View, but our preference is for their second branch in Japantown, San Francisco. Their tonkotsu broth comes in white (enhanced with sea salt) and black (enriched with soy sauce) versions. The black version is richer and fattier from the extra seasonings and pork. Perfect solution: order the white version but ask for the thicker noodles used in the black version. Toppings are minimal to focus attention on the broth: roasted pork, green onions, cloud ear mushrooms, seaweed, a soft-boiled egg. One appetizer worth a try: the chashu “muffin sand”, which is like an English muffin sandwich stuffed with roasted pork. The spacious restaurant offers plenty of space for strollers, and the staff is quick to offer high chairs and kid-size bowls so they can have some of your noodles.

Shalala Ramen
1737 Buchanan St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Online: www.ramenshalala.com

East Bay

Ramen Shop
The unassumingly named Ramen Shop is in actuality a high-concept and very tasty intersection between ramen and California cuisine. The owners are alums of Berkeley icon Chez Panisse, and they bring the freshness and spontaneity of farmers’ market produce to some very original bowls of ramen. Examples from the constantly changing menu include shoyu (soy sauce) ramen with braised duck leg and smoked duck breast, shiitake mushrooms, baby fennel and mustard greens; green garlic miso ramen with ground pork belly, dino kale rabe and butterbeans; and an amazing veggie meyer lemon shoyu ramen with king oyster and maitake mushrooms, daikon, and mizuna that tastes of spring. Appetizers and desserts also have a Western slant: don’t miss the shrimp and pork fried rice with wild nettles, sunchokes and chili paste, and the black sesame ice cream sandwiches made with brown butter cookies. Like most popular ramen joints, they don’t take reservations and there can be a wait if you don’t arrive right at opening, but they are kid friendly and offer a kid’s ramen which is simply noodles and broth, so you can be as adventurous as you like.

Ramen Shop
5812 College Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
Online: www.ramenshop.com

Do you have a favorite Ramen spot in the Bay Area? Tell us in the comments below! 

–Anita Chu

All images courtesy of the author unless otherwise noted. 

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NoPo Family Hub: Lombard Food Carts

by Suzie Ridgway

The next sunny morning or evening you find yourselves hungry, thirsty and somewhere in the vicinity of St. Johns, get yourselves down to the food cart pod on N. Lombard. This foodie haven is not only driven by breakfast sandwiches, cheesesteaks, pies, burgers, Mexican and Thai food, but it’s also a a hive of family activity with ample indoor and outdoor seating, a fire pit and freshly brewed beer served in Mason jars. Read on to discover why you should check it out.

photo: N Lombard Food Cart Pod by Suzie Ridgway

The Layout

An array of long, red picnic tables with umbrellas invites large parties and smaller groups alike to sit together while they enjoy their consumables. A large, tented porch, named St. Johns Beer Porch sits in the center of it all. Tunes from the tent can be heard all over the pod. The beer porch houses a bar that doles out brews by Captured by Porches. People walk around with their jars of beer and their dogs on leashes while the kids run around.

photo: N Lombard Food Cart Pod by Suzie Ridgway

The Food Trucks

The Grind Coffee: If you get in between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., you can grab a hot cup of coffee or a fresh juice smoothie, like Fennel Kale Apple Ginger or, a kid pleasing Strawberry Banana Orange. Prices range from $3.50 to $6.

Farmfood: Breakfast sandwiches on croissoints, hard rolls or gluten-free bread are served all day long, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Pickier kids may gravitate to The Bare Minimum, with fried organic eggs, Tillamook cheese and bacon. They have plenty of dinner options, as well, like Amazeballs, a dish with meatloaf, bacon and organic greens, and their Farm Food Mac, for lunch or dinner. It comes rounded out nicely with a side salad and bread. $4.50-$9.50.

Paiku: This mobile cart serves breakfast all day, too. Biscuits and gravy, anyone? Their menu features an omelette du jour as well as a a Mini Brunch with 2 eggs, a biscuit and a salad. For lunch or dinner, grab one of their chicken, vegan or Easter pot pies an Italian pie with chopped salami, ham, provolone, parmesan and a hard boiled egg. They also have sweet pies and soft baked cookies for that after dinner treat. $2-$7.

photo: Che Cafe by Suzie Ridgway

Ché Cafe: You want French toast, bacon and eggs  for dinner? It’s all yours. This cart has breakfast all day, as well, and they do up a hearty dinner, with food items including a half-pound Bubby Burger, pulled pork sandwiches, a barbecue chicken sandwich, sake mac ‘n’ cheese and creamy tomato basil soup with grilled cheese. $4-$9.

Chowdah: If you’ve been looking for an incredible Philly cheesesteak, this is your spot. In fact, Chowdah’s cheesesteak was recently rated #7 on Thrillist’s top Portland sandwiches, and for good reason. The artisan roll is piled high with house-shaved Angus beef and your choice of red peppers, onions, mushrooms, salami and housemade cheddar cheese. For vegetarians, there’s also the Build Your Own Grilled Cheese with five cheeses and four breads to choose from, as well as extras, like bacon, avocado and ham. They also have thick, creamy New England clam chowder made with 2 types of Atlantic clams, and other tasty soups, too, by the cup, bowl or quart. $3-$7.

Thai Food: This simple food cart is very clear in communicating what it offers with food photos on the side of the truck to make ordering easy. Here, you’ll find crispy rolls, Thai fried rice, yellow curry and Teriyaki chicken with rice for the masses. $5.95-$6.95

El Burrito Mojado: At the back of the food cart pod sits a white Mexican truck that does a brisk business with its reasonably priced plates, huge burritos and tacos made from soft, corn tortillas, filled with marinated pork, chicken or shredded beef for$1.50.

photo: St. Johns Beer Porch by Suzie Ridgway

Captured By Porches: This bar lives inside the St. Johns Beer Porch heated tent (depending on the weather) and the music Music is pumping from the enclosed St. Johns Beer Porch. . Families are welcome to sit in this space. Familes can sit outside at the picnic tables, around the fire pit or inside the tent, where a unmatched tables and booths create a comfy environment. The rust-colored Captured By Porches bus creates one full wall of the tented area with several beer taps affixed to its side.

Bruce’s Sausage Meats: Also inside the beer porch, to the right of the bar, and part of the bus, is a step up window for ordering savory dishes, like roasted pork belly on a ciabiatta roll with grilled onions, greens and pepperocini, Daphne’s sweet pepper and coconut soup or a pulled pork sandwich. $9.

Insider’s Tip: Kids running around and dogs on leashes are welcome and, although most of the food cart pod is surrounded by low-walls, there are a couple of spots that open to the sidewalk on busy N. Lombard Street. So, be sure to keep an eye on those lightning-quick, smaller children. Also, don’t forget to pop next door to the Kruger’s Farm Market to buy your farm-fresh produce before heading home.

Location: 7316 N. Lombard
Online: facebook.com/thebeerporches

What’s your favorite food cart pod in Portland? Let us know in the Comments below!

—Suzie Ridgway

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Even MORE New Restaurants Your Kids Will Love

by Matt Kirouac

Rib-sticking barbecue? Check. Hot dog-inspired salads? Better believe it. Tacos in bags? Heck yeah! New restaurants in and around Chicago are jammed with kid-friendly delights that will keep you full all summer long. Pull up a booster chair and dive in. And enjoy the welcoming, non-judgmental atmospheres, while you’re at it. Read on for the scoop on seven new restaurants that welcome your kids.

photo: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

For Porking Out: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
If there’s one thing kids love more than barbecue, it’s dinosaurs. (Right, T.rex fans?) It’s Lincoln Park meets Jurassic Park at this sprawling new barbecue bastion, the first Midwest locale for the New York-based meat Mecca. The rustic, woody space is as burly as one would expect of a place dubbed “dinosaur,” divvied into two floors with large booths, original artwork, painted pallets, a spacious patio, a music venue and a sizable kitchen churning out platters of BBQ chicken wings, St. Louis-style ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket so tender it practically falls apart when you breathe on it. For their Chicago location, Dinosaur also added some Chi-specific dishes like jerk lamb shoulder, hot link sausages, and BBQ pork belly with fermented slaw.

923 W. Weed St.
Lincoln Park
312-462-1053
Online: dinosaurbarbque.com

photo: Just Salad / Jamie Lefkowitz

For Sneaking in Greens: Just Salad
New York imports are apparently in season, because another kid-friendly entrant is Just Salad. This Loop cafe is all about making healthy eating accessible with a menu of greens, wraps and smoothies. The first Chicago location of Just Salad manages to make salads appealing to veggie-averse kids through a miscellany of design-your-own choices, with ingredients including asparagus, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, butternut squash and black beans. It also doesn’t hurt that the shop had a salad inspired by the iconic Chicago hot dog, made with romaine, Italian sausage, giardiniera peppers, Parmesan, green peppers, celery and red onions. That’s a salad we can all get behind.

20 E. Jackson Blvd.
The Loop
212-244-1111
Online: justsalad.com

photo: Taco in a Bag

For Mexican on the Go: Taco in a Bag
When a couple of competitive eaters who call themselves the “Glutton Force Five” open a restaurant called Taco In a Bag, you have to go. Winners of Food Network’s “Food Court Wars” Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti and Tim “Gravy” Brown are the geniuses behind this straightforward dose of Mexican comfort food in Lincoln Square. The signature menu item is otherwise known as a “walking taco,” served in a bag with layers of meat, sauce, tortilla chips and other optional toppings. Other more specialized versions include cheeseburger nachos, the Angry Bird made with braised chicken thigh and queso fresco, and pizza in a bag.

4603 N. Lincoln Ave.
Lincoln Square
773-250-2437
Online: tacoinabag.com

photo: GRK Greek Kitchen

For Rooftop Views: GRK Greek Kitchen
Eating in Greektown is always a fun, festive ordeal filled with flaming cheese, doughy pita bread, and succulent slivers of gyro meat. But for families on the go, or in need of a fast and fresh lunch, the Greektown schtick is not always convenient. Here to save the day is the fast-casual GRK Greek Kitchen, which is quickly becoming Chicago’s Greek answer to Chipotle with three other locations scattered around downtown. Simply select your format — handheld, plate or salad — and pile on accoutrements, from falafel and chicken kabobs to grilled veggies and Greek sausage. The same chic downtown vibe is in place, complete with brick walls, terrazzo floors and limestone elements. Where this one differs is in the awe-inspiring rooftop space (fear not, acrophobes, it’s only the second floor), which will soon feature a small menu of chef-driven bites, salads and entrees. There’s also Greek frozen yogurt inside, for these upcoming heat waves. Fingers crossed.

400 S. Wells St.
Greektown
312-461-6626
Online: eatgrk.com

photo: Hot “G” Dog

For Gourmet Dogs: Hot “G” Dog
When Hot Doug’s closed up shop last year, it left a void in Chicago’s haute hot dog scene. For anyone who preferred their weiners with a side of adventure (read: alligator sausage, Brie, Himalayan sea salt, etc.), it was hard to go back to the standard Chicago dog, as glorious as that may be. Well now you and your kids don’t have to settle, thanks to an Uptown hot dog shop keeping the Hot Doug’s legacy alive. Hot “G” Dog is a passion project from Juan Carlos Garcia and Octavio Garcia, two of Hot Doug’s former line cooks who have replicated the formula of wild sausages and toppings. Along with classic Chicago dogs and corn dogs, the adventurous menu runs the gamut from Santa Fe chicken sausage, kangaroo sausage and smoked shrimp.

5009 N. Clark St.
Uptown
773-209-3360
Online: hotgdog.com

photo: The Hot Dog & Burger Company

For a Quick Bite in the Western ‘Burbs: The Hot Dog & Burger Company
Speaking of hot dogs, the owner of popular Q-BBQ has re-branded and re-opened one of his hot dog concepts into an all-American new eatery in La Grange called The Hot Dog and Burger Company. Like Hot “G” Dog, this place skews contemporary with its menu offerings, which include stroganoff burgers, bacon bleu cheese hot dogs, gyro hot dogs, Parmesan-crusted patty melts and sriracha-spiced sausages. Along with the gourmet menu, the space is sleek and modern as well, polishing up the format for casual counter service hot dog joints.

76 S. La Grange Rd.
La Grange
708-469-7096
Online: hotdogco.com

photo: Shakou

For an Intro to Sushi: Shakou
Your kids will grow to love sushi someday, so you might as well start ’em early. The Libertyville-based brand just opened a spinoff location in St. Charles. The space is contemporary, slick and urban, with the feel of a cosmopolitan restaurant juxtaposed by the cozy sense of community afforded by Main Street in downtown St. Charles. As an added bonus, Shakou runs the Shakou Cares program, which donates portions of proceeds to local charities. While the restaurant offers a designated kids’ menu filled with California rolls (aka: the gateway drug to full-fledged maki obsession), there’s a sea of kid-friendly options found throughout the rest of the menu. Think crispy fish sandwiches, chicken katsu sandwiches with American cheese and sweet chili sauce, and beef teriyaki bento boxes.

312 W. Main St.
St. Charles
630-444-0850
Online: shakousushi.com

What is your new favorite restaurant for the whole family? Shout about it in the Comments!

— Matt Kirouac

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Just Opened: Caboose Brewing Company

by rtdaniellelarkins

There’s something cold and bubbly brewing up in the quaint neighborhood of Vienna, Va. Located in a transformed warehouse, Caboose Brewing Company’s cool factor isn’t just their home brewed beer – it’s the fun goes beyond their hops. From sidewalk chalk art to an edible garden, this new neighborhood addition has copious activities and farm-to-table eats that’ll satisfy the entire family. Read on to get the first sip of this must-visit brewery that officially opened its doors May 12.

An Old Warehouse Transformed
Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a front patio adorably decorated with chalk-art by previous pint-sized patrons. The inside is warmly decorated to keep those smiles straight to your table. With custom made wooden chandeliers, mason jars strewn about and graffiti art on the walls, the farmhouse ambience defines vintage chic. And how many gastropubs do you know have baby changing stations? Caboose Brewing Company does!

What’s the Scoop
Co-owner and holistic nutritionist, Jennifer McLaughlin, created the concept for the menu with health in mind. The small-plates selection includes plenty of delicious vegetables that’ll have your tots asking for more. If you’re in the mood for heartier accompaniments to your beer, filling options like biscuits and jam or crispy pork belly are also readily available. Beer connoisseurs will be glad to know that there are eight tantalizing beers on tap, with room for six more. And for those who prefer grapes to hops, wine on tap is also available.

photo courtesy of Jeanie Greer

Fun in the Sun
Caboose Brewing Company does not accept reservations, but luckily there’s plenty of things to keep your mini-me’s busy so you can enjoy a pint while waiting. Hang out on the patio and watch your kids draw with sidewalk chalk, play in the grain bins, or color on huge rolls of paper. They’re also growing an edible landscape (hopefully ready by next summer) – where patrons can pick and munch blackberries, raspberries, pears, herbs, and tomatoes. And to top it all off, if your little one needs to let off some steam, just take a few steps and hop onto the W & OD Trail for a quick stroll.

Call in advance to make sure the kitchen is open, and check out Caboose Brewing Company with your family this summer! Pst – they have loyalty cards for frequent visitors.

520 Mill St NE
Vienna, Va
703-865-8580
Online: caboosebrewing.com

Do you plan on visiting this awesome brewery? Let us know in the Comments below! 

— Danielle Larkins

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6 Cool New Restaurants That Are Family Friendly

by Matt Kirouac

From PAC-MAN-themed dining to pizza scones, the eclectic offerings at new restaurants in and around Chicago are the stuff of kids’ dreams. But there’s plenty for you too, parents. Especially if you’re into bocce, arcade games and offbeat meatballs. Read on for the scoop on six new restaurants the whole family will love.

photo: Scone City / Galdones Photography

Scone City
Let’s cut right to the chase: You don’t come to a bakery called Scone City looking for oatmeal. No, you come here expecting a wonderland of scones, from sweet and savory varieties to the downright wacky. This sunny slice of Wicker Park bakery real estate features the buttery handiwork of pastry chef Laurie McNamara. Adults might be interested in the afternoon tea scone made with currants and Lady Gray tea icing, or the Brie and honey scone. But kids will go gaga over one-of-a-kind creations like the hot dog scones and pizza scones, which are pretty much exactly what they sound like — hot dogs and pizza ensconced in butter-rich dough for optimal handheld snacking. Located in a space that was a dairy barn about 100 years ago, the bakeshop is comfy and rustic, outfitted with reclaimed oak plank flooring, brick walls, and a lofted, plush seating area perfect for scone snuggling.

1632 W. Division St.
Wicker Park
773-904-8722
Online: sconecity.com

photo: Pinstripes / Becky Brown Photography

Pinstripes
With family-friendly venues in Northbrook, South Barrington and Oak Brook, Pinstripes has already cemented itself as a go-to destination for Italian-accented food with a side of frivolity. And by frivolity, we mean activities that involve hurling balls down various lanes. In the case of Pinstripes’ first city location, housed in a massive warehouse space along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan in Streeterville, said activities are bowling and bocce, interactive group games for the young and old alike. In between strikes, you can snag bites of wood-fired pizza, fresh pastas, braised beef short ribs, desserts and more. The enormous space is dotted with a miscellany of cozy nooks and crannies, allowing families to be as private or as open as they like. Sleek, modern bowling lanes share space with indoor and outdoor bocce courts, along with an incredible riverside patio area complete with fireplace, blankets and chairs.

435 E. Illinois St.
Streeterville
312-527-3010
Online: pinstripes.com

photo: Level 257

Level 257
It’s not every day PAC-MAN gets his own restaurant. Which is weird, since he’s always eating those alien things in the video game and he’s clearly a foodie. Level 257 is a dining and entertainment complex like no other, newly opened in Schaumburg. The only restaurant owned by NAMCO Entertainment, Inc., Level 257 allows guests to get up close and personal with the arcade gaming experience while enjoying a wholly unique meal. The kids’ menu contains hand-breaded chicken tenders, cheeseburgers, pepperoni pizza, mac & cheese, linguini and meatballs, seared trout in lemon butter sauce, and more. Adults get their own multifaceted menu options, from Italian gnocchi and steak tartare to turkey banh mi sandwiches and grilled salmon salad. In between bites, kids can peruse the PAC-packed gift shop or explore the gaming lounge laden with more than 70 retro and modern games. There’s also bowling, pinball, air hockey and other family-friendly options — including a four-player PAC-MAN Battle Royale game.

2 Woodfield Mall, Unit A
Schaumburg
847-805-0257
Online: level257.com

photo: Velvet Taco

Velvet Taco
Kids and tacos go together like chips and guac. The latest addition to Chicago’s Gold Coast is a family-friendly affair, an import from Texas called Velvet Taco. This vibrant, lively restaurant gets crafty with their tacos, though, drawing inspiration from across the globe for kid-appealing items like buffalo chicken tacos, bacon burger tacos, and even a “Chicago Haute Dog” taco with pork belly, pickles, chilies, mustard, tomato, red onion, poppy seed, celery salt and NO ketchup, you hear? There’s also tater tots topped with egg and cheese, which is catnip for youngsters. The bi-level counter-service restaurant recalls an urban loft vibe, casual and bustling with communal tables and an open kitchen so guests can spy on the culinary action. While adults nurse their margaritas, kids have locally sourced sodas to slurp.

1110 N. State St.
Gold Coast
312-763-2654
Online: velvettaco.com

photo: Mondo Meatball

Mondo Meatball
Whether sandwiched between burger buns or layered in a lasagna, children love ground beef. This is especially true when that beef is rolled into dainty and adorable meatballs and served up in a variety of exciting new ways. Globally inspired meatballs take the plate at Wicker Park’s new Mondo Meatball, Chicago’s first standalone meatball restaurant, with six kinds of meatballs on hand each day. There’s Mrs C’s classic beef, chick’n bacon, spicy pork, veggie and gluten-free, turkey, and the rotating ball of the day. Each ball can be served as a bowl, a sub, a roll, a salad, as sliders, or as the “Full Mondo” with three balls and a side dish. Accompanying sauce options, from a summer red sauce to an herbaceous pesto, zesty Dijonnaise, “guac-acado” or four-cheese. For dessert, there’s Italian cookies and Black Dog Gelato. Basically, this place has it all. The interior echoes the internationally inspired menu, with a flat-screen TV tuned to soccer and a communal vibe anchored by a 12-foot-long dining table.

1467 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Wicker Park
773-278-5959
Online: mondomeatball.com

photo: Paula’s Cafe

Paula’s Cafe
Do you not have an Italian nonna of your own, but always wish you had? Paula’s Cafe in Franklin Park is here to hug your soul and fill that pasta-shaped void. The quaint new lunch and dinner restaurant feels like grandma’s house, welcoming and warm, with a focus on Italian comfort food. It recalls the type of red sauce Italian restaurants of yore, the type bustling with the convivial din of strangers rubbing elbows and matriarchal characters slapping people on the shoulder. Bring the family and tuck into hulking portions of fried meatballs, breaded steak sandwiches, eggplant Parm, potato gnocchi and oodles more.

9400 W. Grand Ave.
Franklin Park
847-916-2989
Online: facebook.com

What is your favorite place to take the fam out for dinner? Shout about it in the Comments!

— Matt Kirouac

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Party Mobile: Food Trucks That Cater

by Kelley Gardiner

Food carts are great for a quick lunch, but some of them are so much more. When you’re looking for catering for your next family event, plenty of your favorite mobile eateries would be happy to help you celebrate. These are some of our favorite food carts that cater. Hire one of these kitchens on wheels for your next party and you’ll be the envy of the neighborhood.

Photo: Taco Pedaler by Beth O. via Yelp

Taco Pedaler
Simple menu of tacos, dillas, Juanitas chips, and salsa come to you via tricycle: It doesn’t get much more Portland than this. The tacos themselves are made with handmade corn tortillas, topped with your choice of beef, chicken, pork or pinto bean filling, cabbage, cilantro and cotija cheese. The dillas are loaded with the filling of the day, drunken sauce and cotija cheese, wrapped in a handmade corn tortilla, then deep fried. If you’re not within biking distance they’ll figure out how to get to your feisty fiesta, no problem.

Online: tacopedalerpdx.com

photo: Moberi Smoothie via Yelp

Moberi
Looking for a healthy option? Let your party guests pedal out some energy with bike-powered smoothies. Their rig is a stationary bike with a blender attachment on the front. Tell them what you want in your smoothie, they’ll throw it in the container part of the blender, then pop it on the bike. That’s right — you can ride a bike to power the blender, or the staff at Moberi will do it for you. In addition to grownup and kid-sized smoothies, this mobile business offers blended bowls with granola and fresh fruit toppings.

Online: moberismoothies.com 

photo: Salt & Straw by Pauline P. via Yelp

Salt & Straw
Salt & Straw has decadent and creamy concoctions, but sometimes all that goodness means waiting in line for at least half a block. Hiring out the truck gives your kiddo the chance to be the first in line! When your friends hear that the famous “sea salt with caramel ribbons” is being scooped out at your shindig, the RSVPs will come flying in fast and furious.

Salt and Straw: saltandstraw.com
Catering: roaminghunger.com/salt-and-straw

photo:  Bunk by S. Mirk via flickr

Bunk 
Their mobile truck roams the city, serving up heaven between two slices of bread, like their juicy Pork Belly Cubano or their saucy Meatball Parmigiano. Bunk keeps opening up new locations because our fair city can’t get enough of their delicious sandwiches. You might want to clue in your guests ahead of time, so no one’s caught choosing between eating a meatball sandwich and getting their white clothes messy.

Online: bunksandwiches.com

photo: Koi Fusion by Vanessa K. via Yelp

Koi Fusion
Koi Fusion is also riding a wave of popularity with Korean barbecue mixed with Mexican fast food tacos and burritos. Your guests will love to see those friendly faces smiling down at them, but they’ll love their kimchi quesadillas, bulgogi burritos and BBQ short rib tacos even more.

Online: koifusionpdx.com

photo: PBJ’s by Melanie K. via Yelp

PBJ’s Grilled
Nothing says “fun kid food” like good ol’ peanut butter and jelly. Bring some of that fun to your shindig with an addictively delicious PBJ’s Grilled sandwich cart. Their regular menu has a kids’ section with a choice of bread, jam, and nut butter. For grownups, options get decidedly more spicy with the spicy Thai (challah, peanut butter Sriracha, fresh basil, curry, and orange marmalade) or sweet, like the pumpkin pie (challah, peanut butter, caramel sauce, pie crust, and pumpkin butter).

Online: pbjsgrilled.com

Have you ever had a mobile cart or truck cater for you? Tell us about it in the Comments!

— Kelley Gardiner

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Meet Seattle’s 11 Coolest Dads

by Sara Billups

From curing diseases to curing pork belly; running marathons to running start-ups, Seattle is filled with thousands of dads that make being cool look easy. Just in time for Father’s Day, read on for our list of some of Seattle’s best known and under-the-radar dads that rock (without trying too hard).

Chris Ballew

Playing a dizzying number of gigs at kindierock shows around town, the wildly talented and very down-to-earth Chris Ballew (aka Caspar Babypants) cut his teeth writing witty rock songs as singer of the internationally acclaimed band The Presidents of the United States of America. The best part of playing live for the pint-sized set? “I love the randomness,” he told Red Tri back in 2010. “The random ways they react and interrupt and how small and loose and free the shows and the audiences are.” A resident of West Seattle, Ballew and his wife, the children’s book illustrator and author Kate Endle, parent son Augie and daughter Josie.

Seattle is brimming with cool dads. Who else should we add to our list?

Written by: Sara Billups

 

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