Au Cheval, A Place to Crave

My craving for salted cured meat finally got the best of me and I got my fix at Au Cheval (800 W. Randolph). I've seen write-ups on this place for weeks now and the one item that peaked my interest was the fried bologna sandwich.

I went on a Friday evening with my girlfriend and our two friends. It's a pretty small place and they have it set up diner style with booths and a counter. They have an open kitchen set up in the middle of the restaurant and because of this it got quite toasty in there. Note - We went on a day when it was over 100 degrees and I'm sure that played a part as well.

Here's what we ordered:

Cocktails:

• Horse's Neck - Amazing and quite refreshing for a whiskey drink.

• Hemingway Daiquiri - It was a little sour for my girlfriend's taste

Appetizer:

• Crispy Fries - This was by far one of the best items on their menu. It came with mornay sauce, garlic aioli and a fried egg. Yes, it's a heart attack waiting to happen but the flavors from the sauce, aioli and egg elevated their fries to another level. It was so good we ended up getting a second order.

Dinner:

• House Made Fried Bologna Sandwich - The whole reason why I dragged my friends to this restaurant...and it did not disappoint. It can be salty for some people, but if you're a salty/savory person, you'll love it.

• Winter Green Salad - My gf and friend ordered this and they loved it. I personally don't consider salad a meal, but that's just me. :)

• Salmon (House Special) - I can't remember what this dish was called but it was the special of the day. My friend could not stop raving about how fresh and  perfectly cooked it was. 

All and all we would definitely go back. The service was great, the food exceeded our expectations and the pricing wasn't too bad considering the location. Now if only they delivered, craving salted cured meat again...

High Plains Bison Dog

I played hookey for the Cubs last Friday and boy was that a good call. It ended up being a gorgeous day AND the Cubs actually won! I typically only enjoy ball games for the food and I was not disappointed at Wrigley. We know the drill when it comes to ball park hot dogs, they come plain in a steamed bun. To my surprise and excitement,  I found a stand called High Plains Bison that sold bison dogs. Apparently they're the "Official Lean Meat of the Chicago Cubs," who knew? I'm a huge fan of bison meat because it's healthier and leaner than regular beef and I love the "meaty" flavor. I've only eaten bison burgers never hot dogs so I decided to try one. My bison dog came in a poppy seed bun topped with grilled onions for $5.75. What's the verdict? Absolutely delicious. I plan on ordering a box of bison dogs for my next cookout.