Frontier Jumpstart snack

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Snack on Frontier Airlines

So flying westward on Frontier Airlines, destination Salt Lake City (via Denver, 'cause that's the only way Frontier will get you there!).

Flight delayed for three hours (allowing the sampling of some of the food fare behind the security gates at National Airport) and so, just before boarding, the gate crew announce that the food on the plane has now expired, so if you want anything other than a snack, RUN NOW and buy it.

So it goes.

But on board they did have

• Rice Krispies
• Milk
• Graham Cracker Scooby Snacks
• Apple Juice
  

and only $3.00!

Gourmet? Of Course not ... but better than nothing!

Meal: Snack
Rating: N/A
Address: In the air
Website: N/A

Kim & Carlo's Chicago Style Hot Dog Store

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Kim & Carlo's Chicago Style Hot Dog Store

The Chicago Hot Dog is something special. It's not the dog itself, but wnat goes on it! For the desperate traveler passing through O'Hare, there are a number of spots where you can get a nice Chicago-style dog.

This post, however, is going to focus on a fabulous little stand outside of the Field Museum, Kim & Carlo's.

My hosts at the Field Museum offered the choice of the Corner Bakery (inside the museum) or the hot dog stand.

Not really a choice!

We headed out and the group looked over the choices: turkey dog, tofu dog, brats. Again, it's a hot dog stand, go with the Vienna frank, then make it Chicago-style!

And just what makes it Chicago-style? Here's the list:

• poppyseed bun
• yellow mustard (NEVER ketchup!)
• chopped onions
• tomato wedges
• pickle spear
• green relish
• hot peppers

and the key (in my opinion):

• celery salt
  

Kim & Carlo's does it good! Not stinting on any of the ingredients, they pile it all on and still leave you wanting more.

More pictures.

Meal: Lunch
Rating: *****
Address: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr., Museum Campus between Mcfretridge Dr. & Waldron Dr.), Chicago, IL 60605
Website: N/A

Billy Goat Tavern: Butt in anytime!

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Billy Goat Tavern

Established in 1934, it probably wasn't until the famed Saturday Night Live sketch that the Billy Goat Tavern achieved nationwide fame (or at least became known to me!)

"Cheezborger! Cheezborger! No fries, cheeps! No Pepsi, Coke!" John Belushi, as the surly diner guy, would respond to any befuddled customer who wanted to vary the order from the canonical "Cheezborger, cheeps, and Coke."

Located in a weird stretch on Michigan Avenue, well, not actually on, but under because the Billy Goat Tavern is underneath Michigan Ave., beneath an underpass! Going in through the doors ("Butt in anytime") you're warned to "enter at your own risk". Once inside, it doesn't really look anything like the SNL set. Head down the steps and sidle up to the counter. The menu is a nice selection of sandwiches made on the grill to your left. In addition to the single, double and triple "cheezborger" you'll find ribeye steak, chicken, etc. Chips are also there, and, sad to say, Coke OR Pepsi!

I couldn't resist the basics, so I got the triple cheeseburger and Pepsi. The cook had them all lined up and my burger rolled off the grill and was slapped on a bun in just about a minute or so. Grab the burger and take a step or two to the "fixin's bar" where you can get tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and onions (sliced or diced).

I dressed up my burger and grabbed a seat (you're on your own for seating). The walls are encrusted with photographs of celebrities -- big small, sports, TV, film, local, national.

And the burger?

Well, it was pretty good. Nice and greasy, flavorful and done nicely. Needless to say, probably not something good your arteries and, yes, the Billy Goat is probably boasting on thirty plus years of SNL notoriety (there are now a bunch in Chicago and even one in Washington).

Still, next time in your Chi-town, wander down the scary steps under under Michigan Avenue. You won't find any Trolls under the Bridge, just the Billy Goat and a tasty "Cheezborger!"

More pictures.

Meal: Lunch
Rating: *****
Address: 430 N. Michigan Ave at Lower Level, Chicago, IL
Website: http://www.billygoattavern.com/

Eastbound: Virgin America VX78

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Eastbound: Virgin America VX78

It was hard to choose from the options on my return flight from San Francisco. But I soon did! I went with the Napa Valley Chicken Salad Hand Roll. It included Diced chicken with apples, currants, carrots and mayonnaise dressing in a garden spinach tortilla wrap. Along with a side of pasta salad and Toblerone chocolate for dessert.

I also added the side of a Fruit and Cheese box that had brie, pepper Monterrey jack and aged cheddar. Finished off with red seedless grapes, dried cranberries, pecans and a selection of multigrain crackers.

I completed the meal with a selection of spirits, VeeV Acai and a Le Tourment Vert Absinthe.

Virgin America knows how to do airline food right!

California Wine Merchant & Amelie: Not Your Father's Wine Bar!

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

California Wine Merchant

(photo right: Amelie)

Once upon a time, a wine bar had a bad reputation. It wasn't a real bar, it was just a "wine" bar, a, to use the 70s term, a "fern bar"! And, that was not a term of honor.

So, I never really thought to much about wine bars, that is, until a few years ago when on a trip to San Francisco, I stopped in at the California Wine Merchant (CWM). A snug little spot on Chestnut Street, it is not only a bar, but, as the name implies, a wine store.

The CWM is one of my favorite spots on Chestnut. The friendly and knowledgeable staff are more than happy to offer suggestions from the extensive wine selections and the crowd - though often pretty noisy - is always friendly. If you can, snag the small table by the open front windows and watch the Marina District crowds flow by while sipping your favorite wine. And if the window seat's taken, grab a barrel and just get comfortable.



On my last trip, Chris, from MOBOT, and I stopped in and got the window seat, asking the other person there if the seats were free or at least not expensive. Geeking right into a discussion about digital object identifiers, we took a breath to move over to the bar and made a passing comment to our table mate. This being the CWM, we and Helen (our table mate) were soon in a deep discussion about food, restaurants and everything. Next thing you know, we were headed in a cab to ...

La Cave D'Amelie

I don't really think I can write a fair review of Amelie. We arrived just near closing, but our new friend Helen - a regular - had us seated and the focus of the staff. Juan quickly set us a table and brought us a variety of quatre frommage. Not sure what wine to have - other than wanting to focus on a pinot - Juan brought a tasting of four different pinot noirs.

The Spanish cheeses were fabulous and the service, in the word of the night, fabulous!

I had the sense that the attention we received was a little above that of the average diner, but at the same time, the knowledge of Juan and other staff of wine and cheese was also clearly above average.

A spot that needs to be revisited!

California Wine Merchant
Meal: Drinks
Rating: *****
Date: Regular and Frequent!
Address: 2113 Chestnut St., San Francisco, CA 94123-2708
Website: http://californiawinemerchant.com

La Cave D'Amelie
Meal: Drinks
Rating: *****
Address: 1754 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109-3617
Website: http://ameliesf.com