Rick Bayless’ Mexican Empire (Chicago)

Xoco – for when you’re in Chicago and can’t get into Rick Bayless’ famous Frontera Grill! All I can say is, San Diego, you need to step up your Mexican food game: I have never had anything as delicious as this Ahogada torta, in San Diego. The menu description is: “Golden pork carnitas, black beans, tomato-arbol chile broth, pickled onions”. I loved the hearty baguette bread that soaks in the spicy chile-arbol broth without falling apart. Rich tender pork and pickled onions contrast with the spicy broth. Yes – go for the spicy. Although I hate soggy sandwiches (looking at you Al’s Italian Beef Sandwich), I could not resist drenching each bite in the broth. This is a completely different experience than an Italian beef sandwich because of the extremely crusty bread used.

Mr A selected the short rib tacos – well executed, with the corn tortillas holding their shape without splitting. Then of course we had to try the churros con chocolate, and they were just like in Spain – deep fried bread (not cake!) with a thick chocolate dipping sauce. Note: you really need 3 churros to make use of all the chocolate.

One of the wonderful things about trying these iconic foods like churros con chocolate is finding and trying them in other places especially when they are made the truly traditional way. And I love that European pastries are often less sweet than Americans expect.

Xoco links: Tripadvisor; ChicagoTribune; SeriousEats

We almost got into Tortazo at the Sears Tower (Willis Tower) but they closed before we descended from the 104th floor!! Sob.

Hint: if the weather is bad at Skydeck, even with zero visibility at the top, even when the gift shop employee says don’t bother, just wait… You may be rewarded!!

But the food gods eventually answered our prayers by delaying our outbound flight out of Chicago O’Hare long enough for us to grab a Chipotle Chicken Torta at the Tortas Frontera in Terminal 3. Although the presentation lacked the drama of their downtown location, the flavors were excellent. “Artisan Jack cheese, poblana rajas, chipotle, black beans, cilantro crema, avocado, wild arugula.”

Tortas Frontera, Terminal 3, Concourse K, Gate K4 plus 2 other locations in Terminal 1 and 5.

We will definitely hit up Tortas Frontera again. Two great reasons to puddle jump from Lansing to Chicago…this place, and the great views over Chicago and the lake!!