New York is one of the capitals of the world and Los Angeles is a constellation of plastic, San Francisco is a lady, Boston has become Urban Renewal, Philadelphia and Baltimore and Washington wink like dull diamonds in the smog of Eastern Megalopolis, and New Orleans is unremarkable past the French Quarter. Detroit is a one-trade town, Pittsburgh has lost its golden triangle, St. Louis has become the golden arch of the corporation, and nights in Kansas City close early. The oil depletion allowance makes Houston and Dallas naught but checkerboards for this sort of game. But Chicago is a great American City. Perhaps it is the last of the great American cities. - Norman Mailer, "Miami and the Siege of Chicago," 1968.
The week started in scorching heat (2 days of 100-degree highs), but in what seemed like a nanosecond the skies dimmed, and here come the rains again. Chicago weather is remarkably inconstant, but thank God it's Friday, and I will not have to deal with this for the next couple of days in high heels.
Tonight, I capped the work week by having dinner with Melanie at Tiffin in Devon. We had the Hydrabadi beigan bharta (eggplant curry) and the chicken tikka masala, dried. The bharta was its usual excellent, and the chicken was almost perfect. We finished everything (read: clean), and did not have to answer the attendant's "is everything ok?" pleasantry except to look down at our by then empty plates and smile back. And nothing better than to top the meal off with a nice, bittersweet cup of Masala tea -- perfect for a nippy night like this. Tiffin makes it exactly the way I like it. (Note to self : Effects of tea is driving this blog in the middle of the night!)
Good food, it is said, ends with good talk. It was great to exchange updates with Mel and to see her eyes light up at the new "how-to" chick lit of Giuliana DePandi that I pulled out for her. I could sense her eagerness to curl up tonight to read the book, which she swears she can cover in one night. We'll see. I will miss days such as these with my Chicago friends when I move.
Photo: WINDOWS at Hallway, Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago. (c)2006
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3 comments:
Dinner sounded great! I live about 2 1/2 hours south of Chicago and dinner out here in the boondocks is either Joe's diner or The Farmers Table. I can't imagine the great selection you have in Chicago!
Hi Laura: Thank you for writing. I went to Champaign for graduate school, and that is about that far from Chicago as well. And yeah, not a whole lot of selection for food. Chicago is definitely a very happening place in all aspects, food, arts, culture, shopping, education, music. Visit!
Ashley- so great to see your blog coming along, and love the food descriptions! When I go out to eat Indian food, my fantasies before always revolved around the mango lassi and masala chai. I like a bit of the creamy/milkiness, but yes, not too sweet.
Off to read some more!
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