Excursion: Pizza Art

Okay - I promise NOT to flood the blog with neighborhood food finds, now that there are so many great spots right around the corner from my apartment. But, can I just mention that the real jewels of Chicago are in its neighborhoods? That's where the city's real, quirky personality shines, and where you can find talented people doing amazing things that are often shockingly affordable. If you are visiting the city, please do not limit yourself to "downtown". Or, if you do, please do not tell me that you did. Please.

Okay, enough of my rant. I need to tout Pizza Art. When we moved into our new place, Pizza Art was easy to overlook (it has since gotten a much needed face lift via a new awning and windows). But, always on the lookout for good food, I couldn't pass up trying a place that was only a few blocks from my front door. Plus, it was always packed when we walked by - an incredibly inviting intimate space with a warm glow spilling out onto the street on those chilly fall nights. It was undeniable. Those people looked happy.

It didn't take long for us to find out why. One order of the House Specialty Jasmin's Bruschette and we were hooked. This wasn't your typical crostini, but rather a pillowy, inflated "pita", enveloped in the most perfect and intoxicating garlic aroma, and loaded with the truest basil, olive oil, tomato, and (surprise) feta flavors one could ask for.

Of course, pizzas are the thing to order - Neapolitan inspired and baked in a brick oven (maybe that was part of the glow - the oven faces the street), they are not to be missed. A house salad, with classic balsamic vinaigrette, the Bruschette, and a single pizza are enough for two, but it can be hard to order only one pizza with so many enticing options. We favor the Diavola, which has hot green peppers added to its traditional tangy tomato sauce, rich mozzarella, and salty salame (caution - it can be quite spicy), but also like the Quattro Stagioni (quarters of artichoke, green olives, mushrooms, and ham), the Proscuitto, and even the Calzone. Recently, I also ventured out and ordered something from the "other side" of the menu - the Risotto agli Scampi, which featured creamy risotto rice complemented by a lemony, herbaceous sauce, and perfectly cooked shrimp. The touch of dill included was just the thing to give it that special little kick - I didn't regret taking the risk!

The bonus - Pizza Art is a pleasantly affordable BYO. Bring your favorite Zin or a red sauce-friendly Italian Red to perfectly complement your meal.

Excursion: Enoteca Roma

A recent trip to Chicago found us enjoying a late night snack at the comfortable and cozy Enoteca Roma, a restaurant and wine bar on W. Division Street. Apparently modeled after similar establishments in proprietor Letizia Sorano's hometown of Rome, Italy, Enoteca Roma was the perfect place to relax and recharge after a long drive to the city. We ordered a couple of flights of Italian or (Italian-like) reds, which were much appreciated, but the real star of the evening was the Bruschetta. Simple, yes, but truly fantastic. Always tantalized by variety, I loved that ordering Bruschetta at Enoteca Roma involves choosing four different varieties. Even more, I loved that, with over ten regionally inspired varieties to choose from, it was still hard to decide! We ordered Calabria (goat cheese, roasted red peppers), Vinnie (carmelized onion, Gorgonzola cheese), Piedmonte (brie, green apples, honey), and Roma (tomato, garlic, basil). The mouthwatering spread arrived on a large cutting board, looking absolutely irresistable, and the crunchy rustic italian bread was the perfect platter for four harmonious sweet and savory toppings. At this point, I have to admit that the Piedmonte's reputation preceded it, and it did not disappoint. But the big surprise was definitely the Roma, clearly the best of the bunch, in my opinion. The blend of just the three simple, fresh ingredients of sweet tomato, tangy garlic, and bright basil was just perfect! If you are in the neighborhood, Enoteca Roma is definitely worth a stop.