Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Toro Sushi

Toro Sushi is a little gem in Lincoln Park that I wish I could say was undiscovered.  There was a time back in 2005, 2006 that it was but then social media and word of mouth took over!  Now if you want to eat at Toro on a Friday or Saturday night, get ready for a minimum two hour wait.  But, that wait is worth it.  Stop in, put in your name and phone number (they will call you and give you 15 minutes) and head next door to D.O.C. Wine Bar, or down the street to Duke's or the Tin Lizzie. 

Once that phone call is received, get ready for some unreal sushi.  If you can sit by the bar, that is ideal to get a better feel for the place.  Personally, I am all about the rolls but Toro has wonderful nigri and sashimi if that is your preference.  What sets Toro apart is how fresh their seafood is and how creative their chefs are.  Go to Toro ready to be impressed and if you have never had sushi, open up!  You will be so glad you did.

Only a few tables around the bar!

Mussels in Tiffany Sauce


Salmon with roe and raw yolk

Kamikaze Roll
Kamikaze Hand Roll

Sunny Roll

El Fuego Roll
Holla Jalapeno Roll
Super White Crunch Roll
Miami Roll
OMG Roll
Fried Green Ice Cream

2546 N Clark St; Chicago, IL 60614
773-348-7255
http://torosushi.biz/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/toro-sushi-chicago-3
Map:  https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2546+N+Clark+St+(between+Wrightwood+Ave+%26+Deming+Pl)++Chicago,+IL+60614&ie=UTF-8&ei=GwT3UrLHAZTYyQHaqICQDQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Super Brew: Denver vs Seattle

The Broncos are favored by 2.5 points in tomorrow's Super Bowl against the Seahawks.  I wanted to see how they match up in a craft beer challenge.  Denver has 25 breweries and Seattle has 26, sounds like a close matchup!  Let's see below: 

Top brewery:  Great Divide (Denver) vs Elysian (Seattle)

Elysian in Seattle, cheering on the Seahawks?



Great Divide Brewery
Great American Beer Festival medals

Great Divide's beers

WINNER:  Great Divide Brewery

Ratebeer.com just rated their best beer per state and it just so happened that Washington's was from Fremont Brewing Company in Seattle and Colorado's was from Great Divide!  

Yeti Imperial Stout from Great Divide

Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star from Fremont Brewery in Seattle

WINNER:  Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

SEATTLE BREWERIES

Fremont Brewing Company

Big Time Brewery & Alehouse

Maritime Pacific Brewing Company

Naked City Taphouse

Big Al Brewery

DENVER BREWERIES

Strange Brewing Company

River North Brewery



Bull & Bush Brewery

Crooked Stave Brewery

WINNER:  Denver Breweries

BEST BEER BAR:  BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB (SEATTLE) VS FALLING ROCK (DENVER)


Falling Rock
Beveridge Place Pub

WINNER:  Falling Rock
CRAFT BEER CHALLENGE WINNER:  DENVER!!

It looks like a runaway victory for Denver, although Seattle does have a great craft beer scene.  But, how could any city compete with the town that hosts the Great American Beer Festival?  Denver is the epicenter of craft beer.  Congrats on your victory! We will see if the Broncos can get a win as well.