TRIP REPORT: Taking the Longer Way Home – Fooding Around Chicago (Part of Travel Plus)

Fooding Around Chicago (Part of Travel Plus)
Taking the Longer Way Home

In this trip

• So. Keeping it original for autumn, aren’t we?
• Off to Heathrow in the Dead of the Night
• Terminal 3 Lounges… And more delays
• American Airlines AA99 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare (Main Cabin)
• In the USA, Candlewood Suites O’Hare
• TRAVEL PLUS: Fooding around Chicago
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Airplane Art Extra – from the 10th Floor of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• TRAVEL PLUS: The Art Institute, Chicago
• Back to O’Hare, Air France/KLM Lounge
• Finnair AY010 Chicago O’Hare to Helsinki Vantaa
• A Helsinki Layover
• Finnair AY1335 Helsinki Vantaa to London Heathrow
• Coaching Homewards
• Sometimes, it’s more the journey

Travel Plus: Fooding in Chicago

We return to a classic Economy Class and Beyond subject – food. And thankfully, no stomach bugs this trip.

Those who remember the last trip will remember one bug knocked me flat. That… was not fun.

But onto happier memories, where there were no stomach bugs, just some rather passable food. Well, mostly.

Steak at Ronny’s Steak House, Thomson Centre – $9.99+Tax

This is a lazy food review – even by my standards. But when I’m jetlagged to hell and trying to work out what I need to do on a Chicago trip, this works.

It’s a mixture of a canteen crossed with a steakhouse… And you take that for what it’s worth. This isn’t going to be the high-end steak that will be the end of all meals – rather one to enjoy and relax to. And at $9.99 for an 8oz steak, Garlic Bread, jacket potato and salad – I’m all in for that price.

My $9.99 “Lunch Special”

The place can be intimidating if you don’t know what you want – so plan ahead if you can, or hang back a little whilst those who know work order what they want – whilst you plan out your craving.

Recommend for a simple and enjoyable meal.

Wow Bao on State Street 

I fancied a light lunch on my travels – and as a point to re-charge before the busy weekend. I’ve seen Wow Bao on my Chicago Travels before – so I was interested how a Chicago company would work with bao’s

I went for a teriyaki chicken rice bowl, with three Potstickers (or Gyoza). Apparently, they didn’t have the one I ordered, so gave me five of another.

I wasn’t arguing.

This is a nice friendly chain restaurant (there’s plenty of them in downtown Chicago) that offer Asian inspired meals, with baos (dumplings), rice bowls and so on – with this coming in at $10.52 including the tax. Whilst the dipping sauce I chose was salty as hell the teriyaki chicken bowl was warming and filling, which scores highly in my book.

Recommended for a lighter bite.

Calamari at the Red Bar, Hyatt Regency O’Hare ($22 including drink and tip)

A traditional standby for me – and important when I’ve got a weekend ahead of catching up with friends is the Fried Calimari at The Red Bar. And this is normally a good way to set it off.

Especially when dining with friends and sharing with them.

Recommend to share

Subway Sandwiches at an event.

Well, at least Subway knows how to make a sandwich – even when it comes to catering sized ones that will feed the masses. And yes, I like jalapeños. Come at me.

Recommended when someone else is paying 😉

Turkey Sandwich from Perks, Hyatt Regency O’Hare

What’s the one word I would use for this? Disappointing… and at $13+Tax… one of the worse meals I had out on this trip.

Too much bread for a doorstop sandwich and way too light on filling. I suppose the value of the drink and crisps made up for it… a bit

But not worth the investment kids. Sorry.

Deep dish pizza – Giordanos (take away/delivery)

After catching up with my friends, sleeping off the evening – I had a desire for deep dish pizza. Thankfully the Giordano’s near the Hyatt delivers. And I cheated and ordered a Meat and More Pizza, along with some chicken wings.

Allegedly, it was some sort of game night promotion. Whatever helps you promote and sleep at night…

For those of you who think I ate that in one session… you’re wrong. I was nibbling on it at home a few days after. It’s one thing I miss when I travel to Chicago.

Recommended if for the good memories, and the dinners afterwards.

Dunkin Donuts.

I ask why I bother going here for food when it’s going to be consistently disappointing. Is it some masochistic streak, or is it just a reminder that some American fast food is just plain awful? Or was I semi desperate for a warm bite?

First up are the Cheese Omelette wraps. And those wraps still look underdone.

And then the chorizo bowl… which had more egg than anything to pad it out.

Recommended if the staff in McDonald’s feel like they’re pressuring you when ordering food. But at any other time of the day stay away.

Next: Hyatt Regency O’Hare

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