StringGrrl sees the World

The Filling Station Feeling a little nostalgic for a Mr. Fables Burger and Rings during a drive back from Chicago to Grand Rapids. My colleague who lives in Comstock Park was kind enough to tell me that while Mr. Fables is long gone, you can still get a "Mr. Fabulous" at the filling station. GAME OVER, Take my money, I am there. The Mr Fabulous and Fables Onion Rings  The Mr. Fabulous burger, is a deluxe two patty burger topped with cheese, onion, tomato, olives and "secret sauce". Their onion rings, though are what always kept me coming back to Mr. Fables all those years. Great big onion rings with light crispy batter. 180 degree panorama of the Filling Station

 As a resident of the "D" we hold Chicago in odd esteem. A classic midwestern jewel that once played second fiddle to Detroit. Where the makers of the motor city, deigned to trade for commodities; the lesser of the Great Lakes Cities. But now Chicago is held in higher regard than Detroit. The two cities bear a great deal in common, both are cities ravaged in the early years by devastating fires. Then rebuilt to greater glories. Cities that border great expanses of fresh water, home to shipping, industry, and trade. Chicago remains a great city to visit and for the multitudes that live there a fine place to live. StringGirl makes visits there every few years, and always loves going there. Great food, people, and culture. Giordano's Stuffed Pizza No visit to Chi-town is complete without getting some of their local specialty stuffed pizza. This visit we made our way to Giordano's. A perennial favorite with the tourists this place is arguably one of the pizza...

So we are in Chicago wrapping up day 3 of a 4 day trade show, and my colleague suggests that we have some Barbecue. After a couple of days of big steaks and top shelf seafood, I figured yes some good old fashioned barbecue could be just the thing. Mark said he read the BBQ sign from his hotel window, so we walked out the front door of the hotel in the direction he noted and found the sign. It does say BBQ, but from up on the 30th floor Mark missed the prefix--Japanese. Not one to be discouraged Mark asked what I thought, I told him that BBQ in the Japanese and Korean style is great, and that if the wait is not long we should do it. Mark who has trusted me on several "gastronomical expeditions" while in Detroit and SE Michigan, took my work for it and gave it a whirl. To keep our lives simple we ordered the "Samurai" meal. Which simplified the act of trying to decide which dishes to get. At a set price for 2 people it is not too bad a deal. And...