Recently, my wife & I were alerted to a fish shack on the south side of Chicago. Calumet Fisheries had been awarded the 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards America’s Classics category. Wonder why a fish shack would win an award as prestigious as this?

While Calumet Fisheries has deep-fried fish specialties, like shrimp, fish chips, catfish, smelt, frog legs and scallops, their specialty (and my vice) is smoked fish. While my wife ordered the fish chips (to be safe for the first time), I dug right into a smoked salmon steak (.6 lbs for around $10). Wow, the best smoked salmon I’ve ever had. Nice smoked flavor, yet the fish was moist and flaky. Bones are big enough to easily pick through. Portions of the lightly smoky flesh were like butter. Yum!

When you go, check out the autographed poster inside of Anthony Bourdain (his Travel Channel “No Reservations” show visited the shack in 2009) along with pictures from the filming of “The Blues Brothers.” The 95^th Street bridge just outside the shack was featured prominently in the movie. The only excitement you’ll find now on the bridge is the multitude of fisherman with their lines hanging off the bridge (and catching bucket fulls — I kid you not).

Calumet Fisheries is a must for fried and especially smoked fish lovers throughout the Midwest.

Calumet Fisheries

3259 E 95th St
Chicago, IL 60617

Street parking; south side of street.
No credit cards, Cash only.
Visit the website (above) for hours and menu.

My wife & I recently caught an episode of “Check Please!,” where the noodle restaurant “urbanbelly” was featured and reviewed. We thought that if in the area, we’d likely pay a visit.

Not two days later, we were in the area and decided to get a noodle dish to carry out. We parked and entered the restaurant, which had a nice, dark ambiance. A greeter stood near the door to direct patrons. She approached to help us. We stated that we just wanted to order carryout and asked if we could see a carryout menu. We were told that there was no carryout menu, that we could look at it online on their website. We thought this was a bit strange, but stepped outside the restaurant to check out the menu on their website, on our smart phone.

That too failed, due to the website leveraging Flash technology, which is not supported on our phone.

So we were in the situation where we wanted to try a restaurant that was just featured on a television program, but was unable to due to the inability to view a menu, both at the restaurant or just outside via a smart phone.

When we arrived home, we checked the website to see if there was anything stating that you should view the menu on the website prior to visiting the website. There was none.

We left, perplexed, questioning how other patrons order carryout.

We were turned onto Big Ed’s BBQ in North Chicago from a segment on ABC 7 local news. Besides the nearby location, we liked the selection and quality we saw from the segment. But we had to go and validate it in person.

BBQ Beef Brisket & Hot Links, sides include Mac & Cheese, Greens and BBQ fries.

Regular Hoagie

The sides are great as well. The baked macaroni & cheese is creamy and cheesy, the collard greens delightful. While we haven’t had the cole slaw or baked beans, you can blame it on the sides of fries, were are merely vehicles to ingest more of Big Ed’s tasty BBQ sauce.

In subsequent visits, we’ve had the pulled pork (wonderful) with Big Ed’s BBQ sauce covering the top, with the juices from the pulled pork resting underneath. We’ve also had several of their desserts, the pound cake, “bumpy” chocolate cake & the German Chocolate cake, as well as the peach cobbler. All are homemade and made with lots of love.

Due to Big Ed’s network of acquaintances and its location near the Chicago Bears’ Hallas Hall, there’s lots of Bear’s memorabilia, such as framed jerseys and autographed pictures with Bear players and Big Ed.

Big Ed’s BBQ is a diamond in the rough, located in the northern burbs, that brings a diverse set of folks to enjoy some of the best BBQ around.

Big Ed’s BBQ

2501 Martin Luther King Jr Dr.
North Chicago, Illinois, 60064
Phone: (847) 578-1901
Website: www.bigedsllc.com

TeddyFabz, located in Deerfield, IL, near the Lake-Cook Road Metra Station.

The Gyros Burger, a charbroiled burger topped with slices of gyros meat, cucumber sauce, red onion, tomatoes and crumbled feta cheese.

TeddyFabz

663 Lake Cook Rd
Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: (847) 498-5656
Website: www.teddyfabz.com

So what kind of restaurant is Chuck’s. Well, that’s a little hard to explain. And you can’t pigeon hole Chuck’s into a single cuisine. One thing that can be said about Chuck’s is that the food is full of flavor. Trained locally and under the masterful guidance of Chicago’s very own Top Chef Master Rick Bayless, owner and chef Chuck Pine offers a wide selection of goodies, from BBQ to Cajun to Mexican and everything in between.

Half eaten (sorry) Chicken Enchiladas covered with rich mole sauce and sour cream.

Half-eaten (sorry) Seafood Jambalaya, spicy and wonderful and full of flavor.

With the portions sized XXL, you might not leave room for dessert. That may be a mistake. The one opportunity we took, we were amazed. We shared the “Cobbler of the Day,” which was the apple cobbler with two scoops of ice cream on top. More than enough for two people to share after a bountiful meal.

We’re already planning our next visit. I know I have Chuck’s Smoked Corned Beef sandwich in mind. My wife, well, we’ll see if she can part from those exceptional enchiladas. We want to visit Chuck for breakfast some time as well, as they feature everything from french toast, pancakes, waffles, crepes and skillets to custom eggs and omelets.

Chucks moved at the beginning of September from their established location at 5557 W 79th St. in Burbank to their new digs at 6501 W. 79th Street. While we’ve not visited since the move, we’re sure the place fits Chuck to a T.

If you’re ever near the southwest side of Chicago, or just hungry for some full-flavored comfort food, you have to check out Chucks.

Chuck’s Southern Comforts Cafe

6501 W. 79th Street
Burbank, IL 60459
Phone: (708) 229-8700
Fax: (708) 229-8672 (for speedy carry out orders)
Website: http://www.chuckscafe.com (Note the website still lists the old address)

I typically decide on a simple ham & cheese omlette. And here’s how it’s done…

1. Heat up a non-stick skillet, so it’s good & hot.
2. Place 4-5 slices of thinly-sliced ham in the skillet. Currently, I like Sam’s Honey Ham, but feel free to pick your own poison. When the ham is beginning to wrinkle, turn to the other side. You want a nice carmelization on the ham.
3. In a bowl, crack open three eggs. I remove one yolk, because I’m watching my figure (yep, still there!). Pour one tablespoon of milk into the egg mixture. Add some fresh cracked pepper (or the dusty stuff if that’s all you have). Beat the egg mixture until fairly scrambled.
4. Pour the egg mixture on top of the ham in the skillet. I start by pouring in the center, then working in a spiral outside. This way, the egg mixture gets evenly distributed. Tilt the skillet around to spread the egg mixture evenly around the pan. At this point, turn the heat down to a simmer level. You’re done seering, now you want the omelette to cook thoroughly.
5. Once the egg mixture has begun to set, add your favorite cheese. Here, I’ve used two slices of Provolone cheese (’cause that’s the kinda guy I am).
6. Once the cheese has softened, turn half of the omelette over onto itself. This is what separates the cooks from the chefs, the women from the men, the, oh, never mind. You get it, us guys are not as fussy as to the look of the darn thing. Turn the entire omelette over on the other side to ensure thorough doneness.
7. Turn off the heat. Serve the omelette up with your favorite beverage (mine, Chai Latte). Enjoy!

First, it was a gorgeous day in Chicago. Sunny, blue skies, 72 degrees. Comfortable for July, indeed. So my wife & I decided to head downtown for a change, to visit the Sear Tower, soon to be renamed the Willis Tower. My wife had last visited over 20 years ago. I had never visited the Sears Tower, although I’ve lived in Chicago all my life. I’ve visited the Hancock Center observatory several times, just never the Sears Skydeck.

We especially wanted to visit the Sears Skydeck due to a recent addition, the Ledge. The Ledge is a glass container that juts out from the building, allowing you to stand in air above the city. There’s currently three ledges, with a fourth currently being built. These ledges can be retracted into the building for maintenance, high winds, even window washing.

After our wait (see below), we arrived at the 103rd floor, the Sears Skydeck. 1,353 feet from the ground, it affords the highest, possibly best view of the Chicago area and 40-50 miles on a clear day, like today (I could see Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan, across Lake Michigan).

The view is similar to the one at the John Hancock Observatory, until you reach the Ledge. It’s hard to describe, except that you’re standing outside the perimeter of the building (looking at the building from the outside, if that makes sense.

I’ve heard a lot of folks say that they’re intimidated by this new feature. Let me tell you, and I will say proudly, I am scared of heights. The last time I went to the Hancock Observatory, I had to sit on a bench for a view minutes before working my way towards the window. Once, in Baltimore, I climbed the spiral steps leading to the top of the Washington Monument. I then panicked and had to urgently get down. Yet, with such a history, I actually never felt uncomfortable. So if interested, you must visit.

Now, if you plan to visit, be forewarned. Allow lots of time for this visit. Up to a half a day. We visited on a Monday midday. From the time we arrived to the time we made it to the observatory, we waited a total of 2 hours, 30 mins. Imagine a heavy day. A total of seven queue lines, one movie theater, one security screening. Our total time up at the observatory: 20 mins. We overheard many people state that while the ledge is nice, the cost is too much ($14.95), the wait too long.

I’m glad we did it. But now, it’s been there, done that. Likely never again.

Ok, so I just woke up. But this is how I feel. Overweight. Fat. Obese.

I can’t walk without my back aching. I’m winded tying my shoes. I’m exhausted performing the most basic activities.

There’s three problems that have made my issue worse:

• I’m an emotional eater.
• I love food.
• Though unemployed, I still sit in front of a computer most of the day.

After being out & about the last two days, and feeling totally uncomfortable, I’ve decided to take responsibility, followed by action.

Guess the body part. Hint: it arrives before the rest of me does.

So today, I awake weighing in at 305 lbs, with 39% of me made up of fat, and a total body water count of 45.0. I have a goal to lose 70 pounds by the end of the year.

Someone recently asked me if pizza & beer were now out. Funny, I’ve only had pizza & beer together once. I plan to change the way I eat, and watch for the snacking. But unlike past attempts, I’m not going to deprive myself of goodies, like Johnnies Italian Sausage, or Speed Queen BBQ. I just won’t indulge as often, and when I do, as much.

Most importantly, I’m getting up out of this office chair and getting moving. Outside. Walking. Then riding the bike. 5 miles. Hopefully 30 miles before it turns cold.

Stay tuned, if interested. I’ll post updates on a semi regular basis.

But let’s get serious about a particular topic: Alzheimer’s Disease.

No one in my blood family has ever concocted the disease. However, in my married family, someone near & dear to me has had it for at least 4 years now; my father-in-law.

I need to paint the three cycles of life of a Alzheimer’s patient; pre-disease, initial discovery, and long-term decline.

Pre-Disease

My father-in-law

Due to his experiences, he increasingly would seek the shelter and tranquility of home. After retiring, he would do yard work, maintain the house and go to the store weekly. But that was it. There was no need for going out, as it held nothing pleasurable for him.

I remember one time, and after much negotiation, we took him out for either his birthday or Father’s Day (can’t remember) to a Chicago White Sox baseball game. He loved baseball and would watch the games on the television at home. But this would be his first visit to a ball park in a long time, and the first to the new White Sox Park. It was a struggle to climb those endless stairs to the nose bleed seats. But once seated, it just felt like a special moment. We all had hot dogs & beer and enjoyed a night game at Cellular Field. As out section filled up with 20-30 year olds, it increasingly became apparent that talking on their cell phones was more important that watching the game. The distraction came to a head when during a home town rally, the people behind my father-in-law spilled beer all over him. He bit his tongue and said little after. We left around the seventh inning as the enjoyment had quickly faded. Of all people, why did that have to happen to him, on that evening?

My father-in-law is a well educated man. Not formally, but through live experiences and reading. He would read anything he could. And he loved the educational programming of public television. He was actually more educated than many people around him.

Initial Discovery

My wife began noticing signs in my father-in-law that weren’t right.

• He began forgetting little things.
• He’d go lay down to sleep early in the evening, then wake just past midnight checking things like windows, doors, flashlights.
• He would become upset that the next door neighbor was spying on him. This, while being logistically unfeasible.
• He began shuffling his feet, instead if picking them up.
• He would stand outside the house for over an hour, looking for his wife to come home.
• On one event, when the group of us returned from a day away, he met us outside the house, greeting us and saying he was glad to see us return before the storm. As the weather was clear, it was only when we entered the house, and saw the news stories of a hurricane in Florida, that we put the two together.

Which brings us to the event.

It was a Friday in October, about 5 years ago. My wife, as fate would have it, was volunteering at a senior care facility that specializes in Alzheimer’s. My mother-in-law was out for the day, with a stop to the grocery store later in the day. We got word from a passer-by that my father-in-law was acting peculiar, with the door open and seemingly barricading himself in the living room of the house. I was at work when I got the call. I frantically tried to leave word for my wife and my brother-in-law. My wife, desperate, had to drive 35 miles before picking me up and continuing on to my father-in-law’s house. When we arrived, he was surrounded by furniture, on the floor. The one side of his mouth was drooped, signaling a possible stroke.

An ambulance rushed him to the hospital. After tests, the doctors ruled out a stroke (we still contest this). However, my father-in-law’s mouth was still drooped and he was unable to form words to communicate. The doctors agreed that he was likely suffering from Stage 2 Alzheimer’s. A few days alter, he was transferred to a nursing home that specialized in Alzheimer’s. He has been there ever since.

Long-term Decline

My Father-in-law

In the warmer months, we would treat him to a walk outside, and maybe an impromptu picnic. We always tried to exercise his mind, to test the working level of his synapses. We would give him coin and ask him to place the quarters in the quarters cup, dimes in the dimes cup, etc. Would we play catch with bright red balls, to exercise his eye to hand coordination.

One Thanksgiving, we brought my father-in-law & the family over to our house. It was the first (likely the last) time we had the entire family over the house. After feasting, we watched a television special. During the show, celebrities were singing Christmas carols. My father-in-law joined in singing. It was such a touching moment, we all teared up. For me personally, it was the best Thanksgiving I had ever experienced and wish it could be repeated.

My Father-in-law

My father-in-law was saved by Alzheimer’s. He was so tormented by the past and the injustices that he was becoming enraged, with the potential for violence. Now, on Aricept, he seems slightly sedated and giggly at times. And yet, he’s been gone for some time now. Because the man we visit on a regular basis is not the man I met over 18 years ago.

Yep, Alzheimer’s is a bitch.

A related story, yet not directly. My wife and I, many years ago, traveled all the way to South Bend, Indiana (101 miles), around 5pm on a Sunday evening to get Damon’s Ribs. At the time, those were the best we had.

Bringing the clock to the present, Chicago has loads of BBQ joints (yes, BBQ restaurants are joints). And my wife & I have had our share and have enjoyed most of them. But recently, we were reminded of a “joint” in Milwaukee that has some of the best BBQ around.

Speed Queen BBQ is located just northwest of the downtown area, right off Interstate 43. Similar to the experience at Johnnies Italian Beef & Sausage, the fragrance in the air can be pleasantly obtained from several blocks away, depending on the direction of the wind. This is a smokey-style barbecue, apple wood smoked. Speed Queen offers many options; ribs, rib tips, shoulder (pulled pork for us of the Caucasian persuasion), beef, chicken & turkey. They also offer catfish & perch meals. Sides are at the core of soul food delight; fries, yams, mixed green or collards, black eye peas, mac & cheese, backed beans, cole slaw, red beans & rice, spaghetti, and potato salad.

Now, with all that said, there’s one other thing that they offer. But you’ll have to show up earlier, in the first half of the day to order. It’s called “Outside.” What the heck is Outside. Pulled pork, or pork shoulder in this case, is roasted slowly and under low heat (slow & low) until it falls apart. The “Outside” is the outside crusty bits of meat. OMG, it is BBQ heaven. But like I said, as it’s only the outside portion, once they run out of it, it’s gone until the next day. So for someone like me, who is traveling 60 miles for some of the best BBQ around, you better get there early.

One note of caution, more directed to some perceptions. Speed Queen, while located right off the Interstate, is in the neighborhood. It may look like a rough area to some folks (I’m used to it, as I grew up on the west side of Chicago, in the Austin area). But the people there are friendly and hospitable. You can go in, to experience the smells and characters that show up, or go through the drive-through for a faster, more “secure” experience.

They have long hours. In general, 11am until 2-3:30am.

Pay a visit. I’ll guarantee you’ll be back.

Speed Queen BBQ

1130 W Walnut St
Milwaukee, WI 53205

Website: http://www.foodspot.com/speedqueen/