What's For Dinner?

It has been quite a long week, and I’m beyond thrilled that tomorrow is Friday! We have a no-students-present institute day, which are always fun. Not that I don’t love my students, but sometimes it’s nice to hang out with adults.

Sometimes, I’ll spend some time up in the main office at work and chat with our assistant principals about various issues with students, or sometimes we chat about nothing. And sometimes, we find out that we have a lot more in common than we originally thought! Yesterday, one assistant principal was in her office eating the most delicious-looking salad out of a recyclable paper box, much like the ones used at Whole Foods. I got very excited and asked her where exactly near school she’d gotten such a fantastic-looking salad. She informed me, quite giddily, that an old restaurant/bar had been bought out and converted from a typical pub into a local/sustainable and mostly organic restaurant! We then talked food and restaurants for quite some time, and she insisted that I try Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen ASAP.

Luckily tonight, I had quite some time to kill! After school and a meeting, I had about 4 hours of free time before I got to be a judge at the regional spelling bee. I went to the DMV to get my name changed on my license, did the same at the bank, and then headed to Duke’s for an early dinner.

I was greeted by a friendly bartender who was more than happy to tell me about their menu, specials, and seemed very knowledgeable about why their menu was different than other places.

I’d perused the menu online, and had made up my mind that I would be getting a tallgrass beef burger, without the bun, for my dinner. To say that it delighted me when Robert (I think that was his name?) the bartender informed me that their cheese choices were: 4-year aged cheddar, blue, gouda, mozzarella, feta, oh…and goat. Yes, goat cheese. Amazing fresh and soft local goat cheese. Oh, and organic broccolini (not local, as its a frozen tundra here right now.) Apparently, up in the county where my school is, there are dozens of small farms… some are more famous (Kinnickinnick and Saluté) but most I’d never heard of.

The bottom of the menu reads “I want my farmer to be paid well, for the same reason I want my airline pilot to be.” I love it! I read that menu while I waited for my food, and loved the pride the place has in supporting local and organic farmers. So many restaurants like this are out of reach for Adam and I, as they’re downtown Chicago and price-prohibitive. This however, is the opposite! It’s relatively inexpensive (my burger was $10.50) and in the lovely suburb where my school is.

My food arrived quickly, and to say it was beautiful is an understatement:

And the burger, on its soft pretzel bun with bibb lettuce, roma tomatoes, and soft fresh goat cheese… notice how that patty is uneven and not round. That means a PERSON actually made that patty, and stood there while it cooked:

To say that it pained me to take that burger off that beautiful bun is an understatement as well. I can only imagine how phenomenal it tasted… it sure smelled good. I looked like a freak, sitting by myself at a bar table, sniffing a pretzel roll and tweeting about how excited I was to eat this burger. Oh, and taking pictures of everything while the locals were sitting there wondering why their kids’ Spanish teacher was photographing her food.

You know what this burger tasted like? It tasted like meat. It tasted the way, when you want a good burger, that a good burger should taste. So much of the ground beef that I buy is fairly tasteless on its own and needs loads of seasoning. I’m willing to bet that this burger had a sprinkle of salt and pepper and that’s it. Next time I go, I’m certainly trying the organic steak, as well as making sure that I have someone else to order a dessert so I can have a bite. Something about a “trio of artisanal brownies” and “build your own cupcake” are quite intriguing.

Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen

110 N. Main St.

Crystal Lake, IL 60014

With a pleasantly full belly, I went to judge the spelling bee, and then headed home. I was greeted with a bubble-pack envelope with a Canadian customs label on it. I immediately knew what it was and tore right in! The amazing Marianne from the blog From French Fries To Flax Seeds had sent me an Olympic care package!! There was a pair of the official red Olympic mittens, and a pin that says “Eh!” from Lululemon! (please excuse the ratty nails and tired face).

I love them!! Thank you SO much Marianne! You’ll be getting your Chicago care package as soon as I get off my butt and remember to send it…

AND an anonymous question:

What are you and Adam doing for V-Day? I think we’re staying in, drinking some wine, and I’m making cheese fondue… with bread. V-day is one holiday that I feel it necessary to splurge no matter what. And you know? That’s ok! ONE day of splurging and eating bread will not make me lose all the progress I’ve made!

Tomorrow evening, we are off to O’Hare to pick up my mom and stepdad from their trip to Mexico. We’ve been watching this adorable face all week… Stella the Goldendoodle!

Have a wonderful Friday, and happy Olympic Day!!! I can’t WAIT to watch the opening ceremonies! What’s your favorite winter Olympic sport? Mine’s gotta be curling…

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