You Really Should Eat This -- Video Series

You Really Should Eat This -- Video Series

On the Dining blog at oakpark.com and on VOP-TV, we'll be airing a monthly feature called "You Really Should Eat This."

This series, produced by VOP-TV & Wednesday Journal, will focus on single menu items that I like a lot – and that you really should eat.

The first food we're going to feature is the corned beef hash at George's. Now, make no mistake, there's a lot I like at George's, but the hash is one of my favorite foods. Ever. In the world.

Now, your mileage may vary, and I'm not awarding stars or any such thing, I'm just saying, for me, this food is something special…and you really should eat this.

Sweet, Hammond! Bien fait.

Hash styles differ. My mom used to buy cans of Argentinian corned beef as the base, then add potatoes, green Bell peppers, onions, lots of black pepper. But she cooked it with a thick, crisp crust, rather than the individually crisped bits George's does for you.

Damn, I *lust* for those obviously PERFECT poached eggs you were served... How DO they DO that??!!

It'd be cool if you ran each and every one of your "Got to eat" features in this venue.

Geo

I'm a big fan of George's as are my kids. The spinach/feta pie is outstanding and the blueberry crepes are really just an excuse for my little ones to have dessert for breakfast.
You really did a good job with the video - bucking for a spot on the food network?

Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

Feijoada at Taste of Brasil Cafe...

Awesome idea. Love it. There's a bunch of places around these parts that do one thing damn well. I'm curious to see everything you have in store. Are you limiting to O.P. proper?

David Hammond wrote:Feijoada at Taste of Brasil Cafe...

David,

You are absolutely correct, I really should eat this. Looks fantastic, and I love the video series you are doing, though every time I watch you I can't help but think here is a man who deserves a larger canvas.

Regards,
Gary

seebee wrote:Awesome idea. Love it. There's a bunch of places around these parts that do one thing damn well. I'm curious to see everything you have in store. Are you limiting to O.P. proper?

Thanks, seebee. Because these videos are shot by the Village of Oak Park, they're interested in keeping it very local (at least at the moment). I'm way open to suggestion if you have some favorites in our hood.

G Wiv wrote:

David Hammond wrote:Feijoada at Taste of Brasil Cafe...

David,You are absolutely correct, I really should eat this. Looks fantastic, and I love the video series you are doing, though every time I watch you I can't help but think here is a man who deserves a larger canvas. Regards,Gary

Appreciate the support. About the look of this dish, when I was scouting the location, I ordered the feijoada and as it went by, a guy at a neighboring table exclaimed, "What is THAT?" On a cold white day, this colorful combination of chow looks especially wonderful.

Hammond,

You do this genre VERY well indeed. i'm totally in agreement with Gary: you need (deserve) a bigger canvas. Pls to keep posting!

Geo

I do miss living 2 blocks from Taste of Brazil. The feijoada was a great dinner option anytime, but a couple of salgados (say the coxinha and a beef pastel) and a guarana or iced coffee always made for a nice quick meal that I could eat on the Blue Line while headed into the city.

And add me to the list of folks who like this series - nicely done.

Looks so tasty! You're great on camera and would be a great Check, Please! host

Great video, Dave, for a really great place.

Manhattans at Barclay's American Grille:

Wow.
I think...
Wow.
I used to wait tables at that joint when it was Philanders. There were two barkeeps. Joe, and Gene. In the video, that was the Joe, if I'm not mistaken. He was a youngish, spry, guy back when I worked there. Too funny. Yeesh - that was 20 years ago.

Also, since you asked for suggestions, I'm trusting your sights are on Katy's soon? Lol- Someone just sent me a text damning me for getting them hooked on Katy's Dan Dan.

For a controversial pick, a full blown "Tasty Dog," or a a double cheeseburger run through the garden perhaps? I'm a fan of the salad dog, and yes, sure, it's heresy...spare me, I don't really like hot dogs anyway. Their burgers are paper thin, yet have about 4 inches of salad on top, and I LOVE THEM.

Inside Oak Park proper is tough.

seebee wrote:Also, since you asked for suggestions, I'm trusting your sights are on Katy's soon? Lol- Someone just sent me a text damning me for getting them hooked on Katy's Dan Dan.

A segment on Katy's is definitely in the cards. Thing is, I've only been to Westmont location twice and Oak Park location once, so I need to eat a lot more stuff to find the one thing I can safely say everyone should really eat. Never had the Dan Dan there, so that's up next.

And thanks.

seebee wrote:Inside Oak Park proper is tough.

See now, if it were me Hole in the Wall, a Big Mickey, and Chicken & Waffles would be on that list. I know everyone here knows all about these and that they're not really unique but I suspect a good many Oak Parkers would appreciate being pointed in their direction.

And as soon as the Velvet Rope reopens you gotta think of a way to work that in. Maybe "You Really Should See This!"

zoid, I thought about doing the Big Mickey, and maybe telling the story of the Big Baby (via Peter Engler) but the version they make at Mickey's is not standard, which I decided just made for too complicated a concept to video-ize. I may change mind.

Chicken and Waffles is a great thought -- and the dish has an interesting backstory. Thanks!

About the difficulty of shooting in Oak Park and only Oak Park, I tend to agree, but I think it's possible (even at restaurants that are not generally excellent) to find one dish or one drink that truly pleases. Let's put it this way: I think I have here enough content for a year...but maybe not two.

Much much much prefer the pancake w/pork over dan dan @ Katy's. If i had to choose one, that would be it.

Hole In The Wall could be fun too. You could do it on a nice warm evening and film on the street with a crowd or even inside the tiny tiny shop

zoid wrote:Hole In The Wall could be fun too. You could do it on a nice warm evening and film on the street with a crowd or even inside the tiny tiny shop

zoid, is there something at HitW that you think is something we really should eat?

Your basic cherry-dipped vanilla custard cone, or the s'mores sundae, would be my recs.

Additional thought: the BLT with scratch pesto mayo (and organic bacon option, but they typically do the elements right with whatever order) and Metropolis coffee at the Buzz Cafe.

I really wish I could recommend Aripo's more since I love the owners and the fact we have a Venezuelan place in town, but the only thing that sings for me there is the garlicky salad dressing over hearts of palm and avocado.

A one-dish sleeper, though it's at a (local) chain, is the Thai "Ravioli" at Penny's. While other dumpling and noodle options there are mass-produced, the shrimp and pork dumplings in this dish are made in house, with fresh roasted pork, lots of cilantro and bean sprouts, peanuts, and greens, hit with a little sweet sauce.

Santander wrote:I really wish I could recommend Aripo's more since I love the owners and the fact we have a Venezuelan place in town, but the only thing that sings for me there is the garlicky salad dressing over hearts of palm and avocado.

I appreciate the recs, Matt, and re: Aripo's, I'm tempted to do a "You Really Shouldn't Eat This" about the baby shark arepas. They are allegedly quite authentic.

Went to Georges today....Frank really likes corned beef hash and it was all David said it was. Very nice. Hashbrowns were real and good. I ordered a olive cheeseburger for old times sake and it was good and typical. I had a side salad and it was large fresh and had a variety of greens, crisp and washed thankfully. The fries were okay nothing special. The ice tea was good and had that fresh made taste rather than an off taste of something sitting in a pot for eons.

I saw the brazil cafe but knew nothing about it but its worth a stop in if in the area. I think your series will really help people that are not that familar to the food offerings in Oak Park.

For what its worth, the onion pancake with pork would be the dish to feature. Its so addictive and unusual. The noodley carby pancakes are truly great.

VOP-TV series selected for foodie film fest

Congratulations Hammond!

Back at ya, Joe:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151632903671927&set=a.419707856926.203694.316693406926

Too funny!

seebee wrote:For a controversial pick, a full blown "Tasty Dog," or a a double cheeseburger run through the garden perhaps? I'm a fan of the salad dog, and yes, sure, it's heresy...spare me, I don't really like hot dogs anyway. Their burgers are paper thin, yet have about 4 inches of salad on top, and I LOVE THEM.

Inside Oak Park proper is tough.

Does anyone have a picture of a fully lettuced Tasty Dog hotdog?

This picture really doesn’t do the dog of yore justice...


... as it is missing the “4 inches of salad“.