Written by Jaden Parker
Over the summer, one of my many trips was to Chicago, Illinois, the spot for fantastic food and beautiful buildings. The first non-indigenous settler was a free black man from Haiti by the name of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. He arrived in the 1770s via the Mississippi river with his Native American wife, and the rest was—literally—history. Today, you can get a tour from locals personally who volunteer their time, a concept they borrowed from New York!
We Built This (Windy) City
Because Chicago burnt down October 8th in 1871, the people there had the chance to rebuild it the way they wanted to. After the fire destroyed roughly 17,500 buildings, debris from the fire was dumped into Lake Michigan as a landfill, creating what is now Grant Park, Millennium Park, and the Art Institute of Chicago. After the fire, architects decided to shoot for the stars; well, they essentially raced to them by seeing how tall they could build a structure. Verticality was the big architectural emphasis at the time. With the help of safety elevators and the Bessemer Convertor—an industrial process that could mass produce steel—architects built the world’s first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, in 1884. It was 10 stories tall coming in at 138 feet, which was a huge difference from previous buildings that had been way shorter and a lot heavier.
In 1893, Chicago hosted the World’s Fair, encouraging people to build a “city of the future.” Daniel Burnham, one of the fair’s organizers, produced a new city plan for Chicago based off of how Paris was formed. In the 1920s and 1930s, many global architects fled to America to escape the war, bringing with them the International Style they’d developed. This movement included elegant and symmetrical buildings that would be prototypes for the current-day high-rise apartments and office buildings. The first building on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile was the Wrigley Building, the corporate office for Wrigley’s Chewing Gum owner William Wrigley, Jr., in 1924. Soon thereafter, the Tribune Tower was built. It contains 149 building fragments of various historical landmarks from around the world including the Parthenon, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall of China.
But if we are being honest, I didn’t go all the way to Chicago and land on their tiny runway that throws you out of your plane seat for the architecture. So without further ado, the six merry murderesses of my diet…
The Cell Block Tango of Food
#1. Folklore
An Argentine restaurant, I ordered a Caipirinha drink, a lime alcoholic beverage with mango purée.
After dipping into some delicious provoleta for a starter, I just about shoved my face The Christmas Story-style into the spinach mashed potatoes I got with my meal.
#2. Letizia’s
Letizia’s is always a family favorite when we visit my aunt in Chicago. It’s an Italian-Austrian bakery, so you could spend hours in a dazed stupor just staring at the fresh, baked goods in the display case.
Their chai tea is top notch, and their breakfast paninis are to die for. I recommend the Sorrento!
Now, I might be a little bit biased by putting Reggie’s on this list since it’s my aunt’s workplace, but it’s every Rock-lover’s dream to step into the coolest bar on State Street (and probably the entirety of Chicago). It has everything one could need from a bar: a rockin’ venue for shows, skilled bartenders, and an event space for those who really want to party! However, when it’s a hot day in the summer, Reggie’s Beach Bar is the place to be. Their strawberry daiquiris are strong, and their wings are absolutely delicious.
Plus, you’re just a step away from the beautiful lake, which is visible from the adorable tiki-esque cabanas.
They’re closed for the season now, but it’s definitely worth checking out in 2024.
We walked along the (unfinished at the time) Riverwalk, and someone had the bright idea to stop and get something sweet to eat. The next corner we turned put us right in front of this little place. The second win of this situation? They had stracciatella gelato (which if you read my Italy articles, you know what’s up).
#5. Uncle Julio’s
So, Uncle Julio’s actually ruined the Mexican food in my hometown for me because I thought it could suffice. Their food…there aren’t words to perfectly describe how good their food was. I got the beef tacos, and the way the beef was seasoned and cooked made me want to tear up a little.
Of course I had to try their iconic Swirl frozen margarita while I was there, which was so sour but so sweet at the same time.
I also got the honey habanero bacon-wrapped shrimp, which were mouth-wateringly delicious.
The only notes I had on this place were, and I quote, “Oh my goodness the tacos and guacamole.” I’m not even a big fan of avocados, but their guacamole is divine. You can also personalize your guacamole experience with a wide array of add-in options.
#6. Lou Malnati’s
No Chicago food list is complete without mentioning this beautiful masterpiece. Anyone who tells you that Chicago doesn’t have the best pizza has never had it. Deep dish pizza is unlike any other pizza in the world, perhaps even the universe.
Deep dish is an experience. Your first bite is just as delicious as the last, which can’t be said for a lot of foods. We always get the deep dish butter crust cheese pizza. The burst of tomatoes combined with the buttery crust and cheese is enough to make you feel like you’re invincible. The textures of a crispy crust, chunky tomato sauce, and melted cheese work together perfectly. This food is perfect for drunken midnight meals or even eaten cold for breakfast the next morning—if the leftovers make it to then! I had an original Italian margarita while I was there, which was good and all, but I mean, pizza! They also have gluten free options!
So, there is my Chicago trip in a nutshell. It’s always such a joy to visit my aunt in Chi-Town, and now I hope I’ve convinced you to book your next trip there before the intense winter storms set in! Either way, you can’t be disappointed anywhere you stop for a bite to eat in this beautiful city. Be sure to eat some deep dish for me!
