Yo quiero una torta con carnitas por favor

And that is pretty much all the Spanish you need to know when you head over to El Norte at the Broadway, Ridge, Bryn Mawr intersection in Edgewater. The tortas are stuffed full of your choice of meat (of course I’ve ordered the carnitas almost every time and yes, I have tried others but there is no competition for slow roasted pork that has been thrown on the flat top and made deliciously crispy!) and all the fixings including beans, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes. Perhaps most importantly, the bread is sheer perfection. It has this delightful crispy crust and is sturdy enough to handle the crazy amount of meat and toppings crammed into the roll. These rolls are specially made for this excellent little northside taqueria. Go get you one immediatemente!

This is a taqueria so don’t go looking for fine dining but you will find damn fine food. Open 24 hours and most times you can find the matriarch of the family, Miriam, there and she is amazing. She always welcomes us with a warmth that I rarely find in any establishment or home for that matter. Whether she is spending time at our table or talking to us at the counter, she is always a pleasure to talk to and we love hearing all of her great stories! Now, I have to give it to you straight she can be a pistol if you happen to be bold enough to disrespect her restaurant, staff, or patrons. Let’s just say, she don’t go for that! She’s been known to refuse service to jerks, DBs, and outrights a**holes. So, if you fall into one of these categories you might want to find another favorite taqueria to terrorize.

Alright, more food information. Feel free to tell me to stop rambling, not that I’ll listen but you can certainly give it a try. I am yet to have a bad meal in this place and I’ve been known to eat there several times a week. One Sunday I was having breakfast there and I looked across the table at Nichole and started cracking up. When she asked what I was laughing at, I said, “do you realize we’ve been here 3 times this weekend?” lol Oops, I started rambling again didn’t I?

Oh that’s right food! The enchiladas are delicious with a nice hot ranchero sauce and served with the standards. The tacos are so stuffed with meat that you will want extra tortillas. Served with either cilantro and onion or lettuce and tomato depending on which meat you order. The carnitas (of course), barbacoa (tender and delicious), carne asada (yummy and juicy), and the fish (for a change of pace) are some of my favorites. I would also tell you adventurous types to get the lengua (beef tongue) and you will be happy you tried it!

The chips are always fresh and the salsas are house made regularly. The guacamole is always on point as well. If you are a horchata fan, they have a great one. But for my taste I love the bottles of Coke, as they are of the Mexican variety and therefore are made with sugar and not corn syrup. Yum! brings back childhood memories. El Norte is also BYOB and we all know that beer goes so well with Mexican that you’d be crazy not to take advantage of a place that lets you bring your own and doesn’t charge you a service fee. 

Free Beignets....shut your mouth!

At least until you get to one of the best restaurants in Andersonville, Big Jones. You will certainly want to open your mouth again once you walk inside and sit down. This little taste of New Orleans is a great way to experience the flavors of the bayou (and more, they describe the fare as Coastal Southern Cooking) in Chicago. This is a place that brings fresh, warm beignets to your brunch table every Saturday and Sunday. Now I could simply stop here and I trust that you would run up to 5347 N. Clark St. first thing this weekend, but alas I will go further.

The owners are Paul and Mark. Paul, Executive Chef, can be found in the kitchen but I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting him but I’m thankful for where he spends his time just the same. Mark however, always takes the time to come over to our table to say hello and thank us for coming back. I like those small touches and I’ve always been convinced that his visits are genuine and help to keep us on the list of regulars. They also send out birthday and anniversary cards that will get you a free drink or dessert. With our anniversary card we both had a great cocktail which was a $20 value (do not forget to tip the server as though you are paying for the cocktail, if you do not then you do not deserve the free drink!).

Ok, so if beignets aren’t enough to catch your attention know that the owners are dedicated to sustainability and the humane treatment of animals…and delicious food too! The cream that comes with the coffee you will certainly want with those FREE beignets comes straight from a local farm. That’s just the beginning of the interesting twist offered at Big Jones. They make their own ginger beer and let me tell you that you cannot have a better high ball than with this house ginger. You can trust me on this one, I’ve had my fair share of bourbon and ginger (what can I say? I prefer my high balls without the bitters and I know you purest will say then you are not drinking a high ball and my response is that this is a food blog not a bartender's blog, my digression is over). Be right back…ok I’m back, just writing that made me want a bourbon and ginger. There is a complete list of excellent cocktails that you are sure to find enjoyable and intoxicating. I would certainly suggest the Death of St Germain, Corpse Reviver, and the Charleston Mule. 

Oh right, they have food there too. Did you think I’d forget? I’m gonna stick to brunch because that is my usual meal there. However, I will let you know that Bon Appetit has raved about the fried chicken they serve, but know that it is only served on Tuesday nights. The good things is that Mark tells me that the hype has scaled back a bit since the article ran so you can actually get in on Tuesday’s. And they do accept reservations. I’ll be sure to update you once I’ve been there for the yardbird. 

Alright, brunch! I have to start by saying that the shrimp and grits alone are worth the trip up north. The gravy has the house tasso (delicious ham) and mushrooms and it will make you want to slap your momma! If you are having brunch with friends and you are the only one that orders shrimp and grits keep your knife handy because you may need to stab some hands. Just sayin! The catfish and grits are also a delight. You may have figured by now that I love grits, and you’d be correct but these creamy, cheesy grits are something special. The catfish is fried to perfection with that great crunchy coating, damn I’m getting hungry. And for those of you who truly want to get that down home feeling, they are frying up great tasting green tomatoes and get this, they top them with pickled shrimp. YES!! Get up to Big Jones immediately and tell me what you think.

Now, a few words about the dinner menu. This is a blind statement as I have yet to have dinner there but I’m confident that this information will be helpful and intriguing. I’ve already mentioned the wonders being served on Tuesdays. Every over night Big Jones caters to the adventurous palette serving up sweetbreads, headcheese, pork belly and frog legs. Oh, and I have to mention that the shrimp and grits make an appearance on the dinner menu as well…told you they are awesome!