tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49934026601414843712024-03-13T23:57:48.062-07:00Red Meet ChicagoMeeting up for meat since 2014Jeff Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09685374609361573761noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4993402660141484371.post-85633493669353935192019-11-19T18:55:00.000-08:002019-11-19T18:55:22.017-08:00Reunion In Rosemont<br />
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The Capital Grille<o:p></o:p></div>
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5340 N. River Road, Rosemont<o:p></o:p></div>
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(847) 671-8125<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/home">www.thecapitalgrille.com/home</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Meets In Attendance:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adelman,
Goodman, Levy, Mullen<o:p></o:p></div>
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A note from the Editor (Meet Goodman):<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the meets have remained steadfast to our respite from the drudgery
of our lives, with a juicy steak as our recompense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These ‘meat meetings’ are not be regarded as
‘Cosa Nostra’ between meets with secretive undertones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are moments to celebrate and share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we share more with you and as you share
more with us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a ‘long time, no see’ feeling between the meets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love was palpable, the drinks were plentiful
and our stomachs were barking at the kitchen from the word ‘go’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Our server, Alexandra, had a nice post-modern, androgynous look going…
let’s move on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our sodium levels were raised through 3 separate
courses (appetizer, salad, side dish) that included every Jewish person’s
guilty pleasure, BACON!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started with the
double cut smoked bacon slab (about ¾” inch thick) with tomato jam slab for the
starter, summarily cleared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Wedge with
bleu cheese was complemented with cubed bacon bits, which made for a nice
palate cleanser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bacon
can be used as a palate cleanser at our table.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Each meet went with their own 10-ounce filet, with
Levy and Mullen peppercorn crusting their medium rare cuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The warm center was even and impressive for
Levy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mullen claimed that a rare+ preparation
on his cut would have more preferable, but it would have likely given him trichinosis.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Adelman was good with the flavor of his filet, but gave
some serious irate table chatter about the size of the cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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“That isn’t 10 ounces.” said the irate table chattering
Adelman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Goodman opted for the parmesan crust, which was a
little underdone, but did not completely take away from the steak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His call on the maple bacon brussels sprouts was
a solid side dish, with glazed morsels of bacon caressing each sprout with a
maple film of wholesome goodness, was popular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was nice that Adelman found them too sweet for his liking, as Goodman
gladly gorged on his relinquished sprouts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you, Meet Adelman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A belated birthday celebration for Mullen capped off
the evening with a coconut-cream pie that even non-coconut lovers would die
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the 60015-ers (Levy, Goodman,
Adelman) the proximity to Rosemont made for a quick ride home, to which we say…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let’s do Rosemont again!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Jeff Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09685374609361573761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4993402660141484371.post-3086800740589009152018-05-26T09:37:00.000-07:002018-05-26T10:16:08.753-07:00Our Meets Are Sorely Missed<br />
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Chicago Chop House<o:p></o:p></div>
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60 W. Ontario St.<o:p></o:p></div>
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(312) 552-7729<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://chicagochophouse.com/">chicagochophouse.com</a><o:p></o:p><br />
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Meets In Attendance: Adelman, Goodman, Levy</div>
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Meet Bloom was primed for a homecoming, but unforeseen
circumstances forced a cancellation, as it did with Meet Mullen, who had family
in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This left Adelman, Levy and
Goodman as the Red Meet triumvirate yet again (we had dined at Gibson’s Italia
for our last outing, sorry for the non-post).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Levy showed up with new specs, which he wears well
despite his new tribulation with impaired vision.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Goodman was chastised for being too paranoid about
mentioning a party (in honor of Bloom’s homecoming) in which he was invited but
not Levy and Adelman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took their
ribbing too seriously and of course, ended up looking like a senseless
goon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he learned to forgive himself
and went back to his whiskey.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The “Steak House Where Chicagoans Dine” was what we
usually heard while asking for reviews from friends who have dined there previously,
so the Meets had high expectations going in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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No cold seafood was ordered, and we opted for the Fried
Calamari, which Goodman found pleasing, but to indifference from Levy and
Adels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We split a Chop House Salad which
was gloriously covered with bacon bits and a mild, creamy Parmesan dressing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All 3 Meets tore into it with gastrointestinal
fury.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The steaks are certainly what separates the Chop
House from its competitors, as they touted their in-house dry-aging process, to
which the Meets bought in and summarily ordered their steaks as such. Levy was pleased with his customary Peppercorn crust on
his 12-ounce, bone-in filet and considered the cut good enough for his house
dog to finish the dregs on the bone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Adels was impressed with his 12-ounce Grand filet and
remarked that this was the saving grace of the meal, as the sides we ordered
(Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts) were bland and didn’t complement
the meal well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Jeff Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09685374609361573761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4993402660141484371.post-77159794914586339122017-10-26T07:00:00.003-07:002018-01-23T10:15:36.404-08:00Strangers and Shoe Shines<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Prime and Provisions<o:p></o:p></div>
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222 N. LaSalle St., Chicago<o:p></o:p></div>
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(312) 726-7776<o:p></o:p></div>
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primeandprovisions.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Meets Goodman and Adelman were the first two to arrive and
took a table near the bar, where the Cubs proceeded to lose a playoff game on a
nearby TV. Meets Mullen and Levy
attended soon after. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Levy and Adelman got into their usual patter, with Levy
asking for small favors under the table.
Adelman suggested a new entry into the ‘Rolodex of Love’.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The Stranger</i> is a
move by which you sit on your hand (whichever one you toss off with) until it
gets numb. Once the numbness sets in,
you start the self-abuse. It’s supposed
to feel like someone other than yourself is twanging your wire.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The attending Meets will inform me of their respective
experience with this. Now back to our
meal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our server, Roxy, was attentive and kept our tumblers full
throughout the night, not once having to wait for a refill.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We opted away from the usual seafood starters and took on
some Thick-cut Bacon and Fried Chicken with a chili Bourbon Maple glaze for
dipping. The winner at the table was the
chicken by a landslide, fried to perfection with a crispy, tooth-cracking skin
of greasy love. To a man, the Meets
agreed that the only other thing that was needed was a side of waffles… and a
bowl of the Bourbon Maple Glaze.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When it came to the meat, the cuts were satisfactory. However, Mullen found his Bone-In Ribeye to
be overcooked, closer to a medium than medium rare.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Prime and Provisions does have a game changer with the
roasted garlic on the side, ready for smothering over our respective cuts. Goodman took full advantage of this, extracting
every last oily clove, smothering it on every bite of his 10-ounce filet,
leaving an exhausted garlic carcass on his plate.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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A dessert of Peanut Butter and Whipped Milk Chocolate Pie
was buttery smooth and absolutely ravaged by all Meets.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Aside from familiarizing ourselves with <i>The Stranger</i>, the highlight of the night occurred post-meal as a derelict
approached us outside at the valet stand, offering shoe shines and his own
brand of gospel. The man was ‘saved’
from the evils of drugs and gangs, choosing the straight and narrow path.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Meet Mullen, the most charitable of the Meets, obliged himself
to a shoe shine from the man, with little regard for the lack of small bills in
his fold. Long story short, Mullen’s
charitable nature cost him $40 for a shine that probably involved nothing more than
wipe down with water and vinegar.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jeff Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09685374609361573761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4993402660141484371.post-48384852805525352772017-08-17T07:25:00.000-07:002018-01-23T10:15:49.115-08:00The Ted Foxman of Salts<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.gtprimerestaurant.com/">GT Prime</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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707 N. Wells Street, Chicago<o:p></o:p></div>
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(312) 600-6305<o:p></o:p></div>
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The title of this post is in honor of Ted Foxman. All-around nice guy and classmate of ours
from HPHS.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bloom came back to town with a vengeance, pre-emptively
switching the venue from a chain steakhouse (Shula’s) to a local boutique (GT
Prime). It turned out to be the right
call - two points for Bloom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We looked at the menu and quickly noticed that this was not
the typical sort of steakhouse that we were used to: only 6 cuts of meat offered in 4-ounce or
8-ounce options, hot and cold tapas-style plates and no seafood selection
except for a 1-lb. Alaskan King crab offering – served warm. The $80 gamble on the crab didn’t pay off and the
horseradish that it was served with reminded Levy and Adelman of their bubbe’s Passover
gefilte fish.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The hot and cold plates turned out to be full of comestible indulgences.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The beef tartare with malt vinegar chips was a clear table
favorite as Adelman led the charge for extra chips post tartare. Levy and Goodman agreed on the rabbit leg
confit with the potato puree to which they licked the plate clean. Bloom’s call on the grilled octopus was a
solid ‘amuse bouche’ as he phrased to the rest of the Meets.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most notable were the ‘finishing salts’ that came with our
cuts of meat, as we were looking for more sodium with our meal to this
point. There were three salts to choose from: a fragrant hibiscus, Icelandic sea salt, or
Murray River (Australia). Goodman opted
for all three in a medley atop his 8-ounce beef strip.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Levy’s bison tenderloin was arguably the most tender of the
cuts chosen at the table, as confirmed by Goodman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unlike any steakhouse we’ve been to since RMC’s inception,
our cuts came to the table pre-sliced. Above
everything, this is what made GT Prime unique and primed for a return by the
Meets. <o:p></o:p></div>
Jeff Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09685374609361573761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4993402660141484371.post-78776086620342993672017-05-04T16:27:00.000-07:002018-01-23T10:16:05.143-08:00Tim Comes Marching In<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.mastrosrestaurants.com/Locations/IL/71-Chicago-Main/Default.aspx">Mastro’s</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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520 N. Dearborn St., Chicago<o:p></o:p></div>
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(312) 521-5100 <o:p></o:p></div>
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With Bloom headed back to his <i>‘Rocky
Mountain High</i>’ ski-bummery, we welcomed with open arms our fellow
high-school chum, Tim Mullen. His sommelier’s
prowess was well received at the table as he assumed his rightful space in the
booth (which was okay with Levy, as his taste for booth seating is intolerant).
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Red Meets headed back to Mastro’s for its quality of product and
service we experienced upon our last visit.
Goodman took over some ordering duties from Bloom, especially in regard
to the seafood tower, which have been lackluster in our last few meetings. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mastro’s delivered on target with a plethora of shellfish: King crab
claws and legs, succulent lobster halves, briny East Coast oysters and jumbo
shrimp. Goodman and the Meets ultimately
forgot the downside of ‘plethora’ when the bill came.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mullen was the first to comment on his Tomahawk steak, who claimed that
it was tasty, but not rare enough to his refined standards. Nary a peep out of Adelman and Levy, for the
seemed to enjoy their cuts. Goodman was
well-impressed with the parmesan crust well-done on his 8-ounce filet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The meal made dents in our respectively wallets, especially with the
aforementioned seafood tower. Drinks
were also well imbibed, adding to the total (roughly $220 per person).
<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s still worth every penny.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jeff Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09685374609361573761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4993402660141484371.post-79260329597220267042017-03-09T07:49:00.002-08:002018-01-23T10:16:19.886-08:00Johnny Comes Marching Home<span id="goog_2084297389"></span><span id="goog_2084297390"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.swiftandsonschicago.com/">SWIFT AND SONS</a></span></div>
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1000 W. Fulton, Chicago</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Date: 2/27/17</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our meet was highly anticipated as Bloom made a homecoming
trip from his new digs in Colorado. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By word of mouth and written review (it was also Levy’s
choice this time), Swift and Sons was touted as the bona fide challenger to the
more traditional steakhouses of Chicago (Gene and Georgetti, Gibsons, Joes).</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The seafood tower (more like a bowl) was skimpy and lacked
presentation. Bloom’s customary New York
strip was not a good cut of meat. To his
credit, he demanded satisfaction and he received a replacement 14 oz. bone-in
filet with a replacement of two sides. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To add insult to injury, Bloom (our most refined but shrewdest of Meets)<span id="goog_2084297385"></span><span id="goog_2084297386"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> noticed that he was charged
for the two extra sides he received, which by all accounts, is nickel and
diming. He summoned the front of house
for more richly deserved satisfaction as fellow Red Meets Levy, Adelman and
Goodman chuckled on in the folly of Bloom’s disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After all, our buddy traveled from Colorado for this? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Blooms vow of “Never again!” was echoed by the others in
agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We can always tell if the establishment is to our
satisfaction on all the ‘S’ fronts:
service, seafood tower, steaks.
But should we stay for sweets (dessert), then that is the deciding
factor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">None of these were present.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Swift and those sons of his failed to deliver.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Jeff Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09685374609361573761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4993402660141484371.post-18883930029122885512016-02-18T10:23:00.002-08:002018-01-23T10:16:27.110-08:00Gibsons<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Date:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2/16/16</div>
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Venue:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gibsons, 1028 N. Rush Street, Chicago</div>
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<br /></div>
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We were seated a very large, spacious
booth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Levy gave in and was ok with it,
as he balked at the idea of booth seating at RPM back in November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our bespectacled waiter, Mohammed, was immediately
recognized by Adelman, who made it known that a buddy of his specifically told
him to say ‘Hello to Mohammed for me.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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No seafood tower option on the
menu, so we put in orders for Alaskan crab legs, oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktail
and crabmeat avocado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All were of questionable
quality by fellow Meets and consensus bad choice on the oysters, which were not
very substantial in size and thickness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The only saving grace was the cocktail sauce and horseradish, to which
Bloom found to be a ‘kick-ass’ elixir for his nagging sinuses.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The steaks had flaws for a couple
of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Levy had his customary 16 oz.
bone-in filet with peppercorn crust, only to find his cut was not ‘peppercorny’
enough, noting a unsymmetrical pattern of seasoning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bloom had asked for medium, but was tabled
with a borderline raw middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goodman’s
16 oz. bone-in was ordered ‘al-forno’ with a lemon mustard undercoating, which
had a nice zing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Double baked potato was
sufficient to be quartered and fed to all four of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maple bacon Brussels Sprouts were limited on
both maple and bacon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spinach and
Mushrooms fit the bill.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The meal was pedestrian
overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We became less and less
impressed with the meal as the night went on and unanimously decided to forgo dessert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's a crying shame for we really got the Red Meet
boner for this one.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
Goodman's Score: 6 out of 10 <br />
Bloom's Score: 6 out of 10</div>
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<![endif]--><br />Jeff Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09685374609361573761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4993402660141484371.post-43474631133970651002015-11-29T18:34:00.002-08:002018-01-23T10:16:34.271-08:00RPM<div class="MsoNormal">
Date:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10/18/15</div>
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Venue:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RPM, 66 W.
Kinzie Street, Chicago</div>
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<br /></div>
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The call of the night was done by Levy, and it had nothing
to do with food.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Upon noticing that we were being seated at a booth, he
promptly requested a table, as our party likes to face off to discuss politics
or Bloom’s escapades amongst each other.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We were greeted by who we thought was our server, a cute
brunette with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turns out, we got cock-blocked by our
real server, Eric, who Levy noticed had a severe case of halitosis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When our lady steward returned, we begged to
have her serve us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we didn’t
notice Eric standing over our table while hearing our preference for his
removal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Our customary starter, the Seafood Tower, had probably some
of the most succulent shellfish this side of the gulf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we believe they skimped, as we
claimed that the tower only held enough to feed to 3 people and not for the 4
of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jumbo prawns were the size of
Andre the Giant’s hands and damn tasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Three sauces for dipping, including a Wasabi Béarnaise which Goodman
claimed could be eaten on its own… and it was.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Levy’s 16-ounce, Peppercorn-crusted (per his usual order) Bone-In
Filet was taken down promptly to its base, with the bone being saved for his
new Staffordshire Terrier at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adels
made out well with his 12-ounce filet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Blue Cheese Whipped potatoes were dreamy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The Baked Alaska was our finish with full tableside
presentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goodman caught a whiff of
leftover methane with his portion, which probably explains his light-headedness
upon receiving the check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bloom spooned
some extra chocolate sauce onto his plate, clearing every last smear.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Line of the night</u></b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(upon hearing that Bloom was dating someone
again)</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is she nice?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is she from originally?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hasn’t dated Charlie Sheen, has she?”</div>
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<b>Bloom's Score</b>: 6 out of 10</div>
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Grass-fed strip lacked juiciness. </div>
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<br /></div>
Jeff Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09685374609361573761noreply@blogger.com0