Oscar Wilde said, “Work is the curse of the drinking classes.” We agree.
We’re working too hard and eating more than our share of takeout food these days. The big mystery project that has been consuming our lives for far too long continues. Happily, in the next few weeks, it should reach some sort of semi-completion, and we will be posting new recipes again. In the meantime, some random blathering.
The cocktails above were obviously not takeout. After picking up Marion from yet another late night event that had precluded dinner for both of us, I laid out our various takeout options. “Or…,” I said, “We can go to the new mezcal bar attached to Johnny’s Grill.” Seriously now, which would you have picked?
When Johnny’s Grill reopened in our Logan Square neighborhood, we embraced it. You could eat in the grill and order drinks from The Flower Shop Bar & Lounge or drink in the bar and order from the grill. Win win. Then suddenly, the bar was taken over by a former bar manager from Rick Bayless’s Frontera Grill. The bar has even been renamed Mezcaleria Las Flores. While there are other spirits available, mescal is driving this bus. Based on our first visit, we’re good with that.
The drinks pictured above, from left to right, are Falconry Demonstration and Magnetic Pole Reversal. Both were smoky and delicious. Let the record show that we also both ordered food.
All of this is not to say that we haven’t been cooking. Mostly, we’ve been relying on longtime go-tos that have already been posted or improvising with ingredients on hand. One such dish recently cooked was actually postworthy, but we were on an event deadline and ate it before it could be photographed. More recipes are coming soon, though. I promise. We probably miss them more than you do.
This is one bear of a project! Hope you’re happy with it — it’s certainly been taking up a lot of your time. We love places like this, particularly with house-originated cocktails. Some really interesting stuff going on out in the world these days, in terms of cocktails. Sounds like a nice end to an exhausting day.
Looking forward to the future recipes. Hope your project is all you want it to be.
Happy Spring!
Thanks, guys! Things are coming along.
I will be doing an in-and-out to Chicago next weekend and was trying to decide where to go with my friends for the one dinner I will have in that city. Will put this on the table as an option 🙂
p.s. I think you underestimate the amount of missing I do.
Anita, Johnny’s is great but/and very casual. We do love it. If for some reason, it doesn’t work out, right at the same nexus are Lula Cafe, a slightly higher end place with delicious modern American cuisine and great cocktails (plus a wine list), Reno, a cash only place with amazing pizzas, pastas and sides as well as nice cocktails, and Analogue, with amazing Cajun food and cocktails. Wherever you land, have a wonderful time!