Weekend in St. Louis & Springfield

What I can't figure out is how you manage to get any work done between meals...
 
Brad

I really like the look of Hodak's.  I know that one can get good food in ugly places, but the attention to detail there is extraordinary (and well photographed!).  On the outside, they have the facade details painted in nicely contrasting colors, potted plants, nice lights all the way around the building, and good awnings.  The pressed-tin ceiling looks great, and that chicken tile is just perfect.

That red velvet cake looks great.  I just recently had my first taste of red velvet cake.  I had somehow thought it was just red-dyed yellow cake.  Not so!

MD-
That is a good assessment about Hodak's.  The atmosphere is what I like to call a family tavern.  This place is not upscale, but it is also clean, well decorated and in no way a dive.  You walk through a nice bar area to get to the dining room.  I'm not a fan of bars, but I would eat in this one anytime.

BB, as good as C & K's rib tips look, it's that red velvet cake that really got my attention. I love r-v cake, and that slice looks heavenly. Your banana split at Crown's is a beauty too. Next time you visit Chicago, I've got to take you to Cunis Candies in South Holland IL ( about 10 mins. from Lansing. ) It's a family-owned business that's been around forever, and everything's homemade; the ice cream, the toppings, and the huge selection of wonderful candy. I had my first experience with Cunis when I was about twelve ( when we were both in Chicago ), and it's just as great now as it was then. This place is definitely a true roadfood stop.

nocarolina-
There is probably no type of Roadfood place I enjoy more than an old fashioned ice cream parlor.  And it sounds like Cunis Candies would be right up my alley!  Thanks for the offer and I will definitely take you up on it the next time I am in Chicago.

buffetbuster -

Two of my favs...Crown Candy and a great looking Red Velvet Cake!  I am standing and applauding and everyone in my office area thinks I'm nuts!

Next time we get together, we will have to do some comando drills as Roadfooders must alsways be prepared!

ChiTownDiner

Next time we get together, we will have to do some comando drills as Roadfooders must alsways be prepared!

Roadfood training is always an excellent idea, but I have full confidence that if someone handed you that slice of red velvet cake and no fork was available, your instincts would take over!

Buffetbuster, when you come out my way to partake of Cunis' terrific ice cream, I've got to take you to Popolano's here in Lansing for what I think is the best fried chicken in Chicagoland - yep, even better, IMHO, than the famed White Fence Farm and Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket. There's at least four other places in the south suburban region that you might like, too ( all are regular foodstops of mine. ) 

nocarolina, it sounds like you need to take the initiative and start a fresh thread to organize a Chicago/Far South Side tour for the Milwaukee/Chicago contingent.  I'd make myself available for that!

Buddy

Holey moley!! What have I started now? Actually, Buddy, it's a really great idea - just sorry I didn't think of it first. I've never tried to put anything like that together before, so my apologizes in advance if I screw it up good! Sounds like a lot of fun, though. Look for a thread on the subject this evening ( is this my "baptism by fire" into the wonderful world of roadfood? )  :-)  :-)  

Most folks from outside the Chicago area don't realize that there is a very distinct north side/south side cultural divide that goes far beyond whether you are a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan.  Geographically, architecturally, personality-wise; there are vast differences that exist north and south of Madison Street.

Our business has forced us to delve and explore areas that I would have never even thought of visiting once upon a time.  The discoveries have been overwhelmingly enjoyable, leaving me open to more, especially when guided by a native southsider.

Two hints as you put together your tour: Pick the places you know and enjoy.  Don't worry about places with stronger reputations or better press.  If you've been a regular customer at a place and think it's good, then more than likely your fellow Roadfooders will feel the same way.  Cunis Candies, Popolano's, and that burger joint you've mentioned in other threads all sound like winners to me.  Maybe one or two other places with different offerings and you've got a first class tour!

The other thing is timing.  We've got the Spring Fling coming up (after discussions with some key members of the group, it looks like early June, maybe right after Memorial Day might work best), and you don't want to have too many events crammed into one time frame.  Late summer/early fall might be a good spot for this type of run.  Also, that will give you a little more time to think about and plan your first get together.

Buddy

http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Man_v_Food

The Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food" series has arrived in St. Louis.  The host visits Iron Barley, Pappy's BBQ, and Crown Candy.  He attempts the milkshake challenge at Crown.

It's on tonight, 25 Feb 09, at 9PM CST and 10PM CST with several repeats in the next few days.

After watching the St. Louis segment last night on Man vs. Food, I am rethinking my desire to take on the 5 malt challenge at Crown Candy Kitchen.  Extreme Glow, thanks for the info or I would have missed it!

buffetbuster


After watching the St. Louis segment last night on Man vs. Food, I am rethinking my desire to take on the 5 malt challenge at Crown Candy Kitchen.  Extreme Glow, thanks for the info or I would have missed it!

Agreed.  When they first showed them I thought I could drink 5 of the galsses.  I didn't realize it meant 5 of the cups from the shake machine and is actually closer to 15 glasses.  I think he made a mistake with mixing all of the flavors though.  Which he admitted to at the end.  Right when I heard him ask for egg nog I thought that was a mistake. 

Man v. Food Video Blog for Crown Candy
http://www.travelchannel.com/Video_&_Photos/Video_Detail?lineupId=38269250016&titleId=13391132001

BB,

Regarding the fried chicken in St. Louis, I live not too far from Porter's and think it's pretty good.  I agree that the sides are pretty awful though.  I've always been underwhelmed with Hodak's.

A place you might want to try is Ravanelli's in Collinsville, IL.  How about a fried chicken buffet (lunch T-F)?  It is very good.
http://www.ravanellisrestaurants.com/


Tip Top in Soulard has excellent fried chicken (and Serbian sausages - cevapcici).  It is best to go when the weather is nice and you can sit outside.  Smoking is allowed inside and the owners (and apparently staff and customers) chain-smoke, so it gets very bad.
http://www.tiptopinsoulard.com/


In a pinch, you can stop by Tin Can for some decent chicken.  I recommend the one on Morganford.
http://www.tincantavern.com/

Two more fried chicken places just came to mind:

Goody Goody (on Roadfood)
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=1178
and 

Sweetie Pie's (cafeteria style soul food)
http://cityguide.aol.com/stlouis/restaurants/sweetie-pies/v-111751019

(I understand that Sweetie Pie's is currently looking for another location)