The Lyric Opera vs Bar Takito

What shenanigans has me waking up at 6  o'clock in the morning? Shopping...at the Lyric Opera! Last September 6, 2014, the Lyric Opera once again opened it's vault of costumes. It had been a decade since the costume vault did such a thing. The possibility of obtaining a ridiculous cape and ball gown to wear as I clean my living room, shouting out "The Queen of the Night Aria" from the Magic Flute Opera by Mozart, was something I could not miss!

Dull eyed and disheveled tail, I envisioned rows of velvet, sequins, chiffon, and whatever man made materials have been created. I'm so excited I could literally smell that waft of moth balls in the air! I started my trek to the Lyric to meet up with Karla Fantastic, who shares the same  affection for early morning shopping insanity.  Hey, the early bird gets the worm right? 

Courtesy of Google

Wrong! We were not early! We were late, we were very late for this important date! The line was 5 people deep surrounding the city block! Eh...I'll just clean my living room wearing sane people clothes. Let's go eat instead!

Look at the bridge closely. Those are people in line!

The velvety lining to my shattered operatic dreams was the fact that Bar Takito is open for brunch to feed the hungry monster in me that had been belting out baritone sounds of "FEED ME!" 

Upon arriving, we were greeted by a bright and sunshiny space and a friendly host, who convinced me that it's not that early in my world. An empty Bar Takito was a refreshing contrast to the pandemonium I just witnessed. I guess it was that early that we practically opened this place. KF and I couldn't help but play pretend VIP...the only VIP we can afford. Ha!

Feeling the need to get in our vitamins and minerals, we were looking for something fresh. Our bright eyed server Steven recommended  "Aji," to which I quickly exclaimed, "oh fish!" No! It's a sauce made with spices, it almost tasted like an elevated salsa verde.

Next up, Tacos!

Coffee Braised Beef Taco: Beer tortilla,queso Oaxaca, pickled squash, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and peanuts. I bit in to this thinking that I would get a second cup of coffee. It was far from that. I almost could not tell that there was coffee, but at the same time, there was a nice earthy warm flavor that just envelopes your senses...maybe that was the coffee. I was not disappointed at all!

Pork Belly Taco: Turmeric tortilla, smoked queso fresco, aji amarillo, pickled jicama, arugula, pepitas. The only thing I can say about this taco is..."get it!" The pork belly says it all!

For the big finish...

I can't remember what the chocolate square looking dessert was called! How horrible! In any case, it reminds me of  a tres leches cake soaked in chocolate milk. Delicious! The floral dessert that looks like a Hawaiian vacation is  the Popcorn Butterscotch Mouse, which is sprinkled with almond crunch. I just had a nibble of this, and I do get the popcorn butterscotch flavor, but I vote for the chocolate square; whatever it's called. Just show the friendly folks at Bar Takito this picture and point to it!

As early as it was, the food and the great service at Bar Takito was a winner, the whole experience was like a good morning greeting accompanied by a mariachi band. This early bird turned out to have gotten the worm after all, but it would have even been better if I was wearing the garb I was imagining I would find in the vault.

Oh Karla Fantastic says..."Hi Steven!"

GPS! Are We in The Right Place? @ Takito Kitchen

Remember that time we called summer, when the hot asphalt was covered with swells of street fests? Warming up in a hoodie as I write this in 40F something weather  is suffocating my brain cells, and I'm starting to forget! Before I completely erase the remnants of summer 2014 clean, let me take you on a reminiscing journey. It was one hot Sunday in what was a not so hot summer in Chicago, and my friend Honeybadger (HB), badgered me to get out and get some sun! OK fine! I have some noshing redemption to do because I mistakenly took HB to a mexican place that I would not be caught blogging about... the fact that we ordered chicken fingers in a mexican spot says it all. It was just convenient ok! So enter my pick for redemption....Bar Takito. I excitedly poked my GPS to take us there! As I obediently followed it,  I was salivating as I raved to HB all about this place, and how it just opened..blah blah blah. Screech! Halt! Alto! Why are we in Wicker Park in the thick of a streetfest and not the West Loop?!!! GPS took us to Takito Kitchen instead! Well, streetfest + patio + margarita = feels like summer anyway so...let's live in this moment! 

Let's get this party started with their seasonal Blueberry Tequila. Staring at the rim I wondered, "is this cinnamon sugar?" Sip sip...NO it's salt and something spicy!  I somehow acquired the sweet, sour, spicy...but not salty margarita, and this one almost fits the bill. It did not taste like fake blueberry juice, but actual smashed up berries. No cough syrup here my friends. I'de like another one or five please...with a straw on it!

To satisfy the need for solid food, we ordered these....

Yucatan Style Chicken Taco on corn tortilla, recado verde, pepitas, ricotta cheese, corn kimchi, & scallions: I saw the word Kimchi, and was immediately intrigued with the unity of Korea and Mexico. Kimchi is an acquired taste, which I haven't quite acquired, but on this taco, I'm ready for an acquisition. This is a union that I will not object to! It gave the chicken a unique tang. The pepitas or pumkin seeds sprinkled all throughout  provided an earthy balance, and a nice texture addition. Nom nom crunch! The use of ricotta cheese seemed so seamless, it's as if tacos have always been made with with them for centuries!

Maple Creek Pork Belly Taco on sesame tortilla, morita salsa, Oaxan cheese, pickled onions, arugula, avocado, & peanuts : They need to rename this taco as "My Favorite Things Taco!" As I have said in a previous post, pork belly is just another word for bacon, but meatier. The homey flavor hug of the pork belly was brightened up by the arugula, and the avocado provided me with a sense of comfort that this will ward off the hangover, and at the same time allowing me to pretend that it's all healthy fat...even the pork fat! I pretended to save room for my post meal ice cream ritual, so I carried my take out box in and around the streetfest like I was carrying a diamond. I counted the hours until it's acceptable to eat again. Oh glorious leftovers.

 My GPS leading me to do a wrong turn turned out oh so right! I'm going to tell my GPS to take me back to this place stat! If you are a lover of mexican food with a twist, Takito Kitchen is your kind of kitchen. Mission food redemption accomplished! Oh yah, about Bar Takito...I made it there eventually! Stay tuned for that story.